Commission on Elections (COMELEC) – Author Carlo Carrasco

Nationwide voter registration for BSKE set for August 1 to 10, 2025

July 11, 2025July 10, 2025carlocarrasco

In preparation for the next edition of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) announced that the nationwide voter registration process will be held from August 1 to 10, 2025, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the PNA news article. Some parts in boldface…

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has set the resumption of the nationwide voter registration next month for the conduct of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) later this year.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the Commission’s seven-member panel has approved the holding of the 10-day voter registration activities from Aug. 1 to 10.

“The Commission en banc has approved the resumption of voter registration for the BSKE,” he said in an interview.

He noted that the resumption of the voter registration has been decided to ensure that those looking to vote in the village and youth polls will be able to vote, particularly those aged 15 to 17 years old.

“We are still waiting if the BSKE will push through or not. The problem is, if it pushes through on Dec. 1 and we have not conducted voter registration, we won’t have voters, especially in the 15 to 17 years old age group,” he explained.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has yet to sign the proposed bill setting the terms of village and youth officials.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you feel confident that the BSKE will push through this year? Are many voters aged 15 to 17-years-old in your local community eager to vote in the Sangguniang Kabataan polls?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Parañaque Congressman-elect Yamsuan aims to reduce people’s dependence on ayuda by locally implementing government livelihood programs

May 26, 2025May 21, 2025carlocarrasco

Parañaque City’s incoming 2^nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan aims to reduce people dependence on ayuda (dole outs) as he stepped up the implementation of the government’s livelihood programs, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. Part of his efforts include the refiling of bills in the next Congress.

For context about what happened in the recent elections, Yamsuan ran under the Team Pag-Asa banner and his teammates include Vice Mayor-elect Benjo Bernabe, and the re-elected City Councilors Tess de Asis, Binky Favis and Shannin Olivarez. Yamsuan won over 2^nd District Representative Gus Tambunting with a lead of almost ten thousand votes. The 2^nd District includes the very large Barangay BF Homes, BF Homes subdivision and Tahanan Village. To learn more about Yamsuan, check out his Facebook page by clicking https://www.facebook.com/congbrianyamsuan

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Parañaque City 2nd district Representative-elect Brian Raymund Yamsuan has stepped up the implementation of the government’s livelihood programs in a bid to reduce district folk’s dependence on “ayuda” or dole outs.

Yamsuan said he has begun exploring tie-ups with non-government organizations (NGOs) to assist in training qualified beneficiaries of his “Dagdag-Puhunan” and “Bigay-Negosyo” entrepreneurship programs.

The solon, who represents Bicol Saro Party-list in the 19th Congress, has been implementing these in the district since last year in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Yamsuan also said he will re-file bills in the incoming 20th Congress that aim to create local job facilitation offices for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), and promote entrepreneurship by creating a sustainable financing program for micro and small enterprises, to name a few.

“Ang kailangan natin mabigyan ng mga oportunidad ang mga tao na umangat ang kanilang estado ng pamumuhay. Hindi yung basta magbibigay lang tayo ng ayuda ng walang follow-through. Ang pagbabago magsisimula rin sa mga tao mismo. Bibigyan natin sila ng oportunidad para magtiwala sila sa kanilang sarili na makapagbago at mag-rely sa kanilang kakayahan sa halip na umasa na lamang sa ayuda,” Yamsuan said in a recent media interview.

(What we need is to provide opportunities for people to elevate their standard of living, instead of just giving dole outs without any follow-through. Change will start with the people themselves. We will provide them the opportunity so that they will have the confidence to change and rely on their capabilities instead of just depending on dole outs.)

This “follow through” involves providing livelihood training and seminars for ‘ayuda’ beneficiaries to encourage them to set up micro businesses and “graduate” from being doleout recipients, he said.

Yamsuan said his Dagdag-Puhunan and Bigay Negosyo programs provide comprehensive livelihood training for applicants before they can qualify as beneficiaries.

These programs will be enhanced to include financial literacy seminars to educate people on how to prudently save, spend or invest their ayuda or earnings from livelihood programs.

“Ang ‘ayuda’ kailangan pa rin yan ng ating mga mahihirap na kababayan, kasi pantawid nila yan (Our poor countrymen still need dole outs because it will serve as a lifeline for them),” But we will teach them how to use it wisely. The same goes for those who have received assistance through our livelihood programs,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan said his twin programs can lead to success stories if beneficiaries use the funds given to them wisely.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think incoming District 2 Representative Yamsuan will be able to implement socio-economic reforms for his constituents? Do you think that the 2^nd District of Parañaque could experience a new wave of economic improvements over the next three years? Do you believe now is a good time for Filipinos to become less dependent on government-provided cash assistance?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Congressman-elect Brian Yamsuan vows elevated public service in Parañaque City’s 2nd District

May 23, 2025May 20, 2025carlocarrasco

The newly proclaimed 2^nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan expressed his assurance to the local constituents that elevating the standard of public service is his goal backed with fair treatment, according to a news report published by Journalnews.com.ph.

