Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, the presiding officer of the Second Division of the Comelec, said the case was already submitted for resolution.

“Yes (it was approved already)… kasi walang opposition noon. The way we looked at it, it was an ordinary petition for accreditation. They just have to prove na they exist throughout the Philippines. E ang dami naman nila (members) e,” he said.

In June, President Macapagal Arroyo announced the official merger of the two parties, and to be known as Lakas-Kampi CMD. The petition for accreditation was filed in July.

De Venecia, Lakas’ former president last month filed the nullification petition of the highly-publicized merger of the two parties of the administration bloc.

He said that the merger was done against the Constitution of the political party as there was no national assembly called for the purpose of ratifying the merger proposal.

Ferrer explained that despite the first case already being resolved, they decided to consolidate the cases since they are inter-related by nature. “So that the resolution (on the case) will be consolidated… we also have to give a chance to de Venecia to prove his opposition,” the poll official said.

On Thursday, the Second Division is set to hold its first hearing on the Lakas-Kampi merger petition.

The Comelec is looking to resolve the case before the end of the month.

Invitation to the Signing of Letter of Cooperation between ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and Partnership in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) Thursday, 13 August 2009, 1 pm, Tagaytay Highlands Club, Cavite City.

PEMSEA and ACB agreed to trade information with each other to promote regional cooperation in biodiversity conservation.

PEMSEA, headed by Former Energy Secretary Raphael P. M. Lotilla, aims to protect life-support systems and enable the sustainable use and management of coastal and marine resources through regional cooperation and partnerships.

ACB is an intergovernmental regional centre of excellence established through the agreement between governments of ASEAN Member States, for policy formulation, capacity development, awareness raising and links with the international donor community for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Representing ACB in the signing of letter of cooperation is Executive Director Rodrigo Fuentes. (PIA9-Pagadian City)

Last update: 18-08-2009 01:31