PHILIPPINES

A collection of 1613 posts

ASIA

Marcos Had ‘Zero Intervention’ in Cousin Martin Romualdez’s Arrest, Palace Says

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had “zero intervention” in the arrest and detention of his cousin, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Malacañang said as the high-profile flood-control corruption case enters a critical stage. The Palace position comes after Romualdez was arrested on September 7, 2026, following the

ASIA

Remulla Brothers Head to France as Pressure Mounts on Zaldy Co and Loren Legarda

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government's pursuit of fugitive former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co is moving beyond the country's borders. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla are preparing to travel to France as authorities step up efforts

ASIA

Sara Duterte Could Take the Witness Stand in Her Own Impeachment Trial

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte could soon face one of the most unusual moments of her impeachment trial: being called to testify as a witness in her own case. The House prosecution panel is considering asking the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Duterte after prosecutors decided to drop the

ASIA

Typhoid Cases Fall 41% in Philippines Despite Bad Weather, But Some Areas See Rise

MANILA, Philippines — Typhoid fever cases in the Philippines have fallen sharply this year despite weeks of unfavorable weather, according to the Department of Health (DOH). The latest surveillance data show that the country recorded 590 typhoid fever cases from August 2 to 15, down 20 percent from the 740 cases

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CBCP Bishop Warns Church Leaders: Abuse Cover-Ups, Negligence Could Lead to Removal

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic bishop has issued a strong warning to clergy and religious leaders in the Philippines: covering up abuse cases or failing to properly respond to reports could itself become grounds for accountability. Bishop Dennis Villarojo of Malolos, chairman of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)

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Binaliw Landfill Can Reopen—But Is It Really Safe? Cebu Officials Demand Answers

CEBU CITY — The Binaliw landfill may have been cleared for reopening, but Cebu City officials are still asking a crucial question: Is the facility actually safe enough to receive garbage again? The issue resurfaced during a Cebu City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 8, where officials raised concerns over unresolved

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2 Arrested as ₱4.84-Million Smuggled Cigarette Shipment Intercepted in Pagadian

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — An early-morning maritime operation in Pagadian City led to the arrest of two men and the seizure of approximately ₱4.84 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes, authorities said. The operation took place at about 3:45 a.m. on September 6 in the

ASIA

Looking for a Job? DOLE Davao del Norte to Hold Job Fair in Tagum on Sept. 14

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — Jobseekers looking for new opportunities will have another chance to connect directly with employers as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Davao del Norte holds a job fair in Tagum City on September 14, 2026. The “Handog ng Pangulo: Job Fair 2026” will be

ASIA

Endangered Philippine Hawk-Eagle Rescued in Zamboanga After Spending 3 Months With a Family

GUTALAC, Zamboanga del Norte — A young South Philippine Hawk-Eagle, one of the country's endangered birds of prey, has been rescued and placed under the care of environmental authorities after spending about three months with a family who found it as a vulnerable eaglet. The juvenile raptor was

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Heritage Forum in Cebu Takes Aim at Misinformation and Fake Historical Narratives

CEBU CITY, Philippines — A heritage forum in Cebu has highlighted the growing threat of misinformation, fabricated historical narratives and false claims on social media, urging the public to verify sources before accepting or sharing information as fact. The forum, titled “FAKE! Debunking Tales and the Challenge of Social Media,” was

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Cebu Power Crisis Threatens Economic Growth as Business Leaders Demand Long-Term Solution

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu’s worsening power crisis is no longer just a household inconvenience. Business leaders are warning that recurring brownouts and an increasingly strained Visayas power grid could threaten the province’s economic growth, raise consumer costs and weaken its appeal to investors. The warning came as Cebu

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IBP Lawyers Reach 16,148 Filipino Detainees in Massive Jail Drive — But Legal Advice Is Only the First Step

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of persons deprived of liberty across the Philippines have received legal assistance under a nationwide campaign led by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, as the country continues to confront severe overcrowding inside its detention facilities. The Integrated Bar of the Philippines reported that lawyers participating in

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Philippine Courts Are Short 463 Judges — But the Bigger Problem Is Why Some New Courts Still Can’t Open

MANILA, Philippines — Hundreds of judgeships across the Philippine judiciary remain vacant even as new courts are being created to bring justice closer to communities — exposing a staffing problem that lawmakers warn could keep cases trapped in already congested court dockets. Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta told the House

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PH, US Marines Launch MASA 2026 in Ilocos Norte — But the Real Focus Goes Far Beyond Aviation

