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Comelec: 3 million overseas voters eyed in 2025 polls
With internet voting, the Commission on Elections is looking to have up to three million Filipinos abroad participate in the May 2025 midterm elections......»»
Cha-cha plebiscite and midterm polls in one event: A test of Comelec s independence
BOTH LEGISLATIVE chambers are now leading charter change discussions. Legislators have repeatedly said that amendments will be limited to economic measures in the 1987 Constitution.Meanwhile, the conduct of the plebiscite had Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair George Garcia describe the logistical preparations required for it. He argued that it should be held as a separate event from the 2025 midterm electi.....»»
Comelec begins filing disqualification cases vs BSKE bets
The Commission on Elections began filing disqualification cases yesterday against candidates in the Oct. 30 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections accused of engaging in premature campaigning......»»
91 BSKE candidates facing disqualification
The Commission on Elections on Sunday reported that 91 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections candidates on 30 October are facing disqualifications. COMELEC Chairman George Garcia, in a radio interview at dzBB, said the COMELEC has already issued the candidates show cause orders over their alleged election offenses such as premature campaigning. "There were no formal complaints. These were only the results of what we have seen or reported to us. What the COMELEC did is motu proprio investigation. This is the COMELEC’s own initiative," Garcia said. He added that the COMELEC has the power to investigate and file its own complaints against candidates who commit election offenses. COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco also last Friday said they have over a hundred petitions for disqualification due to various election offenses, as of Thursday. At least 43 of the petitions are to declare certain candidates as nuisance bets, cancel certain certificates of candidacy (COCs), and disqualify over some issues. The rest have yet to be formally filed. The 91 candidates, on the other hand, were given three days from the receipt of the show cause orders to explain their sides regarding the accusations. For formal complaints, Garcia said, the COMELEC would issue subpoenas. The poll body has repeatedly warned against premature campaigning as the campaign period will run only from 19 to 28 October. Garcia said putting up posters and promoting themselves on social media before the campaign period starts may be considered premature campaigning. "The filing of show cause orders against 91 BSKE bets was just the beginning. There will be many more. We will do that daily," Garcia said. The COMELEC chair earlier encouraged voters to file complaints against BSKE candidates who will campaign even before the official campaign period starts. Around 1,414,487 COCs were filed across the country for the coming BSKE. The post 91 BSKE candidates facing disqualification appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Zambo shooting suspects yield
ZAMBOANGA CITY — Two suspects in the indiscriminate firing incident in Malabang, Lanao del Sur during the filing of Certificates of Candidacy surrendered to the police on Friday. The suspects, identified as Mamayog Sidik Gampong and Haniboy Sarip, voluntarily surrendered their firearms to the Police Regional Office for Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The two fired their guns indiscriminately in Barangay Chinatown, Malabang on 31 August, which disrupted the filing of CoCs by candidates vying for various posts in the coming Barangay polls. PRO-BAR Director P/Brig. Gen. Allan C. Nobleza said the incident clearly violated the Commission on Elections’ gun ban. The Comelec prohibits carrying and transporting firearms, explosives and other deadly weapons during the election period from 28 August to 29 November. If found guilty, violators can be sentenced up to 12 years in prison. PRO-BAR will press charges against Gampong and Sarip on top of the charges that have already been filed at the local fiscal office against them. The post Zambo shooting suspects yield appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec logs over 120K candidates for BSKE in Bicol
By Connie Calipay LEGAZPI CITY – The Commission on Elections-5 (Bicol) reported on Monday that more than 120,000 individuals have filed their certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2. In an interview, Comelec-Albay Election Supervisor Ma. Aurea Bo-Bunao said the COCs filed will be subjected […].....»»
Do-or-Die phase begins Italy battles USA, Lithuania tackles Serbia
Lithuania came into the FIBA World Cup as a complete underdog after its ninth-place finish in the 2019 edition in China – its worst in the tournament since the former Soviet Republic became an independent nation......»»
