By Carmela G. Lapeña and Patricia Denise Chiu/KBK/HS, GMA News

After the violence that marked a campaign sortie of Taguig mayoral candidate Rica Tinga over the weekend, the city may become the first Metro Manila area to be classified under “areas of concern” by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

At least 12 supporters of Tinga were hurt when they were attacked by masked men while they were campaigning near Taguig City Hall last Saturday. Tinga alleged that the assailants were city hall employees.

By Jefferson Antiporda, Manila Times

Beginning May 17, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) will double the minimum jackpot prizes for two of its lottery games.

The chance of winning a bigger bonanza doesn’t come cheap, though. The PCSO will also double the ticket price.

By Erwin Santiago, PEP.ph

Pinabulaanan ni Marjorie Barretto, ang dating aktres at ngayon ay Caloocan City councilor, na siya ang babaeng nasa "photo scandal" na kumakalat sa social networking site na Facebook nitong weekend, Mayo 4 and 5.

Tinatayang unang lumabas ang mga litratro sa isang tabloid noong Biyernes, Mayo 3. Sa pamamagitan ng panayam ng editor in chief ng PEP na si Jo-Ann Maglipon sa telepono ngayong umaga, ipinahatid ni Marjorie ang kanyang maikling pahayag tungkol sa kumakalat na mga larawan: "No. That's not me. I would never do something like that. That's not my nature."

By Lolit Solis (Pilipino Star Ngayon)

In all fairness to Gretchen Barretto, wala siyang sinabi na nega laban sa kanyang ina at mga kapatid sa very short interview sa kanya ni Boy Abunda sa The Buzz noong Linggo.

Basta ang sabi niya, “Hindi madali ang pinagdadaanan ko ngayon. Hindi madali ‘yung pinag-uusapan ka ng buong Pilipinas. Hindi madaling pa­kinggan ‘yung pinagdaanan ko, ‘yung childhood ko. Away-pamilya ito, Boy, hindi dapat isapubliko. It took so long for me to learn so many things. I learned this week that a tight embrace means the world to me. I learned that marami pa palang nagmamahal sa akin. I also learned that life is not perfect and I can’t have everything. Boy, ayokong magsalita.

By ABS-CBNnews.com

ABS-CBN Corporation continued to pull away from its rivals as it dominated TV viewing across urban and rural homes nationwide in April, boosted by the performance of its noontime show "It's Showtime."

With its strong line-up of shows, the Kapamilya network garnered an average total day audience share of 42% or 12 points higher than GMA’s 30%, based on the data provided by Kantar Media.

by Rose Garcia, PEP

Kasama ang Pinay TV host-actress na si KC Concepcion bilang isa sa "25 Sexiest International Actresses You Haven't Heard Of" ng U.S.-based magazine na Complex. Nasa 23rd spot si KC at ito ang naging description sa kanya:

"KC Concepcion was born into fame: her father is 80’s heartthrob Gabby Concepcion and her mother is the “Philippine Movie Queen” Sharon Cuneta. KC is basically royalty, but she’s not riding on her mother’s coattails. She’s the UN’s National Ambassador Against Hunger, she starred in the highest grossing Philippine movie in 2008, For the First Time, she released her first album KC and she's set to host The X Factor Philippines."

By Reuters News Service

The Memphis Grizzlies have branded themselves as a team that plays hard-nosed, physical defense. Once the Grizzlies know what an opposing team likes to do, they clamp down and find a way to take it away.

However, when the Grizzlies faced Oklahoma City Sunday, they met up with a man who hasn’t seen a defense he can’t solve. Kevin Durant scored 12 fourth-quarter points to lead the Thunder past Memphis 93-91 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, giving Oklahoma City a 1-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinal series.

By Gil C. Cabacungan, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Senatorial candidates are seeking “command votes” and visiting vote-rich provinces in the final week of the campaign to gain the support of the still significant number of voters who have yet to decide whom to vote for.

Reelectionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said the battle for command votes from big religious and civic groups, and influential local politicians would be the theme this week.

By Mayen Jaymalin (The Philippine Star)

Despite persistent concerns about possible mechanical glitches and violence, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday all is set for the midterm polls on May 13.

“Everything that happened in 2010, we have already solved these problems. All the things critics have been saying have been addressed,” Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said yesterday.

By Manila Times

Malacañang expects the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to resolve the glitches encountered during the Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines last week before May 13.

On Thursday, several glitches were noted during the FTS in Pasay City, including the malfunctioning of one machine at the P. Villanueva Elementary School. There was also one instance wherein one machine recognized an unshaded circle marked with an “x” by the voter.

By Renee Avena Fopalan, GMA News

The PBA All-Star selection saw their eight-point lead disappear in the final two minutes, as Jeff Chan knocked in the game-tying three with 0.6 seconds, remaining to end their exhibition against the Gilas Pilipinas national squad in a tie, 124-124, on Sunday in Digos City, Davao Del Sur.

An Arwind Santos high-looper welcomed the last two minutes, putting the PBA selection ahead, 118-110. Gilas milked the line for four, but Beau Belga took two of his own to make it a six-point game.

By Joey Villar, The Philippine Star

"Beat China." This was the advice given by former NBA star Yao Ming to the Philippine national basketball team, Smart Gilas Pilipinas, seeking an end to the decades-long World Championship and Olympic drought.

Yao made the statement at the press conference on Philippines-China Friendship Games on Sunday at the Grand Ballroom of the Solaire Hotel and Casino near the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

By RAF, GMA News

Floyd Mayweather kept his record immaculate on Sunday after defeating Robert Guerrero at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It was a clinical finish for Mayweather, who peppered Guerrero with right hands, resulting to a cut above the latter's right eye after eight rounds. In the end, it was a unanimous decision for Mayweather, who remained undefeated after 44 bouts. All three judges,Julie Lederman, Duane Ford and Jerry Roth, scored it 117-111 for Mayweather.

By Edu Punay (The Philippine Star)

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is dropping former police senior superintendent Cezar Mancao II from the Witness Protection Program (WPP) following his escape from detention at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last Thursday.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said she will sign today the order terminating Mancao from WPP as prosecution witness in the November 2000 murders of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver Emmanuel Corbito.

By Andreo Calonzo /LBG, GMA News

The Department of Foreign Affairs on Sunday said the decision of China's new foreign minister not to visit the Philippines in his Southeast Asia tour is a prerogative.

In a text message, DFA chief Albert del Rosario said his office has “not given a second thought” to newly-appointed Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi's choice of countries in the region to visit.

By LBG, GMA News

Malacañang is treading softly on allegations by Malaysian opposition leaders that Filipino flying voters were being brought to Malaysia to engage in electoral fraud there.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on state-run dzRB, “As to the claim (of Filipino flying voters), that is something that can be checked out. (But) at this point we don’t want to comment. That involves internal politics in a neighboring country.”

By Charlie V. Manalo, Tribune

Almost a week before election day, violence reared its ugly head in the hotly-contested Manila political arena as a campaign rally of former President and now Manila mayoralty candidate Joseph “Erap” Estrada was marred by movie-like violence and stampede after unidentified men threw empty bottles and rocks at an open stage in the Sampaloc district while United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) local candidates are giving their speeches.

The attack injured one of the UNA candidates, District 4 Councilor Jocelyn Quintos, and two supporters in an incident the Estrada camp said highlighted months of harassments inflicted on UNA candidates and followers.