PCOS MACHINES ARRIVED IN MASBATE, SECURITY ON HIGH ALERT

LEGAZPI CITY — The 724 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines intended for Masbate province has arrived this morning at the Masbate City port, according to a ranking police officer here.

Police Senior Supt. Eddie Benigay, PNP Masbate police director, said security measures have been tightened by the Task Force Masbate (TFM) to secure the machines that arrived at around 9 a.m. today from the port in Pilar, Sorsogon.

Benigay said the machines were loaded into two 10-wheeler trucks escorted by TFM operatives and brought to a well guarded warehouse in Masbate City.

Soon after the machines were secured in the warehouse, he added, TFM has put up checkpoints to monitor any events and development on a 24/7 basis.

At the recent Comelec Joint Consultative Conference held at Camp Simeon Ola on Friday, Comelec Regional Director Zacarias Zaragoza said over 4,000 PCOS machines are now ready for distribution to clustered precincts voting centers in various towns and cities across the six provinces of Bicol.

Zaragoza said the PCOS machines would be ready for testing on May 8 and 9 to ensure that no failure of the machine operation would happen during the May 10 elections.

He asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to make available all public school classrooms for the PCOS machine testing on the scheduled date.

The police and military were likewise directed to closely coordinate with the local Comelec and the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) concerning the guarding of the machines and the security aspects during the testing course and the actual election procedures during the May 10 election. (MSArguelles, PNA Bicol /PIA)

DAR LAUNCHES ARCP2 IN 2 SORSOGON TOWNS

Sorsogon Province — Two among the six municipalities in Sorsogon, Casiguran and Irosin , launched just recently the second phase of the Agrarian Reform Community Project (ARCP) being implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) all over the Philippines.

ARCP2 is a Foreign Assisted Project (FAP) of DAR funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and OPEC Fund for International Development (OPID) which will be implemented in the country from 2009 to 2014.

According to Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer Roseller Olayres, whether or not a region is a recipient of ARCP, part of its tax collection will proceed to the ADB and OPID as payment for the government loan. Bicol region is a recipient of the ARCP.

It can be recalled that the Phase I of ARCP was implemented from 1999 to 2007 covering 11 regions including Bicol. The town of Donsol and Sorsogon City were the only recipients during the first implementation of ARCP in Sorsogon.

"Unlike ARCP1, this current Project involved 6 regions: Region IV-B, V, VI, VIII, IX and ARMM. Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Sorsogon were among the 3 provinces included in the Bicol region," Olayres bared.

"In the province of Sorsogon, only Sorsogon City and 5 other municipalities namely Casiguran, Irosin, Castilla, Juban, and Bulan are involved in ARCP2," he added.

"The town of Irosin is indeed very lucky because it has been a recipient of several projects from DAR. And having hard-working leaders, more projects will be underway for this town," Nelson Espaldon, CARP Officer for PBD (Program Beneficiaries' Development) said in his message in behalf of PARO Olayres, during the ARCP2 launching in Irosin.

The ARCP2 is in response to majority's call to provide farmers with support services and was brought to the community in coordination with the local government unit. It has 4 components namely: Community Driven Development (CDD), Agriculture Enterprise Development (AED), Rural Infrastructure (RI), and Project Management. Most important document required in this project is the minutes of Barangay Workshop Consultation (BWC).

"Our role in DAR is to assist the LGUs and the barangays in the preparation of the needed documents for the central government's approval of their proposed projects. The length of time depends on the community's cooperation," Ferdie Balmaceda, Project Consultant said.
"We, in DAR, looks forward to finish the launching in the four remaining municipalities the soonest possible time," Balmaceda added. (BARecebido/CAGoboli/AArbolente, PIA/DAR Sorsogon)

ALBAY INFLATION RATE MAINTAINS RATE IN THE FIRST 2 MONTHS THIS YEAR

LEGAZPI CITY— The inflation rate of the province of Albay maintained its rate at 3.8 per cent from January to February 2010 this year, 2.5 percentage points lower compared to the 6.3 percent inflation rate in February last year.

Albay Quickstat, updates of National Statistics Office (NSO) on consumer price index (CPI), showed the current level of the province’s inflation rate was the result of the stationary rate of both the heavily-weighted food, beverages and tobacco (FBT) index of -0.30 per cent and the non-food commodity/service index of -0.78 per cent.

