MANILA, Philippines - Which one will be named the dominant political party in May?

It’s a toss-up between the ruling Liberal Party (LP) and the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

In a resolution, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has asked the 10 major political parties and two major local parties to file a verified petition for accreditation as the dominant majority or minority party.

MANILA, Philippines - Apart from election propaganda on the Internet, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will also regulate campaign colors for the May polls.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday that the poll body would monitor television personalities who may be wearing colors that are identified with certain candidates.

There’s nothing wrong with President Aquino or Vice President Jejomar Binay appearing in political ads endorsing, and raising the arms of, candidates for the May 13 elections.

As the country’s two highest officials, Mr. Aquino and Binay are actually exempted from the constitutional ban imposed on public servants against participating in campaigns or endorsing candidates, among other partisan political activities, the Commission on Elections said Wednesday. The exemption also extends to Cabinet secretaries.

DAVAO CITY, Philippines - The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said it would respect the election gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), a senior rebel leader said.

Von Al-Haq, spokesman of the MILF’s Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, said the MILF leadership has issued a memo ordering all members to adhere to the gun ban and keep their firearms within their camps.

“Members of the BIAF are prohibited from roaming around urban areas and highways to avoid violating the Comelec gun ban,” Al-Haq said.

The final version of the compensation bill for victims of human rights violations during the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos is now awaiting ratification, after the bicameral conference committee on Wednesday ironed out the last of the contentious provisions in the measure.

The panel agreed that there would be a “conclusive presumption” that over 9,000 plaintiffs in a Hawaii class action suit against the Marcoses are human rights victims entitled to compensation, according to Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.