Latest news with #BamAquino
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Bam: SC reversing decision improbable but not impossible
"Tumayo tayo sa sarili nating paa, mag-assert tayo ng ating independence," Senator Bam Aquino urged during the Senate deliberations on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025. Pool/Senate Social Media Unit Senator Bam Aquino on Wednesday emphasized that it would not be impossible for the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its decision declaring the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional. Aquino said this amid the heated discussion in the upper chamber whether to abide by the SC decision which blocked the impeachment trial of Duterte. 'Nabanggit dito wag na tayong lumaban kasi matatalo naman tayo. Of course, Mr. President, it is improbable. Aaminin ko po 'yan. Very improbable na magbago ang Korte Suprema with 15 votes, but it's not impossible. Improbable at impossible, magkaiba po 'yan,' the senator said. (It was mentioned here that we should not question the SC decision anymore because we will lose. Of course, Mr. President, it is improbable. I admit that. It is very improbable for the Supreme Court to change its decision with 15 votes, but it's not impossible. Improbable and impossible are two different things.) 'Tumayo tayo sa sarili nating paa, mag-assert tayo ng ating independence, ipaliwatin natin 'yung ating saloobin bilang isang grupo. Ipakita natin na co-equal branch of government tayo na mayroon tayong punto de bista,' he added. (Let's stand on our own two feet, let's assert our independence, our stand as a group. Let's show that we are a co-equal branch of government that has its own point of view.) Aquino said that while the Senate will still respect the Supreme Court at the end, he underscored the importance of airing the upper chamber's position, having the sole authority to try and decide impeachment cases. 'Para sa akin, hindi katanggap-tanggap ang posisyon na dahil matatalo rin tayo, wag na tayong lumaban. Paminsan-minsan mahalaga na ilagay naman natin ang ating posisyon kahit alam natin na hindi pabor sa atin ang mga bagay-bagay,' he said. (For me, it is unacceptable to not fight just because we believe that we will lose. Sometimes, it is important to take our stand even if we know that things will not go in our favor.) Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said that she will also respect the Supreme Court decision, but stressed that it would not mean that she will be silent. 'I will not be choosing silence, nor will I be turning a blind eye, in the face of clear and unmistakable injustice,' she said. Hontiveros earlier seconded the motion of Senate minority leader Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III to table the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta to dismiss the impeachment complaint until the decision of the high court has attained finality. Voting 13-0-2, the SC earlier declared the articles of impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional, stressing that it is barred by the one-year rule under the Constitution and that it violates her right to due process. The high court said the Senate cannot acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings. However, the SC said it is not absolving Duterte from any of the charges against her and that any subsequent impeachment complaint may be filed starting February 6, 2026. The House of Representatives, through the Office of the Solicitor General, on Monday filed a motion for reconsideration, seeking to reverse the SC decision. The House argued it should be allowed to perform its exclusive duty to prosecute an impeachable official, and the Senate's to try the case. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
28-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Senate opens 1st regular session of 20th Congress
The Senate on Monday morning formally opened the first regular session of the 20th Congress, hours before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero' pounded the gavel in the Senate session hall shortly past 10 a.m., as witnessed by 23 other senators present. Senator Bam Aquino led the opening prayer, asking the Lord for strength and unity among senators to serve the country. Then, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution proclaiming the 12 winning senatorial candidates for the 2025 midterm elections was read. Senators Bong Go, Bam Aquino, Ronald Dela Rosa, Erwin Tulfo, Francis Pangilinan, Rodante Marcoleta, Ping Lacson, Tito Sotto, Pia Cayetano, Camille Villar, Lito Lapid, and Imee Marcos took their oath of office thereafter. Meanwhile, there was no red carpet rolled out this time at the Senate amid the recent weather systems affecting the country. Aside from the spouses, relatives, and staff of the senators, several Cabinet members and foreign dignitaries were also present during the opening of the session. On Monday afternoon, lawmakers both in the Senate and House of Representatives will hold a joint session at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City to hear Marcos' SONA.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Broadcast error fuels Philippine poll fraud claims
