Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Monday, May 9, 2022.
READ: Judgment day: 66M to cast votes
MORE than 18,000 elective positions, from president to municipal councilor, are up for grabs as at least 65 million Filipinos cast their vote today, May 9. Voting ahead were the 1.8 million Filipinos overseas who submitted ballots in Philippine embassies and consulates abroad. Voting precincts open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. Vying for the presidency are 10 candidates, with survey frontrunner Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo leading the field. Interestingly, Marcos and Robredo squared off six years ago, as contenders for the vice presidency. Robredo edged out Marcos but not without controversy and allegations of massive cheating. Marcos, who has dodged petitions to disqualify him, has built his campaign on calls for unity and promises to bring down the prices of food staples and generate more jobs. If Marcos triumphs, it will be a stunning reversal of the 1986 pro-democracy uprising that booted his father out of office into global infamy.
READ: PUBLiCUS to conduct exit polls
PUBLiCUS will conduct exit polls and interview at least 35,000 voters today, May 9, election day, in vote-rich provinces and cities in the National Capital Region where almost two-thirds of registered voters reside. More than 200 trained field personnel were deployed to conduct interviews with randomly selected actual voters where they will be asked two questions — the names of the candidates they voted for president and vice president. It said that the exit poll has been calibrated to conform with the legal requirements under Republic Act 9006 or the "Fair Elections Act" and applicable Commission on Elections regulations. Results of the exit poll will be reported periodically via Facebook and YouTube after voting has closed.
READ: Makabayan slams spreaders of fake news
THE Makabayan coalition condemned the spread of the false news that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had disqualified party-lists under the coalition. A falsified Comelec resolution made it appear that the First Division disqualified Bayan Muna, Anakpawis, Kabataan, ACT Teachers, and Gabriela as well as Senate candidate Neri Colmenares from the elections. In a statement on Sunday, Colmenares, chairman of Bayan Muna, denied that he had been disqualified. Comelec Commissioner George Garcia reiterated in a radio interview on Sunday that the said groups and Colmenares were not disqualified.
READ: Pharmally exec Mohit Dargani stays in jail – CA
THE Court of Appeals (CA) has denied the petition for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus filed by a Pharmally executive who was ordered detained by the Senate blue ribbon committee that investigated an alleged anomalous multi-billion supplies procurement scam involving officials of the Department of Budget and Management. The decision by the 4th Division of the appeals court will keep Mohit Dargani, corporate secretary and treasurer of Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., under the custody of the Pasay City Jail, where he has been in detention since November. Mohit, together with his sister Twinkle and Pharmally director Linconn Ong, was ordered arrested by the blue ribbon committee for refusing to submit subpoenaed financial documents related to the supposed irregularities in the procurement of pandemic response supplies.
BUSINESS: Analysts see above 6% Q1 GDP growth
Over to business, first quarter Philippine economic growth likely topped 6 percent based on analysts' forecasts, with a January surge in Covid-19 cases having been offset by factors such as a further relaxation of health restrictions, increased business confidence and election-related spending. Projections for the January to March period ranged from 5.8 to 7.0 percent with a 6.3 percent average. While slower than the 7.8-percent expansion posted in the fourth quarter of 2021, the forecasts represent a rebound from the 3.9-percent contraction recorded in the first quarter of last year. Official gross domestic growth (GDP) data will be released on Thursday, May 12, by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
SPORTS: Pinoy rowers begin SEAG campaign
In sports, Filipino rowers start their medal campaign today, May 9, in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) and among those praying for their success is Melcah Jen Caballero, who has retired after spending eight years in the national team. Caballero delivered two of the country's three gold medals in rowing during the 2019 edition. She ruled the Women Single Sculls. (W1X) event and the Women Double Sculls (W2X) event with Joanie Delgaco. Cris Nievarez contributed the other gold medal after dominating the Lightweight Men Single Sculls (LM1X) event, while Edgar Ilas and Roque Abala Jr. pocketed the bronze medal in the Lightweight Men Double Sculls (LM2X) event.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Rigoberto Tiglao and Fr. Ranhilio Aquino are today's front page columnists, as they both discuss the upcoming elections today.
Today's editorial is a prayer for honest and peaceful elections. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe week ahead and vote wisely.