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PH media slam Chinese foreign ministry’s claims of manipulating WPS reports
Philippine media groups criticized the Chinese foreign ministry for suggesting that recent reports on Chinese harassment of Filipino vessels in the West Philippine Sea involved video manipulation and sensationalism to portray the Philippines as a victim. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) and National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) expressed offense.....»»
FOCAP condemns Chinese embassy’s claims on ‘manipulated’ West Philippine Sea videos
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines strongly rejected and condemned yesterday China’s “false and baseless” claims that journalists manipulate videosthey recorded in the South China Sea to present the Philippines as a victim......»»
Missing man found dead in Barangay Bonbon
CEBU CITY, Philippines — A 50-year-old man who had been missing for two weeks was found dead in Sitio Golivas, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. The victim was identified as Adriano Fuentes Durano, a resident of Kiniasan, Barangay Bonbon, Cebu City. Police Major Philip John Libres, chief of Malubog Police Community Precinct, stated that on Tuesday.....»»
Lawyer claims Isko Ouano was a victim of ‘mistaken identity’
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The legal counsel of Francisco “Isko” Ouano believed that his client was a victim of mistaken identity. Lawyer Nelson Macabocsit said he was prepared to prove that Ouano was innocent of the robbery and extortion charges against him. Ouano, 48, along with two other accused – Joselito Agtuca, 46, and German.....»»
PNP exec in sex scandal threatened victim with enforced disappearance
A Philippine National Police colonel embroiled in a sex scandal allegedly threatened his victim that he could make her disappear......»»
Rama refuses to comment on potential 2025 mayoral foes
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he has no plans to comment on personalities expressing interest in running for mayor in the 2025 midterm elections. “I do not want to comment. I rather wait for the filing of the certificate of candidacy,” Rama told CDN Digital on Saturday, February 10. In.....»»
Gomburza: Patriotism draws audiences
By YANNI ROXAS Bulatlat.com I thought I was going to another historical film na pinatay na naman ang bida (where the protagonist was killed) and leave me sad, sour and hopeless. Had “Gomburza” the movie not won second place at the 49th Metro Manila Film Festival I would not have bothered. But curiosity got the… The post Gomburza: Patriotism draws audiences appeared first on Bulatlat......»»
Negros Oriental special poll: Filing of COCs extended
The deadline for filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the special election to fill the vacancy arising from the expulsion of Arnolfo Teves Jr. as Negros Oriental third district representative has been extended......»»
Defeated candidate, brother confess to Bukidnon election-related killings
The police have clamped down a defeated candidate and his brother who killed two elders of a reelected barangay chairwoman in Kibawe, Bukidnon who had refused to endorse his candidacy for kagawad during the barangay ang Sangguniang Kabataan elections......»»
DQ case filed vs Lin
A disqualification complaint was filed against Jeanly Lin, a candidate running for Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson in Barangay San Bartolome, Novaliches, Quezon City. The complaint, which was lodged with the local Commission on Elections office in Quezon City by Andrea Lazaro, alleged that Lin, also known as “JLin,” is not a Filipino citizen but a Chinese national. In the 11-page complaint, Lazaro claimed that Lin’s proficiency in Tagalog is limited, and that she allegedly relied on interpreters, while keeping a group of bodyguards during her campaign in their village. However, Lin’s Certificate of Candidacy indicated that she is a Filipino citizen. Jeanly is the daughter of Rose Lin, a Pharmally Pharmaceutical executive tagged in the allegedly questionable government supply contract worth billions of pesos during the pandemic. Rose Lin ran as a representative in Quezon City’s 5th District but lost to the brother of outgoing Congressman Alfred Vargas. The post DQ case filed vs Lin appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
5 vote buying DQ cases filed by Comelec, warns LGU of prohibitions
The Commission on Elections has begun filing petitions against the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections candidates allegedly involved in vote buying on 6 October. Out of the 40 complaints being investigated, the Comelec poll board submitted five disqualification petitions, according to Comelec Deputy Executive for Operations Rafael Olano. He added that the Committee on Vote Buying has received complaints from the public on various platforms, including Facebook and messages which contained screenshots or images. "All of these complaints came from voters. We verified and evaluated them for possible filing of disqualification cases “he said. Olano confirmed that one of the five candidates under investigation for disqualification is involved in a BSK bet showing up at a local government unit aid distribution, which he claimed to be qualified as vote buying. “There were local government officials, mayors distributing relief but the BSKE candidate was present and