COMELEC BUDGET HEARING: Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, discusses with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Sixto Brillantes the proposed budget of the office, Tuesday morning. From this year’s approved budget of P 8.416 billion, Comelec’s proposed 2014 budget is now down to P 2.885 billion considering that it is not an election year, according to Brillantes. (PRIB PHOTO by Albert Calvelo, September 3, 2013)