Thursday, January 4, 2018
House: No-El likely if Cha-Cha happens
SPEAKER Pantaleon Alvarez on Wednesday said it is possible that there will be no elections in 2019 if a federal system of government is installed as President Rodrigo Duterte wants.
He added that nothing is impossible if lawmakers work on it.
He said a proposed amendment to the Constitution by way of a constituent assembly could be submitted to a plebiscite simultaneously with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14, 2018.
The House is hoping to approve a resolution calling for a constituent assembly this month.
“If we can convene by January, we can submit that to a referendum during the barangay elections by May. If we work on it, nothing is impossible,” Alvarez said.
“Let us be practical. If we shift to a different form of government, unitary to federal, you need a transition government,” Alvarez said of a proposal that could lead to the abolition of the Senate.
Alvarez said senators worried about their political careers would run for election to the new legislature.
He said some senators’ terms expired in 2019 while other would do so in 2022.
“In fareness, maybe it would be better if they all expire in 2022,” he said in Filipino.
But Alvarez acknowledged that convening Congress as a constituent assembly would face rough sailing, particularly over whether the senators and congressmen should vote jointly or separately.
Alvarez said he believed the assembly should vote jointly, a move that would give the House more clout over the Senate.
He said convening Congress as a constituent assembly was a House priority and said he was confident the Senate would cooperate with the effort to advance the President’s legislative agenda.
Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, meanwhile, said the House’s hard work in 2017 has allowed it to focus on its mission in 2018 to adopt a federal system of government.
“The primary mission for us lawmakers in the 17th Congress is to usher in a federalized Philippines in 2018,” Nograles said.
“Over 16 million Filipinos gave their stamp of approval to this endeavor when they elected President Rodrigo Duterte who has championed federalism since Day One,” Nograles added.
This developed as Camariñes Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte welcomed President Duterte’s completion of a 25-member constitutional commission that would propose amendments to the Constitution.
Villafuerte said Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III were set to meet to decide when the two chambers of Congress could convene as a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution for a federal system of government.
The committee on constitutional amendments of the Lower House of also recently created four technical working groups that would draft a proposed Philippine Federal Constitution.
“All these positive developments mean that the process to shift to federalism is now in full throttle. As I have been saying all along, federalism will only fulfill its goal of redistributing wealth to the countryside if it is accompanied by moves to liberalize the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions,” Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte also proposed that the Constitution be amended to remove limits to foreign ownership of various sectors of the economy.
Under a constituent assembly, the lawmakers would serve as delegates who will propose amendments to the Constitution. This is in contrast to a constitutional convention in which delegates will be elected.
“This will save the government millions of pesos since we no longer need to elect delegates for the task of amending the Charter. And since we lawmakers have fixed terms, we will have a definite time period to finish the job. This means we will achieve our goal faster. Anyway, all the proposed amendments we will come up with will be subject to ratification by the people. It’s by far the less complicated method,” Nograles said.
“I am hopeful that 2018 would be the year that the Philippines begins its long-awaited journey toward progress via the federalism superhighway,” he added.
He added that nothing is impossible if lawmakers work on it.
He said a proposed amendment to the Constitution by way of a constituent assembly could be submitted to a plebiscite simultaneously with barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14, 2018.
The House is hoping to approve a resolution calling for a constituent assembly this month.
“If we can convene by January, we can submit that to a referendum during the barangay elections by May. If we work on it, nothing is impossible,” Alvarez said.
“Let us be practical. If we shift to a different form of government, unitary to federal, you need a transition government,” Alvarez said of a proposal that could lead to the abolition of the Senate.
Alvarez said senators worried about their political careers would run for election to the new legislature.
He said some senators’ terms expired in 2019 while other would do so in 2022.
“In fareness, maybe it would be better if they all expire in 2022,” he said in Filipino.
But Alvarez acknowledged that convening Congress as a constituent assembly would face rough sailing, particularly over whether the senators and congressmen should vote jointly or separately.
Alvarez said he believed the assembly should vote jointly, a move that would give the House more clout over the Senate.
He said convening Congress as a constituent assembly was a House priority and said he was confident the Senate would cooperate with the effort to advance the President’s legislative agenda.
Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, meanwhile, said the House’s hard work in 2017 has allowed it to focus on its mission in 2018 to adopt a federal system of government.
“The primary mission for us lawmakers in the 17th Congress is to usher in a federalized Philippines in 2018,” Nograles said.
“Over 16 million Filipinos gave their stamp of approval to this endeavor when they elected President Rodrigo Duterte who has championed federalism since Day One,” Nograles added.
This developed as Camariñes Sur Rep. LRay Villafuerte welcomed President Duterte’s completion of a 25-member constitutional commission that would propose amendments to the Constitution.
Villafuerte said Alvarez and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III were set to meet to decide when the two chambers of Congress could convene as a constituent assembly to draft a new Constitution for a federal system of government.
The committee on constitutional amendments of the Lower House of also recently created four technical working groups that would draft a proposed Philippine Federal Constitution.
“All these positive developments mean that the process to shift to federalism is now in full throttle. As I have been saying all along, federalism will only fulfill its goal of redistributing wealth to the countryside if it is accompanied by moves to liberalize the Constitution’s restrictive economic provisions,” Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte also proposed that the Constitution be amended to remove limits to foreign ownership of various sectors of the economy.
Under a constituent assembly, the lawmakers would serve as delegates who will propose amendments to the Constitution. This is in contrast to a constitutional convention in which delegates will be elected.
“This will save the government millions of pesos since we no longer need to elect delegates for the task of amending the Charter. And since we lawmakers have fixed terms, we will have a definite time period to finish the job. This means we will achieve our goal faster. Anyway, all the proposed amendments we will come up with will be subject to ratification by the people. It’s by far the less complicated method,” Nograles said.
“I am hopeful that 2018 would be the year that the Philippines begins its long-awaited journey toward progress via the federalism superhighway,” he added.
SPEAKER FLOATS NO-ELECTION SCENARIO IN 2019: Duterte rules out term extension
MALACAÑANG said on Wednesday the midterm elections would push through in 2019 as scheduled unless the Constitution was amended.
The Palace issued the statement through Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr., who told a press conference: “The President always looks to the Constitution as his guiding document. The Constitution sets the date for the next elections in 2019. So unless the Constitution is amended ahead of the 2019 elections, it will have to push through.”
“The role of the President is to implement the Constitution and the law. As I said, it is the Constitution that sets when the next election is. The law required of Congress for election purposes will only enable the spending of public funds in that regard,” he added.
Roque issued the statement following pronouncements by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in a television interview early Wednesday that there would be no need for mid-term elections in 2019 if there would be a shift to a federal form of government from the current presidential system.
Moreover, the President’s term could be extended because of changes to the Constitution.
“Anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. If you shift into a different form of government – unitary to a federal – you need a transition government. You cannot approve [federalism]by May [of this year]and implement it immediately,” Alvarez said in an interview on the ABS-CBN News Channel.
Alvarez said that the proposal could be submitted to a plebiscite and if the public would agree, there would be no elections in 2019.
Senate President Aquino Pimentel 3rd said Congress could extend the term of the President only if it was necessary, and if the President was amenable to it.
“Since that extension will be part of the new constitution, the new constitution is approved by the people themselves,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel also said the scheduled 2019 mid-term elections would still push through even if Congress managed to come up with the new constitution this year.
“What is important are the transitory provisions that will govern the terms and duties of those elected and the last election under the 1987 Constitution,” he said.
The Palace issued the statement through Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque Jr., who told a press conference: “The President always looks to the Constitution as his guiding document. The Constitution sets the date for the next elections in 2019. So unless the Constitution is amended ahead of the 2019 elections, it will have to push through.”
“The role of the President is to implement the Constitution and the law. As I said, it is the Constitution that sets when the next election is. The law required of Congress for election purposes will only enable the spending of public funds in that regard,” he added.
Roque issued the statement following pronouncements by House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in a television interview early Wednesday that there would be no need for mid-term elections in 2019 if there would be a shift to a federal form of government from the current presidential system.
Moreover, the President’s term could be extended because of changes to the Constitution.
“Anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. If you shift into a different form of government – unitary to a federal – you need a transition government. You cannot approve [federalism]by May [of this year]and implement it immediately,” Alvarez said in an interview on the ABS-CBN News Channel.
Alvarez said that the proposal could be submitted to a plebiscite and if the public would agree, there would be no elections in 2019.
Senate President Aquino Pimentel 3rd said Congress could extend the term of the President only if it was necessary, and if the President was amenable to it.
“Since that extension will be part of the new constitution, the new constitution is approved by the people themselves,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel also said the scheduled 2019 mid-term elections would still push through even if Congress managed to come up with the new constitution this year.
“What is important are the transitory provisions that will govern the terms and duties of those elected and the last election under the 1987 Constitution,” he said.
Congress leaders float idea of Duterte term extension
Leaders of Congress are floating the idea of either extending the term of President Rodrigo Duterte or those of lawmakers.
Mr. Duterte’s term may be extended beyond 2022 if the country becomes a federal state, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said on Wednesday.
Pimentel made the statement after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said a “no-election (No-El)” scenario was possible.
Alvarez said dispensing with elections in May 2019 would extend the terms of lawmakers up for reelection.
This assumes Congress would succeed in amending the Constitution and switching to a federal form of government and the public would approve it in a plebiscite, the Speaker said.
As Congress prioritizes the shift to federalism through a constituent assembly (Con-ass) this year, the timetable of upcoming elections will be affected, particularly the 2019 elections, Alvarez said in an interview on ANC.
He said the two chambers of Congress could convene themselves into a Con-ass in January and complete the revision of the 1987 Constitution by the middle of this year.
The proposed Constitution will then be put to a plebiscite coinciding with the barangay and youth council elections in May, Alvarez said.
The transitory provisions approved in the plebiscite may render the elections for lawmakers unnecessary as the government shifts to the new system, the Speaker said.
Pimentel is against scrapping the elections if the government would shift to federalism.
“That is not an ‘either-or’ situation. We can shift to federalism and allow all scheduled elections under the existing Constitution to go on and be held,” the Senate President said in text messages to reporters.
Asked whether the shift to another form of government would allow Mr. Duterte to extend his term in a transition government, Pimentel said it “depends on the transitory provisions” and “depends, too, on when we approve the new Constitution.”
“We can extend the President’s term,” Pimentel said “if [the President] is amenable to it and since that extension will be part of the new Constitution, the new Constitution is approved by the people themselves.”
No intention to stay
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Mr. Duterte had no intention to extend his stay in power.
“I can categorically state that [President Duterte] does not want that (a term extension). He wants to cut short his term rather than lengthen it,” Roque said in a statement.
Roque said Mr. Duterte would strictly follow the Constitution, including its schedule for elections.
“So, unless the Constitution is amended, which includes being ratified by the people prior to the date set in the Constitution, elections will have to push through,” he added.
An opposition congressman expressed suspicion about the real motive behind the No-El scenario.
Incumbent officials favored
“The cat is out of the bag. It reveals the true intentions of the Duterte administration to perpetuate themselves in power,” said Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin.
In the ANC interview, Alvarez acknowledged the point that a No-El scenario would favor incumbent officials like himself, but he said this was a necessary step in changing the structure of the government.
“When you shift [to] a federal system of government, you change the structure of the government. You will create states … you will elect governors in each state. You don’t know yet the setup in provinces, towns and cities. We still do not know,” Alvarez said.
Asked about a term extension for Mr. Duterte, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said: “[T]he real purpose of federalism is out—term extension!”
“The Liberal Party (LP) will oppose such immoral proposition,” Drilon said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, the LP president, wondered whether Congress could be trusted with changing the Constitution.
“After witnessing the congressional hearings on extrajudicial killings, on Sen. Leila de Lima’s alleged connection with drug syndicates, on the P6.4-billion Bureau of Customs ‘shabu’ smuggling scandal allegedly involving the Davao Group, the impeachment [complaint against] Chief Justice Sereno, the approval of the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, the slashing of the Commission on Human Rights budget to P1,000, will you trust Congress with Charter change?” Pangilinan said in a statement.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed doubt the Duterte administration would be able to push for Charter change.
Three modes
“Easier said than done, especially with the timeline that they’re looking at, which is the conduct of a plebiscite in May this year. Time is not on the side of those advocating for change of our Constitution,” Lacson said.
The Constitution identifies three ways by which it may be changed or revised: by Congress acting as Con-ass, by Con-con (constitutional convention whose delegates are elected), or by a people’s initiative through a petition by 12 percent of the electorate.
Under Con-ass, the Senate and House, acting as one body, will introduce and approve changes to the Constitution by an absolute three-fourths vote and subject to a national referendum.
The constitutional amendments committee is in the middle of deliberations on two proposed drafts of a new Constitution, one prepared by two House members and the other drafted by a study group of the PDP-Laban Federalism Institute.
Not ready
Mr. Duterte lamented last month that Filipinos were “not ready” for a federal form of government.
He said the government campaign for federalism was not catching fire in places where he had expected strong public support.
“It does not seem to ring a bell in the Visayas and Mindanao or if at all [only among] those who are really dedicated and are thinking Filipinos,” he added.
The administration is pushing for a federal form of government as this would help resolve the secessionist conflict in Mindanao.
