News Roundup 18 October 2021
Oct 18, 2021 • 5 min Read
DOH reports 6,943 new COVID-19 cases | PHILSTAR.COM – Health authorities on Monday logged 6,943 new coronavirus infections, bringing the Philippines’ overall tally to 2,727,286. Today’s numbers saw active cases significantly down by 12,809 from the 81,641 on October 17. DOH said two laboratories did not submit screening results.
- Active cases: 68,832 or 2.5% of the total
- Recoveries: 19,687 bringing the number to 2,617,693
- Deaths: 86, or now 40,761 overall
Ex-SolGen Hilbay leaves Aksyon Demokratiko to support Robredo | PHILSTAR.COM – Former Solicitor General Florin “Pilo” Hilbay has announced his decision to leave Aksyon Demokratiko, the political party of presidential candidate and Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, as the former vowed to support Vice President Leni Robredo’s campaign for the presidency in 2022. In a statement posted on his social media channels, Hilbay thanked his political party mates for their support in the past and said that his decision to leave the party came about because of his intent “as an ordinary citizen, to publicly support her campaign.” This comes just days after Cesar Chavez, Moreno’s chief of staff, also left his post to return to broadcasting. As he exited the campaign, though, Chavez stressed that his move was not due to rumored “infighting” in the presidential candidate’s team. “I am leaving Aksyon not to join another party, but out of ethical considerations. I respect the decision of my party to choose [Moreno] as a candidate for president, but also believe VP Leni is a much better candidate in this most crucial of elections,” Hilbay said in his statement Monday morning. A known critic of the current administration’s policies, Hilbay was involved in the arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea. The arbitral tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea do not have basis in international law.
Trillanes raises past Makabayan ‘deceit’ in qualms about Colmenares’ inclusion in Robredo slate | INQUIRER.NET – Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Monday made known his reservations about the inclusion of former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares in the senatorial slate of Vice President Leni Robredo, citing the Makabayan bloc’s supposed history of deceit. Trillanes, who is seeking a return to the Senate also under Robredo’s slate, made a lengthy post on social media about the Magdalo party’s stand on different issues, including the non-inclusion of Colmenares in the line-up. He claimed that historically, Makabayan was not concerned about what was best for the country, and that activists within the progressive organization were only looking after their own interests. “Historically, hindi para sa ikabubuti ng bansa ang consideration nila kundi kung saan sila pinakamakikinabang para maitulak ang interes ng kanilang grupo. Kaya nga nagboycott sila nung 1986, kinalaban si PNoy, at sumanib at nakinabang kay Duterte,” he said. Trillanes, whose Magdalo group composed of retired military officers had been at odds with the leftist organization, cited an experience in the 2016 campaign wherein Colmenares was part of the ticket of then presidential candidate, Sen. Grade Poe, but the latter’s colleagues were supporting another candidate, then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He further said that Makabayan had also fought former President Benigno Aquino III, and had joined Duterte when it suited them. “Sinabi ko ang hindi magandang experience namin sa kanila nung 2016 kung saan isinama si Neri sa slate ni Sen. Grace Poe pero sa ground ay si Duterte naman ang kinampanya ng Makabayan,” he claimed. Colmenares’ non-inclusion from Robredo’s slate, despite the latter’s efforts to unite the opposition, was a hot topic throughout the weekend as netizens debated on whether the former lawmaker should be part of it.
Robredo on deluge of support: ‘Momentum is ours’ | Manila Bulletin – ‘People’s campaign’: Robredo supporters set up online donation portal rained pink in the provinces of Bicol, Cebu, Laguna, and Rizal this week as supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo organized parades, caravans, and motorcades that emboldened the vice president enough to describe her supporters as the most committed and passionate she has ever seen. “Let’s keep the energy flowing!! The momentum is definitely ours,” Robredo said in a Facebook post on Monday, Oct. 18, while also posting photos of the “Pink Caravan,” as she called it. “I have participated in so many elections for more than 30 years already -either as a candidate or a staunch supporter of my husband, and some other candidates. But I have never seen a group as committed, as passionate, and as energetic as our volunteers now,” she stated. Over the weekend, there were caravans and motorcades in six provinces in Bicol, Robredo’s home region, as well as in Cebu, Laguna, and Rizal. The motorcade in Bicol drew 4,000 vehicles while the one in Cebu had 200 vehicles joining the caravan. Earlier, after she announced her candidacy, there were also motorcades in Iloilo and Bacolod. Around 300 vehicles joined the motorcade in Iloilo, a province that was once a bailiwick of Liberal Party (LP), which Robredo chairs. “All of these are completely volunteer-driven and kanya kanyang pa print ng (they each printed their own) tarps, stickers and shirts,” the Vice President said. Robredo has been vocal in saying that she doesn’t have the machinery and resources that other candidates have, but her supporters did not let her down by launching a crowdfunding campaign for her and printing their own stickers, tarpaulins, t-shirts, and tote bags. A group on Facebook has been sharing high-resolution files of images that supporters can use to have their own collaterals printed. The Vice President has consistently lagged in presidential preference surveys but her supporters have been actively spreading awareness about her work in the past week with most of them painting their profile photos and news feed pink, the color that Robredo will reportedly use once the campaign season begins. Pink, she said, stands for hope and has also been the color of global protest.
