Pimentel blasts bill postponing ARMM polls

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM:

"Ex-senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who authored the Local Government Code, said Thursday that the bills seeking to postpone the ARMM polls are unconstitutional. 'Any act that would try to change the term of the elected officials would to my mind be in violation of the character of the Charter,' he said."

ARMM polls: To postpone or not to postpone

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM:

"MANILA - There may not be enough time to pass the bill seeking to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Senate local government committee admitted."

Senate bill seeks to postpone ARMM polls to 2013

Source: GMANEWS.TV:

"A bill has been filed in the Senate seeking to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) - originally scheduled this August - to May 2013."

Groups eye SC if ARMM poll delay bill is passed

Source: MB.COM:

"MANILA, Philippines — The battle for the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) continues to heat up, with the Alliance of Regional Coalitions Against People's Poverty (ARCAPP) planning to go to the Supreme Court if House Bill No. 4146 is passed in Congress.

ARCAPP National Chairman and lawyer Bayan G. Balt said his group and its coalition partners are determined to exhaust all possible peaceful and legal means to stop the attempt to postpone the seventh ARMM political exercise."

AFP chief backs changes in PMA curriculum

Source: MB.COM:

"FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines – Newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo Oban, Jr. wants the immediate implementation of the changes in the curriculum of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in order to develop dynamic and responsible young military officers who will be able to improve the image of the AFP amid the alarming controversies that are now hounding the image of the military."

President woos Singaporean investors

Source: MB.COM:

"SINGAPORE – Stressing that the country is a good investment haven, President Benigno S. Aquino III Friday invited the Singaporean business community to invest in the Philippines as he assured an improved business climate with the continued reform program being undertaken by the government."

14 dead, 135 injured in China quake

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM: "BEIJING, China - At least 14 people were killed and 135 others injured in an earthquake that struck a remote area of southwest China near the border with Myanmar on Thursday, a local official said."

Consultations on ARMM poll issues slated

Source: MB.COM: "

COTABATO CITY — Two Congressional committees are set to hold field consultations in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) this week for concerned constituents to express their positions on House Bill (HB) 4146, which seeks to defer the Aug. 8, 2011 ARMM polls to 2013 and allow the President to appoint caretakers or officers-in-charge (OIC), officials announced Wednesday.

"

Thousands of women attend pro-RH bill march

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM: "

Kinalampag ng libu-libong kababaihan ang Kamara para maipasa na ang Reproductive Health bill. Natuloy man sa wakas ang sponsorship speech ng may-akda ng panukala, nabitin muli ang mga debate at botohan. Magba-Bandila si Jasmin Romero. Bandila, Marso 8, 2011, Martes.

"

Japan names Matsumoto as new foreign minister

Source: ABS-CBNNEWS.COM: "TOKYO, Japan - Japan named political blue-blood Takeaki Matsumoto as its new foreign minister on Wednesday to succeed Seiji Maehara, who resigned over a donation scandal, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano."

ARMM poll watchdogs want polls to push through

Source: MB.COM:

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) -- The Parish Pastoral Council for Pastoral Voting (PPCRV) said poll watchdogs in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao want the elections there to push through.

PPCRV chairperson Henrietta de Villa said majority of their 16 partners opted for the August 8 polls as scheduled.

“We didn’t make an extensive survey but only among our partners if they want it postponed or not… so far, the feedback is they want it to push through,” she said quoting a report from PPCRV-ARMM Chairman Fr. David Procalla.

Comelec hailed for poll preparations

Source: MB.COM:

COTABATO CITY – Poll watchdogs and other stakeholders lauded Monday the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for its steadfast preparations for the Aug. 8, 2011 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) while Congress has yet to pass the bill deferring the political exercises.

“We salute the Comelec for doing its role," Hadji Abdullah Dalidig, a key poll watchdog personality in Lanao del Sur, said over the phone.

Heads of Regional Councils

Source: MB.COM:

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Aquino III has appointed the mayor of this city and 10 other provincial governors and city mayors in the Philippines as chairmen of Regional Development Councils, the office of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) here reported.

Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, the current national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, has been appointed as head of the Central Luzon Development Council together with Dr. Roberto Ramirez as the new vice chairman.

Sandigan dismisses questions on firms' merger

Source: MB.COM:

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan has dismissed questions about the merging of businessman Lucio Tan’s Fortune Tobacco Corporation [FTC] and Philip Morris [PM], saying the two leading cigarette companies merely “synergized” their efforts.

Aquino issues E.O. no. 27

Source: MB.COM:

MANILA, Philippines — To avert the planned auction of the Pagbilao coal power plant in Quezon, President Aquino has issued Executive Order No. 27 imposing fines, penalties and interests on independent power producers in the province that have failed to pay real property taxes.

Under the EO dated Feb. 28, the President warned that forcing power producers to pay back taxes on real property will result in “colossal economic losses across all sectors.”

Libyan warplanes strike rebels at oil port

Source: MB.COM:

RAS LANOUF, Libya (AP) – Libyan warplanes launched at least three new airstrikes Tuesday near rebel positions in the oil port of Ras Lanouf, keeping up a counteroffensive to prevent the opposition from advancing toward leader Moammar Gadhafi's stronghold in the capital Tripoli.

There was no immediate word on casualties, and an Associated Press reporter who witnessed the strikes said they did not appear to hit any fighters.

Aquino to tackle food security

Source: MB.COM:

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino will meet with concerned agencies next week to discuss the food security in the country despite the conflict in the Middle East.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the President will be meeting with Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, National Food Authority (NFA) administrator Angelito Banayo, and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad after his state visits in Indonesia and Singapore.

Malacañang maintains controversial house not Ochoa's

Source: MB.COM: "

MANILA, Philippines (PNA) -- Malacañang is fully satisfied with the explanation of Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. regarding the ownership of the so-called “glass mansion” in Quezon City as it expressed hope his statement would put an end to the controversy.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the documents showing that Ochoa does not own the property speak for themselves.

"

Int'l Women’s Day on 100th anniversary

Source: ABS-CBNNews.Com: "Ginugunita ngayon ang ika-100 taon ng International Women's Day. Libu-libo ang dumalo sa pagdiriwang sa okasyon sa iba't ibang panig ng bansa. Nagpa-Patrol, Jeff Canoy. TV Patrol, Marso 8, 2011, Martes"

We support Donaire on his quest to defeat Montiel today

It's February 20, 2011 and this day will mark another history in the making perhaps as Studio 23 brings to us the Donaire vs Montiel live stream fight. In our aim to express full support to the Filipino boxer, we made this short post to blurt it out here on our Philippine elections blog.

Let us all pray for the boxing match where the Pinoy fighter will win over the champion.