MANILA — If the current trend continues, a landslide victory awaits Liberal Party (LP) standard bearer Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in the May 10 elections, a political analyst said Thursday.

Ramon Casiple, executive director of Institute for Political and Economic Reform (Iper), said in a text message that the latest Pulse Asia survey showing Aquino with a 19-percent point margin over his closest rival, Senator Manny Villar of Nacionalista Party (NP) is a potent indication. Read rest of story

CEBU CITY — Mayor Tomas Osmeña visited the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) Thursday and walked 10 rounds at the oval to dispel rumors that his health is deteriorating, an issue raised by his opponents.

Osmeña walked the equivalent of four kilometers with some of the candidates running under the Bando Osmeña Pundo Kauswagan (BOPK) ticket. The brisk walking lasted 55 minutes. Read rest of story

CAGAYAN DE ORO — Undetermined units of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines intended for use in Northern Mindanao during the May 10 automated elections are already in a guarded warehouse in Cagayan de Oro, poll officials said.

Lawyer Carlito Ravelo, Commission on Elections (Comelec) provincial supervisor, said the PCOS machines said will be delivered to their destinations on May 5 for testing and resealing before the actual elections. Read rest of story

BACOLOD CITY — Congressman Monico Puentevella topped for the third straight time the Bombo Radyo-initiated survey for the mayoralty race, edging incumbent Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

In its latest results of the Random Access Consultant, Inc. (RACI) polls conducted between April 24-26, 2010, Puentevella, a three-term congressman, led Leonardia by 12.5 percent after garnering 49.3 percent against the mayor’s 36.8 percent. Read rest of story

DAVAO CITY — Mayor Rodrigo Duterte requested Wednesday the poll body to place Davao City under its control following the recent “capable plotting” conspiracy against him reportedly led by House Speaker Prospero Nograles’s allies.

Duterte said Alliance for National Democracy (Anad) leader Jun Alcover and Bantay party-list leader Jovito Palparan, as allies of Nograles, “were bad news from the start.” Read rest of story

MANILA — Liberal Party standard bearer Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III widened his lead over his closest presidential rivals in the May 10 polls, an independent survey said Thursday.

Aquino, son of Philippine democracy icon Corazon Aquino, has the support of four in 10 Filipinos with 39 percent of those responding to a survey conducted by pollster Pulse Asia. Read rest of story

CEBU CITY — Presidential aspirant Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. promised Wednesday to hit the campaign trail again in 2016, to help elect the first Cebuana president of the country.

He made the pledge in front of a crowd in Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s hometown, Dumanjug, but One Cebu officials later said a presidential campaign is not part of the governor’s plans. Read rest of story

ZAMBOANGA — At least 1,000 soldiers in Southern Mindanao will be casting their votes in a three-day scheduled absentee voting, a military official said Thursday.

Captain Emmanuel Garcia, public affairs officer of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the three-day absentee voting for soldiers started Wednesday and ended Friday. Read rest of story

MANILA — The elections commission rejected Thursday the proposed parallel manual count this May 10 elections.

Even before the announcement of its decision Thursday, the poll body already hinted Wednesday that the en banc would unlikely favor the petition for a parallel manual count of votes in the coming May elections. Read rest of story

BAGUIO CITY — No one among the mayoral candidates in Wednesday’s forum has a clear and attainable agenda in addressing the problems of Baguio, said Bishop Carlito Cenzon.

The Baguio Centennial Commission held a forum on mayoral candidates in Baguio at the CRC Hall, Bishop’s compound Wednesday. Read rest of story