Erap and Isko Moreno, proclaimed winners as
elected Manila mayor and vice mayor
Image Credit: GMA News video

As announced by COMELEC today, Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Erap has been proclaimed as the mayor-elect of Manila, after 96 percent of the total number of votes has been counted. As of 12:46 p.m. today, Erap has 288,058 votes, while incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim has only 257,631 votes.

COMELEC noted that the above figures represent 80.92% of Manila, or 563,245 of 953,382 registered voters of the city. Meanwhile, Isko Moreno, Erap‘s running mate, also won as vice mayor-elect, with 329,596 votes against 196,967 votes for Lou Veloso.

“I thank the great people of Manila for putting a true son of Manila at the helm of the Philippine capital city. Dear Manileños, I will not fail you. I was born in Manila, and I will die working to bring back the glory and pride to Manila.” Estrada was quoted in a statement last night, after he was proclaimed winner.

For the senatorial race, Grace Poe is consistently leading, with 14,585,700 votes as of 1:38 p.m. today, based 68.35% of the Nationwide Election Returns, or 53,427 of 78,166 Election Returns from COMELEC‘s Transparency Server. Loren Legarda and Alan Peter Cayetano are still in the second and third spots, respectively. Chiz Escudero is still fourth, while Nancy Binay maintains its fifth place.

Below is the latest partial and unofficial list of the Top 12 Senatorial candidates and their COMELEC vote counts, along with the remaining candidates who landed on the Top 20.

1. Grace Poe – 14,585,700
2 Loren Legarda – 13,344,941
3. Alan Cayetano – 12,622,924
4. Francis “Chiz” Escudero – 12,615,514
5. Nancy Binay – 11,898,767
6. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara – 11,469,497
7. Bam Aquino – 11,054,324
8. Koko Pimentel – 10,575,307
9. Antonio Trillanes – 10,159,200
10. Cynthia Villar – 9,898,726
11. JV Ejercito Estrada – 9,822,611
12. Gringo Honasan – 9,479,987

The rest of the Top 20 Senatorial candidates:

13. Richard “Dick” Gordon – 9,056,119
14. Migz Zubiri – 8,474,847
15. Jack Enrile – 8,195,934
16. Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr. – 8,175,102
17. Risa Hontiveros – 7,939,694
18. Edward Hagedorn – 6,119,455
19. Bro. Ed Villanueva – 4,994,694
20. Jamby Madrigal – 4,833,351

Read 2013 Election Results: Grace Poe still leading, Erap wins, based on partial and unofficial COMELEC count

Manila, Philippines – Grace Poe continues to lead the 2013 elections results for the senatorial race, based on the latest partial and unofficial count from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Poe, 44, is FPJ‘s daughter and former chairperson of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

According to the record at COMELEC‘s official website 2013electionresults.COMELEC.gov.ph this Monday night, Grace Poe has 9,891,318 votes, with 6.86% of all the votes. This represents 43.57% of the Senator Election Returns, or 34,057 of the 78,166 Election Returns, as of 9:50 p.m. (local time).

Re-electionist Senator Loren Legarda still landed on the second spot, just like in the initial and unofficial COMELEC count released minutes after 7 p.m., when the election officially ended. However, Bam Aquino, who earlier landed as third, is now on the 7th spot, and Chiz Escudero replaced him on the 3rd slot.

Alan Cayetano is now on the fourth, while Nancy Binay is on the fifth spot. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara went down the sixth place from the fifth place earlier, followed by Koko Pimentel, Antonio Trillanes, JV Ejercito Estrada, Cynthia Villar, and Gringo Honasan to complete the Top 12 Senatorial candidates.

As reported earlier, the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), composed of COMELEC chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and its six members suspended the national canvassing of votes set this evening, and will resume at 10 in the morning, tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14. The unofficial counting will continue, though.

Later, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) admitted the wrong counting of its partial and unofficial count of the senatorial race. PPCRV Communications Head Anna de Villa Singson told reporters that the error was due to double counting of the results. The agency apologized for the incident, but noted that the format has already been corrected.

Below is the latest partial and unofficial list of the Top 12 Senatorial candidates and their COMELEC vote counts, along with the remaining candidates who landed on the Top 20.

