News Roundup 01 February 2021
Feb 01, 2021 • 4 min Read
COVID-19 cases in Philippines hit 527,272 with 1,658 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Philippines climbed to 527,272 Monday after 1,658 more people have contracted the respiratory disease. Active cases or those who are still undergoing quarantine or treatment stood at 28,891 or 5.5% of the country’s total, data from the Department of Health showed. The agency also reported 27 additional recoveries. To date, 487,574 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the Philippines. But the illness claimed 58 more victims, bringing the death toll to 10,807.
Lawmakers urge probe into Chinese dredgers in Philippine waters | PHILSTAR.COM – Progressive lawmakers Monday called for an investigation into the proliferation of Chinese ships conducting illegal dredging activities in the country’s waters days after one such vessel was caught by state forces. To recall, the Philippine Coast Guard disclosed that joint personnel of the PCG and the Bureau of Customs spotted and boarded the Zhonhai 68, which they identified as an illegal vessel, seven nautical miles southwest off Orion Point, Bataan on the morning of Wednesday, January 27. In filing the yet-unnumbered resolution entitled, “Resolution urging the House of Representatives, through the committee on natural resources, to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the proliferation of Chinese dredging ships conducting illegal dredging activities in the Philippines,” lawmakers under the Makabayan bloc alleged that the same ship had already been caught dredging in Philippine waters in the past. “This incident is not the first time Chinese-manned dredging ships were caught conducting illegal activities in the Philippines. Since 2017, there are several reports of illegal Chinese dredging activities in different parts of the country,” the resolution read, saying these activities “disrespect” the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “Residents near the areas repeatedly raised alarms over these activities as these cause adverse environmental effects and negatively impact their livelihood,” it also added. According to the House lawmakers, Bayan Muna chairman Neri Colmenares and a team documented the same Zhonghai 68 vessel “anchored offshore” in Zambales in 2019. “Local fisherfolk also sent pictures of quarrying ships with Chinese crew…some sources from Zambales claim that these dredging activities continued even in 2020,” the resolution also said.
PH Coast Guard barred from boarding Chinese ship anchored off Catanduanes | INQUIRER.NET – The crew of a Chinese research ship that entered waters off Catanduanes province without clearance from the Philippine government refused access to Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) men supposedly because of COVID-19 protocols. Commodore Armand Balilo, PCG spokesperson, said a PCG boat was deployed to inspect Chinese ship Jia Geng which entered Philippine waters without Philippine government clearance last Jan. 29. The PCG men were told they can’t board the Chinese vessel because of COVID-19 restrictions, according to Balilo. The Chinese ship should be subject to Philippine port state control because it was inside municipal waters. “The captain refused to be boarded due to health protocol. Thus, PCG asked for documents for verification,” said Balilo. He said the PCG in Catanduanes closely watched the ship 24/7 and monitored its activities throughout its stay. Last Jan. 30, he said the PCG was informed by the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Chinese embassy requested for diplomatic clearance for the ship to take shelter in Catanduanes due to bad weather. At the time the Chinese ship entered Philippine waters, however, there was no storm or strong waves in the area.
Rachel Alejandro-look alike VP Leni says she’s working, not on vacation in Palawan | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo may have a look-alike in the entertainment industry in singer-actress Rachel Alejandro. And it was this uncanny resemblance that some netizens used to make it appear that Robredo was vacationing in Palawan, where Alejandro is reportedly spending her vacation. A photo of Alejandro popped up on social media with the caption: “Nasaan ang bise presidente? Busy naman pala sa Palawan. Ugghh.” (Where is the vice president? She is busy in Palawan. Ugghh.) The #NasaanAngBisePresidente made the rounds of social media amid the massive flooding in Mindanao in December last year, that to be an anti-thesis to the #NasaanAngPresidente (Where is the President) hashtag that emerged, criticizing the absence of President Duterte in the aftermath of the successive typhoons that hit the country. Her uploaded photo gained the attention of social media users, including Robredo, who humored her Facebook followers by reposting it. “Initially confused why a number of people are sending me this,” she wrote. “Kalma lang po. Hindi ako yan. Andito po ako sa opisina, wala sa Palawan.” (Keep calm. That’s not me. I’m here in the office, not in Palawan.) The vice president then apologized to the singer-actress after getting bashed online. Robredo has been a victim of online bashing and bullying since she was elected in office in 2016.
