News Roundup 26 August 2020
Aug 26, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines’ COVID-19 caseload climbs past 202,000 with 5,277 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country rose to over 202,000 after health authorities logged 5,277 additional infections Wednesday. Of the total infections, 65,764 were active cases or people who are still undergoing treatment or quarantine. The Philippines still has the most number of coronavirus infections in Southeast Asia and has surpassed mainland China’s tally. The DOH also listed 1,131 more survivors of COVID-19, pushing the total number of recoveries to 133,460. But 99 more people succumbed to the severe respiratory disease, taking the fatality count to 3,137.
Jolo bombers initially identified as Abu Sayyaf members’ widows | PHILSTAR.COM – The military has identified the two female suicide bombers in last Monday’s explosions in Jolo, Sulu that killed 14 people, mostly soldiers and civilians, and wounded 78 others. Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, chief of the Philippine Army, said the suicide bombers were identified as “alias Nanh” — widow of the first known Filipino bomber Norman Lasuca — and “alias Indah Nay” — widow of slain Abu Sayyaf sub-leader Talha Jumsah. Jumsah, alias Abu Talha, was the Abu Sayyaf liaison with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. “Yes, that is true, the two were the wives of the first Filipino suicide bomber and that of the slain ASG-ISIS conduit. The information were based on the initial findings of our ground forces,” Sobejana said. Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief, also confirmed the initial information.
Robredo spox tells Locsin: It’s admin supporters who are spooked by 2022 polls | INQUIRER.NET – The spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo has assured Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin that they are not worried about the 2022 elections, claiming that it is the administration supporters who are afraid of the next polls.,Lawyer Barry Gutierrez clarified on Wednesday that they are looking forward to 2022, contrary to claims by Locsin that the opposition is fearful of the next elections and has resorted to wishing someone — presumably President Rodrigo Duterte — to pass away. Locsin made the remarks after he was asked in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel earlier about the President’s state of health. He added that the opposition should not worry as they have a good candidate, supposedly referring to Robredo. “On the contrary, we look forward to the election in 2022. It is this administration’s supporters, with their loud, if lonely, calls for a ‘revolutionary government’ that are clearly terrified of the end of this term,” Gutierrez said in a statement. “Mr. Locsin’s pontifications on the current situation, like his conspiracy theories, are seriously wanting in credibility,” he added.
Vice president must be ready to take over – Lacson | Manila Bulletin – The vice president should be ready at all times to take over as the country’s leader in the event something bad happens to the president. Senator Panfilo M. Lacson stressed this Wednesday in the wake of the revelation of President Duterte that the condition of his Barrett’s esophagus was “nearing stage one cancer.” “Kailangan naka-ready ang VP (vice president) to take over just in case something bad happens (That is why the Vice President must always be ready…),” said Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee. Currently, the Philippines No. 2 leader is Vice President Leni Robredo.
Bishop Cruz, former CBCP president, dies | The Manila Times – Former Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president Archbishop Oscar Cruz has passed away. Father Jerome Secillano,CBCP, executive secretary, said Cruz, died at the Cardinal Santos Hospital due to a lingering illness. He was 85 years old. Prior to his retirement, Cruz served as archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan.
