Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The validity of vehicle registrations, driver’s licenses, and other permits that will expire beginning on July 1, 2026 will be extended until further notice amid the technical issues of the Land Transportation Office’s( LTO) online portal, the agency said on Thursday.

According to the LTO, the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. MVL-2026-5271 dated July 29, 2026 was implemented due to the series of technical issues affecting the Land Transportation Management System.

‘To ensure efficient public service and provide the transacting public a reasonable opportunity to comply without incurring additional charges, the validity of all motor vehicle registrations and driver’s/conductor’s licenses due for renewal starting 01 July 2026 is hereby EXTENDED nationwide until further notice,’ the MC read.

‘No late fees or penalties will be collected during the effectivity of this Memorandum Circular,’ it added.

With this, the LTO said that the validity extension covers the following: motor vehicle registration, driver’s license, conductor’s license, student permit, and medical certificate.

The LTO noted that the nationwide slowdown and downtime of the online portal have been caused by system slowdowns from stuck processors, charges in network’s setup, prolonged system use without proper reset, and insufficient storage space.

‘Notably, these issues stem from the system’s design, setup, and vendor-controlled access, and are not due to any action, inaction, or fault on the part of the Land Transportation Office,’ it stated.

Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon has opposed Vice President Sara Duterte’s insinuations that victims of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during her father’s drug war may have been gunned down due to marital squabbles, as she claimed that it is easy to have someone killed.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Ridon said he would not allow the vice president to create a narrative depicting the causes of deaths during former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war as unclear, stressing that the cases before the International Criminal Court (ICC) are well-documented.

‘People died because they supposedly fought against law enforcement officers who implemented Duterte’s drug war,’ Ridon said in Filipino.

‘The reason why he is detained at The Hague is not shallow,’ he added.

The elder Duterte is currently detained at the ICC in The Hague, Netherlands, on charges of crimes against humanity. Vice President Duterte recently led a protest rally outside the ICC, where she said that wives who catch their husbands having affairs can easily hire killers for as low as P5,000.

Vice President Duterte, in condemning her father’s continued incarceration at the ICC’s detention center, said the EJKs attributed to his presidency could instead be linked to the country’s rampant gun violence.

She claimed the EJKs cannot be immediately attributed to former President Duterte’s anti-illegal drug campaign, as it is unclear whether all the deaths occurred during legitimate operations.

‘I have a husband. My husband has a mistress. I can hire a gunman for 5,000 pesos to kill the mistress … that is how bad gun violence in the Philippines is. And that is, again, yes, EJK,’ she said.

‘So how can you say that all your listed victims, all your listed complainants are supposed victims of the drug war? How can they say now that all the victims there are victims of the drug war? That is supposed to be a crime against humanity?’ she added.

Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said that if Duterte’s intentions were really about curbing violence, she should have provided this information to law enforcement agencies.

The lawmaker also said that Duterte does not have to be an ally of the Marcos administration to report the matter, saying that being vice president alone is enough reason to help fight crime.

‘Her office, being a public office, demands that she at least shares this information if that is what she intends to prove – to remove violent incidents from our streets,’ he added.

Earlier, Ridon asked Duterte whether the P5,000 payment for a hitman she mentioned was what she paid when she threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his relatives assassinated.

Alonto Adiong, meanwhile, said that it is unacceptable to think that Vice President Duterte even knows how killings can be carried out.

The vice president is facing an impeachment case before the Senate Impeachment Court. Recently, the prosecution panel concluded presenting its evidence and witnesses for Article IV, which addresses the threats mentioned at a November 23, 2024, online press briefing.

As she criticized the House for detaining her chief of staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, Duterte went online for a briefing to berate the First Couple and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, the president’s cousin.

During the same briefing, a vlogger asked Duterte to be careful, as she might be in danger. She replied by urging people not to worry, as she had talked to a person about killing the Marcos couple and Romualdez if she herself were killed.

The defense panel has maintained that Duterte’s statements were protected by free speech, but several government officials and members of the prosecution team believe they constituted a grave threat, regardless of whether the vice president actually entered into a contract with an assassin to kill the president and his family

‘Most financial platforms still treat fraud as something you respond to after the damage is done,’ said Raffy Montemayor, Co-founder of Salmon. ‘At Salmon, we designed our security systems to work in the background and proactively stop fraud before it succeeds.’