More than 17K candidates seek barangay, SK positions in Palawan
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY — A total of 17,815 individuals submitted their certificates of candidacy in Palawan within a week-long timeframe set by the Commission on Elections for an activity categorized as being "generally peaceful." From the total number, 2,593 individuals filed their candidacy in Puerto Princesa City, and 14,862 in various municipalities in Palawan, all competing for roles in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections scheduled for 30 October, as shared by Jomel Ordas, the spokesperson of the provincial COMELEC. Based on the information he provided, there are 172 individuals aiming to vie for the role of barangay captain and 160 individuals planning to run for SK chairman in Puerto Princesa City. In Palawan, approximately 1,034 people have expressed interest in competing for the leading position in the barangay, and 970 individuals aspire to become SK chairman. Ordas pointed out that the list must undergo submission to the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) at their central office for verification before it can be determined whether all of them are eligible candidates. "The process will involve submitting the initial list of filers to the ERSD at the COMELEC main office, and it will undergo several verification steps to ensure that everyone is qualified and not disqualified by law," he explained. He noted that following the completion of the verification process, the COMELEC will furnish an official list of certified candidates. This compilation will be prominently displayed in the barangay halls before the BSKE polls on 30 October. Ordas said that the qualifications subject to assessment encompass being a Filipino citizen, a registered voter in the respective barangay, residing in the same barangay for a minimum of one year prior to the election, possessing the ability to read and write in either Filipino or a local dialect, and reaching the age of 18 or older on the day of the election. He also said that the ERSD will examine whether individuals who submitted their COCs share a second-degree civil relationship with the SK, have a criminal conviction involving moral turpitude, or an offense carrying a penalty of one year or more imprisonment within two years of the sentence, and are not barred by legal disqualifications. For the SK, in addition to some of the previously mentioned qualifications, candidates must fall within the age range of 18 to 24 during the election, possess the capability to read and write both in Filipino and English, and not have a blood or marriage connection up to the second degree of consanguinity or affinity with any elected official anywhere in the country. Based further on information furnished by the provincial COMELEC, in the entirety of Palawan, which also includes Puerto Princesa City, the number of individuals aspiring to contest for barangay councilor positions is 10,371, and there are 5,108 candidates vying for SK councilor roles. The post More than 17K candidates seek barangay, SK positions in Palawan appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BSKE: Comelec sees 2 million bets filing COCs
Over two million aspirants for the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are expected to file their certificates of candidacy nationwide, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia said during the first day of COC filing yesterday......»»
EDITORIAL - Grassroots governance
There were large crowds yesterday as the Commission on Elections opened the filing of certificates of candidacy for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. Comelec officials said they expected up to two million people to file COCs for the first BSKE since 2018......»»
COMELEC chair issues warning against premature campaigning
Commission on Elections chairperson George Garcia on Sunday warned would-be candidates for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on 30 October 30 about engaging in premature campaigning. During a radio interview on DZBB, Garcia said that since it is not yet the official campaign period, any actions taken by potential candidates could result in legal action. He also urged voters to report any BSKE candidates who begin campaigning prior to the start of the official campaign period on 19 October. According to Garcia, the filing of certificates of candidacy (COC) for the 2023 BSKE will be from 28 August to 2 September, while the campaign period will run from 19 to 28 October. "Currently, the COMELEC has no power. They should wait for August 28 and when someone files a case before us. Do you want to have disqualification cases or face a criminal case with up to six years in prison?" Garcia said. "Let’s monitor the situation on our own. File a complaint to us at the COMELEC," Garcia added, urging citizens to help the commission rid of irregularities during election periods. Garcia earlier said that COMELEC's efforts to combat premature campaigning also involve the possibility of a "warrantless arrest" for individuals caught participating in vote-buying or vote-selling. According to the COMELEC chair, those who will file their COCs will be considered candidates for the BSKE set on 30 October. Thus, Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code, which pertains to premature campaigning, will already be applicable to them. Section 80 of the Omnibus Election Code states that “it shall be unlawful for any person, whether or not a voter