MARCOS JR., JAPAN PM KISHIDA TO DISCUSS 'AREAS OF MUTUAL CONCERN' IN OFFICIAL VISIT

MANILA — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will be in the Philippines this week for an official visit and is expected to meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to discuss regional and international issues, the Presidential Communications Office said Tuesday.

The Palace, quoting the Department of Foreign Affairs, said Marcos Jr. would welcome Kishida at a ceremony in Malacañan Palace on Friday, November 3. The Japanese prime minister will be in the Philippines until November 4.

"The two leaders will hold a bilateral meeting to discuss areas of mutual concern such as political, security, economic and development cooperation, as well as people-to-people ties," the Palace said.

These issues may include negotiations for a "reciprocal access agreement" towards allowing joint drills and troop visits, Kyodo News reported last week.

The potential agreement would be the first with a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Japan has reciprocal access agreements with Australia and Britain, it also reported.

The two leaders are also expected to "reaffirm the excellent relations between the Philippines and Japan, which was elevated into a Strategic Partnership in 2011," the Palace said.

The Philippines and Japan in 2011 acknowledged that they are "two maritime countries bound by shared basic values and common strategic interests" and committed to work together on economic, as well as political and security matters.

Kishida's visit comes amid heightened tension between the Philippines and China over the West Philippine Sea.

It also comes as the Philippines increases engagements with treaty ally the United States and with partners like Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada on South China Sea issues.

ELECTING LOCAL LEADERS: PINOYS HEAD TO VILLAGE POLLS

Filipinos on Monday flocked to their respective polling precincts to vote in the BSKE 2023, with approximately 1.4 million aspirants gunning for local positions. More than 7,000 are running unopposed.

While voting was generally peaceful, the elections were not without incident, with violence reported in the southern Philippines.

Puerto Princesa also saw an eventful election day when two men entered two precincts and destroyed ballots, prompting the temporary halting of voting. This, however, was not enough for the Comelec to declare a failure of elections in the area.

While most voters trooped to local schools to choose their candidates, the Commission on Elections launched its pilot testing of mall voting giving the electorate a more convenient venue. This proved a boon to senior citizens and PWDs, with mall facilities made accessible even before the start of the polls.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who voted in his bailiwick of Batac, Ilocos Norte, noted the importance of the BSKE saying local officials can deliver votes for national politicians.

PH COAST GUARD EXPOSES 'PRO-CHINA NARRATIVES' OF SOME FILIPINOS

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has cautioned against the dissemination of "pro-China narratives" designed to deflect attention from Beijing's aggression in the West Philippine Sea. Jay Tarriela, PCG Spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, pointed out three recurring arguments made by individuals who, while professing to be pro-Filipino, promote Chinese narratives that contradict factual reports from Philippine authorities.

Firstly, Tarriela refuted the claim that speaking out against China's aggression will lead to war. He emphasized that exposing China's aggression is a means of safeguarding the country from political manipulation and disinformation, and it clarifies which party is responsible for raising tensions.

The second argument was that the Philippines' transparency on Chinese aggression is influenced solely by the United States. Tarriela stated that Philippine government agencies, including the PCG, independently document and monitor Beijing's aggression in the West Philippine Sea and prioritize the dissemination of factual information to the public.

Finally, those who criticize China's actions are sometimes accused of being "anti-Filipino and pro-US." Tarriela clarified that these individuals, including experts and government officials, are dedicated to upholding the Philippines' interests based on international law and the Philippine Constitution.

The PCG Spokesperson stressed that the South China Sea is not solely a US-China issue and emphasized the importance of defending maritime rights based on international law. He highlighted that pro-China narratives aim to manipulate public opinion and divert attention from Chinese aggression, offering solutions that accommodate China's unreasonable and illegal claims instead of seeking fair and just resolutions that safeguard national interests.

MARCOS TELLS NEW BARANGAY LEADERS: BE HONEST AT ALL TIMES

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged newly elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials to be honest and prioritize the welfare of their constituents.

Monday's nationwide vote for around 336,000 council posts was "successful" and "peaceful", Marcos said.

