News Roundup 20 April 2021
Apr 20, 2021 • 4 min Read
Active COVID-19 cases hit 127,006 after Philippines logs 7,379 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines on Tuesday recorded 7,379 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 953,106.
- Active cases: 127,006 or 13.3% of the total
- Recoveries: 21,664 pushing total to 809,959
- Deaths: 93, bringing total to 16,141
Human Rights Watch: Community pantry organizers should be ‘extolled, not vilified’ | PHILSTAR.COM – Community pantries that feed Filipino families left hungry during the pandemic should be “extolled, not vilified,” the Human Rights Watch said Tuesday. HRW Senior Philippines Researcher Carlos Conde has called on the government and on State forces to stop targeting organizers of community pantries, some of whom reported visits by police. The government’s anti-communist task force has also accused some organizers of having communist links, an allegation it makes freely and often against groups critical of authorities. Conde stressed that these community pantries “have been an incredible demonstration of compassion of Filipinos at a time when, because of COVID and the Duterte administration’s perceived inadequate response to the pandemic, many poor families are suffering from lack of food and household resources.” The Maginhawa Community Pantry, the initiative that inspired food banks in dozens of communities across nation, had to stop its operations on Tuesday due to fears for its volunteers’ safety. Ana Patricia Non, who put up the table, showed screenshots of social media posts accusing them of links to community groups. Other community pantry volunteers also reported that cops approached them and wanted to get their contact details and affiliations. Their posts have since been taken down. Two organizers Philstar.com reached out to have refused to go on record for fear for their personal safety. Conde reiterated the dangers of red-tagging, the practice, which he pointed out, has almost exclusively been used to brand critics and activists. He stressed that red-tagging has resulted in threats and even killings.
Maginhawa community pantry organizer asks: Does helping people need a permit? | INQUIRER.NET – Requiring permits to establish a community pantry is “unnecessary” and would only discourage others to help other people, Maginhawa community pantry organizer Ana Patricia Non said Tuesday. Non made the remark after an official of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said that community pantry organizers should secure permits from local authorities in order to ensure that social distancing and other health and safety protocols are followed. “Hindi ko maintindihan kasi kailangan ba ng permit ‘yung pagtulong and ipapatong mo lang naman ‘yung mga goods dun,” Non said in a press briefing. (I do not understand, is a permit needed to help when you will only leave the goods there?) “Kung sakaling ire-require nila, eh ‘di ang ihihingi kong tulong sa LGU (local government unit) is, sila ang mag-asikaso. Kasi ang focus ko talaga is sa mga tao, sa mga nakapila, sa mga nagdo-donate. Ayokong patagalin and masayang ‘yung oras ko, ma-delay ‘yung community pantry, ma-delay ‘yung tulong dahil sa permit,” she added. (If they will require it, I will ask the LGU to process it because my focus is on the people in line, those who are donating. I do not want to waste time and delay the community pantry because of the permit requirement.) Non said the requirement for a permit would only discourage those who want to organize their own community pantry in their areas. “Ang tingin ko napaka-unnecessary kasi kapag magbibigay ka naman sa tao, hindi mo naman kailangan—ipaaalam mo pa ba sa iba na magbibigay ka?” Non said. (I think it’s very unnecessary because when you give help, do you have to ask permission to help?)
Lacson: PH must not surrender WPS to China | Manila Bulletin – President Duterte, the Philippines’ commander-in-chief, could not afford to send the wrong message — especially implied surrender or resignation — on the territorial disputes with China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Panfilo Lacson said Tuesday, April 20. Lacson, chairman of the Senate national defense and security committee, said this after the President said Monday night that the Philippines might risk bloodshed and a no-win situation if it asserts its jurisdiction. “He’s the leader of our country and he’s the commander-in-chief of our armed forces. He can think of anything and speak about anything except surrender. Remember, we have an [United Nation’s] arbitral ruling in our favor and it’s permanent although it’s unenforceable. There are so many things to think about except surrender. We cannot wave the white flag, so to speak,” Lacson said in a television interview. “I am not saying the President is actually raising the white flag but that’s the implication. If the officers and men of the AFP would take it that way, it could be disastrous to Philippine sovereignty,” he stressed. Lacson noted no less than Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Foreign Affairs Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. have said the Philippines could build strong alliances with other countries. He reiterated the Philippines could build stronger alliances with other countries such as Japan, which he said is a natural ally because it has a territorial issue with China.
