Latest news with #UniversityofthePhilippines'
GMA Network
11-06-2025
- Science
- GMA Network
UP researchers: Benham Bank's untouched reefscape is thriving
Researchers from the University of the Philippines' Marine Science Institute discovered the pristine state and rich deep coral ecosystem at the Benham Bank, an underwater seamount located 50 meters below the sea surface near the eastern coast of Luzon. The team used Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems to capture the seafloor during a research expedition in 2019. The study found at least 11 scleractinian or hard coral genera of varying morphotypes, with four sites having excellent coral cover, 10 octocoral (or soft coral) genera, at least four genera of macroalgae (or seaweed), and some arborescent sponges. 'Benham Bank is in a way resilient to physical and thermal stress. There is stratification or layers with different water properties, which perhaps protected the Benham Bank from the effects of stress,' said Joey Cabasan, one of the researchers. According to the UP team, the clear water in the Benham Bank also allowed the corals and algae to survive. 'Since there are no major sources of nutrients like large rivers, nutrients and chlorophyll in the water column are low, and light is able to penetrate to greater depths. This allows the corals and algae to thrive there,' said researcher Cesar Villanoy. The study also led to the discovery of eight probable habitats for organisms in the seamount's coral ecosystem and could help legislators in properly zoning the area and determining which parts may be designated for protection, fishing, and other uses. Further, the researchers noted that the location of the Benham Bank could help in the recovery of coral reefs in other areas. '[The area] is affected by the North Equatorial Current, which potentially receives larvae from other Pacific islands,' said Cabasan. While it is beneficial that it is a three-day trip via ship from the mainland, the researchers recommended another study on the emerging threats near the Benham Bank to protect its pristine state. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
Gulf News
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Gulf News
Money, power, violence in high-stakes Philippine elections
Comelec, recorded 46 acts of political violence between January 12 and April 11 Last updated: AFP The country's elections commission, Comelec, recorded 46 acts of political violence between January 12 and April 11, including the shooting of Espinosa. At a rally this month, someone from the crowd fired a bullet that went through his chest and exited his arm, leaving him bleeding but alive. Others have been less lucky. A city council hopeful, a polling officer and a village chief were among those killed in similar attacks in the run-up to mid-term elections on May 12. Comelec said "fewer than 20" candidates have been killed so far this campaign season, which it notes is a drop. "This is much lower, very low compared to the past," commission spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told AFP, citing a tally of about 100 deaths in the last general election. Analysts warned that such violence will likely remain a fixture of the Philippines' political landscape. The immense influence of the posts is seen as something worth killing for. Holding municipal office means control over jobs, police departments and disbursements of national tax funds, said Danilo Reyes, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines' political science department. "Local chief executives have discretion when it comes to how to allocate the funding, which projects, priorities," he said. Rule of law that becomes weaker the farther one gets from Manila also means that regional powerbrokers can act with effective impunity, said Cleve Arguelles, CEO of Manila-based WR Numero Research. "Local political elites have their own kingdoms, armed groups and... patronage networks," he said, noting violence is typically highest in the archipelago nation's far north and south. "The stakes are usually high in a local area where only one family is dominant or where there is involvement of private armed groups," Arguelles said. "If you lose control of... city hall, you don't just lose popular support. You actually lose both economic and political power." In the absence of strong institutions to mediate disagreements, Reyes said, "confrontational violence" becomes the go-to. A 'grand bargain' Espinosa was waiting for his turn to speak at a campaign stop in central Leyte province on April 10 when a shooter emerged from the crowd and fired from about 50 metres (164 feet) away, according to police. Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo told reporters this week that seven police officers were "being investigated" as suspects. Convictions, however, are hard to come by. While Comelec's Laudiangco insisted recent election-related shootings were all making their way through regional court systems, he could provide no numbers. Data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project show that in 79 percent of violent acts targeting local government members between 2018 and 2022 the perpetrators were never identified. National-level politicians, meanwhile, reliant on local political bases to deliver votes, have little incentive to press for serious investigations, said Reyes. "The only way you can ensure national leaders win positions is for local allies to deliver votes," he said. "There are convictions but very rarely, and it depends on the potential political fallout on the national leaders as well as the local leaders." It's part of the "grand bargain" in Philippine politics, Arguelles said. Local elites are "tolerated by the national government so long as during election day they can also deliver votes when they're needed". Direct control Three days after Espinosa's shooting, a district board candidate and his driver were rushed to hospital after someone opened fire on them in the autonomous area of Mindanao. Election-season violence has long plagued the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, known as the BARMM. Comelec assumed "direct control" over the municipalities of Buluan and Datu Odin Sinsuat after municipal election officer Bai Maceda Lidasan Abo and her husband were shot dead last month. Since last year, Comelec has held the power to directly control and supervise not only local election officials but also law enforcement. Top police officials in the two municipalities were removed for "gross negligence and incompetence" after allegedly ignoring requests to provide security details for the slain Comelec official. Their suspensions, however, will last only from "campaigning up to... the swearing-in of the winners," Comelec's Laudiangco said. The commission's actions were part of a "tried and tested security plan" that is showing real results, he said. But he conceded that the interwoven nature of family, power and politics in the provinces would continue to create a combustible brew.
