Category: General

MANILA: The Supreme Court has ruled that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) acted in ‘grave abuse of discretion’ for rejecting a petition for disqualification filed by Ma. Zarah Rose Lara against Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba before the 2022 elections.

In a statement Monday, the high court said that it had remanded the disqualification case back to the Comelec en banc on April 16 for proper disposition.

The case reached the SC after the Comelec en banc reversed an earlier resolution by the Comelec Second Division, which disqualified Mamba after finding substantial evidence that the governor violated Section 261(v) of the Omnibus Election Code, which prohibits the unauthorized release, disbursement, or expenditure of public funds during the campaign period.

Lara also ran for Cagayan governor.

On May 10, 2022 at 6:21 p.m. or more than 24 hours after the elections, Lara filed through email a petition to disqualify Mamba on the grounds of massive vote-buying and unlawful disbursement of public funds.

Mamb
a was proclaimed the winning governor on May 11 at 1:39 a.m.

The Comelec en banc ruled that Lara’s May 10 petition was considered filed the next working day, or May 11 at 8 a.m.

The SC, however, ruled that since Mamba was proclaimed early morning of May 11, petitions for disqualification against Mamba could still be filed anytime within that day.

The SC added that the period to file pleadings through email under Section 5 of Comelec Resolution No. 10673 should have taken stock of particular circumstances surrounding petitions for disqualification, given that the proclamation of candidates can happen at any time.

The SC noted that petition for disqualification can be filed even after the exact time of the proclamation of a candidate, so long as it was filed within the same day in accordance with Article 13 of the Civil Code which states that a day should be understood to mean 24 hours.

“As rules of procedure cannot take precedence over substantive law, the Comelec Rules of Procedure should yield to the in
terpretation directed by the Civil Code. Hence, the date or day of proclamation should be understood to mean the full 24 hours of the day on which such proclamation takes place,” the SC said.

“Practicable realities borne by technological advances must likewise be considered, such as those resulting from filings made through email. Actual receipt of pleadings by email is not limited to the physical structures of an agency, which remain open during certain hours of the day.”

The SC further noted that in light of current capabilities brought by modern technology, it can hardly be argued that institutions with vast innovative resources such as the Comelec will not be able to access a pleading filed beyond office hours when such filing was made via email.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Hanoi: Nearly 70 expatriates from more than 20 foreign countries and territories have returned home to commemorate Hung Kings, the legendary founders of the nation, at the Hung Kings Temple in the northern province of Phu Tho, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) said on April 21.

The delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, on April 20 offered incense to ancestors – Father Lac Long Quan and Mother Au Co, and Hung Kings.

The annual programme is jointly held by the SCOV, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Phu Tho People’s Committee, contributing to raising overseas Vietnamese (OVs)’s pride of the nation’s heroic traditions, and strengthening the great national solidarity.

The programme shows care, affection and responsibility of the Party and the State for OVs, better meeting their cultural and spiritual needs while affirming that they are an integral part of the nation.

Every year, activities worshipping Lac Long Quan and Au Co take place ahead of the annivers
ary of Hung Kings on the 10th day of the third lunar month, which fell on April 18 this year.

Legend has it that Lac Long Quan (real name Sung Lam, son of Kinh Duong Vuong and Than Long Nu) married Au Co (the fairy daughter of De Lai). Au Co then went on to give birth to a pouch filled with one hundred eggs, which soon hatched into a hundred sons. However, soon thereafter, Lac Long Quan and Au Co separated. Lac Long Quan went to the coast with 50 of the children, while Au Co went to the highlands with the rest.

Their eldest son was made king, who named the country Van Lang and set up the capital in Phong Chau (modern-day Viet Tri city in Phu Tho province), beginning the 18 generations of the Hung Kings.

The kings chose Nghia Linh Mountain, the highest in the region, to perform rituals devoted to rice and sun deities to pray for healthy crops.

To honour their great contributions, a complex of temples dedicated to them was built on Nghia Linh Mountain, and the 10th day of the third lunar month serves as the
national commemorative anniversary for the kings.

The worship of the Hung Kings, closely related to the ancestral worship traditions of most Vietnamese families, was recognised as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2012./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

MANILA: National Master Lorenzo Aaron Cantela brought honor to the country last Sunday when he ruled the 21st Bangkok Chess Club Challenger at the Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa in Thailand.