1. Grace Poe – 9,891,318
2 Loren Legarda – 8,951,142
3. Francis “Chiz” Escudero – 8,600,584
4. Alan Cayetano – 8,530,966
5. Nancy Binay – 7,874,404
6. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara – 7,755,429
7. Bam Aquino – 7,365,097
8. Koko Pimentel – 7,172,648
9. Antonio Trillanes – 6,918,695
10. JV Ejercito Estrada – 6,666,994
11. Cynthia Villar – 6,613,547
12. Gringo Honasan – 6,433,547

The rest of the Top 20 Senatorial candidates:

13. Richard “Dick” Gordon – 6,322,425
14. Migz Zubiri – 5,682,694
15. Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr. – 5,541,152
16. Risa Hontiveros – 5,464,724
17. Jack Enrile – 5,463,084
18. Edward Hagedorn – 4,299,833
19. Bro. Ed Villanueva – 3,472,482
20. Jamby Madrigal – 3,222,764

Top 12 Leading Senatorial candidates for 2013 elections, as of 9:50 p.m. Friday, May 13, 2013
Image Credit: GMANetwork.com

Read 2013 Election Results: Grace Poe still leading, Erap wins, based on partial and unofficial COMELEC count

Manila, Philippines – Grace Poe is leading the 2013 senatorial elections results, with 4,607 votes based on the initial and unofficial count from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC). Poe, 44, is the daughter of the late Fernando Poe, Jr. (FPJ), the King of Philippine Movies and a former presidential candidate.

As aired at local early evening news on Monday, May 13, 2013, the initial, partial, and unofficial senatorial results came from 30 of 78,166 Election Returns from the COMELEC. Re-electionist Senator Loren Legarda landed on the second spot, while Bam Aquino, cousin of President Noynoy Aquino (PNoy), landed on the third spot.

As noted in reports, the result came from COMELEC‘s transparency server as of 7:23 p.m. (local time) and only represents 0.03% of expected total votes, and therefore may not be the actual trend of the final results. All polling center nationwide were officially closed at 7 p.m., but there are still voters waiting in line.

Meanwhile, the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), composed of COMELEC chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. and its six members announced later today that the session set this evening has been suspended, will resume at 10 in the morning Tuesday, May 14. The unofficial counting will continue, though.

“Now, the system of canvassing is ready for transmission results so bukas na ‘yan. Pero we don’t expect to be receiving much of the results in the next two hours so we decided to adjourn. By that time, a substantial number of electronic results shall have been received by the system.” Sixto Brillantes, Jr. told reporters.

“On Wednesday, May 15, about 7 p.m., that should be the culmination of this political exercise,” Brillantes added. On the other hand, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) will continue accepting election results and will feature an unofficial tally on its site.

Below is the list of the Top 12 Senatorial candidates and their initial, partial, and unofficial COMELEC vote counts, along with the remaining candidates who landed on the Top 20.

1. Grace Poe – 4,607
2 Loren Legarda – 4,589
3. Bam Aquino – 4,548
4. Nancy Binay – 4,036
5. Francis “Chiz” Escudero – 3,924
6. Alan Cayetano – -3,888
7. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara – 3,717
8. Cynthia Villar – 3,532
9. Koko Pimentel – 3, 426
10. Antonio Trillanes – 3,266
11. Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay Jr. – 3,187
12. Migz Zubiri – 3,076

The rest of the Top 20 Senatorial candidates:

13. Risa Hontiveros – 2,934
14. JV Ejercito Estrada – 2,699
15. Richard “Dick” Gordon – 2,471
16. Jack Enrile – 2,421
17. Gringo Honasan – 2,328
18. Jamby Madrigal – 2,023
19. Mitos Magsaysay – 1,656
20. Edward Hagedorn – 1,444

Related Post:

2013 Election Results: Grace Poe continues to lead, based on partial and unofficial COMELEC count

Top 12 Leading Senatorial candidates for 2013 elections
Image Credit: GMANetwork.com

Read Margaret Thatcher hashtag confuses some Twitter users, music fans thought Cher is dead

Margaret Thatcher is dead. This is what her spokesman Lord Bell revealed to British news today, Monday, April 08, 2013. As told by Bell, the former British Prime Minister died of a stroke today at the age of 87. Top British politicians expressed their condolences via Twitter.

Margaret Thatcher
Image Credit: BBC News

“It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning. A further statement will be made later.” Lord Bell was quoted in a statement at Daily Mail. Thatcher is Britain‘s first and only woman prime minister.

According to a BBC News report, Lady Thatcher, also called the Iron Lady, who won three consecutive general elections (1979 to 1990), was spending most of her time at the Ritz Hotel during her final days because this was the place where she can be better taken care of. Her husband Denis died in 2003.

Mrs. Thatcher decided to live a quiet life had reportedly become increasingly ill in recent years after a series of small strokes in 2001 and 2002. She retired from the House at the 1992 election, when she was 66. On December 21, 2012, she survived an operation to remove a growth from her bladder.

