Day: April 8, 2025

Seoul: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday announced that South Korean authorities have initiated an investigation on the Norwegian-flagged cargo vessel M/V Lunita, which was intercepted for transporting two tons of suspected cocaine. The vessel was manned by a Filipino crew at the time of the raid. According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo Jose De Vega has confirmed the presence of the Filipino crew aboard the M/V Lunita during the operation. Although the crew members are currently not detained, they remain on the vessel and are being investigated by local authorities. De Vega explained that

Leyte: Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, assured the public that uniformed personnel will be on hand to ensure the safe conduct of the May 12 mid-term polls. In an interview with journalists here, he said that as deputized personnel of the Commission on Election (Comelec), the military has been assisting the Philippine National Police (PNP). According to Philippines News Agency, the military and police have an agreement for deployment ahead of the elections. Brig. Gen. Vestuir emphasized continued monitoring and strategic deployment plans with the PNP and Comelec. This response follows an appeal by

Manila: Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the arrival ceremony for the future BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), a newly-acquired guided missile corvette, at Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales Tuesday. In a statement, Teodoro emphasized the ship’s significance as a pivotal step in strengthening the Philippines’ self-reliant and credible defense posture. According to Philippines News Agency, Teodoro outlined four key focus areas for the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines: developing core capabilities and strategic basing, identifying continuous revenue sources for sustainment, enhancing training and education, and integrating domain awareness with multi-threat response systems. He

Manila: Over 4,200 beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have been turned over to local government units (LGUs). Jeffrey Gabucay, 4Ps Antique provincial link, said the 4,226 graduates are from 18 LGUs and have been assessed as ready to exit the program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. “Of the 4,226 household beneficiaries, 4,202 [were] assessed as already self-sufficient while 24 have no more children for monitoring,” Gabucay said. “We have to turn over the 4Ps beneficiaries to their LGUs so that they could avail of the aftercare program to ensure that they

Bacolod: Drug enforcement teams have seized more than PHP14 million worth of shabu in separate operations in Calatrava town and in this highly-urbanized city on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, respectively. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Western Visayas Special Enforcement Team-Bravo arrested a suspect known as alias Khent, 23, during a buy-bust in Barangay Bantayanon, Calatrava around 10:45 p.m. on Monday. Operatives found in his possession two vacuum-sealed plastic packs containing two kilograms of shabu worth PHP13.6 million. The suspect will be charged with violation of Article II, Section 5 (sale of dangerous drugs) and