President Rodrigo Duterte believes Filipinos will emerge stronger and more united after the fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
Duterte said the fight against Covid-19 will not be easy but believed Filipinos would never surrender.
“Nothing is more formidable and resilient than the Filipino spirit. Hindi tayo susuko, tayo ay lalaban (We will not surrender, we will fight),” he said in an excerpt from one of his public addresses aired state-run PTV-4.
He said Filipinos are “tough” and willing to take on any challenge.
“I look forward to the day that we Filipinos can finally claim victory of this war and emerge as a stronger and more united Filipino,” he said.
In his public address last Monday, Duterte urged Filipinos to unite and pray, and believe that it is only God who could immediately solve the Covid-19 pandemic.
“He’s (God is) the only one who can really solve the problem for us,” Duterte said.
Duterte said he still prays to God, hoping that lives will be spared and that resources will not run out.
“When the resources are all exhausted and the pandemic would claim millions of lives, I hope really and I pray that it will not --- pero kung ganon, wala na akong magawa (but if that happens, I can’t do anything about it),” he said.
Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte will be spending the Holy Week in Manila to monitor the developments in the fight against the Covid-19.
He said the President was supposed to fly to Davao City on Tuesday to join his family in celebrating the 16th birthday of his younger daughter, Veronica, on April 10 but later changed his mind.
Panelo said Duterte has been having “sleepless nights” due to the Covid-19 pandemic but is still “fit and healthy” to perform his official functions as President.
He said security aides are doing their best to make sure that Duterte is safe from catching the highly-infectious disease.
Last year, Duterte spent the Holy Week in his hometown in Davao City.
The entire Luzon is under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which Duterte extended until April 30 to contain the spread of the Covid-19.
The government reminded the public to strictly follow the ECQ by staying in their homes and limit movement to accessing basic needs like food and medicine.
As of Wednesday, health authorities reported a total of 106 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 3,870 with 182 deaths and 96 recoveries.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099274
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Palawan plebiscite hangs in balance due to health crisis
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday said it is monitoring developments on the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic in the country before deciding on whether or not to push through with the plebiscite on the division of Palawan into three separate provinces set on May 11.
"@COMELEC suspended preparation for Palawan plebiscite but plebiscite not postponed yet. It is in May. But we will see this month if possible," Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a Twitter post.
The poll body's en banc ordered the suspension of the preparatory activities related to the plebiscite due to the prevailing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte in the whole of Luzon.
"The Commission en banc, after due deliberation, has approved the suspension of all preparatory activities relative to the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division of the Province of Palawan," it said in a memorandum dated March 25.
In November last year, the Comelec has set the plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Palawan into three provinces on the second week of May 2020.
Republic Act 11259, signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in April last year, mandates the creation of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur through a plebiscite.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099267
"@COMELEC suspended preparation for Palawan plebiscite but plebiscite not postponed yet. It is in May. But we will see this month if possible," Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said in a Twitter post.
The poll body's en banc ordered the suspension of the preparatory activities related to the plebiscite due to the prevailing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) imposed by President Rodrigo Duterte in the whole of Luzon.
"The Commission en banc, after due deliberation, has approved the suspension of all preparatory activities relative to the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division of the Province of Palawan," it said in a memorandum dated March 25.
In November last year, the Comelec has set the plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Palawan into three provinces on the second week of May 2020.
Republic Act 11259, signed into law by President Rodrigo Duterte in April last year, mandates the creation of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur through a plebiscite.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1099267
Comelec suspends Palawan plebiscite
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the suspension of the plebiscite in Palawan scheduled for May 11 due to the continuing crisis brought about by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.
In a two-page memorandum, the Comelec en banc approved Tuesday, April 7, the recommendation to postpone the plebiscite for the division of Palawan into three provinces.
The commission noted that Palawan is part of Luzon, which is now under an enhanced community quarantine as a measure to contain the outbreak.
The poll body said it will just issue a new calendar of activities for the Palawan plebiscite once the situation normalizes.
"Applying Section 5 of the OEC (Omnibus Election Code), the plebiscite shall be postponed to a date which should be reasonably close to May 11, 2020 but not later than 30 days after the cessation of the cause for such postponement or until the ECQ is lifted," said the Comelec.
Last month, the commission already suspended all preparatory activities relative to the conduct of the Palawan plebiscite also due to the imposition of the ECQ in Luzon.
"In a health crisis as the Covid-19, the commission is more importantly mandated to protect not only its personnel but the registered voters of the 23 municipalities of the province of Palawan," said the Comelec Law Department in its recommendation.
"At this time, It is logistically impossible to deploy personnel and election paraphernalia necessary for the conduct of the plebiscite," it added.