With this, Salmon customers can transact with greater confidence knowing their accounts are protected by multiple layers of intelligent security:

Real-time visibility on where your account is used

Unlike many financial apps, Salmon allows customers to view every device currently logged into their account, including the phone model, approximate location, and last active time.

If a device appears unfamiliar or suspicious, customers can instantly terminate that session with a single tap directly inside the app. Their active device remains clearly labeled as ‘This device’ to avoid accidental lockouts.

Customers will also be able to see the apps, online stores, and other services, where their Salmon card is enrolled, and can easily restrict charges, if needed. This way, they have full visibility and control of where their Salmon account is being used.

Instant card controls and one-time virtual cards

Customers can instantly freeze or permanently block their Salmon card directly in the app if it is misplaced or suspected to be compromised, helping prevent unauthorized transactions in real time.

For safer online purchases, customers can also generate a one-time virtual card that expires after a single transaction, keeping their primary card details protected and reducing the risk of card fraud.

Detecting malicious apps

One of the fastest-growing fraud threats in the Philippines involves malicious apps that silently read screen contents, intercept OTPs, and potentially execute unauthorized actions without the user’s knowledge.

Salmon actively detects when a suspicious app on a customer’s device has gained a dangerous level of control. Depending on the risk-level, Salmon will either notify the customer about the detection in-app or via direct calls, or temporarily restrict sensitive account activity to help protect the customer. They will then be guided on removing malicious apps and protecting potentially exposed credentials.

Security beyond the OTP

Many account takeover scams in the Philippines rely on intercepting OTPs through phishing links, fake calls, or malware. Salmon’s security model is designed so that an OTP alone cannot authorize sensitive actions.

To access critical account functions such as money transfers, customers must complete live facial verification. Unlike standard phone face unlock systems, Salmon’s facial recognition technology is designed to verify real, live users before sensitive actions can proceed.

This means that even if attackers successfully intercept OTPs, they still cannot move funds or fully take over an account which reduces the risk of account takeover fraud.

In-app fraud confirmation in under a minute

When Salmon detects a potentially high-risk transaction, it is flagged for confirmation before money leaves the customer’s account.

Customers immediately receive an in-app notification containing key transaction details, allowing them to quickly review the activity and either confirm the transaction and retry it instantly, or report it as fraudulent.

The entire process happens digitally within the app itself, without requiring hotline calls, lengthy wait times, or branch visits, unlike other banks or fintechs.

24/7 human anti-fraud support

Salmon’s anti-fraud team operates around the clock, providing customers with access to real human support whenever suspicious activity arises.

For more complex fraud-related cases, Salmon also assigns investigators to assist customers in documenting incidents, preparing complaints, and coordinating regulatory or legal filings when necessary.

As digital scams continue to evolve, Salmon believes fintech security must move beyond reactive alerts and focus instead on proactive, customer-centered protection.

‘In Short: Artificial intelligence is becoming an integral part of customer support, helping businesses answer routine questions, organize incoming requests, and provide assistance more efficiently. At Olymptrade, AI handles common inquiries while experienced specialists focus on situations that require context, judgment, and personalized guidance. Together, technology and human expertise make 24/7 support across more than 130 countries possible while helping the team continuously improve the user experience.’

When people contact customer support, they usually want quick answers and clear guidance. Increasingly, businesses rely on artificial intelligence to help deliver that experience. AI can respond to routine questions, organize incoming requests, and direct users to the right resources, allowing support teams to work more efficiently while remaining available around the clock.

However, not every conversation follows a predictable path. Some inquiries require additional context, coordination between departments, or careful human judgment before they can be resolved.

To better understand how customer support works behind the scenes, we spoke with members of Olymptrade’s customer support team. Their experiences show that effective support is not about choosing between AI and real people. Instead, it comes from combining technology, teamwork, and clear communication to help users navigate every stage of the support process.

How Does AI Help Customer Support?

As customer support has grown, technology has become an important part of handling everyday requests. AI helps answer common questions, direct users to helpful resources, and route inquiries to the appropriate teams when additional assistance is needed.

These tools allow support teams to respond more efficiently while providing assistance around the clock. For a global platform such as Olymptrade, serving users in more than 130 countries, automation also helps maintain a consistent support experience regardless of where a request comes from.

However, not every conversation follows a predictable path. Some requests require additional context, coordination between teams, or guidance tailored to a user’s specific situation.

That is where human specialists become essential. By allowing AI to handle routine interactions, support representatives can devote more time to conversations that benefit from careful judgment, collaboration, and clear communication.

