THE same standard demanded of deposed Chief Justice Renato Corona should be required by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) when it screens the 25 aspirants who accepted their nomination, a senior lawmaker said Tuesday.

Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, former House Minority Leader, said the JBC should recommend only the “most qualified and truly independent-minded” nominees.

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Source: Sunstar.com.ph

PROPONENTS of the proposed reproductive health (RH) law cannot claim that the measure will address both maternal mortality and child labor problems in the country, a senior legislator said Tuesday.

In a statement, Parañaque Representative Roilo Golez cited China and Nigeria — both of which implement RH laws — as having more alarming numbers of child workers than the Philippines.

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Source: Sunstar.com.ph

RESIDENTS in Iloilo should not worry about the construction of the proposed Jalaur main dam and reservoir since it is not prone to massive damage that can be brought by movement of an active fault line.

Citing a report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), Drilon said the proposed P11.2-billion Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project-Stage II (JRMP) is 11 kilometers away from the nearest active fault line in the area which is the West Panay Fault.

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Source: Sunstar.com.ph

MALACAÑANG-friendly senators defended the addition of presidential cousin, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, to next year’s senatorial elections, saying the 35-year-old social entrepreneur will bring fresh ideas in the legislature.

Senator Ralph Recto, a member of the ruling Liberal Party (LP), said he would be willing to nominate Aquino to be one of the official senatorial candidates of the party headed by President Benigno Aquino III.

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Source: Sunstar.com.ph

and Linette C. Ramos

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Source: Sunstar.com.ph