The Philippine Consulate General in New York would send out the ballots for overseas absentee voting as soon as possible, Consul General Elmer Cato said Sunday. In a statement, Cato announced that the boxes containing the equipment and election paraphernalia had just arrived at the FedEx Facility in New Jersey while other packages have departed Alaska. Unless there are unforeseen factors, the envoy said other packages would be delivered to the Consulate by Monday. “We cannot send out unless we receive the ballots. We will send them out as soon as we receive them,” Cato said. Meanwhile, he defended the

Tropical Storm Agaton continued to move slowly westward over the coastal waters of Balangiga, Eastern Samar, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Sunday. In its 2 p.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the center of “Agaton” was spotted over the coastal waters of Balangiga, Eastern Samar with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, gustiness of up to 105 kph, and central pressure of 998 hPa (hectoPascals). It is accompanied by strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 220 km from the center. The following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signals

Pakistan’s parliament voted out Prime Minister Imran Khan in a no-confidence motion late Saturday, capping a month-long political turmoil that gripped the nation of 220 million. As many as 174 lawmakers voted in favor of the no-trust motion, two more than the required 172 for a simple majority in the 324-member National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. It is the first time a Pakistani prime minister has ever been ousted by a no-confidence motion put forward by the opposition. The session was presided by Ayaz Sadiq, a former chair of the house, as Asad Qaiser and Qasim Suri, the

Two roads in Sumilao, Bukidnon that were recently affected by landslides are already passable after continuous clearing operations, the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) confirmed on Sunday. In an interview, MDRRMO head Ariosto Zagado said landslides were reported at about 4 p.m. on Friday on the provincial road between Poblacion and Kulasi villages. The MDRRMO immediately proceeded to the site but had to suspend operations due to the instability of the area and heavy rains brought by a low pressure area (LPA). Clearing operations resumed Saturday, with Poblacion fully cleared and Kulasi partially cleared after the heavy

Independent presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson and running mate Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III urged their supporters to start making themselves heard in helping them convince voters to elect the most qualified, competent, and experienced candidates in the May 9 polls. “Thank you ‘Pure Love’, ‘True Friends’, ‘Lacson Sotto Support Group’ for organizing your ‘Supporters Rally’ and making it happen today. It’s time to stop being silent. Get out of your echo chamber to be heard by the people. No balloons, no umbrellas, no props. Just pure love,” Lacson said on his Twitter account Saturday evening after he

Bishop Julito Cortes of the Diocese of Dumaguete on Sunday said voters must choose candidates who shall stand for truth, justice, and love of country in the May 9 national and local elections. Cortes ushered in the Holy Week observance with the traditional blessing of “palaspas”, made out of of palm or coconut leaves, during a Mass at the St. Catherine of Alexandria Cathedral here. “May we not stop shouting about the truth coming from God,” Cortes said in mixed English and Cebuano, noting that like fake news and lies which led to Jesus’ death, there are those “hungry for