Malacañang is also pushing for Congress to approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will give flesh to peace agreements signed by the government and Moro rebels. —REPORTS FROM DJ YAP, CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO AND PHILIP C. TUBEZA
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/957327/congress-leaders-float-idea-of-duterte-term-extension#ixzz53CRnMDYq
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Mr. Duterte’s term may be extended beyond 2022 if the country becomes a federal state, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said on Wednesday.
Pimentel made the statement after Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said a “no-election (No-El)” scenario was possible.
Alvarez said dispensing with elections in May 2019 would extend the terms of lawmakers up for reelection.
This assumes Congress would succeed in amending the Constitution and switching to a federal form of government and the public would approve it in a plebiscite, the Speaker said.
As Congress prioritizes the shift to federalism through a constituent assembly (Con-ass) this year, the timetable of upcoming elections will be affected, particularly the 2019 elections, Alvarez said in an interview on ANC.
He said the two chambers of Congress could convene themselves into a Con-ass in January and complete the revision of the 1987 Constitution by the middle of this year.
The proposed Constitution will then be put to a plebiscite coinciding with the barangay and youth council elections in May, Alvarez said.
The transitory provisions approved in the plebiscite may render the elections for lawmakers unnecessary as the government shifts to the new system, the Speaker said.
Pimentel is against scrapping the elections if the government would shift to federalism.
“That is not an ‘either-or’ situation. We can shift to federalism and allow all scheduled elections under the existing Constitution to go on and be held,” the Senate President said in text messages to reporters.
Asked whether the shift to another form of government would allow Mr. Duterte to extend his term in a transition government, Pimentel said it “depends on the transitory provisions” and “depends, too, on when we approve the new Constitution.”
“We can extend the President’s term,” Pimentel said “if [the President] is amenable to it and since that extension will be part of the new Constitution, the new Constitution is approved by the people themselves.”
No intention to stay
Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Mr. Duterte had no intention to extend his stay in power.
“I can categorically state that [President Duterte] does not want that (a term extension). He wants to cut short his term rather than lengthen it,” Roque said in a statement.
Roque said Mr. Duterte would strictly follow the Constitution, including its schedule for elections.
“So, unless the Constitution is amended, which includes being ratified by the people prior to the date set in the Constitution, elections will have to push through,” he added.
An opposition congressman expressed suspicion about the real motive behind the No-El scenario.
Incumbent officials favored
“The cat is out of the bag. It reveals the true intentions of the Duterte administration to perpetuate themselves in power,” said Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin.
In the ANC interview, Alvarez acknowledged the point that a No-El scenario would favor incumbent officials like himself, but he said this was a necessary step in changing the structure of the government.
“When you shift [to] a federal system of government, you change the structure of the government. You will create states … you will elect governors in each state. You don’t know yet the setup in provinces, towns and cities. We still do not know,” Alvarez said.
Asked about a term extension for Mr. Duterte, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said: “[T]he real purpose of federalism is out—term extension!”
“The Liberal Party (LP) will oppose such immoral proposition,” Drilon said.
Sen. Francis Pangilinan, the LP president, wondered whether Congress could be trusted with changing the Constitution.
“After witnessing the congressional hearings on extrajudicial killings, on Sen. Leila de Lima’s alleged connection with drug syndicates, on the P6.4-billion Bureau of Customs ‘shabu’ smuggling scandal allegedly involving the Davao Group, the impeachment [complaint against] Chief Justice Sereno, the approval of the one-year extension of martial law in Mindanao, the slashing of the Commission on Human Rights budget to P1,000, will you trust Congress with Charter change?” Pangilinan said in a statement.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed doubt the Duterte administration would be able to push for Charter change.
Three modes
“Easier said than done, especially with the timeline that they’re looking at, which is the conduct of a plebiscite in May this year. Time is not on the side of those advocating for change of our Constitution,” Lacson said.
The Constitution identifies three ways by which it may be changed or revised: by Congress acting as Con-ass, by Con-con (constitutional convention whose delegates are elected), or by a people’s initiative through a petition by 12 percent of the electorate.
Under Con-ass, the Senate and House, acting as one body, will introduce and approve changes to the Constitution by an absolute three-fourths vote and subject to a national referendum.
The constitutional amendments committee is in the middle of deliberations on two proposed drafts of a new Constitution, one prepared by two House members and the other drafted by a study group of the PDP-Laban Federalism Institute.
Not ready
Mr. Duterte lamented last month that Filipinos were “not ready” for a federal form of government.
He said the government campaign for federalism was not catching fire in places where he had expected strong public support.
“It does not seem to ring a bell in the Visayas and Mindanao or if at all [only among] those who are really dedicated and are thinking Filipinos,” he added.
The administration is pushing for a federal form of government as this would help resolve the secessionist conflict in Mindanao.
Malacañang is also pushing for Congress to approve the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which will give flesh to peace agreements signed by the government and Moro rebels. —REPORTS FROM DJ YAP, CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO AND PHILIP C. TUBEZA
Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/957327/congress-leaders-float-idea-of-duterte-term-extension#ixzz53CRnMDYq
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook
Church all set for Black Nazarene
THE Catholic Church said Wednesday it is hopeful that Filipinos will be bold enough in 2018 to do what is morally right.
“We pray and work for a Philippines prosperous in human and spiritual values, committed to eradicate poverty and corruption, dedicated in upholding human rights and the sacredness of life, unflinching in its fights against illegal drugs and human trafficking, enlightened to choose worthy leaders, and a Philippines proud of its heritage, yet open to the family of nations,” Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace said.
He said that alhough 2017 was full of challenges that almost divided the nation, there were many things for which to be thankful.
The archbishops statement came as the Catholic Church began preparations for the arrival of millions of pilgrims to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“An overnight vigil will be held at the Luneta evening of Jan. 8. A Holy Mass will be celebrated for the public morning of Jan. 9 followed by the procession of the image back to the basilica,” the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said in a statement.
The CBCP said the procession, or “Traslacion,” is a reenactment of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo, both in Manila, in 1787.
Quiapo Church rector and parish priest Msgr. Hernando Coronel reminded the faithful with health conditions to stay home instead of joining the procession as it will be shown live on television and on the Internet.
The prelate also discouraged parents from bringing their children because they might get lost.
He urged children and teenagers not to climb on the Anadas, especially since a number of girls were recorded as suffering difficulty breathing during the thanksgiving procession held by Quiapo Church on Dec. 31.
Coronel also asked devotees to report anything suspicious persons to the police.
About 18.9 million devotees are expected to participate in the 10-day series of activities in observance of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene this year in Manila, the Manila Police District said on Tuesday.
MPD Supt. Lucille Faycho said last year’s crowd of around 18 million is projected to increase by 5 percent this year.
The activities related to the feast started on Dec. 31, 2017 and will last until Jan. 9, 2018, ending with the procession for the Quiapo Church’s Black Nazarene or Traslacion.
Faycho said that while the MPD is on alert, they have not monitored any specific threat to the feast.
