OP ED EDITORIAL & CARTOONS: Manila Bulletin’s- It will be a historic first if PET decides on time
No political meaning should be attached to the decision of the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to uphold the 25 percent shading threshhold in its recounting of ballots cast in the 2016 vice-presidential elections. The PET merely decided that in its recount, it should just follow the election rules set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).The PET – composed of all members of the Supreme Court — had earlier instructed its recounting teams reviewing the ballots cast for Vice President Leni Robredo and former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to count only votes where the ovals opposite the candidates’ names were shaded at least 50 percent, in accordance with a Comelec resolution for the 2010 elections.As the recount progressed, the disparity widened between the original Comelec count and the PET recount. It was only later that the PET was officially informed by Comelec that for the 2016 elections, it had revised its rules to allow the counting of votes even if shaded only 25 percent, in line with the principle that “the will of the voters reflected in the ballots shall, as much as possible, be given effect, setting aside any technicalities.”After the PET announced that its recount teams should follow the Comelec ruling, some opposition senators hailed the decision as a victory for Vice President Robredo. The PET decision, however, should not be seen as favoring one candidate or another. It merely ensured that the recount will proceed as it should, following rules set by the Comelec, which has the constitutional authority to decide such matters involving elections.The recount started April 2 — six months ago — with PET recount teams going through ballot boxes in the three pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo, and Negros Oriental, named by Senator Marcos. After this, Robredo’s counter-protest calls for a recount in another 30,000 precincts in which Marcos won. If, at the end of the entire process, the recount overhauls Robredo’s lead of 263,473 votes over Marcos, we will have a new vice president.All efforts must be made to complete the process on time – before the six-year term of the president and vice president expire in June, 2022. There have been some political develoments along the way, including President Duterte’s comments that he would be ready to give way if his successor is Senator Marcos. But that should not affect the judicial process now being carried out by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal.Now that the critical issue of oval shading percentage in the ballots has been settled, we hope the PET will proceed as fast as it can to decide this electoral protest. It would be a historic first if the PET succeeds in deciding it before it is rendered moot and academic by the ending of the disputed six-year term in 2022.
The Manila Bulletin
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The Straits Times says:
Looking after nature’s riches
A mushroom completely new to science was discovered at the Singapore Botanic Gardens in 2014 and its discovery documented in the journal Mycologia last month. Singapore also recently opened its first turtle hatchery at the Sisters’ Islands Marine Park, in response to more sightings of rare sea turtles and more nests being recorded on its shores. It is heartening that in this densely-built urban environment, there still are pockets of unspoiled nature with the promise of natural history discoveries to be made, and where wildlife can still thrive. Singapore has prided herself on being a clean and green city, but that image has often been associated with a manicured, man-made landscape rather than a raw, untamed wilderness.
While this island can no longer be called wild, there are patches which can be, and have been protected even as the country strives to find more room for urban development. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, is one shining example of a conservation milestone achieved through civic and government partnership. Conservation efforts such as these help preserve Singapore’s natural history heritage for future generations.
TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/st-editorial/looking-after-natures-riches
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