Saturday, July 18, 2026


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Laguna Comelec sumugod sa compound ni Mayor Mercado

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SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna. Dala ng mga ulat ng vote buying, masusing sinuyod ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Laguna ang compound ni Mayor Art Mercado sa Silver Star Bus terminal, Brgy. San Antonio, San Pedro kahapon, bisperas ng araw ng Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) 2023.

Ayon kay Laguna Comelec Atty. Patrick Enaje, galing sa mga mamamayan ng nabanggit na lungsod ang mga sumbong at impormasyon na may mga isinasagawang vote buying sa nasabing compound, kaya’t agad nilang pinuntahan ito upang imbestigahan.

“What we did ay pina-verify namin sa mga pulis at pina-surveillance, at upon checking ay meron nga daw mga pila, kaya lang hindi namin ma-determine kung nandoon sa loob ng compound dahil medyo malaki ito dahil isa itong terminal,” ayon sa pahayag ni Atty. Enaje.

Sa kabila ng limitasyon ng kanilang imbestigasyon, aniya ay hindi pinapabayaan ng Laguna Comelec ang mga posibleng paglabag sa election laws. “Di naman namin pwedeng pasukin isa isa pero may mga nakita kaming tao pero wala kaming nakitang nag abutan ng pera kung kaya hiningian na lang namin ng impormasyon ang tao na nandoon,” dagdag pa ni Atty. Enaje,

Binigyang diin din niya na ang mga taong mapapatunayang sangkot sa massive vote buying ay maaaring sampahan ng mga kasong may kaugnayan sa electoral fraud, at sakaling manalo ang mga kandidatong ganito ay hindi nila ito papanumpaing opisyal.

Habang nagpapatuloy ang pagsusuri ng Laguna Comelec, patuloy din ang kanilang pangako na itaguyod ang integridad at katarungan sa eleksyon. Hinihikayat din ang mga mamamayan na mag-ulat ng anumang uri ng irregularidad sa halalan upang masiguro ang malinis at makatarungan na eleksyon para sa lahat.

Sa ngayon, nananatiling bukas ang pagsusuri ukol sa ulat ng vote buying sa compound ni Mayor Mercado, at inaasahan ang masusing pag-aaral ng mga ebidensya upang mapanagot ang mga taong may kinalaman dito.

PCG sumaklolo sa nabahurang barko sa Romblon

SAN JOSE, Romblon. Sumugod ang Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) sa isang insidente sa karagatan kaugnay ng LCT Ellis Mari IV na nabahura humigit kumulang na 500 metro mula sa pampang ng Barangay Busay, San Jose, Romblon, kahapon.

Ang landing craft tank ay mayroong 19 na tripulante sa loob, kasama na ang kapitan. Silang lahat ay nasa maayos na kalagayan.

Ang LCT ELLIS MARI IV ay may kargang 40 supot ng tanner cement, 120 kubikong metro ng buhangin, 120 kubikong metro ng graba, at limang drum ng diesel.

Ayon sa unang imbestigasyon, ang LCT ay naglayag mula sa Odiongan Port, Romblon, bandang 8:00 ng umaga. Ito ay nagsasagawa na sana ng engine docking maneuver sa Barangay Busay ng mga bandang 3:00 ng hapon nang matuklasan na nabahura na dahil sa malalakas na hangin at agos ng tubig.

Sinuri ng mga local divers ang pinsala ng barko at nakitang may maliliit na gasgas lamang ito sa kanang bahagi malapit sa likuran.

Inirerekomenda ng PCG na maghain ng marine protest ang kapitan upang mai-rekord ang insidente at maisumite sa PCG at MARINA.

Nagpadala na rin ang PCG ng mga tauhan upang magbantay sa barko habang isinasagawa ang mga kinakailangang hakbang upang malunasan ang sitwasyon at mapanatili ang kaligtasan ng tripulasyon nito.

Sa kasalukuyan, pinaghahandaan na ang mga kinakailangang hakbang upang hilahin ang LCT Ellis Mari mula sa pagkakabahura nito at inaasahan na muling makakabyahe ito nang ligtas.

Marcos enacts legislation to categorize LGUs by income for financial aid allocation

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed a new law that introduces an income-based classification system for local government units (LGUs) to serve as a foundation for financial grants and various forms of assistance.

Republic Act (RA) No. 11964 is designed to formalize the automatic categorization of LGUs according to their income, adopting a “more adaptive approach” to boost local economies and empower LGUs to harness their complete economic potential.

“In accordance with this, the State acknowledges the necessity of assessing the financial capacity and fiscal standing of local government units,” as stated in the newly enacted law.

