News Roundup 22 April 2022
Apr 22, 2022 • 5 min Read
CHR hopes government’s vote of confidence in probes will be matched by full cooperation | PHILSTAR.COM – With the Department of National Defense inviting the Commission on Human Rights to verify reports of alleged abuses of security forces, the watchdog said it is hopeful that the government’s expression of confidence will be matched by its full cooperation. CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia, in a statement Friday, said they welcome the expression of confidence of the government in their capacity to conduct independent probe. In particular, they cited the statement of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that they challenged the US State Department to provide them with details so the CHR can verify them. Lorenzana said they are questioning the US Department of State 2021 Country Report on Human Rights Practices that said it received “credible reports that members of the security forces committed numerous abuses.” Expressing hope, De Guia added it has long been the Commission’s clamor to bring to court human rights violations, such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and tortures. “We ask that the expression of confidence be matched with the full cooperation of the highest authorities, It is also imperative that this is communicated on the ground to enable independent investigations by the Commission and other investigative and fact-finding bodies,” she said. “Being the primary duty-bearer, the government must respond by investigating all alleged cases of human rights abuses,” she added. De Guia said enhanced transparency and cooperation in all levels of the government can demonstrate their willingness to investigate and prosecute alleged cases of abuse and ensure justice. “The Commission looks forward to the security sector’s strengthened resolve and cooperation on all alleged cases of killings and violence involving state forces. To truly curb impunity, consistent efforts and concrete results are crucial in line with upholding the rule of the law and the right to life, liberty and security,” she added.
Robredo to Cebuano ‘Kakampinks’: Hold the fort until D-Day, convince more voters | INQUIRER.NET – Vice president and presidential aspirant Leni Robredo may have won Cebu province in the 2016 vice presidential race, but she refuses to be complacent. Touring the vote-rich Visayan province for the second time, she and her running mate traveled through 135 kilometers of northern Cebu: Bantayan Island, Bogo City, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Danao City, to Mandaue City, where 150,000 “kakampinks” defied the local party’s endorsement of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The grand rally, which featured cultural performances about Cebu’s rich heritage, headlined A-list celebrity and Cebuana Kim Chiu, comediennes Pokwang and Cherry Pie Pichache, actress-singer Nikki Valdez – all of whom were guaranteed crowd-getters. Still, the loudest cheers were for Robredo: “Daog na ta! Uban ta Leni!” (Panalo na! Come with Leni!) “People from the places I visited asked me earlier: Why do you still tour far-flung provinces when there is already a grand rally here in Mandaue?” Robredo asked the crowd. “This is because this is what you can expect from me when I become President.” “If elected, I promise you this: the government will come to you. The farther you are, the harder it is to get to you, the more I will visit you to let you know that we will never neglect you,” she said. This message was in line with her promise to bring “tsinelas leadership” – the brand of grassroots, hands-on governance that her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, popularized – to Malacanang if elected to the presidency. To hammer her point, she told Cebuanos that she was presented a Cebu Development Agenda crafted by several sectoral organizations across Cebu. She shared that what they gave her was in line with most of their platforms. “This is the kind of governance that we will follow when we become president,” she said. “That the government will always listen to ordinary people.” In the absence of local politicians’ endorsement, representatives of ordinary Filipinos from all walks of life – security guards, teachers, street vendors, lawyers, doctors, among others – also came onstage to raise her hand. Since their April 9 Pampanga rally, where farmers from San Simon raised Pangilinan’s hands, endorsement of ordinary people has become an intricate part of her campaign, in a bid to show that no political machinery can trump the will of the people. Earlier in the day, Robredo told reporters that she remained confident that she could carry the province anew in 2022. But in Mandaue, the lone female presidential candidate urged supporters to hold the fort a little longer – at least until May 7, the last day for campaigning. “Can you promise us that you will come with us in this fight? Can we still do this? Can we still convince the unconvinced to come to our side?” she exhorted the crowd. “If yes, then this is what we tell you: Let’s go, let’s win this!”
1,674 Covid-19 cases logged from April 11 to 17, says DOH | Manila Bulletin – The Department of Health (DOH) has logged 1,674 new Covid-19 cases from April 11 to 17, having an average daily rate of 239 which is 12 percent lower compared to the recorded cases from April 4 to 10. Of the said cases, DOH said only one individual was classified as a severe and critical case of Covid-19. Meanwhile, the health department said there are still over 66 million individuals fully inoculated against Covid-19 in the country. It barely moved. It noted that the said number is only 74.28 percent of the target population. The DOH said 12.6 million individuals have received their booster shots. On the other hand, the number of vaccinated senior citizens remains the same, 6.6 million. Earlier, World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) representative to the Philippines Dr. Rajendra Yadav local executives in areas with low inoculation rates must step up to vaccinate more people in their respective areas.