He finished with 7.5 points in the nine-round Swiss System event, posting victories over Briton Terence Legge (1st Round), Filipino Kate Nicole Ordizo (2nd), Indian Vaisnav A (3rd), Filipino April Joy Claros (5th), Indian Vaibhav A (6th), and Filipinos Lemmuel Jay Adena (7th) and Ritchie James Abeleda (8th).

Cantela lost to Chinese Xu Chang (4th) and split the points with Filipino Mary Joy Tan (9th).

“I’m very, very happy. Winning the tournament is a big boost to my confidence,” said the 20-year-old member of the multi-titled Far Eastern University (FEU) varsity chess team.

Among Cantela’s supporters are FEU chair Aurelio “Gigi” Montinola, president Juan Miguel Montinola, Manila athletic director Mark Molina, FEU-Diliman executive director Dr. Armi Cunanan-Yabut, Atty. Jesseboy Remulla Grepo and sportsman Luis Chav
it Singson.

FEU has produced Grandmasters Jayson Gonzales, Buenaventura “Bong” Villamayor, Woman GM Janelle Mae Frayna and WNM Reulle Canino.

The 16-year-old Canino topped the “Battle of the Women Masters’ tournament” in March at the expense of Woman International Master Jan Jodilyn Fronda and Frayna.

‘This is part of the advocacy that FEU and I are trying to do — produce future champions,’ said Gonzales, who coaches the men’s and women’s teams.

Meanwhile, GM Vitaliy Bernadskiy of Ukraine dominated the BCC Open.

GM Guha Mitrabha of India was second while GM Denis Makhnev of Kazakhstan placed third.

Others in the Top 10 are IM L.R. Srihari and GM Sayantan Das of India, IM James Morris of Australia, FM Reja Neer Manon of Bangladesh, IM Arystanbek Urazayev of Kazakhstan, GM Zhao Zong-Yuan of Australia and GM M. Pranesh of India.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: Three senators on Monday weighed in on the streamlining of administrative procedures and policies on the importation of agricultural products and removal of non-tariff barriers.

Senator Nancy Binay said the policies related to easing the import process of agricultural products and lifting non-tariff barriers need further study.

She said barriers can create complexities and costs for farmers and consumers, but stressed the importance of ensuring transparency in any administrative measures taken to achieve a more open and equitable market.

“Sa tingin ko, mahalaga na pag-aralan na muna at bigyan ng naaayong direksyon ang ganitong polisiya batay sa cost-benefit implications ng pagbibigay alwan sa pag-angkat ng mga produktong agrikultura (I think, it is important to study and provide an appropriate direction for this policy based on cost-benefit implications on easing importation of agricultural products),” Binay said in a statement.

Earlier, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. issued Administrative Orde
r No. 20 ordering the Department of Agriculture to further streamline administrative procedures and policies on the importation of agricultural products and remove non-tariff barriers to help ensure food security.

Marcos said administrative constraints and non-tariff barriers continue to persist, which had caused continued increase of domestic prices of agricultural commodities despite existing measures.

By evaluating both costs and benefits, Binay wants to ensure that adjustments to import regulations align with the goals of realizing food security and fostering a resilient and sustainable agricultural sector.

“While we understand that these barriers often create unnecessary complexities and costs for our farmers and consumers alike, the Department of Agriculture must ensure transparency once administrative measures are eased to achieve a more open and equitable market atmosphere,” she said.

Meanwhile, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is confident that Agriculture Secretary Francis Tiu Laurel Jr. would ad
dress potential abuses and ensure the integrity in the process.

‘I trust that Secretary Laurel will hold accountable whoever commits abuses as I know him to be a man of integrity and will not tolerate corruption,’ Escudero said, expressing his support for AO 20.

‘I agree with the President but I would have preferred that more emphasis is given on local production than importation,’ he said.

He added that importation should only be a temporary solution to the country’s needs of agricultural products such as pork and fishery products.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros agreed that AO 20 would benefit many but not enough to address the needs of Filipino farmers and businessmen.

“Kahit naman magluluwag sa mga regulasyon at non-tariff barriers sa pag-aangkat ng agricultural products, kailangan pa ring siguraduhin ang tamang paggamit ng mga import permits (Even if the regulations and non-tariff barriers in importing agricultural products will be eased, the proper use of import permits should still b
e ensured),” Hontiveros said in a statement.

