MANILA, Philippines – Alan Peter Cayetano knew the vice presidential debate could be an opportunity to shine, and he seized it like a matador grabbing a bull by the horns.

Seasoned journalists and political analysts agreed he was the "rabble-rouser" of the only Comelec-sanctioned vice presidential debate on Sunday, April 10. The event, held at the University of Santo Tomas, was organized by CNN Philippines and BusinessMirror.

"It's completely no holds barred. Alan Cayetano is just out there swinging his fists," said University of the Philippines political communications expert Clarissa David after the first part of the debate.

Cayetano had hit the ground running with an attack against Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

It was an aggressive move, given that Marcos is a pre-election survey front runner while Cayetano is lagging behind at 4th place.

But Cayetano was able to "take control" of the debate early on, said Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa. (READ: Rappler editors' pick: Cayetano wins VP debate)

"The winner for setting the tone of this debate is Cayetano," added David. "He started off with direct attacks so the rest of the debate can be direct attacks."

For the most part, Cayetano's victim was Marcos. His biggest beef with the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr is the Marcos family's ill-gotten wealth and the senator's supposed absence in Senate hearings on corruption.

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Cayetano lost no time in reminding the public that he led Senate investigations on major scandals, including the allegations against Vice President Jejomar Binay. 

His ferociousness in these Senate hearings returned on the debate stage, perhaps turned up a notch. (READ: The Leader I Want: Alan Cayetano's to-fix list for 2016)

"[People] remember him to be an anti-corruption advocate. He has the track record and the sound bites and the Senate investigations to prove it," said Rappler managing editor Glenda Gloria.

'Audacious' Alan

Veteran investigative journalist and Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug also gave the debate to Cayetano.

"Alan was a rabble-rouser...There were many rounds but in many of them, he stood out because of his audacity. There were some points he missed but overall, he really took a hit against his opponents," she said after watching the debate.

But for political consultant Malou Tiquia, who posted her reaction on Facebook, Cayetano's "effectiveness got drowned," his aggressiveness reminding her of a "rambulan (fight)" after a heated basketball game.

Tiquia openly supports Camarines Sur 3rd District Representative Leni Robredo for vice president.

Cayetano's gung-ho mode throughout the debate no doubt reminded voters of his standard-bearer Rodrigo Duterte. Though not necessarily as effective a debater, Duterte is also known for flinging insults to his rivals.

But where Duterte the debater is brief in responses and difficult to follow because of his garbled speech and deviations, Cayetano is more articulate.

Asked how their tandem could possibly pull off their promise of suppressing crime in 3 to 6 months, Cayetano elaborated, citing modern crime-fighting equipment and CCTVs, aside from repeating Duterte's assurance of political will.

Appealing to Duterte supporters?

Will the debate help convince more voters to choose Cayetano?

"I am going to hazard a guess that it will actually help him," said David.

"He is able to be more aggressive because he is not among the top ones. He doesn't have a lot to lose," she added.

Cayetano's fierceness could in fact be a calculated move to convert the legion of Duterte supporters to vote for him. 

After all, many supporters of the Mindanaoan presidential bet like him precisely for his supposed traits of fearlessness and boldness.

Many have chosen to pair Duterte with another vice presidential candidate, Marcos. In one of the more memorable parts of the debate, this love triangle surfaced. 

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Marcos recounted a report quoting Duterte as saying he would turn over the presidency to Marcos should he be unable to suppress crime in 6 months.

Cayetano's initial response sounded forced as he reminded the audience that Duterte also made strong remarks supporting their tandem.

But he deftly maneuvered, saying he would still be a better vice president for Duterte since his support for the Davao City mayor was total, unlike Marcos'. 

"Ako po, kahit 'di niya iboto, 100% para kay Duterte. Si Bongbong, 'pag nasa Cavite, Bongbong-Binay. 'Pag nasa Mindanao, Duterte-Bongbong. 'Yan po ang klase ng pamumulitika niya," he said. 

(Even if he doesn't vote for me, I am 100% for Duterte. When Bongbong is in Cavite, it's Bongbong-Binay. When he is in Mindanao, it's Duterte-Bongbong. That's the kind of politicking he practices.)

The remark was no doubt an appeal to solid Duterte supporters to vote for one of their own, not a candidate who did not share their devotion.

Whether Cayetano made a good impression or not depends on the viewer. But what's certain is he made an impression. Less than a month from election day, Cayetano made sure to leave a fiery mark in the minds of the public.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Francis Escudero on Monday, April 11, shrugged off observations he did not perform well in the vice presidential debate held on Sunday.

While Escudero said people are looking for a boxing match, he claimed it’s just not his style to attack opponents.

Escudero visibly took the backseat while his opponents – Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and Antonio Trillanes IV – aggressively attacked each other. He only spoke when asked and rarely threw questions to other candidates. 

“Hindi ko ginawa 'yon kagabi. Hindi ko ugali, hindi ko rin estilo 'yon. Hindi ko kailangan sigurong apakan o sirain ang sinomang kapwa ko kandidato,” Escudero said in a chance interview with reporters in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

(I did not do it last night. It's not my character, it's also not my style. I do not need to step on or destroy any of my fellow candidates.)

In fact, the senator said, he even congratulated his opponents after the debate, saying everyone has the intelligence and ability to serve the public.

“Para sa akin siguro, naisulong ko ano'ng nagawa ko na at magagawa ko. Pero para maliitin ko ang ginawa o nagawa ng iba, o para mag-akusa ako o ituro ko ang kasalanan ng iba, siguro naniniwala ako alam naman na ng tao 'yon. Hindi na kailangang magmula pa sa bibig ko,” he said.

(For me, I was able to push for what I have done and can still do. But for me to belittle what others have done or to accuse or point to others' sins, I believe the people already know about those things. They do not have to come from me.)

But for political analyst Edmund Tayao, Escudero was being "safe" during the heated debate.

Tayao said it could be part of Escudero’s strategy not to resort to negative campaigning.

“He appeared more composed than the others. Very few words. You could interpret it as being safe. To my mind, it’s a question of strategy,” Tayao said.

“He must have thought there is no reason to engage in personalistic approach. That explains why he did not bother asking personal question to any of the other bets,” he added.

Viewers, meawhile, criticized the way Escudero spoke, calling his a "robotic voice." Some expressed dismay over his seemingly circuitious way of answering questions.

Tayao agreed with the observations: “Ganyan talaga style nya ever since, maraming palabok. Isa sa mga reasons may mga negative comments sa kanya (That's really his style ever since, flowery words. That's one of the reasons why there are negative comments against him). But it doesn’t make the message any less, it’s a matter of style.”

Tayao maintained Escudero still gave substantial answers on the issue of revenue and tax measures.

