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Sokor firm-led venture wins P18-b contract for 2025 poll automation By Vito Barcelo A JOINT venture led by South Korean firm Miru Systems bagged the nearly P18-billion contract for the full automation system with transparency audit count (FASTrAC) project for the May 2025 national and local elections, Com-
mission on Elections chairman George Garcia announced Thursday. The contract includes 110,000 automated counting machines, 104,345 ballot boxes, 73.8 million ballot papers, and the canvassing system, Garcia said.
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 12• 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2024 •
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‘1987 Constitution silent on Cha-cha voting mode’ Senate sees end of RBH talk in Oct., 7 months after House By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta
OUSE leaders reminded senators that the 1987 Constitution is silent on whether Congress should vote separately or as one on proposed Charter amendments.
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Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzales Jr. and Deputy Majority Leader and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre cautioned the Senate, which said it will finish deliberations in October or seven months after the selfimposed deadline of the House in April, against insisting on a separate vote. “Our basic law does not say whether the House of Representatives and the Senate have to vote jointly or separately on Charter change,” Gonzales said. “Voting separately–that provision is being added by the Senate to our Constitution. For us in the House of Representatives, we stand with what's written in the Constitution,” Acidre said. The two lawmakers were reacting to Senator Jinggoy Estrada's concerns regarding the Lower Chamber's Resolution of Both Houses No. 7 that requires all members of Congress to vote jointly on proposed economic amendments to the 1987 Constitution. Next page
‘BIG OPPORTUNITIES FOR PH AND HAWAII’ NEWS / A2
Cristy Fermin tells Jalosjos, Suntay: I never named you VETERAN columnist Cristy Fermin questioned Dapitan City Mayor Bullet Jalosjos and Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay for crying foul over her "Cristy Ferminute" vlog when she never named them in the first place.
Stick to one lang kasi dapat: SC disbars bigamous lawyer THE Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for abandoning his family, cohabiting with another woman, and flaunting their illicit relationship publicly. Next page
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SELFIE FOR HAWAII. President Marcos grants a selfie with members of
the 31st Trade Mission and Honolulu City Council delegation, organized by the Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and Hawaii Philippines Business Economic Council, in their courtesy call on Thursday at Malacanang. PPA Photo
‘Pinoy ship hostages freed once replacements come’ IRAN is allowing the release of all crew crews attend it all the time. members —mostly Filipinos—of the seized “This is a legal seizure according to the Iranian tanker ST Nikolas once their authorities based on an Iranireplacement to man the ship an court order. In other words, arrives, the Department of these seafarers are treated not Foreign Affairs said Thursday. as hostages but employees of At least 17 of the 19 origithe agency,” he said. nal crew members remain on Meanwhile, De Vega rethe vessel after a Filipino and ported that the Philippines a Greek cadet were released continues to engage with in inNEWS / A2 early this month and in Januternational partners for the ary, respectively. safe release of a separate In a Bagong Pilipinas intergroup of Filipino seafarers beview, DFA Undersecretary Eduardo Jose de Vega ing held hostage by the Houthis in the Red Sea. Next page said a vessel, even if docked in a port, must have
Jullebee’s killer getting 15 years in Kuwait jail
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NETIZENS were quick to question the post of actress Mariel Padilla showing her undergoing glutathione drip inside the office of her husband, Senator Robinhood Padilla.
By Vince Lopez and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Philippine National Police has not monitored any death threat against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who claimed so in an audio recording he released Wednesday. "Right now, except for his (Quiboloy’s) pronouncement, the PNP has not received any information with respect to the threat against his life," police spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a press conference on Thursday. Fajardo said that if Quiboloy has "basis for his claim," the PNP can provide him security upon request. "Whether it is a government official or an ordinary citizen who receives a threat to his life, the PNP is always ready to provide appropriate security if there is a request for one," the PNP official said. Next page
Solon chides Imee over 4Ps realignments
#ANONGBALITA?
Drip anywhere? Mariel Padilla draws flak on IG
No info on death threats against Quiboloy—PNP
A HOUSE leader yesterday raised concerns over the realignment of some P13-billion allocation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) last year to other social amelioration programs that deprived nearly 900,000 families, or 4.3 million Filipinos, of aid. Deputy Speaker and Quezon Rep. David Suarez said that with Senator Imee Marcos admitting that she slashed the budget of the 4Ps programintended for the poorest of the poor, previous realignments initiatedby the senator should be reviewed in view of the millions of affected beneficiaries. “The bigger question is how many millions of Filipinos and households were affected because of her realignment? And it appears this did not happen in 2023 alone,” he said. Next page
MURAD EYES BARMM ELECTION VICTORY NEWS / A2
PINOYS FRET OVER CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS / A2
NATIONAL PIG DAY.
Local hog farmers join city officials of Quezon City in relishing different kinds of pork dishes during a press conference at Quezon City Memorial Circle on Thursday in line with the National Pig Day Celebration. Manny Palmero
DOJ issues 2 Alert List Orders vs. Teves to ‘restrict his movements’ By Rey E. Requejo THE Department of Justice (DOJ), through the Bureau of Immigration (BI), has issued two Alert List Orders against expelled congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr., the alleged mastermind in the kill-
ing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla stressed that the Alert List Orders were issued to restrict Teves' movement and facilitate his arrest through international cooperation. “The DOJ assures that all individuals are held
accountable for their actions, regardless of their position or influence,” Remulla said. Remulla pointed out that the Alert List Orders were issued pursuant to a court warrant dated Sept. 5, 2023 and an Interpol Blue Notice published on Feb. 19, 2024. Next page