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Comelec says systems can thwart foreign interference
The Commission on Elections is preparing to defend its servers from attempts to hack it in the 2025 midterm polls, its chairperson announced on Wednesday......»»
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.....»»
Cha-cha plebiscite during mid-year elections: No media question on Comelec s apparent uncertainty
BOTH LEGISLATIVE chambers are on the forefront of ongoing charter change discussions. Legislators have repeatedly said that amendments will be limited to economic measures in the 1987 Constitution.Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Com.....»»
PNP tags 246 ‘areas of concern’ ahead of BSKE
Some 246 "areas of grave concern" are initially being monitored for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 30 October, the Philippine National Police said Monday. In a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said these areas are classified under the red category of the election hotspot list and are mostly from Bicol, Eastern Visayas, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. These would be put under the control of the Commission on Election. “The poll body has the authority to augment security forces in these areas,” she added. The PNP also categorized other hotspot areas under green, yellow, and orange lists. Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly. Fajardo said there are 1,100 villages under the yellow list which are “areas of concern” due to having a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, occurrence of politically motivated election-related cases, and having been previously declared under Comelec control. The PNP also listed 1,248 villages under the orange list refers to “areas of immediate concern” where there is a serious armed threat. Fajardo said the PNP and the military will soon convene the National Joint Security Control Center to reconcile their records regarding the election hotspot list. The recommendation on the hotspot list would be then submitted to the Comelec en banc for final approval. The post PNP tags 246 ‘areas of concern’ ahead of BSKE appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Family Matters’ wins big at 39th Luna Awards
Family Matters won big at the 39th Luna Awards held Saturday night, 26 August, at the Quezon City Sports Club. The family drama produced by Cineko Productions Inc. was named Best Picture by the award-giving body made up of the Film Academy of the Philippines and supported by the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc. Its cast members Noel Trinidad and Mylene Dizon bagged the trophies for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, while production designer Elfren Vibar got his own award in his category. “Nakuha sa dasal, kaya thank you, Lord,” Trinidad said in his acceptance speech. “I want to share this award sa lahat na-involve sa pelikula. Para na rin kaming isang pamilya talaga. Nagmamahalan, may tampuhan.” He then thanked director Nuel Naval and screenplay writer Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario. The 82-year-old actor, who plays the patriarch of a family worried sick about him and his wife (Liza Lorena), added, “Shini-share ko ang award na ito sa lahat ng actors at actresses na nakaeksena ko na kasama sa pelikula dahil ang gagaling nilang lahat. Kaya bawat eksena na kasama sila, nagiging very challenging and exciting. So, hindi lang para sa ’kin ’to. Sa atin lahat ito.” He also thanked his real-life wife Lally “for supporting me all these years sa lahat ng projects ko. I love you.” Trinidad bested other lead actors Sid Lucero (Reroute), Cesar Montano (Maid in Malacañang), Christian Bables (Mahal Kita, Beksman) and Jerome Ponce (Katips). In the Best Actress category, Heaven Peralejo emerged as the winner for her impressive performance in the thriller Nanahimik ang Gabi. She won over Liza Lorena (Family Matters), Cristine Reyes (Maid in Malacañang), Cindy Miranda (Reroute) and Belle Mariano (An Inconvenient Love). “Thank you so much to FAP for making a kid’s dream come true,” Peralejo said while accepting her award. “Seven years ago, pangarap ko lang po ’to. Ngayon, this is a big thing for me. I love my job so much, and this means a lot. Thank you.” The 23-year-old actress expressed her gratitude to Lauren Dyogi, who heads the Star Magic talent management agency she was under contract with when the offer to do Nanahimik ang Gabi came. She’s now under the care of Viva Artists Agency. She also gave props to her mother Shirley Luanne, a.k.a. “my mommyger,” saying, “I hope I made you proud. Promise, I’ll keep making you proud.” For her part, Dizon bested in the supporting actress category her Family Matters costar Agot Isidro, as well as Beverly Salviejo (Maid in Malacañang), Elizabeth Oropesa (Maid in Malacañang) and Lara Morena (Relyebo). Dizon, who plays a daughter worried about her parents while also busy raising her own family, thanked her movie’s director and screenplay writer “for choosing me to play Fortune.” She then turned to the people behind the Luna Awards. “It’s such a privilege to work in a film like Family Matters