But for the senator, the criticism is no big deal, as they only supposedly surface during the election period.

“Lumalabas lang naman ito 'pag panahon ng eleksyon. Pag walang eleksyon, wala namang ganyang uri ng batikos at pagpuna,” he said. (It only comes out during election. If there's no election, there are no criticisms like that.) – Rappler.com

HONG KONG, China (UPDATED) – A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester who was allegedly beaten by police in an attack captured by television cameras and beamed around the world stood trial on Monday, April 11, over allegations he assaulted officers.

Political activist Ken Tsang stands accused of splashing liquid on police officers during mass street rallies in 2014 – the same night as he was beaten in an attack.

The incidents took place at the height of the protests seeking free leadership elections in Hong Kong, rocking the reputation of the city's police force. 

The police who allegedly beat him, who are not the same officers Tsang is accused of assaulting, are to stand trial separately.

The pro-democracy Civic Party member has pleaded not guilty to 5 charges – 2 of assaulting a police officer and 3 of resisting a police officer.

On the opening day of the 5-day trial, a courtroom packed with reporters and members of the public was shown video footage of officers pointing to a masked man who poured liquid onto the city's Lung Wo Road, close to government buildings.

In another piece of footage, taken from a local broadcaster, Tsang is shown being arrested.

Tsang, dressed in a suit, sat attentively on the defendant's bench. He donned a yellow ribbon-shaped badge, the symbol of the Umbrella Movement, named after the umbrellas used to ward off sun, rain, tear gas, and pepper spray during the protests.

Outside court, the 40-year-old refused to say whether he would testify during the trial. 

"I won't be able to say anything because of the legal procedures," he said. 

It has taken a year for charges to be brought against both Tsang and the officers accused of assaulting him, further increasing controversy surrounding the case. 

Tsang's lawyer, Robert Pang, criticized police reliance on news footage to identify Tsang. 

"The identification took place after a year when someone showed a video with which he was identified... it is inappropriate," he told the court.

Tsang has said police brought assault charges against him to distract from the case against them.

Video footage aired by local television network TVB at the time showed a group of men hauling a handcuffed Tsang to a dark corner in a public park in the early hours of October 15, 2014. One stands over him and punches him, as 3 others are seen repeatedly kicking him.

Seven policemen will stand trial for the assault on the activist later this year. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges. 

Tsang has presented his case to a UN Committee Against Torture in Geneva.

Thousands of protesters blocked major thoroughfares in Hong Kong in 2014, calling for a free vote on the city's chief executive, but the protests failed to win any concessions from either Beijing or the city authorities. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Shortly after voting began for 1.38 million Filipinos abroad, 4 vote-counting machines (VCMs) malfunctioned and had to be returned to the Philippines, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Monday, April 11. 

Comelec Commissioner Arthur Lim said the 4 VCMs had earlier been placed in 4 different areas – one each in Hong Kong, and in Riyadh, Dubai, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.  

This is almost 3% of the 134 VCMs deployed overseas for the month-long overseas absentee voting, which started on Saturday, April 9.

Lim, the Comelec commissioner in charge of overseas absentee voting, said the Comelec is looking into why the VCMs malfunctioned. 

He said the "initial impression" is that it's not a serious problem. In Dubai, for instance, the VCM ingests ballots if the machine is made to "lie down" ("padapain") horizontally.

"Kung baliktarin mo ang machine, papasok ang ballot. 'Yun ang sa Dubai. Pero hindi naman puwedeng nakabaliktad ang machine," Lim said. (If you put the machine upside down, the ballot is ingested. That's in Dubai. But of course we can't do that to the machine.) 

Lim said the 4 malfunctioning machines "have been shipped back to the Philippines for diagnosis and the necessary troubleshooting."

He said these machines will be repaired in the Comelec’s VCM warehouse in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

To replace these VCMs, the Comelec on Monday was set to deploy "one replacement machine each, to replace the 4 machines that have been brought to Manila."

He said this was a "very minor problem," but the Comelec decided not to use the affected machine to ensure "normal operations."

'We just want to be ready'

Lim added that, on top of the replacement machines, the poll body is deploying contingency machines for the following places:

• Singapore – 2 machines
• Hong Kong – 2 machines
• Jeddah – 2 machines
• Riyadh – 2 machines
• Abu Dhabi – 2 machines
• Dubai – 2 machines
• Beirut – 1 machine
• Kuwait – 2 machines
• Bahrain – 1 machine
• Qatar – 1 machine 

By deploying these contingency machines, Lim said, "it does not imply we do not trust our machines there." Most of the places that will receive contingency machines, for one, don't have malfunctioning VCMs.

"We are not expecting further malfunctioning of the machines already deployed abroad," the Comelec commissioner said. "But we just want to be ready, just in case of any malfunctioning in any of these places."

The machines had been manufactured by Smartmatic, a Venezuelan firm that election watchdogs have long wanted to blacklist from Philippine elections. Smartmatic critics say the company’s VCMs can easily be tinkered with to rig election results.

Rappler is still trying to reach Smartmatic for comment on the malfunctioning VCMs as of posting time. 

The Comelec on Saturday began the month-long voting period for around 1.38 million overseas absentee voters this year.

This is the first time since 2004, the start of overseas voting, that the number of overseas voters has breached the one-million mark. (READ: What you need to know about overseas absentee voters) 

"They have 30 days within which to vote, and we would like to encourage our overseas Filipinos to take advantage, to exercise their right of suffrage," Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Vice presidential candidate Francis Escudero is set to file an electioneering case before the Commission on Elections against Philippine National Police generals who were seen in an apparent meeting with the Liberal Party.

Escudero said the generals committed a prohibited act when they allegedly met with the ruling LP April 2 in Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City.

“Kaya nga I think by tomorrow, we will be filing a case against the four PNP generals and other officers involved doon sa pagtitipon ‘di umano sa pangunguna ni General Cerbo, na nakipagpulong sa mga opisyal ng Liberal Party, partikular ng kandidatong si Ginoong Mar Roxas dahil mali, bawal, at hindi tuwid ‘yon,” Escudero told reporters in Laguna on Monday, April 11.

(That's why I think by tomorrow, we will be filing a case against the four PNP generals and other officers involved in the meeting which was allegedly led by General Cerbo, who met with officials of the Liberal Party of candidate Mar Roxas. Because this is wrong, prohibited, and not right.)

The 4 PNP generals involved in the incident hold plum posts: one is the chief of the intelligence staff of the PNP (Director Generoso Cerbo Jr); 2 are regional directors (Chief Supt Renier Ido of Cagayan Valley and Chief Supt Bernardo Diaz of Western Visayas); and another is the deputy regional director of the vote-rich Calabarzon region (Chief Supt Ronaldo Santos). (READ: Roxas' PMA 'classmates' say no politics in Cubao meet)

They are all members of Philippine Military Academy Class 1984 (Maharlika), who adopted Roxas as its member.

