News Roundup 10 March 2022
Mar 10, 2022 • 5 min Read
As candidates clash over communist ‘infiltration’, activists report arrests in Cavite | PHILSTAR.COM – Members of Anakpawis party-list were arrested in Cavite on Thursday as presidential campaigns argued about supposed communist infiltration in an episode that has become familiar to groups that have been red-tagged — linked to the communist armed struggle for being activists and dissenters. In a statement, lawyer Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson for Vice President Leni Robredo parried accusations from a Cavite congressman and warning from Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson of infiltration by so-called communist fronts and a potential coalition government with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front. “For the record, there is no ‘coalition government’ being contemplated, and to leap to the absurd conclusion that there is, based on self-serving reports, supposedly ‘validated’ by someone desperate for a seat in the party-list elections, is the height of irresponsibility,” Gutierrez, a former party-list representative of Akbayan, said. He said the red-tagging was “fear-mongering in a cynical effort to dampen the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of the people’s campaign that has emerged to provide massive support to VP Leni’s candidacy for president.”
Ex-generals, colonels refute red-tagging of Robredo | PHILSTAR.COM – The groundswell of support from former military and police generals for presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo refutes the attempt to red-tag the popular Vice President, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said yesterday. “Judging by reports, I wouldn’t be surprised if there is already a battalion of former military and police colonels and generals that has gone proudly pink,” Trillanes said in a statement. Last Monday, Robredo met with former generals of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Philippine National Police (PNP), days after a politician, embarrassed by the huge crowds in Robredo’s rallies, “tried to paint the massive sea of pink as red.” “Former AFP and PNP chiefs, all anti-insurgency veterans, have come out for Leni, and their support belies the fake news peddled by conspiracy theorists,” said Trillanes, who is gunning again for a Senate seat under the banner of Robredo. “If they believe in the black propaganda against Leni, they will not sign a manifesto, they will not campaign for Leni,” the former senator added.
‘Ayuda’ for sectors affected by high prices of goods must be given quickly — Robredo | INQUIRER.NET – The provision of social aid for sectors who are most affected by the rising prices of goods, like food and oil products, must be given swiftly to ensure that families would not starve, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Thursday. During an ambush interview in Alcantara town in Romblon, Robredo said that since the provision of assistance is an “executive action,” or one which might not need any legislation passed by Congress, it should be given immediately, especially as oil-dependent industries are left with no choice but to raise prices of goods. “‘Yong mga puwede na kasing gawin agad, ‘yung ayuda puwede na ‘yung gawing agad kasi executive action naman ‘yun. Puwede nang bigyan ng ayuda ‘yung pinakaapektado ng pagtaas ng bilihin, lalo na ‘yung gasolina, ‘yung kerosene, ‘yung diesel,” Robredo said. “Gawin na kaagad na hindi– para siguraduhin na na hindi na magugutom. Kasi pag dine-delay natin ‘yung tulong mas mahirap kasi talagang magdadaan na sila sa nap– magdadaan na sila sa sobrang challenging na times,” she added. But apart from merely saying that aid would be given, Robredo said that the government should now decide on what kind of assistance will be provided — as it may come by way of tax cuts or cash aid. “Maliban doon sa pagbigay ng ayuda kailangan talagang desisyonan na. Ano bang klaseng subsidy ‘yung ibibigay ng pamahalaan maliban sa ayuda? Kung isu-suspend ba ‘yung excise tax o meron pa bang ibang paraan para hindi ganoon maramdaman ‘yung palo ng pagtaas ng presyo,” she said. “Halimbawa, ‘yung mga farmers natin; ano ba ‘yung reklamo nila? ‘Yung reklamo ng farmers natin ang pagtaas ng presyo ng inputs lalo ‘yung fertilizers, grabe na halos ano na pasalamat na nga sila pag nag-breakeven pa sila. Matagal na itong reklamo halos dalawang taon na na hindi naaaksyonan ‘yung pagtaas ng presyo ng fertilizer,” she added. Such questions should be answered quickly as the Vice President fears that inflation would worsen even more in the coming weeks.
‘Ukraine crisis could happen to PH’ — Ex-Sen. Biazon | Manila Bulletin – Former Senator Rodolfo Biazon, a retired chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), likened Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the territorial disputes between the Philippines and China over the resource-rich West Philippine Sea (WPS). The retired general said on Thursday, March 10, that Russia’s claim over Ukraine is similar to the China and Taiwan situation, where countries were forced to adopt a One China Policy because of centuries-old political and territorial claims. “And remember hindi lang nila inaano iyong ating (they are not just claiming our) West Philippine Sea. Nandidiyan na sila (They are already there),” he said during opposition coalition 1Sambayan’s virtual forum. Calling the disputes in the West Philippine Sea the biggest “threat” to national Philippine sovereignty, Biazon added that the next administration needs to strengthen adherence to international laws and international treaties, both economic and security. He warned that other countries may think that the Philippines has given up on the resource-rich waters because the current administration failed to maximize the country’s victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, to which many countries have expressed support.