"Binabati ko ang lahat ng mga bago at muling nahalal na barangay at SK officials. Napakahalaga po ng inyong papel sa ating lipunan,” Marcos said in a video message.

“Maging tapat po tayo sa lahat ng oras. Lagi po nating unahin ang kapakanan ng sambayanan sapagkat sila po ang dahilan kung bakit nais nating magsilbi sa bayan,” he added.

While barangays are the lowest-level government unit, the council posts are hotly contested because they are used by political parties to cultivate grassroots networks and build a support base for local and general elections.

More than 67 million people were registered to vote in the elections, which Marcos described Monday as "very important" for higher-level politicians.

"What happens here in the barangay (village)... are going to have an effect on the results of the mid-term elections and subsequently at the national elections," Marcos said after casting his vote in his family's stronghold of Batac City in the northern province of Ilocos Norte.

"If other barangays tell you 'I will deliver 350 votes for you in my barangay', rest assured, you will get 350. That's why the result is very important."

Voters chose a village captain and seven councillors responsible for implementing national policies, resolving neighborhood disputes and providing basic public services.

Village elections are supposed to be held every three years, but the last vote was in 2018.

19 KILLED, 19 HURT IN BARANGAY, SK ELECTIONS: COMELEC

MANILA — Nineteen people were killed and 19 others were wounded in barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections this year, the Commission on Elections said on Tuesday.

There are "29 incidents resulting in 19 deaths and we have 113 others which not necessarily resulted in deaths but are incidents which are still being validated," Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told ANC.

"For the confirmed injuries related to the elections, [there are] 19," he added.

Police earlier said two people were killed and five others were wounded outside a polling station in Maguindanao del Norte province.

The shootout happened during a confrontation between supporters of rival candidates for village captain, said Datu Odin Sinsuat municipality police chief Lieutenant-Colonel Esmail Madin.

In another incident in Mindanao, a woman was killed when a gunfight broke out after a van carrying a village captain and her supporters was stopped on a road by people backing her rival in Lanao del Norte province, the army said.

The husband of a village captain in Lanao del Sur province died after he was shot in the chest during a confrontation with his wife's rival, police said.

Laudiangco said that while the numbers were "quite low" compared to the previous 2018 village polls, the figures were still a cause for concern.

"[W]e really have to improve this situation. We have to…normalize elections to the people that it must not result in any form of violence," he said.

PH ENVOY TO JORDAN SAYS 49 FILIPINOS IN GAZA UNREACHABLE

The Philippine government struggles to reach some Filipinos in Gaza, days after Israel began its ground invasion of the besieged enclave.

Meanwhile, the Philippines’ top diplomat explained why the country voted against a UN resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

DILG TAKES OVER FOR TRANSITION AFTER BSKE 2023

Now that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are over, it is now time for the Department of the Interior and Local Government to take charge to ensure a smooth transition of power.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said winning candidates already proclaimed by the poll body can take over their elective positions immediately after the transition.

"Base sa desisyon ng Supreme Court, ang start ng assumption ay January 1, 2023 so dapat assume kaagad. It is a DILG matter, kami hanggang proclamation lang," he said in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.

"Once there is a proclamation, that is already on the record. If there is an issue like vote-buying...ito ay issue na for a protest. If there is a protest on the result of the election, it is the courts that will take over."

Candidates who were not proclaimed due to pending disqualification cases will need to wait until Comelec makes a ruling.

The poll chief said if the disqualificaton is against a barangay chairman, then the 1st kagawad with the highest number of votes takes over under the rules of succession, and not the candidate's opponent.

He said that if all winning candidates are facing disqualification cases, the incumbents must stay until Comelec decides on the cases.

THE REST

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SCUFFLE DISRUPTS BSKE AT ABRA POLL CENTER

A disruption during the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in Tineg, Abra, unfolded when a group of men confronted another individual at a polling center in Barangay Lapat Balantay. The men attempted to snatch a sling bag from the individual, believing it contained a gun. Although it's unclear whether a shootout occurred, reports suggested that a shot was fired. The confrontation concluded when another group, including women and men, compelled the individual with the sling bag to leave the polling center.

