Difference between revisions of "Marinduque Province News September 2011"

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==Brace for Pedring's fury==
*Source: http://mb.com.ph/node/335654/cla
*September 26, 2011, 11:24am
:by  ELLALYN B. DE VERA
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised storm Signal No. 3 in at least eight areas as typhoon “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) gears toward Luzon Monday afternoon.
Although “Pedring has yet to make landfall, its effect has already been felt in various areas, with over 2,000 passengers already stranded, mostly in Bicol, Lucena City and Marinduque, and 34 domestic flights cancelled.
PAGASA OIC Weather Division Chief Robert Sawi said the typhoon slightly changed direction but moved faster and is expected to hit Casiguran, Aurora early morning of Tuesday.
As of Monday afternoon, “Pedring” was located 260 kilometers (km) east-southeast of Casiguran and slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph.
It is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph.
“Pedring” is forecast to be in the vicinity of Baguio City by Tuesday afternoon.
Due to the cyclone’s huge circulation, about 650 kilometers, more areas were placed under public storm warning signals 1, 2, and 3.
Signal No. 3 (winds of 101-185 kph in at least 18 hours) was hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Northern Quezon, Polillo Island, Aurora, Quirino, and Isabela.
Areas placed under Signal No. 2 (winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hours) are Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Cagayan, and Metro Manila.
Signal No. 1 (winds of 45-60 kph is expected within the next 36 hours) was raised in Ticao Island, Masbate, Marinduque, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Calayan Group of Islands, and Babuyan Group of Islands.
“More areas were placed under public storm warning signals due to the expected approach of the typhoon,” Sawi said.
From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 26 mm of rainfall was registered in the PAGASA’s Science Garden in Quezon City, 21 mm in Port Area’s synaptic station, 63 mm in the Virac (Catanduanes) station, and 48 mm in Legazpi City.
PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando said “Pedring” is expected to keep moving toward the West Philippine Sea because there is no other weather system that affects its movement. It is expected to move out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday.
“Expect that the weather condition will worsen in the next 24 hours. Strong winds and heavy rains could prevail over areas with storm warning signals. About 15 to 25 mm per hour of rains is expected in Luzon, which is considered heavy rains. Rains could be felt until Tuesday as the typhoon traverses Northern Luzon,” Sawi explained.
“By Tuesday morning, Metro Manila and parts of Southern Luzon and Central Luzon will experience heavy rains due to the southwest monsoon,” he added.
PAGASA Supervising Undersecretary Dr. Graciano Yumul advised the public to prepare for the effects of the typhoon because “although ‘Pedring’ will affect the Luzon area, there is still a southwest monsoon component in the Visayas and Mindanao.”
PAGASA warned fishing boats and other small sea crafts from venturing out into the sea, while larger sea vessels were alerted against big waves in the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, and eastern seaboard of Mindanao.
3 dams release water
PAGASA’s Hydrometeorology Division Chief Dr. Susan Espinueva said Binga and Ambuklao Dams in Benguet and Magat Dam in Isabela opened its water gates to release excess water in anticipation of the heavy rains.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, Ambuklao Dam’s two gates remain open at one-meter-high each, while Binga Dam’s three gates, two-meter-high each were also opened.
From five gates Monday morning, additional two gates (13-meter-high) of Magat Dam were opened to release excess water.
Municipalities in Isabela that may likely be affected by Magat Dam’s release of water are Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian, and Gamu.
With the expected 150 mm of rainfall from the typhoon, Espinueva said Angat Dam in Bulacan may also possibly reach its spilling level.
She said the public, particularly those who would be directly affected by floods, will be informed before opening the water gates of Angat Dam.
The water released from Angat Dam will pass through Ipo Dam also located in Bulacan, further down to the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.
Communities that may likely be affected by flooding are Fairview, Forest Hills, Quirino Highway, Capri, Goodwill, Sta. Quiteria, and San Bartolome in Quezon City, Barangay Ligon along North Luzon Expressway in Valenzuela and Malabon.
Stranded
The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) said most of the stranded passengers are in the Bicol region.
Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, HPG director, said most of the stranded commuters are in Matnog port in Sorsogon, particularly those going to Masbate and some Visayas provinces.
Aside from more or less 2,000 persons, Espina said 48 trucks, 42 passenger buses, and 24 service vehicles were also stranded in the area.
“The operations at the Tabaco City International port was also suspended and based on our monitoring, 275 people were stranded and several vehicles were also stranded,” said Espina.
In Pilar port also in Sorsogon, some 50 passengers were also stranded.
“The major roads and bridges in Bicol are still passable, there are no reports so far of any untoward incident,” said Espina.
At least 288 passengers bound for Marinduque were stranded after the Philippine Coast Guard-Dalahican (PCG) detachment in Lucena City cancelled the trip of passenger boats due to “Pedring”
The vessels were scheduled to leave Lucena City in Quezon and were bound for Cawit Port in Boac and Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque, when the trips were cancelled.
The stranded passengers are staying at the passenger’s terminal building in the port of Lucena.
Flights cancelled
Several other passengers were also stranded when 34 domestic flights were cancelled due to the typhoon.
