GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

MANILA – A total of 150 deaths have been reported so far from the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Paeng, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Thursday.

Of the figure, 94 have been validated – 63 from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 28 from Western Visayas, and three from Soccsksargen.

Caritas Philippines, the Catholic Church’s social action arm, is supporting a petition to strike down the law that mandated the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, its national director, said they remain opposed to the move as it undermines the importance of the poll exercise.

“Postponing the barangay election for the third time since 2016 reflects how our national political leaders undermine the importance of barangay-level politics in the exercise of our democratic rights,” Bagaforo said.

MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it is prepared to hold the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) even this year and thanked the Supreme Court for acknowledging its efforts during the May 9 polls.

The Comelec aired its side during Friday’s oral arguments that tackled the petition of election lawyer Romulo Macalintal, who claimed Republic Act 11935 that reset the BSKE from December 5 to October 2023 is unconstitutional.

COTABATO CITY – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMm) is building 31 more 2-storey barangay halls buildings across the region totaling to P108.5 million at P3.5 million each.

On Thursday, the signing of Memorandum of Agreements for the implementation of this project was held at the Bajau Office of the Chief Minister, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.

MANILA - President BongBong Marcos Jr. has signed into law the bill that suspends this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections that was originally slated for December 2022.

It appeared that the bill was signed into law last Monday simultaneous with the signing of the President of SIM registration act. It was published in the government's official gazette Wednesday.

THE COUNTRY’s anti-graft court on Monday sentenced former Mayor Datu Sajid Islam Ampatuan of Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Maguindanao to about 128 years in prison for multiple counts of graft and malversation.

CAMP SK PENDATUN, Maguindanao – The Regional Advisory Group of the Police in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has paid tribute to a fallen member of the advisory body – Dr. Ameril Usman.

The meeting was presided over by Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM interior and local government minister.

MANILA – Lawyer Trixie Cruz-Angeles has stepped down from being Press Secretary, Malacañang confirmed Tuesday.

Cruz-Angeles herself announced that she has tendered her resignation due to “health reasons.”

“I tendered my resignation this morning, effective end of business hours today. Due to health reasons. It was a pleasure working with you,” she said in a statement.

Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevara, in an interview with reporters, also confirmed that Cruz-Angeles resigned due to “medical conditions.”

COTABATO CITY – Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has visited Basilan for the conduct of Tabang Bangsamoro, BARMM spokesperson Atty. Naguib Sinarimbo said.

“We joined the Chief Minister in Basilan province for the conduct of Tabang Bangsamoro, a convergence platform for all the ministries and agencies of the Bangsamoro Government to bring their services closer to the people,” Sinarimbo said in a statement.

During this occasion, our ministry delivered on:

MANILA – Congress will try to pass the measures seeking the postponement of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) and the registration of all postpaid and prepaid mobile phone subscriber identity module (SIM) cards on third and final reading by Oct. 1, according to House Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe on Friday.

Dalipe said this was the agreement reached among leaders of the House of Representatives and Senate during the Common Legislative Agenda coordination meeting held Thursday night at the Manila Golf and Country Club in Makati.