As a result of the incident, a special board of election inspectors was deployed to the polling center, as the initial BEIs refused to continue serving. The Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor had previously assigned three police officers as special BEIs in Barangay Lapat Balantay.

Additionally, in Bulacan, residents of San Jose del Monte City voted in a plebiscite to ratify the city's conversion into a highly urbanized city, in accordance with Proclamation 1057 signed by former President Rodrigo Duterte. Voters were provided with three ballots, two for the BSKE and one for the plebiscite, where they indicated their chosen candidates and cast "yes" or "no" votes.

UNOPPOSED BARANGAY CHAIR BET IN ABRA DIES BEFORE VICTORY

BAGUIO CITY — In Tineg town, Abra an unopposed candidate for Barangay chairman succumbed to cardiac arrest before the election began Monday morning in Barangay Lanec.

Re-electionist and unopposed Barangay Chairman Jeffrey Tingday, suffered cardiac arrest at around 3 a.m. Monday at the house of Bong Veles, also a candidate for Barangay Chair of Barangay Lapat Balantay, in the same town.

Tingday was rushed to the Rural Health Unit (RHU) of Tineg, Abra and was later transferred to the Abra Provincial Hospital, in the provincial capital in Bangued. He was declared dead-on-arrival during the transfer.

VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN BARMM, BUT POLLS GENERALLY PEACEFUL

MANILA — Despite incidents of violence in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) declared Monday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) as “generally peaceful.”

“Generally, when you look at it, from 5 a.m. onwards, the election was generally peaceful nationwide even if there are a few incidences of violence, especially in the Bangsamoro,” Comelec Chairman George Garcia said at a press briefing yesterday.

The Comelec recorded 29 confirmed election-related violent incidents as of yesterday, but the BSKE was held smoothly and no election-related incidents were reported in all of the 365 areas previously classified by the commission as “areas of concern.”

GOVERNOR, 13 MAYORS FACE VOTE-BUYING PROBE

MANILA — A governor and 13 mayors from Luzon are being investigated for alleged vote-buying activities in connection with yesterday’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE).

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Garcia said the poll body is “investigating one governor and 13 mayors because (the reported vote-buying incidents) were conducted right inside their houses and premises.”

The Comelec chief stressed that local government officials should not interfere with the BSKE.

“We have reminded them (LGU officials) to not interfere with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections because, if they do, it would only create problems in the election,” he said.

Garcia said the Comelec, upon receiving reports of vote buying, immediately deployed election officers to investigate. Several of these reports turned out to be “fake news.”

According to Commissioner Ernest Maceda, the Comelec received “a total of 168 reports of vote-buying,” with 28 cases of that number filed prior to the elections.

Maceda said the 168 vote-buying reports is much lower compared to the over 1,200 complaints received during the May 2022 elections.

As of yesterday, he said the Comelec was preparing the filing of vote-buying charges against 46 BSKE candidates, adding that 94 complaints are still being evaluated and remain pending for resolution.

“You draw your conclusion from that, but for us this is a very positive and encouraging sign that our efforts have borne fruit,” Maceda said.

For this year’s poll, Garcia noted that the Comelec has not received any report of vote buying using the digital wallet platform. This development, he added, could be attributed to the Comelec’s intensified campaign.

UNION BANK POSTS P8.1 BILLION NET INCOME IN FIRST 9 MONTHS OF 2023

MANILA — Union Bank posted a net income of P8.1 billion in the first 9 months of 2023.

The bank noted that its net interest income grew 34 percent to P37.3 billion on the back of an 18 percent growth in their loans portfolio.

Net revenues for the bank climbed by 48 percent to P52.8 billion.

Union Bank said its operating cost was up by 63 percent to P33.5 billion, due to the full-year impact of the acquired Citi consumer business and UnionDigital.

"We also spent on marketing and customer engagement programs to capitalize on the growing consumer segment,” said the bank's executive vice president and chief finance officer Manuel Lozano.