“The Queen is sad to hear the news of the death of Baroness Thatcher and Her Majesty will be sending a private message of sympathy to the family.” Buckingham Palace was quoted in a statement. Lady Thatcher was known to have played a major role in ending the Cold War with the help of her great friend, US President Ronald Reagan.

“It was with great sadness that l learned of Lady Thatcher’s death. We’ve lost a great leader, a great Prime Minister and a great Briton.” UK Prime Minister David Cameron (@Number10gov) tweeted, which was followed by a series of tweets from other British politicians and personalities. Some are shown below.

Margaret Thatcher’s death Twitter condolences
Image Credit: Twitter

Alleged Obama alien security service (inset)
Image Credit: YouTube screen grab

As explained by the narrator, the bald-headed male assigned to protect President Obama may be from the White House or from Israel, and “could be a strong evidence of the shapeshifter alien humanoid working for the powers that be, caught in a high-definition video during an event of the Zionist cabal.”

“Even though at first sight he looks like the average Secret Service spook, a series of odd features on his head, face, plus a very strange behavior and creepy movements suggest something else.” The narrator continues, while the video shows the uniformed man looking left and right in a seemingly strange behavior.

“His ears, his nose, his chin, cheekbone, jaw, and mouth are no longer looking human at all.” The narrator added, suggesting later that technology used by the said agent to hide his real identity probably encountered some problems, with the alleged alien Secret Service personnel also seen in different angles.

The narrator noted the video could be a new evidence of collaboration between a conspiratorial elite and “at least one extraterrestrial race,” telling the viewers to “disregard all the distortions and image artifacts caused by post-editing zooming.” Nevertheless, the White House did not confirm nor deny the allegation.

“I can’t confirm the claims made in this video, but any alleged program to guard the president with aliens or robots would likely have to be scaled back or eliminated in the sequester.” National Security Council chief spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden was quoted in an email sent to Danger Room of Wired.com.

US Vice President Joe Biden
Image Credit: David Lienemann/White House

As reported first by The Weekly Standard on Friday, March 22, 2013, Vice President Biden‘s hotel bill in Hyatt Regency London in early February reached $459,338.65, which was awarded on January 30, 2013. Two days earlier, there was a $585,000.50 bill for Hotel Intercontinental Paris Le Grand, also for Mr. Biden.

Apparently, this high-price Joe Biden‘s hotel tab ignited an outrage in social sites such as Twitter, which this is his first European trip of the US vice president since he and US President Barack Obama were re-elected. However, a State Department official defended the expenses of the 5-day Europe tour.

“These costs are nothing out of the ordinary. They are in line with high-level travel across multiple administrations.” The State Department official told ABC News, noting that the over $1 million hotel bill also includes Biden‘s staff and security. Full details of the spending are now viewable online at FBO.gov.

“The contract costs cover the entire range of support, including accommodations for military, communications, secret service staff, and other support professionals. Security experts are also required to travel in advance of the president or vice president. Safety and security are not negotiable.” The official added.

Joe Biden hotel bill Hyatt Regency London in February 2013
Image Credit: FBO.gov

President Barack Obama, speaking in Israel
Image Credit: Israel National TV video

According to Hareetz that day, President Obama used the helicopter on Thursday when he visited Ramallah, a Palestinian-controlled territory. However, strong winds prevented him on Friday to use the same air transport again, and instead traveled between Jerusalem to Bethlehem via motorcade.

As noted in reports, Mr. Obama‘s 30-car motorcade crawl the roads of Jerusalem and passed through checkpoints on their way to Bethlehem. Later, Obama toured the Church of the Nativity, which was built on a cave and where it was believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

“For the Jewish people, the journey to the promise of the state of Israel wound through countless generations. It involved centuries of suffering and exile, prejudice and pogroms and even genocide.” President Obama said on his speech in Israel.

“Through it all, the Jewish people sustained their unique identity and traditions, as well as a longing to return home. And while Jews achieved extraordinary success in many parts of the world, the dream of true freedom finally found its full expression in the Zionist idea — to be a free people in your homeland.” Obama added.

But since the weather will not permit him to use the helicopter, the US president still used land transport to reach the Tel Aviv airport, where he flew to Jordan via Air Force One. President Obama, in Jordan, said in his speech that he pushed Israel and Turkey to fix the tension between them.

Read Obama helicopter grounded in Israel due to strong sandstorm

President Obama‘s limo was towed in Israel on Wednesday, March 20, 2013, after the driver allegedly put gas in the tank, instead of diesel. The Obama limo, which was called the “Beast,” was designated to his hotel, and a second limousine was used to transport the US president.