po. Maraming salamat po ni-recognize n’yo ang pelikula namin, na akala namin inisip lang namin na maganda ang pelikula namin. Totoo pala.” Best Supporting Actor winner John Arcilla sent his two sisters to accept his award. The internationally acclaimed actor won against Nonie Buencamino (Family Matters), Keempee de Leon (Mahal Kita, Beksman), Vince Tañada (Katips) and Mon Confiado (Nanahimik ang Gabi). The award for Best Director went to Mikhail Red (Deleter), besting Nuel Naval (Family Matters), Perci Intalan (Mahal Kita, Beksman), Darryl Yap (Maid in Malacañang), Vince Tanada (Katips) and Shugo Praico (Nanahimik ang Gabi). For Best Screenplay, Martika Ramirez Escobar (Leonor Will Never Die) prevailed over Mel Mendoza-Del Rosario (Family Matters), Eric Ramos (Mamasapano), Darryl Yap (Maid in Malacañang) and Joaquin Enrico Santos (An Inconvenient Love). The technical awards went to Carlos Mauricio (Best Cinematography, Leonor Will Never Die), Elfren Vibar (Best Production Design, Family Matters), Lawrence Ang (Best Editing, Leonor Will Never Die), Jazz Nicolas and Mikey Amistoso (Best Musical Scoring, Blue Room) and Andrea Idioma (Best Sound Design, Nanahimik ang Gabi). Four special awards were given out in recognition of the outstanding contributions to the cinematic arts and the entertainment industry. Senator Imee Marcos received the Golden Reel Award through her representative, Elizabeth Marcos. Actor Leo Martinez, who also served as FAP director general from 2003 to 2019, accepted the FPJ Lifetime Achievement Award from Mowelfund chairperson and actress Boots Anson-Roa. National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts Ricky Lee was given the Manuel de Leon Award for Exemplary Achievements as a writer and an educator. Cinematographer Conrado Baltazar was honored posthumously with the Lamberto Avellana Memorial Award for his timeless works, such as in the classic films Jaguar, Angela Markado, Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang, Insiang and Gumising Ka, Maruja. The post Family Matters’ wins big at 39th Luna Awards appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Barangay, SK poll hotspots known
The Philippine National Police on Tuesday revealed that it has monitored 27 areas that needed to be be placed under the red category or areas of concern ahead of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in October this year. PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria explained that they have four categories for considering election hotspots — green, yellow, orange and red. Green refers to areas that do not have security concerns and are generally peaceful and orderly, while Yellow are areas of concern, which means that these have a history of election-related incidents in the last elections, possible employment of partisan armed groups, the occurrence of politically motivated election-related incidents and had been previously declared under the Commission on Elections control. Orange, meanwhile, means areas of immediate concern where there is a serious armed threat while Red means areas of grave concern, which exhibit combined factors under the Yellow category with serious armed threats that may warrant the motu proprio declaration of Comelec control. “We have some figures here but this is still to be submitted to the Comelec en banc for approval but for a bird’s eye view of our election areas of concern we have category green which has 37,683, that is election with no area of concern. For Yellow, we have 4,085, for Orange, we have 232 and for Red, we have 27 but these figures were based from the past elections,” Dubria said. “So these is just a ballpark figure that supposed to validate some more together, we have to get the approval of the Comelec en banc. So as of the moment that is the information that we can provide,” he added. PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., meantime, said that they are still monitoring Negros Oriental and areas in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and added that the PNP started identifying policemen whose family members and other relatives are planning to run for the BSKE elections in October this year. The post Barangay, SK poll hotspots known appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Time for the Philippines to go nuclear
With the scorching heat of the sun still going on and the looming dry spell as a result of the El Niño phenomenon, more Filipinos are using electricity to beat the soaring temperature. Unfortunately, the supply of power cannot cope with the demand, so power outages have also become common. [caption id="attachment_167841" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Many Filipinos are increasingly unable to afford power costs, with the cost of electricity in the country among the highest in Southeast Asia. | Photographs Courtesy Of The Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.