Latest news with #Erwin
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec en banc affirms ruling dismissing DQ case vs Tulfos
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc has upheld a decision rejecting a petition for disqualification against five members of the Tulfo family, who sought seats in the Senate and House of Representatives in Eleksyon 2025, for procedural defect. In a six-paged decision issued Wednesday, the poll body junked the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by lawyer Virgilio Garcia, who had questioned the ruling of the Comelec First Division in March denying the disqualification petition against ACT-CIS Representative Erwin Tulfo, broadcast journalist Ben Tulfo, ACT-CIS Representative Jocelyn Pua-Tulfo, Quezon City 2nd District Representative Ralph Tulfo, and former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo, the nominee of the Turismo party-list in the recent May 12 polls. Erwin, Ben and Wanda are siblings, while Jocelyn and Ralph are the wife and son, respectively, of another Tulfo sibling, Raffy, who is an incumbent senator. Erwin ranked fourth in the Senate race while his brother, Ben, lost. Ralph won his reeelection bid while the Turismo party-list failed to secure seat in the House of Representatives. Jocelyn's party-list got two seats, and she was the second nominee of the group. Political dynasty? Garcia earlier said the Tulfo candidacies constituted a political dynasty, which is prohibited under the 1987 Constitution. He likewise questioned their nationality. His petition was dismissed due to his alleged failure to submit all the required documents, including the respondents' certificates of candidacy (COC). 'The Motion for Reconsideration is denied…The assailed Order was neither without sufficient basis found in the records, nor contrary to law,' the decision reads. 'Procedural rules are not to be disdained as mere technicalities that may be ignored at will to suit the convenience of a party. They are fundamental to the orderly administration of justice and are particularly vital in election cases, where the prompt and fair resolution of disputes is imperative,' it said. The en banc added: 'In this case, the Petitioner's failure to attach the COCs of the Respondents is a serious procedural defect, not a mere lapse. The COC is the document that formally establishes a candidate's eligibility, the position sought, and the declaration of qualifications. Without it, the Commission is left to speculate on the very information alleged in the Petition, depriving it of a concrete basis for evaluation'. The Comelec en banc likewise said the allegations of political dynasty against the candidacy of the Tulfo family is 'bereft of legal basis' as there is no enabling law against political dynasties. It also said Garcia failed to submit credible or admissible evidence that would support his accusations of the citizenship of the Eleksyon 2025 bets. 'Citizenship is a legal status that is presumed to subsist unless shown otherwise by clear and affirmative proof. The records are devoid of any document or credible evidence establishing that Respondents have acquired foreign citizenship, renounced their Filipino nationality, or otherwise lost their status as natural-born Filipino citizens,' it said. 'Mere assertions regarding their alleged prolonged residence abroad, unsubstantiated by documentary proof, do not suffice to overcome the presumption of citizenship. Well-settled is the rule that mere allegation is not evidence, and he who alleges has the burden of proving his allegation with the requisite quantum of evidence,' it added. In February, Virgilio Garcia asked the Comelec to disqualify the respondents from the May elections. For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite. For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Soju from shelves to tables: HiteJinro raises toast to Philippines
Targeting every retail touchpoint, HiteJinro pushes to make Korean soju staple in Filipino drinking culture MANILA, Philippines — A shared glass of liquor, known as tagay in the Philippines, has long been central to Filipino communal drinking. Yet while the drinking tradition has endured, what fills those glasses is shifting — especially among K-pop fans and spirit lovers — from familiar gin or rum to soju bearing the Jinro label from South Korea's leading soju-maker, HiteJinro. The once-exotic green bottles now have greater visibility, not only in Korean barbecue joints, but also in supermarkets, convenience stores and Filipino households. Supermarket essential In the city of Paranaque's Puregold, one of Manila's major hypermarket chains, the liquor aisle tells the story. Browsing the shelves stocked with Jinro soju bottles is Andrea, a 21-year-old Filipina consumer introduced to the world of soju through K-pop and Korean TV dramas. 'I prefer drinking soju because its taste is smoother than strong Filipino spirits, and I experience less of a hangover the next day,' she said. 'I drink soju about once or twice a week, mostly with family or while watching Korean dramas on Netflix or YouTube.' A Puregold official took note of the brand's current popularity: 'Despite its foreign origin, it has become a go-to drink for many local families.' At S&R Membership Shopping, a membership-based warehouse club, in the capital Manila, Jinro set up a small tasting booth where Erwin, a 43-year-old former bartender, sampled a shot of soju. 