News Roundup 06 February 2022
Feb 06, 2022 • 4 min Read
VP Robredo suspends COVID-19 response programs with Comelec decision pending | PHILSTAR.COM – Vice President Leni Robredo has pulled the plug on her office’s pandemic response program for the time being with the Commission on Election still yet to decide on her request to allow the programs during the campaign period. Under Comelec Resolution No. 10730, the official campaign period begins on February 8 and ends on May 7, 2022. The resolution also defines “election campaigning” as “an act designed to promote the election or defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office.” Speaking in her weekly radio program aired over dzXL, Robredo said that the last day of her programs’ operations was on Friday, February 4. She added that the Office of the Vice President and the Comelec had a hearing “last week” that she personally attended. “We’re suspending it for now because we’re waiting for Comelec’s decision on the exemption,” the vice president said in mixed Filipino and English. “We have [four] COVID-19 response programs and we are requesting for an exemption because while cases go down, we see the number of people asking for help every day. And if we stop this, others do not have anywhere to go. So, hopefully, the exemption can be granted so we can resume.” The programs include her Bayanihan E-Konsulta program, Vaccine Express sites, Swab Cab, and medical assistance program. The Office of the Vice President earlier said that it gets around 400 coronavirus-related calls per day on its teleconsultation platform. Despite minimal funding, the Office of the Vice President has spearheaded pandemic response programs including free teleconsulting and vaccine express partnerships with local government units over the coronavirus-induced quarantines.
Gabriela asks DOJ to issue HDO vs Quiboloy | INQUIRER.NET – Women’s party-list Gabriela on Sunday asked the Department of Justice to issue a hold departure order (HDO) against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church after making it to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) most wanted list. While an HDO is typically issued by the court, a hold order may also be issued by the DOJ to be able to monitor any attempt of a “wanted” individual to leave the country. Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, in a statement, said DOJ must issue the HDO “while the extradition request (against Quiboloy) remains pending from the US government in connection with a slew of criminal charges slapped against the self-styled religious leader. “We again ask the DOJ to do whatever is necessary to facilitate the attainment of justice to all the victims of Pastor Quiboloy — even if those measures would run counter to Duterte’s wishes,” Brosas appealed. At the same time, Brosas asked the embattled TV evangelist to surrender himself to authorities and face the charge against him, rather than painting a picture of him as being maliciously persecuted. “Pa-victim itong si Pastor Quiboloy. Eh siya itong maraming biniktimang kababaihan at menor de edad ayon sa indictment charges laban sa kanya. For someone who is accused of molesting minors and trafficking victims to the US, Quiboloy must really be thick-faced to liken himself to Biblical figures. Sumuko na lang dapat siya,” Brosas said in a statement. (Pastor Quiboloy plays the victim. But he is the one who victimized women and minors, according to the indictment charges against him. He should just surrender.)
Robredo counters fake news purveyors: ‘Stop meddling with our aid’ | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday, Feb. 6, asked fake news peddlers not to interfere into the aid being provided by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) as erroneous claims about the housing materials her team brought to Siargao made rounds on social media. Robredo, a presidential aspirant, challenged those who will believe the posts to ask the communities they are helping since they are the ones on the ground. “Ano naman to, eh tumulong na lang sila. Huwag na nilang pakialaman ‘yung tulong namin kasi hindi naman nila—ang maniniwala lang sa kanila ‘yung mga kasama nila na napapa-ikot ng kasinungalingan (They should just help. They should not interfere in our help because they will not—the ones who believe them are their peers who they’ve already manipulated with lies),” she told reporters in Camarines Sur. The Vice President was in Brgy. Balongay for the turnover of sustainable livelihood subsidy to barangay farmers and fisherfolks association. The sustainable livelihood program (SLP) is 100 percent funded by Robredo’s office.
PH records 8K new COVID-19 cases | Manila Bulletin – The Philippines posted 8,361 more coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases on Sunday, Feb. 6. This was the sixth day in a row that the country has recorded below 10,000 cases since it experienced a surge in infections last January—which was driven by the Omicron coronavirus variant. Based on the latest case bulletin, the number of active cases nationwide or patients still sick was at 126,227. Most of these cases or 116,598 have mild symptoms, 4,864 are asymptomatic, 3,008 are moderate, 1,447 are severe, and 310 are in critical status. The DOH also logged 312 new fatalities, raising the COVID-19 death count to 54,526. Another 18,431 patients have recuperated. This figure brought the recovery tally to 3,428,815.
