News Briefs

2.5 million file voter registration papers

More than 2.5 million voter registration papers for the May 2019 elections had been filed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in just three months.

The Comelec opened voter registration from July 2 to Sept. 29. James Jimenez, via Twitter, said filing applications for registration was not the end of the process of becoming a registered voter.

“Technically speaking, they are really not yet registered voters officially,” said Jimenez.

The figure, however, exceeded Comelec projections of 1.5 million to 2 million people registering to become voters.

Registration papers would have to be approved by Election Registration Boards, according to Jimenez.

“That is the only time one can say that an applicant is already a registered voter,” he said. —Tina G. Santos

Labor groups set another rally at Dole

Labor groups will assemble at the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) in Manila, on Monday to demand an immediate end to contractualization and for speedy disposition of cases of regularization.

Asuncion Binos, of the labor group Piglas-IndustriAll, said companies could pass on the responsibility of regularizing workers to manpower agencies “which in turn can terminate” workers’ contracts and leave workers jobless.

“Dole should come up with immediate action or decision in cases of regularization,” Binos said.

In a dialogue with Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, the group demanded continuing discussion on contractualization and passage of a national minimum wage law. —Tina G. Santos

Councilor dies after stabbing, shooting

A councilor of Sasmuan town in Pampanga province, who planned to run for vice mayor in next year’s elections, died on Saturday in a hospital where he was treated after two men stabbed and shot him while he was out jogging.

Councilor Jesus Angeles died from eight stab and two bullet wounds inflicted by bonnet-wearing men on Dalan Babo, a road that has served as a jogging lane in Barangay Sta. Lucia in Sasmuan. Vice Gov. Dennis Pineda, vice chair of the local political party Kambilan, condemned the attack and offered a P500,000-reward for information that would lead to the arrest of the assailants. —Tonette Orejas

Court OKs bail for Puerto vice mayor

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Thursday granted Puerto Princesa Vice Mayor Luis Marcaida III’s petition for bail in relation to drug and gun charges filed against him last year by the Philippine National Police.

Lawyer Zoile Cruzat, Marcaida’s legal counsel, said RTC Branch 49 Judge Ramon Chito Mendoza set bail of P1.2 million.

Marcaida has been held at the Puerto Princesa City jail since September last year, after police seized 30 sachets of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) from his house. Marcaida claimed the drugs were planted. —Shane Montecillo