When Does a Ticket Need a Human?

Automation is excellent for speed and routine data retrieval. If a user asks about standard terms or needs help finding a menu item, an AI system handles it instantly. But automated systems follow predefined rules; they cannot analyze unique context or adapt to individual user needs.

One member of the Olymptrade support team explained:

‘Human attention is very important in situations where users need detailed explanations, reassurance, and additional guidance to navigate their specific requests.’

Some situations are not always defined by the complexity of the request itself. Sometimes a user simply needs a clearer explanation, additional guidance, or regular updates while a question is being reviewed. In these cases, the value of real human support lies in understanding the situation, communicating clearly, and helping users know what to expect next.

Another specialist described the role this way:

‘Support work is not only about solving technical issues, but also about understanding user concerns and maintaining clear, reassuring communication when users are seeking clarification or requiring additional guidance. Only a real person can read between the lines of a detailed query, offer genuine empathy, and provide solution-oriented support to maintain trust.’

That perspective reflects the wider role of customer support. Alongside AI tools that handle routine interactions, human specialists provide the judgment, communication, and context that help users navigate requests requiring a more personalized approach. They also work closely with colleagues across different teams whenever additional expertise or information is needed, ensuring users remain informed throughout the process.

Support as an Area of Continuous Development

Olymptrade views its customer service not as a finished success story, but as an area of continuous development and operational improvement. Part of this evolution involves managing the relationship between AI and human support. This ongoing commitment customer support has also received external recognition. In 2026, Olymptrade received the Excellence in Customer Support Middle East 2026 award.

While technology is becoming increasingly capable, its core purpose is to handle routine requests efficiently at scale, not to replace human specialists. User expectations of AI can sometimes exceed its current technical capabilities, which is why setting realistic timelines and clear communication expectations remains an ongoing focus for the industry.

Behind everyday support work is a steady process of answering questions, sharing updates, and coordinating with other teams when additional context is needed. A single specialist may manage anywhere from 40 to 70 individual cases per shift. Because positive, smooth outcomes are less likely to be shared publicly on internet forums, public impressions can sometimes lean toward unusual edge cases, distorting the broader picture of overall support quality.

Interestingly, many support specialists note that their own professional experience helps them better understand the work behind customer service teams. They note that their background helps them look at other fields differently. When they interact with support agents as customers of other consumer industries, such as banking, telecommunications, delivery, or travel services, they approach those conversations with patience and understanding, recognizing the human effort involved behind the screen.

Why Communication Matters

Not every request can be resolved immediately. Some require additional review, coordination with other teams, or more information before the next step becomes clear.

During that time, communication often becomes just as important as the final outcome.

Here’s what a member of the Olymptrade support team said during the interview:

‘What users really want is reassurance that we are actively working on their case and doing everything we can to help.’

That reassurance comes through clear explanations, timely updates, and realistic expectations about what happens next. When users understand where a request stands and why additional time or information may be needed, they are better equipped to follow the process with confidence.

Keeping users informed also depends on teamwork behind the scenes. Support specialists regularly communicate with colleagues across different departments to gather updates, clarify details, and ensure the information shared with customers reflects the latest progress.

Whether a request can be resolved immediately or requires input from several teams, the goal remains the same: provide transparent communication, explain what is happening, and help users understand what to expect next.

Key Facts About Olymptrade Support

First reply in under 20 seconds

Average response time under 50 seconds

Customer support available 24/7

Assistance provided in 14 languages, including English, Arabic, Hindi, Bahasa Indonesia, Spanish, and others.

AI helps answer common questions and route requests

Human specialists provide guidance when additional context is needed

FAQ

Why is real human support prioritized for financial inquiries?

When using a financial platform, automated scripts are best utilized for standard routing. Human specialists step in to provide tailored guidance, cross-verify data with internal departments, and manage complex inquiries with clear, reassuring, and solution-oriented communication.

Is Olymptrade customer service available at any time?

Yes. Human specialist backup and automated routing tools are fully accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, worldwide.

How do Olymptrade support reviews help potential users?

Users researching Olymptrade often want to understand how support works and what kind of help they can expect. We challenge this stereotype: when the situation is complex, a real person is always there to help.

Support That Combines Technology and People

As AI continues to reshape customer support, the experiences shared by Olymptrade’s support team demonstrate why human expertise remains essential. While technology has made support faster and more efficient, meaningful assistance still depends on judgment, communication, and collaboration when users need more than automated responses.