The indices under the latter group showed increases – clothing (0.59 per cent from 0.46 per cent), housing and repairs (0.21 per cent fro0m zero per cent). Lower rates were likewise recorded in the indices of fuel, light and water (12.93 per cent from 16.33 per cent) and services (4.03 per cent from 4.14 per cent). On the other hand, miscellaneous index maintained its rate at 1.42 per cent between the two-month periods.

On a month-on-moth basis, the CPI for all income households in Albay was registered at 168.5 in February 2010, higher by 0.1 index point over the January 2010 level of 168.4. This indicates a 0.06 per cent change in the all-item index, lower by 0.24 percentage point than the previous month’s rate of 0.30 per cent.

Across commodities under the heavily-weighted FBT index, significant decreases were registered in the indices of fish (-1.12 per cent from 1.49 per cent) and fruits and vegetables (-7.15 per cent from -1.14 per cent), while the rest of the indices revealed increases in its entire item index – cereals & cereal preparation (0.51 per cent from zero per cent), dairy products (1.21 per cent from zero per cent), eggs (1.18 per cent from 0.24 per cent), meat (0.06 per cent from 0.13 per cent), miscellaneous (2.47 per cent from 0.29 per cent), beverages (0.36 per cent from zero per cent) and tobacco (0.26 per cent from zero per cent). In effect, the over-all rate posted in the FBT went down to 0.06 per cent from 0.12 per cent last month.

In the non-food commodity/service group, two of its indices exhibited higher rates – clothing (0.13 per cent from zero per cent) and miscellaneous (0.22 per cent from 0.07 per cent). Contrary to this, decrements were recorded in the indices of fuel, light & water (-0.06 per cent from 1.46 per cent) and services (-0.10 per cent from 0.54 per cent). In effect, the over-all rate posted in this group moved down to 0.06 per cent from 0.42 per cent.

As a result of the price changes reflected in the CPI above, the purchasing power of the peso (PPP) in Albay maintained its value at P0.59. (NSO Albay/PIA)

KALAHI-CIDSS MARKS TURNING POINT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

LEGAZPI CITY — The opening of a road network in Barangay Rawis, Pioduran, Albay has dramatically improve the lives of the locals, furthermore, also provided more opportunities and development for other government projects to come in.

The 9-kilometer road has been completed under the Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan and Community Integrated Development and Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) project of the government, led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Bicol.

Rawis is one of the 33 barangays found in the southwestern part and flanked on the south by Alabang Puro and Lawinon on the east in Pioduran town.

Prior to KALAHI-CIDSS project, the road to Rawis is not passable by any vehicle because of the knee-deep mud, especially during rainy season, and the only means of transport is the ‘paragos’, a carabao-driven sled that usually takes five hours.

“Difficulty in transportation hampers development in this humble barangay. We have been waiting for this, because of this government project, more improvements and projects are coming in,” said Barangay chief Solomon Polloso.

Polloso noted that KALAHI-CIDSS project has also proven its being one with the people of Rawis in their dream for having an improved and concrete road. A road project was implemented and constructed when the community was prioritized under the project.

The project is a poverty-alleviation project also funded by the World Bank

“Truly, there is a promise for the people who showed cooperation and commitment with the KALAHI-CIDSS. The farm-to-market road project brought opportunities and has opened for other government project such as the KALAHI Para sa Kalayaan to implement in the barangay,” the punong barangay related.

“We are very thankful for KALAHI-CIDSS, if not for their projects, our barangay will be forever deprived of basic social services,” he added.

KALAHI Para sa Kalayaan, spearheaded by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), is a national program for peace development in conflict-affected and peace agreement areas involving 89 barangays in Bicol were chosen as showcase barangays of the Macapagal-Arroyo administration. (EEJerusalem, DSWD/PIA)

NFA ASSURES ENOUGH RICE RESERVE FOR CAMARINES NORTE RESIDENTS

DAET, Camarines Norte — The National Food Authority (NFA) provincial office here has assured the public of sufficient supply of rice for the next 43 days based on the 4,560 bags daily consumption.

Jose Danilo Nieves, NFA provincial manager here, said that some 198,192 bags of rice are now stored in their warehouses and ready for disposal anytime the public needs them.