The crowd count started on Dec. 31’s thanksgiving procession, which kicked off Traslacion 2018’s activities.
The thanksgiving procession was immediately followed by nine-day novena Masses for the Black Nazarene, which will last until 5:45 p.m. of Jan. 8.
A procession of all replicas of the Black Nazarene from various parts of the country will take place on Jan. 7.
The Traslacion will start at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9.
Coronel said about 40 minor injuries were recorded during the thanksgiving procession.
Fr. Douglas Badong said an estimated 2 million devotees are expected to join the Traslacion, which will start from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and end in Quiapo Church.
Badong said the duration of the procession should not be a problem. He said they are most concerned about the safety of the devotees.
The Metro Manila Development Authority said it will deploy a total 1,300 of its personnel beginning Friday this week in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said the agency personnel will be deployed around Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, and along the procession routes to help in traffic management, public safety, and emergency response operations of the Manila city government and other concerned agencies.
The agency will also put up its emergency response tent at the Quirino Grandstand as early as Saturday.
MPD and church officials on Wednesday inspected the route that devotees would take.
A total of 5,700 police personnel will be deployed to provide security for the Black Nazarene Feast.
“We pray and work for a Philippines prosperous in human and spiritual values, committed to eradicate poverty and corruption, dedicated in upholding human rights and the sacredness of life, unflinching in its fights against illegal drugs and human trafficking, enlightened to choose worthy leaders, and a Philippines proud of its heritage, yet open to the family of nations,” Archbishop Rolando Tria Tirona, chairman of the National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace said.
He said that alhough 2017 was full of challenges that almost divided the nation, there were many things for which to be thankful.
The archbishops statement came as the Catholic Church began preparations for the arrival of millions of pilgrims to the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
“An overnight vigil will be held at the Luneta evening of Jan. 8. A Holy Mass will be celebrated for the public morning of Jan. 9 followed by the procession of the image back to the basilica,” the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said in a statement.
The CBCP said the procession, or “Traslacion,” is a reenactment of the transfer of the image of the Black Nazarene from Luneta to Quiapo, both in Manila, in 1787.
Quiapo Church rector and parish priest Msgr. Hernando Coronel reminded the faithful with health conditions to stay home instead of joining the procession as it will be shown live on television and on the Internet.
The prelate also discouraged parents from bringing their children because they might get lost.
He urged children and teenagers not to climb on the Anadas, especially since a number of girls were recorded as suffering difficulty breathing during the thanksgiving procession held by Quiapo Church on Dec. 31.
Coronel also asked devotees to report anything suspicious persons to the police.
About 18.9 million devotees are expected to participate in the 10-day series of activities in observance of the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene this year in Manila, the Manila Police District said on Tuesday.
MPD Supt. Lucille Faycho said last year’s crowd of around 18 million is projected to increase by 5 percent this year.
The activities related to the feast started on Dec. 31, 2017 and will last until Jan. 9, 2018, ending with the procession for the Quiapo Church’s Black Nazarene or Traslacion.
Faycho said that while the MPD is on alert, they have not monitored any specific threat to the feast.
The crowd count started on Dec. 31’s thanksgiving procession, which kicked off Traslacion 2018’s activities.
The thanksgiving procession was immediately followed by nine-day novena Masses for the Black Nazarene, which will last until 5:45 p.m. of Jan. 8.
A procession of all replicas of the Black Nazarene from various parts of the country will take place on Jan. 7.
The Traslacion will start at 6 a.m. on Jan. 9.
Coronel said about 40 minor injuries were recorded during the thanksgiving procession.
Fr. Douglas Badong said an estimated 2 million devotees are expected to join the Traslacion, which will start from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and end in Quiapo Church.
Badong said the duration of the procession should not be a problem. He said they are most concerned about the safety of the devotees.
The Metro Manila Development Authority said it will deploy a total 1,300 of its personnel beginning Friday this week in preparation for the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said the agency personnel will be deployed around Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, and along the procession routes to help in traffic management, public safety, and emergency response operations of the Manila city government and other concerned agencies.
The agency will also put up its emergency response tent at the Quirino Grandstand as early as Saturday.
MPD and church officials on Wednesday inspected the route that devotees would take.
A total of 5,700 police personnel will be deployed to provide security for the Black Nazarene Feast.
DOTr told to address MRT woes as 2018 starts
Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to start the year by fixing regular glitches of the Metro Railway Transit (MRT) Line 3.
Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said the frequent breakdowns of the MRT-3 in 2017 mean the current train system is already in its “last leg.”
“The frequent breakdowns of the MRT, especially during the latter part of 2017, only tells us that the current system is already on its last leg,” Poe said.
Poe also stressed that in fixing the problem, extensive overhaul work is needed not just regular maintenance.
“The DOTr should start the year with urgency in addressing this problem that might require extensive repair work rather than just regular maintenance,” the lady senator added.
On January 1, the MRT-3 entered the year with an electrical failure in the train motor, prompting the drop off of passengers at Guadalupe station.
Poe, however, said that extensive repair should not interrupt normal train operations as this would bring ‘greater’ problems to passengers considering that there is no substitute mass transport system.
“But extensive repair might mean the need to put operations on hold, and without an alternative mass transport system to replace it, this would bring commuters greater woes. This is the challenge that the government should solve ASAP,” she said.
“Hopefully, the new year will give the DOTr the chance to start fresh and show us that it is a department that is capable of making better management and engineering choices and not politically driven decisions,” Poe added.
Earlier, the DOTr has released a four-point strategy of “taking bold and strategic steps” to improve the services and to solve the problems troubling the MRT-3.
The four-point strategy includes the termination of MRT-3 service provider Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), the establishment of the Maintenance Transition Team, contracting a qualified maintenance and rehabilitation service provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy, and putting in place a long-term, single-point-of-responsibility, operator and maintenance provider for MRT-3.
Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said the frequent breakdowns of the MRT-3 in 2017 mean the current train system is already in its “last leg.”
“The frequent breakdowns of the MRT, especially during the latter part of 2017, only tells us that the current system is already on its last leg,” Poe said.
Poe also stressed that in fixing the problem, extensive overhaul work is needed not just regular maintenance.
“The DOTr should start the year with urgency in addressing this problem that might require extensive repair work rather than just regular maintenance,” the lady senator added.
On January 1, the MRT-3 entered the year with an electrical failure in the train motor, prompting the drop off of passengers at Guadalupe station.
Poe, however, said that extensive repair should not interrupt normal train operations as this would bring ‘greater’ problems to passengers considering that there is no substitute mass transport system.
“But extensive repair might mean the need to put operations on hold, and without an alternative mass transport system to replace it, this would bring commuters greater woes. This is the challenge that the government should solve ASAP,” she said.
“Hopefully, the new year will give the DOTr the chance to start fresh and show us that it is a department that is capable of making better management and engineering choices and not politically driven decisions,” Poe added.