or candidate, or for any party, or association of persons, to engage in an election campaign or partisan political activity except during the campaign period.” Garcia urged Filipinos not to vote for candidates who violate the law. "Why would you vote for people who do not obey the law? If they are no longer following the law even if they’re just candidates, what more when they’re elected? They will only violate our laws and what will happen to our nation then?" Garcia asked. Garcia said people could document evidence against those who will do premature campaigning in their respective areas, and forward them to local COMELEC offices. He also stressed that complainants should testify to prove their claims. The post COMELEC chair issues warning against premature campaigning appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Teves,12 others tagged terrorists
The Anti-Terrorism Council or ATC has designated Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. as a terrorist for allegedly masterminding the assassination of Gov. Roel Degamo last 4 March, which also resulted in the deaths of nine others. The ATC named the congressman, who had gone into hiding, as the leader of the Teves Terrorist Group, which allegedly included as members his younger brother, Pryde Henry Teves, and purported bagman Marvin Miranda. Pryde was unseated by the Commission on Elections after a recount of the votes cast in the 2022 Negros Oriental gubernatorial election showed that Degamo had won. Degamo was killed in a commando-style attack at his residential compound in Pamplona town. The slain governor’s wife, Janice, is the mayor of Pamplona. The assault happened just weeks after the Supreme Court upheld the Comelec’s proclamation of Degamo as governor. Also tagged as terrorists were Nigel Electona, Tomasino Aledro, Rogelio Antipolo, Hannah Mae Oray, Rommel Pattaguan, Winrich Isturis, John Louie Gonyon, Dahniel Lora, Eulogio Gonyon Jr. and Jomarie Catubay. In a three-page resolution dated 26 July and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin that was released yesterday, the ATC said Pryde and Electona “provided material support” to Teves in furtherance of his alleged terrorist activities. “Investigation also revealed that Hannah Mae Sumero Oray handled the operational funds for the killings while Marvin H. Miranda acted as organizer and recruiter of personnel for specific terrorist attacks,” the ATC said. In April, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla revealed the government’s intention to designate Teves as a terrorist, saying that his group’s alleged “activities that led to the killings are all covered by the Anti-Terror Law, [including] the recruitment, financing, purchase of firearms, and their distribution.” In hiding Teves has refused to come home after being located last in Timor-Leste, claiming his life was in danger. There was talk he was already in the Philippines under the protection of a former high government official. The House of Representatives had twice suspended Teves for refusing to heed Speaker Martin Romualdez’s plea to come home to face the charges against him. The Philippine National Police had filed a separate complaint against Teves before the Department of Justice last March over the alleged political killing of three other persons in Negros Oriental in 2019. A Degamo lawyer said the Teveses could be linked to as many as 60 killings in Negros Oriental. In reaction, Pryde said in a radio interview that his lawyers would appeal the ATC resolution. He expressed dismay that his right to travel and earn a livelihood would be affected by the order. Saying he would not leave Negros Oriental despite the tagging, the younger Teves said he would be the last to resort to terrorism because he had been a victim of violence. Meanwhile, Ferdinand Topacio, a lawyer of Congressman Teves, lambasted the ATC whose order, he said, demonstrated the government’s prejudgment of the case and “desperation” to take his client into custody. “Since day one of the Degamo killing, the government has mobilized all the resources at its disposal, starting with immediately tagging Teves as the mastermind thereof without investigation, conducting illegal searches on his properties, laying siege to his powers and prerogatives as a member of the House, embarking on a massive media campaign to discredit him and prejudice the minds of the public against him, among other things, all in an obsessive attempt to blame him for a crime at the expense of his constitutional rights,” Topacio said. Topacio questioned why the government had to use the ATC against Teves, in a case for which the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020 was not “designed.” “The agencies of government, having eggs on their faces due to the recantation of all the key witnesses, the lack of evidence against Representative Teves, the public backlash against his obvious persecution, and the embarrassing failure of the authorities to bully him into returning to the country in spite of grave and serious threats to his life has expectedly weaponized the Anti-Terror Act by using it for the purpose for which it was not designed,” he said. When it was first floated that Teves would be tagged as a terrorist, he posted a video of himself wearing Muslim garb and laughing. The post Teves,12 others tagged terrorists appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
‘The Cheating Game’ director thinks Julie Anne is superstar material