“At ang lakas pa ng loob nila sa hotel sa Cubao pa magtitipon-tipon at magpupulong. Pinaalis nga nila ‘yung mga waiter, pinalabas lahat ng waiter. Malas nila may meeting ‘yung media pala doon, hindi nila alam. Iyan ang hirap sa intelligence, minsan may fund sila pero wala naman ‘yung intelligence,” Escudero said.

(And they had the gall to meet inside the hotel in Cubao. They even asked all the waiters to leave. They're just unlucky they didn't know that members of the media also had a gathering there. That's the problem with intelligence, sometimes they have the fund but they really do not have the intelligence.)

The Cubao complex is owned by the family of administration standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Both LP and the generals claimed there was no talk of politics in that meeting. The generals said they were in the hotel for personal meetings and that the LP campaign staff met in another floor in the hotel.

Escudero earlier said he wants PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez to relieve officials found to be engaging in partisan politics for the May 2016 elections.

With the absence of formal complaint, Marquez earlier said the generals should be “given the benefit of the doubt.” – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Perhaps the biggest highlight of the only debate organized by the Commission on Elections for vice presidential candidates was how Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr was put in the hot seat to answer the age-old issues of the martial rule of his father.  

His opponents sure grabbed the chance to finally put the survey front runner on the spot. The son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was asked about corruption, human rights, and political dynasty particularly during the debate held at the University of Santo Tomas on Sunday, April 10.

Despite all the mudslinging and heckling, analysts said, Marcos was able to maintain his cool and rebut the criticisms thrown at him most especially by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

“He was calm, composed and just laughed through it. The body language was in check. For some, it showed character; to others, leadership under pressure,” said political consultant Malou Tiquia in a Facebook post on Monday, April 11.

Political analyst and governance specialist Prospero de Vera Jr said Marcos handled the situation very well because he expected these issues to come out. What probably he did not expect was the viciousness of his contenders.

“It shows that he has poise, that he doesn’t get rattled,” De Vera said. “He conducted himself very well. It shows [he knows] the issues and he knows how to respond to [the] issues,” he told Rappler in a phone interview.   

What’s lacking?  

Since the senator is vying for an executive position, De Vera thought it would have been helpful for Marcos to have highlighted his years of service as governor of Ilocos Norte.

“That would have been a very powerful message. If you talk about the poverty…all these things, it’s really a local government official that talks substantially about it,” the political analyst said. 

“He would have differentiated himself from the rest. He is the only one who has substantial local governance experience.”

University of the Philippines political communication expert Clarissa David and Ateneo Development Studies program director and sociologist Jayeel Serrano Cornelio pointed out that Marcos made mostly motherhood statements.

“There’s not much a lot of substance [in what he says],” said David during Rappler’s livestream on Sunday. 

Cornelio also said the senator’s message of unity is inconsistent with how he kept on sweeping martial law-related issues under the rug.

“He wants to come across as a leader to unify [the nation]. But he has lots of issues to confront. He has dismissed practically all of them. I am not sure to what extent he can be a unifying leader,” said Cornelio. 

Will this affect his standing?

Both Cornelio and De Vera believe that the candidate's refusal to apologize and his dismissal of other issues from his father’s authoritarian rule will not affect his survey figures at this point.

“People supportive of Marcos are supportive of him even before he ran. And that loyalty is gonna stick around until the end,” Cornelio said.

De Vera, on the other hand, stressed that Marcos’ base is solid, especially his Ilocano supporters. He likened it to Duterte’s supporters in Davao City who cannot be easily swayed with an issue or a shortcoming of their candidate.

After this debate, however, anti-Marcos votes will probably go to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano who took every issue as an opportunity to throw a hit or two toward Marcos.

But De Vera noted, “He might pick that up from Leni Robredo, for example. In which case, neither of them will be able to catch up significantly.” (READ: The Scrum: Why Bongbong Marcos might win as VP)

Marcos already blazed through the top of the most recent survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations. With 26%, Marcos overtook Francis Escudero who is now statistically tied with Robredo for the second place. – Rappler.com  

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte campaigns in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or ARMM.

Although Duterte lacks allies among local officials there, he receives a rousing welcome from the people.

Pia Ranada reports. – Rappler.com

This was the reaction of the crowd in Maguindanao upon the arrival of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte in Buluan town.

Duterte reciprocated, declaring his devotion to the Muslim communities of Mindanao.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Long live the Moro! Long live the Moro! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar! Allahu Akbar!

Maguindanao is the most vote-rich province in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Duterte tells them he is the only candidate who has their interests at heart.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Who of the 3 candidates can speak about the problem of the Moro, the problem of the BBL, the problem of poverty and hunger? None of them. I am running for president and I will fix Mindanao. Me, if I become president, if Allah gives his blessing, before I die since I am old, I will leave to you all a Mindanao that is governed in peace.

The Davao City mayor is overwhelmingly Mindanao’s top choice for president, according to recent surveys.

But ARMM is dominated by local government officials belonging to the ruling Liberal Party.

That doesn’t stop former Buluan Mayor Jong Mangudadatu, part of an influential family, from supporting Duterte.

JONG MANGUDADATU, FORMER BULUAN MAYOR: If we are not cheated in the elections, he will be the winner, no one else.

Maguindanao is a poor province constantly rocked by violence from secessionist Muslim groups.

Duterte proposes adopting the Bangsamoro Basic Law into his vision of a federal state to bring peace to the province.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Whatever is in the BBL, let’s not touch it. Let’s become federal so we can give a chance to our countrymen in other regions.

For Ronson Masingkit, Duterte is the only choice.

RAPPLER: What do you like about him?

RONSON MASINGKIT, MAGUINDANAO RESIDENT: He is fearless and has compassion.

RAPPLER: What do you think of the other candidates?

RAPPLER: They’re nothing.

Later that day, Duterte visits Koronadal City in South Cotabato.

Before his speech, he puts the Philippine flag to his heart.

He says he wants peace in Mindanao because he has Muslim family members.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If we fight, I’ll ask the Moro, who will I side with? My Christian nephews and nieces or my Muslim nephews and nieces? Let’s talk. That’s why I was pointing out the flag earlier. 

In a city where he has no allies among local government officials, he tells the audience to make up their own minds on who to vote.

RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE:  Now, what is Manila doing? They are choosing [our leaders]. “This is our president.” “Okay.” “This is our president.” “Yes mayor, congressman, senator.” That’s how it is. So what is ours? Son of a bitch, Manila is messing with us.

