News Roundup 05 June 2021
Jun 05, 2021 • 4 min Read
Active COVID-19 cases hit 59,543 after Philippines logs 6,955 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Saturday reported another 6,955 COVID-19 cases, bringing the national caseload to 1,262,273.
- Active cases: 59,543 or 4.7% of the total
- Recoveries: 8,109, pushing total to 1,180,998
- Deaths: 195, bringing total to 21,732
Isko: Government positions not inherited in democracy | PHILSTAR.COM – There’s no way he will support a presidential candidate from any political dynasty, as the presidency in a democracy should not be “inherited,” Manila Mayor Isko Moreno said yesterday. “I don’t believe a government position is inherited in a democratic government. In a democracy, the people make the choice,” Moreno said in an interview with “Headstart” on ANC. His declaration came after presidential spokesman Harry Roque announced that the Manila mayor is one of the politicians being eyed as administration standard-bearer in the 2022 elections. Opposition coalition 1Sambayan also has Moreno in its shortlist of possible presidential candidates. “I don’t want to preempt the people in choosing their leader but I hope they will not be called stupid later on,” Moreno said when asked if another Duterte would be good for the country. Moreno stressed he is not bound to support any presidential candidate coming from a political dynasty. He admitted he’s “definitely” running – but not necessarily for president. “If I am going to run, I will try to make sure to unify everybody, whatever colors they have,” Moreno said. “I am busy being mayor. I have an obligation in Manila. I would rather focus on that until the last day that I decide and I am going to be fair with our people, I am going to be honest with our people. Whatever it is, that remains to be seen,” he said.
Robredo OK with unity among opposition in 2022 polls — spox | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo’s spokesperson Barry Gutierrez said Friday night that his boss is amenable to the idea that there should be “some kind of unity” among the players within the opposition bloc for the 2022 national elections. But while Robredo has been actively standing up against certain policies of the Duterte administration, Gutierrez said that the Vice President’s Liberal Party is just one player in the entire opposition bloc gearing for the 2022 national elections. Speaking to One News’ The Chiefs on Friday, Gutierrez said that while his principal leads LP, it is just one facet of the opposition, and cannot claim to represent the interest of those others who are similarly critical of the administration. Gutierrez was responding to a question on whether Robredo is taking an active role in organizing the opposition for the 2022 polls, through the 1Sambayan initiative that seeks to create a strong coalition among anti-administration sectors. “Her view on 1Sambayan is, it is a legitimate process to come to some kind of unity because obviously, she recognizes she is chairperson of the Liberal Party, yes. But it is not the Liberal Party, it is not the only player in the current political spectrum,” he said. “She is taking a lead role in terms of performing her duties as Vice President, she is taking a lead role whenever she makes a position on an issue known, when she expresses her opinion on certain policies, particularly in respect to the ongoing COVID-19 response operations of government,” he added. He also noted that the approach towards the 2022 elections remains the same, and that is to build a bigger opposition coalition that would challenge the possible administration slate, but that this is saddled by the lack of unity among the factions within the opposition. “And if the opposition is going to have any chance, you want as many people and as many groups as possible under your tent. And that is what 1Sambayan provides: it’s a more-or-less neutral venue where people from various persuasions can come together and hopefully, come to some level of unity and agreement,” Gutierrez explained.
‘It’s just being used as headband’: Trillanes backs lifting of face shield policy | Manila Bulletin – Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Saturday, June 5, agreed with Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to lift the mandatory use of face shields because people are only using them as headbands. “Sang-ayon ako kay Mayor @IskoMoreno na tanggalin ang mandatory use ng face shields. Anyway, ginagawang headband na lang din ang pagsuot nito (I agree with Mayor @IskoMoreno to remove the mandatory use of face shields. Anyway, the people are using them as headbands),” Trillanes, who is now a professor, said in a tweet. The former senator alleged that those implementing the use of the face shield have surely profited from it.
