Wednesday, May 07, 2008 (Philippines)

RTC Judge Geraldine Faith Econg (right) confers with (from left) private prosecutors Alfred Sipalay and Kit Enriquez and defense lawyer Orlando Salatandre on the issue of the self-inhibition of the judge from the Ruben Ecleo parricide case. Judge Econg’s decision to inhibit herself was “overruled” by Executive Judge Fortunato de Gracia who ordered her to stay on and finish hearing the case. Until the Supreme Court will clarify de Gracia’s order, the trial of the cult leader and former town mayor is effectively put on hold.(Sun.star photo/Arni Aclao) CENTRAL Visayas legislators filed yesterday a joint resolution asking to convene Congress into a Constituent Assembly to revise the Constitution. Among the amendments they proposed is the shift to a federal system of government. Only 13 of the region’s 15 legislators, however, authored the resolution, with Reps. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) and son Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd) raising a few objections, specifically on the issue on federalism. [full story]