Nieves noted that the production of rice in the province was not affected by the dry spell brought about by El Niño phenomenon.

He explained that they are now distributing only 20 percent of the estimated daily consumption due to the availability of rice in the market since January 2010, and may last up to April 16, this year.

He also said that NFA has already purchased some 35,700 bags of palay from February to April 16, 2010.

Nieves reiterated that the agency has 319 Tindahan Natin Outlets, parokya outlets, markets and bigasang bayan in the barangays across the province.

He added that if the distribution of rice will continue to be only 20 percent of the daily consumption, the rice stocks will be sufficient until December this year. (RBManlangit, PIA CamNorte)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

PROTRACTED WAR OF COMMUNIST TERRORISTS’ IN THE PHILIPPINES – A USELESS BLOODY STRUGGLE
by Cpt. Amadeo L. Saturnino II, (INF) PA

The four decades of continuous lies, treachery, bloody , and deceitful armed struggle of the Communist Party of the Philippines ( CPP), its armed component, the New Peoples Army ( NPA ) and its National Democratic Front Organization ( NDF) commonly termed as CNN with one intention: to seize the reigns of government through bloody revolution is a useless struggle, local and foreign analysts say.

These communist terrorists should realize by now that peace-loving people living in the countryside’s, especially in far flung villages and barangays are already fed up with the extortion, revolutionary taxation, cruel and unjust killing that make these hapless people always their victims.

Many years ago, the propagandists of the communist terrorists went to their barangays, and convinced them to join the communist movement with promises of employment, decent life with higher incomes, possession of large tracks of lands to be seized from the landed people, and seize the reigns of government through bloody revolution to be orchestrated by the poor peasants. These were the propaganda outcry of the communist terrorists in 1985 at the height of their recruitment where they were able to generate a total of 25,000 members in the communist movement.

But now, their membership has shrunk to less than 6,000 revolutionaries, and is expected to be reduced to a negligible rag tag bandits group to less than 2,000 revolutionaries by this year. This gives a total reduction of an average of 76 percent in the followers, supporters and armed cadres among the CTs. And within this year, if they will be further reduced to 2,000 or less followers, supporters and armed cadres, their percentage of defeat will rise to 92 percent from their 1985 strength.

In the words of field Commanders of the Armed Forces of the Philippines assigned in the Bicol Region, the CNN is now on its final stage of eventual demise as the Filipino people are already fed up with their lies, banditry, extortions , threats, summary killings of innocent civilians, revolutionary taxation, and also victimizing political candidates through their imposition of permits to campaign and permits to win with the imposition of illegal fees for these permits. From a political ideologue type, they have diminished to banditry which is a preoccupation only of hopeless criminals, robbers, and plunderers whose victims are mostly innocent and peace-loving civilians.

We Filipinos are freedom lovers and we always adhere to peace and tranquility. In fact, residents of villages and barangays that, in the past, were highly influenced by the Communist Terrorists, have returned their support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines and pledge to be law abiding citizens under the present government where rule of law and democracy prevails. Now, they are back to their normal tranquil life. But in communities that are still highly influenced by the CTs, people there live in fear and ignominy as they are always threatened to be executed anytime including members of their families if they dare to tip off the military of their identities and whereabouts and worse, the poor residents have to contribute food, money, livestock and farm produce to help feed these NPA bandits. Now, these poor people have realized that their NPA bandit visitors are their tormentors – their real enemies.

According to reports, the Commanders of these CT bandits are enjoying the fat shares in the total revolutionary tax collections and have their own personal bank accounts where the biggest percentage of their loot money are deposited. While only a very small percentage are given to their poor foot armed cadres who can not even afford to give a decent life for their families. And for this, there is growing jealousy, envy and dissension among the CTs and most of these foot armed cadres have decided to surrender and avail the total amnesty under the Social Integration Program of the present government wherein each surrenderee will immediately get P20,000 cash incentive and a cash value for each firearm that will be surrendered.

Backtracking on the CTs’; presence in the Philippines since the 1960’s, we could have been more prosperous and our poor village people living in more decent living conditions if from those years, they already slammed their doors to these terrorists. However, the time is still of the essence. The earliest that these CT bandits are driven off from their communities the better for they only thrive because of the hospitality of the community people.

