News Roundup 10 June 2021
Jun 10, 2021 • 4 min Read
COVID-19 cases in the Philippines hit 1.29M after DOH logs 7,485 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – Local health authorities on Thursday reported 7,485 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,293,687.
- Active cases: 56,921 or 4.4% of the total
- Recoveries: 4,504, pushing total to 1,214,454
- Deaths: 122, bringing total to 23,312
LP president backs fielding single opposition presidential candidate | PHILSTAR.COM – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, president of the formerly ruling Liberal Party, backed calls for the opposition to unite behind a single presidential candidate in next year’s elections. Among the officials seen as a potential candidate for president is Vice President Leni Robredo, who is LP chair. “The reason behind we have to have one candidate is because we want to win. If we split the votes, then it will be Duterte and his administration all over again,” Pangilinan told ABS-CBN News Channel’s “Headstart” on Thursday. This is a shift from previous pronouncements from Pangilinan, who previously said that the LP has no official stand yet on opposition coalition 1Sambayan, which eyes to field a national ticket for the 2022 polls. Pangilinan acknowledged that unity among the broad forces that make up the opposition is critical in winning the elections, saying that this is what they learned from their losses in 2016 and 2019. “If we are to unite we have to go with the broadest coalition possible to succeed to be an effective force in what we believe to be better,” he said. “We need to broaden our forces and we need to unite behind one candidate. And that requires really embracing those who we have differences with,” he added. LP’s Robredo is among the politicians being considered by 1Sambayan as its potential presidential candidate. Pangilinan said they have discussed the possibility of fielding Robredo as the opposition’s presidential candidate for 2022, but also acknowledged that the opposition may choose to field someone else.
Whistleblower in alleged sale of vaccination slots eyes charges vs PNP | INQUIRER.NET – The whistleblower in the vaccination slots for sale scam said Thursday she is eyeing to file charges against the Philippine National Police (PNP) after she was tagged as a suspect without being questioned or contacted by the police. “This is actually an option we are considering right now,” Nina Dizon-Cabrera said when asked over ANC’s Headstart if she would file charges against the PNP once the allegations against her are proven false. Cabrera was among those charged in connection with the scheme involving the alleged sale of vaccination slots in Mandaluyong City. She claims, however, that she has not yet received a letter from the Mandaluyong City Prosecutor’s Office informing her of the allegations. “But definitely we’ll be fighting these alleged charges because they are false,” said Cabrera. According to Cabrera, the PNP had filed charges against her and revealed her identity without even contacting her. She said she just learned she is under investigation after reading a news article tagging her as the third suspect in the scam. ,“I didn’t even receive the end of the complainant’s case, which is why we’re still waiting for it,” said Cabrera., “Nobody ever reached out to me, which is why I was really surprised when I saw the article yesterday, nobody asked me questions, or asked me anything about it,” she added. Cabrera explained that the last time she was in contact with authorities was when the local government unit (LGU) of San Juan City got in touch with her after seeing her posts about the scheme on Twitter on May 21. “And that was it. They even thanked me for the information that I gave them,” she said.
On Independence Day, Trillanes reminds Filipinos to register to vote | Manila Bulletin – Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has reminded Filipinos to register to vote in the May 2022 polls, saying that their votes will free the country from a “rotten” system. In a video message posted on his Facebook page, the former senator greeted the public on the commemoration of the 123rd Independence Day on Saturday, June 12. “Sa araw na ito, huwag ninyong kalimutan ilagay sa schedule ninyo ang pagparehistro para makaboto. Ito ang magiging daan para makalaya tayo sa mga bulok na pamamalakad at sistema para tuloy-tuloy na ang ating pag-unlad (On this day, don’t forget to put in your schedule your plan to register to vote. This is the way for us to be free from the rotten policy and system so our progress will continue),” he said. Trillanes, a staunch critic of the Duterte administration, added he is one with the Filipino people in celebrating the country’s independence from Spanish colonial rule.
