OCTOBER 9-12, 2021 Volume 31 - No. 80 • 2 Sections – 18 Pages
Robredo, Marcos to face off for Philippine presidency by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PHILIPPINE Vice President Leni Robredo’s decision to formalize her presidential bid in the 2022 national elections was “expected,” according to former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a press conference in Ilocos Norte on Thursday, October 7, he said: “Expected naman natin ‘yun eh (We expected that). It’s not surprising.” “Hindi nakakagulat dahil matagal na niyang sinasabi na
kung tatakbo ako, tatakbo rin siya (It didn’t come off as a surprise since she has said before that she will run if I run),” added Marcos. Robredo filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) for president on Thursday, a day after Marcos filed his own. “My resolve is firm: We need to free ourselves from the current situation. I will fight, we will fight. I am offering myself as a candidate for president in the 2022 elections,” the vice president announced in Filipino, hours before heading over to the
USA
DATELINE FAHM 2021: Carson to pay tribute to labor leader Larry Itliong on October 23
Harbor Garden Tent of Sofitel hotel in Pasay City, where the Commission on Elections will accept certificates filing until Oct. 8. Her move set the stage for a rematch of the 2016 vice presidential elections, only this time the two candidates will be facing off against each other to succeed President Rodrigo Duterte. VP race On the scoreboard, Robredo has won against Marcos twice: during the vice presidential race, and the latter’s electoral protest case. u PAGE A2
PFIZER JABS. A Bureau of Customs official inspects boxes of government-procured Pfizer vaccine doses transported by cargo plane Air Hongkong at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City on Thursday, October 7. A total of 797,940 doses arrived at NAIA while the rest of the total 1,003,860 doses were shipped to Cebu and Davao. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Maria Ressa becomes first Filipino to win Nobel Peace Prize by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
THE City of Carson, California and various organizations on Saturday, October 23 will join the entire community in honoring the life’s work and legacy of Larry Itliong – a Filipino American labor leader and organizer. A tribute march will start at 8 a.m. around the vicinity of Veterans Park located at 22400 Moneta Avenue in Carson followed by a labor awards ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. This year’s Larry Itliong Labor Awardees are Mary Grace Barrios, a community, political and union leader and Justice for Janitors (JfJ), a social movement organization that fights for the rights of janitors (caretakers and cleaners)
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RAPPLER co-founder and veteran journalist Maria Ressa has made history as the first Filipino to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee on Friday, October 8, announced that Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov won the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for their “efforts to safeguard freedom of expression.” Rappler co-founder and chief executive officer Maria Ressa “The Norwegian Nobel AJPress file photo
Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021 to Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace,” it said in its announcement. “Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia,” it added. According to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ressa and Muratov are “representatives of
all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.” “Maria Ressa uses freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country, the Philippines,” it noted. “In 2012, she co-founded Rappler, a digital media company for investigative journalism, which she still heads. As a
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City of LA approves COVID-19 vaccine mandate for indoor establishments by KLARIZE
MEDENILLA AJPress
THE City of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 6 signed off on a mandate that requires proof of the COVID-19 vaccine for everyone entering most public spaces. The measure — which applies to anyone going to bars, restaurants, shopping malls, salons, gyms, museums, and sporting events, among other spaces — is one of the nation’s strictest in safeguarding the public and mitigating the spread of the more prominent and contagious delta variant. After the LA City Council voted 11-2 in favor of the measure, Mayor Eric Garcetti signed it
into law. The requirement will come into effect starting Nov. 4, it will start to be enforced on Nov. 29 by the LA County Department of Public Health and the City of Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety. “Vaccinating more Angelenos is our only way out of this pandemic, and we must do everything in our power to keep pushing those numbers up,” Garcetti said in a statement. “These new rules will encourage more people to get the shot, and make businesses safer for workers and customers.” Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Certain retail establishments, such as pharmacies and grocery stores, are exempt from u PAGE A3
California vaccine mandate extends to aides for people Sara firm: I’m not with disabilities PH OKs new quarantine protocols for running for president
WORKERS in adult and senior care facilities and in-home aides have been added to the list of California health workers who must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Those who work directly with people with disabilities — such as employees paid through the state’s regional center network, aides contracted by agencies, and in-home support service workers who don’t live with the person they assist — are now included in the vaccine mandate. This new group must be fully vaccinated by Nov. 30. Previous health orders covered only people working in licensed congregate settings like nursing homes, leaving out staff members who support 89% of people in California with developmental disabilities living with family, on their own or in group homes. For months, that left people like Tim Jin who rely on aides for everyday tasks to wonu PAGE A2
travelers from ‘green, yellow’ countries by GAEA
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
MANILA — The Philippines on Friday, October 8 started the implementation of shorter quarantine protocols for international travelers coming from countries classified as low risk and moderate risk for COVID-19. Fully vaccinated individuals coming from “green” (low risk) and “yellow” (moderate risk) nations and jurisdictions need to undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of their negative RT-PCR test results taken on the fifth day, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. They will then be required to undergo home quarantine until their 10th day. The
day of their arrival will be considered their first day. Meanwhile, unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or individuals whose vaccination status cannot be independently verified or confirmed as valid or authentic by local authorities coming from “green” or “yellow” countries will undergo facility-based quarantine until the release of the RT-PCR taken on the seventh day. After that, they need to undergo home quarantine until their 14th day. Foreign nationals are required to secure their own pre-booked accommodation of at least six days for the fully inoculated, and at least eight days for the unvaccinated,
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by CATHERINE
S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net
DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has asked her supporters for understanding after rejecting their calls for her to run for president in 2022. In a statement on Facebook, Duterte-Carpio said it pains her to not be able to heed the call of her supporters, who have been urging her to reconsider. “Masakit din para sa aking damdamin na sana’y magpaubaya sa mga kaibigan na hindi ko maibigay ang gusto ninyo. Gusto ko po sana tapusin muna ang huli kong termino sa Mayor bago ako manungkulan sa
ManilaTimes.net photo
ibang position (It pains me not to be able to give my friends what they want. I want to finish my last term as mayor before I serve in another position),” she said. Duterte-Carpio, who has filed her certificate of candidacy (CoC) for reelection as mayor, said she still has a lot to do in the city. Should Duterte-Carpio win, it will be her fourth mayoral term. She assumed the post in 2010 to 2013, 2016 to 2019 and 2019 to 2022. Various groups have been prodding her to run for president, but she said she will not run after her father announced his bid for the vice presidency. u PAGE A3