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Saturday-Friday | May 1 - 7, 2021
Makabayan solons to Duterte:
Philippines doesn't owe debt of gratitude to China MANILA (Mabuhay) — Members of the Makabayan Bloc on Thursday slammed President Rodrigo Duterte for saying that the Philippines owes China a huge debt of gratitude. At a virtual press conference, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Ferdinand Gaite said it is Duterte who has a debt of gratitude to China, not the Philippines. "Katrayduran nga ang ginawa ni Pangulong Duterte sa West Philippine Sea. Siya lang ang may utang na loob sa China, hindi ang taongbayan dahil marami siyang pakinabang, in terms probably ng utang," Gaite said. ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro, for her part, said it is China that owes the Philippines because it continues its incursions even in the area where the Philippines has territorial rights. She said Duterte should disclose its agreement with China regarding the COVID-19 vaccines Beijing donated to the country. "Wala tayong utang na loob sa
China. Actually 'yung China pa 'yung dapat na magbayad sa atin dahil sa pagpasok nito sa exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas na kung saan Pilipino lamang ang dapat mag-fish," Castro said. "Parang ipinagpapalit ni Pangulong Duterte ang bakuna sa ating soberanya. There is something fishy here. Kailangang ibukas ni President Duterte 'yung naging usapan nila ng China kaugnay ng mga donasyon sa bakuna," she added. Meanwhile, Kabataan party-list Representative Sarah Elago stressed that the Philippines' sovereign rights in the region could not be bartered with COVID-19 vaccines. "Sa pagitan ng bakuna at soberanya, hindi naman makakapili lang ng isa. Hindi puwedeng ipagpalit ang soberanya sa bakuna. Huwag nating hayaan na pagbayaran ng ating pambansang soberanya ang kapalpakan, ang kapabayaan ng Duterte administration pagdating sa pagkanti para sa West Philippine Sea," Elago said.
During his public address on Wednesday night, Duterte said he would not wage war against China despite its incursions in the West Philippine Sea because the Philippines owes it a huge debt of gratitude. The President mentioned China's donation of Sinovac vaccines against COVID-19. This was the first vaccine used by the country when it started its vaccination program in March. "China is a good friend, mayroon tayong utang na loob na marami, pati na 'yung bakuna natin. So China, let it be known China is a good friend and we don’t want trouble with them especially with war," Duterte said. (China is a good friend, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude, including our vaccines.) Duterte said authorities would observe first China's actions within the Philippines exclusive economic zone. Reports stated that Chinese vessels continue to occupy islands covering the Philippines exclusive economic zone. (MNS)
No considerations left for Parlade to stay as NTF-ELCAC spox — Drilon, Lacson MANILA (Mabuhay) — For Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Panfilo Lacson, there are no considerations left for Lieutenant General Antonio Parlade Jr. to stay as National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) spokesperson as his civilian post violates the 1987 Constitution. The lawmakers were reacting to NTF-ELCAC’ vice chair and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon’s statement, saying Parlade and Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy will retain their positions in the task force while they review the concerns of some lawmakers against the two. “Yes, Sec. Esperon should review, but insofar as Gen. Parlade is concerned, there are no options to consider,” Drilon said in a text message to reporters. Drilon pointed out anew that the Constitution prohibits active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines to hold civilian positions. “Moreover, that General Parlade should be relieved of his designation as NTF-ELCAC's spokesperson is not a matter of President (Rodrigo) Duterte's micro-managing the NTF-ELCAC as Sec. (Harry) Roque claims, but a matter of compliance with the constitutional prohibition,” he argued. Recently, Roque said it is up to the anti-insurgency task force, and not to the President, to decide whether Parlade should be fired as its spokesperson as the Duterte is not a micromanaging NTF-ELCAC. Similar to Drilon’s argument, Lacson told Esperon to simply read Article XVI, Sec 5, paragraph 4 of the 1987 Constitution in deciding on Parlade’s fate as NTF-ELCAC’s mouthpiece. “He may not even need one week to review,” Lacson said. The said provision states that: No member of the armed forces in the active service shall, at any time, be appointed or designated in any capacity to a civilian position in the Government, including government-owned or controlled corporations or any of their subsidiaries. “As such, Sec. Esperon and Malacañang’s legal staff can simply ask themselves the question: is NTF-ELCAC a civilian office or a unit of the AFP?” Lacson asked. He also raised Article XVI, Section 5 (3) of the Constitution which states that armed forces shall be insulated from partisan politics and no member of the military shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any partisan political activity, except to vote. On Tuesday, 15 senators filed a resolution censuring NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Parlade over his “stupid” remark against members of the upper chamber. Senators also called for the defunding of the NTF-ELCAC, following "red-tagging" of community pantry initiators, who provided free food for those severely-affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL ANTONIO PARLADE JR. Parlade then said that it is “stupid” for the senators to recall the budget for the task force as they were the ones who approved the budget to continue with the program. (MNS)