Under this legislation, municipalities will be organized into five distinct classes based on their income brackets and the average annual regular income over three fiscal years before the reclassification of the LGU’s general income. The five categories and their corresponding annual average incomes are as follows:

  • First Class – ₱200 million
  • Second Class – ₱160 million or more but less than ₱200 million
  • Third Class – ₱130 million or more but less than ₱160 million
  • Fourth Class – ₱90 million or more but less than ₱130 million
  • Fifth Class – less than ₱90 million

This classification will function as the basis for identifying administrative and statutory assistance, financial grants, and other forms of support for LGUs. It will also determine the LGU’s capability to execute development programs and projects and the total annual supplemental appropriation for personal services.

Additionally, compensation adjustments for LGU personnel in accordance with the “Salary Standardization Law of 2019” will be contingent on this classification.

The classification will also have far-reaching implications, such as determining the grounds for establishing a new LGU, defining the number of elective members in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the Sangguniang Bayan, issuing free patent titles for residential lands, setting the minimum wage for domestic workers, insuring LGU properties through the Government Service Insurance System, and establishing the limit on the percentage of agricultural land area that can be reclassified and its utilization.

The initial general income reclassification will be completed within six months of the law’s enactment and repeated every three years thereafter.

The first income reclassification of provinces, cities, and municipalities will become effective on January 1 of the immediate year following the release of the income classification table by the Finance Secretary.

The Department of Finance, in collaboration with the Department of Budget and Management and with input from LGU Leagues, will craft the implementing rules and regulations of the law within three months of its enactment.

10-wheeler truck, nahulog sa bangin sa Quezon

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ATIMONAN, Quezon. Kasalukuyang ginagamot sa ospital ang driver at dalawang pahinante ng isang 10-wheel truck matapos mahulog sa isang bangin sa bayang ito sa lalawigan ng Quezon.

Ayon sa ulat mula sa Atimonan Municipal Police Station, naganap ang insidente mga bandang 6:00 ng umaga sa New Diversion Road, Malinao Ilaya, sa nasabing bayan.

Ayon sa imbestigasyon ng pulisya, may kargang mga grocery ang nasabing trak patungo sa Bicol nang biglang mawala ang preno na naging sanhi ng pagkanahulog nito sa bangin.

Nagtulong ang mga awtoridad at lang okal na pamahalaan ng Atimonan upang iligtas ang tatlong biktimang sakay ng trak na nagtamo ng matinding pinsala. Kasalukuyan silang nilalapatan ng lunas at nasa estable ng kalagayan, ayon sa ulat.

Nagpa alala ang mga otoridad na itinuturing na accident-prone area ang nasabing lugar kung saan naganap ang aksidente.

Emmy-nominated ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry passes away at 54

LOS ANGELES. Matthew Perry, the Emmy-nominated actor renowned for his iconic role as Chandler Bing in “Friends,” has died at the age of 54. Perry was found dead at his Los Angeles residence on Saturday, with reports suggesting an apparent drowning, according to the Los Angeles Times and TMZ, which first broke the news, citing unnamed sources.

Warner Bros. Television Group expressed their condolences, acknowledging Perry’s immense talent and the global impact of his comedic genius, which continues to be cherished by fans worldwide. Perry’s representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.

Matthew Perry’s ten-season run on “Friends” solidified his status as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable actors, alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer. As Chandler, he delivered memorable one-liners and became an enduring and beloved character.

Perry was candid about his public struggle with addiction, as he revealed in his memoir, which was a bestseller in 2022. His deep commitment to entertaining audiences was evident throughout his career, despite the personal challenges he faced.

“Friends” achieved immense popularity during its original run from 1994 to 2004, with the cast securing a landmark salary of $1 million per episode for the later seasons. The show has found a new generation of fans through streaming services.

In his memoir, Perry reflected on his connection to the character Chandler: “It wasn’t that I thought I could ‘play’ Chandler. I ‘was’ Chandler.” He also shared his internal pressure to make the live audience laugh and his struggles with addiction during the show’s production.

Perry’s contributions to television extended beyond “Friends,” as he received an Emmy nomination for his role in the series and two additional nominations for his appearances in “The West Wing.” He also had notable film roles, including “Fools Rush In” with Salma Hayek and “The Whole Nine Yards” with Bruce Willis.

After “Friends,” Perry continued working in the entertainment industry, including a role in the CBS reboot of “The Odd Couple” in 2015. He found joy in performing in front of a live audience once again, relishing the experience and connecting with viewers.

Matthew Perry, born on August 19, 1969, leaves behind a lasting legacy as a talented actor and beloved personality in the entertainment world.

