Day: May 5, 2025

Tacloban: The Philippine National Police regional office has dispatched 237 police officers to strengthen the provincial police offices in Eastern Visayas, just a week before the upcoming midterm elections. According to Philippines News Agency, Police Regional Office – Eastern Visayas (PRO-8) Director Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad announced the deployment from the regional headquarters and regional support units. This strategic move coincides with the final testing and sealing of over 5,600 automated counting machines scheduled for May 6 across the region. Of the newly deployed officers, Leyte PPO will receive 104, Southern Leyte will have 40, Eastern Samar PPO will be

Pangasinan: A total of 3,709 boxes containing official ballots for the 2025 national and local elections have arrived in Pangasinan and La Union, election officials confirmed on Monday. Of the total, 2,869 ballot boxes were delivered to Pangasinan, while the remaining 840 were received in La Union. The unsealing and unloading of the boxes took place on Sunday. According to Philippines News Agency, La Union election officer assistant Marku Dominik Lavaro stated that the ballot boxes will be kept in the municipal treasury offices until distribution to clustered polling precincts on election day. Lavaro assured the public that all ballot

Siquijor: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reinforced security in Siquijor province ahead of the May 12 polls due to escalating political tensions. Comelec-Negros Island Region Director Lionel Marco Castillano said while private armed groups are uncommon in Siquijor, the agency deployed additional soldiers as a precaution. “This is to assure the people of Siquijor that they can freely vote,” he said Monday. The Army’s 11th Infantry Battalion assigned 46 soldiers – double last election’s deployment – to assist police in election security. According to Philippines News Agency, unlike previous elections where troops served as quick-reaction forces, Castillano said soldiers

Vatican City: The countdown to the papal conclave is officially underway, with Catholic Church cardinals set to hold their final general congregations-two on Monday and another on Tuesday-before entering the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to elect the successor to Pope Francis. According to Philippines News Agency, among those expressing hopes for the next pope is New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who on Sunday said he wishes to see a pontiff who embodies the best qualities of the Church’s most recent leaders. “The characteristics I expect for the next pope are, first of all, a smile, always a smile on the

Agusan del Norte: Illegal timber poaching in Agusan del Norte has dropped significantly over the past three years, environmental officials reported Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office in Nasipit (CENRO-Nasipit) recorded a 42-percent decrease in confiscated lumber — from 108,546 board feet in 2022 to 63,105 board feet in 2024. This year’s January-April period saw 11,672 board feet seized from 10 poaching incidents. CENRO-Nasipit chief Nelson Caranzo attributed the decline to sustained awareness campaigns and stronger partnerships with local governments and law enforcement. “These information campaigns helped reduce illegal lumber poaching,” he said.