News Briefs: Feb. 17, 2019

SC junks cases vs mayor’s win

The Supreme Court has junked petitions questioning two Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolutions declaring Mayor Cris Garbo as winner in the mayoral race in Mabalacat City, Pampanga, in May 2016.

The petitions against the Comelec first division’s resolution on Aug. 13 2016, and the Comelec en banc resolution on May 26, 2017, were dismissed for “lack of merit,” according to the court decision made on Jan. 15 and received by Garbo’s counsel on Feb. 13.

Associate Justice Antonio Carpio wrote the decision.

The decision took note of the fact that a court had found one of the petitioners, former Mayor Marino Morales, to have exceeded the three-term limit. —Tonette Orejas

Mayor in Batocabe slay back to work

A day after his temporary release from jail, Mayor Carlwyn Baldo of Daraga, Albay, was back at his office on Thursday.

Baldo, who was arrested on Jan. 22 by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group during a raid, was detained at the Legazpi City police station on charges of illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

“I am happy to serve the people of Daraga again,” said Baldo at his office.

Baldo was tagged as the mastermind of the murder of Ako Bicol Rep. Rodel Batocabe, who was running for mayor against him.

Outside his office, a streamer hung with the message  “Welcome back, Mayor Baldo. We missed you.” —Rey Anthony Ostria

Cimatu uses PMA for Manila Bay plea

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, who was the guest of honor at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni homecoming in Baguio City on Saturday, used the event as a platform to call on his fellow alumni to help the government rehabilitate Manila Bay.

In his speech, Cimatu cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s “political will” in the success of the six-month cleanup of Boracay Island in Aklan.

According to him, months after the rehabilitation of Boracay, the President would now want to save Manila Bay.

He called on his fellow cavaliers “to help us rehabilitate our national treasures.”

Cimatu is a member of the PMA Class of 1970. —Inquirer Northern Luzon

Angara tells parents: Vaccines are free

Stressing that immunization was the best protection against measles, reelectionist Sen. Sonny Angara urged parents to have their children vaccinated against the viral disease.

In a statement from Baguio City, Angara said measles vaccines were available for free in health clinics and were the best protection against the highly contagious disease.

Angara cited data in the Cordillera Administrative Region, which showed that 108 measles cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to Feb. 9 this year, compared to just 14 cases during the same period in 2018.

“We don’t have to do anything except bring our children to health centers where the vaccines are free,” he said. —Julie M. Aurelio