Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa’s winning the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for militantly protecting freedom of expression is a singular achievement of a Filipino even as it is another black mark on President Rodrigo Duterte who has been demonizing and derogating press freedom.
EXCEPT for Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go who is running for vice president, no incumbent senator whose term does not expire on June 30, 2022 is vying for a higher position in the May 9, 2022 elections. This is unlike in the 2016 presidential election when five senators ran for president or vice president without forfeiting their unexpired terms in the Senate. All lost and all had their seats waiting for their return, courtesy of an unfair proviso in the Fair Election Act of 2001.
The three-week extension for the registration of voters approved by the COMELEC En Banc from October 9 to October 30 for the 2022 May elections is way too short of the registration up to January 8, 2022 as mandated by Section 8 of R.A. No. 8189 establishing a system of continuing registration of voters.
THE Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not merely items on a country’s prime checklist. They are integral parts of the compass that will guide all nations and their leaders in navigating the difficult and challenging highway leading to worldwide peace and equitable progress.
Albay Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said that the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) cannot refuse to conduct a longer period of registration of voters because under the existing law it is mandated to hold continuing registration up to January 9, 2022 for the May 9, 2022 regular national and local elections.
