News Roundup 26 September 2021
Sep 26, 2021 • 5 min Read
DOH logs 20,755 new COVID-19 cases, 2 labs without data | PHILSTAR.COM – Health authorities reported 20,755 more coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the national caseload to 2,490,858.
In its latest bulletin released Sunday afternoon, the DOH reported a positivity rate of 21.9% out of 74,460 tests.
- Active cases: 161,447 or 6.5% of the total
- Recoveries: 24.391, bringing the number to 2,292,006
- Deaths: listed as “N/A”, now 37,405 in total
According to the Department of Health, two labs were not able to submit their tallies for Sunday’s final count. However, the DOH added that two the labs only made up 0.1% of all samples tested and 0.1% of all positive individuals. The country continues to battle a resurgence in cases driven by the hyper contagious Delta variant, which has ravaged neighboring countries. It has been 558 days since the first enhanced community quarantine was hoisted over some parts of Luzon, good for the world’s longest quarantine.
Robredo: No need to use military ‘scare tactic’ for every policy | PHILSTAR.COM – Vice President Leni Robredo urged President Rodrigo Duterte not to threaten to deploy the military ahead of the 2022 elections. This comes after Duterte broached the idea of using the military to ensure peace and order during the polls next May. “The military is needed to protect us. I just don’t know why the tone is as if the military is constantly being used to intimidate. They are being used to threaten,” Robredo said in Filipino on her weekly show on radio dzXL. “Every time we want something — every time we want to enforce a policy, we use the military…even in a pandemic. The military, they are professionals. I hope they are not used to intimidate the people.” The vice president was careful to acknowledge the role the military plays in enforcing the law and maintaining order in certain areas, but implored Duterte not to use them as a threat. Election laws restrict the deployment of armed personnel as well as who among police and military personnel are authorized to carry firearms. “Ever since, the military has always been there to help not only during the elections but all the time they are needed to maintain peace and order, they are there…When there is an election, they really help to maintain peace and order because there are really many in areas that are having problems,” she said. “But hopefully, don’t use your institution for intimidation anymore. Because for me, when I saw that, my only feeling was: ‘what is that?…that’s wrong.’”
With 2 weeks to go before COC filing, Robredo to pursue unification plans vs admin, Marcos | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday said that she will continue to pursue unification efforts among candidates for the 2022 presidential elections against the administration and the return of the Marcos family to Malacañang, as the filing for the certificate of candidacy (COC) nears. The COC filing period is from October 1 to 8. “Wala naman akong choice kundi mag-desisyon bago mag-October 8. Kasi kung ang desisyon ko mag-fa-file, kailangang handa na ko by October 8. Pero sa’kin kasi dalawang linggo pa. Tinitignan natin kung may pag-asa pang magsama-sama,” Robredo said on BISErbisyong LENI program on dzXL. (I have no choice but to decide before October 8. If I decide to file, I need to be ready by October 8. But for me, I still have two weeks. We’re looking for a chance to unify against the administration.) “Siguro mayroong iba na hindi na natin maaaya pero hanggang may communication lines pang bukas, patuloy ko ‘yun ipu-pursue,” she added. (Maybe there are others who we cannot invite but as long as communications lines are open, I’m going to pursue it.) Robredo noted that there are many terrifying scenarios that could happen in 2022. “Ano ‘yung number 1 na nakakatakot na scenario? Makabalik ‘yung mga Marcos. Ano pangalawang nakakatakot na scenario? ‘Yung nangyayari ngayon, patuloy pang mangyayari in six years,” the vice president said. (The first terrifying scenario is the return of the Marcoses while the second is the continuation of what’s currently happening for another six years.) Robredo also said that there is still hope to unify against the administration as the COC filing is set to end in two weeks.
Senators worry about safety of Pharmally ‘scam’ witness | Manila Bulletin – Senators on Sunday, Sept. 26 expressed hope that the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee would soon be able to locate the whereabouts of the Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. official who testified and admitted to tampering the expiration of the face shields delivered to the government. Earlier in the day, Senator Richard Gordon said the panel cannot contact Krizle Grace Mago, who in her testimony to the Senate blue ribbon committee last Friday, admitted she tampered with the certification dates of the face shields as instructed by Pharmally corporate treasurer and secretary Mohit Dargani. “I am worried for Ms. Mago. Dalangin ko na siya’y ligtas at maging bukas na makipagtulungan para sa katotohanan at kagalingan ng mga kapwa niyang nasa healthcare work (I really pray that she is safe and that she is open to work with us so the truth will come out and also for the healing of her fellow comrades in the healthcare work),” Hontiveros said in a statement. Hontiveros said her office would be willing to help Mago, should she decide to seek her help. “Mananatiling bukas ang aking opisina na tulungan at bigyan proteksyon siya bilang kapwa babae (My office will continue to be open to help and provide protection to a fellow woman),” she said.
