News Briefs: Feb. 27, 2019

War on illegal fishing reaches Facebook

Keeping the sea safe from illegal fishers is now one Facebook like away.

Nongovernment organization Oceana Philippines on Monday launched Karagatan Patrol to encourage the public to report illegal fishing in municipal waters.

Tipsters could join Karagatan Patrol’s Facebook page or e-mail Oceana through [email protected].

Oceana said information sent to Karagatan Patrol’s Facebook page would be forwarded to government offices and local government units. —Aie Balagtas See

Comelec says ballot printing on track

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday that an average of 1.1 million ballots were now being printed per day at the National Printing Office.

In a statement, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body was on track to hit its target of finishing the printing of ballots on April 25, barely a month before the elections in May.

Printing started on Feb. 9 and had finished a total of 11,346,352 ballots, some 17.8 percent of what was needed — more than 63 million ballots. —Tina G. Santos

New body formed to enforce poll rules

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has created a Comelec Control Committee (CCC), which shall have authority over areas placed under the poll body’s control during the May midterm elections.

The CCC shall be empowered to create special teams to enforce Comelec decisions and orders in areas under Comelec control.

The CCC would have full control and supervision of all national and local law enforcement agencies, military officers and men. —Tina G. Santos

Pro-Duterte bets see win through LGU backing

Sen. Cynthia Villar, who is running for reelection and has been endorsed by the regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP), said the support that HNP candidates had been receiving from local officials would give them the “winning edge” over opposition candidates from Otso Diretso.

HNP, a party formed by presidential daughter Sara Duterte, took its campaign caravan to Bulacan province, with 1.6 million registered voters, on Monday. —Carmela Reyes-Estrope