Q: I haven’t seen the president of Philippines or any governmental official on a news report or even quoted about the recent typhoon. Is that country totally unable to assist its own citizens?
—Richard H. Siegel, Atlanta
A: President Benigno Aquino III updated his country's death toll and rescue efforts on CNN on Nov. 12, about three days after Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines. He lowered the estimated death total from 10,000 to 2,000-2,500 and said the national government "had to replace a lot of the personnel with personnel from other regions to take care of government's vital functions." Aquino said national highways had been reopened and most airports were already operating at normal levels. He said the government ordered evacuations and stocked supplies at strategic locations before the storm arrived. "But, of course, nobody imagined the magnitude that this super typhoon brought on us," he said. Many local administrators have criticized Aquino, citing the national government's slow response, Reuters reported. The actual death toll is estimated to be between 3,600 and 4,500.
Q: Why does the Cherokee County board of ethics only want Democrats to apply for it’s empty spot?
—Rodney Smith, Fayetteville
A: Cherokee County law requires the county's board of ethics to have two Democrats and two Republicans. One of the Democrats recently moved out of state, so that seat needs to be filled, Buzz Ahrens Jr., the chairman of the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners, told Q&A on the News in an email. "It's as simple as that," he wrote. The county is looking into updating the ordinance, Ahrens wrote.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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