As of noon Monday, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Media Affairs Division had recorded 34 cancelled flights as the airline management deemed it too risky to fly to destinations affected by “Petring.”
Flag carrier Philippine Airlines was forced to cancel flights PR277 and PR278 which is a turnaround service between Manila and Legaspi City.
Air Philippines cancelled a total of eight flight services between Manila and Masbate, Naga, and Legaspi.
Cebu Pacific cancelled a total of 18 flights between Manila and Naga, Legaspi, Virac, and Calbayog.
Zest Air, on the other hand, cancelled six flights between Manila and Masbate, Virac and Legaspi City.
Classes suspended
In anticipation of heavy rains, the Department of Education (DepEd) suspended Monday all afternoon classes, including kindergarten, elementary, and high school levels, in Metro Manila starting at noon.
The announcement was made based on the latest weather advisory from PAGASA.
Earlier, the DepEd suspended classes in the elementary and high school levels in Isabela. Also, classes in all levels had been suspended in Albay.
Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), following the country’s disaster reduction guidelines, reiterated that “it does not declare the suspension of classes for higher education institutions (HEIs).”
The policy and protocol observed by CHED is: automatic suspension of classes in higher education with storm Signal No. 3 as per advisory of the PAGASA, otherwise the decision whether to suspend classes in college is up to school heads or local governments.
Remote supervision
Although he is in Japan, President Benigno S. Aquino III’s instructions to disaster management agencies are already in place.
Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang remains confident with the capability of government disaster management agencies even while the President is away. (With reports from Aaron B. Recuenco, Anjo Perez, Danny Estacio, Ina Hernando Malipot, Madel R. Sabater, John Carlo Cahinhinan)
==Globe adds more areas to DUO network==
*Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/business/top-business-news/7749-globe-adds-more-areas-to-duo-network
*Wednesday, September 21, 2011
:by DARWIN G. AMOJELAR
GLOBE Telecom Inc. has expanded the coverage of its two-in-one mobile and landline service to 13 more provinces.
In a statement, the Ayala-led telco said its DUO service is now available in the provinces of Pampanga, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.
Before the expansion, DUO had been available only in 31 key areas, namely Metro Manila, Cebu, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, Pangasinan, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Antique, South Cotabato, Rizal, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Batangas, Quezon, Northern Samar and Davao del Sur.
“We are very excited with this milestone for Globe DUO as it continues to benefit more subscribers who look for an easy and affordable calling service,” Chee Loo Fun, Globe senior advisor for consumer marketing said.
Globe DUO and Globe SuperDUO are available to both Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers.
==Ex-governor insists she had no hand in P728-M fertilizer scam==
*Source: http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/nation/7193-ex-governor-insists-she-had-no-hand-in-p728-m-fertilizer-scam
*Tuesday, September 13, 2011
:by JOHN CONSTANTINE G. CORDON
FORMER governor Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque pressed that the agricultural equipment she received were “donations” from the Department of Agriculture (DA), contradictory to claims that it was her administration that bought the machines which were allegedly sourced from the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.
Reyes, then Marinduque governor when the agriculture department’s Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program was implemented in 2004, stands charged before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan for illegal use of public funds and technical malversation.
“[The charges were] farthest from truth. [I] made a written request to the DA in behalf of [Marinduque],” Reyes said, adding that the agricultural shredders she received were asked “upon request.”
When Reyes received the machines after writing a request to DA in April 2004, she “simply thanked the DA for its donation.”
The former provincial chief asked the Sandiganbayan to hold her arraignment in abeyance and to determine if there is probable cause in her case because she was not part of the bidding nor the purchase of the equipment.
“The process by which these machines were purchased and the corresponding process by which the funds were disbursed was beyond [my] authority and control,” Reyes said.
She added in her seven-page motion that it was not her or her provincial staff that bought the shredders which turns waste to organic fertilizers. She reiterated that the funds used to buy (those equipment) was “not under [my] administration, but of the DA.”
“The funds did not pass through the Treasury of Marinduque. These funds remained with and were disbursed directed to the suppliers by the DA, the implementing agency,” Reyes said.
The former governor said that the letter to the DA could not be used against her as it did not instruct DA to transact with LCV Design and Fabrication Corp., the makers of the shredders.
When Reyes mentioned LCV in the letter she said it was only to describe the kind of machines that Marinduque needs to avail.
“The letter simply requests the DA to help the province to obtain ‘said or similar machines,’” Reyes said.
“[I] did not benefit from the donation. [My] letter . . . was a mere letter request addressed to the Regional Director of the [DA] . . . Nowhere in the said letter was anybody forced to or promised a reward to grant [my] request,” Reyes added.
She said that the conspiracy established against her with her co-accused is only a “circumstantial evidence based on pure speculation and conjecture.”
==Re-investigation of Ortega murder ordered==
==Re-investigation of Ortega murder ordered==
*Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/national/12944-re-investigation-of-ortega-murder-ordered
*Source: http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php/news/national/12944-re-investigation-of-ortega-murder-ordered
Line 61: Line 235:


Her move voided a decision of the former panel dismissing the complainants’ motion seeking reinvestigation of the case.
Her move voided a decision of the former panel dismissing the complainants’ motion seeking reinvestigation of the case.


==HRET junks electoral protest vs Marinduque lawmaker==
==HRET junks electoral protest vs Marinduque lawmaker==

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Brace for Pedring's fury

by ELLALYN B. DE VERA


MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) raised storm Signal No. 3 in at least eight areas as typhoon “Pedring” (international name: Nesat) gears toward Luzon Monday afternoon.

Although “Pedring has yet to make landfall, its effect has already been felt in various areas, with over 2,000 passengers already stranded, mostly in Bicol, Lucena City and Marinduque, and 34 domestic flights cancelled.

PAGASA OIC Weather Division Chief Robert Sawi said the typhoon slightly changed direction but moved faster and is expected to hit Casiguran, Aurora early morning of Tuesday. As of Monday afternoon, “Pedring” was located 260 kilometers (km) east-southeast of Casiguran and slightly intensified with maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kph. It is forecast to move west-northwest at 19 kph.

“Pedring” is forecast to be in the vicinity of Baguio City by Tuesday afternoon.

Due to the cyclone’s huge circulation, about 650 kilometers, more areas were placed under public storm warning signals 1, 2, and 3.

Signal No. 3 (winds of 101-185 kph in at least 18 hours) was hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Northern Quezon, Polillo Island, Aurora, Quirino, and Isabela.

Areas placed under Signal No. 2 (winds of 61-100 kph is expected in at least 24 hours) are Albay, Burias Island, Sorsogon, the rest of Quezon, Rizal, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Ifugao, Benguet, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Cagayan, and Metro Manila.

