News Roundup 21 September 2021
Sep 21, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines sees 16,361 new COVID-19 cases | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Tuesday listed 16,361 more coronavirus cases, pushing the country’s caseload to 2,401,916. Today’s figures saw active cases down by 5,708 from the 176,850 on September 20. The Department of Health said four laboratories did not turn in screening results. “The relatively low cases today is due to lower laboratory output last Sunday, September 19,” DOH added.
- Active cases: 171,142 or 7.1% of the total
- Recoveries: 21,974, bringing the number to 2,193,700
- Deaths: 140, or now 37,074 in total
Groups score Duterte for hand in ‘whitewashing’ Marcos’ Martial Law | PHILSTAR.COM – President Rodrigo Duterte was a key figure in the Marcos family’s return to power in recent years, beginning with his “whitewashing” of the crimes, corruption, and human rights abuse during the Martial Law era of ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos, groups said Tuesday. In a statement, the Asia Pacific Research Network, a collective of research and advocacy NGOs, pointed to Duterte’s repeated expressions of support for the Marcos family, which the group said only “lent them further political capital.” “Despite massive literature and verifiable sources on the Marcos atrocities, Duterte has helped the dictator’s family to peddle a different version of history,” APRN Acting general-secretary Mara Medrano said. Ateneo de Manila University in another statement said there were “actors…now back in the spotlight, working hard to blatantly revise history.” “This is now one of our biggest challenges: to make sure that we, as a nation, will never forget…Together, we need to keep the memory of Martial Law so that we won’t make those same mistakes again,” the university said.
VP Robredo: Never forget, learn from dark days of martial law; fight historical revisionism | INQUIRER.NET – As the country marks the 49th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law, Vice President Leni Robredo called on Filipinos to always be reminded of the atrocities under the Marcos regime amid efforts to revise history. “Kailangan nating ulit-ulitin, sa bawat pagkakataon, ang katotohanan: Sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos, nagdusa ang Pilipino—ninakawan, tinorture, at pinaslang; ginamit ang ngalan para ibaon ang bansa sa utang, at pagbabayaran ang utang na ito hanggang sa mga susunod pang henerasyon,” Robredo said in a statement Tuesday. (We should constantly remind ourselves, in every chance we get, of the truth: That under the Marcos regime, the Filipinos suffered, stolen from, tortured, and killed; buried in debt, at made to pay for it until the next generations to come.) Robredo issued this call amid what she said are “clear” efforts to revise and erase the truth. “Ipinapaalala sa atin ng kasalukuyang situwasyon, kung kailan malinaw ang pagsisikap na baluktutin ang katotohanan ng malagim na kabanatang iyon: Kumukupas ang alaala; kung minsan, nabibili ang plataporma; ang kuwento, nabubura,” Robredo said. (We are reminded that in our current situation, when there are clear efforts to revise the truth of that dark chapter: That memories fade; sometimes, platforms are bought, stories are erased.) She also warned that money and power may be used to dictate history should Filipinos fail to speak out and use their platforms in favor of the truth. “Kapag nanahimik tayo— kapag hindi natin pinadaloy ang naratibo sa sari-sarili nating mga espasyo, pera at kapangyarihan ang magdidikta ng kasaysayan,” she stressed. (If we don’t speak up—if we don’t cascade the true narrative in our own spaces, money and power will dictate history.) “Nasa sistema pa rin ang latak na uri ng pulitikang naghari noon…,” she added. (The type of politics that reigned before still exists in our system today…)
Velasco urges Duterte to recall directive mandatory use of face shields | Manila Bulletin – Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to recall government decision to require people to wear face shields as an added protection against COVID-19. In a letter sent to Duterte on Monday, Sept. 20, Velasco cited economic and medical concerns to support his appeal. He said purchasing face shields poses an added financial burden to Filipinos who are already suffering from the adverse economic impact of the pandemic. At the same time, Velasco aired serious doubts that face shields are effective in preventing the spread of infection. He cited medical research studies supporting his stand. It will be recalled that Duterte had previously agreed to lift the order mandating citizens to wear face shields. He aired his decision when Senate President Vicente Sotto III brought up the matter during a visit in Malacanang. However, Duterte changed his mind on advice by top health officials.
