Sen. Francis Escudero urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday to proclaim party-list groups Ako Bicol, the top vote getter, and Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption (Cibac) amid pending petitions against them.

Escudero made the call after the Comelec deferred proclaiming 11 winning groups, including Ako Bicol and Cibac, due to pending disqualification cases separately lodged against them.

“Allegations (and) petitions against the nominees should not hinder the proclamation of the party itself. The party-list system was created to reflect program-based politics and not personality-based, therefore these duly elected party-lists which got top votes should have been proclaimed by now,” said Escudero, a Bicolano.

Source: Philippine Star by Christina Mendez, June 3, 2010

Rep. Joel Villanueva of the party-list Citizens Battle Against Corruption said the re-appointment of Pagcor chairman Efraim Genuino and board directors Rafael Francisco, Philip Lo, Manuel C. Roxas and Ester Alano Laconico-Feria was illegal.

MANILA, Philippines - Various sectors called on President Arroyo yesterday to revoke the re-appointments of five officials of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor), pointing out that these were in violation of the Constitution.

Constitutional expert Fr. Joaquin Bernas said Mrs. Arroyo virtually violated the spirit of the Constitution against appointments within the election period.

“Proven last elections na nagkalat mga pambato niya at totoo ang kiss of death ni President Arroyo kaya malamang na maglalayasan na ang ilan sa kanila,” ani Villanueva. 

Hindi makikialam si incoming President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III sa inaabangang pagsasabong ng dalawang dating mag-amo bilang House Speaker sa pagbubukas ng 15th Congress sa Hulyo 26.

Sa inaabangang pagbabanggaan nina Quezon City Congressman-elect at Mayor Feliciano ‘Sonny’ Belmonte at outgoing Pre­sident at Pampanga Congresswoman-elect Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo bilang House Speaker, magsisilbing ‘miron’ lamang si Aquino.