Signal No. 1 (winds of 45-60 kph is expected within the next 36 hours) was raised in Ticao Island, Masbate, Marinduque, Batangas, Cavite, Bataan, Pampanga, Zambales, Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Abra, Apayao, Calayan Group of Islands, and Babuyan Group of Islands.

“More areas were placed under public storm warning signals due to the expected approach of the typhoon,” Sawi said.

From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, 26 mm of rainfall was registered in the PAGASA’s Science Garden in Quezon City, 21 mm in Port Area’s synaptic station, 63 mm in the Virac (Catanduanes) station, and 48 mm in Legazpi City.

PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando said “Pedring” is expected to keep moving toward the West Philippine Sea because there is no other weather system that affects its movement. It is expected to move out of the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Wednesday.

“Expect that the weather condition will worsen in the next 24 hours. Strong winds and heavy rains could prevail over areas with storm warning signals. About 15 to 25 mm per hour of rains is expected in Luzon, which is considered heavy rains. Rains could be felt until Tuesday as the typhoon traverses Northern Luzon,” Sawi explained.

“By Tuesday morning, Metro Manila and parts of Southern Luzon and Central Luzon will experience heavy rains due to the southwest monsoon,” he added.

PAGASA Supervising Undersecretary Dr. Graciano Yumul advised the public to prepare for the effects of the typhoon because “although ‘Pedring’ will affect the Luzon area, there is still a southwest monsoon component in the Visayas and Mindanao.”

PAGASA warned fishing boats and other small sea crafts from venturing out into the sea, while larger sea vessels were alerted against big waves in the eastern seaboard of Northern Luzon and the western seaboards of Central and Southern Luzon, and eastern seaboard of Mindanao.

3 dams release water

PAGASA’s Hydrometeorology Division Chief Dr. Susan Espinueva said Binga and Ambuklao Dams in Benguet and Magat Dam in Isabela opened its water gates to release excess water in anticipation of the heavy rains.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, Ambuklao Dam’s two gates remain open at one-meter-high each, while Binga Dam’s three gates, two-meter-high each were also opened.

From five gates Monday morning, additional two gates (13-meter-high) of Magat Dam were opened to release excess water.

Municipalities in Isabela that may likely be affected by Magat Dam’s release of water are Ramon, San Mateo, Aurora, Cabatuan, Luna, Reina Mercedes, Burgos, Naguilian, and Gamu.

With the expected 150 mm of rainfall from the typhoon, Espinueva said Angat Dam in Bulacan may also possibly reach its spilling level.

She said the public, particularly those who would be directly affected by floods, will be informed before opening the water gates of Angat Dam.

The water released from Angat Dam will pass through Ipo Dam also located in Bulacan, further down to the La Mesa Dam in Quezon City.

Communities that may likely be affected by flooding are Fairview, Forest Hills, Quirino Highway, Capri, Goodwill, Sta. Quiteria, and San Bartolome in Quezon City, Barangay Ligon along North Luzon Expressway in Valenzuela and Malabon.

Stranded

The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) said most of the stranded passengers are in the Bicol region.

Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, HPG director, said most of the stranded commuters are in Matnog port in Sorsogon, particularly those going to Masbate and some Visayas provinces.

Aside from more or less 2,000 persons, Espina said 48 trucks, 42 passenger buses, and 24 service vehicles were also stranded in the area.

“The operations at the Tabaco City International port was also suspended and based on our monitoring, 275 people were stranded and several vehicles were also stranded,” said Espina.

In Pilar port also in Sorsogon, some 50 passengers were also stranded.

“The major roads and bridges in Bicol are still passable, there are no reports so far of any untoward incident,” said Espina.

At least 288 passengers bound for Marinduque were stranded after the Philippine Coast Guard-Dalahican (PCG) detachment in Lucena City cancelled the trip of passenger boats due to “Pedring”

The vessels were scheduled to leave Lucena City in Quezon and were bound for Cawit Port in Boac and Balanacan Port in Mogpog, Marinduque, when the trips were cancelled.

