News Roundup 01 May 2021
May 01, 2021 • 4 min Read
Active COVID-19 cases hit 72,248 after Philippines logs 9,226 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines on Saturday recorded 9,226 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 1,046,653.
- Active cases: 72,248 or 6.9% of the total
- Recoveries: 10,809, pushing total to 957,051
- Deaths: 120, bringing total to 17,354
‘AFP image tarnished as long as Parlade remains’ | PHILSTAR.COM – Senators were disappointed with Malacañang’s stand on controversies involving Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade Jr. but expressed belief the widely criticized Army general would still be booted out of an anti-communist task force. “The longer he stays on, the longer he tarnishes the image and reputation of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) as a highly disciplined and professional institution,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan said. Parlade is the spokesman of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), a private organization. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who chairs the committee on national defense and security and among the strongest critics of Parlade, said the general is retiring soon, and therefore “it may be worthless to file a quo warranto petition at this point.” He said a majority of senators have already spoken and expressed their collective sentiment to censure Parlade, in a resolution.
Bayan Muna urges Duterte to speed up approval of P10K “Ayuda Bill’ | INQUIRER.NET – Bayan Muna called on President Rodrigo Duterte to put together a special session that would fast-track the approval of the P10,000 “Ayuda Bill” and another legislative measure that would provide a P100 wage subsidy for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate said that it’s high time for the government to make use of the funds that it borrowed, a total of P10.4 trillion, for COVID-19 response while also hitting at the creation of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC). “Our workers are hungry and in dire need and the government should provide aid for them. After all, according to government data itself Pres. Duterte has borrowed trillions of pesos for COVID response and it’s about time that these funds be given to those who need it most instead of useless projects like NTF ELCAC,” said Zarate, who co-authored the bill for the P100 per day subsidy, Saturday. Zarate, one of the authors of House Bill 09262, and Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares led a demonstration at Welcome Rotonda commemorating Labor Day. He added that the P100 per subsidy would complement the “Ayuda Bill” or HB 8597 in not only helping workers with their spending capabilities but also support small businesses that would cater to the families on a daily basis.
Lacson: PH leaders must unite on WPS issue | Manila Bulletin – Philippine leaders must have a united stand against China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Senator Panfilo Lacson said on Saturday, May 1. “Ang irony nito at nakakalungkot, sa halip na magtulong-tulong tayong mga Pilipino, especially mga leaders, tayo pa nag-aaway-away sa usaping West Philippine Sea (The sad irony is that instead of coming up with a united front on the WPS issue, Filipinos — especially our leaders — are bickering on the issue),” Lacson, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense, said in an interview over DZXL radio. “Dapat iisa ang position natin. ‘Yan ang nagpapakita ng weakness natin sa China (What we need is a united position. Otherwise, we are just showing our weakness, one that China could exploit),” he pointed out. Before this, the senator lamented on Twitter the word war between President Duterte and former Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio over the WPS issue. Carpio has been vocal against Duterte’s “defeatist attitude” toward China’s agression. Lacson said “the WPS has degenerated into into a finger pointing argument” between Carpio and Duterte, “and not Philippines and China”. He also told a netizen that he has been calling out the President about his stand “many times already”. “Hindi ka ba naiiyak, Pilipinas (Doesn’t this make you cry, Philippines)?” he tweeted on Friday, April 30. In his latest statement, Lacson said the country’s leaders should start “with upholding our sovereignty and territorial integrity.” He also stressed that China’s donation of COVID-19 vaccines should not be linked to the WPS issue, as doing so may cause division and “petty bickering” among Filipinos.