GMA Public Affairs, GMA Network’s news and public affairs division, is now producing movies. Its debut feature, the romantic drama, The Cheating Game, stars real-life couple Julie Anne San Jose and Rayver Cruz, or “JulieVer.” San Jose plays Hope, an NGO worker who breaks up with her fiancé and colleague Brian (Martin del Rosario) for cheating on her. [caption id="attachment_164002" align="aligncenter" width="1708"] Martin del Rosario as Brian.[/caption] Trying to move on from her painful break-up, she starts looking for a new job until she is finally hired by a company specializing in social media content, where she channels all her negative energy. Hope soon meets a random guy, Miguel (Cruz), at a Kamuning overpass, who begins to actively pursue her without reason. Wary at first, she eventually warms up to Miguel, who tells her that he is giving her license to use him as her rebound. [caption id="attachment_164001" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Rayver Cruz as Miguel.[/caption] But Hope’s promising new romance with Miguel is not that hopeful, as it is still overshadowed by a viral sex video that involves Brian its leakage may or may not involve those close to her. The Cheating Game is directed by fiction author Rod Marmol, who is best known for helming Cuddle Weather (2019) and Mata Tapang (2018). The story and concept are by Peabody award-winning documentary writer and producer Shao Masula, with Marmol and Jessie Villabrille serving as screenwriters. Julie Anne San Jose’s acting method In an exclusive chat with Daily Tribune, Marmol describes the 29-year-old San Jose, who showed impressive naturalism in her performance as the scorned woman. “I sincerely think that Julie has all the makings of a movie superstar. She has it all. Unparalleled professionalism. Magaan sa set (Easy to work with on set). Understands her character through and through,” Marmol said. In the film, San Jose’s Hope is frequently tearful. Effortless in her small and big dramatic scenes, she earned the admiration of her director, who reveals San Jose’s talent in shedding tears in front of the camera. “She knows not just one way of crying, marami (but many). She knows how to cry beautifully, how to wail uncontrollably, how to let only one tear drop fall, how to hold back her tears. She has mastered her instrument and this allows her to seamlessly morph from one character to another,” Marmol said. Marmol further told Daily Tribune that while they were filming The Cheating Game, San Jose was also shooting the final episodes of GMA’s hit series Maria Clara at Ibarra, praising the actress for her excellent command of her craft. “Ganoon siya kahusay (That’s how good she is),” he praised. Not your typical romance The Cheating Game cannot be simply boxed in a specific genre, making the film not your typical or formulaic love story. When asked about his influences as a director, Marmol candidly revealed his inspirations for GMA Public Affair’s first offering. “Some of my inspirations for this movie are films like Amélie (2001), Once (a 2007 Irish romantic musical drama) and, of course, Phoebe Waller-Bridges’ series Fleabag (on HBO). Gustong-gusto ko ng mga madaldal na pelikula na hindi takot mag-swimming sa emosyon (I am enamored with dialogue-heavy films that are not afraid to wallow in emotion). I’m a big sucker for beautifully-flawed female leads,” he explained. He also explained that his top three favorite filmmakers are Hirokazu Kore-eda, Jordan Peele and Lino Brocka. “Ang galing nilang maghimay ng kalungkutan (They are so good at dissecting sadness),” he explained. For the film’s style, treatment and color palette, which sometimes shifts to dreamy, with a touch of European vibe but highlights the nitty-gritty reality of Metro Manila, Marmol does not take credit for it alone. “Regarding the treatment of The Cheating Game, tingin ko ay (I think it is the) combined effect iyon ng (of the) talent ng core team namin (of our core team). Our assistant director is Chad Cabigon, who has mounted dozens of the most-awarded Filipino films of the past decade. Our director of photography is Arbi Barbarona, an Urian-winning filmmaker from Davao. Our production designer, this is his first movie, Kenneth Villanueva. Kaya, ang fresh pa ng mata and ramdam mo pa yung (So the vision is still fresh and you can feel that) hunger to be excellent. And syempre lahat ng ito, nakabalot sa (And of course, these are all under wrapped in the) guidance ng (of) GMA Public Affairs.” Millennial issues When asked what he is most excited about showing this movie to the Filipino audience, Marmol said: “I hope that the Filipino audience appreciates the honesty of the movie. We tried to capture the gray area that most people find themselves in when trying to heal from a traumatic heartache while building the foundation of a new romance. I also hope that they appreciate what Julie’s character, Hope Celestial, is trying to represent — which is the generation of overworked, underpaid millennials.” Asked about the challenges of directing The Cheating Game, Marmol said: “Challenges? Hmm, as always, marami (a lot) haha. Pero siguro, like most Filipino films, resources. It’s hard to compete with Hollywood movies when we only get less than a tenth of the resources that they get.” He explained that 95 percent of The Cheating Game was shot in only 11 days. “I hope that in the future, we get more investors betting on Filipino films so we can afford to prepare more and execute our stories in the best manner possible. We owe that to ourselves, we owe that to our stories, we owe that to our audiences.” The film also stars Winwyn Marquez, Yayo Aguila, Candy Pangilinan, Phi Palmos, Thea Tolentino, and Paolo Contis. The Cheating Game is now playing in cinemas. [gallery columns="2" size="full" ids="163999,164000"] The post ‘The Cheating Game’ director thinks Julie Anne is superstar material appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Free divers find love and death in Netflix’s ‘Deepest Breath’