The stranded passengers are staying at the passenger’s terminal building in the port of Lucena.


Flights cancelled Several other passengers were also stranded when 34 domestic flights were cancelled due to the typhoon.

As of noon Monday, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s Media Affairs Division had recorded 34 cancelled flights as the airline management deemed it too risky to fly to destinations affected by “Petring.”

Flag carrier Philippine Airlines was forced to cancel flights PR277 and PR278 which is a turnaround service between Manila and Legaspi City.

Air Philippines cancelled a total of eight flight services between Manila and Masbate, Naga, and Legaspi.

Cebu Pacific cancelled a total of 18 flights between Manila and Naga, Legaspi, Virac, and Calbayog.

Zest Air, on the other hand, cancelled six flights between Manila and Masbate, Virac and Legaspi City.


Classes suspended

In anticipation of heavy rains, the Department of Education (DepEd) suspended Monday all afternoon classes, including kindergarten, elementary, and high school levels, in Metro Manila starting at noon.

The announcement was made based on the latest weather advisory from PAGASA.

Earlier, the DepEd suspended classes in the elementary and high school levels in Isabela. Also, classes in all levels had been suspended in Albay.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), following the country’s disaster reduction guidelines, reiterated that “it does not declare the suspension of classes for higher education institutions (HEIs).”

The policy and protocol observed by CHED is: automatic suspension of classes in higher education with storm Signal No. 3 as per advisory of the PAGASA, otherwise the decision whether to suspend classes in college is up to school heads or local governments.


Remote supervision Although he is in Japan, President Benigno S. Aquino III’s instructions to disaster management agencies are already in place.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Malacañang remains confident with the capability of government disaster management agencies even while the President is away. (With reports from Aaron B. Recuenco, Anjo Perez, Danny Estacio, Ina Hernando Malipot, Madel R. Sabater, John Carlo Cahinhinan)






Globe adds more areas to DUO network

by DARWIN G. AMOJELAR


GLOBE Telecom Inc. has expanded the coverage of its two-in-one mobile and landline service to 13 more provinces.

In a statement, the Ayala-led telco said its DUO service is now available in the provinces of Pampanga, Isabela, Ilocos Sur, Zambales, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Marinduque, Oriental Mindoro, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Western Samar, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat.

Before the expansion, DUO had been available only in 31 key areas, namely Metro Manila, Cebu, Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna, Pangasinan, Negros Oriental, Leyte, Antique, South Cotabato, Rizal, Bohol, Negros Occidental, Capiz, Batangas, Quezon, Northern Samar and Davao del Sur.

“We are very excited with this milestone for Globe DUO as it continues to benefit more subscribers who look for an easy and affordable calling service,” Chee Loo Fun, Globe senior advisor for consumer marketing said.

Globe DUO and Globe SuperDUO are available to both Globe prepaid and postpaid subscribers.





Ex-governor insists she had no hand in P728-M fertilizer scam

by JOHN CONSTANTINE G. CORDON


FORMER governor Carmencita Reyes of Marinduque pressed that the agricultural equipment she received were “donations” from the Department of Agriculture (DA), contradictory to claims that it was her administration that bought the machines which were allegedly sourced from the P728-million fertilizer fund scam.

Reyes, then Marinduque governor when the agriculture department’s Farm Inputs and Farm Implements Program was implemented in 2004, stands charged before the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan for illegal use of public funds and technical malversation.

“[The charges were] farthest from truth. [I] made a written request to the DA in behalf of [Marinduque],” Reyes said, adding that the agricultural shredders she received were asked “upon request.”

When Reyes received the machines after writing a request to DA in April 2004, she “simply thanked the DA for its donation.”

The former provincial chief asked the Sandiganbayan to hold her arraignment in abeyance and to determine if there is probable cause in her case because she was not part of the bidding nor the purchase of the equipment.

