News Roundup 13 December 2021
Dec 13, 2021 • 5 min Read
Robredo backs NTF-ELCAC but says it shouldn’t harass, red-tag | PHILSTAR.COM – Presidential aspirant and Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said she was open to resuming peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines but claimed her stand on the government’s controversial anti-insurgency task force never flip-flopped. Robredo earlier called for the abolition of the red-tagging National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict but later on claimed she supported its mandate. Speaking at a press briefing after a meeting at Harold’s Hotel in Cebu City, the vice president said that her stand was always consistent. She said the task force should be more localized in its approach. “I would be open to resuming peace talks, but for me, it shouldn’t just be a national [approach] because a lot of different places have different reasons why insurgency abounds. For me a lot of the core issues will be addressed if the discussion is much more localized… Also, I agree with the help that is being given to really incentivizing barangays with the Barangays Development Fund, I’m all for it,” she said in mixed Filipino and English. “Nothing has changed in my statements. Even before, I already said that I was for a whole of nation approach in solving insurgency. I’ve said it so many times already but I’m saying I’m not against the mandate of this whole of nation approach. But I am against the way NTF-ELCAC has been red-tagging, the way the task force has been used to go beyond the mandate that the task force has been given.” In an earlier meeting with military officials, Robredo claimed that she supports the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte’s controversial anti-communist task force, but the “careless” statements of its members put the body in a bad light.
Robredo grateful for support of Cebu local party even it didn’t pick Kiko | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo is very much thankful for the support given to her by Cebu-based local political party Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) even if it picked another vice presidential aspirant, stressing that people are still free to make their own choices. Robredo was asked during a press conference in Cebu City on Monday to react about BO-PK’s endorsement of her and Senate President Vicente Sotto III for the presidential and vice presidential race — instead of her running mate Senator Francis Pangilinan. According to Robredo, who was seated beside BO-PK candidate and former Cebu Mayor Tommy Osmeña, she would have preferred the local party to endorse Pangilinan, but it is how some things go. “Siyempre kahit sino may laya na pumili ng gusto niyang kandidato. Of course, if you ask me, I would have preferred na BOPK endorses Kiko. Pero having said that, I am very thankful for the endorsement of the BOPK,” she said. (Of course everyone has the freedom to pick his or her preferred candidate. Of course, if you ask me, I would have preferred that BOPK endorses Kiko. But Pero having said that, I am very thankful for the endorsement of the BOPK.) Aside from that, the Vice President said that her relationship with the Osmeñas, especially Mayor Tommy, has always been personal rather than political, as the local chief executive has been good friends with her late husband, former Interior secretary Jesse Robredo. “Kami naman ni Mayor Tommy, ‘yung relationship naming is more personal than political. ‘Nung buhay pa ‘yung asawa ko, Jesse and Mayor Tommy have been very good friends and his endorsement is something that I really value,” Robredo added. (Me and Mayor Tommy, our relationship has been more personal than political. When my husband was still alive, Jesse and Mayor Tommy have been very good friends and his endorsement is something that I really value.) As for Pangilinan, Robredo said that they try to gain a lot of ground by helping each other, and working as one despite some sectors endorsing one of them only.
Public health expert reiterates importance of booster shot against Omicron variant | Manila Bulletin –
A booster shot is important to strengthen the immunity of a person against coronavirus disease’s (COVID-19) Omicron variant, said a public health advocate. Former National Task Force (NTF) adviser Dr. Anthony “Tony” Leachon stressed the importance of “vaccination plus one” in the country’s fight against COVID-19. “Hindi lang sapat na dalawa, kung hindi [ay] kailangan natin mag booster (Two vaccine doses are not enough, we need a booster),” Leachon said in an interview over DZRH on Sunday, Dec. 12, explaining that even though a person is fully vaccinated, a breakthrough infection may happen – that’s why it is important to get a booster shot. “Kung naapektuhan o napasuko natin ang Delta, dito sa Omicron ay kailangan magpa-booster shot tayo. I think that will protect the Filipino citizens pagpasok ng variant na Omicron (If we’ve affected or defeated the Delta, here in Omicron we need to get a booster shot. I think that will protect the Filipino citizens against Omicron),” he added.
DOH records 360 new COVID-19 cases | Manila Bulletin –The Department of Health (DOH) recorded only 360 new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases on Monday, Dec. 13. Monday’s report brought the national tally of COVID-19 cases to 2,836,803 since the beginning of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. According to the data from DOH, 11,083 were active cases or 0.4 percent of the total number. Of these, 4,292 were mild, 3,662 were moderate, 1,948 were severe, 782 were asymptomatic and 399 were in critical condition. DOH also reported 519 new recoveries bringing the total to 2,775,379 or 97.8 percent of the total cases and 61 who have died bringing the death toll from the virus to 50,341 or 1.77 percent of the total number of cases.