Early in "The Deepest Breath," an underwater drone follows free diver Alessia Zecchini as she plunges 100 meters down into the ocean's dark depths, and back up, all on a single breath. The heart-pounding, claustrophobic three-and-a-half-minute sequence is as difficult to watch as it is mesmerizing. As she ascends to the shallows, Zecchini's body begins to twitch. Rescue divers seize her and drag her up to the surface, her unconscious eyes rolling grotesquely backward as she is resuscitated. It may seem shocking, but "blacking out" from lack of oxygen is a common occurrence in free diving, an extreme sport in which athletes compete to go as deep as they can without any breathing apparatus. "You can watch all the videos in the world. It doesn't really prepare you for seeing a human being just pass out like that," said director Laura McGann, director of the Netflix documentary, out Wednesday. "It's scary to see." Through archive footage, interviews and a handful of re-enactments, McGann's film explores what drives these men and women to repeatedly risk their lives and push the limits of human endurance in pursuit of new competitive records. "Seeing a human being behave more like a seal or a dolphin in the water, with no tanks, was kind of like learning that there was a group of people in part of the world that knew how to fly," she told AFP. 'In the moment' Specifically, the film focuses on the relationship between record-breaking diver Zecchini and Stephen Keenan, a nomadic young Irishman who becomes one of the sport's top safety experts. Free divers, if not actively courting death, do not appear to fear it. Indeed, Zecchini airily claims in the movie's opening scene that she does not even think about death. Yet it quickly becomes apparent that some sort of tragedy has occurred. Neither Zecchini nor Keenan appear among the film's present-day interviews, leaving the question of their fates hanging for much of the movie -- at least, for those able to resist a quick Google search. That structure was criticized as being somewhat manipulative in early reviews at January's Sundance Film Festival, where the movie premiered, having already been acquired by Netflix days earlier. But McGann decided "really early" that her film would remain "in the moment" with its characters throughout their journeys. Death "was always going to be towards the end of the film," she said. Love and death "The Deepest Breath" is the latest documentary to explore dangerous obsessions through the lens of a love story. Last year's Oscar-nominated "Fire of Love" followed a husband-and-wife scientist couple as they risked their lives to explore the craters of erupting volcanoes. In 2019, "Free Solo" profiled death-defying climber Alex Honnold, as he juggled his obsession with climbing a notorious rockface without ropes, and his relationship with his understandably terrified girlfriend. For McGann, the relationship between Zecchini and Keenan was "a yin and a yang," like "they were each other's missing piece," even before they connected as celebrities in the small free diving community. It emphasizes that free diving is as much a mental sport as it is a physical one, requiring very specific personality types that not only stay calm, but actively enjoy being 100 meters under water, beyond rescue. "What the free diver is feeling is definitely close to the complete opposite to what we the audience are feeling," explained McGann. While viewers might struggle for breath just watching, divers speak of a "serene, quiet, peaceful silence," as they quieten their minds and reduce their heart rates to "that of a Tibetan monk." "You're almost in a meditative state," said McGann. "But you need to keep a little bit of your subconscious aware of what you're doing -- so that you remember that you have to come back up." The post Free divers find love and death in Netflix’s ‘Deepest Breath’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Why Marcos joined Partido Federal
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas secretary general, retired General Thompson Lantion, said because of the effective core principles that the party promotes and embodies, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. embraced it as his official party when he joined it and won the presidential race in the May 2022 elections. Lantion, during his recent interview on Daily Tribune’s digital show “Straight Talk,” said the reason Marcos joined the party was that he believed in its core principles. “Our number one principle is the belief in God, number 2 is humanism, which is human dignity for every individual. Number three is participatory federalism or to defend the core principles of Federalism, and then enlightened socialism with a focus on job generation and uplifting the lives of the Filipino people. And then the last one is direct democracy as we call it. This is the power of the people. The principle most loved by the President is the power to the people and democracy,” he said. Lantion, who served on the staff of the late former President Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr., said