VP Robredo rating back to ‘good’
The public satisfaction rating of Vice President Leni G. Robredo has improved to “good” in the first quarter of 2019 Social Weather Stations survey. In the nationwide survey conducted from March 28 to 31 among 1,440 respondents, the SWS found out found that 63 percent were satisfied and 21 percent were dissatisfied with the performance of Robredo, for a net satisfaction rating of +42 (percent satisfied minus percent dissatisfied), classified by SWS as good, and up by 15 points from the “moderate” +27 in the last quarter of 2018. The SWS attributed the increase in the Vice President’s overall net satisfaction rating to increases of 26 points in the rest of Luzon (from +20 in December to +46 in March), 17 points in Visayas (from +48 to +65), and two points in Mindanao (from +31 to +33), combined with a two-point decline in Metro Manila (from +16 to +14). The survey also found out that 71 percent are satisfied and 10 percent dissatisfied with Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III, 29 percent satisfied and 46 percent dissatisfied with House Speaker Gloria M. Arroyo, and 34 percent satisfied and 20 percent dissatisfied with Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin, for a net satisfaction rating of “very good” +61 for Sotto, a “poor” -17 for Arroyo, and a “moderate” +14 for Bersamin. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
Duterte has blood tests every other day
Blood testing has become a regular procedure for President Duterte due to an illness caused by his previous smoking habit. The President admitted that his doctor takes his blood “almost every other day” after acquiring Buerger’s disease, an inflammatory condition of the blood vessels. Duterte talked about his health condition, particularly his wish not to die of tuberculosis and lung cancer, during the 7th Union of Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Pasay City. “I’m 74-years-old, I do not want to die of TB. I do not want to die of lung cancer. As a matter of fact, I got – I acquired Buerger’s disease from smoking. That is why my doctor is here. She gets my blood. Was it…Ah see? Almost every other day,” he said, showing his right arm where his blood sample was taken. Taking blood test has become so often that Duterte jokingly asked his doctor not to take all his blood away. “I said, ‘Doctor, leave me some for – to survive and this is just a week.’ I… It’s about Buerger’s disease. But I have stopped smoking,” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling)
PBB partylist pushes safe houses
The Partido ng Bayan ang Bida partylist has asked government and private developers to ensure safe and durable housing units following the magnitude-6.1 earthquake that struck Luzon Monday. According to PBB partylist first nominee Atty. Imelda Cruz, it is important that every housing unit constructed by government and private contractors must be safe and durable. “Mahalagang matiyak na matibay ang itinatayong housing units gayundin ang mga high-rise condominium upang masigurong ligtas ang mga nakatira dito,” Cruz said. She said that PBB will push decent and affordable housing for every Filipino if elected in the May 13 elections as more than six million backlog in housing units was reported. “Dapat matiyak din ng gobyerno na matibay at ligtas na tirahan ang itatayong.mga housing units kapag naulit ang katulad na pagyanig,” PBB added.
Canada to work with PH on trash
The government of Canada on Wednesday expressed its strong commitment to work with the Philippines regarding the disposal of the tons of Canadian garbage that were shipped to the Philippines six years ago. In a statement, the Canadian Embassy in Manila said it is also committed to working collaboratively with the Philippines to ensure that material is processed in an “environmentally responsible way.” Canada is strongly committed to collaborating with the government of the Philippines to resolve this issue and is aware of the court decision ordering the importer to ship the material back to Canada. A joint technical working group, consisting of officials from both countries, is examining the full spectrum of issues to the removal of the waste with a view to a timely resolution, the Canadian Embassy said. President Duterte has warned the Canadian government to ship the hazardous materials back to their country or he will personally sail to pour the garbage into their waters. “Yung basura ng Canada, I want a boat prepared. I’ll give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail doon sa Canada, ibuhos ko ‘yang basura nila doon,” Duterte said. (Roy Mabasa)
Negros mayor’s gunman shot dead
A man tagged as one of the principal suspects in the killing of former Pulupandan, Negros Occidental Mayor Luis Mondia Jr. on Feb. 17, 2010 was shot dead by police in Iloilo yesterday. Police identified the suspect as Rammy Enojo, legal age, and is the Top 6 most wanted personality in Iloilo. Initial investigation revealed that Enojo was gunned down by joint police forces which were out to serve a warrant of arrest dated Sept. 12, 2012 against him for murder at his house in Barangay Tambunak, Dingle around 5:30 a.m. Police Major Jonathan Pinuela, commander of the Provincial Special Operations Group, said Enojo refused to surrender and initiated a shootout with the police when he saw the lawmen. Police fired back and hit the suspect multiple times in the body. Enojo died on the spot due to multiple bullet wounds, Pinuela added. (Martin A. Sadongdong)