Argyll Cyrus Geducos | Manila Bulletin

February 23, 2019

President Duterte has chosen former Interior Secretary Raffy Alunan as the candidate to complete his senatorial line-up for the upcoming May 2019 midterm polls.

This was confirmed as Alunan attended PDP-Laban’s campaign in Biñan, Laguna Saturday. He is PDP-Laban’s seventh guest candidate.

“Malaking karangalan (It’s a huge honor) to be part of the President’s team for May 2019,” he told the crowd.

Continue reading >>>

CARLA P. GOMEZ | Philippine Daily Inquirer

February 23. 2019

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—Some local officials have been hiding from the Otso Diretso senatorial candidates out of fear of reprisals from President Rodrigo Duterte, Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano said here on Friday.

“I cannot mention them, [but] it’s all over the country,” he said.

Alejano was on the campaign trail here with former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, former Quezon Rep. Erin Tañada, human rights lawyer Chel Diokno and civil society leader Samira Gutoc of the Otso Diretso senatorial team.

Sen. Bam Aquino was represented by his wife, Timi; former Sen. Mar Roxas by his cousin Margarita Fores; and election lawyer Romulo Macalintal by his son-in-law, lawyer Ace Bautista.

Continue reading >>>

Patricia Ann V. Roxas | Inquirer.Net

MANILA, Philippines — Thieves cannot be lawmakers.

Otso Diretso senatorial candidate Romulo Macalintal clarified on Tuesday that he was not discounting the ability of movie actors to become capable lawmakers, but what he was saying was that those who have stolen from public coffers do not have the right to run for public office.

“Mr. Jinggoy, hindi ko tinatawaran ang kakayahan ng mga artista. Iginagalang ko iyan […] Ang aking sinasabi ay hindi karapat-dapat tumakbo sa Senado o manungkulan sa anumang departmento ng pamahalaan ang isang magnanakaw,” the election lawyer said in a statement.

Continue reading >>>

CHRISTINA MARIE RAMOS | Inquirer.Net

February 20, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — The ruling political party of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP–Laban) has appointed its new spokespersons for its national campaign.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, PDP-Laban President Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said that the appointment of Arnold Vegafria and Ronwald Munsayac as spokespersons for the PDP Laban National Campaign came in light of the “increasing need to provide the media and the public with all the needed information in our national campaign for this 2019 midterm elections.”

This means, Pimentel noted, inquiries on all campaign-related activities, media affairs, and public information will be directed to Vegafria and Munsayac.

Continue reading >>>

PATHRICIA ANN V. ROXAS | Inquirer.Net

February 20, 2019

MANILA, Philippines – Action star-turned politician Lito Lapid said he is not keen on debating on key national issues with senatorial race rivals after opposition senatorial candidates under the Otso Diretso banner earlier challenged fellow candidates to a debate.

“Hindi, hindi naman ako nakikipag-contest sa pagalingan eh. Eh sila naman may galing. ‘Yung galing nila siguro’t alam nila hindi ko alam. Pero may alam din naman akong di nila alam,” Lapid told reporters before the start of his press conference on Wednesday.

(I am not competing with their know-how and expertise. They may know things that I don’t, but I also know things that they have no knowledge of.)

Continue reading >>>

Dharel Placido | ABS-CBN News

February 18, 2019

LAOAG CITY – Senatorial candidates under the pro-administration slate Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) on Monday set foot in Ilocos Norte, the stronghold of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, as they wooed the voters from the so-called “solid north.”

Ilocos Governor Imee Marcos received a warm welcome from her fellow Ilocanos at Laoag’s Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena, as she hosted her fellow HNP candidates in her province.

In typical Marcos fashion, the host political family pulled out all the stops in welcoming the HNP bets, putting up a beautifully decorated stage and preparing grand productions featuring the Ilocano culture.

Read more >>>

ABS-CBN News

President Duterte excludes from his senatorial lineup Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr., both actors and former senators linked to the multibillion-peso ‘pork barrel’ fund scam. But Duterte endorsed Estrada’s half brother JV Ejercito along with 10 other candidates running or allied with the PDP-Laban party. Joyce Balancio has tonight’s top story. ANC, The World Tonight, February 15, 2019

Watch video here>>>

By: Christia Marie Ramos | Inquierer.Net February 10, 2019

MANILA, Philippines — A short clip which circulated on social media showed Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada hitting a man during a Chinese New Year parade in Binondo.

During the said parade last Tuesday, Estrada gave away “ang-paus,” or red envelopes, which he said contained 20-peso and 50-peso bills.

In a statement issued by the Mayor last Friday, he explained that the man he had punched as seen in the video, grabbed his hand which he said almost prompted his fall from the parade truck.

“Habang ako’y namamahagi ng tradisyunal na angpao…isang lalaki at hinablot ang aking kamay. Bukod sa halos masubsob na ako mula sa trak na kinasasakyan ko, kamuntik na ring matumba ang matandang nabangga ng lumundag na pasaway na kanyang katabi,” the mayor said.

[While I was giving away the traditional angpao, a man clutched at my hand. He almost pulled me off the truck I was riding on and he bumped an old man standing near him and the old man almost fell.]

Read more>>>