In less than a month, will the Philippines elect a Mindanaoan president?

Pia Ranada, Rappler, South Cotabato.

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr has taken the top spot in the vice presidential race, according to the results of the latest ABS-CBN survey released on Tuesday, April 12.

The ABS-CBN survey – conducted by Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated from March 29-April 3 – showed Marcos with a voter preference rating of 28%.

This is a 3-percentage points gain from his rating in the March 15-20 ABS-CBN poll.

Camarines Sur Representative Leni Robredo, the administration candidate, and erstwhile front-runner Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero were in a statistical tie for second place.

Robredo enjoyed 1-percentage point gain with 22% while Escudero’s rating slipped to 21% – a 4-percentage point drop – compared to their previous numbers.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, running mate of current presidential poll front-runner Rodrigo Duterte, gained 1 percentage point with 15%, for third place.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV had a 5%-rating, up by 1 percentage point, while Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II lost 1 percentage point, putting him at the bottom of the survey rankings with 4%.

Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said that just over a month before the May 9 elections, 5% of voters still had no vice presidential candidate.

Marcos top choice in NCR, Class ABC, Class D

Marcos kept his lead among Metro Manila voters with 47%, a 6-percentage point jump from his March 15-20 rating, according to the report.

He is also the leading vice presidential candidate among voters in Class ABC with  39%, up by 4 percentage points; and Class D, 29%, a 2-percentage point gain.

Robredo remained the top choice in the Visayas with 36%, a 2-percentage point gain; and the poorest Class E with 26%, up by 3 percentage points.

Marcos and Escudero are also among the leading candidates among Class E, both with  21% – a 4-percentage point gain for Marcos, and a 4-percentage point loss for Escudero.

Cayetano is the top choice in Mindanao with 30%, a 2-percentage point gain, while Marcos and Escudero are statistically tied in the rest of Luzon: Marcos had a rating of 34%, up by 2 percentage points; Escudero got 25%, a 4-percentage point drop.

The survey results also showed that "a sizeable plurality (29%) of those with a first choice for vice president" named Escudero as their second choice, in case their primary candidate dropped from the race.

The next back-up choice is Cayetano (16%), while Marcos and Robredo were statistically tied for third place at 12% and 11%, respectively.

The same percentage of voters – 6% – named Trillanes and Honasan as alternative vice-presidential candidate.

"Two in 10 voters are not supporting any second-choice candidate for vice-president," Holmes said.

'Magic 12'

The survey results showed the following senatorial candidates in the probable winners’ circle, among the 50 aspirants in the Senate race:

• Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senator Vicente Sotto III: 1st-2nd places
• Former senators Francis Pangilinan, Panfilo Lacson: 3rd-4th places
• Former senator Miguel Zubiri : 5th-6th places
• Former justice secretary Leila de Lima: 5th-9th places
• Senators Sergio Osmeña III and Ralph Recto, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao: 6th-12th places
• Former senator Richard Gordon, former Akbayan party list representative Risa Hontiveros, former TESDA chief Joel Villanueva: 7th-12th places

Holmes said that as of April 3, only 34% of voters have a complete slate or are naming 12 candidates they would vote for in the Senate race.

He added: "With less than six weeks to go before the May 2016 elections, registered voters are identifying a mean of 7 and a median of 8 of their favored candidates for senator in May 2016."

The nationwide survey, conducted among 4,000 registered voters, has an error margin of ±1.5% at the 95% confidence level.

Subnational estimates for the geographic areas covered in the survey have the following error margins at 95% confidence level: ±4.6% for Metro Manila, ±2.3% for the rest of Luzon and ±3.4% for Visayas and ±3.3 for Mindanao. 

During the survey period, among the major issues were the violent dispersal of a farmer's protest in Kidapawan City that killed two people and injured over a hundred others, the hacking of data from the Commission on Elections site, the Senate probe into the Bangladesh bank heist, and the release of comics depicting part of the life of Roxas, including his experience during and after Super Typhoon Yolanda hit parts of the Visayas. – Rappler.com

ISABELA, Philippines – “Bright and kind.”

This was how his family described slain Army Lieutenant Remigio Licena, who was among the 19 soldiers killed in the 10-hour clash between government troops and terrorists in Basilan last April 9.

Licena was the highest ranking soldier among the casualties and the only one from Luzon, according to his brother Javier Licena. He was 28.

The lieutenant’s remains arrived via a military plane at the Cauayan City airport on Monday afternoon, April 11. He was brought to his home in the village of Rang-Ayan in Ilagan City also in Isabela province.

The family is pleading for justice, adding the government should immediately punish the gunmen behind the attack.

Licena graduated cum laude in Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education from the International School of Asia and the Pacific in Tuguegarao City.

Before entering the military, he taught for two years in Rang-Ayan National High School, Ilagan police chief Superintendent Manuel Bringas told Rappler in phone interview.

According to Basilan clash survivor Sergeant Erico Paglinawan, Licena was killed after the Abu Sayyaf stormed the military routes with gunfire and M203 grenades.

The military said the attack in Tipo-Tipo, Basilan also wounded at least 52 soldiers and 20 terrorists, including Abu Sayyaf leader Radzmil Janatul, aka Kubayb, and notorious Abu Sayyaf kidnapper Furuji Indama.

Of the 19 soldiers killed, 18 of them died during the clash while one died hours after being brought to the hospital. Four of the soldiers were beheaded in the fighting.

The military said 13 of the terrorists were also killed in the clash.

A terror expert earlier told Rappler that the clash was the first major attack of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, also known as ISIS, IS, ISIL, or Da’esch, in the Philippines. (READ: ISIS behind Basilan killings, says terror expert) – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – After emerging as a presidential race front runner in a recent survey, Rodrigo Duterte sought to defend himself against attacks coming from both the Liberal Party and Vice President Jejomar Binay. 

"They say I am a threat to democracy. Really? I've been mayor for 22 years in Davao. Cite me a day or a moment that I was a dictator," said Duterte on Monday, April 11, during a Taguig City rally. 

Earlier that day, the camp of Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II sent a press release calling Duterte a "threat to democracy" because of his use of fear to govern.

The statement was released in response to the Social Weather Stations survey showing Duterte was the top choice of respondents for president.

But Duterte himself has said that his leadership style has had to be "dictator-like" in order to instill discipline in a society for which "obedience to the law is optional."

In Davao City, he has enforced ordinances like a smoking ban in public places, a curfew for the sale of liquor, and even a ban on loud late-night karaoke sessions.

"The president said, 'He has a tendency of being a dictator.' Really Mr President? You must've forgotten that my mother led the Yellow Friday [Movement] sa Davao in the dark days of the martial law," he continued, addressing a crowd of thousands.