"God Comelec! It's name but Bam's face?" reads a Facebook post shared May 13, 2025, referring to candidate Vic Rodriguez and newly elected Senator Bam Aquino. "Did you swap their votes? You panicked while switching votes so you made this mistake?" The post includes a news graphic titled: "Bilang Pilipino 2025 Senatorial Race". It depicts votes received by six Senate bets. However, the pictures and names do not match. The candidate ranked first, for example, has incumbent Senator Christopher Go's photo but is labelled Willie Revillame. Similar posts rocketed across Facebook and TikTok a day after the archipelago nation's mid-term vote, which was largely defined by the explosive feud between President Ferdinand Marcos and impeached Vice President Sara Duterte (archived link). The dozen senators chosen nationally will form half the jury in Duterte's July trial that could see her permanently barred from public office (archived link). Comments on the posts indicate some people believed the graphic was proof Comelec rigged the votes. "Comelec's deception busted," one reads. Another says "Garcia must be held accountable," referring to poll body chairman George Garcia. A keyword search on Google for "Bilang Pilipino 2025" found the faulty graphic in News5's live election night broadcast on Facebook (archived link). AFP reviewed the original segment before it was edited out of the larger live stream. According to the anchors, the graphic showed unofficial results, with 58.89 percent of votes transmitted. Local media ABS-CBN and GMA News also aired the results around the same time. The top six candidates and their corresponding votes are consistent with the pictures and tallies in News5's graphic (archived here and here). News5 has since apologised for the name mix-up, which it attributed to a "graphics error". "For a few seconds at around 9:15 p.m., we showed a tally of the partial, unofficial results for the senatorial contest that had the correct ranking and photos of candidates. The names, however, did not match," the broadcaster said in a Facebook statement published May 15 (archived link). "Measures will be taken so that this does not happen again." AFP has debunked more election-related misinformation in the Philippines here.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Broadcast error fuels Philippine poll fraud claims
"God Comelec! It's name but Bam's face?" reads a Facebook post shared May 13, 2025, referring to candidate Vic Rodriguez and newly elected Senator Bam Aquino. "Did you swap their votes? You panicked while switching votes so you made this mistake?" The post includes a news graphic titled: "Bilang Pilipino 2025 Senatorial Race". It depicts votes received by six Senate bets. However, the pictures and names do not match. The candidate ranked first, for example, has incumbent Senator Christopher Go's photo but is labelled Willie Revillame. Similar posts rocketed across Facebook and TikTok a day after the archipelago nation's mid-term vote, which was largely defined by the explosive feud between President Ferdinand Marcos and impeached Vice President Sara Duterte (archived link). The dozen senators chosen nationally will form half the jury in Duterte's July trial that could see her permanently barred from public office (archived link). Comments on the posts indicate some people believed the graphic was proof Comelec rigged the votes. "Comelec's deception busted," one reads. Another says "Garcia must be held accountable," referring to poll body chairman George Garcia. A keyword search on Google for "Bilang Pilipino 2025" found the faulty graphic in News5's live election night broadcast on Facebook (archived link). AFP reviewed the original segment before it was edited out of the larger live stream. According to the anchors, the graphic showed unofficial results, with 58.89 percent of votes transmitted. Local media ABS-CBN and GMA News also aired the results around the same time. The top six candidates and their corresponding votes are consistent with the pictures and tallies in News5's graphic (archived here and here). News5 has since apologised for the name mix-up, which it attributed to a "graphics error". "For a few seconds at around 9:15 p.m., we showed a tally of the partial, unofficial results for the senatorial contest that had the correct ranking and photos of candidates. The names, however, did not match," the broadcaster said in a Facebook statement published May 15 (archived link). "Measures will be taken so that this does not happen again." AFP has debunked more election-related misinformation in the Philippines here.
Filipino Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Bong Go, Bam Aquino, Bato top 2025 senatorial race
Twelve candidates have officially secured seats in the Senate following the 2025 midterm elections, according to the National Certificate of Canvass (NCOC) released this week. Senator Bong Go led the race with 27.1 million votes, followed by former senator Bam Aquino with 20.9 million votes, and Senator Ronald dela Rosa with 20.7 million votes. Also making it to the winning circle were ACT-CIS party-list Representative Erwin Tulfo with 17.1 million votes, former senator Francis Pangilinan with 15.3 million, and SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta with 15.2 million. Completing the top 12 were former senator Panfilo Lacson, former Senate president Vicente Sotto III, Senator Pia Cayetano, Las Piñas City Representative Camille Villar, Senator Lito Lapid, and Senator Imee Marcos. These newly proclaimed lawmakers will serve a six-year term, playing a key role in crafting national laws, reviewing government policies, and approving national budgets. Winners are now expected to assume office by June 30.
