The Army’s 97th Infantry Battalion (97IB) has deployed 477 personnel to render election security duty in Zamboanga del Norte, officials said Tuesday. Lt. Col. Nolasco Coderos Jr., 97IB commander, said the troopers were deployed in the two of the province’s three congressional districts. “Most of these troops will be deployed in far-flung polling centers in isolated communities,” Coderos said in a statement. During the troops’ formation Monday, Coderos reminded the soldiers to remain apolitical and to refrain from engaging in all forms of partisan politics. Brig. Gen. Leonel Nicolas, 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, assured the troops they will be provided

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce by Tuesday the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Duterte made the pronouncement in his prerecorded Talk to the People aired Tuesday morning over state-run PTV-4. This, after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año submitted the names of police officials who are qualified to succeed outgoing PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos. “Binabantayan nila kung sino ang next PNP chief (They are awaiting who will be the next PNP chief). I assure you that I will act upon the recommendation of Secretary Año,” Duterte said. Duterte said he is still reviewing the list of

At least three senatorial candidates of the ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), have signed a manifesto on the continuation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics drive, if they win the May 9 elections. The manifesto of support was signed Tuesday during the joint press conference of former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo, former Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Greco Belgica, and veteran journalist Rey Langit. The three senatorial candidates renewed their commitment to continue Duterte’s drug war under the next administration, in case they get elected to the Senate. Under the manifesto, the PDP-Laban senatorial bets emphasized

The University of Antique (UA), the only state university in the province and operates a bamboo center, will adopt barangays to boost bamboo craft projects. Dr. Nelly Mistio, UA Project Component Leader of the Bamboo Crafts and Furniture Facility of the Bamboo Center, said in an interview Tuesday that they will be adopting the barangays of Sibalom, Tibiao, Tobias Fornier, and those in other municipalities of the province to be their production partners. “We will also be deploying to the municipalities some equipment of the Bamboo Center so that the barangay-based bamboo crafters would be able to use it,” she

Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday thanked Ilonggos for giving her a significant number of votes on the way to her close victory in 2016. During her “Grand Pasasalamat” rally at La Paz Plaza, Iloilo City, she promised a government that will go directly to the people if she is elected president on May 9. She said she is more confident now because of the achievements of her six-year term. Robredo said it is the first time in the history of Philippine politics that presidential and vice-presidential candidates have supporters doing house-to-house campaign, referring to the efforts being done for

Presidential bet Senator Panfilo Lacson is relying on his “active and silent supporters”, brushing off his poor showing in the latest Pulse Asia survey. In a statement on Tuesday, he said casting votes is “the ultimate show of support” from those “who truly believe in good, honest governance”. “Instead of speculating, it is best for me to just wait for the May 9 election results which is not too long a wait after all,” Lacson said. Pulse Asia’s poll conducted April 16 to 21 using face-to-face interviews with 2,400 adults showed Ferdinand Marcos Jr. maintain his overwhelming lead with 56