Duterte's mother, Soledad Roa Duterte, was a prominent anti-Marcos advocate in Davao City during the last days of the dictator's regime. (READ: Duterte: Becoming a dictator would dishonor my mother)

"I am a threat to the corrupt people, silang dalawa (those two). Puro corrupt 'yang dalawa na 'yan (Both of them are corrupt)," he said earlier that evening during an ambush interview. He was referring to Roxas and Binay. 

'Pambansang berdugo'

Next, he responded to the Vice President's new title for him, "Pambansang berdugo" (national executioner).

"Ako raw ang berdugo ng bayan (I am supposedly the national executioner). My God, Vice President, ikaw ang berdugo ng pera ng tao (you are the executioner of the people's money)," said Duterte onstage.

"I will ask you now Mr President, let us go into a debate about morality and graft and corruption," he added. It's likely Duterte meant the challenge for Binay and not President Benigno Aquino III. 

He earlier admitted, "Pambansang berdugo ako sa mga kriminal. Si Binay pambansang berdugo ng pera ng Makati (I am the national executioner of criminals. Binay is the national executioner of the money of Makati)."

Duterte has made a campaign promise to suppress crime, drugs, and corruption in government in 3 to 6 months.

If elected president, he said he would raise drugs and criminality to the level of a national security threat and task police and the military to crack down on druglords and criminal syndicates.

His public remarks about shooting criminals in the head, jokes about killing thousands, and even sarcastic statements on being the Davao Death Squad have led critics to accuse him of tolerating vigilanteism as a way to solve crime. 

Duterte has publicly denied involvement in extrajudicial killings, saying he has only ordered the shooting of criminals who put up a violent resistance. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Jejomar Binay believes that regardless of survey results during the campaign period, the presidential race would still be down to him and Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel "Mar" Roxas II in the end.

The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) standard-bearer told reporters on Monday, April 11, that only he and Roxas have the machinery to win the elections. 

"Kasi kayo na mga kasama ko sa pag-iikot, nakikita naman ninyo na kaming dalawa lang ni Mar Roxas ang may organisasyon (You reporters who join me as I go around the country, you can see that only Mar Roxas and I have the organization)," said Binay.

He took a quick potshot at his rival, alleging, "Si Mar Roxas napakaraming salapi ang ginagastos na pera ng bayan (Mar Roxas has spent huge amounts of public funds)."

Binay was referring to accusations that Roxas is using the Aquino administration's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Bottom-Up Budgetting Program to "buy" votes for Roxas, which the administration had denied.

Duterte and Poe, 'not threats'

The Vice President made the statement on the same day Duterte overtook survey front-runner Poe for the first time in a Social Weather Stations survey. 

The day after, an ABS-CBN survey showed similar results – Duterte grabbed solo lead, Poe in second place, and Binay and Roxas tied for third place.

The Vice President, however, is unfazed,

He said that despite the popularity of Duterte and Poe, the two candidates have only built their respective organizations recently, or just for this campaign.

"'Yung dalawa, wala 'yun. Ngayon lang nagkakandakumahog na kumuha at magtayo ng organisasyon sa pagkakampanya," said Binay.

(Those two are not threats. They've only started building their organizations during the campaign period.)

While he said he didn't consider Duterte a threat, Binay had been actively discrediting the Davao mayor in his campaign speeches since his rival climbed to the top of the polls, initially tying with Poe in the last Laylo survey released on April 5.

Binay has been portraying Duterte as an extrajudicial "killer" who will victimize innocent crime suspects who are poor. (READ: Binay: Presidency not for 'liars, merciless killers')

Asked why he was only attacking Duterte now, Binay claimed this was because he finally found the evidence to justify tagging the mayor as a "national executioner who kills the poor."

Binay used to be the poll front runner until the Senate began its yearlong investigation into corruption allegations against him in 2014. He managed to bounce back in early March 2015, and again in December 2015.

Binay last held top spot, tied with Poe, in the Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated survey in March 2016, but has since been overtaken by Poe and Duterte.

Early bird

The Vice President was the first to declare his intention to run for president – as early as after his election in 2010.

He has been touring the country since 2010, in his capacity as concurrent public housing chief and presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers' concerns. His rivals had deemed these activities as early campaigning, since they included public market visits, and other engagements not covered by his Cabinet functions.

Since announcing his presidential bid, Binay has been building alliances with local politicians and strengthening connections with parallel groups and volunteer organizations  across the country.

These include the sister cities of Makati, where Binay was mayor for 21 years, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines, of which Binay is national president, and Binay's fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.

In the final stretch of the campaign, however, Binay, had lost allies in key areas such as Cebu – the province with the most number of registered voters in the country – where One Cebu severed its ties with the UNA standard-bearer and promised to deliver 1 million votes to Duterte. 

Former president now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, who ran in tandem with Binay in the 2010 elections, has endorsed Poe. – Rappler.com

KOLLAM, India – Five men wanted over a massive explosion during a banned fireworks display that killed more than 100 people in southern Indian surrendered to police early Tuesday, April 12, a senior officer said.

The blast ripped through concrete buildings at a Hindu temple complex in Kerala state where thousands had gathered on Saturday night, April 9, to watch the display.

Police had been hunting for the 5 who went missing after the disaster and initial charges including of culpable homicide not amounting to murder have been filed against them.

"The 5 accused who were named in the FIR (first information report) surrendered before the local police," head of Kerala's police crime branch S. Ananthakrishnan said.

"They have now been handed over to the crime branch. They are being questioned and will be formally arrested today," Ananthakrishnan told Agence France-Presse.

Police have said the 5 were temple officials and contractors for the fireworks display. Another man facing the same initial charges was still in hospital. 

Police on Monday, April 11, also questioned five temple workers involved in staging the fireworks display, but they face no charges at this stage and have been released.

Thousands had packed the temple to celebrate the Hindu New Year festival of Vishu when a stray firework apparently landed on a stockpile of them, triggering the blast and fire that killed 109 people and injured hundreds more.

Witnesses told how the force of the explosion sent concrete slabs and roof tiles slamming into the panicked crowd of onlookers.

Police said they were investigating who was responsible for holding the fireworks display even though authorities in Kollam district had refused permission for it.

Fires and stampedes are not uncommon at temples and during religious occasions, often because of poor security arrangements and lax safety standards.

Kerala's High Court is set Tuesday to hold a hearing to consider an immediate ban on hugely popular fireworks displays at all temples in the state, the NDTV news network reported.

A powerful state board, which governs nearly 1,000 temples, says it will not accept such a ban, adding that responsibility for devotees' safety lies with the government.

The Kerala government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the disaster, which comes as the southern state heads to the polls next month. – Rappler.com

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – An outspoken Cambodian opposition lawmaker faces up to 5 years in prison after he was charged Tuesday, April 12, with "inciting revolt" by criticizing government border maps, officials said.

