Manila Bulletin - May 13, 2025

In this issue

Elections generally peaceful
Marcos, Duterte not spared by counting machine glitches
CIDG deploys probe teams vs vote-buying, other poll offenses

CIDG deploys probe teams vs vote-buying, other poll offenses

The Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed investigation teams around the country to assist local police units in case build-up against election-related offenses, including vote-buying and vote-selling.

1 min

Marcos, Duterte not spared by counting machine glitches

Isolated glitches involving the automated counting machines (ACM) for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections were reported in various areas in the country on Election Day.

3 mins

Elections generally peaceful

Gun attacks, machine glitches, and power supply issues greeted the midterm polls on Monday while pockets of violence were reported during voting hours in some parts of the country, but the Philippine National Police (PNP) said the May 12 elections were generally peaceful and orderly.

6 mins

Manalo cites importance of PH ties with all Caribbean states

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo emphasized the importance of the Philippines' partnership with the Caribbean community, pointing out the shared interests in maritime security, climate change, and multilateralism, among others.

2 mins

Access to San Juanico Bridge limited due to potential structural damage

Policemen and soldiers were deployed in strategic areas of the iconic San Juanico Bridge in Eastern Visayas to restrict the use of the iconic infrastructure following a recent assessment that revealed potential damage to some of its structural components, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said.

1 min

Increased seismic activity detected at Bulusan, Kanlaon

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has reported a surge in seismic activity at Bulusan and Kanlaon volcanoes over the past few days, based on advisories issued on Monday, May 12.

1 min

Meta was quick in taking down poll-related ‘fake news’ - DICT

Multi-social media platform operator Meta significantly sped up the removal of election-related fake news following government pressure for it to take quick action against disinformation, according to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

1 min

Northbound section of Manuel Roxas Jr. flyover in Tondo, Manila to undergo retroffiting

Repairs on expansion joints along the northbound section of the Manuel Roxas Jr. Flyover in Port Area, Manila, have started as part of a major retrofitting and strengthening project, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said.

1 min

Pope Leo XIV calls for peace in Ukraine and Gaza

Pope Leo XIV called for a genuine and just peace in Ukraine and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in his first Sunday noon blessing as pontiff that featured some symbolic gestures suggesting a message of unity in a polarized Catholic Church.

2 mins

Zelenskyy hopes for ceasefire with Russia, challenges Putin to meet him in Turkey 'personally'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday challenged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkey on Thursday, the latest move in a weekend-long exchange of proposals from both sides on the next steps in the U.S.-led peace effort.

3 mins

US touts 'substantial progress' in tariff talks with China, but details are still scarce

The lead U.S. negotiator in trade talks with China cheered \"a great deal of productivity\" in resolving differences between the world's two leading economic powers, after officials wrapped two days of bargaining in Switzerland following President Donald Trump imposing steep tariffs and Beijing retaliating.

3 mins

Malnutrition is the elephant in the room

The recent revelation by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that nearly 19 million Filipinos who finished high school between 2019 and 2024 are functionally illiterate and cannot effectively comprehend what they read is certainly worrisome.

4 mins

Beyond basics: Addressing PH functional illiteracy problem

The recently released 2024 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey (FLEMMS) presents a sobering picture of the state of literacy in the Philippines.

2 mins

You do not believe, because you are not among my sheep

As a prominent biblical scholar, Elizabeth Johnson, says, “There is a tension between God’s initiative and human responsibility that is not resolved in John’s Gospel (or perhaps in the entire Bible!).

1 min

My birthday wishes

As I celebrate my 74th year on this planet, my thoughts turn to what I would like to see during my lifetime. So, I'm going to make some birthday wishes and hope they come true while I'm around.

3 mins

The circular economy can boost regional growth

With the recent release of Gross Regional Domestic Product growth rates per region, and my last two columns devoted to Mindanao's trillion-peso economies, I believe it will be vital to examine three points.

2 mins

New Zealand still has more sheep than people, but humans are catching up

The vast number of sheep in New Zealand relative to the country’s scant human population has long been the subject of jokes aimed at New Zealanders abroad.

2 mins

Philippine elections: Then and now

The smoke on the political battlefields is beginning to clear by this time. And once again, we see that elections in the Philippines are more than just a democratic process—they are a spectacle, and for many, a season of hope or frustration. From the bustling streets of Metro Manila to the quiet rural towns, every election brings with it a familiar rhythm: campaign rallies, fiery debates, money flowing, promises of change, and the ever-persistent question—\"Will my vote truly make a difference?

3 mins

Cop, 2 others killed in Pangasinan

A police officer and two individuals were killed in a shooting incident in Sitio Imus, Barangay Samon, this town, before dawn on Sunday, May 11.

1 min

Senior citizen dies of heart attack after voting in Albay

An elderly voter who collapsed after casting his vote in Oas, Albay died on Election Day, May 12, the Philippine National Police (PNP) reported.

1 min

33 nabbed for violating liquor ban in 3 provinces

Thirty-three individuals were apprehended for violating the nationwide liquor ban across the provinces of Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac, according to a report from Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3) on Monday.

1 min

12 individuals with high-powered firearms, lawyer nabbed in Abra

Authorities arrested 12 individuals and confiscated several firearms and ammunition in an operation in Pidigan town, this province, over the weekend.

