Author: Jericho Zafra

MANILA, Philippines — Approximately 694,000 Filipino voters have been removed from the official list of qualified voters for the next elections, the Commission on Elections said. The poll body data reported that a total of 693,558 registered voters have been removed from the list. Among them, 249,343 were removed due to death, as confirmed by the local civil registrars. Additionally, 220,644 voters were taken off the list after choosing to transfer to a different city or municipality. Comelec revealed that the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) detected 179,141 cases of double registration, resulting in the immediate erasure of those records.…

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila City government announced Monday that several roads in the city will be closed for the upcoming 2024 Bar Examinations. The Bar Examinations are scheduled on September 8, 11, and 15 according to the Supreme Court. In an advisory, the Manila City government said that the following roads and routes will be closed during the upcoming Bar Examinations. September 8 and 11 (Sunday and Wednesday) September 15 (Sunday) “The public is advised to take alternate routes during the Bar Examination,” the Manila City government said. The Court has so far received a total of 12,246 applications…

MANILA, Philippines — Malacanang has denied allegations that the actions taken to arrest televangelist Pastor Apollo Quiboloy were “politically motivated.” Over the weekend, around 2,000 police officers raided Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound in Buhangin District, Davao City, to serve an arrest warrant on Quiboloy. However, authorities failed to locate him again. “Alam mo, madaling sabihing politically motivated pero hindi naman totoo ‘yun,” Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said in an interview Monday. He said that it was important to apply the law against a fugitive. “The law must take its course,” he said. “Mayroon namang process diyan.” According to…

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is now questioning whether China is really committed to de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea after a series of maritime attacks in the disputed waters, the National Maritime Council said Monday. In a statement, NMC rebuked China’s “repeated aggressive, unprofessional, and illegal actions” in the West Philippine Sea over the past week, adding that in less than a week, two maritime incidents were recorded in the disputed maritime area. Chinese aircraft first carried out dangerous moves against Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) planes during routine patrols near Bajo de Masinloc…

MANILA, Philippines — PISTON National President Mody Floranda, along with Kamaday and national urban poor leader Mimi Doringo, announced their senatorial bid on Monday. In separate announcements, Floranda and Doringo filled the eighth and ninth spots in the Makabayan coalition’s senatorial lineup. According to Floranda, the “ongoing cycle of exploitation” shows the need for more inclusive representation in the Philippine government. “Tinatanggap ng mga tsuper ang hamon ng Makabayan. Kakatawanin natin ang sektor ng public transport sa loob ng Senado. Isusulong natin ang kapakanan ng ordinaryong tsuper, operator, at mamamayan,” Floranda said in his speech in Liwasang Bonifacio. Floranda began…

MANILA, Philippines — At least 402,000 liters of oil were collected from the sunken MTKR Terranova from August 19 to 25, the Philippine Coast Guard said Monday. In its situation report, the PCG said, citing the contracted salvor Harbor Star, that a total of 402,042 liters of industrial fuel oil are now siphoned off the sunken tanker. The MTKR Terranova was carrying 1.4 million liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank. The breakdown of siphoned-off oil is as follows: Harbor Star also reported that the rate of oily waste flow during the August 25, 2024 operation was 13,614 liters…

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos Jr. paid tribute to Filipino farmers, wage earners, teachers, health workers, and civil servants on Monday in time for National Heroes Day in between public outcry for competitive wages and measures protecting them. The statement came weeks after the increased 4.4 percent inflation rate and the economic bureau’s claim that Filipinos who spend P64 for meals a day are no longer considered food poor. The chief executive called these workers “unsung heroes,” saying their contributions are just as important in moving the nation forward. “[The] farmers who till our land, the wage earners who propel…

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Friday said that the Philippines needs climate-resilient infrastructure as the La Niña phenomenon looms, bringing more rains to the country. Weather state bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration’s model forecasts suggest an increasing probability of La Niña to develop in the June-July-August 2024 season. “Now that we are expecting La Niña, we need to expect that there will be more intense rains and where that compounds are disaster risks,” DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga said in an interview over Malacañang Insider. “It’s really where we…

MANILA, Philippines — All Filipino seafarers onboard the Greek-flagged oil tanker MT Sounion, which was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, are now safe, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). “Our crew members aboard the ship… the oil tanker called MT Sounion, are now safe as we all know. They arrived at a safe port as of midnight (Friday),” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in mixed English and Filipino in a news forum in Quezon City. Cacdac said they have already communicated with the families of the rescued seamen and assured them of government support.…

MANILA, Philippines — A South Korean national wanted in his country who was also issued a red notice by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) was arrested in Mactan, Cebu, the Bureau of Immigration said. In an incident report Sunday, the BI said that Kang Hyeunok, 32, was arrested in Mactan, Lapu-Lapu City, by members of the BI’s fugitive search unit (FSU) on August 14. The South Korean national is wanted in his country for his involvement in telecommunications fraud, according to BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco. He said Kang was arrested following a deportation warrant issued against the fugitive in…