Um Sam An, a dual Cambodian-US national, was arrested late Sunday, April 9, in Siem Reap province after returning from overseas.

He was a prominent campaigner against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen for using contested maps as a guideline to demarcate the border with Vietnam, accusing it of conceding land to the neighboring country. 

Prosecutors at a Phnom Penh court ordered his detention pending trial.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak told Agence France-Presse the lawmaker used the border issue to incite people to revolt against the government.

"He also incited racism between Cambodia and Vietnam. We cannot accept this," he added.

Under Cambodia's criminal code he faces up to 5 years in jail if convicted.

Strongman Hun Sen has repeatedly warned that anyone accusing the government of using fake maps faces arrest.

Anti-Vietnamese sentiment is strong in parts of Cambodia and is often used by the opposition as a touchstone issue to rally support. 

Sam Sokong, a lawyer for Um Sam An, confirmed the charges with Agence France-Presse through a text message.

"His expression did not damage society," he added.

Cambodia's opposition party has long been critical of Phnom Penh's cosy ties with Hanoi and routinely accuses Vietnam of taking Cambodian territory along the 1,270-kilometre (787-mile) border, which is not fully demarcated.

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) denounced the arrest of Um Sam An as a "serious violation of the principle of parliamentary immunity".

Parliament will discuss the case later Tuesday.

An opposition senator was also arrested last year after Hun Sen accused him of committing treason by posting a "doctored" version of an old treaty about the Vietnamese border on Facebook.

He is still in detention as his trial has been delayed.

Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for more than 3 decades, is highly sensitive to criticism that he is too soft on Vietnam over the disputed areas of the shared border. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Alan Peter Cayetano explained the apparent contradiction in his support for the anti-dynasty law and his being a member of a dynasty himself.

During the vice-presidential debate Sunday, April 11, Cayetano said he is in favor of passing the controversial law.

Cayetano himself belongs to a political dynasty. His sister Pia is a fellow senator, his wife Lani is the Taguig City mayor, his brother Lino is a congressman, his other brother Ren was a former Muntinlupa councilor, and his late father Renato a senator. 

"I am for what the people want and I’ve always claimed that it’s not the dynasty that’s the problem but it is the corruption. Now, if there are more corrupt dynasties than good ones and people believe that this will cleanse [government]...I’ve never been afraid of radical solutions," he told reporters on Tuesday, April 11, in Taguig.

The anti-dynasty law, which would limit the number of persons in a single family who can run for government positions, has languished in Congress for nearly 3 decades.

Cayetano said he is fine with abiding by such a law if it passes.

"My wife is a better politician than me so kung isa lang sa amin ang puwede (so if only be one of us who can be in government), I will support her fully," he told reporters.

"So kung sasabihin ng gobyerno, sasabihin ng taumbayan, isa lang sa inyo ang puwedeng manilbihan, 'yun ang rules, we will follow the rules," he added. (So if the government, if the people say only one of us can serve, those are the rules, we will follow the rules.) 

All 6 vice-presidential candidates said it is time to pass the anti-dynasty law during the debate held on April 10.

Aside from Cayetano, Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr and Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero belong to political dynasties.– Rappler.com

KABUL, Afghanistan – The Afghan Taliban announced Tuesday, April 12, the start of their "spring offensive" even as the government in Kabul tries to bring the insurgents back to the negotiating table to end their drawn-out conflict.

The Taliban said in a statement they would "employ large-scale attacks on enemy positions across the country" during the offensive they have dubbed "Operation Omari" in honor of the movement's late founder Mullah Omar, whose death was announced last year.

The annual spring offensive normally marks the start of the "fighting season", though this winter the lull was shorter and they continued to battle government forces albeit with less intensity.

The statement promised "martyrdom-seeking and tactical attacks against enemy strongholds", a reference to suicide bombings – a strategy the group has long resorted to against its enemies the Afghan police and army, whom they view as "stooges" of the West.

On Monday, 12 fresh recruits were killed in one such attack in the country's east.

The Islamists, who have been waging an insurgency since being toppled from power in 2001, also promised attacks on the 13,000 NATO troops currently stationed in the country, officially on a training and advisory mission since the end of their combat mission in 2014.

"By employing such a multifaceted strategy it is hoped that the foreign enemy will be demoralized and forced to evict our nation," they said.

The Taliban have made the departure of all foreign forces a precondition to the resumption of direct peace talks with Kabul, which began last summer in Pakistan but ended abruptly after it was revealed that Mullah Omar had been dead for two years.

A 4-country group comprising Afghanistan, the United States, China and Pakistan has been holding meetings since January aimed and jump-starting negotiations, though their efforts have so far been in vain.

Mullah Omar's successor Mullah Akhtar Mansour, meanwhile, has won a string of impressive victories on the battlefield, helping to silence emerging factions by stepping up the intensity of his military campaign.

Last year the Taliban were able to briefly capture northern Kunduz, the first time they had held an Afghan city since the fall of their government in 2001.

The Taliban's resurgence has raised serious questions about Afghan forces capacity to hold their own, with an estimated 5,000 troops killed last year, the worst ever toll.

It has also prompted calls for the US to reconsider its troop withdrawal schedule, already delayed once by President Barack Obama.  

There are currently 9,800 American troops in the country, with the number set to fall to 5,500 by 2017.

General John Nicholson, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan since March, had promised during his US Senate confirmation hearings to review the drawdown plan. – Guillaume Decamme, AFP / Rappler.com

MARIB, Yemen – Loyalists and Iran-backed rebel fighters have clashed on several fronts in Yemen, officials said on Tuesday, April 12, the second day of a UN-brokered ceasefire the insurgents have warned is in jeopardy.

Forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi fought with Shiite Huthi rebels in the province of Marib, east and north of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, officials said.

The rebels and their allies loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh advanced overnight in the area of Sarwah, in Marib, wresting control of two hills, a military official said.

The Saudi-led coalition, which launched a military campaign against the rebels last year, had described violations on Monday as "minor".

Seven soldiers have been killed and 15 others wounded in Sarwah in rebel attacks since the ceasefire entered into force at midnight between Sunday and Monday (April 10-11), the official said.

There were also clashes in Nihm, northeast of Sanaa, military officials said, while rebels said they confronted an attack by Hadi's forces in the area.

The rebels said Monday that pro-government forces were behind 39 violations of the truce, including attacks in Taez and the central province of Baida.

They also said warplanes belonging to the Saudi-led coalition flew sorties over several areas of Yemen despite the ceasefire. 

Meanwhile, a soldier was killed and 9 others wounded in a rebel attack on an army base near the southern city of Baihan which borders Marib province.

