@bogadomo.com

Much ado has been made with the recent campaign of the police to eliminate the use of sirens, blinkers and other similar gadgets that emit loud noises or otherwise used to navigate obnoxiously on the streets of Metro Manila and other areas of the Philippines. This is an offshoot of President Noynoy Aquino’s inauguration day declaration of “No wang-wang”! This recent development now begs the question, why only now? Presidential Decree No. 96 which regulates the use of sirens, bells, horns, whistles and similar gadgets that emit exceptionally loud or startling sounds, including domelights and other similar signalling or flashing devices attached to motor vehicles and used on the highways has been in effect since 1973! Yet, it is only now is there a conscious effort on the part of our law enforcement  to give teeth to this long neglected law. We can only hope that this zeal would last and not be a case of “ningas cogon”.

Surprisingly, media has reported that motorists caught with wang-wangs and other prohibited devices have been fined the amount of Php 15,000.  We’re not sure what legal basis was used for this but Presidential Decree No. 96 is clear that the penalty for a first offense is mere confiscation and it is only in case of a second and subsequent offenses that the offender shall be prosecuted for violation of the Decree and, upon conviction thereof, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment for six months and/or a fine of 600 pesos. In addition, the certificate of registration of the motor vehicle on which the unauthorized gadget or device herein mentioned is installed, mounted or used shall be cancelled or revoked.

Benigno “Noynoy” C. Aquino III was finally proclaimed by Congress as the 15th President of the Republic of the Philippines. His proclamation came after 8 days of canvassing by a joint congressional committee. Aquino obtained a total of 15,208,678 votes, while his nearest rival, former president Joseph Estrada, got 9,487,837 votes or a difference of 5,720,841 votes. Makati mayor Jejomar C. Binay was also proclaimed as Vice-President following a close victory over his rival, Senator Mar Roxas.

In accordance with Section 4, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, Aquino and Binay will formally assume their office on June 30, 2010.

Its all systems go for the country’s first automated elections on May 10, 2010 as the Supreme Court dismissed all petitions seeking its postponement. During the special en banc session, the Court found that the petitioners failed to exhaust all administrative remedies and that the Comelec did not gravely abuse its discretion. Among the petitioners were former President Joseph Estrada, lawyer Harry Roque and the Philippine Computer Society.

A law office based in Pasig City is looking for an associate lawyer (new bar passers welcome) and paralegal with experience in corporate and litigation work. Interested applicants may send their resumes to lawofficecareer@gmail.com.