by admin | Mar 28, 2025 | elections, news, news media, politics, politics and government
MANILA, Philippines
– Over 41,000 aspirants for local offices in the May 12 election will begin their campaigns on Friday.
According to data provided by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), there will be a total of 41,342 contenders vying for positions such as district representative, governor, vice governor, member of the provincial board, mayor, vice mayor, and councilor in the forthcoming elections.
The 45-day campaign period for local candidates will run until May 10.
In light of this, Commission on Elections Chairman George Garcia cautioned all contenders on Thursday to adhere rigorously to the established campaign regulations.
READ:
Operation Baklas was stepped up as the election season for local positions approaches.
Where can we typically find campaign posters in Cebu for the 2025 elections?
Local election intensifies as posters are layered one over another – Comelec
To local candidates, always keep in mind the guidelines set by the Comelec,” he stated. “Avoid being obstinate.
According to Comelec Resolution No. 11086, acceptable forms of campaign materials include pamphlets, flyers, cards, decals, stickers, or similar documents where neither dimension exceeds 8 1/2 inches wide nor 14 inches long. Additionally, hand-drawn or printed messages encouraging votes for specific parties or candidates for public positions are permitted. Posters or stands limited to sizes up to 2 feet tall by 3 feet wide, as well as banners measuring a maximum of 3 feet high by 8 feet long when shown during gatherings or rallies at the venue, also comply with these regulations.
Applicants can utilize campaign resources through mobile units and vehicles, be they powered by engines, people, or animals, with or without audio equipment like loudspeakers and lighting fixtures; purchase ads in printed publications or broadcasts; leverage privately-owned outdoor structures such as static posters or LED billboards; employ moving advertisements inside public transportation vehicles; and display signs at their party offices.
Campaign period: Materials
In contrast, individuals aiming to secure positions at the local level are barred from using LED displays situated alongside roads and streets for their promotional materials. They’re also not allowed to use LCD screens mounted on public building walls or comparable equipment managed by local government entities, GOCCs, or governmental departments and offices. Additionally, they cannot utilize motor vehicles employed as police cruisers, emergency response units, or other related functions—vehicles which may belong to local governments, GOCCs, or state-run organizations, especially those with official tags—and this restriction extends to publicly operated transit systems like MRT, LRT, PNR trains, among others.
Additionally, it is deemed unlawful to place election propaganda on waiting sheds, pavements, streets, lampposts, electrical poles and lines, traffic signs, and various billboards installed on state-owned land. This also includes pedestrian overpasses and underpasses, elevated roadways, bridge structures, major arterial roads, median strips of highways and city streets, educational institutions, community shrines, village administrative centers, governmental facilities, healthcare centers, publicly funded constructions, and any building therein. Furthermore, placing such materials inside areas managed by the government and used for public transportation—such as bus depots, airports, harbors, docking points, piers, railway stations, and similar locations—is prohibited.
Political advertisements
According to Comelec regulations, for political ads on TV and radio, each local candidate can broadcast up to 60 minutes of television commercials per channel and up to 90 minutes of radio spots per station.
For every candidate vying for either national or local elective posts, the largest permissible dimensions for their politically themed print ads are restricted to one-quarter of a page in broadsheet format and half a page in tabloid format. Additionally, these adverts may not appear more frequently than thrice weekly within any single newspaper.
Those who participate in outdoor campaign ads are limited to just one month of advertising on either a static or an LED billboard, with these billboards spaced at least 500 meters apart from each other.
Garcia mentioned that he instructed the local Comelec staff to install additional shared poster spaces in their respective zones.
Regarding the conduct of campaign rallies, Garcia stated that aspirants and political organizations must follow guidelines set forth by local government entities, which includes obtaining the required permissions.
“Additionally, ensure that you won’t create disruptions in the streets or lead to major traffic jams,” he said.
The election official stated that those who violate these guidelines will receive notifications that will be sent to the relevant candidates.
“Do not ignore the notifications to take down. This is preliminary to filing a case against you,” Garcia further stated.
(PNA)
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | business, elon musk, government, politics, politics and government
By Nathan Layne and Costas Pitas
(SANGGRALOKA) – Tech tycoon Elon Musk, who was selected by U.S. President Donald Trump to reduce governmental size, stated on Thursday that he aims to complete the majority of the tasks required to slash $1 trillion from federal expenditures before his term concludes within just 64 days.