In the recent election, Yamsuan ran under the Team Pag-Asa banner and his teammates include Vice Mayor-elect Benjo Bernabe, and the re-elected City Councilors Tess de Asis, Binky Favis and Shannin Olivarez. Yamsuan won over 2^nd District Representative Gus Tambunting with a lead of almost ten thousand votes. The 2^nd District includes the very large Barangay BF Homes, BF Homes subdivision and Tahanan Village. The first time I saw Yamsuan was during the December 2024 Christmas part of Century Club of Tahanan (CCTI). To learn more about Yamsuan, check out his Facebook page by clicking https://www.facebook.com/congbrianyamsuan

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Journalnews.com.ph news report. Some parts in boldface…

NEWLY proclaimed Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan assured his new constituents that achieving his goal of elevating the standard of public service in the district would be characterized by fair and equal treatment for all.

Yamsuan made this assurance following his stunning win over the district’s long-time incumbent congressman, Gus Tambunting.

At the May 10 miting de avance of Yamsuan and his fellow candidates under Team Pagasa, he made this fearless forecast: “Ako si Brian Yamsuan, ang magiging susunod na congressman ng District 2 ng lungsod ng Parañaque!”, followed by thunderous cheers from thousands of supporters.

“On top of crafting laws that will benefit Parañaque and the rest of the country, we will make sure that as congressman, I can serve as an effective bridge between the national government and the people in bringing to them the social, educational, and economic support programs that they deserve,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan won amid complaints of vote buying involving Tambunting, who was slapped with a show-cause order by the Comelec Kontra Bigay committee and ordered to respond to the allegations.

“Bawat Parañaqueño na nangangailangan sa Distrito Dos ay sisikapin nating matulungan. Babaguhin natin ang dating sistema. Tulad ng lagi ko ng ginagawa noon sa aking masigasig na paglilingkod sa distrito bago pa man ako mahalal, wala tayong papaboran, walang palakasan,” Yamsuan said of his hard-won mandate in Parañaque’s 2nd District.

The Congressman-Elect said he will also reach out to Parañaqueños who might have been displaced from their jobs following the outcome of the recent elections to offer them livelihood opportunities available through government programs he had coordinated with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

“We will begin carrying out our H.O.P.E. agenda for the district on Day One of our assumption to office,” Yamsuan said.

This reform agenda aims to ensure that Parañaque’s 2nd District residents are: 1) provided quality and affordable Health and medical care; 2) equipped with adequate job and livelihood Opportunities to elevate their living standards; 3) assured of Peace and safety in their communities; and 4) guaranteed access to quality Education.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, what is your current opinion about the incoming Congressman Yamsuan? If you are a voter based in the 2^nd district of the city, did you vote for Yamsuan as your Representative?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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2025 election candidates reminded by BIR of tax obligations

May 20, 2025May 16, 2025carlocarrasco

With the 2025 National and Local Elections over, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) reminded all candidates that they are subject to tax regulations and must prepare themselves to meet with the requirements, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA). Failure to do so could mean tax evasion charges.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is reminding all candidates and political parties who ran in the 2025 elections that they are subject to tax regulations and must comply with key requirements as part of their duties as candidates for public office.

In a television interview, BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. emphasized that all candidates and political organizations, including party-list groups must issue BIR-registered invoices for contributions they receive, whether in cash or in kind.

“At pag nagbabayad sila sa kanilang mga suppliers ay kinakailangan nilang mag-withhold ng 5 percent dun sa kanilang suppliers (They also need to withhold 5 percent when they pay to their suppliers),” he said, as quoted in a news release on Thursday.

He added that candidates must keep track of their expenses and submit detailed reports, or Statement of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCE), not just to the Commission on Elections but also to the BIR.

“Para makita natin na lahat kung compliant ang kanilang obligasyon dito (This is for us to determine if everybody is compliant with their obligations),” he said.

Lumagui further reminded that while candidates and parties are allowed to keep excess campaign contributions, they need to pay taxes on these.

“Pagka sobra naman ang natanggap nila na mga contributions sa mga ginastos nila, kinakailangan nilang bayaran ang income tax patungkol dito sa sobrang natanggap nila (If the contributions they received are more than what they spent, they need to pay income tax on the excess funds).”