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Money, power, violence in high-stakes Philippine elections
The country's elections commission, Comelec, recorded 46 acts of political violenceComelec said 'fewer than 20' candidates have been killed so far this campaign season, which it notes is a dropMANILA: Philippines election hopefuls like mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa have to ask themselves whether the job is worth taking a country's elections commission, Comelec, recorded 46 acts of political violence between January 12 and April 11, including the shooting of a rally this month, someone from the crowd fired a bullet that went through his chest and exited his arm, leaving him bleeding but have been less lucky.A city council hopeful, a polling officer and a village chief were among those killed in similar attacks in the run-up to mid-term elections on May said 'fewer than 20' candidates have been killed so far this campaign season, which it notes is a drop.'This is much lower, very low compared to the past,' commission spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told AFP, citing a tally of about 100 deaths in the last general warned that such violence will likely remain a fixture of the Philippines' political immense influence of the posts is seen as something worth killing municipal office means control over jobs, police departments and disbursements of national tax funds, said Danilo Reyes, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines' political science department.'Local chief executives have discretion when it comes to how to allocate the funding, which projects, priorities,' he of law that becomes weaker the farther one gets from Manila also means that regional powerbrokers can act with effective impunity, said Cleve Arguelles, CEO of Manila-based WR Numero Research.'Local political elites have their own kingdoms, armed groups and... patronage networks,' he said, noting violence is typically highest in the archipelago nation's far north and south.'The stakes are usually high in a local area where only one family is dominant or where there is involvement of private armed groups,' Arguelles said.'If you lose control of... city hall, you don't just lose popular support. You actually lose both economic and political power.'In the absence of strong institutions to mediate disagreements, Reyes said, 'confrontational violence' becomes the was waiting for his turn to speak at a campaign stop in central Leyte province on April 10 when a shooter emerged from the crowd and fired from about 50 meters (164 feet) away, according to Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo told reporters this week that seven police officers were 'being investigated' as however, are hard to come Comelec's Laudiangco insisted recent election-related shootings were all making their way through regional court systems, he could provide no compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project show that in 79 percent of violent acts targeting local government members between 2018 and 2022 the perpetrators were never politicians, meanwhile, reliant on local political bases to deliver votes, have little incentive to press for serious investigations, said Reyes.'The only way you can ensure national leaders win positions is for local allies to deliver votes,' he said.'There are convictions but very rarely, and it depends on the potential political fallout on the national leaders as well as the local leaders.'It's part of the 'grand bargain' in Philippine politics, Arguelles elites are 'tolerated by the national government so long as during election day they can also deliver votes when they're needed.'Three days after Espinosa's shooting, a district board candidate and his driver were rushed to hospital after someone opened fire on them in the autonomous area of violence has long plagued the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, known as the assumed 'direct control' over the municipalities of Buluan and Datu Odin Sinsuat after municipal election officer Bai Maceda Lidasan Abo and her husband were shot dead last last year, Comelec has held the power to directly control and supervise not only local election officials but also law police officials in the two municipalities were removed for 'gross negligence and incompetence' after allegedly ignoring requests to provide security details for the slain Comelec suspensions, however, will last only from 'campaigning up to... the swearing-in of the winners,' Comelec's Laudiangco commission's actions were part of a 'tried and tested security plan' that is showing real results, he he conceded that the interwoven nature of family, power and politics in the provinces would continue to create a combustible brew.'You have a lot of closely related people in one given jurisdiction... That ensures polarization. It becomes personal between neighbors.'We all know Filipinos are clannish, that's our culture. But we're improving slowly.'Philippines election hopefuls like mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa have to ask themselves whether the job is worth taking a bullet. (Reuters/File)