ILOCOS NORTE, Philippines — Philippine and United States Marines have opened the 2026 Marine Aviation Support Activity, or MASA 2026, in Ilocos Norte, adding another major bilateral exercise to a year of increasingly integrated military training between the two longtime treaty allies. But despite the word “aviation” in its name, MASA

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NLEX San Simon Fully Reopens After Flood Crisis — But the Bigger Test Comes With the Next Habagat Surge

MANILA, Philippines — All three lanes in both directions of the North Luzon Expressway at the flood-hit Tulaoc and San Simon sections in Pampanga were reopened to all classes of vehicles Tuesday morning, September 8, marking a major turnaround after days of flooding, lane closures and punishing traffic jams along

ASIA

Zaldy Co Hunt Moves to France as Remulla Renews Interpol Bid — But One Crucial Approval Is Still Missing

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government is escalating its international effort to bring former Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co back to the country, with Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla preparing to travel to Lyon, France, to personally follow up on Manila’s request for an Interpol Red Notice. The move

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ICC Prosecutors Want P-1100’s Testimony in Duterte’s Trial — What the Witness Allegedly Knows Goes to the Heart of the DDS Case

THE HAGUE/MANILA — International Criminal Court prosecutors are seeking to place previously recorded testimony from an unidentified witness into evidence in the upcoming trial of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, arguing that the account could help establish how an alleged policy of “neutralizing” suspected criminals operated and what Duterte allegedly

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Mitch Locsin Helped Build the Philippine BPO Industry — His Legacy Lives in a $40-Billion Digital Economy

MANILA, Philippines — When the history of the Philippine business process outsourcing industry is written, the biggest names may not always be the ones whose work was most visible. Albert Mitchell “Mitch” Locsin was one of those builders. The longtime technology, telecommunications and IT-BPM executive died on August 19, 2026,

ASIA

TREYNA Group Acquires Evident to Build a Bigger PR Powerhouse — But the Real Play Goes Far Beyond Publicity

MANILA, Philippines — TREYNA Group is making another major move beyond traditional advertising, acquiring Evident Integrated Marketing & PR in a deal that substantially expands the Philippine agency group's reach into corporate communications, public affairs, advocacy and complex reputation management. Beginning October 1, 2026, Evident will operate as TREYNA

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Citi and Germany’s DEG Unlock ₱1.5 Billion for Filipino Women Entrepreneurs — But the Bigger Financing Push Is Already Underway

MANILA, Philippines — A new billion-peso financing deal could put more capital within reach of women running sari-sari stores, trading businesses and other microenterprises across the Philippines, as global lenders intensify their push into one of the country’s biggest but still underserved business sectors. Citi and German development

ASIA

PAL Is Cutting Bangkok Fares by Up to 20% — But Thailand’s Entry Rules Change Just Days After the Promo Travel Begins

MANILA — Bangkok is getting another sales push aimed squarely at Filipino travelers. Philippine Airlines (PAL), in partnership with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), is offering up to 20% off eligible flights to Bangkok, positioning the Thai capital as an easy international escape for Filipinos looking for food, shopping, culture,

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ABS-CBN Just Secured a ₱3.5-Billion New Investor — But the Fine Print Shows What I&C Is Really Worried About

MANILA, Philippines — The biggest outside investor in ABS-CBN Corp.’s planned ₱6-billion recapitalization is preparing to become a powerful new shareholder — and newly disclosed deal terms show that it is protecting itself carefully as it enters one of the most closely watched corporate turnarounds in Philippine media. I&

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Ayala Corp. Keeps Buying Ayala Land Near Multi-Year Lows—But One Number Will Show Whether the Comeback Is Real

MANILA, Philippines — Ayala Land Inc. is going through one of its roughest market stretches in years, but some of the people with the most at stake are behaving as if the downturn may eventually prove temporary. Parent company Ayala Corp. has continued accumulating shares of its listed property arm, even

ASIA

Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Still Needs 16 Votes—But Four Missing Senator-Judges Have Forced a Constitutional Showdown

MANILA, Philippines — A constitutional question that could ultimately determine the fate of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial is heading for a major showdown on September 23, 2026, when prosecutors and defense lawyers argue over how many senator-judges are actually needed to convict her. The Senate, sitting

ASIA

Philippines Farm Losses Hit ₱4.38 Billion After Habagat, 4 Cyclones — But the Biggest Threat May Not Be Over

MANILA, Philippines — The cost of weeks of punishing weather on Philippine farms is becoming clearer — and the damage is now well into the billions. Agricultural damage and production losses caused by the enhanced southwest monsoon, or Habagat, and tropical cyclones Luis, Maymay, Neneng and Pilandok have climbed to ₱4.38