📰 News & Current Affairs

Former Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) minister Lowell Menorca II criticized the religious group's practice of bloc voting in a teaser for his interview with Henry Omaga-Diaz, released on Sunday, May 11. "Because of the bloc voting of the Church, it opened the door for unscrupulous people to exploit the unity of the unsuspecting Church members," Menorca said, accusing political figures and INC leaders of engaging in quid pro quo arrangements. "It is no longer about God. It is now about vested interests, political influence and greed and power and money." Menorca claimed that more INC members are beginning to question the direction of the Church and its entanglement with political power. He also alleged that some politicians are "fed up" with...

Garcia pointed out that vote buying is still mostly done the traditional way, where money actually changes hands. “So far, you haven’t heard of those buying votes using GCash, PayMaya and other digital money platforms because they won’t be able to do that,” he said, noting how the poll body has partnered with GCash and PayMaya to combat vote-buying. Garcia also warned the public against engaging in vote selling activities. “On Monday, it is possible that several voters will be offered free rides, free coffee and food. That is vote buying and vote selling. The police might flag the vehicle and will see you holding sample ballots and envelopes. The erring voter will be filed a criminal case that is punishable by six years imprisonment,”...

Two people died while 14 others were injured in a stampede that occurred during the orientation and distribution of food and transportation allowance of poll watchers in this city on Friday night. The local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered the city police to investigate the incident that left Adelardo Solamillo, 65, and Norma Anuddin, 80, dead. Source: 2 die in poll watchers’ orientation stampede

In a sample ballot obtained by The STAR, the eight were: Bam Aquino Bong Revilla Pia Cayetano Ronald dela Rosa Bong Go Rodante Marcoleta Imee Marcos Camille Villar Source: INC sample ballot lists 8 Senate bets

Donald Trump on Sunday announced on his Truth Social platform a 100% tariff on all movies “produced in Foreign Lands”, saying the US film industry was dying a “very fast death” due to the incentives that other countries were offering to draw American film-makers. “This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat,” Trump said in the Truth Social post. “It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!” “WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!” Trump added. Source: Trump announces 100% tariffs on movies ‘produced in foreign lands’

Teachers, poll workers to get P2,000 pay hike for 2025 elections Kristine Daguno-Bersamina - Philstar.com May 10, 2025 | 12:51pm MANILA, Philippines — Teachers and other poll workers serving in the May 12 national and local elections will receive a P2,000 across-the-board pay increase, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval of the compensation adjustment. With the increase, honoraria rates will now be P12,000 for the chairperson of the electoral board (from P10,000), P11,000 for the poll clerk and third member (from P9,000) and P8,000 for support staff (from P6,000). Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has finalized the necessary funding adjustments to implement the...

Netflix ₱615? PC Game Pass ₱196? Adobe Creative Cloud ₱3,267?! Tapos ang sweldo walang increase?! LOKLOK AND CHILL NA LANG LET'S GO! 🫠 Starting June 1, 2025, your favorite apps like Netflix, Spotify, Crunchyroll, YouTube Premium, and even GAMES might cost you more — all thanks to the new 12% VAT on digital services in the Philippines! 💸 👉 If you see some familiar icons na ginagamit at binabayaran niyo jan sa baba then you're most probably going to be affected as well. 🥲 👀 Read the official Republic Act here: https://web.senate.gov.ph/republic_acts/ra%2012023.pdf 🟠Disclaimer: Info is based on current sources, but things may still change. Always check official BIR updates! - EJ Sinsuat

The case, filed by businessman Kristone John Patria, stemmed from an incident at a bar in Davao City in the early hours of Feb. 23, 2025. The Philippine National Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) has compiled substantial evidence, including CCTV footage from the bar, sworn affidavits from the complainant and investigators, chain of custody records, and photographic documentation of the incident. A USB flash drive containing digital evidence has also been submitted for review. Source: Duterte's son and congressman faces charges of physical assault, grave threats

Source: Bitcoin tops $100,000 for first time since February

On the Duterte Youth’s Facebook page on Thursday, former Duterte Youth party-list Rep.Marie Cardema and ex-National Youth Commission chairperson Ronald Cardema were shown to be each holding a copy of the front page of a “verified impeachment complaint” against Marcos. The complaint of the Cardemas was supposed to be 24 pages long, as indicated on its front page. However, it is unclear if the complaint has reached the office of House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, as the session is currently adjourned. Congress is on a break because of the mid-term polls and is due to return on June 2. Source: Duterte allies to file impeachment complaint vs Marcos

https://library.uc.edu.kh/userfiles/pdf/5.Philippine politics and society in the twentieth century.pdf

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday branded as an act of cruelty the reported plan of the United States to deport Asian immigrants, including Filipinos, to war-torn Libya. “Filipinos are not camels to be dumped on some Libyan desert. They are human beings who deserve to be accorded all the rights by a state who claim to cherish and uphold them,” Escudero said in a statement on Thursday. According to reports, the Trump administration was planning to deport a group of migrants to Libya on a US military plane. Source: Escudero hits ‘cruel’ Trump plan to deport Filipinos to Libya

HABEMUS PAPAM! Si Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost mula USA ang bagong-halal na Santo Papa matapos ang dalawang araw na Conclave. Pinili niya ang pangalan na Leo XIV. Any thoughts regarding our new Santo Papa?