PRESIDENT RODRIGO DUTERTE
Leila de Lima cleared of stroke, released from hospital MANILA (Mabuhay) — Detained Senator Leila de Lima left the Manila Doctors Hospital on Tuesday as she finished the appropriate medical tests and is now under stable condition. To recall, the senator was feared to have suffered a mild stroke and was allowed by two Muntinlupa courts to seek medical attention. In a press statement, de Lima's doctors bared that De Lima's Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (BMRI) imaging and CT angiography showed no evidence of stroke (acute infarct or hemorrhage). According to the medical team who assisted de Lima, the senator experienced headaches due to hot the weather, poor ventilation and noise. "This is associated with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and reactive hypertension," read the statement. Despite already being in stable condition, doctors advised that de Lima's blood pressure and sugar level must be regularly monitored. The medical professionals also asked De Lima to avoid stress. Her doctors also recommended increasing ventilation in her detention room. “But how can I avoid stress, especially during these very trying times? Stress practically defines my adult life as a public servant,” de Lima said. De Lima underwent medical examination at the Manila-based hospital from April 24 to 27 to rule out the “cerebrovascular accident.” (MNS)
LGUs urged to link local biz to community pantry organizers MANIL A (Mabuhay) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) to connect community pantry organizers to local businesses for their needs. "At ang LGU din po ang pupuwedeng magbigay ng link sa ating mga organizer kung halimbawa kailangan ng mga supplier ay mayroon namang mga local producers (the LGUs can give links to our organizers, if ever they need suppliers, we have local producers)," DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a televised briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday night. He added that this will help the local economy recover from the impact of the pandemic. The measure is among the guidelines released by the DILG on the conduct of community pantries aimed at providing food and other essential items to the needy. Año also emphasized that community pantry organizers should ensure the safety of their beneficiaries by implementing health and safety protocols to prevent a spike in Covid-19 cases and also should coordinate with
the local government units (LGUs) even if no permits are required for this charitable act. “There must be a system on how aid from community pantries can reach those who cannot leave their houses such as senior citizens and persons with comorbidities What we want is these are localized. People from other places should not flock to these pantries so if necessary, there must be roving pantries,” Año said. Community pantries will not be allowed to give alcohol, cigarettes, and other harmful substances, Año said. He also said both the LGU and organizers are prohibited from collecting fees for the activity. More than a year ahead
of the elections, he said putting of signs, posters, billboards, or streamers indicating the names, images, initials, and projects of politicians who are out to gain popularity mileage in community pantries are prohibited. Año also noted that the community pantry organizers should coordinate with LGUs and enforce health protocols like physical distancing and wearing of face masks and face shields to the beneficiaries to avoid being closed for such violations. “There is a need for coordination because the LGU has a big role to play. First, the LGU must determine where the community pantry must be set up. The venue should be at the area where it is needed the
most,” he stressed. In the same meeting, Duterte also ordered local chief executives (LCE) to implement laws against health protocol violators after expressing disbelief over the continued spread of Covid-19. "Rules are there and you do not follow, well, let me tell you, under the police power of the state, the mayor, the barangay capta in, because t hey are persons of authority. Ang guidance binibigay sa (is given to the) police because the supervision belongs to the mayor," said Duterte. "Ang gawin ko ganito (This is what I will do), I will hold responsible and I will direct the Secretary of the Local Government, DILG to hold the mayors responsible for this kind of events happening in their places." T he P r e s ident a l s o warned barangay officials that authorities will hold them responsible for mass gatherings in their areas where the modified en ha nced com mu n it y quarantine (MECQ) remains in place. Malacañang earlier described community pantries as a representation of “the best in the Filipino character.” (MNS)
