News Roundup 21 March 2023
Mar 21, 2023 • 4 min Read
Comelec to release transmission logs of 2022 polls ‘to erase doubts’ | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections will be releasing copies of transmission logs of votes from last year’s elections to “erase doubts” on the conduct of the last polls.
A hard copy will be provided to Ret. Col. Leonardo Odoño who claimed it is “impossible” that around 20 million votes were transmitted to the poll body’s server in an hour after polls closed, according to a report by the ABS-CBN.
The KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas), NAMFREL (National Citizens Movement for Free Elections), and LENTE (Legal Network for Truthful Elections) meanwhile will receive soft copies of the said transmission logs “even without request,” said Comelec Chairman George Garcia.
Garcia in a letter dated March 20 said they will be releasing transmission logs “to erase doubts as to the transmission of the votes in the first hour after the close of polls” in the May elections.
“Col. Odoño will get the certified hard copies of the same.”
Results of the elections were quickly reflected on transparency servers last year, prompting some groups to question the speed of the vote counting.
In a protest a day after the elections, one of the protesters, Fr. Robert Reyes, described it as “a dark magical moment in Philippine history.”
Full Story at: Comelec to release transmission logs of 2022 polls ‘to erase doubts’ | Philstar.com
House panel recommends action on Teves as ultimatum to return lapses | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines (Updated 6:52 p.m.) — The House ethics and privileges committee has decided on a recommendation action on Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. (Negros Oriental, 3rd District) after he failed to meet the 24-hour ultimatum to return to the country and face the panel.
Rep. Felimon Espares (COOP NATCCO Partylist), chair of the committee, told reporters after a closed-door meeting that members of the panel have wrapped up its deliberations and unanimously voted on a “recommendation” for the House plenary. He however did not disclose the panel’s recommendation action or whether they will push for sanctions against the absent lawmaker.
Espares said that Teves’ failure to return gave the panel “no choice (but) to wrap the investigation without his valid explanation.”
“We will transmit and submit our report at once and recommendation to the plenary for appropriate action,” Espares added.
The House plenary will decide tomorrow through a vote whether to accept the panel’s recommended action on Teves.
Full Story at: House panel recommends action on Teves as ultimatum to return lapses | Philstar.com
Lagman: Panel approval of divorce bill offers hope for marriage in trouble | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — The committee approval of a bill reinstituting absolute divorce in the country will bring couples in broken marriages a step closer to recovery and redemption, women’s rights advocate and Albay 1st District Rep. Edcel Lagman said on Tuesday.
Lagman, in a statement, said that the House of Representatives Committee on population and family relations’ approval of the divorce bill will enable spouses, especially wives in broken and abusive marriages, to get a new chance in life.
“The approval of the substitute bill on absolute divorce for eventual plenary debates assures that the country is now at the threshold of joining the universality of absolute divorce in the community of nations,” he said.
According to the Albay lawmaker, the bill has safeguards against abuse, saying that it would be catered to couples who are in dysfunctional unions — adding that, realistically speaking, not all marriages are headed toward good things.
Full Story at: Lagman: Panel approval of divorce bill offers hope for marriage in trouble | Inquirer News
Hontiveros bares 3 sugar traders may rake in at least P7-B ‘super profits’ | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros revealed on Tuesday that three sugar importers might get at least P7 billion in “super profits” by selling the sweetener at an “appalling” price.
The three importers that Hontiveros was referring to are the All Asian Countertrade, Sucden Philippines Inc., and Edison Lee Marketing Corporation. The three traders are led by the firm All Asian.
“All Asian, according to my sources, initially quoted a wholesale price of P85 per kilo. Why is this price so appalling?” Hontiveros said in a press conference.
“You can actually buy refined sugar wholesale for P25 per kilo in Thailand. Kung matino kang [if you are a decent] importer, you know that you would already get a decent profit if you sell sugar at P61, bayad na doon ang warehousing, duties, handling, at may maayos ka na na profit of P8 per kilo per industry standard at a wholesale price point of P61 [covering the warehousing, duties, handling and you’ll have an P8 per kilo profit per industry standard at a wholesale price point of P61],” she pointed out.
With the P85 asking price of All Asian, Hontiveros said that there is a P24 “super profit” per kilo.
Full Story at: Hontiveros bares 3 sugar traders may rake in at least P7-B ‘super profits’ | Inquirer News
