General

Agusan del Sur: The Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) has earmarked over PHP22 million in emergency loans for its members and pensioners in La Paz, Agusan del Sur, following weeks of flooding and prolonged rains that disrupted livelihoods in the area. In a news release on Thursday, the state pension fund said applications will be accepted until June 15. According to Philippines News Agency, the loan facility is open to active GSIS members residing or working in La Paz, provided they have no due and demandable loans, are not on unpaid leave, have remitted premium contributions for the last six

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced the removal of barangay clearance from the list of requirements for voter registration. This decision comes in response to the misuse of barangay certificates by certain individuals to manipulate voter registrations. According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia revealed this change during the monthly Balitaan forum of the Manila City Hall Reporters’ Association (MACHRA) at the Harbor View Restaurant in Ermita. Garcia emphasized that barangay certificates have been used as tools for enabling “flying voters,” a practice that involves the fraudulent transfer of voter registrations. To combat this issue, Comelec

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has appointed Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III as the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), succeeding Gen. Rommel Marbil, who will retire on June 7. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced the appointment during a press briefing at Malaca±ang, confirming that Torre will assume command on June 2. According to Philippines News Agency, Torre, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy Tagapagpatupad class of 1993, has previously served as the director of the Quezon City Police District and the Davao Regional Police Office. His notable achievements include leading the successful arrest of

Porac: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has disqualified re-elected Porac, Pampanga Mayor Jaime Capil due to his dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman. In an eight-page resolution, the Comelec Second Division granted the petition filed by former mayor Michael Tapang against Capil on April 15. According to Philippines News Agency, the ruling declared Capil disqualified from running for the position of Mayor in the Municipality of Porac, Province of Pampanga, in the May 12, 2025 National and Local Elections. Capil’s disqualification stems from his dismissal by the Ombudsman for gross neglect of duty related to the illegal activities of

Iloilo City: Over 200 drivers in Iloilo have undergone a surprise random drug test, resulting in one tricycle driver testing positive for illegal drug use. The initiative was conducted by the Land Transportation Office Region 6 (LTO-6), in cooperation with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). According to Philippines News Agency, the random drug test was executed at the Ungka and Tagbak terminals in Iloilo City, involving 214 drivers who submitted their urine samples. LTO-6 assistant regional director Jeck Conlu stated that the driver who tested positive will have their specimen