News Briefs: October 19, 2018

Duterte consults dermatologists to stop cheek darkening

President Duterte has been consulting dermatologists to address the darkening of the skin on his cheeks, which he blamed on his frequent exposure to the sun during his visits to military camps. Speaking to businessmen on Thursday, the President said the discoloration of his face was exacerbated by several skin products he used in an attempt to reverse the condition. “My face darkened. It was good I went to this dermatologist, she’s very good. I’ve been using the cream of my wife—Shiseido,” Mr. Duterte said. After washing his face, he said, he usually applies skin care products that are also used by his partner, Honeylet Avanceña. He said he was visited recently by the dermatologist, who advised him to use only two skin care products. —JULIE M. AURELIO

Intraparty feud imperils Freddie Aguilar’s senatorial bid

The decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on the intraparty controversy affecting the senatorial bid of singer Freddie Aguilar would affect all the candidates of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the poll body said on Thursday. Aguilar’s certificate of nomination and acceptance (Cona) would be discussed in a hearing after he claimed to have received the document from the party, Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said. PDP-Laban, however, disowned him. The Cona proves that a candidate is representing a particular party. Aguilar’s document was signed by Wilfredo Talag, who claims to be the party’s secretary general. But according to Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who claims to be the PDP-Laban president, Talag belongs to the party’s rogue faction. —AIE BALAGTAS SEE

De Lima thanks SC for allowing media to cover her trial

Detained Sen. Leila de Lima has welcomed the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing media coverage of her trial on drug trading charges in a Muntinlupa City court. She thanked the high court for recognizing freedom of the press, the right of the public to be informed and her right to an impartial public trial. “I am grateful that the high court has shown respect to the free press and to my right to an open and public trial,” De Lima said in a statement. Reporters will only be allowed to take notes. Muntinlupa RTC Branch 206 Presiding Judge Lorna Navarro-Domingo had earlier prohibited the media from covering the hearings because of the courtroom’s limited space. —JULIE M. AURELIO

Get your wishes ready for Orionids meteor shower

Stargazers will be treated anew to a celestial spectacle in the coming days with the Orionids meteor shower, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said. Jose Mendoza IV, head of Pagasa’s astronomical publication unit, said the best time to view the Orionids would be on the nights and dawn of Sunday and Monday when the shower would have reached its peak. “It would be best to view the Orionids by staring on the east northeastern sky,” Mendoza said. Orionid meteors are debris scattered by the passage of the famed Halley’s comet, which last appeared over Earth in 1986. This year, the Orionids started its activity on Wednesday and would fade away on Oct. 25, according to Mendoza. —MELVIN GASCON

Aurora governor charged with graft over road projects

Aurora Gov. Gerardo Noveras has been charged with graft in the Sandiganbayan over the alleged rigged bidding of two road projects in the province in 2014. The Ombudsman’s Office of the Special Prosecutor claimed that the provincial government failed to hold a public bidding for the repair of the Casiguran-Dilasag provincial road and the Dimalang Bridge Approach. This was because the projects were certified 100-percent complete merely three days after the notices to proceed were issued on Aug. 15, 2014. Prosecutors said this meant the contractor, RMCR Construction, began the projects before the procurement process was concluded, as if it expected to win the bidding. —VINCE F. NONATO