News Roundup 23 April 2022
Apr 23, 2022 • 4 min Read
Robredo gets backing of MILF in historic endorsement | PHILSTAR.COM – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front and its political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, has endorsed the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo, a much-needed boost in the Bangsamoro region where provincial governors have declared support for survey frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This is the first time that the MILF and the UBJP came out in support of a presidential candidate. UBJP was organized in 2014 in anticipation of the passage of a law that would implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro and create the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. On the sidelines of an event in Basilan, Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman (Basilan) called the endorsement a “big boost” for the Robredo campaign. “The MILF is an organization that is founded on the principles embodying the Moro people’s clamor for self-governance and self-determination. And I believe that no other presidential candidate genuinely believes in and recognizes these principles more than VP Leni,” he said. “The UBJP and MILF’s support is indeed a big boost to VP Leni’s campaign not only in BARMM but in the whole of Mindanao. But we must not be complacent, there is more to be done. We must double our efforts if we wish to elect a leader who will ensure there is good governance in public service,” Hataman said. Even before their endorsement, signs were already pointing that they were mulling to back the independent presidential candidate, with Bangsamoro chief minister Ahod Ebrahim saying in a meeting with her last month that they are looking forward to a Robredo presidency. “We look forward for the vice president to be our next president in order to achieve the continuity we need for the implementation of the peace process,” he said then. In the 16th Congress, Robredo was one of the co-authors of the Bangsamoro Basic Law, which was the predecessor to the Bangsamoro Organic Law — the culmination of years-long peace negotiations that created a new autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao led primarily by the MILF. BARMM Chief Minister Ebrahim, also known as Al-hajj Murad Ebrahim, is chairman of the MILF.
Robredo debunks ties with CPP founder, eyes legal action vs purveyors of fake news | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo has debunked claims that Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founder Jose Maria Sison is her advisor, adding that her camp is mulling possible legal action against people spreading ‘fake news’. In a statement on Saturday, presidential candidate Robredo pointed out that said that she has never even talked with the Sison who is in self-exile in the Netherlands. “Walang katotohanan ang kuwento na ‘adviser’ ko o ng ating kampanya si Jose Maria Sison. Hindi ko pa siya nakakausap kahit minsan, personal man o sa anumang paraan,” she said. (There is no truth to the claims that Jose Maria Sison is my personal or campaign adviser. I have never talked to him in any capacity.) “Malinaw na kasinungalingan ang paratang na siya ay nagbibigay ng ‘advice’ sa akin o sinuman sa aking staff,” she added. (The claim that he is advising us is a lie.) “Kasalukuyang pinag-aaralan na ng ating mga abogado ang pagsampa ng nararapat na kaso para panagutin ang nagpalabas ng kasinungalingang ito,” she noted. (Our lawyers are looking at filing of appropriate cases to hold people who propagate these lies accountable.) Sison himself denied the claim.
2nd booster rolled out April 25 for those with comorbidities | INQUIRER.NET – The government would start next week the rollout of the second COVID-19 booster shot for the immunocompromised, or people with comorbidities. “We are going to start it on Monday and we’re going to do it nationwide,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said in a television interview on Friday. “No more NCR (National Capital Region) Phase 1. We would like to roll it out nationwide, immediately on Monday, after we have discussed the guidelines with our implementers,” she added. The Food and Drug Administration had approved earlier this month the second booster dose for health workers, the elderly and the immunocompromised—the top three priority groups in the government’s vaccination program to stop the further spread of the coronavirus. But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said health workers and seniors would not yet be part of the rollout. “So for now, what I have approved based on the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council is the second booster dose only for immunocompromised patients,” he said, referring to the advisory body of the Department of Health (DOH) regarding health technologies.
