News Roundup 12 June 2020
Jun 12, 2020 • 3 min Read
On commemoration of nation’s independence, Robredo reminds: Our freedoms are connected | PHILSTAR.COM – As the country commemorates the anniversary of the proclamation of the Philippine Independence, Vice President Leni Robredo reminded that our freedoms are connected. “In what we are seeing in the world today — in the face of a pandemic, threats against rights and freedoms, in burning passion against oppression and disregard of dignity of an individual or race — it becomes clear to many: Our freedoms are connected,” Robredo said in Filipino in a taped video message. “True freedom is freedom for others. At this time when there is a threat to freedom of one, we need to resist, because what is being threatened is freedom of all,” she said. The vice president said that to secure personal freedoms, from sickness and danger, it should be done for all. “If we want our own freedom to progress, we need to make the system fair because the energy of the economy flows through all: From daily wage-earner, to sellers of vegetables at the corner, to big business; from the margins to center,” she said. “If we want personal freedoms to express our opinions, we need to secure this for all—because the societal structures that may oppress freedom of others may be use for you,” Robredo also said.
On Independence Day, ex-SC justice Sereno urges Filipinos to fight for rights | INQUIRER.NET – Former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday urged Filipinos to continue fighting for their rights “so we might truly become ‘the sovereign Filipino people’ envisioned by the Constitution.” “I encourage my fellow citizens, especially the youth, to continue fighting for the rights of our people so we might truly become ‘the sovereign Filipino people’ envisioned by the Constitution, who in full faith implore the ‘aid of Almighty God’ to help us establish a ‘just and humane society’,” Sereno said in a statement. According to Sereno, democracy does not suddenly establish itself and that it is something that is “sown, tended, and prayed for.”
Philippines sees highest single-day COVID-19 recoveries as infections hit 24,787 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Friday announced 289 new survivors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) — the most reported in a single day so far in the Philippines — raising the total recovery tally to 5,454. Meanwhile, the country’s total COVID-19 case count stands at 24,787 after the Health department confirmed 615 more infections. The death toll stands at 1,052 after 16 more patients succumbed to the coronavirus.
Iloilo activists mark Independence Day with forum, protest rally | Manila Bulletin – Amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), activists marked the country’s 122nd Independence Day with a forum and protest rally in this city Friday. Amid the threat of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), activists marked the country’s 122nd Independence Day with a forum and protest rally in this city Friday. The different activist groups kicked off their protest action against the controversial anti-terrorism bill with a Friday afternoon forum at University of the Philippines (UP Visayas). “The bill aims to give the executive branch of the government powers that undermine our fundamental right to free speech, right to peacefully assemble, the right to petition the government to redress of grievances, privacy of our communication, and right to due process,” said the different groups in a statement. “We are frustrated that amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the House of Representatives and the Senate prioritized this repressive bill over the urgent needs of the people,” they added.
Duterte skips 122nd Independence Day rites | The Manila Times – President Rodrigo Duterte will skip the Independence Day rites at Rizal Park in Manila on Friday to avoid drawing huge crowds, Malacañang said on Thursday. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Duterte designated Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as his representative during the event.
