by Philip C. Tubeza, PDI May 09, 2012

MANILA, Philippines – The glitches in the PCOS voting machines the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is buying for P1.8 billion have been fixed, the solicitor general told the Supreme Court Tuesday, and the Comelec is prepared to operate the machines on its own in next year’s elections.

At the resumption of oral arguments on a petition to nullify the contract between the Comelec and Smartmatic, Solicitor General Francis Jardeleza told the high court the glitches that were discovered when the precinct count optical scan machines (PCOS) were used in the 2010 elections had been repaired.

by: Marlon Ramos, PDI 04/24/2012

The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones and environment officials to settle amicably the issue of the protection order being sought by the lawmaker to protect Taal lake.

In a two-page resolution, the appellate court directed Palmones, Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and other  government officials concerned to “first try meeting and ironing out their differences among themselves.”

“After all, they are united by a common desire to conserve and protect the Taal Lake Protected Area for themselves, the entire Filipino people and the future generations as well,” the resolution said.

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) offers an annual Summer Legal Internship Program for outstanding law students and student leaders from all over the country. Its structured seven-week program is designed to provide unparalleled legal training which most private law firms do not provide.

For the 2012 batch, 69 law students were chosen from over 200 applicants. They come from the best law schools in the country including Ateneo de Manila University, Aquinas University, Arellano University, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, San Beda College, St. Louis University, University of Nueva Caceres, University of the Philippines, and University of San Carlos.
The present batch began their internship last April 10, 2012.

This year, activities include a team building seminar, lectures, attendance in court hearings, and meetings with OSG client agencies. These activities will ensure that they are provided with hands-on training and opportunities that will make them into well-rounded and equipped law students as they finish the OSG internship program.