In a park on a hill overlooking the dome of St Peter's and the church's Vatican headquarters, campaigners released pink smoke from flares, and demanded that women be allowed to seek ordination. "Whoever they elect needs to be brave enough to properly tackle the question of women's inclusion, because so far it has not been, even by Pope Francis," said Duignan, of the Wijngaards Institute in Cambridge.bDuignan was briefly detained in 2011 after she attempted to enter the Vatican to deliver a petition in support of a priest backing the activists' cause. Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/5/7/pink-smoke-signals-in-rome-call-for-women-priests-0058

Source: Quezon City vendor’s son is PMA class valedictorian

Source: AFP mulls strategic defense unit

Source: BINI Gwen, Jhoanna graduate from senior high

Albuera mayoral candidate Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa is facing a disqualification case for allegedly challenging Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez to a gunfight, an act deemed as a threat and form of intimidation. Gomez’s wife and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez filed an 11-page petition for disqualification against Espinosa before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday, May 6. She argued that the incident constitutes a violation of section 68 (e) in relation to section 261 (e) of the Omnibus Election Code which prohibits acts of violence or threats against opponents during the election period. Espinosa has yet to respond to requests for comment. Source: Kerwin Espinosa faces DQ case for challenging Gomez to a gunfight

Source: Marcos Jr. orders probe into China dredging, reclamation projects

Source: AFP probing Paolo Duterte’s security detail

The head of the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and nine CIDG officers are facing criminal charges for allegedly detaining a businesswoman for six days based on a “photocopied” red notice from the International Police Organization (Interpol). CIDG director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III and his subordinates failed to attend the preliminary investigation set by the Makati prosecutor’s office on April 21 and 28. Rotchelle Calle said the CIDG personnel told her that she would not be taken to the Bureau of Immigration if she would give them a “Christmas gift.” She refused. After two days, seven CIDG officers arrested Calle at the Makati city hall. Source: CIDG chief Torre faces îllégâl detention case

This was made clear in a four-page decision dated May 6 and signed by Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc. “A judge’s excusal from the exercise of a function may only be sought by the concerned judge directly before the Presidency, as opposed to disqualification for which the person being prosecuted may submit a request before the Presidency. The possibility for that person to invite or request judges to seek excusal before the Presidency is thus not contemplated in the statutory texts,” the decision reads. Earlier, Duterte’s counsel filed the “Invitation to petition the Presidency for a partial Excusal” of Judge Reine Adélaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Judge María del Socorro Flores Liera from exercising their functions in Pre-Trial...

The Office of the Ombudsman has directed government officials to answer the complaint filed against them by the Senate committee on foreign relations headed by Sen. Imee Marcos over the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte and his turnover to the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. According to two separate orders issued by the Ombudsman on Tuesday, Remulla and his brother Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, along with Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Nicolas Torre III, and Special Envoy for Transnational Crimes Markus Lacanilao, were directed to submit their counteraffidavits within 10 days, along with their witnesses’ affidavits...

Source: PH eyes deeper military ties with Taiwan

The PNP said that neither the video nor the complainant’s affidavit originated from any police unit or personnel. “The videos circulating online are not from the PNP, and no PNP unit or personnel released such,” the PNP said in Filipino. "Similarly, the PNP denied any involvement in the spread of the complainant's affidavit, which has also circulated on social media and other platforms. This did not come from the PNP, and we have no official role in disseminating the said document," it added. Source: PNP disowns viral alleged 'Paolo Duterte' bar incident video

Here's the Gyst: Finance Secretary Ralph G. Recto lauds the enactment of a new law that will ensure equitable tax treatment on all digital businesses providing services in the Philippines and boost much-needed revenue collections to aid national development. Republic Act (RA) No. 12023 or the Value-Added Tax on Digital Services was signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on October 2, 2024. It levels the playing field between local and foreign digital service providers (DSPs) by mandating a 12% value-added tax on all digital services consumed in the Philippines. At present, only local DSPs are subject to paying the 12% value-added tax. . . TS NOTES: Ngiting tagumpay ang natamasa ng tropa ni Junior dahil sa pag pasa ng...

Fontillas filed an irrevocable resignation, which was approved by National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Anthony Aberin. The QCPD issued the statement after it received concerns from the public about Fontillas’ continuous attacks on the PNP. His latest post involves a shared video about a supposed scuffle between anti-riot police officers and activists on Labor Day last Thursday. “He no longer holds any position or affiliation with the PNP. Whatever views or opinions he now E×ρréššes as a private citizen do not, in any way, represent or affect the policies, positions or operations of the PNP,” the statement read. Source: Quezon City vlogger cop Fontillas resigns

Li said the check was for the Awards for Promoting Philippines-China Understanding (APPCU) on June 8, 2023. “This check actually is for a balance for the event of June 8, 2023. We held the event in Manila Hotel for the APPCU event. Actually, President Marcos and some other companies joined this event,” Li said. Source: InfinitUs: P930K check from Chinese Embassy was for an event

In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Mr Trump said America had been "plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat criminal offenders". He added that when the United States was "a more serious nation" it "did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals". "That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt Alcatraz, to house America's most ruthless and violent offenders," he wrote. Mr Trump said the reopening of the San Francisco prison would "serve as a symbol of law, order, and justice". Source: Trump calls for reopening of Alcatraz to house 'most ruthless and violent offenders'

Source: Chinese Embassy tapped Makati PR firm to push pro-Beijing narratives in PH — Tolentino

Source: https://www.yȍȕtȕbe.com/watch?v=Y8yrnQUqQpg

The vehicle and equipment used by the arrested alleged Chinese spies to scan the topography, pictures and 3D models of EDCA sites and military camps. According to the NBI, the vehicle was discovered through "intelligence sources."