Comelec has ample savings to proceed with
automated elections, Palace says
Malacañang maintained on Wednesday that the
Commission on Elections has enough resources to proceed with automated
elections in 2013.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said
the election-governing body can tap into its vast savings to augment its regular
budget and hold the automated counting of election returns in next year’s
midterm elections.
“I think Comelec should look into their savings.
I think they have substantial savings in their budget,” Lacierda said.
He added that during his discussion with Budget
Secretary Florencio Abad on the issue recently, the Budget Chief informed him
that Comelec had ample savings.
“They have enough savings. That should not be a
problem. The automated elections (in 2013) will continue,” Lacierda said.
Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes raised a howl
over the drastic cut in budget allocation the Commission may receive in the
2013 General Appropriations Act that was slashed from P24-billion to
P8-billion.
Brillantes warned that with this cut, the
Comelec may have to revert to manually counting ballots in next year’s
elections. (rck)
Ochoa: We need stronger laws to defeat terrorism
The Aquino Administration wants Congress to
amend the Human Security Act of 2007 to further strengthen government efforts
in fighting and defeating terrorism.
Speaking to participants of the 7th ASEAN-Japan
Counter-Terrorism Dialogue in Cebu City on Wednesday, Executive Secretary
Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said a proposed bill seeking changes to the anti-terror
law is one of the key measures the Executive Branch has asked lawmakers to
prioritize, as part of its global commitment to counter terrorism.
“The goal of these amendments is to strengthen
the law so that it can be used as a tool by law enforcement agencies to thwart
terrorism,” the Executive Secretary said.
While the capability of terror organizations has
waned and the number of militants has decreased, the world must keep its
vigilance because the threats of terrorism remain and are very real, Ochoa
said.
As part of the Administration’s ongoing
contribution to the global response to these threats, the Executive Secretary
told participants that President Benigno S. Aquino III has signed last week two
laws – An Act to Further Strengthen the Anti-Money Law and the Terrorism
Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012 – to boost domestic capability
in identifying and preventing financial transactions related to illegal
activities and those that undermine global security.
To complement these initiatives, he said, the
government has put in place a three-pronged strategy to combat terrorism within
the Philippine borders which is aligned with the frameworks adopted in other
countries. These steps are:
--Effective law enforcement by strengthening the
regulatory regimes for firearms and explosives and financing terrorism, and the
arrest and neutralization of the human tools or perpetrators behind terrorist
acts;
--Stronger institutional mechanisms and enhanced
capabilities of law enforcement agencies and security agencies, and active
participation in international cooperation against terrorism; and
--De-radicalization or counter-radicalization of
the intent to commit terror acts by addressing poverty and poor education,
which are considered roots of the problem.
“In these initiatives, you are guaranteed of the
support of our President who recognizes the importance of addressing the threat
of terrorism and is aware that a holistic approach to the problem will produce
positive results,” Ochoa said.
At the same time, the Executive Secretary lauded
Japan and ASEAN member-states for taking the lead in organizing the dialogue on
counter-terrorism to put forward the implementation of joint projects in
transport security, border control and immigration, maritime security, public
involvement in countering terrorism, and capacity building on legal affairs.
“Without a doubt, all of the nation-states here
possess the political will to defeat terrorism; all of us want to secure
borders and ensure the safety of our people,” Ochoa said.
“What is necessary is improved counter terrorism
capacity, and this is where efforts like this dialogue is crucial.”
Malacanang sees no armed conflict in West
Philippine Sea
Despite the escalating tensions between
neighboring nations laying claim to the West Philippine Sea, the Philippines
remains confident that a resolution to the issue will be settled
diplomatically.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told a
press briefing in Malacañang on Wednesday that the Philippines hopes to reach a
“mutual and diplomatic solution” as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
is in the process of drafting a Code of Conduct on the West Philippine Sea.
“China has also voiced preference for a mutual
and diplomatic solution so we hope that even while we are drafting the code of
conduct, we can exhibit restraint between the two nations and we are going to
maintain a peaceful and diplomatic stance towards the resolution of conflicts
involving the Panatag Shoal,” Lacierda said.