She said food safety should be taken into account, citing the African swine fever which might not be covered by the order.

During the peak of harvest season, Hontiveros said proper tariffs should be imposed on imported products to avoid dumping that causes great losses to farmers, fisherfolk, and livestock growers.

Under AO 20, the DA, the Departments of Trade and Industry, and Finance are tasked with easing licensing requirements, minimizing processing time, and exempting licensed traders from certain registration requirements.

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday said it has found probable cause to charge the consignee of over 31 kilograms of shabu worth PHP218.4 seized in Pasay City by members of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG).

In a statement, the DOJ said Christine Tigranes will face charges for violation of Section 4 (Importation of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 (Dangerous Drugs Act), and Section 1401 (Unlawful Importation or Exportation) of RA 10863 (Customs Modernization and Tariff Act).

Tigranes allegedly received the illegal contrabands from a certain Isaac Chikore from Zimbabwe People’s Air Cargo and Warehousing Co., Inc. (PAIR-PAGS) Center at NAIA Complex in Pasay City on April 17.

The shipment was initially declared as ‘machinery muffler’ but authorities later found plastic contains within the metal parts that contain white crystalline substances that turned out to be shabu.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla
said Tigranes’ arrest should be a warning for those involved in illegal drugs.

“Expect that our crusade against this menace to society will be more vicious in the upcoming days and will never stop until we attain our ultimate goal of a 100 percent drug-free Philippines,” Remulla said.

‘The department is firm in its commitment to waging war against drugs.’

Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Monday said it will seek a bigger budget for its innovation fund next year, a portion of which will be used for an innovation competition.

NEDA Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon told reporters on the sidelines of the 2024 National Innovation Day Celebration at the Novotel Manila Araneta City in Quezon City, that they are hoping to double the Innovation Fund to PHP200 million next year from the current PHP100 million budget.

Aside from funding innovative projects, Edillon said part of NEDA’s plan is to launch the Presidential Philippine Innovators Award.

“Another thing that we’re thinking about for this year is to launch a Presidential Philippine Innovators Award. So ilo-launch siya, pero (So we will launch but) the awarding will be next year. So one whole year of preparation for that. Gusto namin mala Miss Universe ba? May finalist, may semi-finalist. (We want it to be like Miss Universe. There’s a finalist and there’s a semi-finalist),” said
Edillon.

“It will be an open invitation. We also want to be able to include even the MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises). So not just government instrumentalities,” she added.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, for his part, said NEDA is currently developing the guidelines for awards.

“We are launching an innovation competition national and also regional. We are developing the guidelines for now, so we put in budget there for that, because we want to give national prominence to the importance of innovation as key drivers to sustainable growth,” Balisacan said.

Balisacan, in his speech during the event, said innovation is a significant driver of growth and development.

“For this reason, we pay particular attention to how we, as a nation, perform in terms of our systems and institutions for innovation governance,” Balisacan said.

The Philippines ranks 56th among 132 economies in the 2023 Global Innovation Index ranking, up three places from its previous standing in 2022 and surpassing the annual ta
rget set in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

The government aims to secure the 43rd rank by 2028.

Source: Philippines News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties have the responsibility of helping the Unity Government’s candidate contesting the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election on May 11 to win.

Met by reporters after attending Wisma Putra’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri ceremony here today, BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is also the Foreign Minister, said that the responsibility has to be carried out because BN is part of the Unity Government.

According to him, the issue of ‘boycotting’ among BN components in helping the Unity Government candidate does not arise because the BN supreme council meeting has not met yet regarding the by-election.

“I don’t think there is an issue of boycott, BN has not held a meeting yet, let us meet first and in that meeting later, we will consult, exchange ideas and find the best way.

“This is to ensure that BN is strong as a team to help the Unity Government candidates contest in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election,” he said.

Last Friday, the MCA Political Developm
ent Committee decided not to be involved in the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election campaign activities if the candidate was not from BN.

Following that, MIC also took the same decision for similar reasons.

UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have said that UMNO would support any Unity Government candidate announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.

The Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election was held following the death of the incumbent, Lee Kee Hiong representing Pakatan Harapan (PH) on March 21.

The Election Commission (EC) set the Kuala Kubu Baharu state by-election on May 11, while April 27 is the candidate nomination day.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency