News Roundup 29 October 2020
Oct 29, 2020 • 3 min Read
FLAG urges SC: Shield people from ‘terror’ of anti-terror law, issue TRO | PHILSTAR.COM – Petitioners represented by the Free Legal Assistance Group urged the Supreme Court to wield the power only it has to step between the people and terror brought by the much feared Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. In a 12-page motion filed Thursday, FLAG pressed the SC to immediately resolve its application for a temporary restraining order against the Republic Act 11479 and restrain the government from enforcing law’s Implementing Rules and Regulation. “Allowing the enforcement of the ATA through the IRR can only lead to the actual and pervasive curtailment by the state of the constitutional right to free speech and expression,” they said. “Only the injunctive power of the Honorable Court stands between the people and the imminent terror heralded by the ATA and its IRR. Petitioners pray the Court to wield the power,” the petitioners added. FLAG represents opposition lawmakers, Framers of the Constitution, human rights lawyers and journalists in their petition against the anti-terrorism law.
PH COVID-19 cases hit 376,935 | IINQUIRER.NET – There are now 376,935 total COVID-19 cases in the Philippines after 1,761 new infections were recorded, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Thursday. The DOH added that of the total cases, 39,940 are active cases, of which 83.3 percent are mild, 10.9 percent are asymptomatic, 3.7 percent are critical, and 2.1 percent are severe. The DOH logged 740 new recoveries and 33 additional fatalities, bringing the total to 329,848 and 7,147, respectively.
SWS: Less than 30% of Filipinos believe in accuracy of COVID-19 tally | PHILSTAR.COM – A nationwide survey has showed that a significantly small number of Filipinos believe that the country’s reporting of coronavirus infections and deaths are accurate. Results of a Social Weather Stations poll said only 23% are convinced that government figures are “probably right,” while 39% believe that such are overreported, and 31% said it is less than the real picture or underreported. The SWS had 1,249 respondents for the survey that was conducted from September 17 to 20, a time when the Philippines was reporting more than 3,000 new infections for several days to bring the total to more than 286,000. The poll was conducted using using mobile phone and computer-assisted telephone interviewing of 1,249 adult Filipinos nationwide. Sampling error margin is at ±3% for national percentages, ±6% for Metro Manila, ±5% for Balance Luzon, ±6% for the Visayas and ±6% for Mindanao.
Possible redundancy between DoJ, OMB in corruption probe noted | Manila Bulletin – Is there a looming clash between the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman regarding President Duterte’s recent directive to the DoJ to investigate all allegations of corruption in government? Deputy Minority Leader Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate posed this question Thursday as he noted possible redundancy of duties when it comes to the Chief Executive’s order to the Justice department. “There is supposedly the Office of the Ombudsman to go after corrupt government officials. Why create another body under the Executive?” asked Zarate, who is also a lawyer. “Now what happens when the Ombudsman and the DoJ reach the opposite findings on their investigation of the same agency?” he added. Currently headed by Samuel Martires, the Office of the Ombudsman functions as the “prosecutor” when it comes to complaints against government officials. If a complaint or case is deemed strong enough, the Ombudsman indicts the respondent before the Sandiganbayan or the anti-graft court. Theoretically, the DoJ-led, all-out corruption probe may follow the same path, but its results or findings could vary with those coming from the Ombudsman. “Is Malacanang saying that the Ombudsman is useless?” Zarate asked.
DFA reviews policy amid abuse rap vs diplomat | The Manila Times – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is reviewing its policy of allowing Filipino diplomats to bring domestic helpers from the Philippines. The review came amid allegations against Philippine Ambassador to Brazil Marichu Mauro for maltreating her Filipina household worker. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the DFA would “be firm in meting out” the appropriate sanctions against Mauro.