Earlier, the DOTr has released a four-point strategy of “taking bold and strategic steps” to improve the services and to solve the problems troubling the MRT-3.
The four-point strategy includes the termination of MRT-3 service provider Busan Universal Rail, Inc. (BURI), the establishment of the Maintenance Transition Team, contracting a qualified maintenance and rehabilitation service provider Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy, and putting in place a long-term, single-point-of-responsibility, operator and maintenance provider for MRT-3.
PLDT eyes redevelopment of Makati buildings
PLDT Inc said Wednesday it was studying redevelopments to its 2 buildings in Makati City as part of plans to relocate its headquarters.
The Ramon Cojuangco Building and the adjacent Makati General Office are located along Ayala Avenue, at the heart of the Makati financial district.
PLDT told the stock exchange that Japan's NTT Group was being considered for the redevelopment.
Shares of PLDT were up 1.69 percent to P1,505 in early trading, compared to a 1.57-percent advance in the main index.
The Ramon Cojuangco Building and the adjacent Makati General Office are located along Ayala Avenue, at the heart of the Makati financial district.
PLDT told the stock exchange that Japan's NTT Group was being considered for the redevelopment.
Shares of PLDT were up 1.69 percent to P1,505 in early trading, compared to a 1.57-percent advance in the main index.
‘No-El’ in 2019, term extension for DU30 et al send political circles abuzz
Talk of a “no election” scenario in 2019 and a possible extension of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term thrust government critics into pseudo-anxiety mode Wednesday, after leaders of the two chambers of Congress, who are both his party mates, left open such a possibility in the prospective transition to federalism, which will involve Charter change.
Malacañang, however, sought to play down apprehension sparked by such, insisting that Duterte will always act with the Constitution as compass.
A leader of the Senate minority, Francis Pangilinan, said evidence abounds that Congress as such cannot be simply trusted with the task of Charter change.
The discussions began when Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez floated a possible no-election scenario in 2019 as the result of constitutional amendments occasioned by the shift to federalism, a key plank of the administration’s legislative reforms.
Asked in a TV interview for comment on increasing speculation that the shift to federalism — which the Speaker said is among Congress’ priorities in 2018 – would involve scuttling the 2019 midterm elections, Alvarez replied: “Anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. Kapag nag-shift ka [when you shift] into a different form of government – unitary to a federal – you’re going to need a transition government.”
Congress, convened as a constituent assembly, cannot just simply approve a draft Charter in May 2018 and then make it take effect immediately, he added.
“There will be a plebiscite, you’ll have to explain that to the public,” Alvarez added, speaking partly in Filipino.
All constitutions, he added, have a transitory provision, citing as example the “Cory [Aquino] Constitution which had a transitory provision governing the case of those elected officials whose terms were to expire.
Some terms expire in 2019, others in 2022, he noted. “In fairness, siguro mas maganda kapag pina-expire mo lahat sa [maybe it’s better if you let them all expire in] 2022, para wala ka nang utang [so you don’t have any carryover]. So, expired lahat ng terms [all terms expire in one blow].”
Malacañang, however, sought to play down apprehension sparked by such, insisting that Duterte will always act with the Constitution as compass.
A leader of the Senate minority, Francis Pangilinan, said evidence abounds that Congress as such cannot be simply trusted with the task of Charter change.
The discussions began when Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez floated a possible no-election scenario in 2019 as the result of constitutional amendments occasioned by the shift to federalism, a key plank of the administration’s legislative reforms.
Asked in a TV interview for comment on increasing speculation that the shift to federalism — which the Speaker said is among Congress’ priorities in 2018 – would involve scuttling the 2019 midterm elections, Alvarez replied: “Anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. Kapag nag-shift ka [when you shift] into a different form of government – unitary to a federal – you’re going to need a transition government.”
Congress, convened as a constituent assembly, cannot just simply approve a draft Charter in May 2018 and then make it take effect immediately, he added.
“There will be a plebiscite, you’ll have to explain that to the public,” Alvarez added, speaking partly in Filipino.
All constitutions, he added, have a transitory provision, citing as example the “Cory [Aquino] Constitution which had a transitory provision governing the case of those elected officials whose terms were to expire.
Some terms expire in 2019, others in 2022, he noted. “In fairness, siguro mas maganda kapag pina-expire mo lahat sa [maybe it’s better if you let them all expire in] 2022, para wala ka nang utang [so you don’t have any carryover]. So, expired lahat ng terms [all terms expire in one blow].”
Drilon: Floated Duterte term extension an ‘immoral proposition’
The former ruling Liberal Party (LP) will oppose a possible term extension for President Rodrigo Duterte, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Wednesday.
Drilon was sought for comment on Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s statement that Duterte’s six-year term may be extended “if really necessary” and “if he is amenable to it” during the transition to a federal form of government.
“The cat is out of the bag! At least, the real purpose of federalism is out—term extension! LP will oppose such immoral proposition,” Drilon said.
Duterte’s six-year term will end in 2022.
Drilon was sought for comment on Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s statement that Duterte’s six-year term may be extended “if really necessary” and “if he is amenable to it” during the transition to a federal form of government.
“The cat is out of the bag! At least, the real purpose of federalism is out—term extension! LP will oppose such immoral proposition,” Drilon said.
Duterte’s six-year term will end in 2022.
Speaker Alvarez: ‘No-elections’ possible in 2019
Palace: Only with Charter-change
MANILA, Philippines — A no-election scenario in 2019 is possible under a new Constitution shifting the nation to the federal system, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said yesterday.
The same scenario may apply to the election of President Duterte’s successor in 2022, said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.
Malacañang stressed that the midterm elections would be held as scheduled unless Charter change (Cha-cha) pushes through and the rewritten Constitution is ratified.
Alvarez told ABS-CBN News Channel that rewriting the Constitution to change the system of government “from unitary to federal” is the top priority of Congress this year.
He said the plan is for the House of Representatives and the Senate to convene as a constituent assembly or con-ass later this month to start working on the envisioned new Charter.
When asked if this could lead to a no-elections (no-el) scenario in 2019, Alvarez said, “I have to be frank, anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. If you shift to a new system of government, you need a transition. You cannot implement it immediately after it is ratified.”
The nation elects new Congress members and local officials in 2019. Alvarez’s colleagues welcomed his statements on switching to federalism.
At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Harry Roque made it clear there will be elections in 2019 unless the 1987 Constitution is amended.
“All these positive developments mean that the process to shift to federalism is now in full throttle. Hopefully, federalism will achieve its goal of redistributing wealth to the countryside,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said.
He said Charter change (Cha-cha) should include removing foreign ownership restrictions in various sectors of the economy.
Lifting such restrictions is also the advocacy of several House members, including Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City, Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Cagayan de Oro City.
