News Roundup 22 May 2022
May 22, 2022 • 4 min Read
Comelec asks logistics firm to explain after discovery of poll materials in Cavite vacant lot | INQUIRER.NET – Cargo forwarder F2 Logistics has been asked to explain after election documents were found in a vacant lot in Amadeo, Cavite, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner George Garcia said Sunday. Garcia stressed that their investigation on the matter is still preliminary. Hence, the names or companies that are mentioned are presumed innocent and have no liability. “Pinagpapaliwanag sila ngayon. Nakikipag-ugnayan na ‘yung ating—‘yun nga si Director [J. Thaddeus] Hernan ng Administrative Services Department,” Garcia said on TeleRadyo’s Balita when asked if F2 Logistics can he held liable. (They were asked to explain. Our Director Hernan of the Administrative Services Department is already working on the matter.) “Gusto rin naming alamin kung talaga bang sila ang nag-pick up ng mga dokumentong ‘yan at sila rin ba ‘yung nag-iwan ng mga dokumentong ‘yan,” he added. (We want to know if they were the ones who picked up the documents and left it there.) A video and photos of election documents dumped in a vacant lot have made rounds on social media. According to Garcia, the ballots seen in the video and photos are just training ballots from Tondo and not the official ones used in the May 9 elections. “Nagpa-initial investigation po tayo. Pinatawag din natin ang ating election officer dito po sa Manila… at sinasabi niya, tama, hindi po ito mga balota, hindi po ito mga original na balota,” said Garcia. (We had an initial investigation. We also called our election officer here in Manila… and he said that these are not original ballots.)
Sotto files resolution expressing Senate’s sympathy after Susan Roces’ passing | INQUIRER.NET – Senate President Vicente Sotto III has filed a resolution expressing the Senate’s sympathy and condolences on the death of veteran actress Susan Roces. Roces, Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe in real life, passed away on May 20. She was 80. “RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, To express, as it hereby expresses, its profound sympathy and sincere condolences on the death of Jesusa Purificacion Levy Sonora-Poe, popularly known as ‘Susan Roces,’” the resolution — a copy issued to reporters Sunday stated. The resolution recognized the contributions of Roces, who earned the title “Queen of Philippine Movies,” in the entertainment industry. She had starred in over 130 movies throughout her 70-year career. The Senate resolution likewise noted Roces and her late husband the “King of Philippine Movies” Fernando Poe Jr.’s (FPJ) concern for workers in the film industry.
Coast Guard’s BRP Melchora Aquino prepares to sail home | PHILSTAR.COM – A new multi-role response vessel for use by the Philippine Coast Guard is preparing to sail to the Philippines from Japan and is expected to arrive by June 1. MRRV-9702, which will be commissioned as BRP Melchora Aquino, is the second 97-meter MRRV for the coast guard. The coast guard’s inspection team is currently in Japan for a last “harbor acceptance test and inspection” of the ship, which is expected to sail on Friday, May 27. Coast Guard Commander Patrick Babag, MRRV-9702 commanding officer, said the final inspection is being done to see if the ship is compliant with the technical specifications detailed in the contract provided. MRRV-9702 has a maximum speed of 24 knots with an endurance level of 4,000 nautical miles. She is said to be modeled after the Japan Coast Guard’s Kunigami-class vessel. Meanwhile, her name takes inspiration from the “Mother of the Philippine Revolution” who is also known as “Tandang Sora,” who aided Philippine revolutionaries going against Spanish colonizers. A sister ship BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) is already part of the coast guard fleet. The two will be patrolling alongside each other to improve the country’s maritime security, maritime safety, maritime law enforcement, as well as the search and rescue efforts of the PCG and to support their marine environmental protection capabilities.
Diesel prices seen going down by P2; gasoline up by P4 | PHILSTAR.COM – Prices of diesel will continue to go down for the second successive week but gasoline prices are set for a sharp rise this week. Unioil Philippines said diesel prices are set to go down by P2.00 to P2.20 per liter but prices for gasoline would go up by P3.80 to P4.00 per liter. In the previous week, diesel prices went down by P3.10 per liter and gasoline prices decreased by P0.40 per liter. Last week’s price adjustments reduced the net increase of gasoline prices to P21.60 per liter, diesel to P31.40 per liter and kerosene by P27.65 per liter since the start of the year. Global prices have been volatile, swinging from gains to losses in the past trading week.