was allowed to speak," he said. After the official filing of candidacy, it was claimed that another BSK candidate distributed financial aid out of his pocket. Prior to the election, the poll body warned candidates of its strict measures which prohibit the distribution of ballers, t-shirts, caps, and anything else of worth under the suspicion of vote buying and selling. Comelec Commissioner Ernesto Ferdinand Maceda Jr. reminded LGU officials to be aware of such prohibitions during a separate briefing. "If they conduct assistance programs, they should not let BSKE candidates join them, lest they be disqualified,” he said. Maceda added that the Comelec would consider potential reinforcing techniques if similar incidents persist as the campaign period drew closer. “We will study how to reprimand them or take appropriate actions,” he said. In the end, Maceda stressed that the poll body is “dead serious” about its exclusion warning in order to assure not just the validity and honesty of the BSK polls but also to raise the bar for campaigning standards across the nation and the importance of each BSK candidate’s character. As of Friday, the Task Force Anti-Epal had filed an additional 10 disqualification petitions against candidates who were allegedly involved in premature campaigning while the Committee on Kontra Bigay had filed five disqualification cases for vote buying. Overall, there are 82 petitions for premature campaigning, 5,169 show cause orders, and 1,132 responses from the BSK bets. The post 5 vote buying DQ cases filed by Comelec, warns LGU of prohibitions appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
A night for ‘Men Who Matter’
The Bellevue Manila witnessed another iconic night with this year’s celebration of the “Men Who Matter” honorees. PeopleAsia welcomes another roster of extraordinary gentlemen from various fields from entertainment, law, politics, religion, art, business and more. Of course, my thanks to my Daily Tribune bosses who gave me the go-signal to attend this momentous event. After all, they said that we are in the same publishing industry and we should be supporting one another. The inclement weather couldn’t stop us — the rain never bothered us anyway! All guests arrived looking chic in sneaks. The dress code called for cocktail attire paired with their comfy yet stylish sneakers — a first in the history of this event. PeopleAsia sure loves keeping us on our toes with something fresh every year. Of course, I happily take on any dress code! [caption id="attachment_189995" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Photographs by Agile Zamora for the Daily TribuneFrom left: Quezon City Councilor Alfred Vargas, NexGenAsia CEO Fred Hui, Grab Philippines director of deliveries Greg Camacho, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes, DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr., actor-director Coco Martin, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. director of government and public relations Atty. Michael Toledo, artist Leeroy New, Volvo Philippines executive marketing director Chris Yu and Sto. Niño de Paz Chapel chaplain Fr. Dave Concepcion, with PeopleAsia editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez (center).[/caption] One very memorable outfit belonged to PeopleAsia’s editor-in-chief Joanne Rae Ramirez who welcomed us with a speech, who happily wore sneakers — dress code or not — with her fab fuchsia Noel Crisostomo suit dress. [caption id="attachment_190006" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Jose Paolo dela Cruz, Mayenne Carmona and Janette Velasco of People Asia.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_190002" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Joy and Joel Rustia.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_190004" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Norwegian Consul Frank Johansen and his wife Julie.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_189998" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Best Dressed lady of the night Amelia Ablaza and Dulce Sy.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_189997" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Tina Cuevas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_190003" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Linda Ley, Nympha Javier, Ann and Rene Puno.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_189996" align="aligncenter" width="828"] Suzette Ayson[/caption] [caption id="attachment_190005" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] People Asia's Alex Vergara and BumTenorio[/caption] [caption id="attachment_189999" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Gerry Sy and Jinky Antonio.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_190000" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Grace Glory Go and General Consul of Monaco Fortune Ledesma.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_190001" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Showing our sneakers: the author, Jun Jun Ablaza and Czarina Ablaza Syquia in trendy sneakers.[/caption] Of course, the ‘Men Who Matter’ followed suit… in suits and sneakers. These impressive gentlemen are really shaping society through their work in their respective fields. I’ve had the wonderful chance to get a photo op with a few, including the dashing “King of Primetime TV,” Coco Martin! But I have to say that all the honorees were all handsome inside and out, with good looks and their great accomplishments. They really deserve to be in the spotlight. The night wouldn’t be complete without our sumptuous feast, live performances and memories captured. Another PeopleAsia event for the books! Kudos to the team for this unforgettable night. I look forward to your future events… always! Cheers! The post A night for ‘Men Who Matter’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Pre-historic Tell al-Sultan site added to world heritage list
