MANILA, Philippines \u2014 Administration lawmakers have expressed support for the plan of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to prohibit candidates from taking advantage of substitution by means of withdrawal of their certificate of candidacy (COC) and advancing their personal interest.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough the years, substitution by reason of withdrawal has been used in numerous instances without any valid cause or reason from the withdrawing candidate. In short, it\u2019s a massive deception of the electorate,\u201d Rep. Florida Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan said.<\/p>\n
Robes, along with Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar of Quezon City\u2019s sixth district, was among the lawmakers who supported the move of the House committee on suffrage and electoral reforms led by Rep. Maximo Dalog to consolidate bills supporting Comelec\u2019s move to ban substitutions.<\/p>\n
The Comelec chief earlier announced plans to ban withdrawal of candidates as a basis for substitution after candidates submit their certificates of candidacy for the May 2025 midterm elections by October this year.<\/p>\n
Among the five measures that will be consolidated are House Bills 437, 5692, 8794, 9069 and 10186, all aimed at amending Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code, or Batas Pambansa 881.<\/p>\n
The Dalog panel has also instructed Comelec to submit its position paper on the issue.<\/p>\n
Pilar indicated that she intends to draw the line between a candidate\u2019s death and disqualification, which are unexpected.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithdrawal, unlike death or disqualification, is a voluntary act. One that should not be taken lightly or intently manipulated for political gain,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have witnessed the regrettable practice of using individuals as mere placeholders, which is a mockery of certification of candidacy (COC) process. This undermines the integrity of our elections and erodes public trust,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She has observed that the electoral provision on substitution was a \u201cloophole that has been exploited for far too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pilar suggested that this be removed, so that a candidate can no longer be al lowed to withdraw his COC and have a valid ground for substitution.<\/p>\n
Pilar, author of House Bill 8794, proposed it would be an entirely different thing altogether, however, if a candidate has been reduced to \u201cpermanent incapacity\u201d and should then be allowed to withdraw, or be a valid ground for substitution.<\/p>\n
According to her, this ensures that a political party will h ave recourse in the event of unforeseen circumstances that render a candidate unable to fulfill his or her duties.<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 cut Authority (PCA) program that aims to plant 100 million coconut trees by the end of his term\u00a0to reach the goal of making the Philippines the number one coconut exporting country in the world.<\/p>\n
Measures that seek to develop the coconut\u00a0industry and key issues affecting the farm sector were discussed during Marcos\u2019 meeting with the\u00a0Private Sector Advisory Council-Agriculture Sector Group (PSAC-ASG) at Malaca\u00f1ang last Wednesday.<\/p>\n
A Presidential Communications Office (PCO) statement quoted\u00a0PSAC-ASG member Christopher Po as saying\u00a0that\u00a0the program on coconut trees\u00a0is \u201cnot\u00a0feasible due to limited funding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Po, also the executive chairman of\u00a0Century Pacific Food, said the group is recommending the acceleration of the launch of a massive coconut tree planting program by increasing seednut production.<\/p>\n
Marcos promised to see to it that sufficient funding would be given to the PCA to implement the program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is really a great opportunity (for) the country. We have a chance to do it because (of) the market. Every single part of the nut (has) use and can be sold,\u201d the President said.<\/p>\n
The Philippines is the second biggest coconut exporting country in the world after its fellow Southeast Asian country Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In a separate statement, PSAC said Marcos had proposed a \u201ccomprehensive\u201d restructuring of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan Fund to ensure a more efficient allocation of resources and to support PCA\u2019s replanting strategy.<\/p>\n
The PCA seeks to replant 8.5 million coconut seedlings in 59,744 hectares this year. It also aims to\u00a0fertilize 2.8 million trees in 28,341 hectares.<\/p>\n
According to the PCO, the PSAC-ASG presented several recommendations to address funding issues, including directing the PCA to\u00a0outline a roadmap to fast-track the launch of the coconut planting program.<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 Sen. Nancy Binay has expressed openness to run for Makati mayor next year, even if it means going against the husband of her younger sister, outgoing Mayor Abby Binay.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am seriously contemplating it,\u201d Senator Binay said yesterday of her decision to go for the mayoral post after completing two terms in the Senate.<\/p>\n
Calling herself an \u201caccidental\u201d candidate in politics after being thrust to the Senate in 2013, Binay said she has learned to accept her duty in public service and hopes to cross over to the family\u2019s turf.<\/p>\n
But the family squabbling has affected her decision to run for mayor, amid reports that Rep. Luis Campos is eyeing the same post.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is still my wish as the eldest to settle this dispute in our family,\u201d Binay said, adding that it should be about the \u201clegacy of our father that we want to continue,\u201d referring to former vice president Jejomar Binay, who served as longtime Makati mayor.<\/p>\n
While Abby\u2019s husband Campos is technically not a Binay, it would still be a political showdown for Makati that reflects the internal rift in the Binay family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have considered that deciding to run means sacrificing my relationship with (my) in-law. But for the sake of the people in Makati, we have to sacrifice that,\u201d Binay said.<\/p>\n
Politics aside, \u201cat the end of the day, we are still family,\u201d the senator said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI still have not lost hope that our family would not enter into another dispute. But it has happened, there is a big probability that it will still happen, even though my brother-in-law is technically not a Binay,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
The Binay family rift stemmed from the political showdown between siblings Abby and Junjun Binay for the Makati city hall post in 2019.<\/p>\n
Abby, who is on her third and last consecutive term as Makati mayor, said in January that she is giving herself until March to decide whether to run for Taguig\u2019s top post, after the Supreme Court granted jurisdiction over 10 enlisted men\u2019s barrio or \u201cembo\u201d barangays in Makati to Taguig in a 2021 ruling that was affirmed in 2023.<\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines \u2014 A police officer who was the authorized driver of a Philippine National Police (PNP) van that illegally traveled along the EDSA busway on Wednesday has been relieved from his post.<\/p>\n
The police officer, whom PNP chief information officer Col. Jean Fajardo did not identify, is also facing an administrative case for using the bus lane.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe will face an administrative case for failure to follow a specific instruction,\u201d Fajardo said in a news briefing.<\/p>\n
Fajardo said the police officer is assigned with the liaison office of the Northern Mindanao police based in Camp Crame.<\/p>\n
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has issued a show-cause order against the police officer for using the busway along the northbound lane of EDSA on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The DOTr said the van\u2019s driver disregarded two operatives of the special operations unit and sped off.<\/p>\n
Fajardo said an investigation is underway to determine\u00a0if the van\u2019s authorized driver was the same person who drove the vehicle along the bus lane.<\/p>\n
She reminded police officers they are only authorized to use the bus lane in the actual performance of their duties and during emergencies.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the DOTr\u2019s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) reported that 1,525 motorists were penalized for the unauthorized use of the EDSA busway from Jan. 1 to May 9.<\/p>\n
The SAICT said 595 of the apprehended motorists drove motorcycles.<\/p>\n
The committee said it fined the drivers of 500 private and public vehicles; 20 government vehicles, including ambulances, and 410 unauthorized buses and trucks.<\/p>\n
Included among those apprehended was a former traffic enforcer who claimed to be an employee of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to justify his use of the exclusive lane on May 7.<\/p>\n
In a statement, the MMDA said Henry Closa was no longer connected to the agency as an employee of its Traffic Discipline Office since March 31, 2023.<\/p>\n
The fine for those who violate the busway policy ranges from P5,000 to P30,000.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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