News Roundup 07 February 2022
Feb 07, 2022 • 4 min Read
PH logs 6,835 new COVID-19 cases; positivity rate at 19.1 percent | INQUIRER.NET – An additional 6,835 cases of COVID-19 were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, along with 16,330 new recoveries. This is the seventh day in a row the Philippines recorded less than 10,000 cases during the latest COVID-19 surge caused by the more transmissible Omicron variant. This is also the 10th consecutive day the country saw higher daily recoveries than infections starting Feb. 1 amid, however, a lower testing rate. Meanwhile, the positivity rate is now at 19.1 percent out of the 36,773 tests conducted on Feb. 5, the lowest rate the country has recorded since Jan. 2, and the first time it went below 20 percent since.
Robredo: Disinformation, fake news still biggest challenge to presidential bid | INQUIRER.NET – Disinformation and fake news remain the biggest challenge to the presidential campaign of Vice President Leni Robredo. She reaffirmed this here on Monday at the sidelines of a program in Barangay Pacol. Robredo is set to launch her official presidential campaign on Tuesday, February 8. According to her, all the negative things that are being thrown at her stem from misinformation – as facts and details about her statements have been twisted to criticize her or put her in a bad light. “Disinformation saka fake news,” Robredo said when asked what would be the biggest threat to her candidacy. “Kasi lahat naman na— lahat na ‘yun mga negative na binabato sa akin, lahat ang basihan disinformation eh.” (Disinformation and fake news. Because all of the negative information thrown against me are based on disinformation.) “Maraming mga pagkakataon na either tine-twist ang mga facts or ‘yung mga facts ay – ang tinutulak na mga news ay totally baseless. So, because of the power of social media, and ‘yun nga ‘yung lagi kong sinasabi na ‘yung social media kasi works on algorithms, ‘yun talaga ‘yung mahirap dahil alam natin na ang daming fake accounts ngayon,” she added. (There are many instances that the facts are either twisted or the facts being pushed as news are totally baseless. So because of the power of social media, as I’ve said that social media works on algorithms, it becomes hard because as we know, there are a lot of fake accounts today.) Robredo said a huge part of the problem with social media misinformation is that it is hard to hold perpetrators accountable – unlike traditional media channels and news sites which may be held liable for libel or other violations should they publish fake content.
Hontiveros lauds DOJ for committing to Pastor Quiboloy’s extradition | Manila Bulletin – Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday, February 7, welcomed the Department of Justice (DOJ) commitment to work on the possible extradition case against Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. Hontiveros, who is seeking re-election in the upcoming May 2022 elections, said it is high-time that the Philippine government fully carries out its obligations as treaty partners on anti-trafficking and the protection of women and children. “I laud the DOJ for saying it will work on the extradition of the pastor, because it’s really important that we fulfill our obligations, not only on our national laws, but also on our obligations as treaty partners with other countries, on very important common concerns like protection of our women and children against human trafficking,” said Hontiveros, who chairs the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality. The US Federal Bureau of Investigation earlier released information that the televangelist is now a “wanted” person for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, and sex trafficking of children, bulk cash smuggling, together with two other persons. The other two are KOJC officials Teresita Dandan and Helen Panilag who are also wanted on the same accusations. Quiboloy has been known as President Duterte’s close confidante, and spiritual adviser. But DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they would still wait for the US State Department to make a request for extradition which will then have to pass through the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
In Naga City, Robredo unites opponents for congressional seat | PHILSTAR.COM – In a display of unity, two opposing aspirants for a congressional seat shared the stage here in Naga City to endorse the same presidential bet, Vice President Leni Robredo. Incumbent Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado and his challenger, Noel de Luna, both wore Robredo’s signature pink on Monday when the vice president was endorsed by De Luna’s local party for president. Bordado is running under the Liberal Party, which Robredo chairs, while De Luna is running under the Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, a fringe party allied with President Rodrigo Duterte’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan. Bordado is part of the minority bloc in the House of Representatives and has opposed some key measures backed by President Rodrigo Duterte, including the much-feared anti-terrorism law, while De Luna is a known Duterte supporter. But for a moment, the differences between the two did not matter as they flanked Robredo as she entered and exited the Isarog Grand Ballroom in Summit Hotel.
