News Roundup 24 October 2023
Oct 24, 2023 • 3 min Read
Castro pursues criminal charges vs ex-president Duterte over death threats | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Rep. France Castro (ACT-Teachers) filed criminal charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday at the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office.
The Makabayan Bloc lawmaker, along with lawyers Tony La Viña, Rico Domingo, and others from the Movement Against Disinformation, initiated legal action in response to Duterte’s death threats against Castro. The death threats stem from her scrutiny of the confidential funds of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte.
“Kailangan niyang harapin ang accountability sa matinding pagbabanta sa aking buhay (He [Duterte] must be held accountable for the serious threats to my life),” Castro said in a press conference.
The charges filed fall under Article 282 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC), aimed at addressing Duterte’s tirades against Castro, which they said “pose a significant risk to her personal liberty and security.”
The provisions of the RPC cited by Castro and her lawyers pertain to grave threats. If found guilty, the penalty could include imprisonment for a period of one to six months, along with a fine, depending on the court’s discretion.
Full Story at: Castro pursues criminal charges vs ex-president Duterte over death threats | Philstar.com
Comelec not allowed to remove privately-owned campaign materials on private property — SC | PHILSTAR.COM – MANILA, Philippines — Privately-owned campaign materials cannot be removed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) if it is displayed on a private property, the Supreme Court (SC) said on Tuesday.
The court cited the ruling in the case of St. Anthony College of Roxas City Inc. vs. Comelec wherein the election regulatory body confiscated and destroyed the campaign materials posted on private property pursuant to “Oplan Baklas.”
“While Comelec may validly implement ‘Oplan Baklas’ against candidates and political parties, it cannot implement ‘Oplan Baklas’ against private individuals expressing their political preferences or support for a candidate or political party,” the court said.
St. Anthony College possessed and shared ownership of campaign materials such as tarpaulins, posters, murals and other items exhibited on their properties during the 2022 election season.
The said materials conveyed support and sought votes for former Vice President Leni Robredo, a presidential candidate in the May 9, 2022 national and local elections.
SC further stressed that the poll body cannot implement “Oplan Baklas” against private individuals expressing their political preferences or support to a candidate.
Full Story at: Comelec not allowed to remove privately-owned campaign materials on private property — SC | Philstar.com
2 South Koreans wanted for fraud arrested in Pampanga | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — Two South Koreans wanted for fraud-related activities were nabbed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) in Pampanga over the weekend.
The BI’s Fugitive Search Unit arrested Kwon Junyoung and Seok Jongmin in Angeles City, Pampanga, on Saturday.
BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco said that Kwon is wanted for telecommunications fraud in South Korea, while Seok is wanted in Texas, USA, for his engagement in wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft.
According to the BI, information from Interpol’s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Manila showed that Kwon has an arrest warrant from Suwon District Court in South Korea issued in December 2019.
Full Story at: 2 South Koreans wanted for fraud arrested in Pampanga | Inquirer News
Barangay captain candidate shot dead in Davao de Oro | INQUIRER.NET – MANILA, Philippines — A barangay councilman (kagawad) running for barangay captain in Montevista, Davao De Oro, was shot dead on Tuesday.
The Montevista police identified the fatality as Alvin Bengil Garcia, 32.
Garcia, the police said, was driving his motorcycle and was with barangay councilman candidate Jocelyn Agron, 50, when they were attacked by two gunmen aboard another motorcycle while traveling to Barangay Camantangan.
Police said the victim was brought to Davao De Oro Provincial Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival. Agron sustained minor injuries. Police said further investigation and pursuit operations against the suspects are ongoing.