Another federalism proponent, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, said he expects the people to approve the envisioned federal Constitution.
“Over 16 million Filipinos gave their stamp of approval to this endeavor when they elected President Duterte who has championed federalism since Day One,” he said.
In his television interview, Alvarez said con-ass should finish drafting the new Constitution before the barangay elections on May 8 this year so that the plebiscite for its ratification by the people could be held together with such village vote.
He said the scrapping of next year’s midterm polls could be part of the planned federal Charter’s transitory provisions.
He indicated that there could be a transition period of three years. “Remember that the term of office of 12 senators is expiring in 2019, while that of the other 12 ends in 2022. In fairness, it might be better if we can have their term of office expire at the same time in 2022,” he said.
Asked about the manner of voting in con-ass, he said, “The Constitution is silent on this, but for me, it is joint voting.”
However, he said if the Senate accepts joint voting, he expects it to be challenged before the Supreme Court.
Joint voting means the nearly 300 House members and 22 senators (Sen. Leila de Lima is detained, while one seat was vacated by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano) would vote as one assembly on Cha-cha.
This was the manner of voting on the May 2017 martial law proclamation of President Duterte and its two extensions, though the Constitution is clear on the voting mode.
Several senators have said they would not agree to convene as a con-ass if the House would insist on joint voting since their votes would just be diluted, as in the voting on martial law. A con-ass resolution would have to be approved by the Senate.
Alvarez said senators could “run for President or whatever” under the envisioned federal Constitution.
Asked how he hoped to convince senators to cooperate in the Cha-cha effort despite his advocacy of joint voting in con-ass, he said he has ways of enticing them but refused to reveal them.
He said “personal interest” or prolonging the stay in office of incumbent House members and senators up to 2022 is “incidental” to revising the Charter and shifting the nation to the federal system.
“This is a question of patriotism. It’s what the country needs,” he said.
He added that he expected Pimentel to push Cha-cha for federalism “because it is a priority of President Duterte and of PDP-Laban.”
Pimentel is the ruling party’s president.
While Alvarez talked of a three-year transition to the federal system, other House members are mulling over a five-year term extension for lawmakers and two years for Duterte up to 2024.
Under this scenario, the elections next year and in 2022 would be scrapped to give way to a five-year transition to the envisioned new system of government and a five-year term of office for all elective officials. Thus, the first election under the planned new Charter would be held in 2024.
Will Duterte agree?
Pimentel said the possible extension of Duterte’s six-year term will really depend on whether he agrees to it or on what’s stipulated in the transitory provisions of the new constitution, assuming Congress finishes drafting it, and it gets ratified in a plebiscite in 2019.
“If (the new constitution is ratified) in 2019 then the next three years will be the transitory period. We can extend the President’s term, if really necessary, and if he is amenable to it,” Pimentel said.
“And since that extension will be part of the new constitution, the new constitution is approved by the people themselves,” he told reporters.
He, however, stressed the possible extension of Duterte’s stay in power was not a consequence or the objective of the PDP-Laban’s effort to amend the Constitution.
He said the proposed change to a federal form of government could still be pursued without scrapping the presidential and national elections in 2022 as set by the Constitution.
“That is not an ‘either/or’ situation. We can shift to federalism and allow all scheduled elections under the existing Constitution to go on and be held,” Pimentel pointed out.
He said what is important are the transitory provisions that would govern the terms and duties of those elected in the last elections under the 1987 Constitution.
“And before we can operate under a new constitution, the provisions of the existing Constitution must be followed. Hence, if there are scheduled elections under the existing Constitution, then this must be followed,” he said.
Pimentel also bristled at Alvarez’s chiding the Senate for being too slow in passing urgent legislation, reiterating that the chamber was the “studious House.”
He said it was natural for the House of Representatives to churn out more legislation as “local bills” such as those renaming and/or merging schools, increasing hospital beds, emanate from it.
“But we must all change our mindset – from quantity to quality. Let us not judge lawmaking in terms of number of laws passed but in terms of how the laws we pass improve the quality of life on earth in general and the quality of life of Filipinos in particular. Again I say: change mindset. Quality not quantity.”
Amid suspicion sparked by Cha-cha efforts in Congress, Roque cited the current Constitution’s importance to Duterte.
“The President always looks to the Constitution as his guiding document. The Constitution sets the date for the next elections in 2019. So unless the Constitution is amended ahead of the 2019 elections, it will have to push through,” he said.
“The role of the President is to implement the Constitution and the law. As I said, it is the Constitution that sets when the next election is,” he added.
Roque also claimed the President is not in favor of efforts of his lawmaker-allies to extend his term.
“I can categorically state that PRRD (Duterte’s initials) does not want that. He wants to cut short his term rather than lengthen it,” he added.
‘Immoral’
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party (LP) said the statements of Pimentel and Alvarez only confirmed suspicions regarding their true motive in their push for federalism.
“The cat is out of the bag! At least, the real purpose of federalism is out – term extension. LP will oppose such immoral proposition,” Drilon said in a text message.
“It reveals the true intentions of the Duterte administration to perpetuate themselves in power. It speaks volumes of how they have arrogated power unto themselves and instilled fear upon the people who oppose their position,” Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said.
On New Year’s Eve, the LP warned that “lies” peddled by the administration in 2017 would continue to be mouthed this year as it urged Filipinos to remain vigilant and oppose any attempt at term extension.
“How will the lies be promoted in 2018? By circumventing, if not actually violating, the country’s fundamental law through Cha-cha (Charter change) or federalism or martial law so that some politicians can try to rule longer than allowed and that we the people won’t be allowed to choose our leaders,” the LP said in a statement last Dec. 31.
LP president Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Congress may not be trusted in the task of amending the Constitution.
He said the dismal record of the administration-controlled Congress can be seen in the way it handled the various scandals and national issues affecting the administration, including the drug-related extrajudicial killings, the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the one-year extension of martial law and the slashing of the budget of the Commission on Human Rights to P1,000.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said amending the Constitution and the shift to federalism was “easier said than done,” especially with the PDP-Laban’s timeline of conducting a plebiscite in May this year.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is confident there will be enough service providers to supply its needs despite the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in 2016 and 2017.
“There are no concerns about lack of bidders, there is no foreseen shortage of companies willing to bid,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said. – Alexis Romero, Sheila Crisostomo
MANILA, Philippines — A no-election scenario in 2019 is possible under a new Constitution shifting the nation to the federal system, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said yesterday.
The same scenario may apply to the election of President Duterte’s successor in 2022, said Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III.
Malacañang stressed that the midterm elections would be held as scheduled unless Charter change (Cha-cha) pushes through and the rewritten Constitution is ratified.
Alvarez told ABS-CBN News Channel that rewriting the Constitution to change the system of government “from unitary to federal” is the top priority of Congress this year.