Republic Act No. 11259 calls for a plebiscite for the creation of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1851867
In a two-page memorandum, the Comelec en banc approved Tuesday, April 7, the recommendation to postpone the plebiscite for the division of Palawan into three provinces.
The commission noted that Palawan is part of Luzon, which is now under an enhanced community quarantine as a measure to contain the outbreak.
The poll body said it will just issue a new calendar of activities for the Palawan plebiscite once the situation normalizes.
"Applying Section 5 of the OEC (Omnibus Election Code), the plebiscite shall be postponed to a date which should be reasonably close to May 11, 2020 but not later than 30 days after the cessation of the cause for such postponement or until the ECQ is lifted," said the Comelec.
Last month, the commission already suspended all preparatory activities relative to the conduct of the Palawan plebiscite also due to the imposition of the ECQ in Luzon.
"In a health crisis as the Covid-19, the commission is more importantly mandated to protect not only its personnel but the registered voters of the 23 municipalities of the province of Palawan," said the Comelec Law Department in its recommendation.
"At this time, It is logistically impossible to deploy personnel and election paraphernalia necessary for the conduct of the plebiscite," it added.
Republic Act No. 11259 calls for a plebiscite for the creation of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1851867
Plebisito sa Palawan sa Mayo, sinuspinde na ng Comelec
Inanunsyo ng Commission on Elections o Comelec ang suspensyon sa Palawan Plebiscite na nakatakda sana sa May 11, 2020.
Sa Facebook page ni Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, kinumpirma nito na sinuspinde ng Comelec ang plebisito sa Palawan dahil sa patuloy na banta ng COVID-19 at umiiral na Enhanced Community Quarantine o ECQ sa Luzon na pinalawag hanggang April 30, 2020.
Alinsunod sa Section 5 ng Omnibus Election Code, ang naturang plebisito sa May 11 ay “Postponed” pero hindi dapat lalagpas ng tatlumpung araw mula sa araw ng pagpapatigil o hanggang na-lift o natapos na ang ECQ.
Ang Palawan plebiscite ay para sa panukalang partitioning o paghahati sa Palawan sa tatlong probinsya na Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental at Palawan del Sur, base sa Republic Act No. 11259.
https://rmn.ph/plebisito-sa-palawan-sa-mayo-sinuspinde-na-ng-comelec/
Sa Facebook page ni Commissioner Rowena Guanzon, kinumpirma nito na sinuspinde ng Comelec ang plebisito sa Palawan dahil sa patuloy na banta ng COVID-19 at umiiral na Enhanced Community Quarantine o ECQ sa Luzon na pinalawag hanggang April 30, 2020.
Alinsunod sa Section 5 ng Omnibus Election Code, ang naturang plebisito sa May 11 ay “Postponed” pero hindi dapat lalagpas ng tatlumpung araw mula sa araw ng pagpapatigil o hanggang na-lift o natapos na ang ECQ.
Ang Palawan plebiscite ay para sa panukalang partitioning o paghahati sa Palawan sa tatlong probinsya na Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental at Palawan del Sur, base sa Republic Act No. 11259.
https://rmn.ph/plebisito-sa-palawan-sa-mayo-sinuspinde-na-ng-comelec/
Comelec suspends plebiscite in Palawan
By Leslie Ann Aquino
The May 11, 2020 plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Palawan has been suspended.
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said the en banc suspended the Palawan plebiscite due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.
The en banc agreed with the recommendation of its Law Department that holding of a free and honest plebiscite on May 11, 2020 is impossible at the height of the spread of the COVID-19.
“In a health crisis as the COVID-19, the Commission is more importantly mandated to protect not only its personnel but the registered voters of the 23 municipalities of the province of Palawan,” the Law Department said in its recommendation.
The Law Department also said that it is logistically impossible to deploy personnel and election paraphernalia necessary for the conduct of the plebiscite.
According to the poll body, pursuant to Section 5 of the Omnibus Election Code, the plebiscite shall be postponed to a date which should be reasonably close to May 11, 2020 but not later than 30 days after the cessation of the cause for such postponement or until the ECQ is lifted.
Last month, the poll body suspended the preparatory activities related to the May 11 plebiscite due to the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) that the government imposed to prevent the spread of the COVID-19.
It was last November when the poll body set the conduct of the plebiscite to ratify the division of the province of Palawan into Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental, and Palawan del Sur on May 11.
This is in accordance to Republic Act No. 11259 which provides that the plebiscite should be held on the second Monday of May, 2020.
RA 11259 was signed into law by President Duterte in April last year.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/04/08/comelec-suspends-plebiscite-in-palawan/
(UPDATED) A new date for the referendum for the division of Palawan into three provinces is on the second Monday of December, before Christmas 2020.
(UPDATED) A new date for the referendum for the division of Palawan into three provinces is on the second Monday of December, before Christmas 2020.