the young Marcos Jr. took his oath as a party member on 5 October 2018, the same day it was accredited by the Comelec. “I was in his campaign from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi. It was very difficult back then. We were sure he would win because of the acceptance of the people, just like our first sortie in Batangas. The highways were filled with people who wanted to see him, maybe because of the charm and the vision of the old Marcos Sr. remains in Bongbong. Marcos Sr. was really for the country’s development and progress, which stuck in Filipinos’ minds. And the junior can do better,” he said. True gentleman He said he never heard the young Marcos Jr. curse or make derogatory comments about his opponents during the 2022 campaign. “What Bongbong said is that even “if our family has been scrutinized and hit for more than 30 years now, those will eventually retire. Let’s stand down.” He is like his father, who just said “lintik naman” (damn it) even though he was already very mad. The old Marcos was soft-hearted but very strict,” Lantion said. He said he is currently revitalizing the party and declined the offer of the President of a post in his Cabinet. “I’m strengthening the party and that was the reason I gave the President. I had to forgo the assignment that was offered by the President. Right now, almost 21 governors of the Philippines have joined the Partido Federal, and maybe in the next months, another three or more governors will join. A total of 31 have taken their oath in Malacañang,” he said. Four years after its accreditation, the PFP has become the ruling party and leader of the administrative coalition after it nominated party chairman Marcos Jr. as its presidential candidate. Marcos eventually emerged as the winner by a landslide of 31 million votes versus his staunch opponent, former Vice President Leni Robredo. On its website, the PFP said the party is the “common man’s party” that represents workers, students, farmers, and fisherfolk. It was established to help rebuild the nation decisively by creating a society that is free of illegal drugs, corruption, crime, insurgency, and poverty. The party’s strength comes from a total of 1.5 million members, growing nationwide, from which the following organizations were formed, apart from solid youth groups collaborating on the party’s platform and 350 candidates in the 2019 elections. The post Why Marcos joined Partido Federal appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An Waray seeks reversal of Comelec decision on partylist cancellation
Regional partylist group An Waray filed a motion for reconsideration challenging the Commission on Elections Second Division’s cancellation of their partylist registration over a questioned assumption of a seat by one of their former nominee way back in 2013. Filed on Monday but was only revealed to the media by Comelec the following day, An Waray is seeking a reversal of the poll body’s decision last Friday, arguing that the partylist gained two seats during the 2013 midterm elections. This, according to An Waray, made the assumption of then-nominee Atty. Victoria Isabel Noel as one of their representatives in Congress legal. To recall, Noel was the then-third nominee during the 2013 midterm elections when An Waray won with 541,205 votes and garnered two seats. However, the resignation of then-second nominee Jude Acidre elevated Noel as the new second nominee, behind then-first nominee Neil Benedict Montejo. However, a recomputation by the National Board of Canvassers, the cancellation of registration of 11 partylists, and the proclamation of Abang Lingkod Partylist as a winner in that year’s polls after a Supreme Court battle led to An-Waray garnering only one seat in Congress, effectively allowing only Montejo and excluding Noel. The partylist also cited the recent decisions on Erwin Tulfo’s assumption of House seat as representative of Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support, arguing that the proclamation was made for the partylist and not for individual nominees like Noel. An-Waray also said that the two seats were granted in accordance with NBOC Resolution No. 0008-13, which canceled the registration of 11 partylists after the 2013 midterm elections. “The respondents disagree and submit that a separate proclamation of a specific nominee is not material nor required for the said nominee to take an oath and assume the office of Member of the House of Representatives,” the motion reads. Arguing that Noel’s assumption of the House seat is legal, An-Waray said that the jurisdiction on such matters should go to the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal or HRET. The petition against Noel’s assumption of the House seat was filed in 2019 by Acidre and Danilo Pornias. Acidre currently represents Tingog Sinirangan Partylist, a Waray-based partylist similar to An Waray, in the House of Representatives. An Waray also has a representative in the Lower House through Congressman Florencio “Bem” Noel. Comelec previously said that the HRET shall have the decision on the issue, using the poll body’s decision as the basis for their actions. The post An Waray seeks reversal of Comelec decision on partylist cancellation appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An Waray to counter Comelec decision
