ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs

Marcos’ substitute, 42 others disqualified

THE COMMISSION on Elections rejected the certificate of candidacy of Leyte Rep. Imelda Marcos’ substitute and 42 other candidates running for local positions in Metro Manila in an en
banc resolution today.

Comelec executive director Resurrecion Borra said Dr. Francisco Tahanan could not be appointed as Kilusang Bagong Lipunan’s new standard bearer even if Marcos had withdrawn from the race last Sunday because the commission has already considered him as a nuisance candidate.

Meanwhile, 42 Metro Manila candidates running for congressional, city, municipal and provincial positions were disqualified due to different violations of the Omnibus Election Code.

Borra said their votes would still be counted but their proclamation would automatically be suspended in case they win the elections.

Commissioner Evalyn Fetalino said among these candidates were Parañaque mayoralty candidate Reynaldo Casacop Olivarez and Makati vice–mayoralty bet actor Edu Manzano.

The Comelec’s second division disqualified Manzano because of  his dual citizenship as a Filipino and American citizen.

Manzano, however, denied the accusations, saying he did not pledge allegiance to the United States.

The Local Government Code disqualifies those who are holding dual citizenship from running for any elective post.

Ombudsman prepares to file raps vs 15 teachers in Central Visayas

THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman in the second district of Central Visayas is now preparing to file charges against 15 public school teachers for receiving gifts from the family of a candidate running for a congressional position.

Ombudsman director Virginia Palanca said the teachers admitted receiving motorcycles as gifts from the family of last–termer Representative Crisologo Abines in exchange for altering election returns.

The Ombudsman’s office also learned that Abines bribed the teachers to create the alterations in favor of his wife, Priscilla, who seeks to be his successor.

AFP chief claims election was peaceful


ARMED FORCES of the Philippines chief Clemente Mariano said the election had been relatively peaceful and orderly as of the closing of voting precincts at 3 p.m. today.

Mariano hopes the peaceful conduct of the elections would continue until the counting and canvassing as he assured that military troops will remain in their designated areas.

Incidents reported continue to be isolated even as Mariano admitted the number has exceeded that of 1992.

Earlier, Philippine National Police chief Santiago Aliño also maintained that the conduct of the election remains peaceful and manageable compared to the previous elections.

Aliño has ordered PNP units in areas where incidents of violence have been reported to conduct the necessary investigation.

He added that of the areas identified as election “hot spots,” the latest incident of violence are most prevalent in Masbate.

ALLEGED FLYING voters hired by re–electionist Montalban Mayor Pedro Cuerpo were arrested today while attempting to cast their votes, prompting the principal of San Isidro Elementary School to stop the voting in two precincts in this town of Rizal.

At least 75 of the alleged flying voters have been cast when Principal Lucille Mendoza stopped the counting and later by the group of rival mayoralty candidate Lito San Diego.

Mendoza said only four policemen were assigned in the area inspite of her earlier request for a contingent from the Philippine Marines to be sent to the school in anticipation for any election–related violence, after she received death threats last April.