Rappler's latest stories on Emil Marañon III
[EXPLAINER] Forget about people’s initiative for ABS-CBN
It will cost the Comelec at least P4 billion, and it will overlap with its preparation for the 2022 elections. Let’s set the exercise aside for when we truly need it.
[OPINION] How social media users can protect themselves from the anti-terror law
'What should the people do? Should they delete their old posts or make their accounts private?' That may not be enough.
[EXPLAINER] Can government employees post criticism of the anti-terror bill?
Even those working in the private sector cannot be terminated, disciplined, or punished for posting something on Facebook or Twitter or showing up at rallies
[EXPLAINER] Proposed Anti-Terror Act of 2020 a devil’s playground in the hands of a despot
The bill suffers from obvious legal infirmities, essentially begging for a constitutional challenge
[EXPLAINER] Manila Times 'exposé' grossly false about Gabby Lopez's citizenship
Born in the United States to Filipino parents, ABS-CBN’s chairman emeritus is simultaneously considered a national by both the Philippines and the US. No law requires him to renounce either of them.
[OPINION] PCOO blocks Gang Badoy on Twitter – that’s unconstitutional
Just like in the United States, the Philippine government’s act of blocking citizens from its social media accounts violate fundamental rights
[EXPLAINER] State auditors have bad news for COVID-19 ‘epal’
Officials who plaster their names and pictures on government-funded relief goods and materials will be obliged by COA to pay back
[OPINION] About that election question in the bar exams
This question – ‘Did X’s proclamation divest the Comelec of its jurisdiction to decide the case and vest the HRET jurisdiction? Explain.’ – is unnecessarily complicated
[EXPLAINER] Was Mocha Uson a candidate covered by the appointment ban?
Until all election rules are harmonized, we have to contend with loophole-ridden laws and regulations that the likes of Mocha Uson and friends can easily take advantage of
[EXPLAINER] Transmission glitches don't necessarily mean electoral fraud
All baseless accusations that can erode the people’s trust and confidence in the results, in Comelec, and in the election system as a whole would not only be irresponsible, but dangerous
[ANALYSIS] How to fix what went wrong in the 2019 elections
Abandoning the automated system and going back to manual is a far worse option
[OPINION] Comelec’s role in implementing ban on political dynasties
If the SK Reform Act already defines ‘political dynasty,’ then it can be a basis for Comelec to rule on disqualification cases
[EXPLAINER] Catching vote-buyers is not just the Comelec’s job
There are only two Comelec employees in every city and municipality. If we want to counter vote-buying effectively, both the citizenry and candidates have to be vigilant.
[EXPLAINER] Vote-buying is not just giving or taking cash
The law prohibiting vote-buying covers not only candidates but also the voters
Election lawyer: Schools, watchdogs can help Comelec check candidates' spending
Election lawyer Emil Marañon says the task is too big for the Commission on Elections alone as some 100,000 statements of candidates' expenses are filed after elections
[OPINION] Is it time to amend the Philippines’ campaign finance law?
If we want elections where the playing field is truly even, and where the deserving yet poor candidates have a real fighting chance, the thrust should be in the strict monitoring of campaign spending
[OPINION] Releasing fake or incomplete election surveys can send you to jail
The Fair Election Act mandates that the candidate, political party, and polling firm release the relevant information, like the methodology, the areas covered, the specific questions asked, and the margin of error, among others
[OPINION] Campaign posters: What's illegal, what's not?
If the poster is fully at the expense of the private person, at his own instance, and without collusion with any candidate...the private person or entity is not covered by the size limitation
[OPINION] What are the limits of Comelec's social media monitoring?
Legitimate social media posts made by non-candidates are protected speech and beyond the regulatory reach of the Comelec
[OPINION] How to make the automated elections less vulnerable to cheats
In the 2019 elections, the Comelec will test a Voter Registration Verification System in one-third of the clustered precincts, mostly in Mindanao
Cayetano couple 'fooling people' in Congress bids – lawyer
'Very clear na niloloko ng mag-asawang Alan at Lani Cayetano ang taumbayan,' says lawyer Emil Marañon III
[OPINION] De Vera's ouster from the House of Representatives is unconstitutional
The Constitution is clear and made even clearer by abundant jurisprudence, yet Congress chose to bend the law and resort to brute force to remove the ABS party-list representative
Rappler Talk: Emil Marañon III on stopping the Cayetano dynasty
Watch Rappler Talk on Monday afternoon, November 19
[OPINION] Are all government employees not allowed to campaign?
