Warrantless arrests possible during BSKE

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is planning to allow warrantless arrests for those who will be caught in the act of buying or selling votes during the campaign period for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), which is set on October 30.

In a press conference Tuesday, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said the commission will issue new guidelines for the Philippine National Police to implement.

“In the guidelines that we will issue, we will allow the PNP to arrest if the person is caught in the act. We will authorize that now with full backing of the Comelec because it is our belief that under our Constitution warrantless arrest is allowed,” said Garcia.

The basis of the previous prohibition of arrests during the campaign period was the 1985 Omnibus Election Code, but under the 1987 Constitution, Garcia said warrantless arrest is allowed in cases of “in flagrante delicto” or being caught in the act.

He pointed out that if there is a contradiction between existing laws and the Constitution, the Constitution will be followed.

“So, the likelihood is very high that there are Filipinos who were affected by the wildfires in Lahaina,” Cortez said in a press briefing. On the other hand, he said the chances that visiting Filipinos and Philippine passport holders were also affected was “very minimal.”

He also said 50 Filipino teachers who are just on an exchange visit in Hawaii are also safe.

FAMAS AWARDEE.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez shows his

Exemplary Award in Public Service during the 71st Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences

(FAMAS) Awards in Manila on Sunday (see related story in Entertainment, B3). Jun Cabasag reckoning period for the transfer of jurisdiction of cases emanating from the Fort Bonifacio Military Reservation, consisting of Parcels 3 and 4, Psu-2031, from Makati City to the City of Taguig,” stated Villanueva.

Once the writ has been executed, the transfer of jurisdiction can take place, he said.

Makati City Administrator Claro Certeza said this response from the Supreme Court administrator has “provided a clear path forward.”

“Makati will continue to manage and supervise the affected schools until the

House panel OKs substitute MUP measure

By Maricel V. Cruz and Julito G. Rada

A HOUSE ad hoc committee has approved a substitute bill reforming the pension system for military and uniformed personnel (MUP) after a Palace-drafted measure drew complaints from soldiers and police.

Speaker Martin Romualdez commended the members of the ad hoc committee for coming up with a revised version of the reform bill that is now acceptable to all stakeholders, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Thanks to the House ad hoc committee, our military and uniformed personnel as well as their families will be able to sleep well, knowing that their pension will be paid in full and that their pay will go up every year,” Romualdez said in Filipino.

The MUP pension program covers members of the AFP, PNP, Bureau of