“The process by which these machines were purchased and the corresponding process by which the funds were disbursed was beyond [my] authority and control,” Reyes said.

She added in her seven-page motion that it was not her or her provincial staff that bought the shredders which turns waste to organic fertilizers. She reiterated that the funds used to buy (those equipment) was “not under [my] administration, but of the DA.”

“The funds did not pass through the Treasury of Marinduque. These funds remained with and were disbursed directed to the suppliers by the DA, the implementing agency,” Reyes said.

The former governor said that the letter to the DA could not be used against her as it did not instruct DA to transact with LCV Design and Fabrication Corp., the makers of the shredders.

When Reyes mentioned LCV in the letter she said it was only to describe the kind of machines that Marinduque needs to avail.

“The letter simply requests the DA to help the province to obtain ‘said or similar machines,’” Reyes said.

“[I] did not benefit from the donation. [My] letter . . . was a mere letter request addressed to the Regional Director of the [DA] . . . Nowhere in the said letter was anybody forced to or promised a reward to grant [my] request,” Reyes added.

She said that the conspiracy established against her with her co-accused is only a “circumstantial evidence based on pure speculation and conjecture.”

Re-investigation of Ortega murder ordered

by Hector Lawas


THE Department of Justice ordered a reinvestigation into the killing of Palawan broadcaster Gerry Ortega after it granted the request of his family seeking the indictment of former governors Joel Reyes of Palawan and Jose Antonio Carrion of Marinduque.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima issued Department Order No. 710 creating a new panel to conduct another preliminary investigation of the murder case.

The charges were filed by Ortega’s widow Patria Gloria against Reyes, Carrion and other respondents.

This developed as Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, counsel of Reyes, said the result of the reinvestigation will still be the same -- that his client Reyes is innocent.

Reyes welcomed the DoJ order saying all means must be exhausted to bring the perpetrators behind bars.

The new panel is composed of Assistant State Prosecutors Stewart Allan Mariano, Vimar Barcellano and Gerard Gaerlan.

De Lima said the reinvestigation will address the offer for additional evidence by the complainants earlier denied by the first panel on Sept. 2.

The denial was based on the ground that an earlier resolution had already been promulgated prior to the filing of the complainants.

De Lima said she opted to use her plenary power in ordering a reinvestigation instead of waiting the possible petition for review from the complainant.

Her move voided a decision of the former panel dismissing the complainants’ motion seeking reinvestigation of the case.

HRET junks electoral protest vs Marinduque lawmaker

by Sophia Dedace/RSJ, GMA News


The House of Representatives Electorial Tribunal (HRET) has upheld the victory of Lord Allan Velasco as representative of Marinduque province's lone district in the May 2010 elections.

In a decision released to media on Friday, the tribunal dismissed the election protest filed by losing congressional bet Edmundo Reyes II, who contested Velasco's victory.

The tribunal said Reyes was unable to prove he was cheated of victory and that he relied only on the certificates of canvass and the statement of votes to claim he is the rightful winner.

"There was no testimony from any member of the Board of Election Inspectors of the clustered precincts nor from any watcher or voter to prop up the claim of fraud and irregularities," the tribunal said.

The HRET's recount of votes cast in Marinduque's pilot precincts also showed that Velasco won by 4,146 votes — 39 votes higher than what was counted last year.

Under its rules, the tribunal can dismiss a poll protest if there is no reasonable number of votes favoring the protestant — in this case, Reyes — recovered from the pilot precincts.

In its decision, the HRET said Reyes failed to show ballot irregularities and discrepancies that would alter the official results of the congressional race.

Libel case vs journalist

Velasco is the son of Supreme Court Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., who recently scored a legal victory against veteran journalist Marites Vitug.

Recently, the Manila City Prosecutor's Office approved the filing of libel charges against Vitug, who wrote an article that supposedly maligned the magistrate's name.

The story explored how Velasco allegedly peddled his influence over local officials in Marinduque to support his son's congressional bid.

The Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 39 is handling the libel suit against Vitug.

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