News Roundup 18 May 2021
May 18, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines sees 4,487 new coronavirus cases | PHISTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Tuesday recorded another 4,487 COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,154,388.
- Active cases: 52,291 or 4.5% of the total
- Recoveries: 6,383, pushing total to 1,082,725
- Deaths: 110, bringing total to 19,372
Duterte’s West Philippine Sea remarks can be taken as ‘surrendering’ to China — Del Rosario | PHILSTAR.COM – President Rodrigo Duterte’s statement that China is in possession of the West Philippine Sea is incorrect, former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Tuesday. Speaking at a virtual forum organized by the Rotary Club of Makati, the former top diplomat said the president’s remarks could be taken as an “admission against Philippine interest.” “China is not in full possession of the West Philippine Sea. If the Philippines takes that attitude, it can be construed by the president… surrendering Philippine interest,” Del Rosario said. Asked if Duterte was clueless about this, Del Rosario said this might not be the case. “He could be clueless but we don’t think that he is. On the contrary, we think he is deliberate and this makes it more dangerous because he clearly stands with China,” Del Rosario said. Del Rosario, who led the Philippines in the South China Sea arbitration, added that combining diplomacy with a show of force is a good strategy to drive away China in the West Philippine Sea. Beijing continues to reject the arbitral ruling that invalidated its expansive claims in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea. “In approaching the [United Nations], our humble proposal is for the president to task the Department of Foreign Affairs to formulate a strategy on how the global village of nations can be convinced to take a stand in the rule of law in support of the Philippines,” the former DFA chief said.
Nearly 5 years as vice president, Robredo says she’s happier as mom than politician | INQUIRER.NET – Almost through with her term as the country’s second-highest leader, Vice President Leni Robredo has admitted being happier and fulfilled as a mother to her three daughters than being a politician. In an interview with Teleradyo’s Kapamilya Konek on Tuesday, Robredo was asked if being vice president is more difficult than being a mom. She delightfully answered as she found such a question refreshing. Robredo and her late husband, former Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, have three daughters: Aika, Tricia, and Jillian, who have been carving their own career paths outside the shadows of their parents. “Sa akin, parang welcome break sa akin na ang topic naman ng mga interviews ay ‘yong pagiging nanay, parang mas masaya ‘yon para sa atin,” the Vice President said. “Mas masaya, mas masaya kasi ‘yong mga kasama mo, kilala ka nang husto, so ‘yong ating mga flaws ay naiintindihan, nasasabihan tayo nang maayos, at ‘yong pagmamahal nandoon,” she added. According to Robredo, she has no regrets running for vice president although there were times that she and her office were treated as enemies even down to the local government unit (LGU) level — as she belongs to the opposition side of the nation’s political spectrum.
Many LGUs, gov’t agencies don’t want to help OVP because of politics — Robredo | Manila Bulletin – The vice president was treated more as an opponent rather than an ally of the administration, she said. “Mahirap iyon for us kasi marami sana kaming pwedeng gawin kung magtulungan lang pero kung ang treatment sa’yo kalaban kahit gusto mo tumulong, very limited ‘yung tulong mo (It’s hard for us because we can do many things, help many more if we are not treated as an opponent because even though you want to help, your reach is very limited),” Robredo said during an interview on Kapamilya Konek over DZMM Teleradyo. Robredo cited as an example when they want to help rural communities and needed the cooperation from the LGU and national government agencies. When the agencies learned that her office was behind spearheading the program, they backed away from partnering with the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Robredo said that not all agencies are like that because “meron namang iba basta sa ngalan ng pagtulong hindi tinitingnan, hindi tinitingnan iyong pulitika (there are others that in the name of helping, they don’t look at politics).” “Pero, unfortunately, marami pa din iyong kapag nalalaman na kami iyon ayaw tumulong (But, unfortunately, there are still many who refused to help when they learned that it’s us),” she lamented.
