News Roundup 27 November 2020
Nov 27, 2020 • 4 min Read
Philippines logs 1,631 new COVID-19 cases; total hits 425,918 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines reported 1,631 new coronavirus cases Friday, bringing the total number of infections to 425,918 as the country seeks to secure a vaccine against the disease. Ten laboratories, however, failed to submit their data on time. The number of recovered patients rose to 387,616 after the DOH logged 370 more recoveries. COVID-19 survivors account for 91% of the total recorded cases. The death toll increased to 8,255 with 46 new fatalities. A total of 30,047 or 7% of the cumulative cases are considered active. The Philippines has the second largest number of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Southeast Asia after Indonesia.
Tiamzon couple, their witnesses threatened in 1988 kidnapping case — lawyer | PHILSTAR.COM – Peace consultants Benito and Wilma Tiamzon and their witnesses were threatened, preventing them from defending themselves in the kidnapping and serious illegal detention case in Quezon City court that convicted them on Friday, their lawyers said. Lawyer Rachel Pastores, managing counsel from the Public Interest Law Center, said the Tiamzon couple could not effectively defend themselves in the case “because they and their witnesses are constantly subjected to threats to their lives, harassment, and surveillance.” “They could have easily presented evidence in their defense and dispute the clear lies of the lone prosecution witness, a high ranking member of the military,” Pastores added. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 216 found the Tiamzon couple guilty beyond reasonable doubt of kidnapping and serious illegal detention over an incident that happened in 1988 in Quezon province. The court said that the case was submitted for resolution based solely on evidence presented by the prosecution that presented complainant Lt. Claro Casis.
Belongings of missing UP Law prof discovered in Occidental Mindoro | INQUIRER.NET – Personal possession of lawyer Ryan Oliva, a University of the Philippines (UP) College of Law professor who has been missing since November 21, was discovered at a seashore in Occidental Mindoro on early Friday morning, police said. A report from Occidental Mindoro police director Police Colonel Hordan Pacatiw showed that it was a construction worker who found Oliva’s backpack, which contained about 20 items of the professor’s belongings. However, police said the professor was not found in the area.
Can’t penalize OVP for learning hubs – DepEd | Manila Bulletin – Education Secretary Leonor Briones said Friday that the Department of Education (DepEd) lacks authority when it comes to the Community Learning Hubs initiated by the Office of Vice President Leni Robredo. During the televised “Laging Handa” public briefing, Briones said that the operations of the OVP’s learning hubs are beyond the authority of DepEd. “Wala kaming awtoridad na patawan ng parusa or anuman ang OVP dahil wala iyan sa aming mandate, iba sigurong ahensya ng gobyerno ang puwedeng tumitingin diyan (We have no authority to penalize, impose sanctions, or do anything on the OVP because that is not part of our mandate, other government agencies may look into it),” Briones said when asked if DepEd will direct the closure of these hubs. The tension between DepEd and the OVP started when Briones announced during the press briefing of presidential spokesperson Harry Roque last Nov. 24 that the agency has no “formal partnership” for the Community Learning Hubs. The camp of Robredo said that the project was “coordinated” with the DepEd and that it was considered by the Education department as a “good initiative.”
Rody asked: Order return of parked funds | Malaya Business Insight – Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon yesterday urged President Duterte to order the return of billions of pesos in “parked” funds at the Philippine International Trading Center (PITC) to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) which the government can use to augment its budget for the purchase of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines. Drilon said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez has asked Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to endorse to the President the return of P32.6 billion which have been deposited in the accounts of the PITC by various agencies. Drilon said the government should promptly ask for the return of the billions of pesos sitting idly in the coffers of PITC especially since the government is in search of funding sources for the P73.2 billion needed to purchase at least 50 to 60 million COVID-19 vaccines. In a statement, Drilon said Dominguez called to inform him that he made the communication to Avisado in a letter-request dated November 25.