He added that the Philippines will continue to
maintain a policy of “de-escalation” to diffuse tensions in the area.
“We are nowhere on the brink of armed conflict.
We have continued to conduct a peaceful discussion with our Chinese
counterparts and we have done it through diplomatic means and we will continue
to maintain a policy of de-escalation,” Lacierda said. (rck)
Malacanang says granting of bail to former
President Macapagal-Arroyo by Regional Trial Court shows independence of the
Judicial branch of government
Malacanang expressed full recognition on the
jurisdiction of the courts over the various cases filed before them following
the granting of a Regional Trial Court (RTC) for former president Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo to post bail adding that such development only shows the
independence of the Judicial branch of government.
In a regular press conference in Malacanang on
Wednesday, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda underscored the
independence of the courts in the country to decide on cases pending before
them.
“We recognize the jurisdiction of the court, it
was based on a review by Judge Mupas of the petition. So, as far as we are concerned,
we recognize the jurisdiction of Judge Mupas on this case,” Lacierda said.
“The fact na binigyan po ng piyansa ni Judge
Mupas, pinapakita po rin dito ang kasarinlan ng judiciary. Ang sinasabi nila
hawak na po ng executive branch ang judiciary, nagpapatunay po ito na
ginagalang natin ang kasarinlan ng judiciary so that should be settled. That
issue that we are going to control the judiciary, obviously that is not true,”
he stressed.
According to reports lawyers of the former
president and now Pampanga 2nd District Representative Macapagal-Arroyo posted
one million cash bond on Wednesday following the decision of Judge Jesus Mupas
of Pasay RTC Branch 112 to grant the former president’s motion for bail in
connection with her electoral sabotage case.
The former leader has been under hospital arrest
at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City since 2011. (jcl/1:40
p.m.)
Malacanang says Aquino will select new Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court on the basis of constitutional requirements
President Benigno S. Aquino III will select the
successor of ousted Chief Justice Renato C. Corona not on the basis of
popularity but solely on the constitutional requirements, a Palace official
said on Wednesday.
"The President will base his decision on
the constitutional requirements as provided by the Charter," Presidential
Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in
Malacanang on Wednesday.
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) started the
public interviews of candidates vying for the position of Chief Justice on
Tuesday at the Supreme Court Division Hearing Room in Manila.
"The President is limited to three
(nominees). So he will just have to wait for the three names that will be
shortlisted by the Judicial and Bar Council," Lacierda said.
The public interviews of candidates vying for
the position of Chief Justice will not influence the President in his decision
to choose for the successor of Corona, according to Lacierda.
"So right now the President is not watching
the public interviews. So I am certain it will not influence his decision in
the event that the three names are submitted. He may choose any means by which
to verify the three and that’s normally what he does—that he gets to talk to
the three also and to see," Lacierda said.
Only 20 candidates are vying for inclusion in
the JBC shortlist of nominees, which will be submitted to the President.
The JBC panel has already interviewed
Presidential Commission on Good Government Chair Andres B. Bautista, lawyer
Soledad M. Cagampang-De Castro, Justice Secretary Leila M. De Lima, De La Salle
University Law Dean Jose Manuel I. Diokno, Solicitor General Francis H.
Jardeleza, and lawyer Maria Carolina T. Legarda.
Interviewed on Wednesday were Supreme Court
Justice Roberto A. Abad, lawyer Rafael A. Morales, former University of the
Philippines law dean Raul C. Pangalangan, SC Justice Arturo D. Brion,
Commission on Elections Commissioner Rene V. Sarmiento, and retired Judge
Manuel DJ. Siayngco, Jr.
Those to be interviewed on Thursday, July 26,
are University of the East law dean Amado D. Valdez, Acting Chief Justice
Antonio T. Carpio, SC Justice Teresita J. Leonardo-De Castro, and former Ateneo
law dean Cesar L. Villanueva. Those scheduled on Friday are Securities and
Exchange Commission chair Teresita J. Herbosa, former Executive Secretary
Ronaldo B. Zamora, SC Justice Maria Lourdes P.A. Sereno, and SC Justice
Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr. (js)
