LIBRENG MASS TESTING PINAPAOBLIGA SA SC

PINAPAOBLIGA ng 11 indibidwal sa Supreme Court (SC)  ang gobyerno na magpatupad ng libreng mass testing sa COVID19.

Sa pamamagitan ng National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), hiniling ng mga petisyuner na palakasin ang contact tracing ,mabilisang pag contain ng virus at i-improve ang laboratory testing capacity.

“The omission of proactive and efficient mass testing amid the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that a systemic and normalized violation of the right to health engenders the impairment of other human rights and liberties, such as the rights to travel, livelihood or work, education, and access to justice,” base sa  petition for mandamus.

Gusto rin umano ng mga petisyuner na atasan ang gobyerno na ilabas ang tama at kumpletong impprmasyon sa situwayon ng CoVID19 sa Pilipinas.

“Without accurate and timely information on the extent of community transmission of COVID-19, the government lacks proper grounds for any policy pronouncement. These irregularities lessen the confidence of the public in the ability of the DOH (and government in general) to deal with the pandemic with transparency and integrity,” dagdag pa sa petisyon.

Kabilang sa mga petisyuner sina dating
social welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo, kumakatawan sa  senior citizens, medical doctors, scientists, the LGBTQIA community, migrant workers, students, teachers, jeepney drivers, frontline workers, professionals at homemakers.

Habang ang mga  respondents sa  petition sina  Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, pawang nasa  Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Gayundin kasama si Peace process chief Carlito Galvez Jr.,  chief implementer ng  national action plan against COVID-19 bilang respondent. (GENE ADSUARA)