BSKE 2023 lalarga na ngayong araw

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Sa araw na ito, nag-uumpisa na ang inaasahang masalimuot at makabuluhang 2023 Barangay at Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) sa buong bansa.

Sa mga paaralan at mga malls, inaasahan ang matinding dami ng mga botante na dadagsa upang pumili ng kanilang napupusuan na mga lider sa barangay at kabataan.

Ang proseso ng botohan ay magbubukas ng 7:00 ng umaga at magtatapos ng 3:00 ng hapon, na naglalayong magbigay-daan sa lahat na magpahayag ng kanilang saloobin.

Bilang paalala mula sa Commission on Elections (Comelec), mahigpit na pinanawagan na sumunod sa mga patakaran at regulasyon ng poll body para sa maayos at malinis na eleksyon.

Kasabay nito, simula nitong Linggo, naging epektibo na ang nationwide liquor ban sa buong bansa, bilang bahagi ng mga hakbang para sa mapayapang BSKE. Ito ay mananatili ang bisa hanggang sa araw ng eleksiyon ngayong Lunes.

Dagdag pa dito, binalaan ng Comelec ang lahat ng mga kandidato at kanilang mga tagasuporta na mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang anumang uri ng pangangampanya simula kahapon. Ang sinumang lalabag sa patakaran na ito ay maaring humarap sa diskuwalipikasyon at posibleng pagkakakulong.

Sa buong bansa, mayroong 42,001 punong barangay at SK chairpersons na makakamtan ang mga boto ng kanilang mga botante. Bukod dito, mayroong 294,007 na puwestong nakalaan para sa barangay kagawad at 295,007 para sa SK kagawad, na naging sentro ng mahigpit na kompetisyon at pagtutunggalian ng mga kandidato sa local level.

Sa pagbubukas ng BSKE, inaasahang maging malaya at maluwalhati ang pagpapalitan ng kapangyarihan at paglilingkod sa mga barangay at kabataan.

Posibleng i-ban ang TikTok sa Pilipinas matapos ang pag-aalala sa seguridad

May malalakas na banta ng pagsuspinde ng operasyon sa sikat na video-sharing platform na TikTok sa Pilipinas sa gitna ng mga alingawngaw ng pang-eespiya at mga cyber attack mula sa China.

Sa pahayag ni National Security Adviser (NSA) Secretary Eduardo Año, hindi niya tiniyak na magdadalawang-isip na irekomenda ang ganap na pagbabawal ng TikTok kung mayroong sapat na ebidensya na ito ay ginagamit ng China para sa mga cyber attack laban sa Pilipinas. Sa kanyang pahayag, sinabi ni Año, “Galing kasi sa China ‘yang mga apps na ‘yan, malaki ang posibilidad na nakukuha nila ‘yung mga data pati mga private details ng mga nagsu-subscribe dyan.”

Inatasan na rin ni Año ang isang task force, na pinamumunuan ni Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya, na mapabilis ang imbestigasyon hinggil sa TikTok at ang pangangalap ng mga datos sa posibleng paglabag sa seguridad.

Inihayag din ni Año na patuloy na sinusuri ng National Security Council ang app na ito upang siguruhing protektado ang mga Pilipinong gumagamit nito pati na rin ang mga government system.

Hindi pa tiyak kung itutuloy ang hakbang na pagbabawal sa TikTok sa Pilipinas. Ayon kay Año, “Hindi pa naman natin ‘yan sinasabi [na iba-ban ang TikTok sa Pilipinas]. Doon na lang muna tayo sa mga pamahalaan, opisina na involved sa security matters. At kung mayroon tayong makitang ibang development saka tayo magsasagawa ng adjustment.”

Marami nang iba’t-ibang bansa ang nauna na sa pagbabawal sa paggamit ng TikTok na pag-aari ng mga kumpanyang galing sa China dahil sa mga alalahanin sa seguridad.

Thousands looted aid warehouses in Gaza as death toll surpasses 8,000, Israel expands ground offensive

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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip. Thousands of individuals forcefully entered aid warehouses in Gaza to access essential supplies, according to a statement from a U.N. agency released on Sunday. This act reflects the growing desperation and the deterioration of public order in the region, occurring three weeks into the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas leadership.

Over the weekend, Israeli tanks and infantry units launched a ground offensive into Gaza as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the commencement of a “second stage” in the conflict, marking a significant escalation three weeks after Hamas initiated hostilities by breaching Israel’s borders. This ground offensive coincided with ongoing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza from air, land, and sea.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the Palestinian death toll has now surpassed 8,000, with a majority of the casualties being women and minors. This staggering death toll, unprecedented in decades of Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, is expected to rise further as Israel intensifies its ground operation.

