2022 elections not rigged, poll body boss insists

THE Commission on Elections denied allegations the results of the 2022 national and local elections were rigged.

In a statement Thursday night, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia downplayed concerns raised about the transmission of results from a "private and similar IP address" in the areas of Metro Manila, Cavite, and Batangas in last year's polls.

"There's no requirement in the law stating that all modems should be different or similar IP addresses," the poll official said.

Garcia explained there were around 20,300 modems which have the same IP address last year.

The 4G network modems, he said, were purchased for the Comelec-leased vote counting machines as well as to cover the 5,000 damaged modems from VCMs purchased in 2016 that were later refurbished for last year's polls.

Garcia assured that all these modems underwent necessary tests.

He, however, noted that it would take the Comelec more months if it opted to change all IP addresses of the 20,300 modems.

"There's no effect or difference in accuracy, legitimacy, and functionality of transmission, whether the modems have similar or different IP addresses," Garcia said. (See full story online at manilastandard.net) ern Visayas.

Still undergoing verification are seven deaths – four in Cordillera and one each in the Ilocos region, Calabarzon, and Western Visayas.

In the same update, the NDRRMC said it is still validating reports of 12 injured –eight in the Davao region, two in Western Visayas, and one each in Calabarzon and Ilocos.

Also undergoing confirmation are reports of 20 missing persons – 11 in Cagayan Valley and nine in Cordillera.

The NDRRMC reported that 140,923 families, equivalent to 502,782 persons residing in 1,612 barangays in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Cordillera have been affected by the bad weather.

Some 8,890 families or 29,223 persons were taking shelter in 479 evacuation centers while another 3,851 families, equivalent to 13,608 individuals staying outside evacuation centers, were also being aided.

The Office of Civil Defense earlier said the affected families are a combination of those displaced and those who do not need evacuation but whose livelihoods have been affected.

A total of 2,002 houses were reported damaged in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Soccsksargen, BARMM, and Cordillera.

The state weather bureau said Egay dumped more than a month's rain in its two Ilocos stations.

The two stations of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) are located in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte and Sinait town in Ilocos Sur.

In 48 hours, between 8:00 a.m. Tuesday and 8:00 a.m. Thursday, Laoag City recorded 620 millimeters of rain, more than the station's average July rainfall of 478.9 millimeters.

Sinait station, meanwhile, registered 578.1 mm of rain, also more than its monthly normal of 529.8 millimeters for July.

Baguio City, located on the western

Malampaya.

The President said his administration will aggressively promote renewable energy to meet the target of attaining a 35 percent share in the power mix by 2030 and then on to 50 percent by 2040.

“Renewable energy is the way forward,” Mr. Marcos said.

“The Malampaya project has been a boon to our country, energizing 20 percent of Luzon. The renewal of the contract guarantees continued revenues and energy production for another 15 years. But aside from Malampaya, we will also push for in Manila, saying they were relieved so they could not interfere with the investigation.

“My instructions are clear to the regional commander of the Coast Guard to conduct a fair, honest, and transparent investigation," he said. He said that cases will be filed against the boat captain and operator.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III underscored the need for the Senate to investigate the Laguna Lake tragedy. His call was supported by Senator Christopher Go.

Pimentel said it was too early for the PCG to lift the “no sail” order because Typhoon "Egay" had left the country only slope of the Cordillera mountain range at a 1,500-meter elevation, logged 589.4 millimeters of rain in two days, equivalent to three weeks of rain in July. more gas exploration in other parts of the country,” the President added. four hours before.

Between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, Egay also dumped almost a month's worth of rain in Aparri, Cagayan at 194 millimeters.

Several towns in northwestern mainland Cagayan, Ilocos Norte, Abra, and Ilocos Sur experienced widespread flooding, while Mountain Province and Benguet were hit by multiple landslides.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez delivered relief and financial assistance to residents of Baguio City and Benguet on Friday.

Fundraising efforts initiated by Romualdez and Tingog Party-list led by Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre have already reached P218.85 million in relief goods and financial assistance as of Friday afternoon.