He said the plan is for the House of Representatives and the Senate to convene as a constituent assembly or con-ass later this month to start working on the envisioned new Charter.
When asked if this could lead to a no-elections (no-el) scenario in 2019, Alvarez said, “I have to be frank, anything is possible. You know why? Let’s be practical. If you shift to a new system of government, you need a transition. You cannot implement it immediately after it is ratified.”
The nation elects new Congress members and local officials in 2019. Alvarez’s colleagues welcomed his statements on switching to federalism.
At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Harry Roque made it clear there will be elections in 2019 unless the 1987 Constitution is amended.
“All these positive developments mean that the process to shift to federalism is now in full throttle. Hopefully, federalism will achieve its goal of redistributing wealth to the countryside,” Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte said.
He said Charter change (Cha-cha) should include removing foreign ownership restrictions in various sectors of the economy.
Lifting such restrictions is also the advocacy of several House members, including Feliciano Belmonte Jr. of Quezon City, Albee Benitez of Negros Occidental and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. of Cagayan de Oro City.
Another federalism proponent, Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, said he expects the people to approve the envisioned federal Constitution.
“Over 16 million Filipinos gave their stamp of approval to this endeavor when they elected President Duterte who has championed federalism since Day One,” he said.
In his television interview, Alvarez said con-ass should finish drafting the new Constitution before the barangay elections on May 8 this year so that the plebiscite for its ratification by the people could be held together with such village vote.
He said the scrapping of next year’s midterm polls could be part of the planned federal Charter’s transitory provisions.
He indicated that there could be a transition period of three years. “Remember that the term of office of 12 senators is expiring in 2019, while that of the other 12 ends in 2022. In fairness, it might be better if we can have their term of office expire at the same time in 2022,” he said.
Asked about the manner of voting in con-ass, he said, “The Constitution is silent on this, but for me, it is joint voting.”
However, he said if the Senate accepts joint voting, he expects it to be challenged before the Supreme Court.
Joint voting means the nearly 300 House members and 22 senators (Sen. Leila de Lima is detained, while one seat was vacated by Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano) would vote as one assembly on Cha-cha.
This was the manner of voting on the May 2017 martial law proclamation of President Duterte and its two extensions, though the Constitution is clear on the voting mode.
Several senators have said they would not agree to convene as a con-ass if the House would insist on joint voting since their votes would just be diluted, as in the voting on martial law. A con-ass resolution would have to be approved by the Senate.
Alvarez said senators could “run for President or whatever” under the envisioned federal Constitution.
Asked how he hoped to convince senators to cooperate in the Cha-cha effort despite his advocacy of joint voting in con-ass, he said he has ways of enticing them but refused to reveal them.
He said “personal interest” or prolonging the stay in office of incumbent House members and senators up to 2022 is “incidental” to revising the Charter and shifting the nation to the federal system.
“This is a question of patriotism. It’s what the country needs,” he said.
He added that he expected Pimentel to push Cha-cha for federalism “because it is a priority of President Duterte and of PDP-Laban.”
Pimentel is the ruling party’s president.
While Alvarez talked of a three-year transition to the federal system, other House members are mulling over a five-year term extension for lawmakers and two years for Duterte up to 2024.
Under this scenario, the elections next year and in 2022 would be scrapped to give way to a five-year transition to the envisioned new system of government and a five-year term of office for all elective officials. Thus, the first election under the planned new Charter would be held in 2024.
Will Duterte agree?
Pimentel said the possible extension of Duterte’s six-year term will really depend on whether he agrees to it or on what’s stipulated in the transitory provisions of the new constitution, assuming Congress finishes drafting it, and it gets ratified in a plebiscite in 2019.
“If (the new constitution is ratified) in 2019 then the next three years will be the transitory period. We can extend the President’s term, if really necessary, and if he is amenable to it,” Pimentel said.
“And since that extension will be part of the new constitution, the new constitution is approved by the people themselves,” he told reporters.
He, however, stressed the possible extension of Duterte’s stay in power was not a consequence or the objective of the PDP-Laban’s effort to amend the Constitution.
He said the proposed change to a federal form of government could still be pursued without scrapping the presidential and national elections in 2022 as set by the Constitution.
“That is not an ‘either/or’ situation. We can shift to federalism and allow all scheduled elections under the existing Constitution to go on and be held,” Pimentel pointed out.
He said what is important are the transitory provisions that would govern the terms and duties of those elected in the last elections under the 1987 Constitution.
“And before we can operate under a new constitution, the provisions of the existing Constitution must be followed. Hence, if there are scheduled elections under the existing Constitution, then this must be followed,” he said.
Pimentel also bristled at Alvarez’s chiding the Senate for being too slow in passing urgent legislation, reiterating that the chamber was the “studious House.”
He said it was natural for the House of Representatives to churn out more legislation as “local bills” such as those renaming and/or merging schools, increasing hospital beds, emanate from it.
“But we must all change our mindset – from quantity to quality. Let us not judge lawmaking in terms of number of laws passed but in terms of how the laws we pass improve the quality of life on earth in general and the quality of life of Filipinos in particular. Again I say: change mindset. Quality not quantity.”
Amid suspicion sparked by Cha-cha efforts in Congress, Roque cited the current Constitution’s importance to Duterte.
“The President always looks to the Constitution as his guiding document. The Constitution sets the date for the next elections in 2019. So unless the Constitution is amended ahead of the 2019 elections, it will have to push through,” he said.
“The role of the President is to implement the Constitution and the law. As I said, it is the Constitution that sets when the next election is,” he added.
Roque also claimed the President is not in favor of efforts of his lawmaker-allies to extend his term.
“I can categorically state that PRRD (Duterte’s initials) does not want that. He wants to cut short his term rather than lengthen it,” he added.
‘Immoral’
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon of the Liberal Party (LP) said the statements of Pimentel and Alvarez only confirmed suspicions regarding their true motive in their push for federalism.
“The cat is out of the bag! At least, the real purpose of federalism is out – term extension. LP will oppose such immoral proposition,” Drilon said in a text message.
“It reveals the true intentions of the Duterte administration to perpetuate themselves in power. It speaks volumes of how they have arrogated power unto themselves and instilled fear upon the people who oppose their position,” Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said.
On New Year’s Eve, the LP warned that “lies” peddled by the administration in 2017 would continue to be mouthed this year as it urged Filipinos to remain vigilant and oppose any attempt at term extension.
“How will the lies be promoted in 2018? By circumventing, if not actually violating, the country’s fundamental law through Cha-cha (Charter change) or federalism or martial law so that some politicians can try to rule longer than allowed and that we the people won’t be allowed to choose our leaders,” the LP said in a statement last Dec. 31.
LP president Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Congress may not be trusted in the task of amending the Constitution.