The bombardment over the weekend, described by Gaza residents as the most intense phase of the conflict, disrupted communications across the territory, temporarily isolating its 2.3 million residents from the outside world. Communication services have been partially restored as of early Sunday.

The Israeli military has claimed to have targeted more than 450 militant facilities in the past 24 hours, including Hamas command centers, observation posts, and anti-tank missile launch sites. Additional ground forces were deployed into Gaza overnight.

Thomas White, a representative from the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), expressed concern over the warehouse break-ins, stating that it reflects the breakdown of civil order after three weeks of conflict and the tight blockade on Gaza. UNRWA provides vital services to a large population in Gaza, with its schools now serving as overcrowded shelters for Palestinians displaced by the ongoing violence.

Juliette Touma, a spokesperson for UNRWA, confirmed that crowds broke into four facilities on Saturday but clarified that these warehouses did not contain fuel, which has been in critically short supply since the start of the war. Meanwhile, residents living near Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility, reported Israeli airstrikes near the complex and disruptions to the roads leading to it.

Israel has alleged that Hamas has established a secret command post beneath Shifa Hospital, although these claims lack substantial evidence and have not been independently verified. Hamas has denied the allegations.

The Palestinian Red Crescent rescue service reported that another Gaza City hospital received evacuation orders from Israeli authorities on Sunday, with airstrikes hitting dangerously close to the Al-Quds Hospital, which is currently sheltering 12,000 people.

Israel has faced growing domestic pressure to secure the release of approximately 230 hostages taken during Hamas’ incursion into Israeli territory on October 7. Desperate family members met with Prime Minister Netanyahu on Saturday, expressing support for a prisoner exchange to secure their release.

Hamas’ top leader in Gaza, Yehia Sinwar, offered to release all hostages immediately if Israel releases all the thousands of Palestinians held in its prisons. However, Israeli military spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari dismissed this offer as “psychological terror.” Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to recovering the hostages through the expanding ground operation.

Netanyahu also acknowledged the need for a thorough investigation into the events of October 7, in which over 1,400 people were killed, including civilians and soldiers. He emphasized that all parties involved, including himself, would have to answer questions regarding these events.

The Israeli military is gradually expanding its ground operations within Gaza, although it has not classified it as a full-scale invasion. Casualties on both sides are expected to rise as Israeli forces engage with Palestinian militants in densely populated residential areas.

Despite the Israeli offensive, Palestinian militants continue to launch rocket attacks into Israel, leading to the sounding of sirens in southern Israel as a reminder of the ongoing threat.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported a death toll of just over 8,000 Palestinians since the war’s onset, including numerous women and children. An estimated 1,700 individuals remain trapped beneath rubble in Gaza, with hospitals struggling to operate critical equipment amid power shortages. Gaza’s sole power plant remains non-operational due to the lack of fuel, and essential services are being maintained with difficulty by the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

K-pop star Mark Tuan connects with fans through AI avatar “Digital Mark”

LOS ANGELES. Mark Tuan, the K-pop artist known for his new EP “Fallin’,” has taken a groundbreaking step to get closer to his fans. He’s partnered with Soul Machines to create an AI-powered digital avatar named “Digital Mark,” making him the first celebrity to link their image to OpenAI’s GPT-powered AI technology. Fans can now engage in one-on-one conversations with this digital twin.

In the world of music, accessibility and intimacy with artists are highly prized by fans. They want to feel a personal connection with the musicians they admire, but the busy schedules of celebrities often make this kind of connection challenging. So, what’s the solution? For Mark Tuan, who recently released his EP “Fallin’,” the answer lies in the creation of a digital avatar.

Mark Tuan, a rapper, singer, model, and former member of the K-pop sensation Got7, collaborated with Soul Machines to bring to life “Digital Mark,” an autonomously automated digital twin. This marks a significant milestone as he is the first celebrity to integrate his likeness with OpenAI’s GPT-powered AI technology, enabling fans to interact with Digital Mark.

Mark Tuan expressed his thoughts on this innovative development, saying, “It’s very different. It’s not really me, but it is me. It’s a cool thing that fans get to interact with him, too.”

Greg Cross, the CEO of Soul Machines, sees Digital Mark as a trailblazing step in fan engagement, stating, “While Digital Mark is the first Digital Celebrity Twin of its kind, we’re only at the beginning of how autonomous animation will reshape how individuals across the globe interact with celebrities and brands.”