The An Waray Partylist will counter the decision of the Commission on Elections to revoke its registration for violating the rules and regulations of the poll body by allowing the group’s then-second nominee to sit as a member of the House of Representatives despite having only one seat in the 16th Congress. An Waray Rep. Florencio Noel told the Daily Tribune that they would exhaust all legal measures and including filing a Motion for Reconsideration within the five-day reglementary period given by the Comelec, which began on Friday, to stave off the ruling from becoming final and executory. The plea was triggered by the Comelec’s cancellation of the group’s registration after it found that the An Waray former representative, lawyer Isabel Noel, sister of the incumbent solon of the partylist, committed an offense when she assumed the post of a lawmaker in the 16th Congress, “knowing ‘full well’ that the Comelec has not issued a certificate of proclamation entitling her to do so,” said the poll body on Friday. “Without a Certificate of Proclamation for its second nominee, An Waray was entitled to one seat only in relation to the 2013 National and Local Elections, thus Atty. Noel’s assumption to office as Representative of An Waray had no legal basis,” the Comelec added. The poll body’s declaration followed a 15-page resolution that granted Jude Acidre and Danilo Pornias’ plea filed in 2019 to void An Waray’s accreditation as a partylist, barring it from further participation in the House. To recall, An Waray, in the 2013 polls, was initially entitled to two seats in the lower chamber after being proclaimed as one of the winners of the partylist race but was subsequently recomputed to be one seat only pursuant to National Board of Canvassers Resolution No. 13-030(PL)/004-14 issued on 20 August 2014. “The recomputation of seats was made following the Supreme Court’s order, in Abang Lingkod Party List vs. Comelec, to proclaim Abang Lingkod party-list as one of the winning party-list groups in the 2013 National and Local Elections with the number of seats it may be entitled to, and in view of the then-pendency of the case of Senior Citizens party-list before the Supreme Court,” it said. Further, the polling organization noted that the 28 May 2013, NBC Resolution 0008-13, which An Waray solely relied on, expressly stated that the initial allocation of seats initially allocated is “without prejudice to the proclamation of other parties, organizations, or coalitions which may later on be established to be entitled to one guaranteed seat and/or additional seat.” Thus, Comelec explained that An Waray “clearly” violated Republic Act 7941 or the Party-List System Act, “by arrogating upon itself the authority” to have the lawyer sit in the 16th Congress without legal basis. Comelec spokesperson Rex Laudiangco on Friday noted that the lower chamber has the jurisdiction to expel any member who fails to continually possess all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications. The post An Waray to counter Comelec decision appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec revokes An-Waray partylist registration
The Commission on Elections Second Division on Friday cancelled the party-list registration of regional party-list group An Waray over a violation of Section 6 (5) of Republic Act Number 7941 or the "Partylist System Act." The cancellation stemmed from the assumption of another seat in the House of Representatives in 2013 by Attorney Victoria Isabel Noel, despite the partylist having been allowed only one seat, which was challenged in 2019 by two petitioners including Jude Acidre, former nominee of An Waray. Noel was the then-third nominee during the 2013 midterm elections when An Waray won with 541,205 votes and garnered two seats. At the time, the first and second nominees were Neil Benedict Montejo and Acidre, respectively. But the latter resigned from the party, effectively elevating Noel as second nominee. However, a recomputation by the National Board of Canvassers, the cancellation of registration of 11 partylists and the proclamation of Abang Lingkod Partylist as a winner in that year’s polls after a Supreme Court battle led to An-Waray garnering only one seat in Congress, effectively allowing only Montejo and excluding Noel. The petitioners said that Noel, citing NBOC Resolution No. 0008-13 which cancelled the registration of 11 partylists, took her oath on July 2013 and that she held that position without any intervention. The COMELEC said that NBOC Resolution No. 0008-13 was superseded by NBOC Resolution No. 13-030(PL)/0004-14, the resolution that prompted the recomputation of An Waray’s seats in the Lower House from two to one. “Pursuant to the foregoing, the Commission En Banc sitting as the NBOC did not issue a Certificate of Proclamation to An Waray, entitling its second nominee, Atty. Victoria Isabel Noel, to sit as representative in the House of Representatives in relation to the 13 May 2013 National and Local Elections,” the decision read. In a message to reporters, COMELEC spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that the decision is yet to become final and executory. However, upon reaching finality, the poll body will then notify the House of Representatives and their electoral tribunal for their decision, particularly as the 19th Congress currently has a member of An Waray through Representative Florencio Gabriel Noel. “Both the House and the HRET may use as basis the COMELEC's resolution and factual findings on the matter,” Laudiangco said. “We have to remember that An Waray's nominee is a sitting member of the HOR, and we have to clearly define the bounds of jurisdictions between the COMELEC, the HOR and the HRET,” he added. The post Comelec revokes An-Waray partylist registration appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TOYM alumni, Cebuana mount Impact Summit
