News Roundup 27 September 2021
Sep 27, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines sees 18,449 more COVID-19 cases | PHILSTAR.COM – Health authorities on Monday reported 18,449 new coronavirus cases, bringing the Philippines’ total caseload to 2,509,177. Today’s numbers saw active cases down by 3,278 from the 161,447 reported on September 26. The Department of Health said two laboratories did not submit screening results.
- Active cases: 158,169 or 6.3% of the total
- Recoveries: 21,811 bringing the number to 2,313,412
- Deaths: 93, or now 37,494 overall
SWS: 60% of Filipinos say Duterte VP bid violates Constitution’s intent | PHILSTAR.COM – A majority of adult Filipinos believe that President Rodrigo Duterte’s bid to stay in power by seeking the country’s second-highest post in 2022 goes against the spirit of the Constitution, a Social Weather Stations survey suggests. The polling body in a media release on Monday said a survey it conducted from June 23 to 26, before Duterte confirmed he would seek the vice-presidency, found that 60% of respondents agree with the following statement: “The proposal that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should run for Vice-President in the 2022 election violates the intention of the Constitution, which should first be amended before he may run for office again.” Another 39% of those surveyed agreed with this statement: “Pres. Rodrigo Duterte should run for Vice-President in the 2022 election, because I would like his management of the government to continue.” The remaining 1% chose not to answer, the polling firm said.
1,000-percent increase in PCOO’s support staff baffles Drilon | INQUIRER.NET – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon questioned on Monday the “unusual” 1,000-percent increase of coterminous staff under President Rodrigo Duterte’s communications office. From only eight coterminous positions at the start of the Duterte administration in 2016, the number rose to 81 this year. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Kris Ablan confirmed this when the Senate finance subcommittee tackled the agency’s budget proposal for 2022. “Based on our report Mr. Chairman, for 2016 we had eight coterminous,” Ablan said, responding to Drilon’s query. “You had eight coterminous in 2016, now you have 83 or a 1, 000 percent increase? That’s what the record says. Again I repeat, in 2016 you’re only eight, walong coterminous, ngayon 83, a 1,000 percent increase. Why?” the senator asked. Ablan explained the PCOO needed “support staff” for the offices the secretary, undersecretaries and assistant secretaries. “Are you saying that in 2016, PCOO did not have sufficient support staff because they had only eight and you doubled it 1,000 times. Today its 83? That’s unusual,” Drilon stressed. Ablan again explained that at that time, PCOO officials made no requests for immediate support staff from the Department of Budget and Management. “But why is there a sudden need to multiply it 1,000 times from eight to 83 at the start of this administration, of the Duterte administration. You only had eight. Today you have 83,” the minor leader asked again. “Bakit naman ganun? That’s 1,000 times more. What’s so unusual for the past six years that you had to increase your coterminous positions 1,000 times?” the senator went on.
Robredo still hopeful for unity ticket, but ‘accepts reality’ it might not happen | Manila Bulletin – Aspiring presidential candidates are mere days away from filing of their certificates of candidacy (COCs), but Vice President Leni Robredo remains hopeful that the opposition can come up with a “unity ticket” to go against the administration’s bets for the 2022 polls. However, she also knows that the personal decisions of the other presidential aspirants—Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno—is beyond her control. She said during a webinar hosted by Presentation of the Child Jesus (PCJ) Parish Pastoral Council that she wants the opposition to unite under one ticket because she’s aware of the other camp’s resources. “While I’m not losing hope yet, ano naman ako bukas iyong mata ko sa realidad na baka hindi iyon mangyari (my eyes are open to the reality that it might not happen),” she added. “Wala naman kasi akong kontrol sa desisyon ng iba taong. Wala akong kontrol (I do not have control over the decision of other people. I do not have control). I have been trying my best to make all the contenders understand na iyong laban na ito hindi na sa amin, personal ito eh. Pero laban na ‘to, di ba, para mabawi natin ‘yung (this battle is not among us, it’s personal. But this is a fight to take back the) soul of our nation,” Robredo said. The Vice President initially held separate talks with Lacson, Pacquiao, and Moreno in a bid to form a unity ticket, but this fell through. All three have since decided to announce their respective intentions to seek the presidency in May 2022. She, however, said that she understands where the other aspirants are coming from, particularly because they don’t want to disappoint their supporters. Robredo admitted to hearing the mounting calls for her to run, noting that she’s seen messages of support displayed outside her office building. She has also received emails, snail mails, and text messages of the same nature. “Nababasa ko po ‘yun lahat (I can read all of those). And ako (me), I take them very, very seriously,” Robredo said.
