BRIEF

Declare Uy as Zamboanga solon, SC orders Comelec

THE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to proclaim Roberto “Pinpin” T. Uy Jr. as the winner in the 2022 congressional election for the 1st District of Zamboanga del Norte.

In a full court decision rendered on August 8, 2023, the SC through Justice Mario Lopez granted the petition filed by Uy as it nullified the Comelec’s proclamation of Romeo M. Jalosjos Jr. as winner.

Aside from Uy and Jalosjos Jr., the other candidates in the 2022 election were Frederico “Kuya Jan” Jalosjos and Richard Amazon. Uy garnered 69,591 votes compared to Jalosjos Jr.’s 69,109 votes. Uy’s proclamation was stopped by the Comelec pending resolution of Jalosjos Jr.’s petition to declare F. Jalosjos a nuisance candidate.

After the Comelec declared F. Jalosjos a nuisance candidate on June 7, 2022, his votes were credited in favor of R. Jalosjos Jr. that led to the latter’s proclamation as the duty-elected representative for Zamboanga de Norte’s 1st district.

This prompted Uy to challenge the Comelec’s ruling before the SC.

On July 12, 2022, the SC granted temporarily the plea of Uy to stop R. Jalosjos Jr. from assuming his post. The SC also stopped temporarily the Comelec from crediting in favor of R. Jalosjos Jr. the 5,424 votes of F. Jalosjos. Rey E. Requejo aid outside evacuation centers.

The Office of Civil Defense said the affected families are a combination of those displaced and those not needing removal from their residence but whose livelihoods have been affected.

The death toll stood at 30, four of whom have been confirmed. About 171 persons were reported injured, 152 of whom have been validated. Reports of 10 missing persons are still undergoing validation.

The Department of Health (DOH) meanwhile conducted the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Learning and Development Summit which aims aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction and health management nationwide.

OIC-Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Dr. Gloria J. Balboa led the efforts in the DRRM-H institutionalization, operationalization, and localization.

“It is important to spread knowledge and awareness on disaster risk reduction and management in health in order to prepare communities on the coming of probable crisis,” the department said. The program was attended by Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in Health (DRRM-H) Managers of the DOH Centers for Health Development (CHDs), Hospitals and Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers and other health sector partners around the country. Gabriellea Parino

BOC agents seize smuggled diesel in Tondo operation CUSTOMS agents seized smuggled diesel fuel in Tondo, Manila, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported on Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Group Juvymax Uy said a lorry truck was discovered with its load of 21,000 liters of unmarked and smuggled blended diesel fuel in Tondo last month.

The bureau issued a Warrant of Seizure and Detention against the truck owned by V-Fuel Gasoline Station after it failed the fuel marking test.

Operatives of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service - Manila International Container Port (CIIS-MICP) headed by its chief Alvin Enciso conducted the operation on July 8 in Tondo following a tip from an informant.

“Our order was to conduct validation on information received about the presence of fuel smuggling activities, conduct intelligence and enforcement operations against fuel smuggling in the areas of Manila, Navotas, and Malabon,” said Uy.

“It came to our attention a lorry truck was in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, so we had it checked. Our agents inspected it and found the unmarked fuel. They brought it to the Port of Manila for safekeeping,” he added.

Tests conducted on the first three compartments with 16,000 liters of unmarked fuel on July 10 and 12, as well as the fourth compartment with 5,000 liters on July 19, all showed failed results. Joel E. Zurbano

Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil said. Garafil said the DA and PRISM presented to Mr. Marcos the rice supply outlook for the country until the end of 2023.

Based on a statement posted on staterun Radio Television Malacañang’s official Facebook page, the DA also briefed the President about the country’s current supply situation, factors that threaten the country’s rice production and export, and the import trends and needs.

DA Undersecretary Merceditas Sombillo said the projected ending stock for 2023 is 1.96 million metric tons (MMT), enough to last for 52 days.

Sombillo added that the Philippine Statistics Authority’s ending stock projection presents an even better scenario as it is expected to be 2.12 MMT, which would last for 57 days.

Palay harvest season is from September to November.

Othel V. Campos

DOH:

Garcia vows clean, honest midterm polls COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia vowed to conduct clean and honest elections as the poll regulator begins preparations for the midterm polls in May 2025. Garcia issued the assurance as he marks his first year as the top head of the poll body, saying the Comelec has its hands full in the coming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections set in October this year.

“As I mark my first year as Chairman of the Commission on Elections, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my fellow Commissioners and to the men and women of COMELEC for your relentless dedication and support in realizing our vision. Together, we have implemented data-driven improvements to enhance the efficiency of the Commission and to increase voter registration turnout,” he said.

“We have taken significant steps to reinforce the public’s trust in our electoral process. We continue to engage all our stakeholders, including participation in key legislative initiatives, to foster an inclusive and accountable approach to electoral management and reform,” the Comelec chief said.

He also said the agency will be transparent in the 2025 automated elections as the poll body gives details of the planned lease for new vote counting machines (VCMs). Vito Barcelo