Federated States of Micronesia President Peter Christian, whose administration was rocked by a bribery scandal involving his family, is likley to lose the presidential seat to David W. Panuelo, chairman of the FSM Congress standing committee.

The FSM National Elections on Monday certified the results of the March 5 elections, which showed Christian’s receiving 6,716 votes against Panuelo’s 6,775 votes.

Christian’s election defeat came on the heels of the FBI’s investigation into the bribery case involving Hawaiian businessman Frank James Lyon, in which the FSM president’s son-in-law Master Halbert was implicated and charged with money-laundering.

The Hawaiian Free Press last week reported that Christian’s son Christopher Ivan Christian was also offered a “retainer fee” of $5,000.

The case involved the U.S.-funded FSM engineering contracts worth $7.8 million, which were awarded under-the-table to Lyon.

David Panuelo

(Correction: In an earlier version of this story we mistakenly identified David Panuelo as the Speaker of FSM Congress. Our apologies)

Christian was the 8th president of FSM. He was elected in 2015 succeeding Manny Mori. Under the FSM Constitution, the president and vice president, who each serves a four-year term, are first elected to the FSM Congress to the at-large seats, or four-year term.

He will remain president until Congress official selects the president and vice president in May.

There are four at large seats, one seat given to each of the four FSM states – Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae. The presidency/vice presidency is only elected among the four occupants of the at-large seats by a majority vote of all members of Congress. The remaining 10 senators of Congress serve two-year terms, and the seats are apportioned by population. The two-year term Congressmen cannot be elected to the Presidency.

The 2019 election results data to follow is certified from the FSM National Election Office, presented to the FSM Office of the President on March 8.

Kosrae State has two senators in the Congress. For the four-year at-large seat, vice president and the Yosiwo P. George received 1,824 votes while challenger Aren B. Palik received 1,814 votes.

For the two-year seat, the incumbent Paliknoa K. Welly received 2,130 votes while challenger Johnson A. Asher received 1,491 votes.

For Pohnpei Election District One, representing Kolonia, Sokehs, Sapwuahfik, Nukuoro, and Kapingamarangi, the incumbent and Honorable Ferny Perman received 2,396 votes while challenger Dr. Merlynn Abello-Alfonso received 2,136 votes.

For Pohnpei Election District Two, representing Madolenihmw and Kitti—which had four candidates—the incumbent and Dion G. Neth received 2,054 votes, while challengers Berney Martin, Herman Semes Jr., and Quincy Lawrence received 1,082 votes, 984 votes, and 942 votes respectively.

For Pohnpei Election District Three, representing Nett, U, Mwoakilloa, and Pingelap, the incumbent Esmond B. Moses received 2,543 votes while challenger Marstella Jack received 1,155 votes.

Chuuk has six senators in the Congress. For the four-year at-large seat, the incumbent Wesley W. Simina received 15,941 votes while challenger Eriano E. Eram received 3,356 votes.

For Chuuk Election District One, representing the Mortlock Islands, the incumbent Florencio S. Harper ran unopposed; he received 2,727 votes.

For Chuuk Election District Two, representing Weno, the incumbent Victor Gouland ran unopposed; he received 1,787 votes.

For Chuuk Election District Three, representing Tonoas, Uman, Fefan, Parem, and Tsis, the incumbent and Honorable Derensio S. Konman received 4,599 votes while challenger Eflove F. Mailos received 2,256 votes.

For Chuuk Election District Four, representing Tol, Fanapanges, Eot, Patta, Polle Romalum, Udot, and Wonei, the incumbent Tiwiter Aritos received 4,938 votes while challengers Smith K. Paulus and Manuel Rawit received 245 and 555 votes respectively.

For Chuuk Election District Five, representing the Halls & Western Islands, and Namonuito—which had five candidates running—the incumbent Robson U. Romolow received 1,083 votes, while challengers Arisao Aichem, Joseph Konnor Jr., Dr. Vidalino J. Raatior, and Zander Refilong received 353, 182, 684, and 461 votes respectively.

