News Roundup 18 April 2022
Apr 18, 2022 • 4 min Read
DOH: 1,674 new COVID-19 cases logged from April 11 to 17 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines posted 1,674 new COVID-19 cases from April 11 to 17, which was 12% lower than a week earlier, the Department of Health said Monday. The daily case average during that period was 239, the DOH said in a bulletin. Of the additional infections, only one patient was tagged as severe or critical. Since the pandemic started, local health authorities have registered over 3.68 million coronavirus infections. There are currently 664 patients with severe or critical illness, which represent 11.5% of total COVID-19 admissions in the country. According to the agency, 15.8% of 2,842 intensive care unit beds have been utilized as of April 17, while 16.9% of 24,645 non-ICU beds have been used. The DOH also reported 200 additional deaths from the respiratory illness. Of the fatalities, 51 occurred this month. Last week, the DOH warned there could be half a million active cases in Metro Manila by mid-May if people continue to disregard public health safeguards. More than half of the country, including the capital region, will stay under the most relaxed coronavirus alert level until the end of April.
Volunteer group renamed ‘IMK Leni’ after shifting support from Moreno | PHILSTAR.COM – A day after Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso’s tirades against Vice President Leni Robredo at a joint conference with two other presidential candidates, one of his volunteer bases formally renamed itself “Isang Mamamayan Kay Leni.” On Sunday, Moreno, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and former Arroyo Cabinet member Norberto Gonzales held a presser to tell voters they are not withdrawing from the presidential race. The press conference saw Moreno repeatedly daring Robredo — who is at a distant second place in pre-election surveys — to withdraw as a candidate. “Ikaw Muna Pilipinas shall, on this day forward, cease to campaign for Mayor Isko Moreno, to rechannel all its energies and resources to spearhead the nationwide formation of Isang Mamamayan Kay Leni, or IM k Leni, as a direct counterpole to the Marcos forces, its agents and lackeys,” the group’s resolution sent to media earlier Monday reads. In its resolution, the group claimed that there was initially “no clear candidate that [was] a complete anathema to everything that brought shame, hardships and pain to the Filipino people but Mayor Isko Moreno.” But, since then, the group said, “the battleground has shifted between a fight for our country’s regression and progression.” The resolution was signed by lead convenor Thomas Orbos and co-convenors Elmer Argaño and Nick Malazarte. The resolution did not mention the Sunday press conference or Isko Moreno’s performance in pre-election surveys although members of the group said Sunday that they took offense at Moreno’s claim that Robredo had paid off his former supporters to switch slates. “For someone who has not thanked us despite the voluntary help we have given to you, now we understand and regret whatever admiration we had for you,” they said Sunday evening. Though he is still the top second-choice option for potential voters, Moreno lags behind Robredo at third place with just eight percent overall support. “The political terrain, the narratives, and the underlying sentiments of a substantial section of the Filipino people have dramatically changed, primarily between the forces of our darkest past, on the one side, and the forces of hope, compassion, forthrightness, and global leadership excellence on the other, boldly and firmly embodied by Vice President Leni Robredo,” it also said.
Robredo to supporters: Focus on heart to heart campaign, we have a nation to fight for | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo has urged her supporters to refrain from harboring hatred or giving in to emotional outbursts after three other presidential candidates criticized her, saying that they should instead focus on their ‘heart-to-heart’ campaign. Robredo on Sunday night broke her silence about the press conference held by fellow presidential candidates Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, Senator Panfilo Lacson, and former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, thanking people who defended her from criticisms and calls for her to withdraw from the race. “Blessed Easter again to everyone. Alam kong maraming nasabi na ngayong araw. Ang iba nainis, ang iba walang pakialam, at ang iba nagalit. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat na dumipensa,” Robredo said. (A blessed Easter again to everyone. I know many things have been said today. Some were irritated, others do not care at all, and some got angry. I thank everyone who rushed to my defense.) “Pero may pakiusap lang ako. Mula bukas, 20 campaign days nalang natitira. Kailangan wag tayong magpatalo sa emosyon. Huwag nang magbitaw ng masasakit na salita. Focus lang muna tayo sa kampanya – tao sa tao, puso sa puso. May bayan tayong kailangan ipaglaban,” she added. (But I have one request: Starting tomorrow, we only have 20 campaign days left. We should not give in to emotions. Refrain from making harsh comments. Let us just focus on the person-to-person, heart-to-heart campaign. We have a nation to fight for.)
