Militant youth cry ‘failure of election’

MEMBERS of Kabataan partylist held a picket in Quezon City on Tuesday, denouncing the technical glitches, election-related violence, and political infighting that allegedly hampered the organized facilitation of the 2013 midterm elections.

The group said Monday's election was a failure, citing reports of malfunctioning precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and bloated partial unofficial counts.

Poe won't run for higher public office

TOPPING the senatorial race is not a reliable launch pad for those seeking the vice presidency or presidency of the Philippines, surprise frontrunner Grace Poe said Tuesday.

"As what Senator Chiz (Francis Escudero) told me, being on top (of the senatorial elections) is not a guarantee that you will win because there had been candidates for president and vice president (who were previous topnotchers) and didn't make it," Poe said in a television interview.

Candidates dared to lead clean-up efforts

A DAY after Election Day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is challenging those who ran for public office to prove that they care for the voters by leading the clean-up efforts of their propaganda materials.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said the first proof of the promises they made to the voters during the campaign is by removing their own campaign posters immediately.

Palace spokesperson among disenfranchised voters

DEPUTY presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte was among those disenfranchised voters on Monday's midterm elections.

Valte, along with her mother, was among those who trooped to Palanan Elementary School in Makati City supposedly to cast her vote.

Aquino: I voted straight for Team PNoy

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III said Monday that he voted straight for Team PNoy senatorial bets.

Emerging from Clustered Precinct 56 in Central Azucarera de Tarlac Elementary School in Tarlac City, the President expressed satisfaction because he was able to cast his vote faster.

Filipino clans, celebrities dominate midterm polls

MANILA (Updated 6:56 p.m.) — From Imelda Marcos to Manny Pacquiao, familiar names of Philippine political clans and celebrities dominated the ballots for Monday's congressional and local elections, which will gauge popular support for the president's anti-corruption drive and other reforms.

Despite scattered violence and fears of fraud, the polls were relatively peaceful as soldiers and police secured stations in potentially violent areas.

More than 50M voters expected to vote Monday

MANILA -- Some 52,014,648 registered voters are expected to troop to the 77,829 precincts nationwide to cast their votes today (Monday).

More than 18,000 posts are up for grabs, including 12 senators; 233 congressmen; 58 party-list representatives; 80 governors; 80 vice governors; 766 provincial board members; 143 city mayors; 143 city vice mayors; 1,598 city councilors; 1,491 municipal mayors; 1,491 municipal vice mayors; 11,932 municipal councilors; as well as one Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) governor; one regional vice governor; and 24 regional assemblymen.

4 Filipino peacekeepers held in Syria freed

MANILA (Updated) -- The Philippine government welcomed Sunday the release of four Filipino UN peacekeepers who were abducted last Tuesday in Al Jamla, Syria.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), in a statement, said the peacekeepers were brought to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force’s (UNDOF’s) base in the Golan Heights, Camp Ziuoani, for medical check-up and stress debriefing.

Philippines, Taiwan ties fragile

MANILA — Malacañang expressed hope on Saturday that the relationship between the Philippines and Taiwan would not be affected by the recent shooting incident involving the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) resulting in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman.

In an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that investigation has been ongoing on the incident.

Palace urges public to be vigilant on election day

MALACANANG asked Saturday the public to be vigilant and to cooperate with authorities to ensure an orderly and peaceful election on Monday.    Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan that the people must be aware of the liquor ban that will be implemented starting Sunday prior to Monday's polls.   The Official Gazette, a Palace website, is also posting an infographic so that the public will know the "do's" and "don'ts" on election day as government's public service and assistance to voters, she said.  

Voters urged to prepare list of candidates

ON THE eve of Election Day, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) urged the more than 52 million registered voters to take time and complete their list of candidates whom they will vote for when they troop to their respective polling precincts.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes advised Filipinos to sit down this weekend, and start making their list of candidates so that they can vote easier and faster come Election Day, on May 13.

Erap offers advance congratulations to Grace Poe

IT'S a sure win for administration candidate Grace Poe-Llamanzares, so thinks former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada, as he offered his advance congratulations for his goddaughter days before Monday's midterm elections.   "Sabi niya sakin congratulations, nag-aadvance. Sabi ko 'naku, ninong, hindi pa po sigurado.' Tapos sabi niya eh basta nandiyan naman si FPJ (He said to me congratulations, in advance. I told him 'Godfather, we are not sure yet.' Then, he said your father FPJ is just there)," Poe-Llamanzares told reporters at the sidelines of the Team PNoy’s miting de avance Friday night.

Pimentel wants to patch things up with Zubiri

TEAM PNoy candidate reelectionist Senator Aquilino Pimentel III is willing to patch things up with his political nemesis, United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) bet former senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.   "Win or lose, we have to patch up because we still have a least common denominator, which is the development of Mindanao and of course, the sugar industry in Negros Occidental," Pimentel told reporters at the sidelines of the administration coalition's miting de avance Friday night.  

Escudero unaffected by INC snub

SENATOR Francis Escudero is confident that the non-endorsement of Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) of his candidacy will have no effect on his re-election bid in Monday's elections.

"Mayroon rin naman mga sumuporta, mayroon hindi. Ginagalang ko kung anuman ang desisyon ng INC kung sino ang gusto nila ikampanya (There are those who support, and those who didn't. I respect whatever decision of the INC who they want to campaign)," Escudero told reporters at the sidelines of Team PNoy's miting de avance held at the Amoranto Stadium Friday.

De Lima ‘insulted’ by Mancao’s fake photo in broadsheet

FUGITIVE Cezar Mancao's photo holding a copy of a broadsheet while lining up in a fastfood outlet is fake, an irate Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said Friday.