(The author is the Acting Commander of the 21st Civil Relations Unit, 2nd Civil Relations Group of CRSAFP based in Camp General Simeon A. Ola in Legazpi City, Albay)

ICBAN TO MEDIA: MATCH PRESS FREEDOM WITH RESPONSIBILITY, TRUTH

MANILA — Press Secretary Crispulo “Jun” Icban Jr. told a Mindanao media gathering Saturday (April 24) that as government spokesman among his key functions is to “set the record straight” especially on contentious issues like corruption and alleged human rights violations, and he advised media against untruths while in pursuit of their duties.

Speaking at the induction of officers and fellowship of the Independent Press of Zamboanga Peninsula Inc. (IPZPI) in Zamboanga City led by its newly elected president Mohammadnur Ajihil Al Haj, Icban, a long time journalist, said he values press freedom, but its exercise is being destroyed by disinformation that tends to magnify if not embellish incidence of corruption and human rights cases in the Philippines.

Quoting an independent report by the Hong Kong-based Public Economic Risk Consultancy, Icban said; “The actual level of corruption in the Philippines is not as bad as it is often portrayed.”

He said that over the past years, public attention “has been drawn to denunciations and investigations.”

“Now, in the remaining months of the (Arroyo) administration, we have found that so much has been achieved—in economic growth and stability, in infrastructure, in tourism, in information and communications technology and agribusiness—and that they constitute a formidable legacy that will now be handed over to the next administration to build upon,” Icban added.

In line with the theme of the IPZPI affair “The Fourth Estate: Antidote to Power Abuse, Oppression and Corruption,” Icban said journalists should balance press freedom with responsible news reporting.

Halfway in his speech, the lights went out due to a power outage. However, the secretary refused to be interrupted, and continued to deliver his piece from memory until power came back a few minutes later. The entire Mindanao is still reeling under daily brownouts as its major power plants, mostly hydroelectric, ground to a halt in the wake of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

He reiterated a challenge to the press raised by his predecessor, the late Press Secretary Cerge Remonde, who in one of his newspaper columns wrote, thus:

“The times call for us to go beyond being just information disseminators. We can be harbingers of truth and hope, inkwells of inspiration, to draw for our people not only the roadmap to survival, but the landscape of achievable growth.”

We need to uphold press freedom with responsibility, and our responsibility is not only to tell the truth, but to make that truth bring comfort and benefits to the people we serve.”

On human rights issues, Icban indicated that figures being projected by militant groups in the media are far from the truth.

“A major hurdle in government’s campaign for the promotion and protection of human rights is the disinformation spread by certain groups. Media’s role as facilitators of open debate on matters of public interest may be jeorpardized if we fail to be more cautious and responsible in raising such issues,” Icban stressed. (PIA V Release)

PALACE OFFICIAL SHARES COMELEC DOUBTS ON FULL MANUAL PARALLEL COUNT

MANILA — Malacanang Deputy Spokesperson Gary Olivar stood behind Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Jose Melo who aired doubts over the need of a full manual parallel count for the May 10, 2010 voting being called by poll watchdog groups.

“I will side with the Comelec on this one. I don’t think the Comelec is in favor of a full (manual) parallel count. And I think, because Comelec is the institution that is authorized and knowledgeable on this aspect, we will support Comelec’s position on this,” Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar said in a radio interview Saturday (April 24).

Olivar said that having a parallel count ‘sets us up for a very contentious outcome’ of the elections.

He said it violates the law which requires the election process to be automated and might undermine the credibility and integrity of the process.

“Paano kung may diprensya ang dalawang results, tapos ang nakalagay sa batas automated ang sundan?” (What if the two counting systems came up with different outcomes and the law says the automated count should prevail?), Olivar asked.

“It does not help in the ultimate integrity and credibility of the process,” Olivar said, adding that the country cannot afford to have this kind of uncertainty at this time.

“Dati, pagka-manual ang bilangan, madaming complaints tungkol sa dayaan. Ngayon na nalipat tayo sa automated, gusto pa nila ng full manual parallel count. Ano ba yan? (There were a lot of complaints when we were doing full manual count. And now that we shifted to automated count, they want a full manual parallel count,” Olivar said.

Olivar dismissed doubts on the credibility of automated polls, saying the Comelec has ‘already done well, doing beyond the requirements of the law by instituting the higher sample of voting units for random manual audit.’

