News Roundup 11 December 2021
Dec 11, 2021 • 5 min Read
De Lima scores DOJ for blocking her request to record campaign materials in detention | PHILSTAR.COM – Sen. Leila de Lima on Saturday called the Department of Justice’s opposition to her bid to record campaign materials while detained “the height of prosecutorial persecution.” The DOJ asked the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 256 to dismiss the senator’s motion to be allowed to shoot photos and videos for her 2022 campaign, according to documents released by De Lima’s office on Friday. In their eight-page comment, prosecutors pointed out that the senator is facing a drug case. “For this reason alone, accused De Lima cannot and must not be treated differently from any other accused. She may occupy an exalted position in society, but this does not entitle her to special treatment,” they told the court. De Lima, who is detained on drug charges that she says are trumped-up, stressed that the law allows her to run for re-election and that there is no law that prohibits her campaign. “I am already at a disadvantage as it is, campaigning from jail due to the fake charges and evidence fabricated by the DOJ, only to be further prevented from recording materials for my legitimate bid for re-election,” the senator said in a dispatch from police headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City. “I am not asking for freedom to campaign outside of prison,” she stressed. “That the DOJ would oppose a simple request for the taking of campaign video and audio inside prison is plain proof of an unfair election practice being perpetrated by the government, especially now that [President Rodrigo] Duterte is also vying for a senatorial post.” De Lima further argued that although she is detained, she has not been convicted of any of the drug cases filed against her.
MMDA urges organizers of Marcos Jr.-Sara caravan to follow rules | INQUIRER.NET – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) general manager Don Artes on Saturday urged organizers of the Marcos-Duterte caravan to follow the guidelines and to commit to self-regulation in launching activities. This development came after supporters of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, running for president and vice president, respectively, will hold another caravan on December 12 from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. “‘Yun lang po ine-emphasize namin sa organizers na unang-una sundin po natin ‘yung ating mga restrictions or guidelines na napagkasunduan. Unang-una, walang programa sa kalsada, wala pong unnecessary stoppage po dapat, at i-maintain ‘yung designated lane,” Artes said in a press conference. (What we are emphasizing to organizers is to comply with our restrictions or guidelines agreed upon. First, no programs on the roads, no unnecessary stoppage, and drive along the designated lanes.) “Ito po ay hindi naman namin kayang ipatupad sa lahat dahil limited din naman po ‘yung number ng tao ng MMDA, kapulisan, at ng mga LGUs (local government units). So talagang magre-rely tayo doon sa self-regulation and self-policing na inyong nabanggit at ito naman po, bilang kayo ang organizer. Ang accountability po ng kung anong magiging resulta nitong partikular na activity na ito ay nasa inyo,” he added. (We cannot implement all these because we have a limited number of personnel in the MMDA, police, and LGUs. So, we rely on self-regulation and self-policing that you mentioned. The accountability of the activity’s result is on you.)
Locsin recalls Nobel Prize frustration as he congratulates Ressa | Manila Bulletin – Maria Ressa’s in-person acceptance of her Nobel Peace Prize has reminded Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Teddy Boy Locsin of one of his great frustrations in life. No, it’s not to win the coveted award himself; instead, it’s his supposed failure to put his former boss, the late President Cory Aquino, on the Nobel Prize stage. “Congratulations again,” tweeted Locsin as he shared a news article of journalist Ressa’s acceptance of the award at the Oslo City Hall in Oslo, Norway, on Friday, Dec. 10. Also receiving the award alongside Ressa was Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov. “And thank you both for exposing the danger of social media—that unaccountable and irresponsible medium where nothing of value is at stake unlike in newspaper publishing & broadcasting. The truth doesn’t stand a chance in the fast flood of amateur lies,” Locsin said. “I only regret not putting Cory on that stage—despite her actualizing the mythical concept of people power; making it beat guns, goons and gold; inspiring the color revolutions that freed Eastern Europe and ended the Cold War. I just couldn’t pull it off for her; a Costa Rican won,” the outspoken Duterte Cabinet member continued. Locsin was referring to the bloodless 1986 People Power Revolution, which ended the two-decade regime of strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Aquino was installed as Philippine president after the revolt. Locsin was the former legal counsel and speechwriter of Aquino, who passed away on Aug. 1, 2009. Had Aquino’s people managed to make the case for her to win the Nobel Prize, she would have been the first Filipino to do so. Instead, that distinction now belongs to Ressa. The DFA head honcho was among the first local officials to acknowledge Ressa’s historic victory. In fact, he did it before Malacañang’s formal acknowledgement.
DOH logs 356 new COVID-19 infections, deaths surpass 50K | Manila Bulletin – The Department of Health (DOH) reported 356 new COVID-19 infections on Saturday, Dec. 11. The new cases pushed the Philippines’ cumulative total to 2,836,360, of which 11,373 are active cases or those who are still being treated. Of the currently ill patients, 4,328 were experiencing mild symptoms, 3,747 were in moderate condition, 1,991 have severe symptoms, 902 have no symptoms, and 405 were in critical condition. Also, 878 new recoveries and 135 more deaths were confirmed. The country’s recovery count increased to 2,774,891 while the death toll now reached 50,096.
