MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said close to 600,000 Filipino voters abroad are expected to participate in next year’s elections, as it also expects to register another 1.6 million overseas voters. “The estimated number of voter turnout, we’re looking at would be about 580,212 and for the number of possible registrants for overseas voting is at 1,657,750,” lawyer Philip Luis Marin of the Comelec’s Office for Overseas Voting (OFOV) said in a virtual press briefing on Friday. Marin added that they are hopeful for an increase in the turnout among overseas voters. “We already have a budget already

MANILA – Parts of Luzon will continue to experience scattered rains due to the monsoon trough still affecting the country, a state forecaster said Friday. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather specialist Shelly Ignacio said scattered rain showers and thunderstorms will prevail over Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, and Mimaropa. “The rest of Luzon will have fair weather, but we are also expecting isolated rains due to localized thunderstorms,” she said. PAGASA forecasts the monsoon trough to cause isolated rain showers or thunderstorms over the rest of the country. Flash floods or landslides due to moderate to

MANILA – The offer of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) to indemnify the Absalon family, who lost two of their members in an unprovoked anti-personnel mine (APM) attack last June 6, is laughable as the former claims they have a working justice system, a Palace official said on Friday. “What can (I say) this is a very laughable statement. Nakatatawa ito kasi kung meron kang ginawang kasalanan (If you committed any infractions) and you’re indemnifying, ang ibig sabihin niyan (it means that) there has to be a legal instrument for you to indemnify. So ibig sahihin,

MANILA – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will coordinate with local government units and front-line units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the countryside to stop the communist terrorists’ “permit-to-campaign” scheme ahead of next year’s elections. “Makikipagtulungan po tayo at patuloy na makikipagusap sa pamahalaang lokal lalo na yung ating mga frontline units sa ating mga kasamahan sa PNP upang sa ganun ay patuloy nating mamanmanan ang mga developments na ito (We will communicate and coordinate with the local government units and the front-line units of the PNP so that we can monitor developments like this,” AFP

MANILA – The Light Rail Transit-2 (LRT-2) and Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will offer free rides during rush hours on Saturday as a way of marking the 123rd Independence Day. Trips of passengers of LRT-2 (Recto Avenue, Manila to Araneta Center, Cubao) and MRT-3 (North Avenue, Quezon City to Edsa, Pasay City) will be free of charge from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. LRT-1 (Baclaran, Parañaque to Roosevelt, Quezon City) has yet to make an announcement as of posting time. “Sa darating na ika-12 ng Hunyo 2021, magbibigay ng libreng sakay

MANILA – More than 58,000 local and overseas jobs are available at the online Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) Job and Business Fair of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) in celebration of the country’s 123rd Independence Day on June 12. Based on the data released by the department as of 10 a.m. Friday, a total of 58,211 job vacancies in the country. A total of 35,839 are local jobs while 22,372 are available abroad, from 612 participating employers. Of the total number of employment opportunities nationwide, the National Capital Region (NCR) posted the most available jobs at 23,243, followed