Poll chief raises specter of ‘no-el’
MANILA — A”revolution” would erupt if scheduled elections were not held next year. The possible upheaval was raised on Thursday by Chairman Jose Melo of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), who cited supposedly troubling scenarios that could derail the 2010 polls. His worst “nightmare,” Melo said, was that private and even government agencies could sabotage the elections with no apparent malice on their part. He mentioned the possibility that the Supreme Court could issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Comelec if a losing private automation firm or a government agency decided to file a case against the commission over a presumably irregular bidding process for full automation of the 2010 polls. [full story]
US jobless claims rise to 637k
WASHINGTON - New jobless claims rose more than expected last week due partly to an increase in layoffs by the automobile industry, while the number of people continuing to receive unemployment benefits set a record for the 15th straight week The Labor Department said Thursday the number of new claims rose to a seasonally adjusted 637,000, from a revised 605,000 the previous week. That’s above analysts’ expectations of 610,000. [full story]
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Nograles: Con-con in July; Villafuerte: Cha-cha is dead 
MANILA – Allies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo are again sending mixed signals on their efforts to amend the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Speaker Prospero Nograles said he was hopeful that a constitutional convention – the only mode for amending the 1987 Constitution accepted by most – will start right after President Arroyo delivers her annual state-of-the-nation address in late July. Rep. Luis Villafuerte, who filed one of two charter change (cha-cha) resolutions in the House of Representatives, on the other hand, said efforts to amend the Constitution at the House are dead. He conceded that there was not enough time to rewrite the Charter one year before the elections. [full story]
Another GI accused of rape
MANILA — Another United States Marine has been accused of raping another Filipino woman, this time a 22-year-old-university student, whose lawyer described her as having showed “clear signs” having been sexually assaulted. The woman, identified to the media only as “Vanessa” to protect her real identity, broke down as she read a prepared statement narrating her ordeal with the American soldier. She said the alleged rape happened last April 19 inside a hotel in Makati City. Lawyer Evalyn Ursua said there were “clear signs” Vanessa was raped. full story]
Fil-Am student, family killed in car accident
BELLFLOWER - Students and staff at St. John Bosco High School on Wednesday mourned the loss of a Filipino-American senior who died in a car crash with his parents just weeks before graduation. Patrick Romey, 17, his father, Maynardo Romey, 59, and mother Lucilla Romey, 60, were killed in a freeway crash at about 10 a.m. on Saturday in Hacienda Heights. Maynardo Romey was driving the family’s Honda eastbound on the Pomona (60) Freeway when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a Cadillac STS also heading east, authorities said. [full story]
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BUTUAN CITY —The United Opposition on Thursday demanded the immediate resignation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the creation of a transition government to be headed by Chief Justice Reynato Puno. UNO president Jejomar Binay said the transition government is needed to avert political unrest, “that will surely result from Mrs. Arroyo’s continued bid to stay in power.” Binay, also Makati mayor, is rumored to be eyeing the presidency in 2010 and has been going around Caraga. “In order to save our country from political turmoil, she should give way to a transition government to be headed by Chief Justice Puno,” Binay said in a statement, a copy of which was obtained by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.