Mark Tuan envisions that as this technology advances, fans will have even more meaningful interactions with his AI character, and they’ll be able to communicate with him in various languages beyond English.

Creating Digital Mark to authentically mirror Mark Tuan involved a comprehensive process. It included several days of motion capture sessions where Tuan wore a bodysuit to record his movements. He also dedicated a day to showcasing emotive facial expressions for Digital Mark to learn from and spent a significant amount of time in his studio to ensure that the AI could recognize his voice.

Currently, Digital Mark is stationary, but Mark Tuan anticipates future developments where Digital Mark might be able to move around. The technology is still in its early stages, and there have been instances of Digital Mark spreading “false rumors” about a non-existent tour. Nevertheless, fans are already using Digital Mark to playfully tease Mark Tuan, asking about tour dates and new music.

As for concerns about the potential future uses of this technology, Mark Tuan remains cautiously optimistic, saying, “You never really know what’s going to happen, but I think it is really cool.”

Mark Tuan’s willingness to embrace technological advancement mirrors his experimental spirit as a musician. His latest EP, “Fallin’,” is a departure from his R&B and hip-hop roots, focusing on sunny pop-punk. Songs like “Your World” and “Everyone Else Fades” showcase a shift towards cheery retro-pop and anthemic rock drums. He aims to create music that his fans can enjoy daily, a soundtrack to uplift their spirits and start the day on a positive note.

After enjoying his music, fans now have the unique opportunity to converse with Digital Mark, further connecting them with their beloved artist in a way that was previously unimaginable.

124 OFW sa Lebanon nagpahayag ng hangaring makauwi

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Inanunsyo ng Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) na may 124 overseas Filipino worker (OFW) sa Lebanon ang nagnanais na bumalik sa Pilipinas dahil sa umiiral na tensyon sa pagitan ng Israel at ng militanteng grupo na Hezbollah na nagdulot ng karahasan.

Napansin na mas lumalala ang mga labanang militar sa pagitan ng Israel at Hezbollah, na nagdulot ng epekto sa katimugang bahagi ng Lebanon at karamihan sa mga Pilipino ay nailikas na mula sa nasabing lugar, ayon kay DMW officer-in-charge na si Hans Leo Cacdac.

Sa pahayag ni Cacdac, itinataguyod na ng kanilang tanggapan ang mga flight para sa repatriasyon ng mga OFW pabalik ng Pilipinas.

Sa pag-aalala sa posibleng paglala ng sitwasyon sa rehiyon, siniguro ni acting DMW chief na handa silang magbigay ng tulong at suporta sa mga Pilipino na apektado.

Nagpadala na rin ng augmentation team ang DMW upang palakasin ang kanilang labor attache sa Israel at ang kanilang migrant office sa nasabing lugar, pati na rin sa mga kalapit na bansa.

“May mga plano para sa mga krisis, contingency plans na maayos na naipatutupad. Matagal na itong nasa kanilang lugar. Ang mga preparasyon natin ay maayos na,” ayon pa kay Cacdac.

Dagdag pa niya, “Kabilang dito ang mga ruta para sa evacuation at repatriation. Hindi natin ito masusuri nang detalyado, ngunit tayo ay handa na.”

Samantala, itinaas ng Department of Foreign Affairs ang Alert Level 3 sa Lebanon, na nangangahulugan ng boluntaryong repatriasyon para sa mga Pilipino sa nasabing bansa.

Samantala, ang ikatlong batch ng mga overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) na naapektohan ng patuloy na digmaan sa pagitan ng Israel at Hamas ay ligtas na nakarating sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 sa Lungsod ng Pasay, kahapon ng hapon, Oktubre 20, 2023.

Kasama ang House Committee Chair on Overseas Workers Affairs na si Rep. Ron Salo at Cacdac kasama ang mga mataas na opisyal mula sa iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno, sila ay mainit na tinanggap ang batch na binubuo ng 25 OFWs at isang 4-buwang gulang na sanggol.

Tumanggap ng tulong at iba pang uri ng suporta ang mga OFW sa kanilang pagdating.

Kabilang sa mga ahensyang tumulong sa mga OFW na bumalik ay ang DMW at OWWA para sa pinansyal at reintegrasyon na tulong; ang DSWD para sa tulong sa kabuhayan; ang TESDA para sa pagsasanay at pagpapahusay ng kanilang mga kasanayan; ang DOH para sa agarang tulong medikal at referral.

Hanggang ika-24 ng Oktubre, 2023, ligtas nang nakauwi ang 59 overseas Filipino workers mula sa Israel sa pamamagitan ng repatriation efforts ng gobyerno.