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READ: Lawmakers slam VP Sara's threats
LAWMAKERS on Saturday condemned Vice President Sara Duterte for her "disgusting" remarks in a press conference Friday, including a threat to dig up the remains of President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. at the Libingan ng mga Bayani and to throw his body into the West Philippine Sea. In a two-hour tirade Friday, Duterte also said she daydreamed of beheading President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in remarks that former senator Leila de Lima described as "unhinged."
READ: Poll body to weed out 'nuisance' candidates
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced over the weekend that it would resolve all petitions against candidates deemed "nuisance" by the end of November, paving the way for a final list of candidates ahead of the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. Comelec Chairman George Garcia said this decision was crucial for the timely printing of ballots, expected to begin in December. Garcia said 117 applicants for the senatorial candidacy who were not included in the initial list of qualified candidates would have the opportunity to present their cases before the poll body. This move follows the provisions set out in the Omnibus Election Code, which allows Comelec to refuse or cancel candidacies to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. The Comelec chief emphasized the importance of eliminating nuisance candidates — those who may cause confusion among voters or undermine the electoral process.
READ: PH, US, Japan agree to cooperate to boost cyber, digital resilience
THE Philippines has agreed to collaborate with the United States and Japan to enhance the nation's cyber and digital resilience. The three nations held the US-Japan-Philippines cyber and digital dialogue on the sidelines of the 9th Singapore International Cyber Week, according to a statement released by US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on Friday.
READ: 1st Filipina gets 'Rising Star' Award for advocating food security
ROBYN Mijares received this year's Women's International Network for Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Rising Star award for her advocacy on food security. The 23-year-old founder and executive director of Youth Uprising, a nonprofit organization that provides free, accessible environmental and agricultural education to marginalized Filipino youth in public schools, is the first Filipino to win the prestigious award.
READ: PH should prepare more hybrid workplaces
THE Philippines should consider creating workspaces that are ready for hybrid work as Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) exit the country while new graduates who enter the workforce are increasing, said Lars Wittig, the country head of the International Workplace Group (IWG). IWG owns and operates the Regus brand of workspace solutions, which include virtual offices, managed office spaces, and coworking spaces.
READ: Group pushes PNP reform
HUMAN Rights Watch (HRW) called on the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to initiate reforms within the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP) after legislative inquiries revealed the involvement of its members in corruption and human rights abuses. It said hearings conducted by the House of Representatives have brought to light serious allegations of extrajudicial killings and misconduct committed by the police during former president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war.
BUSINESS: PH economic growth fell within 6-6.5% in Q3
In business, Philippine economic growth likely settled within the 6.0-6.5 percent range in the third quarter of the year, an economist said on Friday. Seasonal increase in importation, manufacturing and other production activities in preparation for the increased demand during the holiday season likely helped boost growth during the quarter, RCBC chief economist Michael Ricafort said.
SPORTS: PH jins capture 5 medals in Asian tilt
Over to sports, the Philippines ended the Kasad 6th Asian Taekwondo Open Championships 2024 in Indonesia with five medals. Despite not winning any gold, the national taekwondo team still managed two silver and three bronze medals. During the tournament's opening day, Nicole Anne McCann and Abigail Faye Valdez grabbed the county's first two medals at the event. On Thursday, the Philippine Taekwondo Association (PTA) announced that the country has three more medalists.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Marlen Ronquillo is today's front page columnist, as he looks into Naga City's political sphere.
Today's editorial assesses Malacañang's decision to support the Philippine National Police (PNP) to reinvestigate killings related to the war on illegal drugs waged by former president Rodrigo Duterte's administration. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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