The Comelec has decided to increase the random manual audit of ballots from a single precinct to 5 precincts per legislative district.

Section 24 of Republic Act 9369 requires a random manual audit to be conducted in one precinct per congressional district randomly chosen by the Comelec in each province and city. Any difference between the automated and manual count will result in the determination of root cause and initiate a manual count for those precincts affected by the computer or procedural error.

A total of 1,145 precincts will be undergoing the manual audit, which will be conducted immediately after polls close. (PIA V Release)

DA BARES LATEST ‘FIELDS’ ACCOMPLISHMENTS
MANILA — Over two million small farmers and fisher folks have directly benefited from the various initiatives vigorously implemented by the Arroyo administration via its centerpiece food security program, dubbed FIELDS since its launching two years ago, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

DA officials noted that 930,000 farmers have been beneficiaries of fertilizer discount coupons; another 327,157 farmers and fisher folks took part in training activities to raise production; and close to 140,000 others were able to avail themselves of P4.9 billion worth of agricultural loans under the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing (AMCFP) which are all part of President Arroyo’s FIELDS initiative.

Millions of small farmers and other agriculture stakeholders have also benefited from FIELDs through the restoration and rehabilitation of irrigation systems, the construction of farm-to-market roads, distribution of high-quality seeds, and the establishment of mariculture parks and post-harvest facilities, the DA noted.

FIELDS, which stands for Fertilizer; Irrigation and other rural infrastructure; Extension and education services for farmers; Loans; Dryers and other postharvest facilities; and Seeds and other genetic materials—was unveiled by the President during the DA-sponsored National Food Summit at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga in April 2008.

“We were able to succeed with our accomplishments in FIELDS through our partnerships with the local government units, farmers and fishers’ groups, the private sector, agri-fishery associations, the members of the academe, non-government organizations and other government agencies,” DA Secretary Bernie Fondevilla said.

Malacañang has put FIELDS on the fast lane starting 2009 as several of its intervention programs had been incorporated into the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program (CLEEP) component of the President’s economic stimulus package, which is meant to help Filipinos ride out last year’s global economic crisis.

As of this year, the FIELDS program has remained on track with the following accomplishments since 2008:

-- Distributed 3.56 million fertilizer discount coupons of which 2.057 M coupons were utilized benefiting 930,000 farmers, and 41,40 million kilos of organic fertilizer and other soil ameliorants along with the establishment of 52 composting facilities and six Bio-N mixing plants in 2008.

In addition, the Department established complete package of composting facility in 1,367 sites nationwide;

-- Generated 23,390 hectares of new irrigation areas; rehabilitated 261,811 hectares and restored 153,598 hectares of unserviceable and deteriorated irrigation facilities; and also constructed 6,305 kilometers of farm-to-market roads, established 23 mariculture parks located in coves and protected areas;

-- On Extension, R&D and capacity building, the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) conducted training and training related activities to farmers/fisherfolk to equip them with farming technologies that will improve their production and productivity. To date 327,157 farmers and fisherfolk participated in various training activities conducted by DA-ATI through its 75 series of Training of Palaycheck Trainers (TPTs), 2,790 Farmers Field Schools (08-09 dry and 09 wet season) 148 techno demos, 1,091 Regional Trainings; 3,094 Farm and Business Advisory; 206 Field Day/Mass Graduation; school-on-air, e-learning courses and info caravan.

-- Released P4.9 billion worth of loans to 141,916 farmers and fisherfolk under the (AMCFP), and P34.5 billion through Land Bank of the Philippines of which P21.7 billion was for palay production released to 721,690 farmer-beneficiaries.

-- Installed 2,061 flatbed dryers and 11 operational corn postharvest processing and trading centers, along with tramlines, cold storage facilities for fishery products, 7 municipal fishports; and 62 bagsakan centers or market retail outlets and 483 barangay bagsakans or wholesale markets; and,

-- Provided certified seeds to over 4 million hectares and hybrid seeds to 329,665 hectares; distributed 45.7 million pieces of planting materials, 85,478 head of various animals; 452.08 million pieces of fingerlings and 4.078 million pieces of broodstock. (PIA V Release)

PALACE CITES IMPORTANCE OF WISE VOTING

MANILA — Malacanang is encouraging the Filipino electorate "to vote wisely and according to their conscience" instead of electing candidates based solely on survey results.

