Robredo on VP ballot recount: 'Have no fear, we fight for truth'

(UPDATED) 'This is a time of fear, fear of what is going to happen next, pero manalig tayo.... 'Wag paghinaan ng loob,' Vice President Leni Robredo tells her supporters

(UPDATED) 'This is a time of fear, fear of what is going to happen next, pero manalig tayo.... 'Wag paghinaan ng loob,' Vice President Leni Robredo tells her supporters

(UPDATED) – Vice President Leni Robredo reassured her supporters they have nothing to be afraid of as the ballot recount for the electoral protest filed against her begins on Monday, April 2.

The Vice President delivered a 6-minute speech after attending a multi-sectoral Mass organized by the Kaya Natin! Movement for Good Governance around two hours before the Supreme Court (SC), acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), kicked off the ballot recount.

Robredo likened her message for her supporters gathered at St Scholastica's College Manila's chapel to the day's Gospel message of hope on Jesus Christ's resurrection. (READ: Robredo on Easter: Unite amid threats to democracy)

"Kaya siguro to all our supporters and our friends who are here today, 'yung pinapasabi din ng ating mga lawyers: Wala tayong dapat ikatakot. Wala tayong dapat ikatakot kasi katotohanan ang ating ipinaglalaban," said the Vice President.

(This is perhaps my message to our supporters and our friends who are here today, the same message our lawyers want to convey: We have nothing to fear. Have no fear for we are fighting for the truth.)

HEARING MASS. Vice President Leni Robredo sits beside her lawyer Romulo Macalintal and Sister Mary John Mananzan from the Order of St Benedict. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

She acknowledged her supporters have many reasons to fear. The electoral protest she is facing was filed by former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. (READ: TIMELINE: Marcos-Robredo election case)

Robredo had also resigned in December 2016 as housing czar of President Rodrigo Duterte, who had barred her from attending Cabinet meetings. Duterte, a known ally of the Marcoses, supported the hero's burial for the late strongman.

But the Vice President remains hopeful about the results of the ballot recount.

SUPPORT SYSTEM. Vice President Leni Robredo greets her supporters after the Mass. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

"This is a time of fear, fear of what is going to happen next, pero manalig tayo. Gawin lang 'yung dati na nating ginagawa. 'Wag paghinaan ng loob. Maraming limitasyon, pero sa liit ng mundo natin ngayon, kailangan tayo. Kailangan tayo para patuloy na magbigay ng liwanag," said Robredo.

(This is a time of fear, fear of what's going to happen next, but have faith. Keep on doing what you have been doing. Do not let your resolve be weakened. There are many limitations, but given how small the world is, we are needed. We need to keep on going to continue giving light.)

"Kasi kung tayo mismo ang umayaw, lalong didilim ang paligid, and so many people are looking up to us, for us to fight for them. Kaya patuloy lang tayo," she added.

(Because if we will give up, the world will be darker, and so many people are looking up to us, for us to fight for them. Let us keep on going.)

Robredo's speech was heard by nuns from the Order of Saint Benedict, her legal team led by lawyers Romulo Macalintal and Bernadette Sardillo, and her supporters who were clad in white.

Her lawyers also participated in the Mass, with Macalintal reading the First Reading and Sardillo joining the offertory.

The Vice President's legal team was also blessed by Fr Ted Gonzales, who celebrated the Mass, and other priests present.

BLESSED. Vice President Robredo's legal team receives a blessing during the Mass. Photo by LeAnne Jazul/Rappler

Robredo beat Marcos by only 263,473 votes in the 2016 polls, leading the latter to allege cheating and to file the electoral protest against her two years ago.

Marcos is seeking to recount ballots from 36,465 clustered precincts and also nullify votes in Basilan, Lanao del Sur, and Maguindanao. His bid to question the integrity of the 2016 elections as a whole was already junked by the PET.

Robredo, meanwhile, filed a counter-protest, which seeks to recount ballots from 30,000 polling precincts in various provinces where Marcos won.

On Monday, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Malacañang welcomes the ballot recount.

"The Palace welcomes the recount para ma-settle na 'yang long-festering dispute na 'yan (so the long-festering dispute will finally be settled). This is a judicial matter, this is before the PET already, so we leave it to the coequal branch to handle that," said Guevarra.

Manual recount for Marcos poll protest vs. Robredo begins

The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), on Monday started the manual recount for the electoral protest of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.

"The principal objective of this exercise is to ascertain the number of votes received by both parties in the May 9, 2016 national elections through a manual recount of the votes," the PET said in a statement as it started the manual recount.

Under Rule 65 of the 2010 PET Rules, the recount -- or revision, in PET terms -- will be limited to three pilot provinces that Marcos had chosen -- Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental -- covering 5,418 clustered precincts.

"The results of the revision of the pilot provinces shall thereafter determine whether the instant protest will proceed with the remaining 31,047 protested clustered precincts, again following Rule 65 of the 2010 PET rules," the PET explained.

Reiterating what the PET's adhoc committee told reporters last week, the statement laid down the ground rules for the revision process, which had been postponed multiple times.

The revision schedule will run from Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m, at the Supreme Court-Court of Appeals gymnasium, which has been converted into the Revision Hall.

Each of the 40 existing revision committees will be composed of one Head Revisor, who is an employee of the PET, and one revisor each from Marcos and Robredo's respective teams.

The PET is targetting to form a total of 50 revision committees.

The revision committees will be placed under a "strict" time limit for the completion of the revision of one ballot box.

The PET said that for boxes containing 300 or less ballots, the revision has to be finished within 5.5 hours.

For boxes containing 300 and 700 ballots, the revision time limit is 8.25 hours, and for those containing more than 700 ballots, the time limit is 11 hours.

The Head Revisor's duty is to segregate and examine the contents of each ballot box, determine the number of votes received by Marcos and Robredo. Meanwhile, the party representatives are allowed to claim and object to ballots as they see fit.

"If the revision committee fails to comply with the time limit, they shall proceed to revise another ballot box and the parties shall be deemed to have waived their right to claim or object to the remaining ballots," the statement said.

Malacañang welcomed the start of the recount process, saying this will settle the "long festering dispute" regarding the result of the 2016 vice presidential race.

"The Palace welcomes the recount para ma-settle na 'yang long festering dispute na 'yan. Other than that, this is a judicial matter, this is before the Presidential Electoral Tribunal already so we leave it to the co-equal branch to handle that," Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra said at a news conference.

President Rodrigo Duterte is a political ally of the Marcoses, whose patriarch, the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, was laid to rest at the Libingan ng mga Bayani on Nov. 18, 2016 following support from Duterte himself and later, the SC.

Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes in the May 2016 election.

The former senator filed his electoral protest a day before Robredo formally took office. with Virgil Lopez/ALG, GMA News

Youth group sues Mocha Uson for ‘grave misconduct, serious dishonesty’

A group of youth leaders on Monday called for the removal and dismissal from service of Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson as they filed an administrative complaint against her for supposedly spreading disinformation.

In a 10-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, student leaders of Akbayan Youth charged Uson with grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service for allegedly spreading fake information on various media platforms while serving as assistant secretary in the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

"Naniniwala kami na hindi siya karapat-dapat sa posisyon niya at sa sweldo niya bilang assistant secretary ng PCOO. Kaya po ang panawagan namin ngayon ay patalsikin si Mocha sa kanyang posisyon," Shamah Bulangis, one of the complainants, said.

The group cited Uson's act of making public arbitrary ascertainment of facts that caused cyberbullying attacks against students of St. Scholastica's College. They said her stay at the PCOO is "a threat to the security" of people opposed to the administration.

The group said Uson allegedly spread misinformation through a blogpost in November 2016 that says students from St. Scholastica's College were required to attend a protest rally.

"This unreasonable and unfair act of Uson—of posting  false accusations against the school without verifying the accuracy of the information—led to cyberbullying attacks directed against students of St. Scholastica’s College," the complaint read.

"Following this, there is no doubt that Uson is a threat to the security of people that voice their criticism against the government," it added.

The group also said Uson is incompetent to hold her current position, as she shows gross ignorance of the provisions of the Constitution and the Philippine geography as well.

