Comelec hands off bloc voting practice
BY GERARD NAVAL
A YEAR before the May 2025 national and local polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it has no intention of policing the bloc voting practiced by some religious organizations during electoral exercises.
In a recent press briefing, Comelec chairman George Garcia said the poll body adheres to the principle of separation of Church and State.
“The Constitution guarantees the separation of Church and State. Therefore, we cannot intervene in matters, wherein the people believe they must vote as one,” said Garcia.
“They believe it is a practice that will strengthen their faith. Therefore, who is the Comelec to intervene in that aspect?” he added.
The poll chief, however, stressed it is an entirely different matter when there is an element of violence or terrorism.
Such actions refer to acts of inflicting violence, injury, or punishment upon any person to compel one to vote for or against a particular candidate or party.
“It is a different scenario when there is violence committed, terrorism committed to members of the organization,” he said.
“We have to give all our supporters, believers, or whomever, the opportunity to decide freely without any repercussions in their choice of candidates,” added Garcia.
To note, bloc voting is not a novel concept in Philippine elections as some organizations, including religious groups, are known to vote for a specific set of candidates.
The Iglesia Ni Cristo is the religious organization most known to practice bloc voting every national and local polls.
Nearly 300K senior high students up for TESDA assessment
by June
By Gerard Naval
NEARLY 300,000 senior high school (SHS) – Technical Vocational Livelihood (TVL) track students are set to undergo assessment and certification procedures next month, according to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
In a televised public briefing, TESDA Deputy Director General Aniceto Bertiz III said that some 297,000 SHS-TVL students are slated to be assessed by June 15.
“By June 15, we are expected to have candidates for assessment of around 297,000 students,” said Bertiz.
He said the 297,000 SHS-TVL learners will be the first batch to undergo free assessment after the TESDA and the Department of Education (DepEd) issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1-2024.
The JMC No. 1-2024, which establishes standardized assessment and certification procedures for SHS-TVL students, was signed last week.
“Because of this JMC, we aim to ensure the quality and integrity of the competency assessment of the certification program towards enhancing the job readiness of SHS-TVL learners,” said Bertiz.
Once the students pass the assessment and certification process, the TESDA official said they will be issued the appropriate National Certificate (NC).
He said the NCs issued by TESDA help ensure the workforce readiness of the SHS-TVL students.
“In the previous set-up, we have low employability rate because of the absence of the NC. But because of this JMC, it (assessment) has become mandatory,” said Bertiz.
Comelec: Quo warranto case can be filed vs Bamban mayor
By Gerard Naval
ALTHOUGH the Commission on Elections no longer has jurisdiction over Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, poll chief George Garcia yesterday said the government can still question her citizenship and residency.
Guo’s citizenship, residency, and other qualifications to run for public office are now in question after she was linked to Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) raided last month by authorities in Bamban.
“The jurisdiction of the Comelec, as far as candidates are concerned, starts from the filing of the candidacy and ends upon proclamation. As of now, we no longer have any jurisdiction over her as she is now a duly elected local official,” said Garcia.
“However, a petition for quo warranto can still be filed against her in court since citizenship and residency are continuing qualifications to hold public office. By whom? The SolGen (Office of the Solicitor General),” he added.
Guo, running as an independent, edged Joey Salting Jr. of the Nationalist People’s Coalition during the May 2022 mayoral polls in Bamban, Tarlac.
Asked how Guo was able to run for mayor in the 2022 elections despite her questionable qualifications, Garcia said the Comelec is not empowered to motu propio cancel candidacies based on age, citizenship, residency, registration as a voter, and literacy.
“Under the law and jurisprudence, our duty to accept Certificates of Candidacy (COC) are ministerial. As long as they accomplished the prescribed form and under oath, there are no documents needed to be attached,” he explained.
The former election lawyer said there must be a formal petition filed by a registered voter to question the alleged misrepresentation made by the candidate to cause the cancellation or denial of due course of the COC.
“Per our records, there is no case filed or pending against then-candidate Guo. If nobody filed, their names will be included in the list of candidates,” said Garcia.
3 dietary supplements unregistered — FDA
By Gerard Naval
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the public against three unregistered dietary supplements present in the market.
It identified the unregistered products as Vitabears Sleep Vitamins, Vitabears Skin Vitamins, and Vitabears Flawless Glow.
The FDA said the three items have not undergone evaluation of the agency and therefore pose adverse health risks to consumers.
COA: No legal basis for P63.9M Cabanatuan City fees, charges
BY PETER TABINGO
THE city government of Cabanatuan City imposed fees and charges on taxpayers for various services despite the absence of an ordinance authorizing it to do so, the Commission Audit (COA) has learned.
As of December 31, 2023, state auditors said the city has accumulated the sum of P63.92 million and spent P42.79 million even as the collections remain contrary to provisions of RA 7160 or the Local Government Code.
According to the list attached to the audit report released on May 12, 2024, the biggest source of collections was the laboratory/pharmacy/dialysis fund collected from patients of the Manuel V. Gallego Cabanatuan City General Hospital (MVGCCGH) totaling P30.7 million; the DPWH-Building Permit Fees paid to the Office of the City Building Official totaling P16.14 million; and debit credit payment method also from MVGCCGH totaling P9.15 million.
Also charged without legislative fiat from the Sangguniang Panlungsod were computerized ID processing fees, zoning fees, nutrition fund, travel clearances, participation fund, filing fees (for correction or clerical errors) at the Local Civil Registry, fee for violating ban on use of plastic, environmental fees, “palit binhi,” and many more.
“The fees which are labeled Others (T) in the Official Receipts in the General Fund are charges against taxpayers who transacted with the City,” the audit team said.
“As noted, this deficiency had been long standing for three years, denoting that Management did not address the issues which we have previously recommended that the imposition of subject fees and charges should have prior authority from the City’s legislative body through an ordinance,” it added.
On the P42.79 million that was already spent, auditors noted that the expenditures are not special or peculiar to justify creation of a trust fund as they are considered regular operational expenses.
“Both acts of collecting and disbursing, to be valid, must be supported by legislative authority. We reiterated our recommendation that the Local Chief Executive instruct the City Treasurer to discontinue the imposition upon taxpayers of unauthorized fees and charges unless proven that the act of collection is supported by an ordinance enacted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod,” the audit team said.
The City Accountant informed the COA that she has requested a copy of the legislative enactment from concerned offices. She said once it is proven that the collections should not be maintained in a trust fund, she will request the City Mayor to revert the balance to the General Fund.
The City Treasurer submitted no comment.
Ammonia leak causes scare in Pasay City
BY Ashzel Hachero
AUTHORITIES temporarily closed down F. B. Harrison St. in Pasay City yesterday due to an ammonia leak from an ice plant in the area.
Fire Inspector Amado Rivera said the ice plant located at Layug St., Barangay 3, F. B. Harrison St. was temporarily closed when ammonia leaked at around 9:50 a.m.
Nearby residents were prevented from passing the area and were advised to wear face masks while a clean-up operation was conducted.
No one was hurt but four fire volunteers received first aid treatment after experiencing difficulty in breathing.
Rivera said the area was opened to traffic several hours after ammonia was no longer detected.
In September last year, an ammonia leak also occurred in an ice plant in Taguig City that led to the temporary evacuation of 21 families and the suspension of classes in a nearby school.