Mancao is a subject of a manhunt after escaping from his detention cell at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last May 2.

Soldiers warned anew vs partisanship

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday reminded anew military men not to be involved in partisan politics before and during the national and local elections on Monday.

"We will throw the books at them," AFP spokesman Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, referring to personnel who may be caught favoring candidates or political parties during the polls.

Rights group asks gov't to prosecute brain in Ortega's murder

A UNITED States-based human rights group urged Friday the Philippine government to ensure that those who planned and financed the killing of an environmental activist in 2011 are arrested and prosecuted.

This developed as Human Rights Watch welcomed the recent conviction of Marlon Recamata, who confessed for killing environmentalist and radio announcer Gerry Ortega on January 24, 2011 and implicated others on the crime.

Lou Veloso calls opponents in Manila ‘diablos’

A VICE mayoral candidate of the ruling Liberal Party (LP) in Manila on Thursday referred to their political opponents as "diablos" who want to rule in the country's capital.

"Bantayan po natin ng Maynila laban sa diablong gustong maghari dito (Let us protect Manila against the evil who wishes to rule here)," incumbent councilor Lou Veloso, LP's vice mayoral bet, said in his speech.

Anti-epal intensifies campaign thru Change Family political dynasty

AIMED at educating the public on the problems of Philippine politics, the Anti-Epal campaign created a fictional political dynasty led by Rep. Juana Change and the Epaliticians Party-list, hailing from the province of Nueva Change Occidental Sur. The Change Family believes in “political destiny, not dynasty.”

Gunman in Ortega slay a ‘pawn’ of ex-Palawan guv

RELATIVES of slain environmentalist and radio commentator Gerry Ortega said they will only find peace if suspected masterminds former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes and Coron town Mayor Mario Reyes are brought to justice.

Speaking through Ortega's daughter Michaella, the family challenged authorities not to be contented with the conviction on Tuesday of confessed assassin Marlon Recamata by the Puerto Princesa Regional Trial Court branch 52.

Aquino trusts voters to support Team PNoy

PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III is banking on the support of the public for the victory of all the 12 administration senatorial bets and not on the so-called "PNoy magic."

Aquino made the statement after the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) reportedly would endorse only seven of the Team PNoy senatorial candidates, while the remaining five would come from United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

Binay: INC support could turn tide for UNA

VICE President Jejomar Binay is not raising the white flag yet for his candidates in the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), as surveys showing rival Team PNoy having the upperhand failed to capture the support of bloc-voting Iglesia ni Cristo.

He said the INC has yet to make an announcement on its preferred senatorial candidates when the final survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) was conducted on May 2 and 3.

Comelec amends ‘money ban’

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) amended its resolution imposing a "money ban" ahead of next week's midterm elections, after the central bank called the move illegal.

"We are concerned likewise on the commerce and business so we will put there a provision where we limit (the withdrawal) to P100,000 per day. We're giving discretion to banks, bank tellers and bank officials since they have what is known as customer relationship," Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said in an ambush interview Thursday.

DOJ approves malversation raps vs Camp John Hay execs

CHARGES will be pushed by the Department of Justice against officials of the Camp John Hay Development Corp. (CJHDevCo) for failing to meet its contractual obligations to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) regarding the improvement of the John Hay Special Economic Zone.

Philippines condemns abduction of Filipino peacekeepers

(UPDATED) Malacañang condemned Wednesday the abduction of four Filipino peacekeepers under the United Nations (UN) Command in the Golan Heights saying the detention is against international law.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in a news briefing, said that the latest kidnapping would be factored in the ongoing review on the deployment of Filipino peacekeepers abroad.

Gov't readies reforestation of Cagayan de Oro

A SIX-MEMBER validation team has been formed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to identify the areas to be covered by the massive reforestation program in Cagayan de Oro, which was devastated by tropical storm "Sendong" (international name: Washi) in December 2011.

The project is in line with Republic Act 10452 that seeks to plant some 3,000 hectares in the city.

Retrieval operations in Mayon halted

LEGAZPI CITY -- Authorities failed to recover as of nightfall Tuesday the bodies of four German nationals and a Filipino tour guide who died following a surprise steam-driven ash explosion at Mayon volcano.

Albay Governor Joey Salceda, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, identified the fatalities as Jerome Berin, a tour guide from Malilipot town; and Joan Edusa, Roland Tieza, Farah Franes, and Furian Stellfer, all German nationals.

Comelec imposes ‘money ban’

MANILA -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) imposed for the first time a “money ban” for the May 13 polls to counter the expected deluge of vote-buying operations with only a few days left before Election Day.

Based on its Resolution 9688, the Comelec has decided to prohibit withdrawal of cash or encashment of checks worth more than P100,000, as well as transportation and possession of cash exceeding P500,000 or its equivalent in any foreign currency beginning May 8 to 13.

Aquino cousin makes both lists of pro, anti-RH groups

PRESIDENTIAL nephew Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV on Tuesday became the first candidate to make it to both the endorsement list of pro- and anti- reproductive health (RH) law.   The cousin and namesake of President Benigno Aquino III and his fellow Team PNoy senatorial candidate, ex-senator Ramon "Jun" Magsaysay Jr., on Tuesday received the endorsement of El Shaddai leader Bro. Mike Velarde.  

Info drive on disqualified party-list groups urged

A POLL watchdog urged Tuesday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to launch an information drive on the status of disqualified party-list groups, whose names have already been included in the ballots to be used for the May 13 polls.   Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. announced Monday that the poll body commissioners voted to upheld the disqualification of at least 11 party-list groups, whose cases were earlier remanded by the Supreme Court (SC).