News Update
As of January 5, 2018 (Friday)
1. Manila Bulletin
Federalism shift via Con-Ass pushed
House leaders are one with Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez in pushing for federalism and according to them the best way of going about Charter change (Cha-cha), is through a Constituent Assembly. Among their reasons why they favor federalism is to fast-track the passage of the Duterte administration’s pro-people projects, since it is easier to pass bills if there is unicameral legislative system. Others believe that is the key to countryside development and the attainment of peace in Mindanao.
House speaker Alvarez earlier vowed to talk to Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to initiate the process of convening the Senate and the House into a Constituent Assembly and prepare a new constitution that would install a federal form of government as soon as Congress resumes its session on January 15.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/01/05/federalism-shift-via-con-ass-pushed/
2. Philippine Star
Grace Poe leads 2019 Senate survey; Sara Duterte in Magic 12
Re-electionist Senators Grace Poe, Cynthia Villar, Kiko Pimentel and Nancy Binay topped the survey
reportedly conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS) for the 2019 Senate elections. Mayor Sarah Duterte- Carpio ranked ninth, after former senator and Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, re-electionist Juan Edgardo Angara, and former senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Completing the Top 12 were former senator Lito Lapid, re-electionist JV Ejercito and broadcaster Erwin Tulfo.
However the survey results, which were not released on the SWS website, were published online by radio dzRH yesterday. SWS neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the survey.
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2018/01/05/1774802/grace-poe-leads-2019-senate-survey-sara-duterte- magic-12
3. Daily Inquirer
Martial law effective in Mindanao–Bato
Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa insists that martial law has been very effective in Mindanao, pointing out that it has been potent in neutralizing warlords on the island. He said that the number problem in Mindanao firearms.
Prior to martial law, he said Mindanao warlords and even local chief executives, governors and mayors, traveled in four-vehicle convoys full of armed security escorts.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/957616/martial-law-effective-in-mindanao-bato
4. Manila Times
Duterte fires Marina chief
President Rodrigo Duterte has fired Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) administrator Marcial Quirico Amaro 3rd for frequent unofficial foreign trips in 2016 and 2017.
“The President has terminated the services of Mr. Amaro of Marina. All but one of the 24 trips are on official business, and only three of them [official trips]were sponsored trips. The rest were paid for by the Philippine government, and he has received honorariums for such,” he told reporters in a news conference.
http://www.manilatimes.net/duterte-fires-marina-chief/372353/