Musk informed Fox News’ program “Special Report with Brett Baier” that he believed his Department of Government Efficiency could identify $1 trillion in savings, thereby reducing the present overall federal expenditure from approximately $7 trillion to around $6 trillion.
Musk, who tops the list as the wealthiest individual globally, has been appointed by the White House as a “special government employee.” This designation limits his service to a maximum of 130 days. Consequently, his tenure heading up the DOGE initiative might conclude by late May.
“When questioned by Baier regarding my term and the pace at which I anticipate meeting our cost-reduction objective, I mentioned that I believe we will manage to cut down the deficit by around a trillion dollars mostly within the specified timeframe,” Musk stated.
“Given the inefficiency of the government and the significant amount of waste and fraud present, we believe that cutting down expenses by 15% should not impact any essential public services,” Musk stated.
As of March 24, DOGE claims to have saved U.S. taxpayers approximately $115 billion through measures such as cutting down the workforce, selling assets, and canceling contracts.
Nevertheless, the savings amount posted on the DOGE site lacks verification, and its computations have been marred by mistakes and revisions. Financial analysts indicate that Musk won’t be able to achieve his objective without altering entitlement programs such as Social Security, an area where Trump has pledged not to make cuts.
This interview was notable as it represented the initial occasion where Musk and key members of his leadership team from DOGE sat down with journalists to discuss their projects. Joining Musk were seven additional representatives from DOGE, among them being Steve Davis, who serves as the president of Musk’s underground construction venture, The Boring Company, along with Joe Gebbia, one of the founders of Airbnb.
“Unless this effort proves successful, the vessel of America might founder. This is precisely why we’re undertaking it,” stated Musk, who additionally leads electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla as its CEO.
Musk’s part in reducing the size of the federal workforce and cutting budgets for various government agencies has faced significant political criticism recently. This scrutiny coincides with incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles and dealerships throughout the nation.
(Reported by Nathan Layne from New York; Edited by Ross Colvin, Jamie Freed, and Leslie Adler)
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | journalism, news, news media, politics, politics and government
MANILA, Philippines – On Thursday, Senator Grace Poe stated that print media upholds integrity within democracies amidst the era of false information.
“Printing continues to be crucial in modern media due to its reputation for upholding accountability and responsibility,” Poe stated.
Access to clear and precise information is crucial for our democratic nation. Freedom of information allows citizens to make informed choices,” she further stated. “It is based on the idea that every individual should be provided with complete details.
She also mentioned that ethics continue to be maintained in print media compared to other types of media, which prioritize differently. This makes conventional media a reliable source for information.
“The aim of content creators is to achieve widespread popularity; they often rely on the simple act of sharing to spread both accurate and inaccurate information alike… Conversely, traditional print media adheres strictly to journalistic ethics, with fact-checking being paramount among these principles. Perhaps this is why print media enjoys public trust and proudly positions itself as the custodian of truth,” noted Poe.
Nevertheless, she thinks that content producers should remain responsible since they play a role in disseminating information.
“The accountability for the material remains with the journalists, bloggers, or everyday individuals authoring these posts or managing these accounts,” Poe stated.
(SANGGRALOKA.net trainee, Keith Clores)
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | government, news, politics, politics and government, trains
New Delhi
[March 28] [in India], (ANI News): The President of the Tamil Nadu branch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stated that
K Annamalai
Met with the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology as well as the Minister of Railways,
Ashwini Vaishnaw
On Thursday at his office, he participated in a combined review meeting during which a new train service was introduced.
At the meeting, following the input gathered from the community, Vaishnaw sanctioned the launch of a new railway service connecting Tambaram with Rameswaram. This train itinerary includes stops at Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, and Thiruthirapoondi.
On social platform X, Annamalai shared a post stating, “It was delightful to meet our Honorable Minister of State Thiru @Murugan_MoSavl along with our esteemed Hon Railway Minister Thiru @AshwiniVaishnawavl at his office today for a collaborative review meeting.”
