Maris Federez

Arestado ang dating First Lady ng South Korea na si Kim Keon Hee matapos maglabas ng arrest warrant ang korte nitong Martes ng gabi.

Kaugnay ito ng mga kasong katiwalian na mariin naman niyang itinatanggi.

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Naitala ng Commission on Elections (COMELEC) ang pinakamataas na bilang ng mga bagong rehistradong botante sa kasaysayan ng halalan sa bansa, matapos makapagtala ng mahigit 2.7 milyong rehistrado sa loob lamang ng sampung araw ng nationwide voter registration.

Ayon kay COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia, halos tatlong ulit itong mas mataas kaysa sa orihinal na target na isang milyong rehistrado.

“Hindi talaga namin mawari anong kadahilanan bakit ganun na lang ang init ng ating mga kababayan lalo na makapagparehistro. Kahapon sobra ang pumila inabot ng gabi,” ani Garcia.

Sa huling araw ng pagpaparehistro, tinatayang 600,000 ang dumagsa sa mga registration centers. Mahigit sa kalahati ng mga bagong rehistrado ay mula sa sektor ng kabataan.

Binanggit ni Garcia na nalampasan pa ng kasalukuyang registration drive ang bilang ng mga rehistrado noong nakaraang halalan, na isinagawa sa loob ng halos dalawang taon.

“Napakamatagumpay po ito, again inuulit natin ito po ang pinakatagumpay na registration sa kasaysayan ng buong komisyon sa kasaysayan ng ating registration sa kasaysayan ng ating eleksyon,”  pahayag ni Garcia.

Binigyang diin ng poll chief na patuloy ang paghahanda ng COMELEC sa halalan sa kabila ng inaasahang pagpirma ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. sa panukalang batas na magpapaliban sa Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE).—mbmf (mula sa ulat ni UNTV Correspondent Dante Amento)

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The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is anticipating a possible legal challenge before the Supreme Court once President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signs the proposed law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) scheduled for later this year.

President Marcos is expected to sign the bill this week, citing the need for COMELEC to focus its resources on the upcoming Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections in October. 

However, COMELEC Chairman George Erwin Garcia warned that the law’s legality could be questioned, prompting a potential restraining order from the Supreme Court.

Kunyari na pong mapirmahan ng ating pangulo pupwede pong may pumunta sa Korte Suprema kumuha ng restraining order. Pag nagkaganun tuloy ang December 1 Barangay and SK Elections. Madami pong posibilidad na nangyari (If the President signs it, someone might go to the Supreme Court and seek a restraining order. If that happens, the December 1 BSKE will proceed. There are many possible scenarios),” Garcia explained. 

Veteran election lawyer Atty. Romulo Macalintal has publicly urged the President to veto the bill. Macalintal previously challenged the 2022 BSKE postponement, which the Supreme Court later declared unconstitutional.—mbmf (from the report of UNTV Correspondent Dante Amento)

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Philippine senator Jinggoy Estrada has reacted to the reported collision between a Chinese Coast Guard vessel and a People’s Liberation Army Navy ship in Bajo de Masinloc.

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“This is a classic case of reaping what one sows. The Chinese Coast Guard must cease and desist from engaging in dangerous maneuvers against our Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and other maritime vessels,” Estrada said in a statement released on Monday, August 11.

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Estrada believes that the tactics used by China do not only endanger the Philippines’ maritime personnel and fisherfolk, but also escalate tensions unnecessarily. 

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“Nothing good will come of such actions, except the empty display of logistical superiority,” the lawmaker underscored.

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Estrada, nevertheless, reiterated the country’s stance that it will not be intimidated by the incident.

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“Nonetheless, we will not be cowed. We will continue to defend our sovereignty, protect our people, and uphold the rule of law,” Estrada said.—mbmf (with details from UNTV Correspondent Asher Cadapan, Jr.)

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Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, accompanied by MMDA Special Operations Group–Strike Force Head Gabriel Go, conducted a surprise inspection early Monday morning at the EDSA Station of LRT Line 1.

During the inspection, Secretary Dizon encountered rows of illegal vendors who had set up stalls along the footbridge adjacent to the station.

While acknowledging the vendors’ need to earn a living, Dizon emphasized the importance of enforcing regulations.

“Aminado naman sila nakakaawa rin naman na kailangan nilang maghanap buhay ang problema hindi nae-enforce alam naman nila na hindi sila dapat nandoon. So ngayon ang instruction ko ang MMDA nandito. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa MMDA kay Chairman Don ang problema nila papaalisin tapos babalik lang. So ibig sabihin ang tanong diyan unang una bakit ang lakas ng loob nilan pabalik balik na alam nila na iligal so ibig sabihin may pumuproteksyon diyan yun lang ang tingin ko,” Dizon said.

Gabriel Go explained that the MMDA Strike Force avoids confiscating goods and instead focuses on removing physical obstructions such as tables, chairs, and cabinets that block pedestrian pathways.

“So as much as possible ayaw natin kinukuha yung paninda. Ang tinatanggal lang natin yung mga obstruction, yung mga sabitan, mga estante, cabinet, lamesa, upuan. Yan ang tinatanggal natin because it's causing obstruction hindi lang sa mga sidewalk kundi also lalo na ngayon sa mga footbridge na dapat nilalakaran ito ng mga taumbayan,” Go noted.

Secretary Dizon also plans to summon the owner of a nearby mall adjacent to MRT-3, where vendors have reportedly taken over a staircase meant for public access.

Another concern raised during the inspection was the continued manual bag inspections by LRT-1 security personnel, despite the installation of metal detectors.

Dizon criticized the practice, pointing out that it contradicts the streamlined procedures already in place at MRT-3.

“Tinanggal nga natin yung x-ray. Yung mga guwardiya naman ng LRT-1 binubuksan isa-isa yung mga ano, hindi na dapat. Kaya nga may metal detector na tayo eh so ang gusto ko lang kung ano yung ginagawa sa MRT-3 consisitent yung implementation,” Dizon said.

“I'm asking LRMC to go to MRT-3 which is right beside you ang see what they doing and follow what they doing we cannot have different execution sa mga linya kaya nagkaka pila-pila roon eh.”