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think all the candidates will be able to comply with both the COMELEC and the BIR? Do you know any local candidate who received funds from your local community during the election campaign season?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Over 3 million cyber-attacks counted by COMELEC

May 19, 2025May 16, 2025carlocarrasco

In relation to the recently concluded National and Local Elections, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) confirmed that there were more than three million cyber-attacks on their official website and precinct finder apps, according to a news report by The Manila Times.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of The Manila Times. Some parts in boldface…

THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) website and precinct finder apps have been the subject of more than 3 million cyberattacks aimed at taking over the systems and to inject malicious information.

Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said on Wednesday that the attacks were recorded from May 11 to May 14, covering the eve of the elections to the canvassing of votes.

Laudiangco said the Comelec precinct finder registered 76.81 million visits, with about 46.17 million legitimate searches. At least 1.45 million, however, were identified as hacking attacks.

“We’re considering it as DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attacks,” Laudiangco said.

A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal traffic of a targeted server, service or network by overwhelming the target or its surrounding infrastructure with a flood of internet traffic.

On the other hand, Laudiangco said, the Comelec website registered 113.41 million visits with mitigated confirmed attacks of 1.75 million.

Laudiangco said none of the said attempts were successful because of the security measures and constant monitoring being done by the Comelec Cybersecurity Division and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the integrity of the 2025 National and Local Elections was compromised in relation to the revealed cyber-attacks? Who do you think could be responsible behind the many millions of cyber-attacks on the COMELEC website and precinct finder apps?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Benjo Bernabe proclaimed as Parañaque City’s next Vice Mayor, Team Pag-Asa candidates win key posts

May 14, 2025May 14, 2025carlocarrasco

With the 2025 local election results of Parañaque City recorded, the local board of canvassers officially proclaimed yesterday former City Councilor Benjo Bernabe as the incoming Vice Mayor, and you can watch the proclamation itself entirely by clicking https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HQLW9d7kY/

Bernabe, who ran under the Team Pag-Asa banner, defeated the incumbent Vice Mayor Joan Villafuerte (Bagong Parañaque) by a score of 129,213 votes to 122,237 votes according to the current partial and unofficial results of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) via GMA News.

*Social media post confirming Bernabe’s victory for Vice Mayor. (source – Benjo Bernabe Official Facebook page)*

*Benjo Bernabe proclaimed as the next Vice Mayor of Parañaque. At rightmost is his father former Mayor Jun Bernabe. (source – Benjo Bernabe Official Facebook page)*

The 129,213 votes Bernabe gathered is the largest ever in his career as an elected public servant of Parañaque. That being said, it is not surprising that there were rounds of cheers of “Bernabe! Bernabe! Bernabe!” during the proclamation. Given the fact that Team Pag-Asa was pretty small in terms of candidates, Bernabe’s victory is clearly a tremendous achievement.

For the newcomers reading this, Bernabe previously served as City Councilor (District 2) from 2010 to 2013. He ran for Mayor in 2013 but ended up short. Bernabe is the son of Florencio “Jun” Bernabe who was Parañaque’s Vice Mayor from 1998 to 2004, and was the Mayor from 2004 to 2013. It is clear that Benjo Bernabe’s victory is a strong political comeback for the Bernabe family.

Small team, big victories

Bernabe’s Team Pag-Asa teammates also scored notable victories as well. Partylist Representative Brian Yamsuan was proclaimed as the new Representative of Parañaque’s 2^nd district after defeating incumbent Representative Gus Tambunting by a score of 81,999 to 72,077 votes as of this writing. Former City Councilors Tess de Asis and Binky Favis got re-elected with huge scores of 111,737 and 103,800 votes respectively in District 2. De Asis is #2 and Favis #3 among all District 2 candidates for the City Council.

Another Team Pag-Asa teammate, Shannin Olivarez, was hanging at the #8 slot in District 1 with 42,188 votes as of this writing. Only the Top 8 vote gatherers per district will serve in the City Council from mid-2025 to mid-2028.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, did many voters in your local community vote straight for Team Pag-Asa candidates during the May 12 elections? What do you hope to see from Vice Mayor-elect Bernabe, Congressman-elect Yamsuan, and incoming City Councilors De Asis, Favis and Olivarez once their terms of service take effect?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Uninterrupted power supply on Election Day promised

May 9, 2025May 6, 2025carlocarrasco

With the 2025 National and Local Elections all set for May 12, the Energy Task Force on Election (ETFE) gave its assurance to the public that uninterrupted power will be done, according to a news article by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Energy Task Force on Election (ETFE), led by the Department of Energy (DOE), has assured the public of uninterrupted power supply nationwide during the May 12 midterm polls.

In a virtual briefing Monday, DOE Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said the energy sector is “fully prepared” to provide stable electricity and fuel throughout the voting, transmission, and canvassing periods.

“We assure the public that the energy sector is fully prepared to ensure an unimpeded power supply before, during, and after the elections,” Fuentebella said.

“Contingency plans are in place, and we are in constant coordination with security agencies to help ensure a smooth and secure election process,” he added.