Rebel spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam warned in a statement on Facebook that "continued military action endangers the peace process and reduce the chances of holding the forthcoming dialogue" in Kuwait.

But violations did not seem to discourage the United Nations which is sponsoring peace talks in Kuwait next week.

"The cessation of hostilities seems to be largely holding," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Monday, although he noted that there were "some pockets of violence."

More than 6,300 people have been killed in the war that has worsened the humanitarian crisis, with more than 80% of the population on the brink of famine.

The conflict in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula nation has ruined large parts of the country and raised Middle East tensions, with Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies backing the government and Shiite powerhouse Iran supporting the rebels.

The peace talks are scheduled to take place in Kuwait on April 18. – Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – If it were up to Liberal Party (LP) vice-presidential candidate Leni Robredo, survey front-runner Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr, shouldn’t even be running for the second highest post in the land today.

Robredo was asked on Tuesday, April 12, by ANC Headstart host Karen Davila if she thinks the Marcos family should be “perpetually disqualified to run for office.” Senator Marcos is the only son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr, who ruled the country for more than two decades, initially under Martial Law.

“With the magnitude of wealth that was robbed from us, dapat sana oo (that should’ve been the case). With the magnitude of the human right abuses that has been committed during the Marcos regime, dapat sana oo (that should’ve been the case),” the Camarines Sur Representative said.

On Tuesday, an ABS-CBN survey conducted by Pulse Asia Research, Incorporated showed Marcos ahead of the race with a preference rating of 28%. Robredo and Escudero trailed, with 22% and 21%, respectively.

Of the 6 candidates for the vice presidency, Robredo has been the most vocal in calling Marcos out for the dark days of Martial Law, which was marred by human rights abuses, enforced disappearances, and the theft of billions from the country’s coffers.

Even during a visit to Ilocos Norte, the home province and bailiwick of the Marcoses, Robredo was vocal in her stand against Martial Law.

“Talagang naniniwala ako na (I believe that) it would be relative to office, lalo na (especially) for something as high as the vice presidency. Paranglaughingstock of the world tayo. Ngayon, parang pinabayaan natin na (It’s as if we let it slip) in the previous years they’re really back into power,” added Robredo.

Another vice-presidential candidate, Marcos’ party-mate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, recently joined the fray, hitting Marcos aggressively during the recently-concluded Commission on Elections (Comelec) vice presidential debate.

Unity but…

Asked about Marcos’ closing statement about being a leader that “unites”, Robredo said Marcos was right – but pointed out that his is a different perspective.

“Iyong pinanggalingan natin na history napakaiba. Parang we were off to a good start before. Naantala lahat because of the abuses during the Marcos years. Hindi ito puwedeng kalimutan na lang. Hindi pa nase-serve iyong justice sa lahat ng mga naging biktima ng martial law,” she said.

(Our historical perspective is different. We were off to a good start before. But that was stopped because of the abuses during the Marcos years. We can’t just forget this. Justice has yet to be served to the victims of martial law.)

“Tama naman siya, na dapat iyong leader is someone who can unite people. But all this can happen only if justice has been served (He’s right, we need a leader who can unite people. But this can only happen if justice has been served),” she added.

During the vice-presidential debate, Robredo said the Marcos family should return the billions stolen from the country, to which the senator retorted: “I cannot give what I do not have.”

“Marami pang judgments iyong foreign courts na hindi pa nasasatisfy. May judgment iyong Swiss court, may judgment ang Singapore court, hindi pa iyon nasa-satisfy. At iyon ay maliit na maliit na bahagi lang ng hidden wealth,” said Robredo. (There are judgments from foreign courts that have yet to be satisfied. There’s a judgment from the Swiss Court, from a Singapore Court. Those have yet to be satisfied. And those are just a fraction of their hidden wealth.)

Should the younger Marcos be judged for the sins of his father?

“Tama naman iyon, I cannot apologize for the sins of my father, as a general rule, tama iyon. Pero kung nakinabang ka doon, kabahagi ka doon,” said Robredo. (It’s true what he said, "I cannot apologize for the sins of my father." As a general rule, that’s right. But when you benefited from the sins of the father, it's your sin too.)

Marcos was around 28 years old when the EDSA Revolution toppled the Marcos dictatorship. He first entered politics when he was 23 years old, as vice governor of Ilocos Norte, and was governor of the province when his father was unseated.– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – A week ago, the Supreme Court upheld its decision allowing presidential candidate Grace Poe to run for the 2016 elections.

Even if the decision is already final, 4 of the 6 justices who voted against Poe questioned the main decision or ponencia for saying the Commission on Election (Comelec) "cannot itself, in the same cancellation case [based on the ground of false material representation], decide the qualification or lack thereof of the candidate."

In his 78-page dissenting opinion released Saturday, April 9, Justice Arturo Brion called this the "height of illogic."

"A continuing source of wonder in reading the ponencia is how it could rule that the Comelec's cancellation of Grace Poe's [certificate of candidacy] could be void (because the Comelec had no authority or jurisdiction to make the ruling) and at the same time declare Grace Poe qualified to run for the presidency of this country," he said.

To explain further, Brion simplified the Court's decision in a way a "legally unschooled mind" would interpret it: "Wala palang kapangyarihan ang Comelec at 'di pala ito puwede magbigay ng kapasiyahan sa certifico ng kandidatura ni Grace Poe, kaya kandidato pa rin si Grace Poe."

(Comelec has no power and it cannot decide on the certificate of candidacy of Grace Poe, so Grace Poe is still a candidate.)

"That would not have been a bad reasoning for a legal layman and should at least be a reasoning track that should not escape the Supreme Court itself," Brion added. 

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said such ruling means the SC can only annul the decision of the Comelec en banc – it cannot rule on the merits, "that is, decide the qualifications of a candidate, because there is no Comelec decision to review on the merits, the annulled decision of the Comelec being non-existent."

But the main decision goes: "Petitioner Mary Grace Natividad Sonora Poe-Llamanzares is declared qualified to be a candidate for President in the National and Local Elections of 9 May 2016."

'Controversial, radical'

Justices Teresita Leonardo-de Castro and Bienvenido Reyes both shared Brion and Carpio's sentiments. De Castro even called this part "one of the most controversial and radical pronouncements" of the ponencia.

"In respondent Elamparo, et al.'s motion for reconsideration, they rightly contend that there is no legal basis to consider this pronouncement as a majority decision considering that 9 of the 15 justices of the Court found the Comelec to have jurisdiction to rule on these qualifications," she explained.

Aside from the 6 dissenters, De Castro said Justices Benjamin Caguioa, Diosdado Peralta, and Francis Jardeleza issued opinions that the Comelec should rule on these qualifications. (READ: EXPLAINER: Can Comelec ‘disqualify’ Grace Poe?)

