COVID-19 and Typhoon Rolly Updates: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Press Briefing | November 5, 2020

November 6, 2020

As of November 5, 2020, 11:00 PM, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte addressed the nation through a recorded speech to provide updates on the COVID-19 situation and the impact of Typhoon Rolly. Below are the highlights of the briefing:

• Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III reported that Philippine Red Cross’ (PRC) halting of operations and the recent Typhoon Rolly have decreased the number of tests being done by some laboratories.
  • Despite this, Sec. Duque mentioned that there were 11 public and private laboratories that were able to accommodate both patients and testings in October.
  • He added that the due payment of the government to PRC has already been settled and they have now resumed operations.
  • In November, 30 more laboratories were not able to conduct testing and contact tracing due to Typhoon Rolly’s impact on a number of regions, which also impacted DOH’s data.
  • PRRD then clarified if this was the cause of the decrease in COVID cases in the country. Sec. Duque clarified that the decrease was due to public’s compliance to the minimum health standards and strengthened facilitation of the Inter-Agency Task Force and the National Task Force in areas that have high COVID densities.
• Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reported that the C-130 that they deployed has already started securing food packs and supplies and this will continue as long as there is a need for it. He added that two C-130 and four C-295 aircrafts are on standby to deliver more supplies.
  • LGUs in southern Luzon and Bicol region are currently coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to help fix facilities while those in Cagayan Valley and Batanes are monitoring the impact of Typhoon Siony.
• Sec. Lorenzana also reported that a total of 285,982 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) have already come home in relation to the repatriation efforts due to COVID-19.
  • However, those coming from Sabah are not yet able to do so as confirmed cases continue to increase in Tawi-Tawi and Jolo. They are currently focusing on testing and building isolation facilities in these provinces to help improve the situation.
  • He added that cases in Cebu, Bacolod, and Iloilo City have already stabilized.
• Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año reported that they are constantly updating the administrative and criminal cases being filed against those who have been involved in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program.
  • From 781 complainants, there are now 1,259 suspects. 363 investigations have already been conducted while 183 barangay officials have already been charged. 89 barangay captains have also been suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman.
  • 10 mayors have also been issued show cause orders for not being in their respective jurisdictions when Typhoon Rolly struck.
• Sec. Año also reported that in the last two weeks, there have been 815 newly approved applications for telco towers, increasing the total applications approved to 2,082. There are still 637 pending applications which they are already facilitating.
• Sec. Año shared that they are continuing to hire 50,000 contact tracers — 45,742 have already been deployed while 4,000 more are being scheduled for appointments. He said these jobs were helpful, especially to returning OFWs who lost their jobs.
• Sec. Año shared that according to the 2020 Global Law and Order Report of Washington-based analytics and advisory firm Gallup, the Philippines is part of the top 50 out of 144 countries with a score of 84/100 alongside Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia. He added that this is proof that the government’s fight against criminality and drugs is successful.
  • Questions included in the survey were:
    • In the city where you live, do you have confidence in the police force?
    • Do you feel safe walking alone at night?
    • Within the last 12 months, have you had money or property stolen from you or another household member?
    • Within the past 12 months, have you been assaulted or mugged?
  • The grade that the Philippines received came from the 174,000 respondents that were surveyed from around the world.
• PRRD expressed his surprise from the report and because it is a recent one, he gives credit to the police, military, and uniformed personnel of the government for their efforts.
• Presidential Adviser on Peace Process and National Task Force COVID-19 Chief Implementer Carlito Galvez, Jr. presented the Philippine National Vaccine Roadmap, in compliance to PRRD’s order that every Filipino should be vaccinated regardless of status.
  • He shared that the roadmap was based on the IATF-approved DOH immunization program and followed consultations with different vaccine experts and stakeholders.
• PRRD then proceeded to read the persons who are now under quasi judicial or judicial scrutiny.
  • Form the Bureau of Customs:
    • Lomontod C. Macabando – Grave misconduct, fired by the Ombudsman.
    • Engr. Ramon Hernandez – Gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, dismissed by the Ombudsman.
    • Raymond Cabigon – Gross neglect of duty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dismissed by the Ombudsman.
    • Gil Senen E. Gamil and Raymond Cabigon – Gross misconduct of duty, grave misconduct, dishonesty, dismissed from the service.
    • Vincent “Butch” Gamboa – Grave misconduct, dismissed by the Ombudsman.
    • Atty. Lyceo Martinez – Gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, fired by the Ombudsman.
    • Filomeno Salazar – Gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dismissed by the Ombudsman.
    • Vicente Torres – Gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, dismissed by the Ombudsman.
    • Renly Tiñana – Grave misconduct, conduct grossly prejudicial to the service, fired by the Ombudsman.
    • Jaybee Raul U. Cometa – Gross misconduct of duty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, fired or being investigated by the Ombudsman.
    • Agnes Fabian, with affirmed decision from DOF – Dishonesty, dismissed from the service.
    • Allan Pagkalinawan, with affirmed decision from DOF – Grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
    • Ramon Anquilan – Grave misconduct, dismissed from the service.
    • Aristotle Tumala – Grave misconduct.
    • Geniefelle Lagmay – Grave misconduct
    • Tomas Alcid – Grave misconduct.
    • Fahad Al-Rashid Lucman – Serious dishonesty, falsification of documents.
  • The following are suspended from service as penalty:
    • Dante Baleva – Grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
    • Ma. Rosario Acosta – Neglect of duty.
    • Noel Carandang – Gross neglect of duty.
    • Dolores Domingo – Under investigation of the Ombudsman.
  • From PhilHealth that are under preventive suspension:
    • Jovita Aragona – Grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.
    • Calixto Gabuya Jr.
  • PRRD shared that the DPWH is still under investigation. He is expecting for a big number of officials to be identified as there are a lot of anomalies involved in the development of public infrastructure. He said that he will be exhausting the remainder of his term to investigate these and file all the necessary charges.
• Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reported that based on the press briefing they had in Catanduanes, as there were intense damages left by Typhoon Rolly. He added that Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte donated Php 1.5 million to the local government.
  • A total of 35,000 families are affected with 10,000 damaged homes and 19,000 partially damaged homes.
  • There are more than 7,000 evacuees in government centers and 45,886 in private homes.
  • 10,000 family food packs are already available, while five aircrafts have been made available by the Air Force to ferry supplies.
  • He shared that Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade reported that the sunken boats have already been removed from the pier and can now accommodate relief goods that will be transported via sea.
• In the last portion of the presser, PRRD drove the conversation back to his critics regarding his absence during the onslaught of Typhoon Rolly. He explained that similar to many Filipinos, he went home to celebrate All Souls’ Day and could not risk going back in the midst of the storm. What he did was, he flew back to Manila the day after the storm passed.

DOH Advisory

As of November 6, 2020, 4:00 PM, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 391,809 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 2,092 of which are new cases, bringing the number of active cases to 34,374. There are 462 people who recovered from the disease, increasing the total number of recoveries to 349,974. However, 52 more died, increasing the local death toll to 7,461.

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