The United Nations' cultural organization inscribed the pre-historic site of Tell al-Sultan, near the Palestinian city of Jericho in the occupied West Bank, on its World Heritage List Sunday. Tell al-Sultan, which predates Egypt's pyramids, is an oval-shaped tell, or mound, located in the Jordan Valley that contains the prehistoric deposits of human activity. The UNESCO decision, which was posted by the organization on X, formerly Twitter, was taken at its 45th World Heritage Committee meeting held in Riyadh. "The property proposed for nomination is the prehistoric archaeological site of Tell al-Sultan, located outside the antique site of Jericho," UNESCO's assistant director general, Ernesto Ottone, said at the session. The site was inscribed following a three-year candidacy "during which no state party raised any objections", said a diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media. "There are no Jewish or Christian remains found at the (Tell al-Sultan) site. It's a place of pre-historic remains," the diplomat told AFP. Israel quit the UN organization in 2019 over accusations it fosters an anti-Israel bias but sent a delegation to this year's meeting in Saudi Arabia. The Palestinian Authority, acknowledged by the United Nations as a non-member observer state, welcomed the listing of the Tell al-Sultan site. Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas said he considered the decision to inscribe Tell al-Sultan "a matter of great importance and evidence of the authenticity and history of the Palestinian people". He vowed that the Palestinian authorities would "continue to preserve this unique site for all humanity", according to a statement from his office. Diverse Palestinian heritage UNESCO's listing shows that the Tell al-Sultan site is "an integral part of the diverse Palestinian heritage of exceptional human value", Palestinian tourism minister Rula Maayah, who was attending the meeting in Riyadh, said in a statement. Given Tell al-Sultan's "importance as the oldest fortified city in the world... it deserves to be a World Heritage Site," she said. "A permanent settlement had emerged here by the 9th to 8th millennium BC due to the fertile soil of the oasis and easy access to water," UNESCO said on its website. UNESCO said the "skulls and statues found on the site" testify to cultic practices among the neolithic population there, while the early bronze age archaeological material shows signs of urban planning. "Vestiges from the middle bronze age reveal the presence of a large Canaanite city-state occupied by a socially complex population," UNESCO added. The Tell al-Sultan site has been under excavation for over a century and is billed as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement on the planet, Palestinian official Wafa news agency reported. It is the fourth Palestinian site to be listed on UNESCO's World Heritage list, alongside the Church of the Nativity and the Old City of Hebron. Israel has occupied the West Bank -- now home to some three million Palestinians -- since the 1967 Six-Day War, when it also seized the Gaza Strip, the densely populated coastal enclave it has since withdrawn from. The Palestinians want these territories for their future state, along with annexed east Jerusalem as its capital. Jericho is one of the oldest inhabited cities on the planet and is a major tourist destination in the Palestinian territories. UNESCO urged for the protection of other archaeological sites in Jericho. "The other archaeological sites located in Jericho, covering among other Jewish and Christian heritage, also have important historical interest and deserve to be preserved as well," said Ottone. Archaeology is a highly political subject in Israel and the Palestinian territories, and some discoveries have been used to justify the territorial claims of each people. The post Pre-historic Tell al-Sultan site added to world heritage list appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Addressing vote-buying
It seems that the present Commission on Elections is not running out of ideas on how to effect reforms. It is not “sleeping on their post” as sentinels used to say. It continues to pursue changes in the electoral landscape unmindful of negative social and political headwinds. I just wrote about its speedy action of placing Malabang, Lanao del Sur under Comelec control because of the indiscriminate firing of guns on the first day of filing of certificates of candidacy. Now, it’s tackling the mother of election irregularities — vote buying and vote selling. This illegal practice is anti-democratic. It continues to be the bane of elections. It restricts one’s freedom to choose one’s leaders. That it thrives as endemic in a political milieu like the Philippines is a testament to how difficult life is for the common people. Financial need, especially for those on the margins of society, is so chronic that people are willing to sacrifice their basic freedoms to make ends meet. This