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The Philippines has been ranked as the country with the fastest growing number of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in the world, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) bared Monday. (AFP / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) “We are the country with the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world, not only in the Asia and the Pacific. In 2018 report, we’re now number 1 in the whole world,” Dr. Louie Ocampo, UNAIDS Philippines country director, said in a talk held at the Manila Doctors Hospital in Manila. The UN organization said it recorded about 13,384 new HIV infections by the end of 2018. The number, according to UNAIDS, is 203 percent higher than infections recorded in 2010, with only about 4,419. “[We are the] fastest growing in terms of growth rate comparing 2010 and 2018. But in terms of absolute number, we are still very low, [when compared to] African countries,” he added. The UNAIDS estimated that there are now about 77,000 people ...

Photo from google images “IF upon examination of such ballots and proof, and after making reasonable allowances, the tribunal is convinced that, taking all circumstances into account, the protestant or counter-protestant, will most probably fail to make out his case, the protest may forthwith be dismissed.” This is what Rule 65 used by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) says. And it is clear that the tribunal “may” dismiss a protest, implying that it can decide otherwise. In law, there is an ocean of difference between “may” and “shall.” The latter is used for a mandatory directive, while the former applies when an action is merely an option. It is simply odd that people who should know their law, including Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, appear to imply that the Supreme Court, sitting as the PET, has no other option but to dismiss the case and uphold Rule 65. In fact, the PET decided not to dismiss outright the protest filed against Robredo ...

As ponente in poll case vs Robredo THE Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), is considering replacing Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa as the ponente in the election protest case filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo, sources said. Well-placed sources told The Manila Times that after an overwhelming majority of magistrates rejected Caguioa’s draft ruling recommending the dismissal of the poll protest, a new ponente will likely be appointed. “The new ponente shall come from the majority after Ben (Caguioa) became the dissenter to the case,” the source said. Only Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio supported Caguioa’s proposal. Last week, 11 justices moved to set aside Caguioa’s ponencia. Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa. Source: sc.judiciary.gov.ph The tribunal instead decided to release to the camps of Marcos and Robredo the report on...

Photo from Franco Mabanta's FB Page The Context: The abovementioned company is a Think Tank comprised of two tech CEO's, one city planner, one Chinese economist, one Filipino billionaire, one Congressman, one powerbroker, a blockchain specialist, an investment banker, a branding expert, and two of the top political strategists in the country. We want to help. *As of this writing, the Freeman Solution has been presented to two Philippine Senators and their responses were excellent. (Both Senators have committed to help lobby for its legislation once fully ready.) We decided to publish the idea on social media with the intent of fully putting it through the fire. We'd like everyone to freely, unabashedly weigh in and help find ways to adjust and fine-tune and strengthen it, as we're of the belief that any important idea that is truly credible (and beneficial on a macro level) must not only survive intense public scrutiny, it must thrive in spite of it. ...