Yap State has two senators in the FSM Congress. For the At-Large seat, the incumbent Joseph. J Urusemal ran unopposed; he received 2,371 votes. For the two-year seat, the incumbent and Honorable Isaac V. Figir received 2,225 votes while challenger Fidelis Thiyer-Fanoway received 244 votes.

Pohnpei voters cast their votes in Kitti March. Photo by Richard Clark/FSMIS

In addition to the voting of the nation’s elected representatives, all voters were asked to voice their opinion on whether or not the FSM should hold a Constitutional Convention. Per FSM law, every 10 years this referendum reappears and 75 percent of the population in 75 percent of the FSM states must consent for such a convention to occur.

In Kosrae State, 1,476 voters said yes to a Constitutional Convention and 480 voters said no; in Pohnpei State 5,948 voters said yes to a Constitutional Convention and 2,790 voters said no; in Chuuk State 1,283 voters said yes to a Constitutional Convention and 1,656 voters said no; and in Yap State, 1,064 voters said yes to a Constitutional Convention and 1,262 voters said no. </s> PALIKIR, 13 MAY 2019 (FSMIS) – The 21st Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) has elected H.E David W. Panuelo as its ninth President, during its First Regular Session on 11 May. Prior to his election, President Panuelo was elected Senator At-Large for Pohnpei State. Also elected was the new Vice President, the […] </s> 3 Liberal Party members and an ally are stripped of their committee chairmanships in the Senate

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday, February 27, lashed out against the Duterte administration for being "obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views."

This was after senators belonging to or affiliated with the Liberal Party (LP) were stripped of their committee chairmanships. (READ: Liberal Party senators see Palace hand in ouster)

On Monday afternoon, senators Franklin Drilon, Francis Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros were removed from key posts in the Senate following a motion by key administration ally, neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao.

The 4 were once part of the PDP-Laban-led majority bloc. They have since moved to the minority bloc. Akbayan is an ally of the once-ruling LP.

"When we were given the mandate by the people, we were determined to work with this administration to put national interest before politics. But despite our sincere efforts, it is now clear that the Duterte administration is incapable of tolerating dissent, no matter how constructive," said Robredo in a statement released to the media.

"What happened in the Senate today is characteristic of an administration obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views," added Robredo, who was once a member of the Duterte Cabinet.

She resigned as housing chief last December after she was told to stop attending all Cabinet meetings.

The Vice President, a staunch critic of authoritarian rule and of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship, noted that the Philippines has seen moves to monopolize power in the past.

"This has happened before. In the past, this paved the way for a one-man rule. We will not be silenced. Our nation deserves no less," said Robredo, who defeated Marcos' only son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, for the vice presidency during the 2016 elections.

As the LP's highest elected official, Robredo is also the party's chairperson.

"Democracy demands dissent," added Robredo. (READ: Robredo to Duterte: 'Mr President, we call you to task')

The shift among the Senate blocs came days after Senator Leila de Lima, an LP member and among President Rodrigo Duterte's staunchest critics, was arrested for alleged ties to illegal drugs on February 24.

On February 25, all 4 senators attended the 31st anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolution. They were all clad in black.

On the same day, Duterte supporters staged a rally in support of the President at the Luneta.

Last week, the Senate was also divided over a vote to reopen a probe into the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS), a vigilante group that was supposedly founded and utilized by Duterte when he was Davao City mayor.

The LP bloc voted to allow Arturo "Arthur" Lascañas, a self-confessed DDS hitman, to testify before the Senate.

When we were given the mandate by the people, we were determined to work with this administration to put national interest before politics.

But despite our sincere efforts, it is now clear that the Duterte administration is incapable of tolerating dissent, no matter how constructive.

What happened in the Senate today is characteristic of an administration obsessed with monopolizing power and intent on marginalizing those who have opposing views.

This has happened before. In the past, this paved the way for a one-man rule.

