News Roundup 07 July 2021
Jul 07, 2021 • 5 min Read
4,289 new COVID-19 infections push Philippines’ caseload to 1.45M | PHILSTAR.COM – Local health authorities on Wednesday reported 4,289 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,450,110.
- Active cases: 47,519 or 3.3% of the total
- Recoveries: 6,399, pushing total to 1,377,132
- Deaths: 164, bringing total to 25,459
Rights advocates say policies neglect needs of displaced people in Mindanao | PHILSTAR.COM – Government policies are neglecting the needs of residents displaced by the Marawi siege and of the Moro people affected by escalating military violence in Mindanao, a global coalition of human rights advocates said. In its second report on alleged human rights violations in the Philippines, Investigate PH said military operations in Mindanao are “perpetuating violence against and entrenching the marginalization of Moro communities.” “Government policy neglects the needs of displaced Marawi residents and Mindanao Moros, and violates their right to self-determination,” the report read. Up to 400,000 residents of Marawi City and neighboring areas were displaced at the height of the fighting in 2017. Four years after pro-Islamic State militants laid siege to the predominantly Muslim city, about 87,230 remained displaced, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The report pointed out the need for the displaced residents to return immediately to their old residences is a “serious economic issue.” Community leaders interviewed by Investigate PH said jobs are difficult to come by, and their status as undocumented internally displaced persons excludes them from relief and government aid. “They have been asked to leave and move to new shelters a couple of times and they have come to feel like second-class citizens while in evacuation, a feeling that only heightens their desire to return to their hometown. Their dire economic situation has even worsened in the midst of the pandemic,” the report read. In a statement last May, members of the Marawi Advocacy Accompaniment said the displacement aggravated by the government’s slow rehabilitation and reconstruction program has deprived displaced people of “much-needed opportunities for economic survival amid pandemic period.”
Duterte administration ‘underperformed’ in COVID-19 response, experts say | INQUIRER.NET – The Duterte administration “underperformed” in its response to the coronavirus pandemic which continues to hound the country, two experts in the field of political science and development studies said. In an interview for the “Duterte at 5: the Duterte Administration by the Numbers” of the Ateneo School of Government, political science professor Carmel Abao said the national government failed to meet its own targets based on the previous pronouncements of President Rodrigo Duterte that the situation in the country will be back to normal by December. “Sa sarili nilang terms of reference, tingin ko nag-underperform ang gobyerno. Hindi nila naabot ‘yung sarili nilang mga targets at hindi nila napatototoo ‘yung mga salita ng Presidente,” Abao said. (On their own terms of reference, I think the government underperformed. They failed to accomplish their own targets and realize the pronouncements of the President.) “Last year, I think that was June or July of 2020, sinabi na ng Presidente na by December back to normal na tayo. Kaso imbes na maging back to normal tayo, lumala iyong sitwasyon. Hindi naman natin na-flatten ‘yung curve,” she added. (Last year, I think that was June or July of 2020, the President already said that by December we will be back to normal. But instead of going back to normal, the situation worsened. We were not able to flatten the curve.)
Robredo supporters post ‘Flex Mama Leni’ sign on FB | Manila Bulletin – Have you noticed something different lately with the social media posts of Vice President Leni Robredo’s supporters? Team Leni Robredo’s (TLR) official Facebook page has been using the flex muscle emoji and while for some, this could just be a coincidence, the group admitted to using it to prepare for her possible 2022 presidential bid. Former Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., the Liberal Party’s vice president for internal affairs, posted a photo on his Twitter account of the chairs of the TLR Cavite chapter. Baguilat said the Flex Mama Leni sign means “matapang na nanay (courageous mother).” “VPL is tough. Her experience as a widow and single mom made her tough. ‘Yung pagbatikos n’ya laban sa pamumuno ngayon shows na matapang sya (Her criticism of the leadership now shows that she is courageous),” he said in a Twitter post. The flex muscle emoji shows a strong bicep, and is the typical gesture of someone who won a fight. It represents physical strength or strength in any skill. “Unfortunately, some people think leadership is being macho. ‘Yung magsalita e mabagsik, nagagalit. Mahilig humamon (They talk with fangs, anger. Loves to make challenges). But for VP Leni, s’ya lang ang consistent na nagsasabi ng totoo. Di takot bumatikos, noon hanggang ngayon (she’s the only consistent one who tells the truth. She’s not afraid to criticize, before and now). That is true toughness,” Baguilat said. “So what does VPL represent? She doesn’t belong to a dynasty or is beholden to big economic interests. She has the savvy of being Jesse Robredo’s chief adviser and partner in politics. Idealistic and pragmatic. Strong private partnership. What else?” he added. Jesse is the late husband of Robredo. He was a three-term Naga City mayor and former Interior secretary during the Aquino administration who died in a plane crash in 2012. He was known for his tsinelas (slippers) leadership, believing that everyone, most especially those at the grassroots level of society, should take part in governance. Although some comments on Twitter scoffed at the Flex Mama Leni sign, Baguilat maintained that they are testing the waters and are still open to changing the branding. “Kanya kanyang branding din puede (Each person has own branding). Depends how you like to portray VP Leni. For me, smart, tough, pragmatic and unifying,” he said.
