Latest news with #RomuloMacalintal
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- Politics
- SBS Australia
Philippines and China face maritime tensions anew after the Chinese ships collide in Bajo De Masinloc
Maritime Tensions Escalate in West Philippine Sea – Philippine Coast Guard patrol aircraft faced repeated radio challenges from Chinese vessels while searching for a damaged China Coast Guard ship that collided with a Chinese Navy vessel near Bajo de Masinloc. U.S. warships conducting freedom of navigation patrols were also shadowed and challenged by Chinese ships. ₱237 Billion Flood Management Budget Proposed – The 2026 National Expenditure Program includes major funding for flood control projects nationwide, with a separate ₱2.6 billion allocation for Metro Manila's pumping stations. Election Lawyer Challenges Barangay Polls Postponement – Atty. Romulo Macalintal plans to question the new law postponing the Barangay and SK elections to November 2026, arguing it unlawfully extends officials' terms. Congress Shares 2026 Budget Proposal with Civil Society – In a transparency move, the House handed copies of the ₱6.793 trillion proposed national budget to various civic groups ahead of deliberations starting August 18. KWF Urges Parents to Teach Filipino and Native Languages – The Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino warns that languages die if not spoken, urging families to integrate Filipino and local dialects into daily life. LISTEN TO SBS Filipino 10:48 Filipino 📢 Where to Catch SBS Filipino
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Macalintal asks SC to declare BSKE postponement 'unconstitutional'
Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal on Friday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to declare the law postponing the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) as unconstitutional. In a 34-page petition, Macalintal asked the Court to declare Republic Act (RA) 12232 unconstitutional, or to the extent that it pertains to the postponement of the election on December 1, 2025. This came after President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. signed into law the measure seeking to postpone the BSKE to November 2026. Macalintal also sought a temporary restraining order and/ or status quo ante order directing the respondents to cease and desist from implementing RA 12232 or to observe the status quo before its passage. He also asked the Court to direct the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to continue preparing for the December elections. The respondents are the Senate of the Philippines, the House of Representatives, the Office of the President, through Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and the Comelec. When sought for comment, Comelec chairperson George Garcia welcomed the filing, saying that the 'cloud of uncertainty should be removed outright.' 'Early filing of petition means early determination whether to proceed or not with our preparations,' Garcia said in a statement. In his petition, Macalintal argued that the postponement is a violation of the people's right to suffrage and a violation of their right to information, affecting their constitutional right. 'Maging doon sa desisyon ng ating Korte Suprema sa kaso ng Macalintal vs. Comelec noong 2023, sinabi ng ating Korte Suprema na walang kapangyarihan ang Kongreso na mag-postpone ng halalan ng walang ano mang dahilan, mabigat na kadahilanan,' he said. (Even in the decision of our Supreme Court in the case of Macalintal vs. Comelec in 2023, our Supreme Court said that Congress has no power to postpone the election without any reason, without a grave cause.) ''Yung setting the term of office of the barangay official is not a valid ground to postpone the election. Sapagkat wala namang sinasabi doon sa desisyon ng ating Korte Suprema na kapag ikaw ay nag set ng term of office, pwede ka mag postpone ng halalan,' he added. (The setting of the term of office of the barangay official is not a valid ground to postpone the election because there is nothing in the decision of our Supreme Court that says that when you set the term of office, you can postpone the election.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News
