Latest news with #GeorgeGarcia
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Terrorism raps filed vs. man who threatened to 'bomb' Comelec sites
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed terrorism charges against an individual over his Facebook post threatening Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairperson George Garcia and others as well as all sites of the Comelec. According to the DOJ, the case for violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 in relation to the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 was filed before the Mandaue City regional trial court. This came after the individual offered a P10 million reward to whoever can kill Garcia, former Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, and former Cebu Mayor Raymond Garcia, as well as a P5 million reward to bomb all Comelec sites on social media on May 26. 'The message, which circulated publicly online, was found by prosecutors to be intended to spread fear and intimidation,' the DOJ said. The DOJ said the prosecutors recommended no bail. 'The DOJ reiterates its resolve to prosecute offenses that threaten public safety and misuse digital platforms to incite violence or terror,' it said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: Only few Eleksyon 2025 bets have filed SOCEs
Just a few local and national candidates in Eleksyon 2025 have so far filed their Statements of Contribution and Expenditures (SOCEs) with the Commission on Elections (Comelec), more than two weeks after the May 12 polls. Comelec Chairman George Garcia on Tuesday said, "Wala pa halos. Baka nagpapasa sila ng SOCE sa mga local Comelec pero sa national—whether party-list or Senado—wala pa halos nagfa-file sapagkat alam natin na hanggang June 11 ang filing," said poll chairperson George Erwin Garcia. (There are only a few candidates. Maybe some filed their SOCEs at the local Comelec offices but for the national bets, whether candidates for party-list or Senate, only a few have complied. We know that the filing deadline is on June 11.) Under Section 14 of Republic Act (RA) 7166 or the Synchronized Elections Act, every candidate or treasurer of a political party shall file in duplicate with the offices of the Comelec the "full, true and itemized statement of all contributions and expenditures in connection with the election" within 30 days after the elections, or until June 11, 2025. Candidates who fail to file their SOCEs will be charged with an administrative offense and will be liable to pay a fine from P1,000 to P30,000 at the discretion of the poll body, except for aspirants at the barangay level. For winning bets or political parties, failure to comply may also result in withholding the candidates' assumption of office. For his part, Garcia reminded Eleksyon 2025 bets—including those who withdrew their candidacies after February 11 for national posts or March 28 for local positions—to study their SOCEs to avoid election offenses. "Pinapa-remind natin ang lahat na sana pag-aralan nang mabuti ang SOCE na ifa-file nila. Alamin, tingnan mabuti, 'wag basta pipirma. Ibase lagi sa registered voters, hindi sa number of voters who actually voted sapagkat baka sumobra sa fina-file nila at therefore, makakasuhan sila ng kasong criminal," he said. (We want to remind candidates to study the SOCEs they intend to file. They should base it on registered voters and not the number of voters who actually voted because this may be filed with criminal cases.) "Violation ng SOCE rule and at the same time, puwedeng maging ground for perpetual disqualification para manungkulan, whether appointive or elective, lalo na at di sila makakapag file ng SOCEs," Garcia added. (That would constitute a violation of SOCE rules and may be used as ground for perpetual disqualification from public service, whether appointive or elective, especially if they fail to file SOCEs.) Section 13 of Republic Act (RA) 7166 provides the limitation of authorized expenses of candidates and political parties. It states that candidates vying for the presidency and vice-presidency shall spend P10 for every voter, while aspirants with political parties are allowed to spend P3 for every voter currently registered in the constituency where he or she filed his or her certificate of candidacy. Independent candidates, meanwhile, are allowed to spend up to P5 per voter. Political parties, for their part, are allowed up to P5 for every voter currently registered in the constituency or constituencies where it has official candidates. — VDV, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
24-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: DQ, candidacy cancellation for senators, solons resolved before June 30
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is aiming to resolve all disqualification and cancellation of candidacy cases involving bets for national positions and legislative districts before the end of next month. "'Yung tungkol sa disqualification cases, cancellation of candidacy involving national positions tulad ng senador, party-list, at legislative district, ang timeline natin, bago mag-June 30, dapat ma-resolve namin," Comelec Chairman George Garcia said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB. (Our timeline is to resolve before June 30 disqualification and cancellation of candidacy cases involving national positions like senators, party-list representatives, as well as legislative district congressmen.) The poll body chief said the Comelec is processing thousands of pending cases. "Medyo napakadami po ang mga tinatanggap nating disqualification case, mga pending na kaso na nire-resolve natin," Garcia said. (We have received numerous disqualification cases. We are resolving numerous pending cases.) "Asahan na sa mga susunod na araw, may mga ilalabas pa tayong desisyon. Tulad nung mga nakaraang araw, may mga inilabas tayong desisyon kaugnay sa disqualification case ng mga kandidato," he said. (We will be