DepEd establishes poll task force
The Department of Education will establish an election task force and monitoring center in central, regional, schools, and city division offices to assist public school teachers with poll duties in the May 13 midterm elections next week. Education Secretary Leonor Briones, in DepEd Memorandum No. 52, Series of 2019, announced that the department will establish the DepEd ETF at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, DepEd Central Office, Pasig City from May 12 to 15. The ETF will be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Briones said DepEd is one of the national agencies deputized by the Commission on Elections to “ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful, and credible elections” through the appointment of public school teachers to serve as chairpersons and members of the electoral board as well as technical support personnel. The ETF, Briones said, will “ensure compliance with and enforcement of all orders and instructions relative to the election duties” of DepEd personnel. “Likewise, all regional and schools division offices of the Department are authorized to create their respective ETF operations and monitoring centers on the same schedules,” she added. (Ina Malipot)
3 low-pressure areas around PH
Scattered rain showers will prevail over Luzon due to the trough or extension of two out of three low pressure areas surrounding the country. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration located two LPAs near Luzon – 195 kilometers southwest of Sinait, Ilocos Sur and 335 kms east of Aparri, Cagayan. PAGASA weather specialist Ezra Bulquerin said the extended clouds of these weather disturbances will bring cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms over Luzon, including Metro Manila. The third LPA was estimated at 1,120 kms east of Mindanao or still outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility and has no direct effect yet over any part of the country. Thunderstorms will prevail, bringing partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers over Visayas and Mindanao. Bulquerin said the three LPAs have a slim chance of developing into a storm. (Ellalyn V. Ruiz)
PH environmental law sought
Administration senatorial candidate Francis N. Tolentino has underscored the need to pass a Philippine environmental law that will implement what he called the “concept of green justice” in the country. Tolentino, who is coming out strong in latest senatorial surveys, has vowed to pursue such legislation as part of his legislative priorities in the Senate. Speaking at the launching of the first online political rally called “KakamPH” over the weekend, Tolentino said the green justice concept seeks to guarantee the prosecution of persons and firms blamed as the cause of damage to life and property during natural and man-made disasters. “Nakakalungkot kasi na hanggang sa ngayon, sa dinanas nating krisis, baha, landslide, at iba pa, walang nananagot pagkatapos ng isang trahedya,” he said. (Ben R. Rosario)
Go thanks INC for endorsement
Administration senatorial candidate former Special Assistant to the President Bong Go yesterday thanked the Iglesia ni Cristo for endorsing his candidacy in the May 13 midterm elections.“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa bumubuo ng Iglesia ni Kristo na pinamumunuan ng ating minamahal na Kapatid na Eduardo Manalo. Napakalaking bagay ang endorsement na ito para sa amin,” Go said. “Susuklian ko po ito ng serbisyong tapat, maka-tao at maka-Diyos dahil, para sa akin, ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo sa Diyos,” he added. “Asahan na ipagpapatuloy ko ang mga pagbabagong nasimulan ni Pangulong Duterte. Wala kaming ibang hangarin kung hindi gawin ang lahat para sa dagdag na kaginhawahan, kaligtasan, at kabutihan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino.” Aside from Go, the INC is endorsing 11 other senatorial candidates – nine from the administration and two supported by the Nationalist People’s Coalition.
Prove your claims, ‘Bikoy’ told
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday advised Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy,” to substantiate his claims before authorities or face the consequences of his actions. “The National Bureau of Investigation is waiting for Advincula or ‘Bikoy’ to show up and submit his complaint with supporting evidence against the persons he implicated in the illegal drug trade. Should he fail to do so, the Department of Justice will consider his possible inclusion in Rodel Jayme’s inciting to sedition case or indictment for other criminal charges after proper investigation,” Guevarra said. The Justice Secretary earlier said Bikoy, who surfaced in a press conference at the Integrated Bar of the Philippines office in Ortigas, Pasig City, needs to bare what he knows to authorities. Advincula said he was acting on his own when he appeared in the video linking the family of President Duterte to drug syndicates. Advincula admitted he was earlier charged for fraud and had been in Naga City’s most wanted list in 2012. (PNA and Jeffrey Damicog)