“The review meeting was joined by representatives from eight districts in Tamil Nadu as well as officials at the district level from @BJP4TamilNadu. Following the input provided by attendees and a submission made by @BJP4TamilNadu, our esteemed Railway Minister sanctioned a new service—a train running from Tambaram to Rameswaram with stops in Chidambaram, Thiruvarur, and Thiruthirapoondi,” the message stated.
Annamalai mentioned that the new train service was set to start on April 6, 2025, aligning with the opening ceremony of the first updated vertical lift Pamban Bridge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“We are equally pleased to observe that this new train service will commence operations on April 6, 2025, coinciding with the unveiling of the newly constructed first vertical lift Pamban Bridge by our esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” the message continued.
Earlier in the day, Annamalai also criticized Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin regarding the current controversy surrounding the three-language policy. He referred to him as a “con artist” pretending to be a guardian of the constitution.
On a post on X, Annamalai claimed that the DMK is defrauding both wealthy and impoverished individuals. “Honorable @mkstalin, you pose as a guardian of our Constitution and federal system, yet you are essentially a swindler. Typically, fraudsters target the affluent, but the DMK does not discriminate—they cheat both the rich and the poor alike,” Annamalai stated.
The BJP leader highlighted the inconsistency of MK Stalin by pointing out that although the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu comes from a family that runs private schools teaching three languages, he is against implementing a similar multilingual education approach in the state’s public schools.
“The entire nation is aware that the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu’s family runs private institutions offering education in multiple languages including three official ones, yet they oppose implementing a similar approach in public schools run by the state government. People are labeling you as a hypocrite, Thiru @mkstalin,” stated the BJP leader. (ANI)
Provided by Syndigate Media Inc. (
Syndigate.info
).
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | immigration, international relations, politics, politics and government, politics and law
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The U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, stated that the United States has invalidated at least 300 international student visas as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to curb pro-Palestinian demonstrators on college grounds.
“Possibly over 300 by now,” he stated when addressing journalists during his trip to Guyana. “I handle this daily, each time I come across one of those crazies.”
Rubio was questioned about verifying the number of student visa revocations carried out by the administration as part of its campaign against what it views as anti-Israeli sentiment at educational institutions.
The comments come after immigration authorities detained a Turkish PhD student at Tufts University, an apprehension the secretary supported.
A clip showing student Rumeysa Ozturk being escorted by masked off-duty officers to an unregistered vehicle near Boston, Massachusetts, has circulated widely online and ignited protests.
Ms. Ozturk is a Fulbright Scholar enrolled with an F-1 student visa and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Child Study and Human Development at Tufts University.
Rubio was questioned on Thursday regarding why the Turkish student’s visa had been canceled.
I’ve stated this repeatedly, and I will continue to do so,” Rubio explained. “Should an individual applying for a student visa claim they intend not only to pursue education but also engage in activities such as defacing university property, intimidating fellow students, occupying buildings, and inciting disorder, their application for that visa will be denied.
At present, it remains uncertain if Ms Ozturk has faced any charges.
Rubio didn’t disclose any particular accusations against the individual, aged 30, who has taken part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Additionally, the Tufts University student jointly authored an op-ed in the campus paper earlier last year advocating for their institution to withdraw investments from firms connected to Israel and recognize what they described as “the Palestinian genocide.”
According to the trends observed nationwide, it seems that her exercise of her right to free speech contributed to her detainment,” stated Mahsa Khanbabai, who represents Ms. Ozturk, to Reuters.
This detention is part of an ongoing series of measures targeting international students in the US who have shown backing for Palestinians.
Trump administration officials have stated that they are utilizing the Immigration and Nationality Act. This legislation permits the State Department to remove non-citizens who pose a threat to the United States’ foreign policy and national security objectives.
The arrests are in line with Trump’s commitment to address what his administration has categorized as antisemitism, a classification that was included in an executive order in January.
Following this, the White House has rescinded $400 million (£308 million) in funding for Columbia University due to claims that the institution did not effectively address anti-Semitism on campus. They have also indicated they might take similar actions against other universities.
A high-profile arrest involved Mahmoud Khalil, a distinguished Palestinian activist and Columbia alumnus, who continues to be held at a detention center in Louisiana without being charged with any crime.
Ms. Ozturk was similarly transported to a detention center in Louisiana. On Tuesday, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled that Ms. Ozturk should remain in Massachusetts, yet federal documents indicate she continues to be held in Louisiana.
