PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday, April 3, 2020, dismissed a commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission for calling for an investigation against Vice President Leni Robredo over alleged illegal solicitations for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) aid.
During his address to the nation Friday night, Duterte said Commissioner Manuelito Luna is no longer connected with the government.
Duterte clarified that Robredo only called the private sector to ask for help, however, Luna urged the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to investigate her over alleged illegal solicitations and for competing with government efforts to address the Covid-19 outbreak.
“Gusto niya na ipa-imbestiga si Leni kung bakit nag solicit. Kaya nga nung narinig ko, sabi ko, fire him. As of this moment, he is no longer connected with the government,” the President said.
“Pero itong panahon na ito na wala namang kasalanan ang Vice President, nag ano nga na magtulong, bakit ipa imbestiga pa. At tsaka iyong NBI na mag imbestiga nun, pati kayo isali ko sa dismissal,” he added.
On Thursday, Luna said Robredo’s relief efforts are “calculated to undermine” national government efforts to combat the Covid-19 outbreak.
“The NBI should investigate Vice President Leni Robredo for illegal solicitations, actions that compete with, or calculated to undermine, national government efforts in this time of public health emergency or national calamities, such as OVP’s (Office of the Vice President) free shuttle service and dormitories for health workers, and PPEs (personal protective equipment) for health workers,” Luna said.
Another PACC commissioner, however, was quick to clarify that the call of PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna was his “personal opinion” and did not reflect the sentiments of the commission.
Main concern
PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica, in another statement, said the commission is “not asking anyone to investigate VP Leni Robredo.”
“This is not the time for politicking. We are not concerned with any personality. Our main concern is to make sure all the needy Filipinos get all the help they need the President promised. Our concern is to end this Covid-19 (outbreak),” Belgica said. (SunStar Philippines)
On Saturday, April 4, 76 new Covid-19 cases were reported by the Department of Health (DOH), bringing the country’s total to 3,094.
The DOH also reported eight new Covid-19-related deaths, or a total of 144.
It also announced five new patients who recovered from Covid-19 for a total of 57 recoveries.
And with the planned mass testing nearing, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that the country has enough testing capacity for the undertaking.
In a press briefing, Vergeire said they are confident that come April 14, they can already conduct 3,000 laboratory tests for suspected and confirmed Covid-19 patients.
“And by the end of April, our goal is to be able to test 8,000 to 10,000 per day,” said Vergeire.
At present, the health official said they are testing some 900 to 1,200 samples per day through the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and other sub-national laboratories.
Earlier, Carlito Galvez, chief implementer of the National Action Policy against Covid -19, said the government was looking to start mass testing for Covid-19 on April 14.
Mass testing soon
In a related development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved the use of the testing kit developed by the University of the Philippines-National Institute of Health (UP-NIH).
Based on FDA Advisory 2020-513, approved for commercial use is the Real-Time PCR for the detection of Covid-19 manufactured by the Manila HealthTek Inc.
“This is the first locally made PCR (polymerase chain reaction)-based Covid-19 test kit approved by the FDA,” said FDA.
The said test kit was approved by the FDA for field trial with gene sequencing back on March 10.
Combining PCR-based and rapid test kits, there are now a total of 30 FDA-approved Covid-19 test kits in the country.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said 12 Chinese health experts are set to arrive in the country Sunday. April 5.
She said the team of 12 will be composed of doctors and nurses.
“They will be observing and providing recommendations on how we can improve our infection prevention and control, critical care, and laboratory,” said Vergeire.
Negative samples
Part of their itinerary are visits to the RITM, San Lazaro Hospital and Lung Center of the Philippines.
Vergeire said the Chinese experts will be in the country until April 19.
In Cebu, 45 swab samples submitted to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center tested negative for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
The development was confirmed by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia in her regular live news conference via Sugbo News on Saturday afternoon, April 4.
Of the number, 23, were from the Province of Cebu, 12 from Cebu City and five each from the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
Some 29,557 persons in Cebu Province are being monitored amid the continued spread of the Covid-29 pandemic.
Some 23,227 of these individuals are tagged as persons under monitoring (PUMs), or those who had to undergo the mandatory 14-day home quarantine for having a travel history to places with cases of the Covid-19.
There are also 94 patients under investigation (PUIs), or those who were admitted to hospitals after manifesting symptoms of the coronavirus such as cough, fever and shortness of breath.
There are 232 who have manifested Influenza-like Illness, while four persons are diagnosed with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection.
The governor attributed the increase in number to the consolidated reports on PUMs in the 44 towns and seven cities of the province.
The data also includes those who arrived in Cebu via the Mactan-Cebu International Airport before international flights were temporarily banned last March 22.
Despite the increase in the number of PUMs, 5,733 individuals Cebu Province have already completed their 14-day mandatory home quarantine.
“Let us not be complacent. Instead, let these results challenge us to be even more vigilant. Let’s keep our measures tight as we continue our fight against the coronavirus,” Garcia said in a mix of English and Cebuano.
As this developed, the governor became emotional as she asked all Cebuanos to unite in prayers in time for Palm Sunday.
“I am asking everyone in our towns and cities to join us as we offer our prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. May she protect us from this health crisis. I hope that those at home will spare a few minutes of their time by joining in the livestreamed Palm Sunday Mass which will be held at the Cathedral. You may watch through your television, cellphones and other gadgets,” Garcia said in Cebuano.
“After the mass, we will consecrate Cebu. If you would recall, the Lady of Guadalupe was instituted as our patroness of the Province of Cebu by the late Cardinal Vidal. In this difficult time, let us all join hands. Let us be one in offering our prayers to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the protection of Cebu,” she added. (JTM / ANV / RTF)