[/caption] Many Filipinos are also increasingly unable to afford power costs. The cost of electricity in the country is among the highest in Southeast Asia, according to a paper penned for the Ateneo Center for Economic Research and Development. In the Philippines, the kilowatt per hour is $0.16. Compare that to Thailand and Indonesia ($0.10/kWh) and Malaysia ($0.05/kWh). At $0.18/kWh, only Singapore surpasses the country’s Philippines rates. About 50 percent of the country’s power generation comes from coal, with natural gas and renewables accounting for just over 20 percent and the rest coming from oil-fired boilers. The country’s electricity consumption is expected to triple by 2040 — from the 90.2 TWh (Terawatt-hour) in 2018 — due to the rapidly growing economy. It’s time for the Philippines to transition away from its reliance on coal. The adoption of nuclear power is the fastest option and would make electricity costs more affordable, according to the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute. PNRI Director Carlo A. Arcilla said including nuclear power in the country’s energy mix would be beneficial to consumers as it would bring down expensive electricity rates and provide a stable source of power. Gayle Certeza, convenor of Alpas Pinas, a group that educates and advocates for nuclear energy, agrees. “We believe that nuclear energy will positively impact the lives of Filipinos because it will mean lower electricity rates that will better allow for more savings,” she said in a Daily Tribune feature. During the presidency of Rodrigo R. Duterte, Executive Order 164 was signed to include nuclear power in the country’s energy mix. Under the policy, the country “shall ensure the peaceful use of nuclear technology anchored on critical tenets of public safety, national security, energy self-sufficiency, and environmental sustainability.” Energy security The Department of Science and Technology supported EO 164, saying: “Nuclear power is envisioned to bring down the cost of electricity and to contribute to energy security considering the various limitations now being encountered in the other sources which includes natural gas, geothermal, hydro and coal.” The DoST is a member of the Nuclear Energy Program Interagency Committee, tasked to study the adoption of a national position on nuclear power. Nuclear power is one of two major alternatives to fossil fuels; the other is renewable energy (solar power, wind power, hydroelectric, geothermal energy and biomass energy). “Renewables and nuclear can complement each other,” said Arcilla in an interview. “Wind and solar depend on the status of the weather, and they only a 30-percent capacity factor unless you have an expensive battery.” Solar energy also requires one hectare of land to produce one megawatt. “This will become more challenging since the Philippines is an archipelagic country,” Arcilla said. Nuclear, on the other hand, “is more of a baseload energy, meaning it is more reliable due to its continuous production of energy. It could provide backup for wind and solar.” Threats and risks Groups such as the World Nuclear Association, the International Atomic Energy Agency and Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy contend that nuclear power is a sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions. But opponents, such as Greenpeace International and Nuclear Information and Resource Service, warn that nuclear power poses many threats to people and the environment, including the problems of processing, transport and storage of radioactive nuclear waste, the risk of nuclear weapons proliferation and terrorism, as well as health risks and environmental damage from uranium mining. Because of these risks, Dr. Art Romero, a geoscientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, California, emphasizes the need to conduct due diligence, technical hazard studies and engineering and safety reviews. If the Philippines went nuclear, where would it put nuclear waste? “It is very challenging to manage nuclear waste as it will last up to 10,000 years,” acknowledged Arcilla. “We need to isolate them from the human environment.” Arcilla suggests deep borehole disposal. “In the Philippines, we have the capability to drill up to three kilometers. So what we can do is to go to an isolated island, drill up to one kilometer, then we plug in bentonite.” It’s not the first time the Philippines will go nuclear. The Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was built by Westinghouse during the time of Ferdinand Marcos at a cost of $2.2 billion, but it was mothballed in 1986 due to safety concerns and allegations of corruption, even before it could begin operations. During the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, proponents wanted the BNPP rehabilitated. But the project was projected to cost a hefty $1 billion. In 2019, a public perception survey indicated that 79 percent of Filipinos supported the rehabilitation of the shelved BNPP. In addition, 65 percent approved the building of new nuclear power plants. Nuclear power is the second largest source of low-carbon electricity today. With almost 500 operating reactors globally, it provides 10 percent of global electricity supply. It’s time for a rapidly developing country like the Philippines to take a second look at this critical power supply option. The post Time for the Philippines to go nuclear 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......»»
