General

Manila: The Regional Task Force Kanlaon has reiterated the ban on pilgrimage or trekking to Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Island and directed concerned local government units (LGUs) to place all responders on high alert during the observance of the Holy Week. ‘Prohibition on any form of pilgrimage or trekking, especially entry into the six-kilometer extended danger zone is hereby reiterated,’ Office of Civil Defense-Western Visayas Regional Director Raul Fernandez said in a statement. According to Philippine News Agency, Fernandez, who also chairs Task Force (TF) Kanlaon, ordered the strict monitoring and restriction of Holy Week activities at the volcano in

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed into law the bill extending the franchise of the Manila Electric Company (Meralco) for another 25 years, securing the continued operations of the country’s largest electricity distributor until 2053. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin confirmed to reporters that the measure was signed on April 11. According to Philippine News Agency, the official copy of the law is expected to be released by the Malaca±ang Records Office once it is assigned a Republic Act number. Meralco welcomed the development, calling it a recognition of its role in powering the country’s economic growth. The franchise

Manila: The Supreme Court (SC) and the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) are considering a potential collaboration to support the recently established Judiciary Marshals Office. This development follows a meeting between Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Bruce Miyake, the resident legal advisor of the US DOJ-OPDAT, held at the SC En Banc Conference Room. According to Philippine News Agency, the meeting included discussions on the progress of the Judiciary Marshals Office, which was praised by Miyake as a groundbreaking initiative in the region. The Judiciary Marshals Act, enacted in 2022 as

Manila: Operatives of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) arrested 136 persons for cybercrimes in March, a police official said Tuesday. In a statement, PNP-ACG Director Brig. Gen. Bernard Yang highlighted the unit’s intensified efforts in combating cybercrime, resulting in a 3.7 times increase in arrests in March 2025 compared to the same month last year, which saw 37 arrests. According to Philippine News Agency, the anti-cybercrime agents also rescued 19 victims in 122 operations conducted last month. The top five laws most commonly violated include Republic Act (RA) 11934 or SIM Registration Act, RA 12010 (Anti-Financial Account Scamming

Maguindanao del Sur: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday placed Buluan town in Maguindanao del Sur under its control amid an increase in election-related violence in the area. In Resolution No. 11131, the Comelec en banc designated Commissioner Aimee Ferolino as Commissioner-in-Charge in the town. According to Philippine News Agency, the decision to put Buluan under Comelec control was based on the recommendation of its Gun Ban and Security Concerns Committee. Buluan is the second area to be placed under Comelec control for the May 12 polls after Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao del Norte. Comelec Chairperson George