The Palace is closely monitoring the ongoing operations for Tropical Storm Maring as it continues to move away from extreme Northern Luzon.

To reiterate, the President’s sidetrip to a mall — which was unplanned — happened on October 2, the same day the Chief Executive announced that he will be retiring from politics. This happened right after he accompanied Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go in the latter’s filing of his Certificate of Candidacy.

The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte directed all officials and employees of the Executive Department to no longer appear before or attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings on the 2020 Commission on Audit Report effective immediately.

The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey shows an improvement of net personal freedom to speak freely against President Rodrigo Roa Duterte from +5 in May 2021 to +18 in June 2021.

The President just made a sidetrip to a mall after accompanying Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go in the latter’s filing of his Certificate of Candidacy last Saturday, October 2. However, this was tainted with malice from an expected critic who relishes on putting the Chief Executive in a bad light.

The Administration, under President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, has exemplified decisive and compassionate leadership, which is best illustrated in Pulse Asia’s latest survey, conducted from September 6 to 11, 2021.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has clearly spoken: He will no longer aspire for the second highest post in the land, bowing to the will of the people, as reflected in the June 2021 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey which showed contrary opinion for PRRD’s running for the Vice Presidency.

Surveys, we have to underscore, are snapshots of public opinion at a particular point in time.

The resolution of the Commission on Election (COMELEC) to extend voter registration for the 2022 elections is a positive development in light of the extraordinary circumstances brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

We take note of Bloomberg’s latest COVID-19 Resilience Ranking report, which is based on indicators such as quality of healthcare, vaccination coverage, severity of lockdowns and restrictions, progress on restarting travel and easing border curbs, among others.