Peralta concurred with Caguioa's separate concurring opinion on the 47-page main decision. 

Reyes, for his part, said the Comelec has the power to rule on the qualifications of a candidate if it has the power to determine whether a candidate materially misrepresented his qualifications in the COC.

"Indeed, it would be the height of absurdity to deny the Comelec the power to rule on the qualifications of the candidate considering that it can, under Section 78 of the [Omnibus Election Code], inquire into the qualifications of the candidate for purposes of determining whether there is material misrepresentation in the COC."

He said the Comelec can rule on a candidate's qualifications prior to election because of the Constitution's "broad and general grant of power" to the poll body "to enforce and administer election laws even in the absence of any declaration by a final judgment from a competent court."

Brion pointed out that if indeed the Comelec did not have the jurisdiction to cancel Poe's COC, then rulings made on her citizenship and residency "are obiter dicta or non-binding observations."

Like Carpio, Brion, De Castro, and Reyes also noted in their opinions that no majority in the SC holds Poe as a natural-born Filipino. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno dismissed this as a move by the minority to belittle the Court's main decision. (READ: Grace Poe a natural-born Filipino – Supreme Court)

On SolGen's statistics

The dissenters also questioned the use of statistics that "point to a very high possibility that [Poe's] parents were Filipinos."

"What is at stake here is the citizenship eligibility of a candidate seeking the highest position in the land. The Court cannot leave this matter to demonstrability, probability, and plausibility, especially when the Constitution demands certainty," Reyes explained.

De Castro said there is no natural-born citizenship by probability under the Constitution.

Brion, meanwhile, noted that the statistics presented by Solicitor General Florin Hilbay during the oral arguments were introduced in evidence only on appeal, and not by direct parties to the case.

"These circumstances lead me to ask: should the Comelec now be held responsible for not considering data and arguments that were never brought in the Section 78 proceedings before it?" he added. (READ: SC justice to SolGen: Cite legal basis, not statistics) 

Read the dissenting opinions of the 4 justices below.

Dissenting Opinion - Brion

Dissenting Opinion - Carpio

Dissenting Opinion - De Castro

Dissenting Opinion - Reyes

– Rappler.com

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) upheld its earlier decision striking down a provision in the Ombudsman law that prohibits any court, aside from the SC, from issuing orders that would delay investigations conducted by the Ombudsman.

In its en banc session on Tuesday, April 12, the SC denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales on the High Court's verdict issued in November last year, which upheld the Court of Appeals (CA)'s power to stop decisions issued by the Office of the Ombudsman.

In March 2015, the Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension of now-dismissed Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr due to corruption allegations against him over a controversial Makati building.

Binay took his case to the CA, citing the so-called condonation doctrine, which says that a reelected official is absolved of administrative liability committed while he or she was in office.

The CA ruled in his favor. But the Ombudsman questioned the CA's power to stop its suspension order, citing Section 14 of Republic Act 6770 or the Ombudsman Act of 1989.

Section 14 read: "No writ of injunction shall be issued by any court to delay an investigation being conducted by the Ombudsman under this Act, unless there is a prima facie evidence that the subject matter of the investigation is outside the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman."

In its November 2015 decision, the SC struck this provision as unconstitutional. In the same decision the High Court also nullified the condonation doctrine. – Rappler.com

BRUSSELS, Belgium (UPDATED) – Belgium has charged two new suspects over last month's deadly Brussels airport and metro attacks, as police pursue the investigation "night and day", the federal prosecutor's office said on Tuesday, April 12.

A statement said Smail F. and Ibrahim F. were "charged with participation in the activities of a terrorist group, terrorist murders and attempts to commit terrorist murders, as a perpetrator, co-perpetrator or accomplice."

The prosecutor said there were "indications" the two men could be linked to the rental of an address in the Etterbeek district of Brussels which was raided last week.

At the time, police said they found nothing of interest there but reports suggested that two men – including Khalid El Bakraoui, who later blew himself up in the Maalbeek metro station – may have stayed or used the address.

The second man, later identified as Swedish national Osama Krayem, was seen on CCTV with Khalid at a nearby metro station on March 22, apparently also carrying a rucksack bomb.

Khalid then got on the metro, travelling to Maalbeek station near the European Union headquarters district in Brussels.

Krayem was arrested last week and charged with terror offenses.

Probe runs 'day and night'

The federal prosecutor gave no further details in Tuesday's statement about Smail F. and Ibrahim F., citing the need for secrecy "in the current state of the investigation which is continuing actively, day and night."

The airport and metro bombings killed 32 people in Belgium's worst terror attack which was claimed, like the attacks in Paris in November, by the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

Investigators have since uncovered extensive links between the Brussels and Paris attacks, with many of the same people involved and linked to ISIS in Syria.

At the weekend, the prosecutor said the Brussels cell had originally planned another attack in France but the arrest of Paris suspect Salah Abdeslam on March 18, coupled with a massive series of police raids, made them switch to target Belgium instead.

"Surprised by the speed of the progress in the ongoing investigation, they urgently took the decision to strike in Brussels," the prosecutor said.

Apparently reflecting these fears as the net closed in, one of the airport bombers, Khalid's brother Ibrahim El Bakraoui, left behind what the authorities described as a "will" on a computer in which he said he felt "hunted" and "I don't know what to do."

The other airport bomber was Najim Laachraoui, whose DNA was found on a suicide vest recovered at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris where 90 people died.

The Belgian authorities gave no details of the planned attack in France.

Late last month, however, French police arrested Reda Kriket near Paris, finding weapons and explosives in a flat he had used to suggest he was planning an act of "extreme violence."

Belgium has arrested several suspects in connection with the Kriket case.

'Man in the hat' Abrini

The police netted another key Paris suspect on Friday, Mohamed Abrini, dubbed "the man in the hat" after he was seen in CCTV footage at Brussels airport shortly before the two bombers struck there.

Abrini, 31, was seen calmly leaving the devastated departures hall after the blasts, walking back into central Brussels before disappearing from sight.

He was also filmed with Salah Abdeslam at a motorway service station en route to Paris shortly before the attacks there.

Brahim Abdeslam was among the suicide bombers in Paris but his brother Salah backed out at the last moment and fled back to Brussels, where he hid until police finally tracked him down on March 18, not far from the family home in the Molenbeek district.

Abrini grew up with Abdeslam in Molenbeek along with several other suspects, who all share a similar story of getting on the wrong side of the law and becoming radicalised.

Critics say the authorities have not done enough to prevent extremists working in areas such as Molenbeek, with Belgium proportionately the biggest source of foreign fighters going to join ISIS in Syria. – Bryan McManus, AFP/Rappler.com