We will not be silenced. Our nation deserves no less. </s> Rep. Jericho Nograles of the Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) party-list said on Wednesday there was a “miscommunication” between his camp and the group of lawyers seeking his endorsement for their impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo.

In a statement, Nograles said he has accepted Bruce Rivera’s apology about the aborted impeachment complaint which had Nograles’ name as endorser even though he had not given his consent.

“I accept the apology of Atty. Bruce Rivera who admitted that the brouhaha about the impeachment complaint against Vice President Leni Robredo. (It) was a result of miscommunication,” Nograles said.

Nograles said Rivera’s admission validated his position that he had not been informed about his supposed endorsement of the complaint.

“His admission that this was a case of miscommunication validates my position that I had no prior knowledge about this complaint,” Nograles said.

The group of lawyers led by Rivera, who once served as counsel of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles, went to the office of Nograles with the complaint containing Nograles’ name. But Nograles denied agreeing to be the endorser.

A private complainant may file an impeachment complaint at the House of Representatives, where impeachment proceedings initiate, as long as the complaint is endorsed by a representative.

Reporters waited Tuesday for the expected filing of the impeachment complaint at the House secretary general’s office. Nograles later faced the media and denied he agreed to endorse the complaint.

In a Facebook post, Rivera belied Nograles’ claim that the Robredo impeachment group misrepresented the congressman.

Rivera said it was a clear case of miscommunication.

“We were informed that Congressman Jericho Nograles of the PBA Partylist issued a statement accusing Trixie Cruz-Angeles and myself with misrepresentation for including his name as endorser in the impeachment complaint,” Rivera said.

“This was perhaps a result of a miscommunication,” he added.

Rivera said the group did not intend to misrepresent Nograles and that it included Nograles’ name in the impeachment complaint to make the filing of complaint easier.

“The truth of the matter is, we were told to give a copy of the complaint to him for his perusal,” Rivera said. “Atty. Trixie, in good faith, included his name so if he decides to be one of the endorsers, it will be easier to just affix his signature and if not, his name will be removed in the complaint.”

“There was never any intention to misrepresent,” he added. “In fact, the impeachment complaint submitted to other members of the House did not include his name anymore. In fact, we never mentioned his name in our press conference until some reporter raised his name.”

Rivera extended his apologies for the miscommunication to Nograles.

“Thus, we apologize to Congressman Jericho Nograles for this unfortunate situation,” Rivera said. “We truly understand that the job as legislator is a daunting task and we will never intend to make his already difficult job, more difficult.”

Rivera earlier said the group accused Robredo of the offenses of betrayal of public trust, culpable violations of the Constitution, and graft and corruption.

Rivera said Robredo betrayed the public trust in her video to a United Nations body criticizing the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs, and the alleged “palit-ulo” scheme of the police.

Rivera said Robredo’s claims against the administration and the police were “reckless, accusing the vice president also of misdeclaring her assets in her statement of assets and liabilities networth by not disclosing the worth of her shares in Meralco.

Complaints against Robredo gained traction since Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Duterte’s staunch ally in the House, raised the specter of impeaching Robredo for her message to the UN body.

Alvarez vowed to pursue Robredo’s impeachment even though Duterte himself rejected the move.

This was Robredo’s second impeachment complaint seeking a representative’s endorsement. The first impeachment complaint was endorsed for the Speaker’s support by Marcos loyalists Oliver Lozano and Melchor Chavez.

Duterte also faces two impeachment complaints filed by Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano regarding the president’s alleged role in state-sponsored killings and the Davao Death Squad, as well as his alleged inaction to uphold the country’s sovereign rights over the West Philippine Sea, Panatag Shoal and Benham Rise amid the administration’s cooling of ties with China.

Duterte, Alvarez and other key allies also face a complaint for crimes against humanity before the International Criminal Court in The Hague. /atm

Duterte, 11 others accused of crimes against humanity before ICC
President Peter M. Christian is defeated for re-election to his at-large seat in Congress by David Panuelo.