News Roundup 03 May 2022
May 03, 2022 • 5 min Read
‘Greatest frame-up’ unraveling – De Lima lawyer | INQUIRER.NET – The “greatest frame-up in Philippine history” is unraveling with the retraction of the prosecution’s star witness against detained Sen. Leila de Lima, the second in just a week, her lawyer Dino de Leon said on Monday. De Leon said the affidavit executed by former Bureau of Corrections officer in charge Rafael Ragos, taking back his statements accusing De Lima of involvement in drug trafficking at New Bilibid Prison (NBP) during her term as justice secretary, should compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to drop all charges against the lawmaker. De Lima, a fierce critic of the Duterte administration, has been detained at Camp Crame Custodial Center since February 2017, facing multiple drug cases that her supporters, including international rights groups, insist were fabricated. In his affidavit notarized on April 30 in Pasig City but made public on Monday, Ragos alleged that then Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II had “coerced” him into testifying against De Lima. This followed the retraction of another key witness, Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa, who said he had been “misled by the police” into signing his affidavit against the senator in exchange for the dropping of charges against him. De Leon said the DOJ should “do the right thing” by launching an investigation into how the frame-up job, part of an alleged “sinister plot” of the Duterte administration, occurred and to uncover the people behind it. In a series of tweets, De Lima acknowledged Ragos’ change of heart, saying she hoped others would follow suit. “Five years too late but still appreciated. May others involved in the fabricated cases against me also find their conscience. Our fight continues for truth and justice,” the senator said in Filipino. “I’ve been detained for over five years and waiting for this moment. More than five years of injustice. Despite this, I am grateful for the strengthening and the revelation of the truth of my innocence and those who conspired to malign, intimidate and silence me,” De Lima said.
Robredo unveils 5-point economic recovery plan | PHILSTAR.COM – Less than a week before the elections, presidential candidate and Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday unveiled her five-point economic recovery plan to address the challenges faced by Filipinos amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a video message, Robredo underscored the need to uplift the lives of every Filipino, especially those in the fringes who almost lost hope during the pandemic. “Angat Buhay Pilipino is a broad plan for economic recovery. It is not just a promise to reduce the price of rice, electricity or gasoline,” Robredo said in Filipino. “These are solutions to the root of the problems. My belief is that the people should be at the center of economic recovery,” she added. First on Robredo’s priority is to provide decent livelihood to every Filipino. “In our plan, if you lose your job, you will get assistance for three months. If you still cannot find one during this period, it will be the government that will provide you with employment,” she said. “Age and gender should not be a hindrance to having a livelihood. You can also get training for additional knowledge and skills,” she added. Robredo vowed to ensure the health and wellbeing of all Filipinos, citing the need to fix the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and give every family free access to a doctor. She also committed to further improve the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program by including mothers and the newborn in the conditional cash transfer to ensure their well being in the first 1,000 days. “We will also expand the school-based feeding program in public primary and secondary schools so that our children will no longer be hungry,” Robredo said. “We will also assess our educational system and identify the needed reforms. We will increase the budget to address the impact of the pandemic. We will ensure quality education for our children,” she added. The Vice President also committed to address challenges in other sectors, including agriculture and fisheries, tourism, transportation, manufacturing as well as infrastructure. “We will strengthen public-private partnership and we will shift to digital economy,” she said.
Commuter, transport groups issue unity statement backing Robredo-Pangilinan tandem | PHILSTAR.COM – Almost 30 groups representing commuters and transport workers came out Monday in support of the election tandem of Vice President Leni Robredo and Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. In a unity statement issued Tuesday morning, the groups said that Robredo and Pangilinan “are the ones we see capable of building a government that will faithfully lift the lives of all drivers, operators, and commuters.” “As a commuter, Leni knows and has experienced the pains caused by poor management of public transportation. Her plan includes having a more humane and equitable program to raise the level of public transportation where nobody is disadvantaged,” the statement reads in Filipino. “The public transportation sector was one of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, many jeepney drivers have so far not been able to return to their routes and thousands of commuters continue to suffer due to the lack of proper planning for public transportation.” The groups pointed to the specific platforms of the tandem for the transport sector, including:
- Increasing the number of passing public transport through a proper service contracting program and inclusive franchising system.
- Funding of protected and connected bike lanes and secure bicycle parking.
- Safe and walkable spaces for passengers and pedestrians.
- Inclusive crossing and boarding for the disabled, pregnant, and seniors.
- Better terminals and rails.
- Trees and plants on the road that will provide shade and comfort to everyone.
The statement was signed by, among others, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide or Piston, the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union, AltMobility PH, Lifecycles PH, the Alliance of Pavia Iloilo Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association, the Bohol Island Operators & Drivers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, the Banawa Transport Cooperative, and the Move as One transport coalition.
