News Roundup 09 April 2021
Apr 09, 2021 • 5 min Read
Philippines records new record-high 178,351 active cases, 401 fatalities | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines on Friday logged 12,225 new COVID-19 cases, pushing national caseload to 840,554.
- Active cases: 178,351 or 21.2% of the total
- Recoveries: 946, bringing the number to 647,683
- Deaths: 401 or now 14,520 in total
Chinese missile boats drive away Filipino TV crew in West Philippine Sea | PHILSTAR.COM – Chinese vessels on Thursday chased off a Filipino boat carrying a television crew within the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the West Philippine Sea. ABS-CBN News’ Chiara Zambrano reported that she and her crew were supposed to visit Ayungin Shoal, where the Philippine Navy maintains its presence through BRP Sierra Madre. The Filipino boat, however, failed to even get near the shoal. “We were just on our way there when a white Chinese coast guard ship approached and headed straight for us. We can see through the lens that the ship is heading in our direction,” Zambrano said in her report for “TV Patrol” Thursday night. The ABS-CBN reporter added that the Chinese coast guard ship later on radioed in and asked them what they were doing in the area. The Filipino boatmen, however, decided to just return to mainland Palawan. “But what happened was that even though we were on the way home to the mainland, for an hour we were chased by this white ship of the China Coast Guard. It was so close we could see its bow number,” Zambrano said in Filipino. The ABS-CBN News team identified the vessel as China Coast Guard ship 5101. The Chinese coast guard ship later on stopped following them, but two smaller ships emerged and followed the Filipino boat. “There were two smaller but faster vessels and when we looked at it they were Type 022 Houbei fast attack crafts with two missiles mounted each one of them,” the reporter added. The Type 022 is the Chinese navy’s new-generation stealth missile fast attack craft. It is equipped with two missile launchers and has a top speed of 38 knots, according to Global Security. Zambrano noted that the two missile boats came from China’s military outpost on Panganiban or Mischief Reef.
‘Natural’ for public to look for leaders amid crisis, says Robredo INQUIRER.NET – In a time when the country is facing a crisis, it is only “natural” for “people to look for their leader” and be assured that “everything is under control,” Vice President Leni Robredo as Filipinos took to social media to question the whereabouts of President Rodrigo Duterte. “Nakikita ko naman siya sa social media pero para sakin…in crisis situations, kahit hindi presidente, kahit nga mayor, ‘pag may nangyari sa lugar mo, people wait for the mayor to be visible, to say that ‘everything is alright. We’re on top of the situation. This is what we’re doing.’ Assurance na everything is under control,” Robredo said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel on Friday. (I see him on social media but for me…in crisis situations, it’s not just in the case of the president, even mayors, if something is happening in their area, people wait for the mayor to be visible, to say that ‘everything is alright. We’re on top of the situation. This is what we’re doing.’ Assurance na everything is under control.) She was asked to comment on questions being asked by Filipinos online about the whereabouts of the President and the condition of his health after his regular public addresses were canceled twice this week. “Kasi ‘pag wala yung assurance na yun, yung tao, naste-stress siya. Parating yung tanong ‘san na ba tayo papunta?’ Kaya pa ba natin? ‘ I think that’s where it is all coming from,” Robredo added. (If there’s no assurance, the public gets stressed out. They would constantly ask ‘where are we heading? Can we still hold on? I think that’s where it is all coming from.) “May basis kung bakit naghahanap, kasi ganun naman, hindi lang presidente, governor, mayor, basta may nangyayari sa lugar mo, it’s the natural instinct for people to look for their leader,” she added. (There’s a basis for them to look for him because that’s the way it is, not only for the president, even governors, mayors, when something is happening, it’s the natural instinct for people to look for their leader.)
Robredo qualified to get COVID-19 vaccine, but will let others get vaccinated first | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo is qualified to get an early coronavirus vaccination due to a health condition but won’t take the shot yet due to limited supply of the preventive drug. According to Robredo, she would let other people, especially those who need it more, to get vaccinated first. “I’m qualified already, Karen, kasi hypertensive ako. Hypertensive ako, I belong to A3. Pero hindi pa ako, Karen, nagpapa-vaccinate kasi kulang pa ng supply (I’m qualified already, Karen, because I’m hypertensive. I belong to A3 but I won’t get vaccinated yet because there is a shortage of supply),” she told ANC’s Headstart program host karen Davila Friday, April 9. Under the government’s immunization drive, Priority Group A3 includes persons with comorbidities or those with other existing health conditions. Health workers and senior citizens are the first and second in the vaccination priority list. In the television interview, Robredo affirmed that she has no preferred brand of coronavirus vaccine. “Whatever is available, as long as sumusunod tayo sa payo ng FDA (Food and Drug Administration), ng DOH (Department of Health) (Whatever is available as long as we follow the guidance of the FDA, DOH),” she said. Robredo said she prefers her staff members living with comorbidity to get vaccinated first especially since they visit different communities on a regular basis.