releasing decisions on these cases in the coming days. Like what we did in the past, we came out with decisions related to disqualification cases of several candidates.) Garcia said that even if a candidate has been proclaimed already or lost in the polls, the Comelec will still issue a decision. "Ang isang kasong disqualification ay may dalawang mukha. Puwedeng disqualification case na pagtatanggal na kandidato o election offense o kasong kriminal. Maaaring makaligtas sila sa disqualification pero hindi sila makakaligtas sa election offense," Garcia said. (A disqualification case has two faces: removal from public office, or an election offense or criminal case. They may escape disqualification but they may not get off the hook from an election offense.) As for election protests, the Comelec chairman said the poll body's jurisdiction only covers local positions such as "governor, vice governor, sangguniang panlalawigan, city mayor, city vice mayor, at sangguniang panlungsod." "Yung election protests, hanggang kahapon, dumagsa 'yung pagpa-file ng kaso sa amin. 'Yung 10-day period to file protest, mandatory period 'yun. Walang extension 'yun," Garcia said. (Until yesterday, we received a high volume of election protests. Our 10-day period to file a protest is mandatory and has no extension.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec hopes for automated barangay, SK polls in future
Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday that he is hoping for the passage of a law that would allow the conduct of an automated or hybrid method of voting in Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in the future. 'Sana magkaroon ng batas na para isama o yung ninanais ng iba na magkaroon ng tinatawag na hybrid — may manual na, mayroon pang automated. Susuporta kami sa ganoon. Una, hindi naman ganoon karami ang iboboto sa barangay…so hindi ganoon kahaba yung babasahin katulad ng sa national at local elections,' said Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview. (I hope there will be a law to include it or what some are wishing for, which is hybrid voting — there is manual and there is automated elections at the same time. We will support that. Because in the first place, there are only a few positions to vote for in the the canvassing of votes is not that long like in the national and local elections.) The upcoming BSKE on December 1 will be done manually, which means the public will cast their votes by writing the names of their bets for barangay captain, members of Sangguniang Barangay, and chairperson and members of SK. Garcia pointed out that having automated BSKE will not only produce faster results, but it will also safeguard electoral board members and canvassers from any threats. 'Kasi kapag mas mabilis ang resulta, hindi 'yan tumatagal nang magdamag o hanggang kinabukasan…walang violence, walang ballot box snatching, wala yung mga intimidation, threat, o kaya pagkamatay,' he added. (Because when the results are faster, it won' take overnight or until the next will be no violence, no ballot box snatching, no intimidation, threats, or even death.) Comelec conducted a pilot testing of automated BSK polls in three areas in Dasmariñas City, Cavite in 2023. Garcia said the barangays were able to proclaim the winners within an hour. However, the Comelec official said that some people still prefer writing down their votes. 'Sa bandang huli, may reason din kasi, aaminin ko kung bakit manual ang eleksyon sa ating barangay…kapag barangay gusto talaga sinusulat ng mga kababayan natin ang kanilang boto. Ayan naman, kinikilala natin ang bagay na 'yan. At siyempre mas matipid kapag manual na halalan,' said Garcia. (I must admit that there's a reason why the elections in the barangays are done manually. It's because many residents still prefer to write down their votes. And we recognize their preferences and manual elections would save us money as well.) The Comelec earlier launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the December polls. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
21-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec eyes donation of 8,000 Starlink units used in Eleksyon 2025 to public schools
Around 8,000 units of satellite network Starlink that were used during the recently concluded midterm elections are expected to be donated to public schools nationwide, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman George Garcia said Wednesday. Garcia said that the iOne Resources, Inc., the distributor tapped for the transmission of the election results, will be the one to donate the Starlink devices, but the Comelec will help them facilitate. To recall, the Comelec earlier distributed thousands of Starlink units in areas with limited connectivity for the conduct of the 2025 national and local elections. 'Lahat po 'yun ay isosoli sa kanila. Pero ngayon kino-kolekta dahil nga baka mawala, nasa mga bubong kasi ng mga paaralan…Kahapon pinag-usapan namin na tuloy na tuloy naman ang kanilang donation kung saka-sakali,' the poll chairman said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum. (All of those units are expected to be returned. They are currently being collected because they were placed on the roofs of schools. But yesterday, we talked with iOne and it seems that they will push through with the donation.) 'Sabi namin, okay naman na ma-donate talaga sa DepEd. Kami very supportive kami. 'Konti lang naman ang Comelec, madami po kaming lugar na walang signal, baka pwedeng ma-donate din lalo na 'yung sa mga municipal board of canvassers sa mga munisipyo sa mga lugar na walang signal, mga GIDA sites,'' he added. (We told them that it's okay if those will be donated to DepEd. We're very supportive of that. There are only a few Comelec offices, but there are a lot of areas without signal, especially in municipalities in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.) —RF, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