They cited Uson's statement in her January 2018 video blog where she stated that Mayon Volcano, which was then on high alert status, was in Naga City, causing "confusion to Filipinos."

Naga City is in Camarines Sur and the volcano is in Albay province.

"Clearly, Uson is grossly incompetent to convey the right information to guide the Filipino public," the complaint said.

Aside from this, the group said Uson committed gross dishonesty by deliberately using misleading statements.

They said that in August 2017, Uson dared several opposition public officials to visit the wake of slain police Senior Inspector Mark Garcia even as the policeman died a year earlier.

They also cited Uson's photograph of Honduran military forces "to convey misinformation," making it appear that it was a photograph of the Philippine military.

Lastly, the group accused Uson of using her powers to stifle oppositors of the administration which, they said, is "contrary to the Constitution."

They cited Uson's allegations that Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has offshore bank accounts, and her act of calling Vice President Leni Robredo "bobo" at least five times on live radio.

Uson has yet to reply to GMA News Online's request for reaction to the filig of the complaints against her.

The complainants include Samantha Julia Eala, Raymond John Naguit, Misha Borbon, Jonathan Austria, Angel Ruben Roxas, Hernan Delizo, Roman Romero, Basilio Enrique Claudio and Kisha Beringuela.

Trillanes, in September 2017, also filed a complaint against Uson for allegedly spreading fake news over his supposed offshore bank accounts.

Akbayan Youth also filed a complaint against Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II in July 2017, also for supposedly spreading fake news. —with Virgil Lopez/ALG, GMA News

Sack Mocha for spreading fake news, youth leaders ask Ombudsman

FIRE MOCHA. Members of the Akbayan Youth hold a protest at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Monday, April 2, 2018, as the group files a complaint against PCOO Asst. Sec. Mocha Uson for spreading fake news. The organization asks for Uson’s “removal from office and dismissal from service” over grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service. They say Uson has been a “source of numerous and deliberate misinformation.” (Philippine Daily Inquirer/Grig C. Montegrande)

Youth and student leaders filed on Monday an administrative complaint against Presidential Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson for allegedly using her position to proliferate “fake news” and silence the critics of the government.

In the 10-page complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman, Akbayan Youth sought for Uson’s “removal from office and dismissal from service” over grave misconduct, serious dishonesty, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.

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“Asec. Mocha is one of the biggest purveyors of disinformation in this government. We are drawing the line versus Mocha and all other government officials who lie to the public,” said Shahmah Bulangis, co-convenor of Youth Resist, which is part of Akbayan Youth.

“Hindi tanga ang mga Pinoy. Wala na silang maloloko sa kanilang mapang-abusong panloloko. Kailangan na siyang matanggal sa pwesto,” she added.

Before the filing, youth and student leaders carried protest signs and coffee cups with faces of Uson with the call #FireMocha.

“Public service is no joke. Our taxes are wasted on public officials whose only jobs are to lie to the Filipino people,” said Bas Claudio, secretary general of Akbayan Youth UP Diliman.

“Disinformation only helps the Duterte dictatorship. Ang tao ang talo sa fake news,” said Nathan Austria, a student leader from the University of Sto. Tomas.

Despite being appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte as a Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) assistant secretary on May 8, 2017, Uson maintains a public and open blog called “Mocha Uson Blog.”

She also has a radio/television segment in radio station DZRH.

Akbayan Youth members said her online and public persona have been a “source of numerous and deliberate misinformation.”

This, the group said, is contrary to the mandate of the PCOO to “ensure transparency and full and appropriate disclosure of policies, programs, official activities, and achievements of the Office of the President and the Executive Branch which are of public concern, and to inform and communicate the same to the Filipino people.”

The group also accused Uson of being a threat to the security of people who express their criticisms against the government, citing an instance when she made “public arbitrary ascertainment of facts which resulted to cyberbullying attacks against students who were in their right to peacefully protest.”

They cited that in November 2016, Uson posted a blog, purveying “false accusations” and “misinformation” that students of St. Scholastica’s College were required to attend a protest rally.

The youth organization also asserted that Uson is “not competent to discharge her functions as a public officer,” and commits “gross dishonesty by deliberately using misleading statements.”

The group said Uson’s blog posts citing non-existent “Article 263 of the Philippine Constitution,” and her video blog where she erroneously said Mayon volcano was in Naga City, have caused “misinformation and confusion to Filipinos.”

The Assistant Secretary, they said, also dared some opposition officials to visit the wake of a slain law enforcement officer even though the officer had already died more than a year before Uson made her demand.

The group also cited that in May 2017, Uson referred to and used a photograph of Honduran military forces on a post referring to Philippine military forces.

Moreover, Akbayan Youth pointed out Uson “uses her powers for the improper purpose of stifling dissenting officials from the opposition, an action which is contrary to the Constitution.”

According to the group, Uson clearly demonstrated this when she alleged that opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has offshore bank accounts, and when she called Vice President Leni Robredo “bobo” during a radio program.

Shortly after the filing of the complaint, Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Menardo Guevarra defended Uson, saying he believes she is not a purveyor of misinformation.

“To tell you frankly di ko naman binabasa lahat ng mga sa mga (I am not reading all these) blogs. I don’t have much time to go over these things. She’s consistently denied it so I’ll take her word for it as a fellow worker, I’ll take her word for it,” he said in a press briefing.

In 2017, Trillanes similarly hurled seven criminal and administrative charges against Uson for spreading “fake news” about his supposed offshore bank accounts.

Akbayan Youth wants Ombudsman to boot Mocha out of office

By Xave Gregorio

Akbayan Youth asked the Office of the Ombudsman to remove from office and dismiss Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson for her incompetence and for spreading false information.

The youth arm of opposition solons Rep. Tom Villarin and Senator Risa Hontiveros’ party filed an administrative case against Uson on Monday (April 2) for grave misconduct, serious dishonesty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.



“Asec. Uson is one of the biggest purveyors of disinformation in this government. We are drawing the line versus Mocha and all other government officials who lie to the public,” Shamah Bulangis, one of the complainants and co-convenor of opposition group Youth Resist.

Student leaders from Akbayan Youth said in their complaint that Uson’s actions run counter to the mandate of the PCOO.

In the complaint, they said Uson caused students to be cyberbullied after she claimed on her Facebook page Mocha Uson Blog that students of St. Scholastica’s College were required to attend a protest.

“This unreasonable and unfair act of Uson—of posting false accusations against the school without verifying the accuracy of the information—led to cyberbullying attacks directed against students of St. Scholastica’s College,” Akbayan Youth said in their complaint.

They further alleged that Uson’s actions were the “direct cause of oppression against innocent students.”

“There is no doubt that Uson is a threat to the security of people that voice their criticism against the government,” they said.

They also said Uson is unfit for the post as she has shown “gross ignorance” of the Constitution and of Philippine geography.

Uson became the subject of ridicule on social media after she cited “Article 263” of the Constitution, which only consists of 18 articles. She was also made fun of when she said that the famous Mayon Volcano in Albay was in Naga City, which Akbayan Youth said caused “confusion.”

Akbayan Youth also alleged that Uson committed gross dishonesty by deliberately using misleading statements, citing her dare to opposition politikos to visit the wake of a policeman who has been dead for a year and her use of a picture of Honduran military forces to represent the Philippine military.

They also cited Uson’s allegations against opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV that he has offshore bank accounts and her calling of Vice President Leni Robredo as “bobo” on her radio show as examples of how the assistant secretary uses her position to “stifle dissent” from opposition politikos.

This is the second complaint filed against Uson in relation her spreading false information online. Trillanes has previously filed criminal and administrative charges against Uson in September 2017 over her allegations that he owned foreign bank accounts.

Akbayan Youth UP Diliman secretary general Bas Claudio, one of the complainants against Uson, said taxes are “wasted on public officials whose only jobs are to lie to the Filipino people.”

“If Mocha can’t stop clowning around by systematically lying to the people, then she shouldn’t stay in government,” Claudio said.

Meanwhile, Nathan Austria, a student leader from the University of Santo Tomas who is also among the 14 complainants, said disinformation “only helps the Duterte dictatorship.”

“This is just the start. We aim to hold all the fools in government accountable for abusing their power and betraying the trust of the Filipino people,” Austria said.