'There's definitely a strong sense of trust in Korean-made products in the Philippines,' he noted. 'I often drink soju when gathering with friends on weekends. With the variety of options like fruit flavors, we enjoy mixing it in different ways. 'But most of all, I like the original soju the most because it's the cleanest and smoothest.' Marie Phil Reyes, managing director at HiteJinro Philippines, explained the shifting trend, 'Fruit-flavored soju helped introduce locals to soju, and more recently, the share of regular soju consumption among locals has grown significantly.' Distribution networks Behind expanded distribution into both the Korean community and mainstream retail are local partners: Premier Wines & Spirits, which focuses on distributing soju through local channels, and K&L, which primarily supplies Korean restaurants and convenience stores. In terms of sales volume, the total comes to around 550 to 600 containers a year, with each container holding 1,260 boxes of soju, and each box consisting of 20 bottles. K&L accounts for roughly 60 percent of the market share. At K&L's office, with a warehouse stocked with 36 containers' worth of soju just next door, CEO Kang Jung-hee recounted the transformation firsthand. 'Back when the company first started 30 years ago, soju sales were minimal, with few Korean expatriates and tourists,' Kang said. 'But over time, particularly after establishing the local subsidiary, we've been able to greatly expand retail channels and step up our marketing efforts.' Embedded in local life Jinro's integration into the local market was not simply about placing bottles on shelves, as Kang noted. It was also driven by marketing campaigns to make Korean drinking culture feel like a natural part of local social life, integrated into traditions like pulutan — snacks and plates akin to tapas shared while drinking — and videoke, a portmanteau of karaoke and video, to forge deeper connections with Filipino drinkers. Events include sponsoring local K-content fan gatherings and gourmet events, while actively engaging with the nation's younger generations through a strong digital presence on social media platforms. Among the standout campaigns was the launch of Jinro Live, a local adaptation of HiteJinro's decade-old Korean live-singing series Isul Live, to bring the energy of Korean-style drinking shows to Manila's social scene. Livestreamed from a Samgyupsalamat restaurant, a Korean barbecue chain with 70 locations, the event featured Filipino hip-hop duo GY. Groups of consumers packed the two-story venue, enjoying sizzling pork belly and clinking soju glasses. 'I love how well soju pairs with samgyeopsal, and I especially enjoy it while watching sports with friends,' said Goldi, a 21-year-old customer. Another customer, Lalli, added, 'Among Korean dishes, I love samgyeopsal and tteokbokki the most — they go really well with soju.' The show, meanwhile, engaged the audience with the traditional tagay toast and flowed into drinking games, personal anecdotes and live performances. 'More than a typical drinking show, Jinro Live is content that highlights how Jinro can fit in with Philippine pop culture,' said an official from HiteJinro. 'With key themes of Korean food, soju and music in focus, we're building brand affinity and plan to continue expanding our localized marketing efforts aimed at younger generations in the Philippines.' minmin@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'We were disgusted' Civil Rights activists call for Tyler Police resignations
TYLER, Texas (KETK)– Texas Civil Rights activists said in Thursday press conference that they demand the resignation of the police chief, the termination of the officers involved in the incident and others in the department. VIDEO: Tyler PD releases bodycam footage after woman discharges officer's gun during arrest Civil Rights activists Quanell X and Candice Matthews were deeply disturbed watching the video of Brianna Erwin's arrest on Mother's Day. 'We were disgusted on how law enforcement pretty much did this sister the way that they did which was excessive use of force,' activist Candice Matthews said. X and Matthews called for Chief Jimmy Toler's resignation, the termination of the officers involved and Toler's leadership team. Chief Toler stated he supports the actions of his officers. He added that his officers are trained to increase restraint when a suspect increases their resistance. 'When you look at her face, she has a huge black eye on her face. When you watch the video you see them punching and punching and putting their knees in the back and just straddling this sister,' activist Quanell X said. Tyler PD said during the struggle, Erwin managed to fire a gun shot from the holster of the officer. Toler said to deescalate the situation the officer was seen giving Erwin a 'closed hand strike.' 'It was impossible for Erwin to fire the officer's weapon,' Mathews said. 'It being a level three retention holster, the level three retention holster has three levels in order to move that gun out of that holster. In order for her, and she was tussling the way she was doing. She's not an expert to know that. So based on that video, from what we've seen, is that it appears that the officer shot that gun, not her.' For the first time in more than 20 years the Tyler Police Department released body cam footage during an active investigation to put down rumors that the gun was fired by the officer, according to the chief. 