Romualdez swears in Tulfo as House member
Former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo formally took his oath before Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday as the newest member of the House of Representatives. Tulfo replaced Jeffrey Soriano of the ACT-CIS Partylist, who resigned as its third nominee on 22 February without disclosing the reason for his departure. Tulfo was sworn in at the plenary hall during Monday’s session, accompanied by other ACT-CIS Representatives, Jocelyn Tulfo and Edvic Yap. The erstwhile DSWD chief made it to the House after the Commission on Election’s Second Division on 30 May elevated to the En Banc the disqualification case against him. The Comelec, on 20 July, issued a certificate of proclamation to Tulfo, who was named ACT-CIS’ third nominee. He was initially the fourth nominee on the list submitted to the poll body. The ACT-CIS Partylist mustered 2.1 million votes in the May 2022 polls and won three seats in Congress. Before assuming his post as a lawmaker, he first served as DSWD chief after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed him in May 2022. The powerful Commission on Appointments bypassed him twice over citizenship issues, and a libel conviction, the latter a crime that, his critics say, should have barred anyone from holding public office, whether elective or appointive. Tulfo was replaced by Rex Gatchalian, the erstwhile lawmaker of Valenzuela, at the DSWD. The newly minted lawmaker, a brother of Senator Raffy Tulfo, thanked members of the House. He pledged to Romualdez his “full support” for the current House leadership, “particularly, for its dedication to advancing important legislation.” “The current leadership in Congress is essential for the progress and well-being of our nation,” he said. The post Romualdez swears in Tulfo as House member appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Erwin Tulfo takes oath as newest House member
Former Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo formally took his oath before Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday as the newest member of the House of Representatives. Tulfo replaced Jeffrey Soriano of the ACT-CIS Partylist, who resigned as its third nominee on 22 February without disclosing the reason for his departure. Tulfo was sworn in at the plenary hall during Monday's session, accompanied by the other ACT-CIS Representatives, Jocelyn Tulfo and Edvic Yap. The erstwhile DSWD chief made it to the House after the Commission on Election Second Division on 30 May elevated to the en banc the disqualification case against him. The Comelec, on 20 July, issued a certificate of proclamation to Tulfo, who was named ACT-CIS’ third nominee. He was initially the fourth nominee in the list submitted to the poll body. The ACT-CIS Partylist mustered 2.1 million votes in the May 2022 polls and won three seats in Congress. Before assuming his post as a lawmaker, Tulfo first served as DSWD chief after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr appointed him in May 2022. The powerful Commission on Appointments bypassed him twice over citizenship issues and his libel conviction. He was replaced by Rex Gatchalian, the erstwhile lawmaker of Valenzuela, before being appointed to lead the DSWD. Tulfo thanked the members of the House and Romualdez and vowed that he would send his "full support” to the current leadership, “particularly for their dedication to advancing important legislation.” "The current leadership in Congress are essential for the progress and well-being of our nation," he said. The post Erwin Tulfo takes oath as newest House member 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......»»