Other complainants are Samantha Julia Legaspi, Raymond John Sarita Naguit, Misha Borbon, Angel Ruben Rodis Roxas, Gemina Bianca Dela Cruz, Hernan Joseph Delizo, Ramon Miguel Romero, Theresa Diana Peña, Patricia Guiang Nicdao, Kisha Marielle Caybot Beringuela, and Lorenzo Miguel Angeles Relente.

Vice presidency poll recount to begin today

The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), begins today the manual recount of votes cast in three provinces for the vice presidential race in 2016, the results of which were contested by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Former Camarines Sur representative Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo had been declared winner of that election, beating Marcos by 263,473 votes.

The recount of votes will be held at the gymnasium on the Fifth Floor of the SC-Court of Appeals (CA) Building on Padre Faura, Manila.

The recount had been originally scheduled for February but was moved back to March 19, and then again to April 2.

The recount will be conducted from 8.30am to 4.30pm from today until Friday under the watch of the tribunal’s clerk of court, Edgar Aricheta.

Ma. Carina Cunanan, head of the Property Division and PET Ad Hoc Committee member, said the SC’s 101 security personnel will be augmented to secure the proceedings.

Security will be tight. Members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard and Police Security Protection Group will secure the recount venue round-the-clock.

The PET has about 1,400 ballot boxes from Camarines Sur, one of Marcos’ chosen pilot provinces for the recount.

The other ballot boxes are with the Commission on Elections.

Once the PET has finished counting the contents of the 1,400 ballot boxes, it will receive the other ballot boxes from Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

Jose Lemuel Arenas, another PET Ad Hoc committee member, said for each table, there will be three revisors composed of the head revisor, an employee of PET, and one revisor each from the Marcos and Robredo camps.

Psychometricians, revisors, lawyers and representatives from the two camps will make up the 213 personnel who will be reporting daily to the PET during the counting process.

Arenas said the time limit per ballot box with less than 300 votes will be 5.5 hours, 8.25 hours for boxes with 300-700 votes and 11 hours for boxes with more than 700 votes.

Marcos questioned the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts but he paid only for the recount of votes in 36,465 precincts. He claimed that the vice presidential election was marred with massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities such as preshading of ballots, pre-loaded Secure Digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning VCMs, and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/undervotes.

The former lawmaker claimed that his team gathered “solid and incontrovertible evidence of cheating” while going through the printed ballot images from the decrypted Secure Digital (SD) cards.

This include samples of questionable ballot images from two of his pilot provinces, Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental, which showed that votes for him were not counted. Yesterday, Marcos’ camp said it was looking forward to the start of the manual recount.

“We have endured two years of waiting due to Robredo’s habitual and intentional moves to delay the election protest and deliberate attempts to bury the truth,” Marcos said in a statement.

His lawyer, Vic Rodriguez, said Marcos’ poll protest is historic because it was the first to have reached the recount stage.

He said the conclusion of the recount will determine the winner of the vice presidential contest. “This will dispel once and for all the uncertainty that beclouds the true choice of the electorate and prove that Robredo cheated her way to the vice presidency,” the statement read.

“Finally, we have reached the day when manual recount would finally commence and we very much look forward to its final conclusion to determine the bona fide winner,” the Marcos camp added.

Robredo’s camp, meanwhile, said it does not fear the recount of votes.

“We are confident and we have nothing to fear about the recount. There is no doubt that Vice President Robredo won the 2016 elections,” Romulo Macalintal, one of Robredo’s legal counsels, said in a statement.

“This recount will prove Vice President Robredo’s 2016 win and will expose that Marcos’ accusations are all lies,” Macalintal added.

Robredo: Poll recount fight for truth

VICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo said the poll recount for the 2016 Vice Presidential race starting today would be a fight for the truth.

The recount stemmed from a protest filed by former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. against Robredo, alleging fraud, in the 2016 vice presidential elections.

“This recount is, in a way, providential. The message of Easter is hope…hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel; that the truth will prevail. When I started this journey, a lot of people thought that this [Vice Presidential] bid is hopeless. But we continued fighting because we believed we are doing the right thing. And we won, and we know that we are fighting for the truth here [in this poll recount],” Robredo said in a speech after a mass organized by her supporters at 6:30 a.m. on Monday, the start of the recount in Camarines Sur, Negros Oriental and Iloilo.

These were the provinces chosen by Marcos as “best exemplifying poll fraud” in accordance with the rules set by the Supreme Court acting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET).


“The fight is tough, the times are hard, but this has always been the lesson of my life. Everything came hard, but in the end, the light comes in. There is nothing to fear in this fight for the truth. This is the time of fear…fear of what is going to happen next…but we should have faith, continue the fight,” Robredo said.

“There are limitations, and we need to continue shining the light in darkness because if we quit, darkness will get worse. Many people are looking up to us to fight for them, that’s why we will soldier on,” said Robredo.

Robredo’s lawyer, Romulo Macalintal, for his part, is confident of Robredo’s chances that he is willing to give up lawyering if they lose.

“I will surrender my license to practice as a lawyer if Vice President Robredo loses this case,” Macalintal said.

“There are those who are asking me, ‘Do we have a chance?’ The right question would be, do they (Marcos’ camp) have a chance?,” Macalintal said.

Chanting Bongbong supporters flock to SC on Day 1 of VP votes recount

Supporters of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. gathered in front of the Supreme Court (SC) in Manila on the first day of the manual recount in his poll protest against Vice President Leni Robredo.

At least 200 supporters, wearing red shirts and Marcos-printed bandanas and chanting "B-B-M," the moniker of the defeated vice presidential candidate, flocked in front of the high tribunal's gate as of 9 a.m..

The SC, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), has designated April 2 as the beginning of the manual vote recount in the three pilot provinces that Marcos has chosen: Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

The recount covers a total of 5,418 clustered precincts, the results of which will determine whether or not Marcos' protest will proceed with the remaining 31,047 protested clustered precincts.

The gymnasium of the SC-Court of Appeals has been converted into the Revision Hall, which will house a target number of 50 revision committees from Mondays to Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m..

As of Monday, the PET has only completed the hiring of 40 head revisors.

Marcos lost to Robredo by 263,473 votes in the May 2016 election which the former senator claimed was marred by fraud. —ALG, GMA News

VP ballot recount begins today

The Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) is set to start this morning its manual recount and revision of ballots in three provinces identified by former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in his protest against Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (left) and Vice President Leni Robredo

Set for manual recount and revision are ballots in 1,400 boxes which have been retrieved by the PET, composed of all Supreme Court (SC) justices, from the provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental.

Three members of an ad hoc committee have been designated by the PET to oversee 50 sets of revisors which will do the manual recount and revision at the 5th floor of the SC-Court of Appeals building on Padre Faura St., Ermita, Manila

With Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. A. Sereno on indefinite leave, Senior Justice Antonio T. Carpio is the acting chief justice and acting head of the PET.

Members of the PET’s adhoc committee are lawyers Jose Lemuel S. Arenas, Edgar O. Aricheta, and Ma. Carina M. Cunanan.

Historic recount

Today’s manual recount and revision of votes in an election protest would be the first for the PET. Earlier election protest such as the 2004 presidential contest between then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the late actor Fernando Poe Jr. did not reach the recount stage.

Based on election results, Robredo was declared winner in the vice presidential race with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than the 14,155,344 votes garnered by Marcos.

Robredo also filed a counter-protest against Marcos. The two cases have been consolidated by the PET.

A set of revisors per table would be composed of the head revisor (an employee of PET) and one each representing Marcos and Robredo.

Based on the schedule set by PET, the recount and revision will be done daily from Monday to Friday and will start at 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., with two 15-minute breaks and a one-hour lunch break.

The PET has set the time limit per ballot box. For less than 300 ballots, the time allotted is 5.5 hours; 300 to 700 ballots, 8.25 hours; and more than 700 ballots, 11 hours.

It is expected that more than 200 persons would be present daily during the recount and revision of ballots. Sixty of them are employees of the PET.

Members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, Police Security Protection Group and PET guards have been tasked to provide security.

