NATIONWIDE ROUND-UP
On the election of Emmanuel Macron as the next French President: “We look forward to working with the incoming Macron administration to enhance PH-FR bilateral relations. France is one of the biggest trading partners of the Philippines in the European Union.” — Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto C. Abella, May 8 “But these reparations payments are also a forceful reminder that (Ferdinand E.) Marcos himself never paid for his crimes and atrocities, and that his surviving family members have never been held accountable for their participation. They have never expressed the slightest acknowledgement or remorse for what the dictator did, even as they continue to live off the plunder amassed while he was in power.” — Coalition Against the Marcos Burial, statement on May 8, as the government released the initial partial compensation for victims of human rights under the
Marcos regime.
Proposed new barangays approved by Senate committees
TWENTY-ONE BILLS proposing the creation or division of barangays has been approved jointly by the Senate committee on local government and the committee on electoral reforms and people’s participation. While the required technical descriptions from the Land and Management Bureau (LMB) are still pending, the bills are expected to be presented to the plenary by the third week of May. A total of 19 barangays are to be created, with 10 from Taguig City, and 1 each in Makati, Asipulo in Ifugao, Ditsaan-Ramain in Lanao del Sur, Titay in Zamboanga Sibugay, Socorro in Surigao del Norte, Tarlac, Villanueva in Misamis Oriental and Naton in Mountain Province. Thirteen barangays will result from the divisions. —