Mock elections in universities, not reflective of the country’s sentiments – political analysts
by Maris Federez | Posted on Tuesday, April 30th, 2019
(file photo)
As far as several Metro Manila universities are concerned, majority of their students have already decided on who to vote for in the May 13 Midterm Elections.
According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the youth had been a force to reckon with in the last Presidential election and that they still could make a big impact on the May 13 polls.
Based on Comelec data, one third (31%) of the voting population is comprised by the youth, and that the candidates are being wise enough to woo the Millennials for their votes.
In the mock elections held at the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and Baguio this April, Liberal Party candidates took the lead, followed by several independent and administration candidates.
The mock election at PUP Manila, on the other hand, showed that an independent candidate took the lead followed by opposition and administration candidates.
Meanwhile, Atty. Larry Gadon’s campaign had been proven effective among the students in De La Salle University Dasmariñas.
The Liberal Party, on the other hand, led in mock elections held at the University of Santo Tomas, the Ateneo de Manila University, and the University of San Carlos in Cebu.
Political analyst Edmund Tayao, however, said the mock elections have no enough bearing on the real elections, and that there is a big difference on the results of the national surveys and the mock elections in universities.
“Kung hihimayin mo ang resulta in terms of segments and sector in society, consistent yan, walang problema. Pero yung sasabihin mo na magiging significant sya sa overall result eh hindi yan ang lumalabas kung ikukumpara sa national surveys [If you will scrutinize the results in terms of segments and sectors in society, they are consistent. But saying that they will be significant in the overall result, it’s not what the national surveys had been showing],” he added.
Several mock elections are still being lined up in various universities. Other political analysts, however, said that mock elections do not reflect the real sentiments of the whole nation. – Maris Federez (with reports from Mon Jocson)
by Maris Federez | Posted on Tuesday, June 11th, 2019
Seized firearms from violators
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban will come to a close as the election period ends tomorrow, (June 12).
This gives way for gun owners to carry firearms outside of their homes as long as they have the permit to do so.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded more than six thousand violators of the gun ban since it was launched on January 13.
More than five thousand guns and close to fifty thousand deadly weapons were confiscated by the authorities.
PNP spokesperson PCol Bernard Banac said, “lahat ng mga ito ay nakalaboso at sinampahan ng kaukulang kaso. Doon naman sa mga pulis na lumabag ay meron po silang kinakaharap ngayon na kasong administratibo dahil sa paglabag sa ating mg alituntunin at patakaran [all of them were detained and were filed cases against. The police officers who violated (the gun ban), are now facing administrative cases for violating our rules and regulations].” (with details from Lea Ylagan) /mbmf
by Maris Federez | Posted on Saturday, June 1st, 2019
Senator Aquilino Pimentel III has expressed his support to President Rodrigo Duterte when he said he wants the Commission on Elections (Comelec) “to dispose of that Smartmatic and look for a new one that is free of fraud.”
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms said he holds the same sentiment on the matter.
“I was thinking along the same lines. But we are only up to recommending to the Comelec,” Pimentel said.
Pimentel added that he had long been pushing for hybrid elections which was prompted by the investigation that his committee had conducted on the alleged cheating in the 2010 elections that used the Smartmatic system. (with details from Nel Maribojoc) /mbmf
by Maris Federez | Posted on Tuesday, May 28th, 2019
Court of Appeals Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul Inting has been appointed to the Supreme Court on May 27, 2019. | Courtesy: Supreme Court of the Philippines
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Court of Appeals Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting to the Supreme Court.
This was confirmed by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday (May 27).
Inting will replace Justice Lucas Bersamin who was appointed Chief Justice in November 2018.
He bested 12 others in the shortlist submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council back in February.
Inting is a graduate of Ateneo de Davao University.
He took his oath as CA justice back in 2012, and also served as a judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court prior to his appellate court position.
Inting is President Rodrigo Duterte’s 11th appointee to the high court. /mbmf
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