Alumni of The Outstanding Young Men or TOYM, led by TOYM chairman Bienvenido “Donnie” Tantoco III, TOYM Foundation Inc. president Chaye Cabal-Revilla, and Department of Migrant Workers Undersecretary Ma. Anthonette Velasco-Allones, and the Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Inc. held the first-ever TOYM Impact Summit at Lakehall at Nena’s Sanctuary at the Sta. Elena Golf & Country Estate in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. The one-day summit served as a venue for past TOYM honorees to come together and collaborate on possible projects. TOYM chairman Bienvenido “Donnie” Tantoco III said, “It really means so much to us that the previous TOYM awardees are present at the first-ever summit of its kind. There is such a diversity of amazing men and women in this room.” “We feel your giftedness. We are inspired by your track record. We feel your enthusiasm and patriotism. We feel your individual excellence, and we believe that collectively, we are even more special and even more powerful.” It begins with an I The TOYM honorees used the summit’s theme of “Impact Begins With I,” and subthemes Imagine, Inspire, and Ignite to identify which of their diverse disciplines, for which they have been recognized in previous years, can be maximized in these projects. Some notable TOYM honorees were Ryan Cayabyab (1978), Dr. Carmencita Padilla (1994), Menardo “Butch” Jimenez (1998), Dr. Jonas del Rosario (2004), Hon. Alfred Vargas (2019), Samira Gutoc (2019), and Manix Abrera (2022). Gawad Kalinga Founder Antonio Meloto and 1992 TOYM honoree Senator Loren Legarda were also present to deliver their key messages. The post TOYM alumni, Cebuana mount Impact Summit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec pushes Internet voting
Commission on Elections chairman George Erwin Garcia on Tuesday reiterated the needed push for Internet voting as a means to ramp up the turnout in overseas voting during a forum titled “Beyond Suffrage: A Forum on Women and Overseas Voting” led by the Department of Foreign Affairs-Office of the Overseas Voting Secretariat. In his speech, Garcia urged implementing agencies, including the DFA which primarily handles OAV activities to promote newer technologies as it is already allowed by law and that It could bring significant results to the country’s overseas voting records. “It is our conclusion that we should no longer wait for a law to be enacted before Comelec would be able to venture into Internet voting or electronic voting,” Garcia said. “We should get outside of the box or even remove the box so to speak to proceed with Internet voting despite the absence of the law because it is provided by the law itself,” he added. Comelec last week approved the adoption of internet voting for the conduct of OAV, but they are yet to define the technologies that will be used for the measure which they are aiming to implement on the 2025 midterm elections. This year also marks the 20th year since the passage of Republic Act 9189 or “The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003,” which laid the guidelines for the conduct of primarily mail-in voting in the Philippines, but allowed Comelec to study modern technologies, as stated in Section 16 of the legislation. This law was eventually amended in Republic Act 10590 in 2013. According to DFA Overseas Voting Secretariat Zoilo Velasco, OAV turnout have increased through the years, with last year’s polls having a high voter turnout of 40.59 percent, translating to 688,961 voters who casted their ballots. However, as Garcia previously argued, the said number is still far from the 1.7 million registered Filipinos overseas. He also reported a significant decrease in overseas voter registration for the 2019 and the upcoming 2025 elections, having more than 174,000 and nearly 26,000 registrants respectively. Velasco said that the turnout in voting and voter registration should be a step for policymakers to consider policies that would aid in improving the system of overseas voting. “We will continue to do our best and register as many people as we can. We are requesting for more funding so that we could be able to register more. We will do everything we can. If there’s a decline in overseas registration, it is for some external reasons. This is also an important input for policymakers because they should be able to come up with out of the box solutions such as online registration,” Velasco said. In terms of election security, COMELEC Office for Overseas Voting Director Sonia Bea Wee-Lozada also argued that modern technologies such as internet voting has protective mechanisms that could prevent discrepancies and threats to the conduct of the polls. “We have evidence to show that there are existing technologies and platforms out there that allow us to exercise our right to vote in a secure and auditable way, with the transparency that our laws demand. There are technologies that would be able to fit our requirements,” Wee-Lozada explained. The DFA-OVS forum also provided a platform for representatives from Mexico, Hongkong, South Korea and Ontario, Canada to discuss their practices in overseas voting and womens’ participation in the polls and in public governance. The post Comelec pushes Internet voting appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»