Union Bank had P1.1 trillion in assets as of September, up by 8 percent from September 2022. Net loans and receivables jumped 18 percent to P531 billion, while total deposits grew by 6 percent to P724.7 billion.

LPA MAY DISSIPATE AS IT MOVES CLOSER TO BICOL; RAINY UNDAS IN METRO MANILA: PAGASA

It's going to be a rainy All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in Metro Manila due to the shear line, defined as a convergence of cold and warm winds, weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday.

PAGASA said a low pressure area located 470 km east of Virac, Catanduanes as of 3:00 a.m. Tuesday is unlikely to develop into a tropical cyclone within 48 hours and may dissipate as it moves closer to the Bicol Region.

Along with the trough or extension of the LPA, the Shear Line will also bring scattered rains today in Visayas, Bicol Region, Quezon, MIMAROPA, Quezon, and Aurora, PAGASA said in its 4 a.m. weather forecast.

Flooding and landslides are possible during moderate to heavy rains, state weather forecaster Patrick del Mundo said.

The Northeast Monsoon (Amihan), meanwhile, will bring light rains in Batanes, Cagayan, and Isabela. The rest of Northern and Central Luzon will be mostly sunny with possible isolated light rains, also due to Amihan.

Metro Manila still has low chance of rain throughout the day but the rest of the country may have isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

HOW LIZA SOBERANO GOT HER ROLE IN 'LISA FRANKENSTEIN'

MANILA -- Fans of actress Liza Soberano shared their excitement as they finally got a sneak peak of their idol's Hollywood debut "Lisa Frankenstein" starring Kathryn Newton.

In a previous interview with ABS-CBN News, Soberano shared how she got the role of Taffy, who is the stepsister of Newton’s character.

According to Soberano, the film's director Zelda Wiliams, the daughter of the late Hollywood actor Robin Williams, encouraged her to audition for the project.

The actress then sent a self-taped audition. She received the good news just after two days.

"I was like 'oh my gosh!' But the funny thing is I like to downplay things in my head until I am actually there na, because I don't want get too excited and biglang mauudlot," Soberano recalled.

The actress also shared at the time of the interview that she still can't believe that she's finally realizing her Hollywood dream.

"But I am really happy that a lot of people know that I am working on this project now because my fans have been waiting for the longest time since 2020 for me to go back into acting. So I am happy that they finally have

something to look forward to," Soberano said.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES OF GAMES PLAYED ON OCT 29, 2023

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Nuggets

3-0

34        35        28        31        128

Thunder

2-1

23        28        24        20        95

Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, OK

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

N. Jokic DEN C

28 PTS , 14 REB , 5 AST

C. Holmgren OKC C

19 PTS , 4 REB

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Hawks

1-2

31        37        33        26        127

Bucks

1-1

25        22        33        30        110

Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee, WI

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

T. Young ATL PG

20 PTS , 3 REB , 11 AST

G. Antetokounmpo MIL PF

26 PTS , 11 REB , 3 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Warriors

2-1

26        31        24        25        106

Rockets

0-3

24        23        28        20        95

Toyota Center, Houston, TX

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

S. Curry GS PG

24 PTS , 7 REB , 6 AST

J. Green HOU SG

21 PTS , 9 REB , 1 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Trail Blazers

0-3

28        32        21        17        98

76ers

2-1

36        30        33        27        126

Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

S. Sharpe POR SG

20 PTS , 5 REB , 2 AST

J. Embiid PHI C

35 PTS , 15 REB , 7 AST

Final/OT

1          2          3          4          OT       T

Lakers

1-2

28        27        28        32        12        127

Kings

2-1

41        25        21        28        17        132

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

A. Davis LAL PF

30 PTS , 16 REB , 2 AST

D. Fox SAC PG

37 PTS , 4 REB , 8 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Spurs

1-2

17        20        23        23        83

Clippers

2-1

23        33        37        30        123

Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

D. Vassell SA SG

14 PTS , 1 REB

K. Leonard LAC SF

21 PTS , 3 REB , 4 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 56.95

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone. - Henry David Thoreau