Comelec: No extension to SoCE turnovers
The Commission on Elections on Thursday stressed that there should be no extensions in the filing of Statements of Contribution and Expenditures, which is a detailed document of all the contributions and expenditures made by certain candidates during the election campaign. This comes after the Supreme Court ruled against the poll body’s 2016 resolution that stretched the deadline on the filing of SoCEs from 8 to 30 June 2016, right after the 2016 national and local elections, saying that the poll body has committed grave abuse of discretion over the said resolution. “No extensions now on all our deadlines except in highly meritorious circumstances,” Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said. Under Section 14 of the Republic Act 7166 — which was approved back in 1991 — candidates and treasurers of political parties must file their SoCEs “within 30 days after the day of the election.” The said provision barred elected officials and political parties of winning candidates to assume positions without the filing of SoCE, with penalties on the first offense between P1,000 to P30,000 and on the second offense between P2,000 to P60,000, as well as prohibition in assuming public office. The resolution in question — Resolution 10147 — said that the extension of the deadline was due to, among other things, “several requests,” as well as previous rulings that compel the poll body to extend the deadline on the filing of SoCEs both after the 2010 and 2013 elections. Comelec also argued that the extension would help in their probes on possible election overspending. “The simple expediency of not accepting the SoCE if filed beyond the deadline and just imposing a fine is in effect throwing away the evidence of any infraction of the campaign finance rules and unwittingly assisting in hiding the evidence,” the poll body said. However, the Supreme Court argued that such actions “effectively condoned erring candidates and political parties from administrative liabilities, even if the law does not provide any exempting circumstance.” Meantime, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino Lakas ng Bayan expressed its gratitude to the Supreme Court for taking the party’s position that the Comelec committed grave abuse of authority in granting extensions on the filing of SoCEs. PDP Laban president and Palawan Representative Jose Alvarez said that the High Court’s decision vindicates the party’s decision in June 2016 to challenge Comelec resolution which granted the extension on the filing of SoCE that favored the Liberal Party and its candidates. The Comelec has recognized in a final and executory decision the PDP Laban led by Party chairman Rodrigo Duterte and Party president and Representative Alvarez as the true and legitimate PDP Laban. “We thank the Supreme Court En Banc for taking PDP Laban’s position in this landmark case and we also welcome the statement of the Comelec that it will no longer grant extensions on the filings of SoCEs in compliance with the SC’s decision,” said Alvarez. “The Supreme Court decision voiding Comelec Resolution 10147 affirms the provisions of RA 7166 that states that the Comelec is not authorized to extend the deadline for the filing of SoCE or not beyond 30 days after the polls conclude,” he added. “This decision should serve as a warning to all candidates that they should just comply with laws like RA 7166 and not seek exemptions from the Comelec. Based on the law, candidates who fail to file their SoCEs on or before the deadline cannot assume the elected position that they won,” the lawmaker said. The post Comelec: No extension to SoCE turnovers 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......»»
Voting options for Pinoys abroad still open
The Commission on Elections disclosed on Thursday that it will still retain the in-person and mail-in voting options for overseas Filipinos, even with the roll-out of internet voting which the poll body recently approved. In a television interview, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said that the push for Internet voting would rely on the voters’ acceptance of the new mechanism. “We can’t just simply remove the two existing modes of voting that we’ve been using, including in-person and mail-in voting. We have to make adjustments for our kababayans who will be using internet voting come 2025,” Garcia said. “If all Filipinos abroad have availed Internet voting, we can recommend the Congress to abolish the in-person and voting by mail. We can do this recommendation,” he added. To recall, the poll body approved the adoption of Internet voting last week, with the target implementation of the measure on the country’s midterm elections in two years’ time. The Commission En Banc explained in their decision that the measure does not need a law, as mandated in Republic Act 9189 and Republic Act 10590. However, Comelec has not yet defined any system that would be used for internet voting and, in terms of budget, Garcia said that it would depend on the studies on voting security using such technologies. “Because this is still a policy direction of the Comelec, this should be included in the preparatory budget for the 2025 elections. There should also be studies conducted, because the number one issue is the security and credibility of the results. It should be verifiable and auditable, and can secure the votes of our kababayans, as well as ensuring that those who vote are those registered with us,” Garcia said. The post Voting options for Pinoys abroad still open 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......»»