The government must furnish additional details regarding Ms Ozturk’s detention by this coming Friday.
The US Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated earlier this week that Ms. Ozturk was involved in actions supporting Hamas, which she described as a foreign terrorist group known for its participation in acts targeting Americans.
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic representative from Massachusetts, described the arrest as “part of a troubling trend aimed at suppressing civil liberties.”
“The Trump administration is going after students who have legal standing and forcibly removing individuals from their communities without proper procedures. This constitutes an assault on our Constitution and fundamental liberties — and we will resist,” she stated.
On Wednesday, a federal judge instructed the Trump administration to cease its attempts to deport and apprehend an additional student named Yunseo Chung from Columbia University. The 21-year-old is a lawful permanent resident who came to the United States from South Korea during his childhood.
On Thursday, Rubio stated that the U.S. provided visas for students aiming to obtain a degree rather than becoming activists intent on disrupting college campuses.
“If you deceive them, obtain the visa, and subsequently participate in such behavior upon arrival, they will cancel it,” he stated.
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U.S. immigration authorities detain Turkish student as part of ongoing crackdown
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Who is Mahmoud Khalil, the Palestinian student activist who faces deportation from the US?
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Columbia University student activist files lawsuit against Trump to prevent deportation
by admin | Mar 27, 2025 | crimes, criminal law, politics, politics and government, politics and law
The French prosecution has asked for a seven-year jail term and a €300,000 penalty against ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy. This request stems from claims suggesting that Gaddafi’s administration in Libya potentially provided illicit funding for Sarkozy’s 2017 bid for presidency.
The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF) also called for a five-year ban on Sarkozy’s civic, civil and family rights, a measure that would bar him from holding elected office or serving in any public judicial role.
The proceedings, starting from January and anticipated to wrap up by April 10th, stand as the gravest among several legal controversies overshadowing Sarkozy’s time after his presidency.
The former French leader, Nicolas Sarkozy, who served as president from 2007 to 2012 and is now 70 years old, is facing accusations including passive corruption, unlawful funding for his election campaigns, hiding the misappropriation of public money, and being part of a criminal group.
He has refuted any claims of misconduct.
The accusations date back to 2011, when a Libyan news outlet and Gaddafi himself claimed that the Libyan government had covertly channeled millions of euros into Sarkozy’s 2007 election campaign.
In 2012, the French investigative platform Mediapart released documents they claimed were from a Libyan intelligence memo. The papers indicated an alleged financial arrangement of €50 million.
Sarkozy dismissed the paper as fake news and filed a lawsuit for defamation.
Later, French judges indicated that the document seemed genuine; however, no definitive proof of a concluded deal has been shown.
The investigators similarly examined multiple journeys made by Sarkozy’s associates to Libya spanning from 2005 to 2007.
In 2016, Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine informed Mediapart that he had transported suitcases containing money from Tripoli to the French Interior Ministry during Sarkozy’s tenure.
He subsequently withdrew his comment. This about-face is currently at the center of an independent probe into potential witness intimidation.
Sarkozy along with his spouse, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, have also been initiated into the early stages of the inquiry for that particular case.
Former ministers of Sarkozy, Claude Guéant, Brice Hortefeux, and Éric Woerth, alongside eight additional accused individuals, are currently undergoing the legal process.
However, prosecutors have explicitly stated that the key person at the center of this case is the ex-president, who is charged with deliberately profiting from a “bribery agreement” with an overseas authoritarian regime during his campaign to head the French Republic.
Although Sarkozy has previously faced convictions in two separate legal cases, the Libya scandal is broadly considered to be the most politically damaging and the one expected to have the greatest impact on his lasting reputation.
In December 2024, France’s top judicial body confirmed his sentence for bribery and Influence trafficking.
sentencing him to spend one year under house arrest using an electronic monitor
.
The case originated from intercepted telephone conversations revealed during the Libya investigation.
In an independent judgment issued in February 2024, a Paris appellate court determined he was guilty of unlawful campaign funding during his unsuccessful attempt at re-election in 2012.
Sarkozy has brushed off the Libya accusations as being driven by politics and based on falsified evidence.
However, if found guilty, he would be the first ex-French president sentenced for receiving illicit international contributions to secure his election.
A decision is anticipated before the end of this year.