"Decide based on what your mind and heart tell you and not on surveys alone," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Gary Olivar advised voters during a Palace briefing on Monday.

He said such call is particularly directed to voters who still have not decided on who to elect.
At the same time, Olivar said Malacanang is not joining calls to stop surveys since results of these undertakings can still help voters assess candidates seeking to be elected on May 10.

"We should accept survey results as inputs in helping us decide on candidates to vote for," he said.

Such an assessment is important so voters can make informed choices on who to elect, he added.

Bagumbayan Party standard-bearer Sen. Richard Gordon and several others earlier sought scrapping surveys, claiming data these produce cause trend-setting and condition people's minds.

Malacanang is aware of such dangers but is not joining calls to scrap surveys, believing these manifest people's freedom of expression.

Olivar stressed voters themselves must decide on whether or not they will be mere blind followers of survey results.

"It's up to people if they'll allow surveys to rule them," he said.
He acknowledged that some candidates who people will vote for may not win.

"What's important is people expressed through voting their trust in these candidates," he said.

Earlier, PulseAsia (PA) reported the results of its March 21-28, 2010 survey showing nine percent of respondents interviewed expressed indecision on the presidential candidates they will vote for on May 10.

The survey also ranked administration standard-bearer Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. fourth only in voters' presidential preference (seven percent) after Liberal Party's Sen. Benigno Aquino III (37 percent), Nacionalista Party's Sen. Manny Villar (25 percent) and Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino's Joseph Estrada (18 percent) who is attempting a Malacanang comeback this year.

The survey firm likewise reported that presidential aspirants Gordon and Bro. Eddie Villanueva of Bangon Pilipinas registered voter preference ratings of two percent each.

Administration-backed Lakas-Kampi coalition, however, is not dismayed by this survey's results.

The coalition is optimistic Teodoro can get the support of more voters, including those still undecided on who among the presidential candidates to elect this year.

"We can convince them," Teodoro's spokesperson Mike Toledo said.

He said Teodoro can continue winning voters to his side since his governance platform is solution-oriented and the kind of politics he engages in is issue-based.

Teodoro has the talent, experience and capability to run the country, Toledo noted.

The coalition believes Teodoro can still win the presidential race this year.

Toledo said Teodoro is a gifted speaker who can explain his governance platform even to simple folk so more people are becoming convinced about voting for him and are converting themselves into being his supporters.

Teodoro's speaking ability is already paying off, Toledo noted.

"His conversion rate is eight out of ten people," Toledo said. (PIA V Release)

LAWYERS GROUP TO FILE APPEAL ANEW SC RULING ALLOWING PGMA TO APPOINT NEXT CHIEF JUSTICE

MANILA — The Philippine Bar Association (PBA), the oldest voluntary organization of lawyers in the country, on Monday said it will file a second motion for reconsideration in connection with the ruling of the Supreme Court (SC) allowing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint the successor of Chief Justice Reynato Puno, who will retire on May 17, 2010.

The SC ruled with finality in en banc session in Baguio City on April 20, 2010 that President Arroyo has the power to appoint the next Chief Justice of the highest court of the land.

The SC also ordered the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to submit its shortlist of nominees to President Arroyo on or before Chief Justice Puno's retirement.

In a press conference on Monday, PBA president and former Ombudsman Simeon Marcelo said that within 15 days upon their receipt of the recent SC ruling, they would file before the SC their second motion for reconsideration.

"We expect the JBC to not yet submit a shortlist of nominees to the President," Marcelo said.

Marcelo cited that a third motion for reconsideration was granted by the SC in a certain case wherein the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) lost in their first and second motions for reconsideration, but subsequently won in their third motion for reconsideration.

"Under the Constitutional Law, decisions should be rendered on the basis of facts and not on speculations," Marcelo said.

Marcelo said that the mandatory provision of the Constitution that the appointment to the SC should be made within 90 days upon the occurrence of the vacancy, will not be violated as it is only "directory".

He also said the appointment of former SC Associate Justice Minita Chico-Nazario was made eight months within the occurrence of the vacancy in the Judiciary such that the 90-day period stated in the Constitution was only "directory". (PIA V Release)