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Why Pacquiao is running for congressman
By ELLEN TORDESILLAS
BOXING champ Manny Pacquiao wants to be congressman so he can continue helping other people without using his personal funds.
In an interview at the sidelines of a provincial rally by the Nacionalista Party recently, Pacquiao, who is known for his generosity to his needy province mates, said what he is doing is not enough.
“Pera ko ang ginagastos ko. Kawawa naman ang pamilya ko. Mauubos ang pera ko (I’m spending my own money now. But pity my family. My wealth would be depleted),” he said.
Estrada’s Labor Day rally in Mandaluyong
FORMER president Joseph Estrada spent Labor Day with about 10,000 people who flocked to his rally at Nueve de Pebrero and Martinez Streets in Mandaluyong City.
Estrada showed up with him teammates: running mate Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay, and senatorial candidates JV Bautista, Rodolfo “Ompong” Plaza, Apolinarion “Jun” Lozada, Jose “Joey” de Venecia III, Francisco “Kit” Tatad, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Jinggoy Estrada.
VERA Files‘ Mario Ignacio was at the rally and shares his photos:
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Detained Magdalo captain is Kalinga gubernatorial bet
FROM his detention cell, Army Captain Dante Langkit is running for governor of Kalinga challenging well-entrenched politicians in the province.
A native of Kalinga Province, Langkit grew up in Poblacion Taga in the municipality of Pinukpuk. Born on October 1, 1971, Dante is the eldest among the four sons and three daughters of Esteban Linggayo Langkit and Gennette Balicao Dasayon.
Comelec junks manual count, says no to another ‘Garci’
By BUENA C. BERNAL
THE Commission on Elections today rejected the proposed parallel manual count, saying this will lead to “old modes of cheating,” particularly the “resurrection of sleeping Garcis.”
“A manual count — in essence, a regressive step belatedly being shoe-horned into the final preparations for the automated elections — will be extremely vulnerable to the introduction of error and fraud into the system,” Comelec in a seven-page en banc resolution said.
Manual voting in US tests Pinoys’ patience, optimism for change
By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
FIRST-TIME voter Diana Aricheta excitedly opened the overseas absentee voting (OAV) packet she received in the mail last week. But when the 20-year-old Los Angeles, California resident spread the contents of the envelope on the table, confusion set in.
The packet held three legal-size sheets containing the names of the party-list groups, a ballot, a paper seal, a ballot envelope and instructions in both English and Filipino.
“It would take a lot of time and patience to vote like this,” Aricheta said.
Why this candidate thinks she can beat Gloria
By CITIZEN JOURNALISTS (CJ) – PAMPANGA
SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga.—Saying “my kabalens are intelligent voters,” Filipinas Sampang, independent candidate for the 2nd district, believes she stands a chance against President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the congressional race.
As one of three Kapampangans challenging Arroyo for the congressional seat, the 48-year-old Sampang said there is a “great opportunity of beating GMA because the people of the province are tired of her.”
Confusing alliances mark Iloilo polls
By MELVIN PURZUELO
Green Forum Western Visayas
ILOILO CITY. —As if the automation of the May 10 polls were not complicated enough, local political formations here are making the upcoming elections more confusing.
Mayor Jerry Trenas, who is running for congressman, and Vice Mayor Jed Mabilog, who is running for mayor, have formed an alliance with only the two of them as common candidates. Trenas supports the Nacionalista Party (NP) for the national positions while Mabilog is with the Liberal Party (LP).
Last two minutes: Groups urge Comelec to decide on manual count now
By MARK JOSEPH UBALDE
WITH barely 14 days left before the elections, a multisectoral group is making a last-ditch effort to convince the Commission on Elections to adopt a parallel nationwide manual count to avoid a possible “Automated Garci.”
In a press conference held at Club Filipino Sunday, leaders of concerned groups that include the Makati Business Club and Philippine Bar Association read their open letter to the Comelec, saying the decision on their proposal cannot be delayed beyond April 29 or else the parallel manual count won’t be doable.
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Estrada wows Cavitenos
By ELLEN TORDESILLAS
CAVITE CITY.—Former President Joseph Estrada of Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) showed he has not lost his “masa “ appeal despite having been ousted from power and convicted of plunder.
About 5,000 people on Tuesday crammed the vacant lot in front of the public market here to hear Estrada, who turned 73 the day before, vow to recapture Malacañang in this year’s elections.
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Rallies vs coal plant, mining mark Earth Day in Soccskargen
By DANNY SABINO
Kapayapaan Kapatid Council/Enigma and Panukad Student Volunteers
GENERAL SANTOS CITY.–Some 4,000 environmentalists marked World Earth Day Wednesday with simultaneous rallies in Tampakan, South Cotabato and Maasim, Sarangani to protest the planned construction of a coal-fired power plant and mining activities in these provinces.
Leaders of religious groups, fishermen, indigenous people and other sectors condemned the coal-fired plant project of CONAL Holdings, saying it will greatly harm the environment and people.