'The safety zone has a double safety mechanism on the trigger. You have to pull the trigger with both sides of it and even pull to make it go off. That's the only way it goes off. She had to discharge the trigger to make that gun discharge, and they're always engaged and ready to go in case they are confronted with deadly force, which is what they were here,' Chief of Police, Jimmy Toler said. X said if the gun was that easy to discharge, then gun was not stored properly. 'If that gun was already in the holster and able to fire sitting in the holster with no safety on, then if it was that easily accessible to anyone, then that means it was not stored correctly and properly,' X said. There is an ongoing criminal investigation into Erwin's actions and an internal investigation. The internal investigation is procedure when an officer's gun is discharged. 'We will finish our investigation, make a determination about whether or not the action of the officers were reasonable and prudent based on the circumstances that she created. From there, we'll make a determination on whether it's justified or not justified,' Toler said. Both activists are calling for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division to step in and investigate if Erwin's rights were violated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Terra Alta won't be able to collect taxes next year: Auditor's office
TERRA ALTA, (WBOY) — The Town of Terra Alta is nearly two months behind the deadline to submit its annual budget, and state officials say that the Tax Department could intervene soon. According to Hayden Erwin, the Director of Communications for the West Virginia State Auditor's Office, Terra Alta has yet to submit its budget for the upcoming 2025-2026 fiscal year, meaning that no levy rate has been approved and that the town will not be able to levy or collect property taxes for the fiscal year. Public transportation service expanding into Tucker County Erwin said that Terra Alta and all other municipalities were required to submit their budgets by March 28. He added that under §11-8-9 of the West Virginia State Code, the State Auditor may allow late budgets to be submitted between April 15 and May 1, but only if 'good cause' is shown. Because Terra Alta didn't do that, despite receiving a certified letter from the auditor's office, a levy rate or budget for the town can not be approved. According to Erwin, if the town never submits a budget, the State Tax Department and county assessors may take action, including things like excluding Terra Alta from county tax rolls. 12 News reached out to officials in Terra Alta by both phone and email, but has yet to receive a response as of this publication. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police officers receive awards for bravery shown during shooting
ELKHART — Police officers Cpl. Paul Vandenburg and Ptl. Ethan Pasternak were honored by the Elkhart Rotary Club during the 9th annual Rotary Club First Responder Luncheon at the Matterhorn. The officers were given the Rotary International Life Saving Award for their actions that stopped a gunman during the fatal Jan. 27 shooting at the Martin's Super Market on East Jackson Boulevard. The officers are still recovering from their injuries, Police Chief Dan Milanese said. 'I can guarantee you that both Paul and Ethan had no premonition of being able to stand up here and receive accolades from you when they went into the face of danger,' Milanese said. 'They were not doing that to serve themselves and they'll be the first ones to feel uncomfortable when there's a camera facing [them], asking them about what they did and getting the awards.' It was unknown when the officers will return to the force. Vandenburg and Pasternak chose not to speak at the event but did receive the awards presented to them by SpartanNash representatives. Milanese said when it comes to service, the police officers aim to serve others and not themselves. It is incredible how the officers serve the community day in and day out, despite what is going on in their lives, he said. 'I want to thank the Elkhart Police Department for being such a strong partner to our stores in the community,' said Sarah Brown, a representative from SpartanNash. 'It's sad to say that we've gone through two tragedies together, but it's a great feeling to know that we're safe with the Elkhart Police Department by our stores to protect our associates and our community.' The luncheon also honored the lives of 19-year-old Martin's employee Annasue Rocha and 49-year-old customer Benjamin Jeffrey, who were killed in the shooting. The man who started shooting in the store, 54-year-old Juan Sanchez, was killed by police outside the store. Megan Erwin, chief of staff in the mayor's office, spoke on how the tragedy personally affected her. 'In 2014, I was woken up by my stepmom because my stepsister had been shot and killed at the Martin's in the other tragedy, so this has a very deep and personal meaning for me,' Erwin said. 'I really appreciate seeing the officers stand up, but I also know that every time that they're standing up to accept the award, they are reliving what happened.' Erwin also sent along a thank you to the officers from Mayor Rod Roberson who was out of town and could not attend the event.