Mass for Leni

Meanwhile, Robredo and her supporters will gather in a multi-sectoral Mass this morning at 6:15, before the PET conducts its ballot recount.

The venue will be at St. Scholastica’s Chapel on Leon Guinto in Malate, Manila, according to a media advisory from the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

It was the non-governmental organization Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, which was established by Vice President’s late husband and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, organized the Mass.

Kaya Natin had actively campaigned for its founder’s widow in the May 2016 elections.

Robredo will hear the mass, along with her lawyers Romulo Macalintal and Bernadette Sardillo. Senators, who belong to the erstwhile ruling Liberal Party, are likely to attend.

“Her legal team will then proceed to the Supreme Court for the start of the recount,” OVP said.

The camp of Robredo has been looking forward to the start of the recount because they said this will vindicate the Vice President from the “baseless accusation” of Marcos that she and the LP had cheated in the 2016 polls.

Ahead of the recount, Robredo said she felt relieved the PET will now begin the revision proceedings.

“Relief ito para sa amin. Matagal na naming hinihintay na magsimula na iyong recount, Kasi ang pakiramdam nga namin, nagkakaroon lang ng pagkakataon na gamitin iyong isyung ito para i-muddle kung ano iyong katotohanan (This is a relief for us. We have waited for the long time for the recount to start because we feel there will be an opportunity for the issue being used to muddle the truth),” she said.

Macalintal is confident that the recount will validate Robredo’s victory in the vice-presidential race. (With a report from Raymund F. Antonio)

Palawan congressmen want province split into 3

All three lawmakers from Palawan, the Philippines’ largest and westernmost province from which the country’s South China Sea claims are administered, have proposed to divide it into three separate provinces to “bring closer expanded services to areas not previously served.”

House Bill No. 7413, filed on March 15 by Representatives Franz Alvarez, Frederick Abueg and Gil Acosta, would divide the towns outside independent Puerto Princesa City into the proposed provinces of Palawan del Norte, Palawan Oriental and Palawan del Sur.

The municipality of Kalayaan, which covers the Philippine-claimed features in the resource-rich but hotly contested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, would form part of Palawan del Sur.

Division of wealth

Shares from the proceeds from the development and use of national wealth, including those gained from the Philippine’s maritime zone that is claimed by China, would be “divided equally” among the three provinces and “automatically released.”

The bill defines national wealth to include “all natural resources situated along the West Philippine Sea extending up to the limits of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or extended continental shelf.”

The Philippines’ 370-kilometer EEZ in the South China Sea is officially known as West Philippine Sea.

The share of the proposed provinces would be based on whichever of two formulas would yield the higher amount: 1 percent of the gross receipts from the preceding calendar year, or 40 percent of the taxes, royalties and charges that the pertinent government agencies and corporations would have paid if they were not exempted.

Besides that, the proposed provinces would “have a combined share of not less than 40 percent of the gross collection derived by the national government” from mining taxes, royalties, forestry and fishery charges, and administrative charges. This would be on top of the internal revenue allotment.

According to the explanatory note, Palawan, whose oil and natural gas reserves account for 45 percent of Luzon’s electricity supply, has been hard-pressed to deliver basic services due to its sheer size—14,896.55 square kilometers. Its length from north to south is 500 km.

Palawan del Norte

Under the bill, the northern and eastern areas currently covered by Palawan’s first district, represented by Alvarez, would be split into two provinces with one representative each to the House of Representatives.

Palawan del Norte’s capital would be Taytay. Municipalities north of it—the tourist destinations of El Nido, Busuanga, Coron, Culion and Linapacan—would fall under the proposed province.

Palawan Oriental would comprise Roxas as the capital, as well as the mainland towns of San Vicente, Dumaran and Araceli, and the far-flung island municipalities of Agutaya, Cuyo, Magsaysay and Cagayancillo (which includes Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park).

The remote municipalities south and west of Puerto Princesa City (which is actually an independent city even though it is currently the provincial capital), would be part of Palawan del Sur.

Palawan del Sur would comprise Brooke’s Point as the capital, as well as the municipalities of Aborlan, Narra, Quezon, Sofronio Española, Rizal, Bataraza, Balabac and Kalayaan.

Except for Aborlan, these municipalities are currently part of the second district represented by Abueg.

2nd district to be enlarged

The bill would actually enlarge the current second district, because Aborlan, a municipality currently within Acosta’s third district, would be transferred.

The third district would become the slightly smaller but stand-alone district of the highly urbanized city of Puerto Princesa, which would not be a capital or part of any of the three proposed provinces.

The first elections for the new provincial government officials and the representatives of the reformed districts would be on May 9, 2022.

Besides this measure, two other pending bills (HB 5040 and HB 5185) have been filed in the 17th Congress to create the provinces of Zamboanga Hermosa and Maguindanao North in Mindanao.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/979501/palawan-congressmen-want-province-split-into-3

Qatar- Vice presidency poll recount to begin today

The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), begins today the manual recount of votes cast in three provinces for the vice presidential race in 2016, the results of which were contested by former senator Ferdinand 'Bongbong Marcos Jr.

Former Camarines Sur representative Maria Leonor 'Leni Robredo had been declared winner of that election, beating Marcos by 263,473 votes.

The recount of votes will be held at the gymnasium on the Fifth Floor of the SC-Court of Appeals (CA) Building on Padre Faura, Manila.

The recount had been originally scheduled for February but was moved back to March 19, and then again to April 2.

The recount will be conducted from 8.30am to 4.30pm from today until Friday under the watch of the tribunal's clerk of court, Edgar Aricheta.

Ma. Carina Cunanan, head of the Property Division and PET Ad Hoc Committee member, said the SC's 101 security personnel will be augmented to secure the proceedings.
Security will be tight. Members of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard and Police Security Protection Group will secure the recount venue round-the-clock.

The PET has about 1,400 ballot boxes from Camarines Sur, one of Marcos' chosen pilot provinces for the recount.

The other ballot boxes are with the Commission on Elections.

Once the PET has finished counting the contents of the 1,400 ballot boxes, it will receive the other ballot boxes from Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

Jose Lemuel Arenas, another PET Ad Hoc committee member, said for each table, there will be three revisors composed of the head revisor, an employee of PET, and one revisor each from the Marcos and Robredo camps.

Psychometricians, revisors, lawyers and representatives from the two camps will make up the 213 personnel who will be reporting daily to the PET during the counting process.

Arenas said the time limit per ballot box with less than 300 votes will be 5.5 hours, 8.25 hours for boxes with 300-700 votes and 11 hours for boxes with more than 700 votes.

Marcos questioned the election results in 39,221 clustered precincts but he paid only for the recount of votes in 36,465 precincts. He claimed that the vice presidential election was marred with massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities such as preshading of ballots, pre-loaded Secure Digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning VCMs, and an 'abnormally high unaccounted votes/undervotes.

The former lawmaker claimed that his team gathered 'solid and incontrovertible evidence of cheating while going through the printed ballot images from the decrypted Secure Digital (SD) cards.

This include samples of questionable ballot images from two of his pilot provinces, Camarines Sur and Negros Oriental, which showed that votes for him were not counted. Yesterday, Marcos' camp said it was looking forward to the start of the manual recount.

'We have endured two years of waiting due to Robredo's habitual and intentional moves to delay the election protest and deliberate attempts to bury the truth, Marcos said in a statement.

His lawyer, Vic Rodriguez, said Marcos' poll protest is historic because it was the first to have reached the recount stage.
He said the conclusion of the recount will determine the winner of the vice presidential contest. 'This will dispel once and for all the uncertainty that beclouds the true choice of the electorate and prove that Robredo cheated her way to the vice presidency, the statement read.

'Finally, we have reached the day when manual recount would finally commence and we very much look forward to its final conclusion to determine the bona fide winner, the Marcos camp added.

Robredo's camp, meanwhile, said it does not fear the recount of votes.

'We are confident and we have nothing to fear about the recount. There is no doubt that Vice President Robredo won the 2016 elections, Romulo Macalintal, one of Robredo's legal counsels, said in a statement.

'This recount will prove Vice President Robredo's 2016 win and will expose that Marcos' accusations are all lies, Macalintal added.

