General

Manila: On the eve of election day, Liset Taylo, 53, prepares a list of candidates she will vote for — from senators down to the municipal councilors. Taylo isn’t new to elections. She’s seen presidents and senators come and go. But each election, she said it still feels like being stuck on crossroads. Taylo is one of the 68.4 million registered Filipino voters heading to the polls this Monday, aside from some 1.3 million overseas. Across the country, more than 18,000 positions are up for grabs — from senators and congressional representatives to governors, provincial board members, mayors, and councilors.

Bacolod: Visayan hopefuls, led by Bacolod’s rising stars, are out to defend their home turf in the second leg of the ICTSI Junior PGT Visayas-Mindanao Series on May 14 to 16. Capitalizing on their familiarity with the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club layout in Bacolod City and home crowd support, local bets Ana Marie Aguilar, Cecilia Jalandoni, and Anezka Golez will challenge Mactan leg winner Denise Mendoza in the girls’ 7-10 category. According to Philippines News Agency, in the girls’ 11-14 class, Gabriela Regino and Chelsea Ogborne will try to stop Brittany Tamayo from securing a second straight title.

Manila: A day before millions of Filipinos are set to cast their votes, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has called upon the public to protect the democratic process and elect leaders with integrity. In a video message shared on his official social media account, Marcos highlighted the importance of voting as both a right and a civic duty. According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos addressed his fellow citizens, emphasizing the election as an opportunity for every voice to be heard and to express personal and national aspirations. He acknowledged the diversity of political views among Filipinos, noting that this diversity

Maguindanao del Sur: Two individuals, including a municipal council candidate, were killed, and eight others were disarmed and arrested during a police operation in Pandag, Maguindanao del Sur. According to Philippines News Agency, Lt. Col. Jopy Ventura, spokesperson for the Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, reported that the deceased included Emran Mamalinta, a 40-year-old candidate for a Sangguniang Bayan seat in Pandag. The individuals arrested were identified as Jhopit Sarabon Gampong, Mohamad Macapeges Andil, Samer Macapeges Andil, and Usop Gampong Mamidted, all members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team, as well as Keji Mamalinta Esmail, Embran Laguialam

Para±aque City: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents successfully seized 29 kilograms of suspected shabu, valued at PHP197.2 million, during a buy-bust operation in Para±aque City over the weekend. The operation led to the arrest of two individuals involved in the illegal drug trade. According to Philippines News Agency, the suspects, known by the aliases ‘Jalil,’ 44, and ‘Gracia,’ 36, are both residents of Cebu City. They were apprehended within an exclusive subdivision at around 5 p.m. on Saturday. The PDEA agents discovered 29 aluminum foil packs, each labeled ‘freeze-dried durian’ and bearing Chinese characters, containing a white crystalline substance