is a problem almost beyond solution because of the difficulty of punishing the wrongdoers, both the buyer and seller. We have laws punishing it but prosecutors can only build a case against a suspect with the participation of at least one of the accomplices to the crime. And who would want to testify against oneself unless immunity is assured? And so, we see a mockery of the law. No one gets jailed for violating it. The proactive Comelec comes now with a bagful of measures to combat the anomaly. It has created a special group, the Committee on Kontra Bigay, to address the problem and it is helmed by a no-nonsense reformist, Commissioner Ernesto Maceda Jr., the namesake of a great and astute statesman who served the country in various capacities for decades. I say he is the right choice, not only because of the reputation he has built, but more so because of the weight of the name he carries which he would not want to taint with a whiff of wrongdoing. The Commission has listed a litany of prohibitive acts associated with vote-buying. It’s too long to list in this limited space. But on top of these are acts and activities “presumed” to be illegal because they lead to the commission of the crime. These include “possessing or delivery of... monies or anything of value together with sample ballots or other campaign materials... queues of registered voters for the distribution of money... and such other goods... employing the hakot system or the gathering of two or more registered voters in a specific place before election day and on election day ...prohibiting the possession... carrying of cash exceeding P500,000 along with campaign paraphernalia two days before an election and on election day... an ‘ayuda’ ban except that which is normally given to qualified individuals...” It also created the Kontra Bigay Complaint Center which will receive complaints of vote-buying. For human rights guardians, consider this: the Comelec allows “warrantless arrest wherein any law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, arrest a person when in his or her presence, the person to be arrested has committed, is committing, or is attempting to commit the election offense of vote-buying.” Wow! A case arising out of these acts is fertile ground for legal hermeneutics. Any two-bit lawyer can find a “palusot” in this scenario. It may be extremely difficult to prove all these by evidence but it’s surely a theoretical force to deter the commission of the crime. And let it not be said that the present Commission did not lift a finger to combat this perennial problem which everyone talks about but was never addressed by past commissions. For this reason, the present Commission deserves our appreciation for a bold ambitious move. amb_mac_lanto@yahoo.com The post Addressing vote-buying appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Padilla backing pro-charter midterm bets
Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla on Tuesday said he is willing to support the candidacy of anyone who would back his proposal to amend the economic and political provisions of the 1987 Constitution. In a television interview, Padilla, who is pushing for a federal type of government, stressed the need to have a unicameral and parliamentary system of government to ensure progress. “In the coming polls, I will campaign for candidates who may not be famous or don’t have money but believe that we need to amend our Constitution,” he said. “You need to help me. All of this will hinge on 2025 when the people will decide whether the country will move forward or backward,” he added. The lawmaker, who chairs the Senate panel on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, urged Filipino voters to elect someone who may be “nameless, and penniless but believes that we need to amend the 1987 Constitution.” “So long as we have senators who believe only in the 1987 Constitution, we will remain dreamers,” he said. Padilla also said “it is time” to open the discussion on extending the term of presidents, as well as allowing them to run for a second term. “What is wrong with having a second term? I don’t understand the opposition to it because six years is too short for a good president, though too long for a bad one,” he said. Under the current charter, the president is limited to a single six-year term. During the first regular session of the 19th Congress, Padilla failed to gain enough support among his colleagues to amend the economic provisions of the Constitution through the Constitutional Assembly. The post Padilla backing pro-charter midterm bets appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
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 […].....»»
Exciting Part in the Barangay
By: Mr. Tagulipdan Residents who aspire to take center stage in the barangay and SK elections this October 2023 are now brimming with enthusiasm. The filing period for candidacy was set from August 28 to September 2, and the exciting part has begun in every corner of the barangay. According to our sources, many are […].....»»
Being Discerning in Choosing Candidates
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will be busy starting this week with the task of providing details to voters about the candidates who filed their candidacy. Until October, Comelec officers and employees will be occupied to ensure that the elections remain peaceful and orderly until the winners are proclaimed. Despite this, there are concerns about […].....»»