‘Internet voting’ could reduce spending – Comelec
The Commission on Elections on Thursday said that they are eyeing reduced spending on logistical costs of overseas voting with the recent approval of overseas Internet voting for the upcoming midterm elections in 2025. In a radio interview, Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the internet voting scheme for overseas Filipino voters could allow a higher voter turnout while reducing the costs of conducting such elections overseas. Referencing last year’s polls, Laudiangco said that 39 percent of the 1.7 million registered overseas voters cast their votes, despite spending P411 million to ensure that all voters could have one ballot to fill up. Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia, in a Viber message to reporters, called the said 39-percent turnout ‘dismal’ that needed another mode. “We think that — and because all our ballots are intended for one voter — the problem is that some of them may be far from their post offices or that they may be too lazy to return it. We saw this as a more convenient option as OFWs tend to connect to the internet to call to their families,” Laudiangco said. The Commission En Banc approved the proposal on Wednesday, citing Republic Act Number 9189 or The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003, amended in Republic Act Number 10590, which allows the poll body to explore other means to conduct voting procedures overseas. Comelec has already been pushing for a newer automated election system through Fully Automated System with Transparency Audit and Count or FASTrAC which, among other things, is eyeing a multiple voter transmission to city and municipal canvassers, central servers, majority and minority party servers, media servers and citizens’ arm servers. However, unlike the local AES which proposes newer ‘automated counting machines’ or ACMs, internet voting could require the use of a software where registered voters could log in using their accounts. “Our voters will be using their cellphones or any other gadgets and will be given a separate account that cannot be imitated. You will be given a distinct and independent log-in quote and you’ll set your password. Registered voters will be given that account. Of course, they should have access to the internet,” Laudiangco said. Laudiangco added that they are working on proposing the needed budget for such measures before the Congress, including protective measures such as a strong firewall, secured anti-hacking mechanisms and protected encryption. “COMELEC should have a strong firewall. Seven million overseas Filipino voters can make or break an election, can sway the votes so there should be a strong firewall, as well as anti-hacking and high-level encryption,” he said. The post ‘Internet voting’ could reduce spending – Comelec appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec told to pay partner P15.3M dues
The Commission on Elections has been demanded to pay P15.3 million worth of unpaid dues to Impact Hub Manila over its services during the lead-up to the 2022 National and Local Elections. This included the scrapped town hall debates scheduled on 30 April and 1 May last year at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila. Legal communication from Atty. Ma. Karla Denise Frias, legal counsel to Impact Hub Manila and its founder, Ma. Celeste Eden Rondario, dated 27 April gave Comelec five days to settle its due or be faced with legal action. "Please note that failure to respond or to make a payment arrangement within the next five days upon receipt of this notice will leave us with no other option but to avail of the legal remedies under the law to recover the debt and to protect the country's interest," the letter read. Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said that the poll body, through the Education and Information Department, received the letter on 8 May. In reaction to this, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said that they will be creating an investigating panel to address the issue, adding that another panel has already submitted a report on this previously. "The panel already submitted a report several months ago. However, the En Banc returned it to the body with the instructions to clearly pinpoint the specific laws and provisions involved, the responsibilities if there be any of certain mentioned individuals, and more detailed recommendations based on the facts and the laws applicable," Garcia said. He also confirmed that the poll body has paid “not a single cent” to Impact Hub Manila prior to the legal move by the latter. The post Comelec told to pay partner P15.3M dues appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Comelec: 98,000 voting machines ‘unserviceable’
The Commission on Elections has declared the vote counting machines or VCM used in the 2016, 2019 and 2022 elections as “unserviceable.”.....»»