Tribunal to start 2016 VP race votes review

The Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), was scheduled to start today the revision of vice presidential votes in three provinces during the 2016 polls.

This was in line with the electoral protest that former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. filed against Vice President Leni Robredo.

A total of 5,418 ballot boxes from clustered precincts in Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental that Marcos chose for the initial ballot recount will be the subject of the review, Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said.

“Around 400 more ballot boxes from Camarines Sur are in the custody of bodies where there are pending poll cases,” Te said. “These ballot boxes will be retrieved later for the revision.”

“As to the Negros Oriental and Iloilo ballot boxes, [they] will be retrieved at a later date due to storage area constraints,” he added. “But rest assured that these are properly accounted for in compliance with a temporary protection order.”

The PET hired 40 head revisers to verify the physical count of the ballots. Two revisers – one each from the Marcos and Robredo camps – will complement the PET revisers.

Objections, questions and claims by both camps will be recorded and the subject ballots marked, but no ruling shall be made by the revisers. Only the PET may rule on these collated issues.

The revision will run Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a 15-minute break at 10 a.m., one hour lunch break at 12 noon and an afternoon break from 3 to 3:15.

LENI RELIEVED

Meanwhile Robredo said she is relieved that the PET will finally begin its manual recount. She believes this will finally put an end to claims that she cheated her way to the vice presidency.

“Matagal na naming hinihintay na magsimula na iyong recount, kasi ang pakiramdam nga namin, nagkakaroon lang ng pagkakataon na gamitin iyong isyung ito para i-muddle kung ano iyong katotohanan,” she said.

Marcos, son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., lost to Robredo in the May 2016 vice presidential race by a 263,473 votes.

In his electoral protest Marcos alleged that there were massive vote-buying, pre-shading of ballots, preloaded secure digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning vote counting machines, a script change in the transparency server that allegedly altered the results, and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes/under-votes for vice president./PN

Milestone: Revitalizing the urban waterfront

Proposed Navotas Coastal Redevelopment


The proposed Navotas Coastal Redevelopment has three major components: New Centennial Park, Mixed-Use Commercial Center, and Transportation Hub.

Navotas City is one of the progressive cities in Metro Manila which has continuously retained its reputation as the Philippines’ fishing capital. It is a narrow strip of land with an aggregated shoreline of approximately 4.5 Km making it the third largest fishing port in Asia and the largest in South East Asia.

Palafox Associates was commissioned to create the Conceptual Master Plan of the Proposed Navotas Coastal Development. This integrated coastal development will mark a symbolic transformation that will revitalize Navotas City. It will cover an area of approximately 10 hectares. The model waterfront development will have a Centennial Park, a 3.3 Km Linear Park, and Retail Promenade facing Manila Bay. These will be protected by a 2.5 meter above sea level dike that will act as a barrier in case of sudden sea rise. Setbacks will be established moving people onto higher ground away from risks of natural disasters and water pollution. Its reputation as a flood prone area will be changed to a cosmopolitan area for working, living, dining, and shopping enhanced by a network of pedestrian walkways, visual corridors and open spaces.

The people who work and live in Navotas can be confident and proud of their new master planned coastal redevelopment that will benefit the triple bottom line of people, planet and profit in the decades to come.

This could further change since sa area mismo na to dadaan ang expressway ng SMC papuntang Bulacan airport.

‘Lip Sync Battle Philippines’ Season 3

The third season of the musical-reality competition “Lip Sync Battle Philippines” starts tomorrow on GMA Network. It will have as host Michael V. together with Iya Villania-Arellano as commentator.

The pilot episode has “Kambal , Karibal” stars Bianca Umali and Miguel Tanfelix as rivals, and Jeric Gonzales and Kyline Alcantara as lip-sync partners.

Michael V. is excited to present the changes that will happen in this season. “Excited ako kasi sinala talaga namin ’yung mga battlers ngayon and magkakaroon ng bagong battles. So ang masasabi ko talaga, mas aabangan ito kasi ’yung mga napiling battler, ready talaga sila,” he said.

On the other hand, Iya expressed her gratitude to be working with Michael V. again because she likes his warm personality.

“He is very approachable and friendly and lahat ng galaw ko sa set, he is there to help and assist me so hindi talaga ako nahihirapan,” she said.

The game pits celebrities or personalities against each other in a lip sync battle for two rounds. Making the third season more special are new things to look forward to such as the three-way battle and thematic episodes that will pave the way to a more intense head-to-head challenge of your favorite celebrities and personalities.

• • •

Starting over

We’ve known Danny Velasco as a committed businessman but unfortunate events overtook him the past several years that had him closing his Plaza Fair Department Store in Carriedo.

But during a visit to Manila Bulletin last week, having recovered from his personal trials and tragedies, Danny expressed his ardent desire to open up within the year his store in Carriedo as well as its branches in Cebu, Bacolod and Pampanga. He is also now more passionate in his dream to produce a movie. In the past, he had wanted to do a movie about Gabriela Silang.

Danny has opened a store named Merry Season at the Xentro Mall in San Andres, Malate. They offer household wares and elegant dresses imported from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Tomorrow, an Easter Sunday event will be held at Xentro Mall. Aside from the traditional Easter Egg Hunt, there will be a parade and costume contest. Danny will donate some raffle prizes.

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 31, go to Charisse Garcia Chuidian, Maritoni Fernandez, Ben Avancena, Victor Valenciano, Alma Calleja, Susan Tagle, Ben Asuncion, and Christine Dayrit… April 1: Tirso Cruz III, Dr. Lettie Escarte, Mae Romero, Suzie Benitez, Arlina Onglao, Marissa Oca, Jairus Aquino, "Pilipinas Got Talent" associate producer Wecks Carpio, headwriter Waldo Bautista, Ulpiano Abrenica and Atty. Lorna Kapunan… April 2: Geneva Cruz, Vilma Valera, Ma. Victoria Sanchez, Tina Leeman, Francisco Diga, Dr. Jonathan Reyes, Edwin Silan, and Danita Paner…

SONGS LINE-UP - EASTER 2018

• Entrance Song: PURIHIN ANG PANGINOON EL SHADDAI
• Kyrie eleison: LORD, HAVE MERCY (Dan Schutte)
• Gloria: Glory to God (Dan Schutte)
• Responsorial Psalm: Ito ang Araw

Explore Different Life Forms and Lifestyles in this Blue Planet in HD

It’s a wonderful world out there, waiting to be discovered. There’s plenty of interesting stories going on behind the scenes and inside machines; and even more magnificent views of life beyond the city limits. See them all in high definition as Discovery Channel HD, Animal Planet HD and Metro Channel HD become available on your TV screens, starting April 1!



Your favourite channel on everything lifestyle, from food to travel to style, is now getting its own makeover! Home of well-loved TV personalities in and out of the country, Lifestyle channel is changing its name to Metro Channel, with a new HD channel joining our lineup of high definition channels.

The channel was a joint venture between the Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) of Hong Kong and Nation Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) of the Philippines and formerly known as GTV from 1974 to 1980, MBS from 1980 to 1986, TVB Lifestyle Network from 1986 to 1995, TVB Indosiar Lifestyle Network from 1995 to 2015 and TVB Indosiar Lifestyle from 2015 to March 31, 2018.

It having a new studio at DoubleDragon Plaza, DD Meridian Park corner Macapagal Avenue and EDSA Extension, Bay Area, Pasay City, that having state of the art high definition television studio facilities, a larger newsroom and administrative offices. The larger newsroom was replicating the NBC News Studio in New York, U.S.A.

