News Briefs

Parties to benefit from Arroyo poll case

The dismissal of the electoral sabotage case against former President and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will benefit all political parties and their candidates in next year’s midterm polls, election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said on Saturday. Macalintal, a former lawyer of Arroyo, said her case was based “solely” on her alleged statement to “vote straight” for her administration’s senatorial candidates in the 2007 midterm elections. Macalintal, who is running for senator next year, said the court ruling meant only that encouraging voters to vote straight for a party’s ticket was not an election offense. The Pasay City Regional Trial Court had cleared Arroyo of electoral sabotage for allegedly ordering Maguindanao officials to deliver a 12-0 outcome for her senatorial candidates in the 2007 elections. —JEROME ANING

Koko still convinced there was cheating

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III remained convinced that there was cheating in the 2007 elections, although the connection to then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was hard to prove. “We know deep in our hearts that the cheating done in 2007 was an elaborate operation of election cheaters who were given backing at the highest echelons of power,” Pimentel said in a text message. “But as a lawyer, I am aware that sometimes it is very difficult to prove the connection up ‘to the very top’ in a court of law which follows rigid rules of evidence,” Pimentel added. Pimentel was a victim of the alleged cheating in 2007. —LEILA B. SALAVERRIA

Senate optimism up on bill vs ‘endo’

Before it goes on break for the campaign, the Senate will try to approve on final reading the security of tenure bill that seeks to put an end to labor only contracting, the “endo” scheme and other abusive practices that put workers at a disadvantage. Sen. Joel Villanueva, the main sponsor of the measure, expressed confidence the bill would be passed before the campaign period of next year’s elections. Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the chamber would try to complete deliberations on the measure. The Senate would go on a break for the campaign period in February. —LEILA B. SALAVERRIA

Daraga under Comelec control almost sure

Though 18 cities and municipalities were tagged as election hotspots, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said this didn’t mean that these areas would be put under its jurisdiction. So far, it is only Daraga town in Albay province that is being considered to be put under Comelec control following the assassination of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe last week. Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said on Thursday that the local Comelec office had recommended that Daraga be put under Comelec control, which would give the poll body full authority over police in the town. —JOVIC YEE