He said the dismal record of the administration-controlled Congress can be seen in the way it handled the various scandals and national issues affecting the administration, including the drug-related extrajudicial killings, the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the one-year extension of martial law and the slashing of the budget of the Commission on Human Rights to P1,000.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said amending the Constitution and the shift to federalism was “easier said than done,” especially with the PDP-Laban’s timeline of conducting a plebiscite in May this year.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is confident there will be enough service providers to supply its needs despite the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in 2016 and 2017.
“There are no concerns about lack of bidders, there is no foreseen shortage of companies willing to bid,” Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said. – Alexis Romero, Sheila Crisostomo
Mother-son team on ‘Hanggang Saan’
Award-winning actress Sylvia Sanchez has teamed up for the first time with her real son Arjo Atayde on teleserye “Hanggang Saan,” now on its second month of airing.
The story is about how far a mother would sacrifice to give her son a better life.
“Hanggang Saan,” directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Mervyn Brondial, has been described as an unconventional take on a mother’s love. It has Sylvia playing the role of Sonya, a brave mother who will do everything for her children. Arjo, on the other hand plays Sonya’s son Paco, a smart law student.
Sylvia, who played Gloria on her previous teleserye “The Greatest Love,” said about her character: “Sonya will create an argument between mothers and children. The questions are: Will I also do what Sonya did (she killed an innocent man so her son will live)? Did she have to commit the crime or not?”
On his part, Arjo said, “We will shatter the image of the ideal mother. We will see how a person can love another who is extremely flawed.”
• • •
Spectacular night
It was a dazzling night when Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan kicked off the Christmas season with a formal lighting ceremony held at the resort’s main plaza.
More than 300 guests from leading corporations, government, media, online influencers and industry friends joined and witnessed for the first time Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar’s art installation lighting ceremony.
The lighting rites titled “Home” was headed by Bellas Artes Foundation’s Project Manager, RJ Camacho. The resort highlighted local talented performing group such as Bataan Chamber Singers, Bataan Childrens Choir, Koro Bangkal and Jose de Piro Kabataang Orchestra as part of the momentous event.
Director of Marketing Erwin Doña welcomed the guests with his opening remarks and the first Filipina to be crowned as Reina Hispanoamericana – Teresita “WinWyn” Marquez arrived to grace the night’s enthralling affair. Marquez also led the lighting not only the art installation but also the entire heritage community.
Also present during the event were 2017 Lakambini ng Las Casas Bb. Diana Velasco, Bellas Artes art installation team leader RJ Camacho, Bellas Artes Foundation Director and Founder Ms. Jam Acuzar, Chairman of NSJBI/Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Jerry Acuzar, Chairperson of Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation Ms. Victoria S. Garcia, Dinalupihan Mayor Ms. Maria Angela Garcia, AFAB Chairman Emmanuel Pineda, Bagac, Councilor Noel Dela Rosa, and Bataan Tourism Officer Architect Christina Banzon-Enriquez.
• • •
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Jan. 4, go to Justice Ricardo Puno, Barbara Perez, Marlene dela Peña, Isaac Belmonte, Joe Zaldarriaga, Paciencia Pineda, Offie Recto, Richard Teo, Christian Espiritu, Celia Tiu, Babette Benoit, Col. Mat Luga, Cora Vizconde, Ines D.C. Alegre, Lourdes Fabian, Gemma Garceniago, Gil Mauricio, Priscilla Pacheco, Chloe Nelsson, Louie Guarin, Raquel Pareño, Arlyn dela Cruz, Rez Cortez, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Vhong Navarro, Katrina Halili, and Bing Pimentel… Jan. 5: Estelito Mendoza, Bella Dimayuga, Dante Cruz, Nonoy Manalo, Mila Bravo, Elvie Matias, Farish Benito, Bryan Valdecanas, and Melanie Calumpad (a.k.a.) Kyla…
The story is about how far a mother would sacrifice to give her son a better life.
“Hanggang Saan,” directed by Jeffrey Jeturian and Mervyn Brondial, has been described as an unconventional take on a mother’s love. It has Sylvia playing the role of Sonya, a brave mother who will do everything for her children. Arjo, on the other hand plays Sonya’s son Paco, a smart law student.
Sylvia, who played Gloria on her previous teleserye “The Greatest Love,” said about her character: “Sonya will create an argument between mothers and children. The questions are: Will I also do what Sonya did (she killed an innocent man so her son will live)? Did she have to commit the crime or not?”
On his part, Arjo said, “We will shatter the image of the ideal mother. We will see how a person can love another who is extremely flawed.”
• • •
Spectacular night
It was a dazzling night when Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan kicked off the Christmas season with a formal lighting ceremony held at the resort’s main plaza.
More than 300 guests from leading corporations, government, media, online influencers and industry friends joined and witnessed for the first time Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar’s art installation lighting ceremony.
The lighting rites titled “Home” was headed by Bellas Artes Foundation’s Project Manager, RJ Camacho. The resort highlighted local talented performing group such as Bataan Chamber Singers, Bataan Childrens Choir, Koro Bangkal and Jose de Piro Kabataang Orchestra as part of the momentous event.
Director of Marketing Erwin Doña welcomed the guests with his opening remarks and the first Filipina to be crowned as Reina Hispanoamericana – Teresita “WinWyn” Marquez arrived to grace the night’s enthralling affair. Marquez also led the lighting not only the art installation but also the entire heritage community.
Also present during the event were 2017 Lakambini ng Las Casas Bb. Diana Velasco, Bellas Artes art installation team leader RJ Camacho, Bellas Artes Foundation Director and Founder Ms. Jam Acuzar, Chairman of NSJBI/Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Jerry Acuzar, Chairperson of Bataan Peninsula Tourism Council Foundation Ms. Victoria S. Garcia, Dinalupihan Mayor Ms. Maria Angela Garcia, AFAB Chairman Emmanuel Pineda, Bagac, Councilor Noel Dela Rosa, and Bataan Tourism Officer Architect Christina Banzon-Enriquez.
• • •
Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, Jan. 4, go to Justice Ricardo Puno, Barbara Perez, Marlene dela Peña, Isaac Belmonte, Joe Zaldarriaga, Paciencia Pineda, Offie Recto, Richard Teo, Christian Espiritu, Celia Tiu, Babette Benoit, Col. Mat Luga, Cora Vizconde, Ines D.C. Alegre, Lourdes Fabian, Gemma Garceniago, Gil Mauricio, Priscilla Pacheco, Chloe Nelsson, Louie Guarin, Raquel Pareño, Arlyn dela Cruz, Rez Cortez, Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Vhong Navarro, Katrina Halili, and Bing Pimentel… Jan. 5: Estelito Mendoza, Bella Dimayuga, Dante Cruz, Nonoy Manalo, Mila Bravo, Elvie Matias, Farish Benito, Bryan Valdecanas, and Melanie Calumpad (a.k.a.) Kyla…