Day: May 12, 2025

Bicol: The Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) has successfully confiscated illegal drugs valued at PHP2.6 million during a weeklong operation conducted from May 5 to 11. This operation led to the arrest of 21 individuals, including four high-value targets and 17 street-level individuals. According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon reported that law enforcement officers seized 392.884 grams of shabu and 1.60 grams of marijuana during the operation. The province of Albay recorded the highest value of confiscated illegal drugs, amounting to PHP1.71 million, followed by Naga City with PHP877,296. Other provinces reported lower values,

Northern Mindanao: A robbery, a hostage attempt, and a shooting incident briefly disrupted the peace on election day in Northern Mindanao, but police confirmed none of these incidents were directly related to the polls. According to Philippines News Agency, Police Regional Office (PRO)-10 spokesperson Maj. Joann Navarro reported that four suspects were arrested for a robbery at the home of a village chairperson in Kinoguitan, Misamis Oriental. The suspects were intercepted in Pagadian City, and the stolen PHP40,000 was recovered. In addition to the robbery, police successfully thwarted a father’s attempted hostage-taking in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental, and responded to

Bangued: The Regional Task Force on Early Voting reported a notable turnout as 66,396 residents from vulnerable sectors participated in the early voting initiative implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). This system was designed to provide enhanced comfort and convenience for voters, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWD), pregnant women, and their assistors. According to Philippines News Agency, lawyer Elenita Julia Tabangin Capuyan, the regional head of the task force, stated in a phone interview on Monday that the initiative was a success, particularly highlighting the significant voter turnout during the designated 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. voting

Cebu: Some automated counting machines (ACMs) in Central Visayas experienced minor technical glitches during the midterm polls on Monday. However, these issues were swiftly addressed and deemed “very negligible and manageable.” According to Philippines News Agency, Commission on Elections (Comelec)-7 Director Francisco Pobe explained in a briefing that the glitches primarily involved the ACMs’ optical readers, which accumulated dirt and misread ballots. Teachers, with the consent of all stakeholders including poll watchers, implemented immediate remedial measures to resolve these problems. Pobe also highlighted incidents of misdelivered ballots in various Cebu municipalities. Specific cases included 19 ballots from Bantayan Island erroneously

Legazpi City: The national and local elections in the Bicol Region concluded smoothly, as reported by the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) on Monday evening. PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon described the situation as “manageable and stable,” attributing the outcome to extensive preparations and coordinated efforts of all security forces. According to Philippines News Agency, Dizon credited the success of the elections to the dedication of officers, partner agencies, and the public. He emphasized the significance of the strict implementation of the gun ban in maintaining order and minimizing risks during the election period. A total of 26,482