Day: November 2, 2024

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has officially sanctioned a 15 percent shading threshold for ballots in the May 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE). This decision marks the lowest shading threshold since the country’s transition to automated elections in 2010. According to Philippines News Agency, the adjustment in the shading threshold from the previous 25 percent was proposed by the Project Management Office and received approval from the Commission en banc. Comelec Chair George Garcia confirmed the decision in a statement, emphasizing the Commission’s satisfaction with the rationale behind the reduction. He highlighted the importance of this change for

Manila: House of Representatives Assistant Minority Leader, Gabriela Women’s Party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, on Saturday sought strengthened financial intelligence monitoring against online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) after the conviction of a French animator who ordered the live-streamed rape of preteen girls. “The conviction of French animator Bouhalem Bouchiba for ordering the rape of Filipino children through live-streaming platforms is deeply disturbing and highlights the urgent need to strengthen our financial monitoring systems against OSEC,” Brosas said in a press release. According to Philippines News Agency, the Paris court late Thursday found Bouchiba, a famous animator, guilty of complicity in

Manila: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) recorded a 12 percent increase in international travel amid the observation of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. In a statement, the BI reported that it processed 167,538 passengers on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, higher than the 149,257 recorded during the same period in 2023. It noted that the influx, fueled by the ‘Undas’ season, brought high passenger volumes to major Philippine airports, particularly on those two days. According to Philippines News Agency, on Oct. 31, BI recorded 41,078 arrivals and 43,341 departures across the country. The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal

Basco: A few hours after resuming normal operations following the onslaught of Super Typhoon Leon, the Basco Airport in Batanes was again closed for the weekend after a Philippine Air Force Airbus C-295 skidded off the runway at about 4 p.m. Friday. The medium tactical transport aircraft, with Tail No. 217, delivered relief goods for the typhoon victims. According to Philippines News Agency, the aircraft skidded off the runway after its nose landing gear detached upon touchdown. The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) in Basco stated that the airport would be closed to fixed-wing aircraft until November 3

Quezon city: Ginebra finally put one over TNT, 85-73, in Game 3 of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Governors’ Cup finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Friday. Ginebra stifled TNT defensively in the fourth quarter, holding the Tropang Giga to only 14 points en route to victory that narrowed the best-of-seven gap to 2-1. According to Philippines News Agency, Ginebra coach Tim Cone expressed that the first two games served as a wake-up call for the team, and he hopes this victory will motivate them throughout the series. Scottie Thompson was named the best player of the