PaglaumIssue No. 47 HOPE FOR NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION The ofϐicial publication of the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance September 2020 PPILG-HSFILG-HSF FORGEFORGE PPARTNERSHIP:ARTNERSHIP: TTOWARDSOWARDS TTHEHE AATTAINMENTTTAINMENT OOFF A WWELL-INFORMEDELL-INFORMED PPUBLICUBLIC PILG Program Manager Clarisse Aquino (holding mic) reports to the Chairwoman of Hanns Seidel Foundation Prof. Ursula Männle the activities conducted by PILG and HSF for the awareness of the public by means of public fora, roundtable discussions and study tour on the issue of federalism from year 2016 up to the present, during the HSF celebration of its 40 yearsof development cooperation in the Philippines at the Dusit Thani Hotel, August 8, 2019. Story on page 4 Nene Pimentel quotes: SSTRICTERTRICTER INSIDE: (Here we lift some notable quotes taken from articles BBARANGAYARANGAY LLAWSAWS PILG-HSF forge and speeches of the late Senate President Nene Pimentel Partnership: VVSS VVIOLATORSIOLATORS OONN commenting on burning issues then, which have remained towards the FFACEACE MMASKSASKS relevant in today’s events). attainment of a well-informed public 1 By Clarisse Aquino Anti terror law needed, but….. Stricter barangay In order to prevent the rise “The country needs an anti- unless allowed to flourish of infections of Covid 19 laws vs violators on terrorism law. under an umbrella of law and face masks 1 in the barangay level, the order or to use a much-abused “The reason is that terrorism Nene Pimentel barangay sanggunian can buzzword, security. enact their own ordinances is now the scourge of the quotes: Anti terror to penalize violators on the world. “Since terrorism feeds on law needed, but….. 1 force, it must be met by protocol requiring the use of “Terrorism threatens every Nurse’s death government counterforce face masks. nation – rich or poor - spotlights LGUs to beat it. Hence, our law Face masks have been imminently, and directly. To capacity vs Covid 3 us, who believe in freedom enforcers must be equipped universally seen as a major Archbishop Oscar and democracy, it must be with the necessary tools to deterrent against the spread detect terrorism, prevent Cruz 6 of the Covid 19 virus. met decisively and legally if we are to keep our people terrorist acts before they are Pepe Pestaño 7 In order to ensure that secure in the exercise of their implemented, arrest and jail barangay residents never the terrorists. Remembering rights and freedoms. People’s Senator Nene: fail to wear masks, this can rights and freedoms lose value Turn to page 2 My Story 8 Turn to page 2 2 Paglaum September 2020 Nene Pimentel quotes: Anti terror law needed, but….. From Page 1 “If we are to facilitate the fight against terrorism, we need laws that allow our law enforcers to use methods that are adequate to combat terrorists in their game. If terrorists use computers, cell phones, emails, and the banks to ply their nefarious trade, our law enforcers must be given the right to use sophisticated methods to detect, impede and prevent the former’s ability to do so. “It is necessary, however, that law enforcers strictly adhere to the anti- terrorist methods that they may use in accordance with law. And those ways must not be inconsistent with the basic human rights and the fundamental civil liberties of our people. That said, people must also understand that their right to be secure in their daily life is also paramount.” (Excerpt from Nene Pimentel’s speech The late former Senator Nene Pimentel during the deliberation of Anti-terrorism bills at the at the Senate November 10, 2005) Senate Session Hall, November 10, 2005. Stricter barangay laws vs violators on face masks generated by fines as incentives. From Page 1 Such practical ordinances can be strengthened by the enactment of a (P1,000) for violation of barangay autonomously enable barangay barangay ordinances. ordinances” authorities to make sure their respective barangays are safer against the spread of Barangay ordinances may impose the Thus a barangay may enact an Covid 19. penalty of fines not exceeding P1,000 ordinance requiring the wearing of against those found to violate the face mask by everyone who enters requirement of using face masks. the jurisdiction of a barangay. This can be seen as a potent tool of And should anyone be caught barangay authorities to keep their not wearing facemask within the The offi cial publication of the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance respective areas safer from the invasion territory of a barangay, a fine not Editorial Director Jay Dejaresco of Covid 19. exceeding P1,000 may be imposed Section 391 of Republic Act No. by the ordinance. Contributing Writers Clarisse Aquino Pauline Bautista 7610 otherwise known a the local To ensure that the ordinance is Alex Brillantes government code authorizes the strictly enforced, barangay officials sanggunian barangays as the including deputized barangay local Artist/Photograper reyronda legislative bodies to “prescribe fines law enforcers and tanods may be Publisher Gwen Gana Editorial Consultant Alex Brillantes not exceeding one thousand pesos given a portion of the revenues Editorial Staff Clarisse Aquino Pimentel Institute for Leadership & Governance Unit 403, Maga Centre, 1016 San Antonio Street, Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City 1232 Telephone No.: 8853-0224 to 25 Email: rcroffi [email protected] Website: www.pimentelinstitute.org Disclaimer: This publication was produced with the support of Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF). Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Pimentel Institute for Leadership and Governance (PILG) and do not necessarily Image taken from The Philippine Star: A man rests on his motorcycle parked in front of a public refl ect the views and opinion of HSF. service announcement. September 2020 Paglaum 3 NNURSE’SURSE’S DDEATHEATH SSPOTLIGHTSPOTLIGHTS LLGUSGUS CCAPACITYAPACITY VVSS CCOVIDOVID By Jay Dejaresco LGU CAPACITY VS COVID 19 Image taken from freepik.com The tragic Covid-related death of Chairman, an L300 makeshift ambulance The ambulance reached PGH-ER shortly a retired nurse in Laguna recently came, with only the driver wearing a very with my wife almost dying as her oxygen has spotlighted capability issues of good PPE, designed to be worn in an ICU level have dropped at 80%, prompting to local governments in the country in setting. Sadly the driver was not prepared give her respirator and emergency treatment. effectively coping against a deadly for Covid patient rescue. He was not After hospital endorsement, Dodot was virus which to this day continues to even accompanied by a trained medical Swab tested again, but official test results wreck havoc on the health and lives of worker to assist my wife in her journey and found her negative against COVID. After 2 many of our people. endorsement to the hospital. days she was Swab tested again also with negative result. There is thus a need for local The most frustrating part is, the ambulance governments to heighten their had no ventilation, very hot (no AC), no My wife was diagnosed to have a very capabilities in fighting Covid-19. oxygen, having a stretcher without bedding severe pneumonia, making her intubated Making the rounds of social media & safety body strap. Instead of medics to for the next 10 days. As her oxygen was the story of how a retired nurse take my wife from the house, I took my level could not normalize, she received from Alaminos Laguna, Dorothy wife using her wheel chair and help her treatment as if she is a COVID patient. If Hernandez Tolentino suffered while go inside of the ambulance with the driver not only for her strong will to survive and being brought from her hometown in simply looking & waiting to close the rear the many people praying for her safety Laguna to Metro Manila for treatment. door of the van. He did not even bother and recovery, my wife could have easily to check the safety condition of my wife Her husband Art Tolentino recounted given up her life. Her mind is so strong but whether she is seating or lying safely on the ordeal when his wife Dorothy, her body becomes weaker until she gave the stretcher before closing the ambulance a cancer patient, tested positive for up early morning of Sunday, Aug. 23, door. Without seeing a support medic, I Covid on August 7, 2020. 2020 due to cardiac arrest.” sent my daughter to accompany her mom Art Tolentino wrote on his wife’s in the trip to endorse her health condition The incident highlighted the need struggle: at UP-PGH, which is supposedly not my to provide more resources also to “On her 5th day of isolation after daughter’s job. the local government units and their health facilities to equip them with the breakfast, we heard her coughing and From our barangay, my wife experienced so complaining of difficulty in breathing. necessary facilities to assist patients much difficulties on the very poor condition infected by virus. So we requested assistance for life saving of the ambulance, moving so fast, without ambulance from SPC District RHU and oxygen and with her body shaking due to While the apparent epicenter of covid Alaminos Health Clinic. Unfortunately, her unsafe seating condition. My daughter seems to be in the Metro Manila area, it took more than 6 hours waiting for finally fixed her on the stretcher as the as seen by a continued recording of the Provincial ambulance but could not vehicle reached and passed along SLEX, daily infections, the local governments obtain release of approval. with her arms holding her mom to prevent need attention to enable them to be After follow ups with the Municipal Health her from being thrown away due to speedy more effective in responding to the basic Officer with the assistance from our Brgy.