News Roundup 06 October 2021
Oct 06, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines’ COVID count up by 9,868 more cases | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Wednesday reported 9,868 more coronavirus cases to bring the country’s caseload to 2,622,917. Today’s numbers saw active cases up by 9,730 from the 103,077 on October 5. The Department of Health said two laboratories did not submit screening results. No deaths were reported again today due to technical issues in DOH’s COVIDKaya system.
- Active cases: 112,807 or 4.3% of the total
- Recoveries: 133 bringing the number to 2,471,282
- Deaths: N/A, or still at 38,828
COVID-19 recovery: Philippines scores last in Nikkei global index | PHILSTAR.COM – A global coronavirus recovery index ranked the Philippines the country furthest from overcoming the pandemic, falling behind a total of 120 nations and areas. Nikkei’s COVID-19 Recovery Index scores countries and regions on infection management, vaccination rollout and programs, and social mobility. The Philippines earned the 121st spot, falling one spot below its ranking from the previous edition of the index released last month. The latest version of the index took into account data as of Sept. 30, 2021. “In the Philippines, daily new cases have started to drop after hitting the second-highest level on September 29, falling below 10,000 on Tuesday for the first time since August,” a Nikkei Asia report on the index reads. “But less than 30% of the population is fully vaccinated, low even among ASEAN countries.” The country’s caseload reached 2.62 million as of Wednesday with a positivity rate of 18.2%. Meanwhile, only 20.54% of Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 even as health experts have said that 90% of the population must be vaccinated to attain herd immunity. Vaccination rates have consistently fallen short of the 500,000 daily target set by officials. In the last week, an average of 433,859 doses have been administered daily.
Law, rights groups see ‘cover-up’ in Duterte memo to Cabinet on Pharmally probe | INQUIRER.NET – The Philippine Bar Association (PBA) and human rights group Karapatan denounced on Tuesday President Rodrigo Duterte’s order barring Cabinet members from participating in a Senate inquiry on the government’s allegedly irregular transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., saying it was unconstitutional and an attempt to cover up corruption. In separate statements, the two groups also condemned Duterte’s directive to the police and military to ignore warrants of arrests issued by the senators against persons declared in contempt for noncooperation by the Senate blue ribbon committee, which is leading the inquiry. “We are of the considered view that the directive of President Duterte, acting as Chief Executive, [upsets] our system of checks and balances and transgresses the doctrine of separation of powers among the three branches of government,” said the PBA, the oldest national organization of lawyers in the country. The presidential directive, which is contained in an Oct. 4 memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, is “detrimental to our people exacting public accountability” for alleged irregularities in the use of public funds “during a pandemic that has cost countless Filipino lives,” it said. Karapatan said any issue that involved the use of the people’s money, especially during a national health emergency, was a matter of public interest. “Stifling investigations into these issues infringes upon the public’s right to know,” the group said.
Robredo spox on VP’s announcement: ‘Chill lang tayo’; supporters to wear pink | Manila Bulletin – The spokesman of Vice President Leni Robredo asked her supporters on Wednesday, October 6, to “chill,” even going so far as to post a link to an Eraserheads song on Twitter. “Chill lang tayo. Heto, konting music. (Let’s chill. Here’s some music. Cool emoji),” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said as he posted a YouTube link to an Eraserheads song entitled “Huwag Kang Matakot (Don’t Be Afraid).” Last week, former Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia, perhaps in jest, told his followers on social media there will be an Eraserheads reunion “kapag tumakbo si Leni (when Leni runs).” Gutierrez made the call on the day before Robredo, the leader of the opposition, will announce her decision on her 2022 presidential bid at the Quezon City Reception House where she holds office. Supporters believe she will accept the nomination of opposition coalition 1Sambayan to run for president and face once more former Senator Bongbong Marcos Jr., who she defeated in the 2016 vice presidential elections. The date also falls on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. “Napaka-meaningful ng araw ng pagdedecide ni VP Leni (The day of decision for VP Leni is very meaningful. The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Thursday pa. Joyful Mysteries,” Miyako Izabel said in a Twitter post. Robredo’s supporters were also asked to “wear pink” for the vice president. A photo posted by writer and talent agent Noel Ferrer on Instagram called on Robredo’s supporters “to wear pink lipstick, make-up, clothes, and many others!” They were encouraged to post these photos on social media with the hashtags #LabanLeni2022 (Fight, Leni, 2022) and #DapatSiLeni (It should be Leni). On Wednesday, Oct. 6, members of Akbayan party-list, which endorsed Robredo’s presidency, tied pink ribbons along Tomas Morato in Quezon City to show support for Robredo’s possible candidacy.