AI helps answer routine questions, route requests, and make support faster. When additional context, guidance, or collaboration is needed, specialists work with colleagues across different teams to ensure users receive clear communication and timely updates throughout the process.

Together, technology and teamwork create a support system designed to keep users informed at every stage. It is an approach that reflects Olymptrade’s commitment to ‘Care that counts,’ combining efficiency with the human judgment that meaningful support still requires.

Who should shoulder the cost of the system loss? Definitely not the consumers, according to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian.

At a hearing in the Senate on Thursday, Gatchalian addressed the question raised by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), the country’s largest private electric distribution utility (DU).

‘As Mr. Pangilinan mentioned: Who should shoulder the system loss? Obviously, we do not want consumers to pay for it. That is why eight lawmakers filed bills seeking to remove the system loss charge’ Gatchalian said.

‘We believe the distribution companies should shoulder that cost. And it will be part of their cost or expense in generating electricity or in transmitting electricity,’ he said.

This way, he said, the DUs would be forced to be more efficient, noting that at present there is currently no pressure on them to reduce the system loss since they simply pass it on to consumers.

‘Now that it will become part of their costs, they will be forced to bring down-or even remove the system loss, especially its technical aspect. As for non-technical system loss, they should just work with the police or the barangays to apprehend those using illegal electricity connections. That way, non-technical system loss can be completely eliminated,’ the Senate chief said.

‘But the point of the matter there is that consumers agree this should not be passed on to us because the technical losses are not our fault. Neither are the losses caused by illegal electricity connections. We should not be made to shoulder those costs,’he added.

Gatchalian echoed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who called for the removal of the system loss from electricity bills during his fifth state of the nation address.

And many senators backed this proposal, according to the Senate chief, citing the eight bills that were filed in the upper chamber-all seeking to scrap at the system loss charge.

Gatchalian initially estimated the cost of the system loss being passed on to consumers nationwide to be at about P70 billion to P80 billion.

But Energy Regulatory Commission Chairperson Saturnino Juan could not confirm this, though he noted that for Meralco alone, the system loss cost P30 billion in 2025.

Including electric cooperatives, Gatchalian then adjusted his estimated system loss at P45 billion.

‘So, my question, who will absorb that 45? Again, I think that 45 can be absorbed by the distribution utilities. They just need to be efficient,’ he further said.

Here’s how fans can watch SB19 make history as the first homegrown Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza in Chicago.

SB19 is set to make history on Thursday, July 30, as the first homegrown Filipino act to perform at Lollapalooza Chicago, one of the world’s biggest and most influential music festivals.

Fans who can’t make it to Chicago’s Grant Park will still be able to watch the performance live through the festival’s official livestream on Disney+ and Hulu.

The four-day festival will stream live from July 30 to Aug. 2, featuring performances, artist interviews and backstage content.

SB19 is scheduled to perform on the Allianz Stage from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT (4:30-5:30 p.m. ET / 1:30-2:30 p.m. PT) on Thursday.

For fans in the Philippines, the set begins at 4:30 a.m. on Friday, July 31.

The group also announced that its performance will be streamed live on Weverse, giving A’TIN another way to watch the landmark appearance.

Composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin, SB19 debuted in 2018 and has become one of the biggest names in P-pop.

The quintet has earned more than a billion career streams, became the first Filipino and Southeast Asian act nominated for a Billboard Music Award, and scored international hits with songs such as ‘Bazinga’ and ‘Gento.’

The Lollapalooza performance follows the release of SB19’s latest album, ‘Wakas at Simula,’ and comes after the group appeared at the Grammy Museum’s Global Spin Live in Los Angeles, where they treated fans to a special performance and discussion ahead of their historic festival debut.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday said it will decongest its cases involving illegal drugs and will handle only syndicate-level crimes, and those involving public officers and big fish, through its anti-illegal drug task force.

In a press conference, DOJ Undersecretary Ian Dato said that Department Order No. 161, which created the task force overseeing illegal drug cases, will be amended to handle cases involving at least 10 kilograms of illegal drugs in Metro Manila and at least 15 kg of narcotics in other areas.

Other cases to be handled by the task force at the national level would be: If the respondent is a public officer or a law enforcement agent; if there is a foreigner involved or intercepted in airports or seaports; and if it involves grave crimes or acts, such as obstruction or construction of clandestine laboratories.