1 min

VP Sara, FPRRD discussing options for mayoral oath-taking amid ICC case

Vice President Sara Z. Duterte confirmed on Monday, May 12, ongoing discussions with the legal teams of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte regarding how he may officially take his oath as mayor here should he win in the midterm elections.

3 mins

CIDG deploys probe teams vs vote-buying, other poll offenses

Police started the operations against vote-buying on May 9 and encouraged the public to report vote-buying and vote-selling schemes through the PNP’s E-911 hotline.

1 min

Marcos, Duterte not spared by counting machine glitches

President Marcos successfully cast his vote for the 2025 midterm elections, but not after encountering a technical glitch that forced him to feed his ballot into the ACM twice with the assistance of a Commission on Elections (Comelec) personnel.

2 mins

For health and wellness

To sustain its advocacy in supporting local runners in their drive for health and wellness, the HOKA Run Club resumed recently at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati, drawing close to a hundred enthusiasts who were able to test the light and comfortable HOKA Clifton 10 running sneakers.

1 min

Pacers show great resolve

Indiana inches closer to East Finals; OKC ties series

2 mins

Suarez-Navarrete fight investigated

The California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) may overturn the result of the Charly Suarez and Emanuel Navarrete fight which resulted in a controversial technical decision loss for the Filipino challenger last Sunday, May 11.

1 min

Frayna dumps Mongolian rival

Woman Grandmaster Janelle Mae Frayna made short work of Mongolian Woman FIDE Master Enkh-Amgalan Enkhrii in the fifth round to stay in contention in the women’s division of the Asian Individual Chess Championships in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates on Sunday, May 11.

1 min

Manila aims for more ambitious climate goals

The Philippine government is currently sharpening its next climate battle plan that will anchor its third round of nationally determined contributions (NDC 3.0) submission ahead of the COP30 Climate Change Summit slated at the Amazonian city of Belem in Brazil by November this year.

2 mins

Deadline looms for Islamic banking units

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has proposed requiring Islamic banking units (IBUs) operated by conventional banks to either transition into full-fledged Islamic banks or comply with universal bank capital requirements within five years.

1 min

Q1 spending may lift first half growth

Government spending related to the May 12 midterm elections—frontloaded expenditures prior to the polls as well as the resumption of delayed projects due to the election ban—would likely spill over into the second quarter and support first-half economic growth, economists said.

2 mins

PH foreign investments plunge 62%

Net inflows of brick-and-mortar foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Philippines amounted to $529 million in February, marking a steep 61.9-percent decline from the $1.4 billion recorded in the same month last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

1 min

Oil prices down

Motorists are in for another break as fuel prices are slated to decrease again this midterm election week.

1 min

Election financial houndeni act

The Philippines touts a 5.6 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2024, the highest in the region. With the highest GDP growth rate and one of the two biggest national budgets in ASEAN (2021-2025), it has little to show—except the lowest GDP per capita in the region.

3 mins

Europe Day celebrated in Manila

European Union Ambassador Massimo Santoro led the Europe Day celebrations held on May 8 which marked the 75th anniversary of the “Schuman Declaration,” the document that set in motion the European integration process.

3 mins

US Coast Guard brings leadership course to SEA

From April 21 to May 2, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Southeast Asia Training Team (SEATT) conducted its first-ever Leadership and Management School (LAMS) course in Southeast Asia, with 43 members of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as inaugural participants.

1 min

Ladies of Malaysian Embassy host Hari Raya celebration

This year, Eid al-Fitr, the festival of Breaking the Fast, occurred on March 31, marking the end of Ramadan.

1 min

No power issues on election day

During the first half of the midterm Election Day, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) reported that its facilities and transmission lines remained stable—crucial for ensuring ballot machines operate smoothly throughout the day.

1 min

Anko opens 2nd Ayala mall store

With a wide variety of home, work, and self-care essentials, this international brand from Down Under is continuing its expansion, one Ayala Mall at a time.

1 min

RRHI anticipates benefits from Trump trade policies

Gokongwei-led Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. expects to benefit from higher reciprocal tariffs between the U.S. and its trading partners, as it may eventually lead to oversupply and higher margins for dry goods.

1 min

Furniture sector seeks gov't support

Local furniture manufacturers are seeking immediate government intervention to safeguard the industry from the impact of the 17-percent tariffs imposed by the United States on Philippine goods, citing the risk of potential factory closures and job losses.

2 mins

98 Degrees and still rising

Fans of Nick Lachey, Jeff Timmons, Drew Lachey and Justin Jeffre would be glad to know that the boys are still busy doing what they do best, and that is pumping out R&B laced pop tunes almost 30 years after they first came out with their debut album in 1997.

1 min

Amber Heard reveals names of twin babies

Amber Heard is now a mother of three. The actor on Sunday wrote on Instagram that she has welcomed twins into the family, a son named Ocean and a daughter named Agnes. She shared the news along with a photo of their tiny feet.

1 min

'Thunderbolts, 'Sinners' top box office charts anew

Marvel's \"Thunderbolts\" and Ryan Coogler's \"Sinners\" dominated the North American box office charts again this weekend.

2 mins

Motherhood, meaning, and makeup

The Beauty Edit's Nicole Morales on motherhood and building something that lasts

3 mins

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