OCTOBER 13-16, 2018 Volume 28 - No. 81 • 4 Sections – 30 Pages
House restores VP in line of succession in draft charter by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
A PHILIPPINE lawmaker on Thursday, October 11, revealed that House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has “readily agreed” to bring back the vice president as the first successor to the presidency in the draft federal constitution. Cebu City First District Representative Raul del Mar said that he urged the House speaker to put back the vice president ahead of the Senate president in the line of succession during the proposed transition period. “[I told Arroyo] I will introduce the amendment in that provision to put back the vice president as the first successor. Now, she not only readily agreed. She said, ‘We can’t wait! That has to be done immediately,’” del Mar said as reported by The Manila Times. Vice President Leni Robredo
Inquirer.net photo
USA
DATELINE Fil-Am federal prosecutor nominated by Trump to 9th Circuit FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Patrick J. Bumatay to be first Fil-Am judge to serve on federal appeals court FILIPINO-AMERICAN attorney Patrick J. Bumatay was nominated by President Donald Trump to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Wednesday, October 10. If confirmed, Bumatay would become the first Fil-Am judge to serve on a federal appeals court, and the second Fil-Am Article III judge ever in U.S. history. Bumatay would also become the second openly LGBT federal circuit court judge. The Ninth Circuit — considered to be the most liberal of circuits — is the largest federal appeals court with 29 judges, serving nine
u PAGE A2
Duterte names Panelo as his next spokesman by NATHALIE
ROBLES
AJPress
PRESIDENTIAL Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday, October 11 announced that he will be President Rodrigo Duterte’s next spokesman after Malacañang spokesman Harry Roque Jr. took an indefinite leave of absence. The chief legal counsel answered affirmatively when asked if he would replace Roque, who is reportedly vying for a Senate post in the midterm 2019 elections. Panelo noted that there will be no drastic change as he had started
speaking on behalf of the president since his campaign. “Actually wala namang pagbabago kasi (nothing has changed) because day one of the presidential campaign of the president, I was already his spokesman, and day one, when he assumed the presidency, I was also his spokesman. In fact, the executive order creating this office, my present position, states that I am the spokesman for the president,” Panelo said in a video sent to reporters by Presidential Communications Operations Office chief Martin Andanar. He also said that he has been
u PAGE A2
by TETCH
TORRES-TUPAS Inquirer.net
SENIOR Associate Justice Antonio Carpio has accepted his automatic nomination for the Chief Justice post. Carpio himself confirmed in a text message that he was officially joining the chief justice race. After Maria Lourdes Sereno was ousted via quo warranto proceedings, by tradition, the five most senior justices of the Supreme Court have been automatically nominated for the post. However, they have to accept the nomination before they are considered candidates. Carpio earlier declined the nomination, saying he does not want to benefit from a proceeding that he opposed. President Rodrigo Duterte then appointed Teresita Leonardo-De Castro who served as Chief Justice for one
Voter enthusiasm soars as the midterm elections approach
IT’S election season, and voters are fired up. Recent events in Washington have mobilized American citizens to exercise their rights to vote. The bi-yearly national public service announcements by lawmakers, celebrities and organizations to vote are spreading through social media. Although the midterm elections, historically, draw significantly less voter turnout, the preponderance of voter encouragement has been on the rise with a vast majority of voters unhappy with many Congress decisions: the passage of the tax code last year, the Cabinet appointments and the recent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. The Asian American and Pacific Islander
Duterte’s spokesman since the 2016 campaign. The only difference now, he added was that he would be “more visible.” “So wala namang pagbabago (nothing has changed). The only difference I think would be I would be more visible this time kasi (because) as chief presidential legal counsel, I was really speaking for the president on matters of national sensitive issues that require my articulation on the thoughts and ideas of the president,” he added. Despite his new title, Panelo would still remain as the presiPresidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo
Philstar.com photo
Carpio accepts SC chief nomination Siargao, Boracay, Palawan
u PAGE A5
New survey finds increased enthusiasm among the Asian American electorate, Filipinos’ intention to vote ranks highest among surveyed groups
SUCCESSFUL TRIP. President Rodrigo Duterte bids farewell to Indonesia Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita and Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Sinyo Harry Sarundajang during his departure at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Indonesia following his successful participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Gathering on October 11. Malacañang photo by Simeon Celi
Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio
Inquirer.net photo
top Conde Nast list by AJPRESS
THREE Philippine islands nabbed the top spots as Asia’s Best Islands voted by readers of international travel magazine Conde Nast Traveler for its 2018 Readers’ Choice Awards. Ranking first is the teardropshaped island of Siargao, “home to more than 15 separate surf breaks, including the legendary Cloud 9, which counts Kelly Slater and Anthony Kiedis among its fans,” as written by Verena von Pfetten for Conde Nast. u PAGE A2 “We like to say that surfers are the vanguard of travelers, scoping out some of the more re-
New poll finds: Majority of Filipinos claim to be poor by AJPRESS
A SURVEY from the Social Weather Stations (SWS) concluded that there is an increase in the number of Filipino families claiming that they are poor from the 48 percent in June to 52 percent at the most recent. More than a million Filipino families joined the ranks of the poor in the self-rated nationwide poll. The said survey conducted from September 15 to 23 indicated a significant spike from the previous 11.1 million in June as it jumped to 12.2 million families in u PAGE A4 September.
mote parts of the world for surf breaks before the rest of us get there… but our readers, an adventurous sort, have caught on. There’s enough white sand to go around,” the write-up read. Boracay secured the second spot — proving that tourists remain interested in the popular island despite its temporary closure. The magazine raved: “This itty-bitty island (just under four square miles) in the Western Philippines is as close to a tropical idyll as you’ll find in Southeast Asia, with gentle coastlines and made-for-Instagram sunsets.
u PAGE A3
“This is the second consecutive increase in self-rated poverty in 2018. Since the 42 percent recorded in March 2018, self-rated poverty has increased by 10 points in total,” SWS said as reported by The Manila Times. Among the 52 percent who rated themselves poor, only 8 percent were “newly poor,” meaning they did not consider themselves poor one to four years ago. The poll revealed that 36 percent, or about 8.5 million families, considered themselves food-poor. It increased by 2 percent or about 700,000 families from 34 percent Ms. Susan del Mundo, representing the Department of Tourism office in New York, received the Top in June. Island in Asia award for Siargao at the 2018 Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award in New York The increase indicated in the study could City. Flanking her are Craig Kostelic, chief business officer of The Lifestyle Collection and Melinda
u PAGE A2
Stevens, editor-in-chief of Conde Nast Traveler.
Contributed photo