In what could be seen as sign of hope, presidential aspirant Rodrigo Duterte and his running mate, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, vowed over the weekend to distribute the P80-billion coco levy funds to small coconut farmers in just one month should they win in the upcoming May elections.
While an increasing number of women occupy higher positions in local public offices such as mayor and vice-mayor, governor and vice-governor, their orientation does not automatically mean advocating and defending women human rights nor taking up issues of discrimination and gender equity.
A Davao-based poll watchdog and PDP-Laban Presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte slammed the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday, March 10 for threatening to postpone the May 9 elections.
A peasant group has criticized on Friday, March 11, Presidential aspirant, Senator Grace Poe for siding with business mogul Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. and accused Poe of “reversing the historical truth” on the coconut levy fund issue.
The forthcoming national elections, as with all previous elections since the so-called EDSA I “people power revolution” and the parade of bogus republics in the past, will never be a genuine expression of the slogan “from the people, by the people and for the people” much less embody the hope for the vast underprivileged majority to become the real bosses of the country.
Running mates Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano are pushing for the lifting of bank secrecy law for public officials saying this will prevent corrupt officials from amassing billions worth of stolen wealth from the public.
In a statement on March 10, lawyer Paola Alvarez, spokesperson of PDP-Laban, said Poe’s statement shows only that she is “deeply indebted and wants to pay back the businessman accused of amassing wealth by forcing coconut farmers to pay tax 40 years ago.”
The use of the internet with a stable and fast connection at an accessible price is significant for voters this coming election, says a group campaigning for internet rights.
The conference challenged the presidential candidates in the 2016 elections to listen to the demands mining-affected communities and other concerned sectors in Mindanao.
A legal expert criticized Atty. Romeo “Mac” Macalintal for his wrong analysis on the “Roque” doctrine, a Supreme Court decision which mandates the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to issue a voter’s receipt.
