Brillantes: Local winners known in 12-36 hours

MANILA -- Winners in the city, municipal and provincial levels are expected to be known within the day on Monday or early Tuesday.

This was the projection of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) citing the continued transmission of election returns (ERs) by the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines upon the close of voting hours.

Comelec: Polls generally 'okay'

MANILA (Updated 4:32 p.m.) -- Glitches suffered by the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines did not deter the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from assessing the conduct of 2013 midterm polls on Monday as generally okay.

"Our report says there were some glitches but, generally, the elections appear to be okay. Our elections is running smoothly," Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said at the Comelec Command Center at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

19 hurt in Mother's Day shooting in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS -- Gunmen opened fire on a Mother's Day neighborhood parade in New Orleans, wounding at least 19, including two children, police said.

FBI spokeswoman Mary Beth Romig called it "street violence" and said federal investigators have no indication that the shooting was an act of terrorism.

6 armed men arrested in Tuburan

CEBU CITY – Police arrested Sunday six armed men suspected to be “hired goons” in a checkpoint in Tuburan, Cebu.

The six were identified as Hepty Salon, Michael Demonteverde, Edgar Arro, Roel Panes, Federico Mosqueda and Gilbert Defensor, all of Iloilo City.

Defective PCOS, vote-buying mar 2nd automated polls

CEBU CITY (Updated 1: 26 p.m.) -- Cases of defective Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines, lack of memory cards, and massive vote buying were among the problems noted during the second automated elections on Monday.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said voting in 96 clustered precincts went on as scheduled but still suffered problems such as lack of PCOS machines and compact flash cards that will store poll results.

Public urged not to turn schools into dumpsites on Election Day

MANILA -- Candidates have been asked by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to order their supporters not to leave trash in polling places, and remove campaign posters and banners after Monday’s midterm elections.

"It is about time we change the face of Philippine politics with clean elections defined not only by an intelligent electorate, but a trash-free one as well,” said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

96 clustered precincts lack PCOS machines, memory cards

MANILA (2nd Update, 12:05 p.m.) -- Voting in 96 clustered precincts went on as scheduled but still suffered problems such as the lack of precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and compact flash cards that will store poll results, an official of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Monday.

Teopisto Elnas Jr., Comelec acting deputy executive director for operations, said affected areas include Metro Manila and Zamboanga City.

Polling centers open to 52M voters

Comelec Commissioner Sixto Brillantes said polling started at 7 a.m. and goes until 7 p.m. with first results expected in 48 hours.

Messi re-injures right hamstring, needs tests

MADRID -- Barcelona Football Club said forward Lionel Messi has re-injured a right hamstring that has limited his playing time during the past six weeks.

Messi aggravated the hamstring he originally hurt on April 2 in Sunday's 2-1 win at Atletico Madrid.

2 bodies found after US standoff; suspect killed

TRENTON, New Jersey -- The bodies of a woman and her 13-year-old son were found after a dayslong standoff, while her boyfriend was killed as officers stormed a New Jersey home to rescue three other children he had been holding captive, authorities said Sunday.

Police officers initially went to the home Friday afternoon after a relative of 44-year-old Carmelita Stevens said she hadn't spoken to her in weeks and was worried, authorities said at a news conference Sunday.