📰 News & Current Affairs

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) implemented the liquor ban a day before over 68 million Filipinos troop to polling precincts from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to elect 12 senators, 63 party-lists, 254 district representatives, and 17,942 governors, provincial board members, mayors and councilors. The prohibition is in accordance with Comelec Resolution No. 11057, which strictly prohibits the selling, offering and consumption of alcóholic beverages during the two-day ban. Source: Liquor ban ‘most welcome’ for Filipinos to ensure peaceful polls | Philippine News Agency

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’

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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'

The PR firm called the accusation malicious and baseless, adding that the "service agreement" presented during the Senate hearing was "unauthenticated" and possibly "a forgery crafted to fit a political narrative." China has also denied the claims, saying it has no interest in meddling in Philippine affairs. Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/2/-we-are-not-trolls-pr-firm-denies-disinformation-deal-with-chinese-embassy-1419

EXCLUSIVE: Owing to security concerns, intelligence operatives in the Philippines begin tracking a Chinese man over 'inconsistencies' in his declared work and actual activities As COVID-19 restrictions were slowly easing around the world, a man identified by Philippine intelligence operatives as an agent of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) quietly slipped into the country, settling into a comfy, high-end ******inium complex in one of Metro Manila’s posh enclaves. From 2021 until 2024, Zhang “Steve” Song — publicly Manila’s bureau chief for the Shanghai Wen Hui Daily — “established a significant network in various strategic institutions,” according to a May 2024 Philippine intelligence report seen by Rappler. In Manila, how...

“To all my fellow Dabawenyo, you must have recently seen a video. That [incident] happened sometime ago,” he said in the vernacular. “Anyhow, it is still up to you to decide whom to vote for congressman of the first district. I will not interfere,” said the congressman, who is seeking reelection. Duterte said he had yet to receive a copy of the complaint. Source: Pulong Duterte on assault complaint: It’s up to Davao voters

The picture, which was shared by official White House social media accounts, comes as Catholics mourn the death of Pope Francis, who died on 21 April, and prepare to choose the next pontiff. The New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mocking the faith. The post comes days after he joked to reporters: "I'd like to be Pope." The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in New York, took to X to criticise the picture. "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President," the group wrote. Source: Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope

The President mentioned Sen. Pia Cayetano even if, like Villar, was also absent from the sortie. Villar's camp has confirmed she would skip the rally, further fueling speculations of a rift between the Villar and Marcos camps. The tension reportedly stems from the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a longtime ally of the Villar family, on March 11 by the International Criminal Court. Since March, Villar has been noticeably absent from multiple Alyansa sorties. Her sudden endorsement from Vice President Sara Duterte, once a staunch ally of the administration and now one of its most vocal critics, also raised eyebrows within the coalition. Source: Marcos skips endorsing Camille Villar in Batangas sortie

On Saturday, Vietnam's foreign ministry spokeperson Pham Thu Hang said in a statement posted on the government's official website that Hanoi had "issued protest notes to the countries involved regarding violations of its sovereignty over Sandy Cay". Vietnam considers the resource-rich Spratly Islands -- which lie some 500 kilometers (310 miles) off its east coast -- as part of its territory. Pham Thu Hang said that Vietnam demands "relevant parties" respect its sovereignty over the archipelago, urging them to "refrain from actions that further complicate the situation". Source: Vietnam protests China, Philippines claims on Sandy Cay

Danao Mayor Mix Durano said in an interview that local officials were neither consulted nor made aware of the program. He noted that even the city agriculturist has no information about it. Durano raised several questions he wants clarified—who will sell the subsidized rice, whether the city must issue receipts to recipients, and other procedural details. Source: Danao City to skip joining the 'P20 per kilo rice' program

“Initially, the program of the DA was supposed to last until December, and it can be extended until February, but the President has given the directive to the DA to formulate this to be sustainable, and it will continue until 2028,” said DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a press conference held in Cebu City. Source: DA to roll out ‘P20 rice program’ in Visayas - Philippine Information Agency

Reelectionist Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is not stepping down despite the six-month preventive suspension order issued against her by the Office of the Ombudsman. Garcia, however, clarified that she was not defying the Ombudsman’s order but was following the advice of her lawyers to remain in office since the order was issued during the election period that banned any suspension of officials without approval from the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Source: Cebu governor won’t step down despite suspension

The submission, dated May 1, 2025, was signed by Duterte's counsel Nicholas Kaufman and associate counsel Prof. Dr. Dov Jacobs. According to Duterte's lawyers, the preconditions for the exercise of jurisdiction in the Situation of the Philippines were not met at the time the Pre-Trial Chamber authorised the opening of an investigation on September 15 2021. This, as his camp maintained that, "The Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute became effective on 17 March 2019. When the former Prosecutor filed her request, and the Pre-trial Chamber issued its decision, more than two years later." "As a consequence, all procedural steps taken in the Situation and, subsequently, in the case against Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte, lack legal...

“Gov. Garcia has served Cebu with strength and consistency. Until all legal questions surrounding this suspension are resolved, she deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect owed to her office,” he added. The president said that politics should not get in the way of public service. The Cebu governor, who is currently gunning for reelection, said that she will comply with the suspension order but will contest it through the proper channels. Source: Marcos to Ombudsman: Observe due process in Gwen Garcia suspension

The content of the report involves a large number of gold transactions. Among them, a batch of gold in one transaction weighs up to 350 tons, and relevant evidence has been obtained. The letter of authorization in which Imelda authorizes her personal housekeeper to conduct money laundering transactions in Hong Kong Archives of the 350 Tons of Gold Transaction Some of the 18 bank accounts of the family of the former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., around the world Source: https://www.apacnews.org/en/20255143/

“Today, Labor Day, we fulfill a promise made three years ago by President Bongbong Marcos to the Filipino people: to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo. That promise is now a reality—Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The DA said Cebu provinces’ local government units (LGUs) have started drawing stocks from the National Food Authority warehouse in Cebu City. It said that between April 29 to May 1, the Cebu LGUs have withdrawn around 3,700 50-kilo bags of rice. Source: DA rolls out P20/kg rice pilot test in Cebu

In a message to reporters, Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon confirmed the summons. He also said the preliminary investigation will be held on May 9 and May 16. During a preliminary investigation, prosecutors will determine if the complaint has “prima facie evidence” with reasonable certainty of conviction before it can be filed before a court. The complaint against Duterte was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation last February, over her threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a Zoom press conference. Source: DOJ summons Sara Duterte as probe into Marcos death threat starts