News Roundup 25 April 2022
Apr 25, 2022 • 4 min Read
Robredo secures more endorsements in Nueva Ecija, Batanes | INQUIRER.NET – Presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo managed to secure two more key endorsements from politicians in Nueva Ecija and Batanes days after getting the support of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP). During Robredo’s visit to the 1st District of Nueva Ecija, Rep. Estrellita Suansing — who has been a close friend of the Vice President — raised Robredo’s hand and formally endorsed her candidacy. “Sa araw na ito, sa oras na ito, sa harap ng aking mga ka-distrito, pormal kong ineendorso ang aking matalik na kaibigan bilang pangulo ng Pilipinas, Leni Robredo,” Suansing said in her introduction of Robredo at the Henry Ocampo Compound in Santo Domingo, Nueva Ecija. Suansing asked Filipinos not to waste the chance to elect a person who will change government, as she believes Robredo is capable of doing that. “Isang beses lang dadaan sa buhay natin ang isang Leni Robredo. Huwag nating hayaan na lumipas ang pagkakataong ito. Tanggapin at dinggin natin siya,” she explained. “Tulungan natin siya na baguhin ang sistema ng ating gobyerno na mabigyang halaga ang mga mahihirap na mga bayan tulad natin. Lalong lalo na ang ating mga kababayan na tila yata nakalimutan na ng ating gobyerno – ang ating mga kababayan na nasa laylayan ng ating lipunan,” she added. Over Batanes, Governor Marilou Cayco said during the visit of Robredo’s youngest daughter Jillian that they will support the Vice President in the coming elections. The younger Robredo was in Batanes to do house-to-house campaigns. The two officials are the latest on the long line of personalities and groups to express support for Robredo’s candidacy. As mentioned earlier, MILF and UBJP gave Robredo a fitting gift on her birthday last Saturday after the two parties which make up a huge part of the Bangsamoro government. Earlier, Aksyon Demokratiko member and Tagbilaran City, Bohol mayoral candidate Jose Antonio “Toto” Veloso said that he and his slate are now behind the presidential bid of Robredo. “The success of VP Leni in stirring, inspiring, and rallying people as seen in surveys, social media, and in huge turnout in almost all her rallies are clear manifestations that she has all it takes to become the best alternative candidate that people want her to be,” Veloso said in a statement signed by him and his fellow candidates.
‘Laban lang:’ De Lima vows to continue fight in court case | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Leila de Lima vowed to continue fighting despite being detained, uttering the words “laban lang” (fight on) during the hearing of one drug-related case against her on Monday. According to de Lima’s communication team, De Lima physically attended the hearing of the case at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Brach 256 — which was reset by the court because the prosecution failed to present their witness. De Lima’s lawyer Rolly Francis Peoro said that witness Joel Capones was not able to attend the hearing because of “high risk security concerns.” “These were the words expressed by re-electionist Senator Leila M. de Lima when she attended the resumption of hearing of one of the two remaining trumped-up illegal drug charges against her earlier today (April 25) at the Muntinlupa [RTC], Branch 256,” de Lima’s office said in a statement. “According to Atty. Rolly Francis Peoro, Senator De Lima’s legal counsel, the Court had to reset the hearing after the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) stated that they could not physically present their inmate, convicted murderer Joel Capones, because of what they claimed as ‘high-risk security concerns,’” they added. De Lima’s camp wanted the witness to be presented before the court instead of just submitting a sworn affidavit, so that they could observe the witness give his side. “De Lima’s panel insisted that as part of the Senator’s Constitutional rights, it is critical that they be able to observe the demeanor of the witness to assess the truthfulness of his testimony and avoid miscarriage of justice,” the senator’s office said.
Facebook says ‘automation system’—not fact-checkers—flagged PNA posts | PHILSTAR.COM – No fact-checkers or company officials were involved in the flagging of Facebook posts by state media, the company that owns social networking platform Facebook said, adding that the content affected had not been previously flagged by any third-party fact-checking partners. The statement came after Philippine News Agency, the National Press Club and the administration PDP-Laban party raised concerns of censorship on the social media platform. “We are aware that some links to the PNA and Radyo Pilipinas websites appear to be blocked from being shared on our apps, by an automation system,” a Meta spokesperson told Philstar.com in response to emailed questions. “As a result, other Facebook Pages that have previously shared these links, would see their posts flagged as well. We are investigating and working to resolve this issue.”
