It was a peaceful first day of the local absentee voting (LAV) for the May 9, 2022 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The LAV, which is meant to accommodate government officials and employees, members of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines, and journalists who are on duty on election day, will last for three days.

Comelec Commissioner George Garcia expressed hopes that the actual elections on May 9 would be just as peaceful as the first day of LAV.

In a related development, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has dismissed the reports of destabilization in connection with the polls next month as "just speculation".

This notwithstanding, PNP Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon has said that they are still prepared for "all possible scenarios".

President Duterte, on the other hand, wants Filipinos to keep themselves safe from a more tangible threat come May 9--infection from Covid-19. As such, he told his countrymen to continue following minimum public health standards up to the time that they enter polling precincts.

“So better, again, remember when you go to the electoral precincts, kindly tell yourself that you have to remember the things that government wants you to follow. So that hindi masyado tayo mahirapan (we won’t have too much trouble) and we will prevent another surge,” Duterte said.

These are among the top stories this busy Thursday afternoon, April 27, 2022.

1) Living with Covid-19

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/ano-urges-barangays-various-groups-help-prevent-covid-upsurge/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/psmid-encourages-public-to-get-vaccinated-vs-flu-pneumonia/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/experts-tells-policymakers-continue-to-combat-vaccine-hesitancy/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/covax-facility-to-replace-3-6-million-expired-covid-19-vaccines-duque/

2) Palace, VP race watch

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/18-catholic-schools-in-iloilo-endorse-leni-kiko/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/robredo-to-continue-fight-for-better-ph-regardless-of-may-poll-results/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/robredo-reveals-11-day-campaign-sked-may-7-miting-de-avance-in-ncr/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/we-have-no-trolls-bongbong/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/lacson-explains-what-the-vicious-cycle-of-revenge-between-voters-and-candidates-is/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/nag-effort-sara-duterte-tweaks-her-look-for-cdo-rally/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/this-is-how-bongbong-will-explain-martial-law-issue-to-young-voters/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/26/marcos-finally-responds-to-dutertes-spoiled-brat-weak-leader-tags/

3) Election 2022

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/comelec-on-1st-daybof-lavgenerally-peaceful/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/cayetano-notches-another-strong-showing-in-senatorial-survey/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/absentee-voting-of-filipinos-in-shanghai-hasnt-begun-due-to-strict-lockdown-ph-consul-general/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/jillian-robredo-heckled-in-baguio-volunteers-claim-heckling-unprovoked/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/mikes-theory-bongbongs-palace-rivals-caused-suspension-of-spoxs-fb-page/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/dict-exec-tells-bets-dont-believe-groups-claiming-they-can-hack-into-comelecs-system/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/filipino-architects-back-gatchalians-senate-re-election-bid/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/poll-lawyer-urges-comelec-to-suspend-use-of-precinct-finder/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/senatorial-candidate-raffy-tulfo-and-quezon-governor-suarez-endorse-each-other/

4) Talk to the People

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/duterte-lauds-covax-for-replacing-expired-covid-vaccines-for-free/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/duterte-observe-covid-protocols-on-election-day-to-avert-projected-surge/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/duterte-turns-down-asean-us-summit-invite-due-to-election-of-new-president/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/duterte-lauds-covax-for-replacing-expired-covid-vaccines-for-free/

5) AFP Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/afp-gets-new-simulator-training-center-for-air-defense-system/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/dnd-eyes-smooth-transition-of-afp-modernization-to-horizon-3-under-new-admin/

6) From the Palace

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/duterte-signs-law-compensating-marawi-siege-victims/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/duterte-declares-aug-30-national-press-freedom-day/

7) Destab plot?

8) Weather Update

9)  Judiciary Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/sandiganbayan-finds-ex-agusan-del-sur-mayor-brother-guilty-over-p1m-land-deal/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/nbi-to-arrest-prosecute-persons-responsible-in-posted-lewd-videos-of-vp-lenis-daughters/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/sc-affirms-rtc-ruling-for-taguig-city-in-territorial-dispute-with-makati-city/

10) Next PNP Chief?

11) Please mind the trees

12) World Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/china-detects-first-human-case-of-h3n8-bird-flu/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/south-koreas-moon-extends-condolences-to-agaton-victims/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/keep-going-worlds-oldest-person-eyes-new-longevity-record/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/singapore-executes-mentally-disabled-malaysian-man-sister/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/biden-issues-first-pardons-of-presidency/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/biden-doubles-availability-of-covid-therapeutic-pills/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/good-information-life-saving-who-says-after-musk-twitter-deal/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/putin-tells-un-chief-still-has-hope-in-ukraine-talks/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/us-vice-president-kamala-harris-tests-positive-for-covid-w-house/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/at-military-parade-kim-vows-to-boost-north-korea-nuclear-arsenal/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/nearly-60-of-us-population-had-covid-by-february/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/very-dangerous-chernobyl-marks-anniversary-amid-war/

13) Business Corner

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/ali-optimistic-its-businesses-will-improve-this-year/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/ali-sells-p3-47-b-areit-shares/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/bsps-project-cbdcph-aims-to-stabilize-ph-payment-system/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/edcs-mindanao-plant-starts-delivery-to-mindanao-grid/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/pagcor-on-track-to-hit-p65-b-gaming-income/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/puregold-earnings-flat-in-2021/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/aboitiz-power-income-down-53-to-p2-9-b-in-1st-quarter/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/agi-profits-more-than-doubled-in-2021/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/aev-q1-earnings-fall-54/

14) Metro Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/muntinlupa-lgu-starts-giving-second-booster-shots/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/one-dead-2-hurt-as-dump-truck-slams-workers-barracks-in-carmona-cavite/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/mpd-cops-cast-their-votes-as-lav-begins/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/las-pinas-lgu-begins-2nd-booster-rollout/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/police-seize-p729000-shabu-gun-in-taguig-muntinlupa/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/fernando-bats-for-peaceful-may-9-polls/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/antipolo-citys-ecopark-provides-jobs-promotes-environmental-awareness/

15) Provincial Roundup

https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/anti-narcotics-agents-nab-suspected-lady-drug-pusher-seize-p3-4-m-worth-of-shabu-in-possession/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/10-suspects-including-two-cops-in-robbery-carnapping-incidents-in-nueva-ecija-arrested/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/nia-turns-over-nine-irrigation-projects-totaling-p36m-to-benguet-farmers/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/iloilo-declared-under-state-of-calamity-more-than-two-weeks-after-agatons-fury/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/mayoral-candidates-in-all-surigao-del-norte-towns-pledge-support-for-clean-honest-and-credible-polls/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/04/27/4-4-magnitude-quake-hits-davao-occidental-province/