Here is the inaugural schedule for April 1

• 06:00AM 星期日香港早晨 Sunday Good Morning Hong Kong[Can]
• 09:00AM 文化廣場[粵] Cultural Plaza[Can]
• 09:30AM 宇宙戰隊[粵/日] Uchu Sentai Kyuranger[Can/Jap]
• 10:00AM 妖怪手錶[粵/日] Yo-kai Watch[Can/Jap]
• 10:30AM FAIRY TAIL魔導少年 V[粵/日][PG] FAIRY TAIL[Can/Jap][PG]
• 11:00AM 珍情品味[粵] Tasting Life[Can]
• 11:55AM 宣傳易[粵]  TV Easy[Can]
• 12:00PM 講清講楚[粵]  On the Record[Can]
• 12:30PM 你健康嗎?[粵]  Am I Healthy?[Can]
• 01:00PM 樓計專家[粵] Property Experts[Can]
• 01:30PM 
• 02:00PM 野性伊比利亞[英/粵] Wild Iberia[Eng/Can]
• 02:55PM 清心直說[英] STRAIGHT TALK[Eng]
• 03:20PM 花生動畫[英/粵] Peanuts[Eng/Can]
• 03:30PM 恩雨之聲[普/粵] Showers of Blessing[Man/Can]
• 04:00PM 小小探索家[英]  Little People[Eng]
• 04:25PM Toon Disney:魔髮奇緣[英]  Toon Disney:Tangled The Series[Eng]
• 04:55PM Toon Disney:小公主蘇菲亞[英]  Toon Disney:Sofia the First[Eng]
• 05:20PM 啤啤熊與吱吱鼠[英] Ernest & Celestine[Eng]
• 05:35PM 安蒂的青春日記#3[英] Andi Mack#3[Eng]
• 06:00PM 財經透視[粵/普] Financial Magazine[Can/Man]
• 06:30PM 霍金天才教室[英/粵]  Genius by Stephen Hawking[Eng/Can]
• 07:25PM 零食夢工場[英/粵] Unwrapped 2.0[Eng/Can]
• 07:55PM 話說當年[英] Today in History[Eng]
• 08:00PM 非常寵物[英/粵]  The Secret World of Posh Pets[Eng/Can]
• 08:30PM 全英一叮[英]  Britain's Got Talent[Eng]
• 09:25PM 入廚易[英] 及 話說當年[英]  Video Cookbook[Eng] and Today in History[Eng]
• 09:30PM 周末大電影:挪亞：滅世啟示[英][PG] Weekend Blockbuster:Noah[Eng][PG]
• 11:45AM 1+1的深情[粵] Through Thick and Thin[Can]
• 12:15AM 深夜美食團[粵] Midnight Banquets[Can]
• 12:45AM 晚間新聞[英]  NEWS ROUNDUP (PEARL)[Eng]
• 01:00AM 天氣報告[英] WEATHER REPORT[Eng]
• 01:05AM 瞬間看地球[英]  Earth Live[Eng]
• 01:10AM 港生活．港享受[英]  Dolce Vita[Eng]
• 01:40AM 賽馬預測[英][馬會]  Racing To Win[Eng][HKJC]
• 03:10AM 絕境求生指南[英/粵][PG]  So You Think You'd Survive?[Eng/Can][PG]
• 04:00AM 十大毒蛇[英/粵]  Ten Deadliest Snakes with Nigel Marven[Eng/Can]
• 05:00AM 非常寵物[英/粵] The Secret World of Posh Pets[Eng/Can]

Monday, April 2:

• 05:55AM Kape't Pandasal[Fil]
• 06:00AM 香港早晨[粵]  Good Morning Hong Kong[Can]
• 07:30AM 穿越聖地[粵/英]  Drive-thru History with Dave Stotts: The Gospels[Can/Eng]
• 08:00AM 樓計專家[粵]  Property Experts[Can]
• 08:30AM 瑜亮對談[英]  Peer to Peer[Can]
• 09:00AM 快樂長門人[粵]  Happy Old Buddies[Can]
• 09:10AM 回鄉[粵]  Homecoming[Can]
• 09:35AM 誇極限大挑戰[粵]  The Race[Can]
• 10:35AM 多啦A夢: 新.大雄之日本誕生[粵]  Doraemon: Nobita and the Birth of Japan 2016[Can]
• 12:45PM 宣傳易[粵]  TV Easy[Can]
• 01:00PM 午間新聞[粵]  Noon News[Can]
• 01:20PM 時事通識[粵] 及 天氣報告[粵] 及 瞬間看地球[粵]   Behind The Headlines[Can] and Weather Report[Can] and Earth Live[Can]
• 01:25PM 都市閒情[粵]  Pleasure & Leisure[Can]
• 02:10PM 宣傳易[粵]  TV Easy[Can]
• 02:15PM 今日VIP[粵]  The Green Room[Can]
• 02:45PM 東西宮略[粵]  Queens of Diamonds and Hearts[Can]
• 03:45PM 星夢學園III[粵/日]  Aikatsu! Idol Activity[Can/Jap]
• 04:15PM 每日媽媽[粵/日]  Mainichi Kaasan[Can/Jap]
• 04:50PM Think Big天地[粵]  Kids, Think Big[Can]
• 05:20PM 忍者亂太郎[粵/日]  Nintama Rantarō[Can/Jap]
• 05:50PM 財經新聞[粵] Financial News[Can]
• 06:00PM 鏗鏘集[粵][港台] 及 新聞檔案[粵] Hong Kong Connection[Can][RTHK] and News Files[Can]
• 06:30PM 六點半新聞報道[粵]  News At Six-Thirty[Can]
• 06:55PM 天氣報告[粵] Weather Report[Can]
• 07:00PM 那年花開月正圓[粵/普]  Nothing Gold Can Stay[Can]
• 07:30PM 東張西望[粵]  Scoop[Can]
• 08:00PM 明珠檔案[英]  The Pearl Report[Eng]
• 08:30PM 美國小廚神[英/粵]  MasterChef Junior[Eng/Can]
• 09:25PM 入廚易[英]  Video Cookbook[Eng]
• 09:30PM 話說當年[英]  Today in History[Eng]
• 09:35PM 崇山峻嶺極地行[英/粵]  Extreme Treks Sacred Mountains[Eng/Can]
• 10:35PM 環球金融速遞[英]  Marketplace[Eng]
• 10:40PM 魔鬼神探[英/粵][PG]  Lucifer[Eng/Can][PG]
• 11:40PM 財經速遞[英]  WORLD MARKET UPDATE[Eng]
• 11:45PM Do姐有問題[粵] 及 環球新聞檔案[粵]  Do Did Eat[Can] and International News File[Can]
• 12:15AM 晚間新聞[英]  NEWS ROUNDUP (PEARL)[Eng]
• 12:45AM 新聞檔案[粵]  News Files[Can]
• 12:50AM 天氣報告[英]  WEATHER REPORT[Eng]
• 12:55AM 瞬間看地球[英]  Earth Live[Eng]
• 01:00AM 法網危情[英/粵][PG]  How to Get Away with Murder[Eng/Can][PG]
• 01:55AM 神盾局特工#11[英][PG]  Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.#11[Eng][PG]
• 02:45AM 入廚易[英]  Video Cookbook[Eng]
• 02:55AM 崇山峻嶺極地行[英/粵]  Extreme Treks Sacred Mountains[Eng/Can]
• 03:50AM 美國小廚神[英/粵]  MasterChef Junior[Eng/Can]
• 04:50AM 明珠檔案[英]  The Pearl Report[Eng]
• 05:20AM 乖孫廚神[英/粵]  Grandma's Boy[Eng/Can]

A brand new TV Patrol with Henry Omaga-Diaz, Gretchen Ho and Paolo Abrera comes to you at 6:30 PM!

Talented young stars in ‘Squad Goals’

Julian Trono (left) and Vitto Marquez

Young and talented actors are featured in the Viva Films offering “Squad Goals.” Two of them are Julian Trono and Vitto Marquez.

Julian broke into showbiz in 2009 as a host on the values-oriented children’s show “Tropang Potchi.” In 2010, he joined “Party Pilipinas” where he wowed audiences with his dance moves, earning him the title Prince of the Dance Floor. As actor, he has appeared on such shows as “Amaya” “Anna Karenina,” “Niño,” “Buena Familia,” and “Dear Uge.”

In 2017, Julian played a marked role in horror movie “Ang Pagsanib Kay Leah Dela Cruz.” Not long after, he got his first leading role in the romantic comedy “Fangirl, Fanboy” opposite Ella Cruz.

Later, Julian also became a recording artist under Viva Records. His original songs include “Balang Araw,” “Isang Tingin” and “Tumalon.”

In “Squad Goals,” he plays Benj, an Engineering student who moonlights as dance guru Young D. He wears a mask in his dance videos on YouTube to hide from his father who frowns upon this passion of his.

