(File photo) MANILA - Did you know that of the six general elections held so far in the Philippines under the 1987 Constitution, there were two times when 10 candidates aspired for the top elective post? The first time was in the May 11, 1998 polls where the presidency was contested by then Vice President Joseph Estrada, reigning House Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. and eight others, namely: Senators Raul Roco, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Juan Ponce Enrile; former Defense Secretary Renato De Villa, Cebu Gov. Lito Osmena, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chairman Manuel Morato, and lawyer Santiago Dumlao. The second time was the recently concluded May 9 polls with outgoing Vice President Leny G. Robredo and former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. as the leading contenders. The other eight candidates were Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, former Pre
Sen. Manny Pacquiao (Facebook photo) MANILA -Senator Manny Pacquiao badly wanted to join the press conference with his three fellow presidential candidates on Sunday but air traffic, which his camp called a "divine intervention", prevented him from doing so. In an interview Tuesday, Pacquiao's campaign chief, Buddy Zamora, blamed air traffic congestion at Ninoy Aquino International Airportfor the delayed arrival from General Santos City and eventual failure to make it to the event at The Peninsula Manila Hotel in Makati City. The champion boxer's plane hovered for about an hour before it was allowed to land, Zamora said. Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, former National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales, and Senator Panfilo Lacson, along with vice presidential hopefuls Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Dr. Willie Ong, were at the presscon that affirmed their commitments to fight electoral sabotage, among others. "It was divine interve
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte with officials and members of the Presidential Security Group (File presidential photo) MANILA - The job of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) is to serve President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the First Family, Malacanang said Tuesday. "The Presidential Security Group or PSG provides security for the President and the First Family only," acting presidential spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an online press conference. The statement was issued in response to the call of Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor on Malacanang to give presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. PSG protection. On Sunday, Defensor urged the Palace to send at least a "small" PSG team to Marcos, noting that the latter is the only "major" presidential candidate with no personal protection from the government. Defensor said the Philippines should adopt the United States' election process which gives all presidenti
(From left) Presidential bets Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales, Sen. Panfilo Lacson (PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler) MANILA - The Philippine National Police (PNP) will probe the alleged plan to sabotage the upcoming May 9 elections as claimed by presidential candidates over the weekend. PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos, during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City Monday, said they would coordinate with presidential aspirant Senator Panfilo Lacson over claims of election sabotage. "We will get the details from Sen. Lacson to check on it. So far for the monitoring of the election, there have been no major reports of that nature. So we will get it from Sen. Ping," Carlos said. Earlier, Lacson, along with fellow presidential bets Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and former National Security adviser Norberto Gonzales, confirmed he has received reports of election sabotag
(PNA photo by Avito Dalan) MANILA - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will push for the enactment of a law mandating the attendance of poll bets in debates in future elections. "We will convince Congress to include in the law a requirement that all local or national candidates must attend the debates called by the Comelec. If they are not available, it could be a ground for disqualification and election offense," Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said in a Laging Handa briefing on Monday. He added that presidential and vice presidential debates are important events where aspirants can relay to the electorate their plans, platforms, and stand on issues. "This is not just a simple activity, where the people will be able to know what's in the mind of a candidate. It is very important because you can see the readiness of the candidate to face the countrymen he is courting," he said. He added that it is through debates that candidates will be able to express thoug