EMONG'S JOURNALS

Here are ways to make your checkpoint nights trouble-free. The Commission on Elections will conduct checkpoints nationwide starting October 1, Sunday, to effectively implement the gun ban and other prohibitions in connection with the October 23 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections. During this period, it shall be unlawful for any person to bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons, unless authorized by the Comelec. All permit to carry licenses are automatically suspended. Violators will be punished one to six years of imprisonment, disqualification to hold public office and deprivation of the right to suffrage. Do you have to stop at a PNP-Comelec checkpoint? if you drive up to a Philippine National Police (PNP)-Comelec checkpoint, you have to stop the vehicle and comply with law enforcement. This is an exception to the normal rule that police officers cannot pull someone over without a reason. Because of the enforcement of the nationwide gun ban, thes...

Two more days to go before the 2016 Presidential Elections on May 9 -- here's a step-by-step guide to help navigate yourself on what and what not to do when you vote. DO make sure that you are at the right place by looking for your name in the voters list posted near the precinct. DO come early. Voting starts at 6:00am and ends at 5:00pm. DO bring a list of your candidates to guide you, but DON'T bring in any campaign materials. DO protect your ballot by using the Comelec ballot secrecy folder. DON'T take photos or make copies of your ballot. These are election offenses and can send you to jail. DON'T use your cellphone while inside the precinct. Taking photos is an election offense. This is to prevent vote-buying and selling. DO shade properly using the Comelec marking pen and fully shade the circles next to candidate of your choice. DON'T use any kinds of pens other than the Comelec's. DON'T write anything else on the ballot so that the ma...

There's good news to all Rodrigo Duterte fans out there! The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has just announced that he can go on as a replacement for party-mate Martin Diño. The bad news? Let's talk about the good news first. National poll body Comelec on Friday December 4, has junked a petition to declare anti-crime advocate Martin Diño a nuisance candidate. This means tough guy Duterte can go on as a replacement candidate for Diño. The Comelec Second Division said the petition is “moot and academic” as Diño had already withdrawn his candidacy effective October 29, thereby losing “justiciability” because it no longer presents a real problem as between the parties involved. Comelec said, With the foregoing development, the relief prayed for in the present petition has become moot and academic, that is, whatever judgment is reached can no longer have any practical legal effect or, in the nature of things, can no longer be enforced. Now, for the bad news. Th...

Stop us if you’ve heard this one before—but 130 people just might run for president. The last several weeks have witnessed speculation on mainstream media and on social networks about who Philippines' next President will be or should be. There have been half a dozen names floating around -- some calculated guesses, some pure media speculation and some self-proclaiming their candidature. But during the closing of the filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COC's) more than a hundred individuals - compared to just 99 during the 2010 elections - have announced they are running for the 2016 presidential elections. Candidates for president, vice president and senator filed their COCs from Oct. 12 to 16 at the Comelec main office in Manila; and aside from the 130 presidential aspirants there were 19 candidates for vice president and 172 for senator. However, not all 130 may be declared as official candidates for President, the Comelec said. “We gave the people the chance to ...

Senator Grace Poe, on Wednesday, finally declared her intention to run for president in the forthcoming May 2016 elections inside the jampacked University of the Philippines Bahay ng Alumni. Her speech focused on most major problems of the country which she intends to address if and when she wins the presidency. Please find below the FULL TEXT of her speech September 16, 2015: "Sa aking ina, sa aking asawa at mga anak, mga kaibigan, sa lahat ng naririto ngayon maraming salamat po sa pagdalo ninyo ngayong araw. Mga Kababayan Nung una akong kumatok sa inyong mga puso, ang sabi ko: Gusto kong ipagpatuloy ang mga simulain ni FPJ. Simple lang ang prinsipyo ng aking ama na siya ring naging dahilan ng kanyang pagtakbo... sinabi niya mismo sa bulwagang ito mahigit 11-taon ang nakalipas: Importante sa isang leader ang katalinuhan pero mas mahalaga ang may tapat na pusong manilbihan upang tulungan ang mahihirap, labanan ang pang-aabuso, at pumanday ng isang lipunang masagana ...

T here will be no more carrying of guns tomorrow, January 22 2015 -- 30 days ahead of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. The gun ban shall be in effect from Jan. 22 to March 2, or 30 days before and 15 days after election day, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Based on Comelec Minute Resolution No. 15-0026, all gun ban exemptions issued for the May 2013 local and national elections and October 2013 barangay polls will not be honored. However, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and other law enforcement and security personnel could apply for renewal of their Certificates of Authority/Gun Ban Exemptions, Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said. “All existing authority granting security personnel or bodyguards are likewise revoked, except the regular security complement of the President, Vice President, senators, congressmen and governors, all local elective officials (except barangay officials), justices, judges, Cabinet secretaries, cha...