The ETFE, a multi-agency body led by the DOE, works closely with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and security forces, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, and Bureau of Fire Protection to ensure a smooth and credible elections.

Since January, the task force has held regular coordination meetings and inspections to assess readiness and implement contingency plans, while field personnel have conducted maintenance on transmission lines, polling stations, and backup systems, especially in remote and off-grid areas.

The DOE official said the energy sector has mapped out priority areas and is monitoring potential vulnerabilities, particularly in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We have taken all necessary steps to support the smooth and credible conduct of the 2025 elections. The Department of Energy, through the ETFE, stands ready to respond and coordinate with our partners to maintain uninterrupted energy access across the country,” Fuentebella added.

He said the task force will closely monitor potential worst-case scenarios, including the simultaneous occurrence of natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and low-pressure weather systems that could trigger power disruptions.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think stable and sufficient electricity will be provided during and after the elections? Do you think power outages could still happen during the canvassing period?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Chinese national caught with high-tech eavesdropping equipment charged by NBI

May 6, 2025May 1, 2025carlocarrasco

The Chinese national who was arrested near the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) building in Manila with high-tech equipment with him has been formally charged by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), according to a news story by the Philippine New Agency (PNA). GMA Network had its own reporter on location when the arrest happened.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday filed criminal charges against a Chinese national arrested for possession of electronic eavesdropping equipment near the Commission on Elections (Comelec) building in Intramuros, Manila on Tuesday.

Tak Hail Lao, 47, was charged by the NBI before the Department of Justice (DOJ) with misuse of device and illegal interception and system interference under Republic Act No. 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, and espionage under Commonwealth Act No. 616 or the Espionage Act of 1941.

Speaking to reporters, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said while the charges are bailable, “it will be up to the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to decide whether temporary liberty should be granted while the case is pending since the suspect is a foreign national.”

Records from the BI showed that Tak Hail Lao, who uses a passport issued by the Chinese special administrative region of Macau, arrived last April 2 and had no derogatory record.

He was caught in possession of an international mobile subscriber identity device, or IMSI catcher, which can be used to intercept mobile communications, including text messages.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think there could be a lot more Chinese nationals using high-tech equipment in the Philippines doing secret acts of espionage? Do you consider Chinese spies a threat to national security?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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DICT tackling election troll armies and fake news online

May 3, 2025April 27, 2025carlocarrasco

In relation with the 2025 National and Local Elections scheduled for May 12, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) recently launched a campaign versus troll armies and fake news online with protecting election integrity in mind, according to a Philippine News Agency (PNA) news article.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of the PNA. Some parts in boldface…

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has started a crackdown against fake news and organized ‘troll armies’ on social media to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.

In a news release on Wednesday, DICT Secretary Henry Aguda announced the agency’s collaboration with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on several key initiatives to enhance the technological infrastructure of the elections.

“These initiatives include the establishment of Configuration Hubs, where DICT personnel will assist in managing the hubs during the election process, as well as the development of online services such as the Precinct Results Finder, Registration Status Verifier, and Election Results Website, all aimed at ensuring transparency and providing real-time access to election data,” Aguda said.

The DICT’s Cybersecurity Bureau is also rolling out critical initiatives such as vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (VAPT) to identify and mitigate security risks, and ensure the security for digital infrastructures throughout the election process.

“A key technological advancement in securing the election is the deployment of (Philippine National) Public Key Infrastructure (PNPKI) digital certificates, which will be used by teachers serving as electoral board members. These certificates will ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and authentication of election data,” he said.

Aguda also recognized the growing the influence of social media platforms in the elections and welcomed the stance of technology giants — Tiktok, Google, and Meta — who pledged to ban paid political ads on their platforms.

“We must be proactive, not reactive. The threats are evolving. From fake news to deepfakes and organized troll armies –our election system must be ready to face them head-on,” he said.

Google, in particular, has implemented the ban on election advertisements since the start of the official campaign period.

“[It is] a move that supports the shared goal of a clean, fair, and credible election,” he said.

On Tuesday, Aguda convened the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) in Taguig City as part of its mission to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2025 polls.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the DICT will succeed in its campaign versus fake news and online trolls?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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COMELEC precinct finder available online

April 24, 2025April 23, 2025carlocarrasco

To help voters prepare themselves for the 2025 National and Local Elections scheduled for May 12, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has prepared the precinct finder online which people can visit now by clicking https://precinctfinder.comelec.gov.ph/voter_precinct

The precinct finder can help registered voters locate their respective precincts and the name of the venue where the precinct is located at. Voters only need to type their respective names in full, their birthdates, place of registration, and city or municipality.

Voters who will be participating in the May 12 elections are encouraged to click https://precinctfinder.comelec.gov.ph/voter_precinct

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