The mounting number of petitions being filed before the Supreme Court (SC) to halt Congress from carrying out its mandate to canvass the May 9 votes for the top two positions in the land could lead to a constitutional crisis.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III aired this concern even as the two chambers of Congress gesr up for the scheduled official tabulation of votes on May 24.

Sotto said that a hypothetical directive from the High Tribunal for lawmakers to stop the canvass could lead to a constitutional "from the fact that Congress can no longer meet after June 3rd", which is the end of the current 18th Congress.

"Who will then conduct the canvass as mandated by the Constitution?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar prodded the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to address allegations regarding the integrity of the May 9 polls.

“To dispel doubts of some quarters… we leave the matter to the Commission on Elections,” said the Palace official, who at the same time urged Filipinos to respect the results of the elections.

These are among the top stories this busy Thursday afternoon, May 19, 2022.

1) Living with Covid-19

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/doh-vows-to-speed-up-distribution-of-benefits-for-health-workers-support-staff-hit-by-covid-19/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/concepcion-include-50-year-olds-in-2nd-round-of-booster-shots-to-protect-productivity/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/covid-19-cases-in-ph-may-increase-to-over-500-per-day-amid-new-omicron-subvariant-threat-expert/

2) Election 2022 fallout

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/nanghihinayang-ako-salceda-explains-why-duterte-is-a-better-fit-with-dswd/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/no-date-yet-for-special-polls-in-butig-binadayan-in-lanao-sur/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/comelec-to-submit-comment-on-tro-plea-to-halt-congressional-canvass-of-bbms-votes/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/comelec-says-its-bent-on-addressing-vote-buying-asks-for-publics-cooperation/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/comelec-reminds-candidates-political-parties-to-file-soce-on-time/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/comelec-says-nominees-of-pl-not-required-to-attend-proclamation/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/ppcrv-receives-nearly-80-percent-of-poll-returns-ers-from-abroad-expected/

3) From the Palace

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/duterte-to-filipinos-thank-you-for-believing-in-me/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/palace-more-needs-to-be-done-to-lift-filipinos-from-poverty/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/duterte-leaves-a-safe-and-secure-philippines-andanar/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/palace-appeals-to-respect-election-results-urges-comelec-to-dispel-doubts-about-polls-integrity/

4) Judiciary Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/no-tro-from-sc-to-stop-congressional-canvass-of-votes-for-bongbong-marcos/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/sandiganbayan-convicts-ex-cebu-lawmaker-ex-bogo-mayor-6-others-in-p24-4-m-pdaf/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/duterte-appoints-2-ca-justices/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/chr-hopes-incoming-administration-will-also-prioritize-womens-health/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/doj-sets-filing-criminal-charges-in-court-vs-7-law-enforcers-in-2021-qc-misencounter/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/cta-cancels-p4-billion-tax-debts-of-two-big-firms/

5) PNP Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/crime-volume-in-western-visayas-decreases-by-almost-13/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/cops-to-use-body-worn-cameras-in-securing-special-polls-in-12-lanao-del-sur-barangays/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/13-senior-pnp-officers-reshuffled/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/pnp-to-deploy-cops-as-beis-in-lanao-del-sur-special-polls/

6) Congress Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/nanghihinayang-ako-salceda-explains-why-duterte-is-a-better-fit-with-dswd/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/justice-par-excellence-romualdez-pays-tribute-to-late-philconsa-chair-lolong-lazaro/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/bbm-stimulus-bill-to-replace-bayanihan-measures-under-marcos-admin-romualdez/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/nothing-can-stop-congress-from-performing-canvass-mandate-says-zubiri/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/de-lima-thanks-foreign-legislators-for-pressing-calls-for-her-release/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/sotto-warns-of-constitutional-crisis-if-sc-stops-congress-from-canvassing-votes-for-president-vp/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/how-big-is-supermajority-in-house-under-a-romualdez-speakership/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/bong-go-next-senate-president-should-continue-dutertes-agenda/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/tulfo-to-join-supermajority-bloc-vows-to-honor-senates-independence/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/jv-ejercito-optimistic-marcos-admin-will-continue-dutertes-build-build-build-program/

7) Keeping up with the Robredos

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/18/robredos-daughter-jillian-graduates-from-nyu-with-double-major/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/robredo-thanks-cebuano-weavers-of-her-pink-dress-for-daughters-graduation/

8) Weather Update

9)  Religious Corner

10)  Good news for LRT riders

11.) Education Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/lasallian-brothers-elect-luistro-as-superior-general/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/deped-to-advance-phs-accomplishments-challenges-in-education-world-forum-2022/

12) World Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/landslides-floods-kill-at-least-10-in-india/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/xi-says-china-will-open-still-wider-despite-tight-border-controls/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/pfizer-covid-pill-preventing-hospitalizations-and-deaths-white-house/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/spain-portugal-detect-over-40-suspected-monkeypox-cases/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/us-says-possibility-of-n-korea-nuclear-test-during-bidens-asia-trip/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/biden-sells-renewed-us-leadership-in-first-asia-trip-but-n-korea-looms/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/18/ana-patricia-non-receives-woman-of-courage-award-for-community-pantry-initiative/

13) Business Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/stocks-pause-after-rising-3-days/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/maxs-group-almost-doubles-q1-profits/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/raslag-sets-p805-m-ipo-at-maximum-price/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/first-gen-seeking-tenders-for-lng-supply/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/bloomberry-buys-p7-55-b-land-for-casino-complex/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/nhmfc-raising-p715-m-from-asset-back-notes-issue/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/erc-seeks-excise-tax-suspension/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/dof-flags-self-serving-foreign-consultants/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/exporters-employers-ready-to-work-with-new-admin/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/gma-expects-2022-to-be-another-banner-year/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/chua-hits-back-at-rice-reform-critics/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/smart-conducting-ph-1st-space-based-cellular-broadband-test/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/grab-announces-2025-2040-esg-targets/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/alsons-power-inks-pact-with-the-subanen-people-in-zamboanga-del-norte/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/san-miguel-corporations-notice-of-annual-stockholders-meeting/

14) Metro Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/mayor-aguilar-urges-las-pinas-residents-to-be-responsible-pet-owners/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/valenzuela-to-start-administering-2nd-covid-19-booster-to-seniors-health-workers/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/gradual-return-to-f2f-in-pasig-a-sign-of-better-things-to-come-mayor-vico/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/p3-4-m-shabu-seized-in-bulacan/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/ncrpo-says-help-given-to-family-of-muntinlupa-policeman-who-died-after-3-day-election-duty/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/3-drug-suspects-arrested-in-paranaque-buy-bust/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/mayor-belmonte-presses-for-prison-reforms/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/taguig-mayor-elect-lani-cayetano-thanks-voters-for-victory-electing-husband-as-senator/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/18/parts-of-quezon-city-valenzuela-to-experience-power-interruptions/

15) Provincial Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/nine-delinquent-employers-in-alaminos-city-urged-to-settle-their-legal-obligations/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/dengue-cases-deaths-rise-in-cebu-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/alleged-drug-pusher-yields-p1-3-m-worth-of-illegal-drugs-in-bacolod/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/army-seizes-assorted-rebels-firearms-in-iloilo/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/cdo-mayor-rules-out-border-restriction-as-plan-to-fight-omicron-sub-variant/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/two-notorious-drug-traffickers-dead-two-others-busted-in-cotabato-anti-drug-operation/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/05/19/dole-extends-assistance-to-42077-caraga-workers-displaced-by-odette-and-pandemic/