Cases involving small fry or smaller amounts of drugs seized would be referred to prosecutors at the local level.

‘So it elevates the task force to an elite task force that will only go after syndicate-level drug offenders, and everything else will be delegated to local prosecution offices who know their localities best,’ said Dato.

This, he added, would be done upon the recommendation of Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, who found it necessary to streamline its work

An activist priest in Quezon province urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to stand by his promise to remove the controversial system loss charges from electricity bills and not yield to pressure from power industry players opposing the proposal.

‘Millions of Filipinos bear the burden of exorbitant electricity costs every day. It is only fair to abolish charges that do not directly reflect consumers’ actual electricity consumption,’ Fr. Warren Puno, director of the Ministry of Ecology of the Diocese of Lucena, said in a statement on Thursday, July 30.

‘We therefore urge the president not to waver or be influenced by the statements of distribution utilities such as Meralco. If the administration is truly serious about providing relief to the public, now is the time to prove it through concrete action,’ he said.

Puno issued the statement after Malacañang explained on Wednesday that the government was still studying the implementation of one of the President’s most applauded promises during his State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Monday – the removal of system loss charges from consumers’ electricity bills.

In his Sona, Marcos called on Congress to amend the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (Epira) to eliminate system loss charges passed on to consumers.

‘It’s time to stop passing the burden of system loss to consumers. This is being passed on to consumers and even subjected to value-added tax. System loss is not the consumers’ fault,’ the president said in Filipino.

System loss refers to electricity delivered through the distribution system that is not reflected as transmitted, resulting from technical losses and non-technical losses such as electricity theft. As standard practice, every consumer shoulders the cost of this loss.

Palace press officer Claire Castro said the proposal is still being studied to ensure that removing the charges would not have unintended consequences for electricity distribution utilities.

Also on Wednesday, businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), balked at Marcos’ proposal, saying the financial burden of absorbing system losses would be ‘too big’ for the power industry.

Meralco is the country’s biggest power distributor, which counts about 8.3 million consumers. ‘So, who’s going to pay for that? The industry? It’s going to cost tens of billions of pesos. Will you not survive?’ Pangilinan said.

‘Malacañang’s statement that it is still studying the impact of removing system loss charges is deeply concerning. The administration’s commitment already appears to be weakening,’ Puno said.

‘Millions of Filipinos bear the burden of exorbitant electricity costs every day. It is only fair to abolish charges that do not directly reflect consumers’ actual electricity consumption,’ the priest said.

He called on Marcos to certify as urgent the bills seeking to abolish system loss charges and to work closely with Congress to ensure their immediate passage into law.

He added that the true measure of a successful Sona ‘is not the appeal of its promises, but the courage and determination to turn those promises into reality

Dawn Zulueta shared a fangirl moment with her daughter Ayisha Lagdameo as they met and talked to ‘Stranger Things’ star Noah Schnapp in New York.

The veteran actress documented through her Instagram page their encounter, which happened after the mother and daughter watched a ballet production at the Metropolitan Opera House.

‘Biggest highlight of this summer break was meeting the lovable Noah Schnapp at ABT’s Swan Lake ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House,’ Zulueta said in the caption.

In one of the videos in the post, Ayisha was seen greeting Schnapp and his mother and asking him for a photo. She then showed him a video of the ‘Stranger Things’-themed dance performance she did in school, which Schnapp complimented.

‘His reaction to her mentioning that she played his part ‘Will Byers’ in the mega-hit series is so sweet,’ Zulueta continued, referring to the American actor’s character in the series.

Addressing the Hollywood celebrity, Zulueta added, ‘Thank you, Noah, for being so kind and generous with your time. ‘Twas an honor to meet you and your beautiful mum. Wishing you more success!’

In ‘Stranger Things,’ Schnapp plays Will whose disappearance sets off the supernatural events that unfold throughout the series. Other series cast members include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, David Harbour, and Winona Ryder.

The Philippines’ trade deficit widened in June as imports continued to outpace exports, though a record surge in outbound shipments helped keep the gap at its narrowest in four months.

Philippine Statistics Authority data released on Thursday showed the country’s trade deficit expanded 12.3 percent from a year earlier to $4.9 billion in June.

The shortfall nonetheless marked the smallest since February as exports climbed to an all-time high.

Exports jumped 24.1 percent year on year to a record $8.78 billion, while imports rose 19.6% to $13.71 billion.

Although inbound shipments increased from a year earlier, they eased to a two-month low