Despite the bad weather, Romualdez said he traveled to Baguio to heed the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for officials to ensure that aid reaches typhoonstricken communities.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific (CEB) have canceled 10 local and international flights on Friday, citing the effects of typhoon Egay.

In an advisory, PAL said the canceled flights are PR 2196/2197 and PR 2198/2199 Manila-Laoag-Manila; PR 330/331 Manila-Xiamen-Manila; and PR 356/357 Manila-Jinjiang-Manila.

Affected passengers may reroute their flights, subject to available space within 60 days.

Cebu Pacific on Thursday announced that due to Egay's impact on the Laoag International Airport, flights 5J 404 and 5J 405 between Manila and Laoag scheduled on July 28 and 29 have been canceled.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) earlier said the Laoag International Airport temporarily halted operations due to damage done to the airport’s ceiling and doors.

As of Thursday, the airport was still closed.

Affected CEB passengers may rebook their tickets without fare difference up to 30 days from the original flight date.

Manalo also said he was not aware of proposals on possible joint military exercises with China.

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. earlier disclosed to the media that China floated the idea of joint military exercises.

"Well, I think what he said was possible so I don’t know yet. Anyway, we have to see first what they’re proposing before we can even make a recommendation," the DFA secretary said.

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has suspended the permit of the sunken MB Aya Express. The suspension will be followed by a thorough inspection of the vessel, the agency said.

The wooden outrigger was carrying about 70 people on its regular run from a port in Binangonan municipality to the island of Talim in Laguna Lake, near Manila, on Thursday when the accident happened.

Strong winds sparked panic among passengers who moved to one side of the vessel and caused it to capsize, the coast guard said. The boat's maximum capacity was 42.

Munti court junks bid to reverse De Lima acquittal

A MUNTINLUPA court has junked the state prosecution's bid to reverse the acquittal of former Sen. Leila de Lima in her second drug case last May.

In an order dated July 6 but released Friday, Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 204 Judge Abraham Joseph Alcantara denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration due to “lack of merit.”

Alcantara acquitted De Lima and coaccused Ronnie Dayan of conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading in May this year, citing the retraction of former Bureau of Corrections OIC Rafael Ragos. Ragos initially claimed he personally delivered drug money to De Lima’s residence in Parañaque in November and December 2012.

Ragos later accused former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II of coercing him to testify against De Lima, a claim Aguirre denied.

"Every acquittal becomes final immediately upon promulgation and cannot be recalled for correction or amendment. With the acquittal being immediately final, granting the State's motion for reconsideration, in this case, would violate the Constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy because it would effectively reopen the prosecution and subject the accused to a second jeopardy despite their acquittal,” the court said.

‘PBBM...

From A1 repair and overhaul operations, Air Asia super app, and logistics operations in the country.

“We’re excited about what we can do in the Philippines and really stimulate small, medium enterprises … we are excited. We think we can bring a lot of value to the Philippines on logistics,” Fernandes told President Marcos during the roundtable meeting in Malaysia.

“So, over the next few years, we think we’ll invest about one billion US dollars into the Philippines. We have about $300 million so far. We want to grow our aircraft from 23 to 50 including wide-body aircraft...We are just applying for the license now,” he added.

In a separate interview, the President said the contract between the Metro Pacific Investment Corp. (MPIC) and Malaysia's Hartasuma Sdn. Bhd. is part of $285 million pledges the country secured during his trip.

He said the joint project showed the commitment of the Philippines and Malaysia to improving physical connectivity such as roads, railways, and other forms of transportation.

“Literally, because of the visit, the President’s presence in KL [Kuala Lumpur] hastened the progress of this agreement and three billion will be pledged for investments into the Philippines,” Speaker Marti Romualdez said.

"Under the collaboration agreement, 'the Parties have expressed their desire to engage in railway engineering and maintenance, and other railoriented projects in the Philippines in line with the government’s aspiration to modernize the Philippines’ railway network,'" he added.