The prohibitions are not absolute.... The consistent trend of the Supreme Court is to uphold free speech and expression over any form of election regulation.
[OPINION] Is it possible Duterte's candidacy was void from the beginning?
Here's why candidates should pay attention to every detail in the certificate of candidacy
[OPINION] Con-Com draft constitution sets Comelec in the right direction
Under current laws, the Commission on Elections is both an administrator and a quasi-court. Its split personality presents a lot of complications.
[OPINION] 2019 elections the real battle for the opposition
It is in the voting precincts, not on Twitter or Facebook, where voters shake things up. Will the 2019 elections be game changing or make us slide faster to the kangkungan?
Robredo camp says Iloilo City should not be part of VP recount
Iloilo City is independent from Iloilo province and has a separate certificate of canvass during elections
2018 barangay, SK election winners to serve for only 2 years
One election lawyer argues it's the risk that candidates took, while another says it violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution
[OPINION] The problem with PNP’s drug test ‘dare’ for barangay candidates
By putting undue pressure on candidates to do something that might affect their candidacy, Director General Oscar Albayalde is intervening in the elections.
[OPINION] PDEA’s release of barangay drug list unconstitutional
It is also considered electioneering and a partisan political activity because it is ‘an act designed to promote the…defeat of a particular candidate or candidates to a public office’
[OPINION] Practical questions on the Sangguniang Kabataan law's anti-dynasty provision
The law is not perfect and has exploitable loopholes, but having it in the first place, even in its diluted form, is already next to miraculous
[OPINION] ‘Missing’ audit logs, wet ballots, and other Marcos lies
This is not just about the vice presidency. Every lie, fact-twisting, and misinformation systematically and relentlessly sowed by the Marcos camp is corrosive to the people’s faith in our electoral process.
[OPINION] Debunking Sotto's election fraud claims
Electoral fraud is about increasing or decreasing the votes received by a candidate such that a losing candidate is made to appear the winner. Senator Sotto has failed to show proofs such happened.
[OPINION] Much has to be done to have more elected women
A Comelec study reveals that while election players agree that females are competent and qualified, there is less acceptance of the idea of them actually running for a public office
The bigger hurdles to having ICC prosecute Duterte
Jude Sabio’s 'complaint' has to prove the supposed unwillingness or inability of the Philippine government to prosecute President Duterte for the crimes he allegedly committed
Why Leni Robredo should file a counter-protest vs Marcos Jr
To offset any potential votes that Marcos will gain in the recount it is both strategic and necessary for the VP to take a counter offensive A counter protest however is as expensive as filing a protest
Robredo vs Marcos: The long and winding road to the vice presidency
The official canvassing of votes at Congress will provide the much awaited ending to the cliffhanger vice presidential race
Chopper ride to LP sorties: Kris Aquino broke the law
Under the Omnibus Election Code use of government helicopters for campaign is an election offense punishable with imprisonment and perpetual disqualification to hold public office
EXPLAINER: Pacquiao’s match can be aired in PH, but...
UPDATED Manny Pacquiao had filed his candidacy for senator before he contractually agreed to his match with Bradley It is difficult to ascribe good faith on his part when he scheduled the match within the campaign period
EXPLAINER: 3 curious points in Comelec 1st division’s ruling vs Grace Poe
In its decision to cancel Grace Poe s candidacy the Comelec First Division invokes a portion of a dissenting opinion in a Supreme Court ruling erroneously representing it as jurisprudence
EXPLAINER: Comelec should have dismissed Tatad’s case vs Grace Poe
The former senator did not seek the cancellation of Grace Poe s certificate of candidacy but for her disqualification The Comelec does not have jurisdiction over this issue
EXPLAINER: 3 reasons why Comelec erred in ruling vs Poe
While there s wisdom in the statutory authority of the Comelec in particular the 2nd division to remove a candidate before the elections it is so potent that it can be very dangerous if misused
EXPLAINER: Can Comelec ‘disqualify’ Grace Poe?
This pre election case against the presidential race front runner is more complex than reported An election lawyer breaks it down into 3 major issues