As for Vitto, he surprised his mother Alma Moreno when he told her of his desire to join showbiz. The actress described her son with Joey Marquez as “shy,” but she knew he’d build his confidence under the management of Viva.

In 2016, Vitto auditioned for ABS-CBN’s boy group “Hashtags,” and a year later, he was officially launched as one of its members. To this day, Vitto is seen regularly on “It’s Showtime.”

In the movie, Vitto plays Tom, son of a retired basketball player and a model/actress. He is an HRM student and a varsity team captain.

The others in the cast of “Squad Goals” are Jack Reid, Dan  Huschka and Andrew Muhlach.

• • •

Proud of the kids

Marvin Agustin

In a recent Instagram post, Marvin Agustin said he’s proud of his “babies” on the series “Kambal, Karibal.” He means Bianca Umali, Kyline Alcantara, and Pauline Mendoza.

Marvin shared “I’m so proud of our babies on the set. They are not just another pretty face, they are very talented, hard working and very dedicated. Ganyan ang mga nagtatagal sa industriya. Ang mga taong nagmamahal ng trabaho nila. Great job beauties! (Sayang wala si Pau sa shot) And congrats to our show!”

“It’s nice to know that despite the heaviness of their scenes, they have a good relationship off-cam. It’s really worth it, the effort exerted by the whole cast because netizens are talking about the series and making it trending every night.”

Marvin plays Raymond, a doctor and the husband of Geraldine (Carmina Villaroel) who caused the death of his own father, another doctor played by multi-awarded Christopher de Leon. He placed the blame on his daughter Cheska (Kyline).

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, March 29, go to broadcasters Tina Monson-Palma and Ted Failon, Miguel Cerqueda, Dr. Pepito Oreta, Fely Ley, Laila Marquez, Mila de Jesus, Bambi Babiera, Jonahmar Salvosa, Mico Rafanan, Domer Rubiano, and Aaron Agassi… March 30: Jennifer Pena, Al Perez, Viana Fores, Pros Antonio, Marilou Custodio, Luz de Guzman, Capt. Juan Santos Ruiz, Clenia Dumanche, Antonio dela Luna, Ma. Alice Labaon, Jean Gonzalez, Dinyo Mateo, NJ Torres-Jacobson, and Enrique Gil… In observance of the Holy Week, Star City will be closed from Holy Wednesday, March 28 to Black Saturday, March 31. Operations will resume on Easter Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m.

Senators’ wishes for Duterte: Good health, peace of mind, wisdom

by Xave Gregorio

Senators did not miss out on the chance to greet President Rodrigo Duterte on his 73rd birthday on Wednesday (March 28).

Senate President Koko Pimentel, Senate Majority Leader Tito Sotto, and Senators Ralph Recto, Grace Poe and Sonny Angara all wished the President, who suffers several illnesses, good health.

Duterte previously revealed that he is suffering from at least four ailments, namely a slipped disc, Barrett’s esophagus, Buerger’s disease and acute bronchitis.

He was photographed on his birthday last year with an oxygen concentrator, which he said helped with oxygenation.

“Pinaka-stressful na trabaho ‘yung sa kanya so sana pagkalooban siya ng magandang kalusugan para magampananan niya ang kanyang tungkuling at mabigyang daan ang pag-asa ng ating mga kababayan,” said Angara in a text message.

Recto also wished Duterte “more wisdom and a successful presidency,” while Poe wished him “peace of mind and fulfillment.”

The oldest person to be ever elected as Philippine president also enjoys unprecedented popularity, with higher popularity and trustworthiness ratings than his predecessors.

He has been leading the charge against illegal drugs in a fierce war, which has left several thousands suspected drug personalities dead and has received criticism from local and international rights groups.

Duterte has also been keeping a careful watch on government officials, easily sacking them for any whiff of corruption. However, critics point out that the President has been selective, citing the case of former Customs commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, who, after being implicated in a smuggling scandal, was promoted to the Office of Civil Defense.

Aside from this, the President also sanctioned an ambitious infrastructure program dubbed “Build, Build, Build.”

Other domestic issues which Duterte faces are the continued rebellion of Communist forces and the possible creation of a new autonomous Bangsamoro region, seen as the answer to decades of Moro rebellion in Mindanao.

He and his party PDP-Laban are also pushing for the shift to a federal form of government which would increase autonomy of local regions – an effort which his allies in the lower house are spearheading.

Senator Gringo Honasan said he is praying for Duterte’s “continuing wisdom vision courage and political will.”

“He alone with God’s help, may have the capacity to make difficult decisions, that will benefit the greatest number of Filipinos, for the greater good, for the longest time, in our blessed Country for the sake of our Children,” Honasan said.

Gloria Arroyo vows 'unwavering support' for birthday boy Duterte

(2ND UPDATE) 'Thanks for the years of real friendship,' former president now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo tells President Rodrigo Duterte in her birthday message

FRIENDS. President Rodrigo Duterte and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo share a light moment during a courtesy visit in Malacañang on November 28, 2016. Photo by King Rodriguez/Presidential Photo

(2nd UPDATE) – Former president now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday, March 28, pledged her “unwavering support” for President Rodrigo Duterte, who celebrated his 73rd birthday that day,

“Happy birthday to an exemplary leader, President Rodrigo Duterte. Thank you for your trailblazing leadership and service to the Filipino people,” Arroyo said in her birthday message to Duterte sent to media.

The lawmaker also thanked Duterte “for the years of real friendship.”

During the 2016 election campaign, when Arroyo was on hospital arrest for "multiple cervical spondylosis" or the wearing off of the bones, Duterte had personally assured her that he would grant her pardon if convicted of plunder in relation to the alleged misuse of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

Arroyo refused, as she would have to admit that she was guilty of plunder. Barely a month into the Duterte administration, the Supreme Court acquitted her after 4 years in detention.

“I wish you fortitude and the best of health so you can continue instituting your programs for real change for our country. You have my unwavering support,” Arroyo said in her message.

'Good health'

Wishes for good health dominated the birthday messages for the 73-year-old Duterte.

In the Senate, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP Laban president, greeted his party mate as well and said: “Keep cool and keep healthy. We need you to guide our nation for your full term.”

Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto said his wish for Duterte is good health, more wisdom, and a successful presidency.”

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said he sent the President a birthday greeting wishing him good health, the same birthday for Duterte conveyed by Senators Grace Poe and Juan Edgardo Angara.

‘Happy Birthday President Duterte’

PRESIDENT Duterte may have celebrated his birthday without fanfare but members of his official family and members of Congress did not forget as they extended their greetings to the Chief Executive who turned 73 on Wednesday.

All wished the President many more “healthy years” and expressed their gratitude for his leadership and compassion.

Palace Spokesman Harry Roque wished Duterte to have “more healthy years ahead.”

He said the nation was fortunate to have Duterte, given his “strong political will” and “decisive leadership” to move the country to progress and prosperity.


“Today, the father of the nation is celebrating one of the most important occasions in his life. Our country’s leader, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is turning a year older,” Roque said in a statement.

“On this day, we are reminded of how blessed we are as a nation to be headed by someone who is known for his strong political will, decisive leadership and compassion for his fellowmen. I join the people in wishing our President a happy birthday!” he added.

In a separate statement, Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo lauded Duterte for his resolve in “complying with the directives and commands of the Constitution to serve and protect the Filipino people.”

“As you add another page to your book of life, the gods of destiny appear to be smiling at how you have hurdled the formidable gauntlet they have thrown at you, for surely you  have mastered the art of playing at  your foes, vexing your detractors and perflexing  your allies as well,  as you carry the burdens of the presidency with the erudition of a tactician and the dexterity of a magician.”

“In recognition and appreciation of your dedication to the nation, and in fear of your mortality, the overwhelming majority of the Filipinos who placed you in the exalted office you now holds, have stormed the heavens with their prayers that the angels be sent to you to spread their wings to shield you from any harm, injury or sickness and to wish you on your birthday a continuing good health that you may continue to fulfill your mandate under the guidance of the Almighty’s wisdom and love. Many happy returns of the day. Cheers President Rody!” he added.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar described Duterte as a “man for the people.”

