VOL. XXX NO. 132 3 Sections 32 Pages P18 FRIDAY : JUNE 24, 2016 www.thestandard.com.ph editorial@thestandard.com.ph
Weapons upgrade for AFP
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POLL BODY FEARS CRISIS OVER SOCE Comelec defends ruling on LP deadline extension
By Sara Susanne D. Fabunan and Maricel V. Cruz
THE Commission on Elections on Thursday defended its decision to extend the deadline for submitting statements of contributions and expenditures, saying it was fending off a constitutional crisis that might ensue if the winning Liberal Party candidates, including Vice President-elect Leni Robredo, were unable to assume office because of a failure to file the documents on time.
The Comelec en banc had voted 4-3 to grant the LP petition to extend the deadline from June 8 to June 30, after the party’s standard bearer Manuel Roxas II failed to submit his SOCE on time. “We find it abhorrent to adopt the erroneous interpretation that our duly elected public officials cannot assume office simply because of the failure of the party treasurer to submit the party’s SOCE within the 30-day deadline,” the resolution stated.
“The resulting frustration of the people’s mandate, the widespread vacuum in the public service, and the likelihood of a constitutional crisis, constitute an absurdity not contemplated by the law. These are risks that the commission is not willing to take,” the Comelec en banc added. The commissioners pointed out their fear that they may be disenfranchising millions of voters if they refused to allow the winning candidates to assume their respec-
tive posts. “The stringent application of election laws must give way to the principle of liberality in their enforcement if a strict application will result in negating the will of the electorate. The commission cannot and will not prevent hundreds of elected officials from assuming office,” the Comelec said. The Comelec en banc also said that extending the deadline would give all candidates more time to Next page
A question of law. File photo shows workers unloading the statement of contributions and expenditures of presidential candidate Mar Roxas several days after the deadline. The elections body claims the decision was meant to avoid a constitutional crisis but critics argue the claim can only be resolved by the Supreme Court. DANNY PATA
Bulls’ Rose traded to NY Knicks
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Lopez told: Abide by Rody’s mining policy By John Paolo Bencito and F. Pearl A. Gajunera DAVAO CITY—Incoming Department of Environment and Natural Resources secretary Gina Lopez will have to adjust to the “responsible mining policy” of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. In a media briefing here, incoming presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella
said that when Lopez—an anti-mining advocate—accepted the invitation to join Duterte’s Cabinet, it meant she would follow whatever guidelines that the President would give. “The fact that she accepted it, it means that she will advocate the position of the president,” Abella said. “The president is not anti-mining. He actually supports each and every
venture that contributes to the health of the Philippine economy,” he said. “What the president is demanding is that those who do that must be very careful,” he added. On Tuesday, Duterte told the mining companies during a speech at a business forum here: “You have to do it right. If you cannot do it, then get out Next page of mining.”