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Money, power, violence in high-stakes Philippine elections
Philippines election hopefuls like mayoral candidate Kerwin Espinosa have to ask themselves whether the job is worth taking a bullet. The country's elections commission, Comelec, recorded 46 acts of political violence between January 12 and April 11, including the shooting of Espinosa. At a rally this month, someone from the crowd fired a bullet that went through his chest and exited his arm, leaving him bleeding but alive. Others have been less lucky. A city council hopeful, a polling officer and a village chief were among those killed in similar attacks in the run-up to mid-term elections on May 12. Comelec said "fewer than 20" candidates have been killed so far this campaign season, which it notes is a drop. "This is much lower, very low compared to the past," commission spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told AFP, citing a tally of about 100 deaths in the last general election. Analysts warned that such violence will likely remain a fixture of the Philippines' political landscape. The immense influence of the posts is seen as something worth killing for. Holding municipal office means control over jobs, police departments and disbursements of national tax funds, said Danilo Reyes, an associate professor at the University of the Philippines' political science department. "Local chief executives have discretion when it comes to how to allocate the funding, which projects, priorities," he said. Rule of law that becomes weaker the farther one gets from Manila also means that regional powerbrokers can act with effective impunity, said Cleve Arguelles, CEO of Manila-based WR Numero Research. "Local political elites have their own kingdoms, armed groups and... patronage networks," he said, noting violence is typically highest in the archipelago nation's far north and south. "The stakes are usually high in a local area where only one family is dominant or where there is involvement of private armed groups," Arguelles said. "If you lose control of... city hall, you don't just lose popular support. You actually lose both economic and political power." In the absence of strong institutions to mediate disagreements, Reyes said, "confrontational violence" becomes the go-to. - A 'grand bargain' - Espinosa was waiting for his turn to speak at a campaign stop in central Leyte province on April 10 when a shooter emerged from the crowd and fired from about 50 metres (164 feet) away, according to police. Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo told reporters this week that seven police officers were "being investigated" as suspects. Convictions, however, are hard to come by. While Comelec's Laudiangco insisted recent election-related shootings were all making their way through regional court systems, he could provide no numbers. Data compiled by the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project show that in 79 percent of violent acts targeting local government members between 2018 and 2022 the perpetrators were never identified. National-level politicians, meanwhile, reliant on local political bases to deliver votes, have little incentive to press for serious investigations, said Reyes. "The only way you can ensure national leaders win positions is for local allies to deliver votes," he said. "There are convictions but very rarely, and it depends on the potential political fallout on the national leaders as well as the local leaders." It's part of the "grand bargain" in Philippine politics, Arguelles said. Local elites are "tolerated by the national government so long as during election day they can also deliver votes when they're needed". - Direct control - Three days after Espinosa's shooting, a district board candidate and his driver were rushed to hospital after someone opened fire on them in the autonomous area of Mindanao. Election-season violence has long plagued the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, known as the BARMM. Comelec assumed "direct control" over the municipalities of Buluan and Datu Odin Sinsuat after municipal election officer Bai Maceda Lidasan Abo and her husband were shot dead last month. Since last year, Comelec has held the power to directly control and supervise not only local election officials but also law enforcement. Top police officials in the two municipalities were removed for "gross negligence and incompetence" after allegedly ignoring requests to provide security details for the slain Comelec official. Their suspensions, however, will last only from "campaigning up to... the swearing-in of the winners," Comelec's Laudiangco said. The commission's actions were part of a "tried and tested security plan" that is showing real results, he said. But he conceded that the interwoven nature of family, power and politics in the provinces would continue to create a combustible brew. "You have a lot of closely related people in one given jurisdiction... That ensures polarisation. It becomes personal between neighbours. "We all know Filipinos are clannish, that's our culture. But we're improving slowly." cgm-cwl/lb/rsc
