News Roundup 29 December 2021
Dec 29, 2021 • 5 min Read
Wiretapping case vs Hontiveros a harassment suit — opposition senators | PHILSTAR.COM – Two members of the Senate minority this week condemned the indictment of Sen. Risa Hontiveros for a years-old wiretapping complaint that they said was a “harassment suit” filed against her by former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre. “We stand in solidarity with Sen. Risa Hontiveros as she faces the wire-tapping case resurrected after years in slumber,” Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a candidate for vice president, said in a statement written partially in Filipino. “Resurrecting this case is obviously harassment.” “The case should have been dismissed right away. No wire was tapped,” he added, emphasizing that the messages of Aguirre urging former Negros Oriental Rep. Jacinto Paras to expedite legal action against Hontiveros were captured by media photographers during a Senate hearing on the death of Kian delos Santos. The senator called Aguirre out on the matter during a privilege speech delivered on the Senate floor. Pangilinan, a lawyer, said this means that Hontiveros is covered by legislative immunity. These same arguments were made by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, a former justice secretary, when Aguirre first threatened to file a wiretapping complaint against Hontiveros in 2017. Hontiveros posted bail on Tuesday, paying P36,000 at the Pasay City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 46, according to a document released by her office. In a statement, she called the case “meaningless and baseless,” adding that she was “determined to fight this harassment.” Meanwhile, detained Sen. Leila de Lima, who is running for reelection, questioned the timing of Hontiveros’ indictment, saying the move “reeks of desperation.” “Expect Duterte’s favorite attack dogs to become more rabid as his reign of terror nears its end,” she said in a statement written partially in Filipino. “After [Hontiveros] was charged by Pharmally for bravely investigating their anomalous contracts with the government, this wire-tapping case is revived.”
PH logs 889 new COVID-19 cases; highest in over a month | INQUIRER.NET – A total of 889 new COVID-19 cases were reported by the Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday. This is the highest registered daily tally in over a month which also raised the number of active infections to 10,418. The positivity rate also jumped by almost 2 percent, reaching its highest since Nov. 13 at 4.5 percent of the 27,615 tests conducted. This is closely nearing above the World Health Organization’s threshold of 5 percent — which is supposed to indicate controlled transmission of the SARS-CoV-2. Based on a COVID-19 cases table shared by the DOH to reporters, the positivity rate started to increase on Dec. 19, still a week before Christmas. The rate slowly rose from 0.8 on Dec. 19 to 2.6 on Dec. 28, before jumping to Wednesday’s 4.5 percent. The latest daily tally is also higher by almost 700 than Dec. 19’s 203 registered new cases. Of the new COVID-19 cases, the DOH said 98 percent or 869 of the 889 cases were recorded within the recent 14 days, with the National Capital Region (NCR) being listed as the top region with 564 cases or 65 percent in the recent two weeks; followed by Region 4-A with 86 or 10 percent; and Region 3 with 53 or 6 percent. The DOH also reported 214 new recoveries, which marks the sixth consecutive day that the number of new COVID-19 cases outnumbered recovery cases since the tally dipped below 1,000. With this, confirmed COVID-19 cases now total 2,839,790, while recoveries are at 2,778,131. Of the 10,418 active cases, the DOH said 47.2 percent are mild or asymptomatic cases, specifically, 4,384 with mild cases; 536 are asymptomatic; 3,346 are moderate; 1,778 are severe, and 374 are critical. The DOH also recorded 28 new COVID-19 deaths; raising the country’s death toll to 51,241. The DOH said two laboratories were not operational when the tests were conducted on Dec. 27. Meanwhile, one other laboratory was not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System.
Robredo in quarantine after close-in security contracts COVID-19 | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo is now under quarantine after a member of her close-in security detail tested positive for COVID-19. Robredo, in a Facebook livestream on Wednesday, said she was informed on Tuesday that a member of her security, who accompanied her in her recent visit to areas affected by Typhoon Odette, contracted the virus. “Ngayon naka-quarantine ako. Gusto mong umikot pa pero kailangan mong maging responsible na sumunod sa protocols [Now I’m in quarantine. I still want to go around and visit affected areas but I have to be responsible and follow protocols],” she added. Robredo said she has been under quarantine since Tuesday night.
Locsin thanks US for its over P1-B aid for PH’s ‘Odette’ relief ops | Manila Bulletin – Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. thanked the United States for its additional P950-million donation to the Philippines as part of the ongoing relief operations in typhoon Odette-affected areas on Wednesday, Dec. 29. In a joint press briefing of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and US Embassy in the Philippines, Locsin welcomed the latest initiative from the US to help the country in its recovery from the deadly typhoon, which was announced by Charge d’Affaires Heather Variava Wednesday morning. “We welcome the urgent action taken by the US government in mobilizing funds and its people to support us in our time of great need,” Locsin said. The DFA chief said the additional funding will be used to provide food aid, water, sanitation and hygiene programs (WASH), and shelter assistance to affected communities. He also acknowledged the US as the “single largest country contributor” to the Philippines’ ongoing relief operations.
