3 more Senatorial candidates proclaimed

After proclaiming yesterday the top 6 Senatorial candidates in this year’s midterm election, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) tonight, proclaimed another 3 winning candidates. Bam Aquino, Koko Pimentel and Sonny Trillanes were invited by the Commission for their proclamation after gaining enough votes according to COMELEC. But it was only Aquino who was present in the ceremony as the Trillanes is out of town and Pimentel fell ill.

Meanwhile, in the proclamation yesterday another Senatorial candidate, Nancy Binay failed to attend the proclamation ceremony saying she wants to be certain that the procedure is right before she accepts proclamation. It can also be noted that it may have something to do with UNA’s protest against the proclamation.

As of this writing the COMELEC still continues to canvass COCs and below is the latest partial official count from COMELEC as of May 18, 2013 1:31:12 AM

Team PNoy dominating the Senate race 9-3 (Latest Result)

One day after the mid-term election, official counts from the COMELEC is now coming in. And based on the latest count, former MTRCB chief Grace Poe-Llamanzares still continues to take the lead in the Senatorial race with 13,548,886 votes. She is followed by Sen. Loren Legarda with 12,328,510 votes and coming in 3rd place is Sen. Chiz Escudero who gathered 11,722,785 votes.

Based on the top 12 rankings, Team PNoy candidates dominate the race with 9 Senatorial candidate making it in the top 12, while UNA candidates got 3 slots in the names of Nancy Binay (5th), JV Ejercito (11th) and Gringo Honasan (12th).

2013 Mid-term Election partial results, Grace Poe leads the Senatorial race

Today, the Philippines have gone through another democratic process via Election. Luckily in my own precinct I didn’t experience any trouble which many of our Kababayans have experienced. Some have dealt with mal-functionining PCOS Machines, long queues, missing voter’s registration, and others.

Other areas also were marked by election related violence, like the Cayetano-Tinga supporters brawl in Taguig. In Cavite, Revillas were investigated by the Cavite police for alleged cuddling of armed men. Meanwhile, in Manila, some armed men were also captured by the police for violating election gun-ban, because they were seen roaming Rosauro Almario Elementary School carrying firearms.

5-day liquor ban by COMELEC halted by SC

A day before the implementation of new COMELEC rule on liquor ban, the Supreme Court have issued a TRO to stop it from being enforced.

Supreme Court Spokesman Atty. Theodore Te said the high court issued a Temporary Restraining Order against COMELEC’s Minute Resolution No. 13-0322. The new COMELEC resolution extends the previous 2-day liquor ban into a 5-day period as an answer to MMDA’s request for a 45-day liquor ban.

COMELEC to implement 5 day liquor ban

In connection with the upcoming mid-term election this May 13,2013, the Commission on Election (COMELEC) had announced the implementation of 5-day liquor ban throughout the country. Previously, based on Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 Sek. 261 (dd) liquor ban only covers the day prior to election and the election day itself. But with COMELEC’s Minute Resolution No. 13-0322, they made it a 5-day ban which will cover the period of May 9-13, 2013.

From that period, starting at 12:00AM of May 9 to 11:59pm of May 13, selling of liquors or any alcoholic beverages will be prohibited. And based also on Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 any person found guilty of violating this code shall “be punished with imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than six years and shall not be subject to probation. In addition, the guilty party shall be sentenced to suffer disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right of suffrage. If he is a foreigner, he shall be sentenced to deportation which shall be enforced after the prison term has been served. Any political party found guilty shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than ten thousand pesos, which shall be imposed upon such party after criminal action has been instituted in which their corresponding officials have been found guilty” (Section 264).

Below is the info-graphic on what’s allowed and not during the enforcement of the liquor ban.

Malacanang declares May 13 as Special Non-Working Holiday

To allow every Filipino to exercise their sacred right to vote, Malacanang through the Office of the President has declared May 13, 2013 (Monday) as a Special Non-Working Holiday throughout the country.

President Benigno Aquino III issued Proclamation No. 571 s.2013 declaring the mid-term election on May 13 as a national special non-working holiday for the country. With this declaration the government hopes everyone (who are eligible)  can participate in the process of electing our national and local leaders.

So to all registered voters, let’s not waste this opportunity to be part of this democratic process and be wise in choosing our future leaders.

Below is the official declaration from the Office of the President.

North Korea declared full war against the US

In an unexpected event, when most people of the Christian world is observing the Holy Week, North Korea have declared war against the US and it’s ally South Korea. In a statement NoKor said this is the time to “stage a do-or-die final battle’.

Below is the full declaration of war statement of North Korea.

The moves of the U.S. imperialists to violate the sovereignty of the DPRK and encroach upon its supreme interests have entered an extremely grave phase. Under this situation, the dear respected Marshal Kim Jong Un, brilliant commander of Mt. Paektu, convened an urgent operation meeting on the performance of duty of the Strategic Rocket Force of the Korean People’s Army for firepower strike and finally examined and ratified a plan for firepower strike.

Ateneo graduate Ignatius Michael Ingles tops 2012 Bar Exams

The Supreme Court today (March 20, 203) released the results of the 2012 Bar Exams.

At the press briefing in the Supreme Court premises in Padre Faura, Manila, 2012′s Committee on the Bar Examinations Chairperson Associate Justice Martin S. Villarama, Jr. announced that from the total of 5,343 bar takers last October 7-14-21-28, 2012 at the University of Santo Tomas in España, Manila, only 949 have passed the exam which is equivalent to 17%. This is the lowest passing rate result in past 11 years of Bar Exams. And among the 949 passers it was another Ateneo Law school graduate who topped this year, Ignatius Michael D. Ingles.