Obama limo being towed in Israel
Image Credit: 2424.co.il

As noted at Daily Mail that day, President Barack Obama arrived in Tel Aviv on Wednesday afternoon (local time) and was not yet in Israel when the limo that was supposed to fetch him from the airport was towed. The photo of Mr. Obama‘s limo being towed was first seen at Israeli news site, 2424.co.il.

“One of our protective vehicles experienced mechanical problems in Israel earlier today. This is why we bring multiple vehicles and a mechanic on all trips.” US Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan was quoted in the report. The president’s customized Cadillac limo reportedly costs more than $1.5 million.

“Situations like this are planned for extensively by our advance teams so that the President’s itinerary is unaffected by these types of issues.” Donovan added, who neither confirmed nor denied reports saying that the driver accidentally put gas instead of diesel; and if that was the cause why the limo malfunctioned.

Nevertheless, CNN reported that the tow truck company owner who picked up Obama‘s limo said that the U.S. consulate called him to tow the customized vehicle in Jerusalem because it would not start. The US President later met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

For the record, diesel engines and gas engines differs from each other in the way the internal combustions are created to drive the pistons. Depending on the amount, using gas instead of diesel may cause major damage to the pistons, wrist pins, and connecting rods, causing the engine not to function well.

Sen Elizabeth Warren, speaking on Senate hearing,
talks about the possibility of a $22 minimum wage
Image Credit: Sen Elizabeth Warren video

As noted at Senate.gov that day, Sen. Elizabeth Warren was speaking at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing titled “Keeping up with a Changing Economy: Indexing the Minimum Wage,” when she cited a study suggesting that the minimum wage now would have been $22 per hour.

“If we started in 1960 and we said that as productivity goes up, that is as workers are producing more, then the minimum wage is going to go up the same. Sen. Elizabeth Warren said during the senate hearing on Thursday, March 14, and later pointed it out to Dr. Arindrajit Dube, a University of Massachusetts Amherst professor.

“And if that were the case then the minimum wage today would be about $22 an hour. So my question is Mr. Dube, with a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, what happened to the other $14.75? It sure didn’t go to the worker.” Warren told Dr. Dube, who has studied the economic impacts of the minimum salary.

Apparently, Mr. Dube agreed to the senator’s claim on the possibility of having a $22 minimum wage today. He even noted that if minimum salary had grown over since 1960 at the same pace as it had for the top 1 percent of income earners, the minimum wage could actually be around $33 an hour before the recession period.

“During my Senate campaign, I [frequently] ate a Number 11 at McDonald’s. It cost $7.19. If we raised the minimum wage to $10.10 over three years, the price increase on that item would be to about $7.23. Are you telling me that’s unsustainable?” The US senator further said.

New York Assemblyman Dov Hikind (center),
wearing a blackface make-up
Image Credit: Yoni Hikind Facebook

As noted at Politicker.com that day, Dov Hikind held a small press conference in front of his house in Brooklyn, New York, and said that he is sorry for wearing an Afro wig and had his face painted brown. He was also wearing an orange jersey, which made him looked like a “black basketball player.”

According to the report, Hikind, 62, who is an Orthodox Jew lawmaker representing Brooklyn‘s Assembly District 48, had a party in his house last Sunday. He said he decided to have his blackface makeup so that he will not be recognizable to anyone. However, there were those who seemed to be offended with his idea.

“Anyone who was offended by the outfit that I was wearing on Purim yesterday … it was not meant to offend anyone or hurt anyone in any fashion. That is not what I am all about for the past 31 years in pub office and before that.” Assemblyman Dov Hikind told reporters, noting that he has been doing this for years.

“Anyone who was offended, I’m sorry that they were offended. That was not the intention and that’s really all I can say. I just have to reiterate, it was Purim. Purim is when people get dressed up and try to look different.” Hikind added, whose wife can be seen in the photo wearing a red devil costume.

“Yes, I wore a costume on Purim and hosted a party. Most of the people who attended also wore costumes. Everywhere that Purim was being celebrated, people wore costumes. It was Purim. People dress up.” Assemblyman Hikind wrote on his personal blog this Monday, before the press conference.

“I am intrigued that anyone who understands Purim—or for that matter understands me—would have a problem with this. This is political correctness to the absurd. There is not a prejudiced bone in my body.” Hikind noted, with his son Yoni also defending his father on his Facebook page.

“So sad how this is being turned around. My dad doesn’t have a prejudice bone in his body. Anyone that knows him knows that. Bottom line is this. Absolutely nothing about his costume was meant to in any way offend anybody.” Yoni Hikind wrote on his Facebook page.