“We pause for this one day, to render to the President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the honor and the gratitude deserving of a leader, whose vision is revealed as each day unfolds. He acts both from the realm of power, and from the homes of the powerless,” said Andanar.

He added that Duterte’s stories and manner of speaking “belong authentically to the language of the people.”

Like his fellow Palace officials, Andanar wished the septuagenarian president a long life.

“We pray that our President be blessed with more years, strong health, and the wisdom of fine age,” Andanar said.

Duterte’s Special Assistant Christopher “Bong” Go wished his “boss, adviser and mentor” a “long and healthy life so that he may continue serving the nation.”

Greetings from the Senate

Senators from the majority bloc echoed Duterte’s official family.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said, “Happy birthday Mr. President.”

“Keep cool and keep healthy. We need you to guide our nation for your full term,” Pimentel told the President in a text message, which he also sent to reporters.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto wished the Chief Executive “good health, more wisdom, and a successful presidency.”

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto 3rd said that he sent the President a message “for his continued good health.”

“I wish him good health, peace of mind and fulfillment,” said Sen. Grace Poe.

Sen. Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said, “We wish the President and his family continued good health to withstand all the rigors of being president.”

Sen. Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan 2nd said, “As President Rodrigo Duterte turns 73 today, we pray for continuing wisdom, vision, courage, and political will.”

“With God’s help, may he have the capacity to make difficult decisions, that will benefit the greatest number of Filipinos, for the greater good of our blessed country for the sake of our children,” Honasan said.

‘Unwavering support’

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo expressed her “unwavering support” for the President as she wished greeted him a happy birthday.

“Happy birthday to an exemplary leader, President Rodrigo Duterte,” Arroyo said.

She then thanked him for his “trailblazing leadership and service to the Filipino people” and “for the years of real friendship.”

“I wish you fortitude and the best of health so you can continue instituting your programs for real change for our country,” Arroyo said.

“You have my unwavering support. God bless you and your family,” she added.

Greetings from an ally

Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his best wishes to Duterte as he cited the deepening bilateral relations between the Philippines and China.

Xi, in a congratulatory letter released by the Chinese embassy in Manila on Tuesday, praised the “turnaround” on the China-Philippines relations over the past year.

“Our bilateral relations have enjoyed ongoing betterment and improvement and reaped productive outcomes, which brought tangible benefits to our two peoples and promoted peace and stability of the region,” the Chinese leader said in his letter.

Xi also recounted his meeting with Duterte on several occasions that resulted in important consensus on advancing China-Philippine relations and a deepening practical cooperation towards the future growth of their bilateral relations.

Philippine and China relations have achieved a positive turnaround since the visit of the President to China in 2016.

“I attach great significance to the growth of China-Philippines relations, and stand ready to work with you to carry forward sustained and in-depth growth of China-Philippines relations and bring about more benefits to our countries and peoples,” Xi said.

The President has not been known to throw big parties on his birthday even when he was mayor of Davao City for more than 23 years and one term each as vice mayor and first district representative.

He usually makes himself scarce and as much as possible avoids people even those who only want to greet him.

The President was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin, Southern Leyte, to Vicente Duterte, who was governor of the undivided Davao in the late 1950s, and Soledad Roa, a teacher. CATHERINE S. VALENTE, JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA, BERNADETTE TAMAYO

Solons hail Duterte on birthday

House of Representatives members on Wednesday showered President Rodrigo Duterte with greetings and praises on his 73rd birthday, with some congressmen calling him the country’s “sole hope” as well as a “brave and fearless leader.”

“May the Lord give him longer life and wisdom to be able to steer this country toward real growth and progress. Siya lang ang pag-asa ng Pilipinas (He is the sole hope of the Philippines),” Surigao del Norte 2nd district Robert Ace Barbers said.

“It makes me proud to be a Mindanaoan! Happy birthday Mr. President,” added Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs.

Duterte, a former longtime Davao City mayor, won the Palace seat in landslide fashion during the May 2016 presidential polls. At age 71, he was the oldest ever to be elected as Philippine president.

Another Mindanaoan in Sulu 2nd district Rep. Munir Arbison wished for more strength and better health for the Chief Executive on his special day.

“I wish that he could be gven by Allah strength and good health so that he could resolve the problem of insurgency in Mindanao as will as the kidnapping and drug problem in Sulu which has brought down the image and economy of our country,” Arbison said.

This was echoed by her another solon from the south, Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel.

“I wish him good health so that he could finish all the programs and projects that he started,” said Pimentel, chairman of the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability.

A key program that would entail the entire six-year term Duterte is the “Build, Build, Build” program. Began in 2017, Build, Build, Build is an expansive infrastructure modernization program that will have a total price tag of around P9 trillion.

By the time Duterte has stepped down in 2022, the Philippines will have ushered in a “golden age of infrastructure” thanks to the program, according to its proponents.

“Happy 73rd Birthday Mr. President. Thank you for your brave and fearless leadership. I hope that you have a day of joy and rest on your birthday,” Deputy Minority Leader, AKO-Bicol Party-List Rep. Alfredo Garbin said in a rather practical wish for the septuagenarian Duterte.

Garbin’s fellow AKO-Bicol nominee, Rep. Rodel Batocabe, wished success for the Chief Executive in his signature campaign against illegal drugs.

“May you continue to blessed with good health, infinite wisdom and indefatigable spirit to deal with the multifarious concerns and problems of our nation. I also hope that will succeed in the war against drugs and poverty and preside over a country which is relatively peaceful, prosperous and stable,” Batocabe said.

Meanwhile, Quezon City 2nd district Rep. Winston Castelo also expressed hope that the Philippines would return to its previous glorious standing in the world community under the leadership of the birthday boy, Duterte.

“[I wish him] long life and good health to lead the country to economic progress and regain our pride as a Filipino in the global stage,” he said.

Robredo wishes a 'successful administration' for Duterte

'Iyong success ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulo, wala naman doong ibang makikinabang tayong mga Pilipino. Kaya iyon ang pinaka-birthday wish ko sa kanya,' says Vice President Leni Robredo on the

Vice President Leni Robredo continued to wish President Rodrigo Duterte success in leading the country as the Chief Executive turned 73 on Wednesday, March 28.

Asked for her birthday wish for Duterte, Robredo said she wants the President to achieve his goals for the country since this would benefit all Filipinos.

“Siyempre, parati nating birthday wish iyong good health, iyong success sa administrasyon. Kasi iyong success naman ng administrasyon ng ating Pangulo, wala naman doong ibang makikinabang [kundi] tayong mga Pilipino. Kaya iyon ang pinaka-birthday wish ko sa kanya,” she said.

(Of course, we always wish for him good health and the success of his administration. The success of the President's administration will benefit no one else but Filipinos. That's why this is always my birthday wish for him.)

Robredo had the same wish for the President last year, when she said that there's any birthday gift she could give to Duterte, it would be prayers for good health and the success of his administration.

Duterte and Robredo barely see each other since the Vice President was compelled to resign as housing czar in December 2016, after the President barred her from attending Cabinet meetings. (READ: LIST: Where Duterte and Robredo part ways)

Malacañang said there were "irreconcilable differences" between the top two officials of the land. But Duterte later admitted that Robredo's opposition to the hero’s burial for the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was the final straw.

Duterte and Robredo now only meet in events where both leaders are invited, among them, the graduation rites of the country's military and police academies, Philippine Independence Day at the Luneta, and major events of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

They are always seen acting cordially towards one another, despite their political differences. Recently, they sat each beside each other at the 2018 graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy and the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

At the PNPA commencement exercises, the President even opened his speech by telling Robredo, “I love to see my Vice President.”

Message of Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez to President Rodrigo Duterte on his 73rd birthday

On behalf of the House of Representatives and my family, I would like to extend our sincerest greetings to President Rodrigo Duterte on his 73rd birthday.

For the past two years, our country has benefited from the President's competent leadership. No doubt, his long experience in public office, as prosecutor, congressman and Davao City Mayor, has adequately prepared him to assume the highest elective position and to lead the country towards political stability and sustained economic growth.

We join the rest of the nation in wishing the President good health and long life in the years ahead.