Presidential candidate former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte on Thursday night urged Filipinos to protect their votes in Monday’s elections. During the UniTeam’s Mindanao Miting de Avance rally in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, Marcos said voters should remain vigilant and protect their votes during the entire voting and canvassing process. “Panalo na! Basta’t bantayan niyo ‘yung boto sa Lunes na walang tulugan. Hihingi tayo sa lahat ng kaibigan natin ng maraming-maraming kape para walang matutulog dahil alam naman natin kapag tayo ay natulog maraming nangyayari na ‘di kanais nais

US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that Karine Jean-Pierre will be the first Black woman to serve as the White House’s chief spokesperson. Jean-Pierre will replace outgoing spokeswoman Jen Psaki, who is leaving the White House on May 13, the executive mansion announced in a statement. Jean-Pierre previously served as Biden’s deputy spokeswoman, and has briefed reporters from both the White House briefing room and Air Force One. “Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris Administration

The Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has started deploying 4,000 military personnel throughout Northern Mindanao to serve as security force multipliers in the May 9 elections. Maj. Gen. Wilbur Mamawag, 4ID commander, said the troop deployment will continue until Sunday in various parts of Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions. “With various task forces activated and operationalized, we shall continue to monitor and take appropriate actions in any election-related issues,” Mamawag said in a statement Thursday evening. Mamawag instructed the troops to “remain steadfast” in their duties and avoid being influenced by politics. “We have shown a high degree of interoperability,

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said the first order of Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao as Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge (OIC) is to ensure that all security preparations are in place so that the country will have peaceful, orderly and honest elections. “His (Danao) designation as PNP OIC will not affect the ongoing security preparations being implemented by the PNP as he will be able to provide good leadership and direction to the entire police force for them to be able to fulfill their peacekeeping role in this important time of our country’s history,” Año said

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco on Thursday night expressed his condolences over the death of former Marinduque Rep. Regina Reyes-Mandanas. Velasco said Reyes-Mandanas will be remembered by the people of Marinduque and Batangas for her wit, wisdom, and style, as she served her home province of Marinduque as provincial administrator and as a representative, as well as first lady of Batangas. “We are deeply saddened by the untimely demise of former Marinduque Rep. Regina Reyes-Mandanas, whom we fondly called Ate Gina,” Velasco said in a statement. ” Her legacy of public service will never be forgotten.” Velasco also extended his

The military assured the public Friday that security forces remain in control amid the grenade attack in Cotabato City late Wednesday. Unidentified men lobbed a fragmentation grenade on a moored fishing boat along Tamontaka River around 6:40 p.m. Nobody was hurt but the seacraft was damaged. The fishing boat is owned by a certain Datu Manot Sinsuat, a resident of Datu Blah Sinsuat, Maguindanao. Colonel Jose Ambrosio Rustia, commander of Joint Task Group Kutawato, said boat skipper Mustapha Katug Molo and some of his crew members saw the two unidentified persons toss the explosive. “The boat captain and his crew