News Briefs: March 31, 2019
Credit to Author: lalos| Date: Sat, 30 Mar 2019 23:28:32 +0000
Comelec turns to social media to fight fake news
With barely two months left before voters head to the polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is doubling efforts to protect the integrity of the ballot, taking social media platforms as partners in taking down posts that would undermine the legitimacy of election results in May.
James Jimenez, Comelec spokesperson, said the poll body was coordinating with Facebook and other social media platforms to remove fake news about the elections. —Jovic Yee
MILF submits list of combatants, weapons to Duterte
Bangsamoro chief Murad Ebrahim said the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) had already submitted to President Rodrigo Duterte the complete list of combatants and their firearms for the first stage of the decommissioning process provided by the MILF’s peace agreement with the government.
At a speech during the inauguration of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, the President said the decommissioning process was key to normalization. —Jeoffrey Maitem
BI bars 30 from leaving for Dubai
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) barred 30 people from leaving the country on Friday after it was found that they posed as tourists but actually intended to work in the United Arab Emirates.
The travelers, 18 women and 12 men, had told immigration personnel at Ninoy Aquino International Airport that they were either visiting friends or relatives in Dubai.
Grifton Medina, BI port operations division chief, said the travelers later admitted their real purpose in going to Dubai—work as waiters or waitresses. —Jovic Yee and Jerome Aning
Bersamin says SC doors shut on premature cases
Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin on Saturday reminded lawyers they should not waste their time filing “premature” cases at the high court that should have been filed first at lower courts.
Speaking at the 17th national convention of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in Iloilo City, Bersamin said a decision issued by the court on March 12 was “important to all those who always look at the Supreme Court as the only venue for our cases.”
He was referring to a 42-page decision penned by Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza on a petition filed by a contractor against the Department of Transportation and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines. —Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
JBC opens applications for another SC seat
The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) is now open to receive applications for the Supreme Court seat that will be vacated when Justice Mariano del Castillo retires on July 29.
In an announcement posted on Friday on the JBC website, Supreme Court clerk of court Edgar Aricheta said those interested in the position must submit applications or recommendations by May 14. —Jerome Aning