Written testimonies for whistleblowers pushed

LETTING whistleblowers give their statements in writing instead of personally appearing in court could save their lives, a police official said Tuesday.

VFA review to focus on custody issue

THE review of the Palace on the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) will mostly focus on the custody over American soldiers who commit crimes in the Philippines.

Vice mayor refuses DNA test

THE vice mayor tagged in a rape incident involving a volunteer nurse in Maguindanao declined to give his DNA samples to prove his innocence in the crime.

Massive election delays slammed

MANILA -- President Benigno Aquino III was disappointed with the delays in the deliveries of election materials that caused the postponement of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in 1,732 villages around the country.

Village polls ‘generally peaceful’

MANILA (Updated) -- Police and military have assessed Monday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) election as “generally peaceful” despite isolated reports of violence and fraud.

The election was only held in 40,293 of the 42,025 barangays all over the country. Election was postponed in at least 1,732 mainly due to delayed deliveries of election materials.

Metro Manila elections went well

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the National Capital Region said it was able to conduct a successful Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls as it expects winning candidates to be proclaimed Tuesday.

Lawyer Michael Dioneda, Comelec-NCR regional director, told Sun.Star that all the 1,705 barangays in the metropolis have started counting the votes and others have advanced to the canvassing stage.

Peaceful but delayed polls irk Aquino

THOUGH the police and military assessed Monday's election as "generally peaceful", President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III expressed dissatisfaction on the preparation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

In an interview, Aquino said the delayed deliveries of poll materials frustrated him despite being informed of its possibilities three days before the electoral exercise.

Comelec resets polls in 1,732 villages

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) rescheduled the conduct of Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in 1,732 villages nationwide due to the delays in the deliveries of election materials and paraphernalia.

Arroyos push for Timbangan ng Bayan centers

SEEKING consumers' protection from devious businessmen, former President now Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and his lawmaker son has filed a measure for the establishment of Timbangan ng Bayan centers.

Violence marks Lanao Sur, Maguindanao polls

VOTING in some towns in Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur were marred by violence and terrorism although the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared a relative success of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

PPCRV to seek formal probe over delays

THE Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said it would be asking the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to conduct a formal investigation regarding the massive delays in Monday’s polls.

Court stops BSP from auctioning bank assets

THE Court of Appeals backed the validity of the Makati Regional Trial Court order stopping the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from auctioning the P10-billion consolidated assets of Banco Filipino Savings and Mortgage Bank.

Oil firms slash prices

THREE oil companies reduced their pump prices Monday to reflect the downward trend in the international market.

Voting stalled in 1,732 villages

MANILA (6th Update, 4:45 p.m.) -- The number of villages where voting was postponed Monday due to delayed arrival of election paraphernalia has risen to 1,732, said the poll body.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) official Teofisto Elnas said the figure represents only 4.12 percent of the total barangays that include typhoon-hit areas in Maconacon, Divilacan and Palanan in Isabela, and Barangays San Isidro and Salumaque in Paniqui, Tarlac.

Elections in over 1,500 villages suspended

MANILA (5th Update, 2:12 p.m.) -- About 1,599 villages across the country will hold the barangay and youth polls on Tuesday, October 26, after they failed to receive election materials on Monday.

The Philippine National Police said the postponement was considered as the ballot boxes and other election paraphernalia were not yet delivered to polling precincts in those areas as of this posting Monday.

Voting hours in delay-hit areas extended

MANILA (4th Update, 10:58 a.m.) -- The Commission on Elections (Comelec) extended until 5 p.m. Monday the voting in areas affected by delays in the delivery of election paraphernalia.

In a resolution issued by the Comelec Monday, voting in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections can continue until 5 p.m. if the official ballots and other election paraphernalia will arrive at their designated polling precincts before noon of the election day.

Aquino casts vote in Tarlac

MANILA (3rd Update, 10:12 a.m.) -- President Benigno Aquino III cast his vote in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in his hometown, Tarlac, at 10:10 a.m.

The President arrived at the Central Asucarera de Tarlac Elementary School minutes before 10 a.m.

Voting suspended in typhoon-hit areas

MANILA -- (Updated 8:03 a.m.) Polling precincts opened at 7 a.m. across the country to accept voters in the holding of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

But the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Monday suspended voting in 41 barangays after these areas bore the full brunt of Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) last week.

Voting starts in some N. Luzon areas

MANILA (Updated 6:12 a.m.) -- Polling precincts opened at 6 a.m. Monday in selected areas and began accepting voters in the holding of the country's barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections.

Elections in Kalinga, Apayao, Cagayan and the rest of Isabela began voting at 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., instead of the original 7 a.m. to 3 p.m due to the onslaught of Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi).

Comelec: Don’t proclaim 4th-term winners

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) ordered the suspension of the proclamations of winning bets that exceeded the three-term limits as enumerated in the Act Providing for the Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

The law states that “no barangay elective official shall serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same position”.

Red Cross ups alert against ‘Katring’

ALTHOUGH there is a slim chance that tropical depression “Katring” will make landfall, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) raised its preparations for any untoward incidents.

In a statement, PRC Chairman Richard Gordon said their staff members and volunteers will go on a 24-hour operation in selected areas in Northern and Central Luzon.

Santiago collapses in Turkey

SENATOR Miriam Defensor-Santiago fell down as she was about to deliver a paper Sunday at a parliamentarians' forum in Istanbul, Turkey.

Justice department junks localization of STL

THE Department of Justice scrapped the proposal of some local government units seeking to regulate or suspend the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s small town lotteries (STLs).

Aquino leaves for Vietnam Tuesday

PRESIDENT Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will leave for Vietnam on Tuesday while remaining steadfast of not appointing a caretaker in his second foreign trip.

Pag-Ibig sets funds for typhoon victims

VICE President Jejomar Binay directed the Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-Ibig Fund) to allot P200 million under its Calamity Loan Program for the members whose livelihood were affected by Typhoon Juan.

Recto: Cut buses, not cars, on Edsa

THE Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) will remain clogged unless the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reduces the number of buses, not cars, plying in Metropolis’ main highway, Senator Ralph Recto said Sunday.

Palace defends Cabinet execs on Peace bond issue

MALACANANG on Sunday defended its two Cabinet secretaries for their alleged involvement in an anomalous multi-billion poverty eradication and alleviation certificate (Peace) bonds.

Senator lauds Pagasa for typhoon forecasts

THE country's faith in the weather bureau may soon be restored following its accurate forecasts on Typhoon Juan (Megi) recently, Senator Edgardo Angara said Sunday.

RP tops social networking sites usage

DESPITE a low Internet penetration rate, the Philippines leads Asia Pacific nations in the use of social networking sites as Filipinos leap to mobile to increase reach.

‘Katring’ enters RP

MANILA -- Less than a week after Super Typhoon Juan (international codename: Megi) wrought havoc in Northern Luzon, another tropical depression entered the Philippine territory Saturday.

But forecast models so far showed the 11th storm to enter the country, locally called “Katring”, would not hit land, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).