Day: April 21, 2025

Manila: Malaca±ang has rejected calls for President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to deploy the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) to address alleged rising kidnapping cases, asserting that there is no widespread kidnapping spree in the country. According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized during a press briefing that the claims of a kidnapping spree are false and constitute fake news. She reassured the public that law enforcement agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police (PNP), are sufficiently equipped and capable of managing the situation. The appeal for military intelligence support followed the

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that private schools in the country have the option to implement the newly revised academic calendar originally set for public schools. According to Philippines News Agency, the DepEd has reverted to its original school calendar, running from June to March, with school breaks scheduled from April to May, as outlined in its Department Order (DO) No. 12, series of 2025. This change sets the start of classes for the school year 2025-2026 on June 16, concluding on March 31 the following year. DepEd Media Relations Chief Dennis Legaspi, in a Viber message, clarified

Manila: Malaca±ang on Monday welcomed the appearance of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) label on Google Maps, saying the recognition affirms the country’s sovereign rights and brings pride to the Filipino people. In a Palace press briefing, Press Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the move by the global mapping platform is a cause for celebration, especially amid continued disputes over the country’s maritime claims. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippines, under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., continues to take a firm stance on upholding its sovereignty in the WPS, repeatedly calling for respect of

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has reported that approximately 80,000 Filipinos residing overseas have enrolled for online voting in anticipation of the midterm elections scheduled for May. This enrollment is part of the ongoing efforts to ensure participation from the 1.241 million registered overseas voters. According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia expressed the hope that there would be a 50-percent voter turnout, equating to about 600,000 overseas voters. He noted that some voters have already cast their votes using automated counting machines in 16 different posts. “We can’t say the exact number but the results are

Central Luzon: The Police Regional Office 3 (PRO-3) has reported that seven individuals lost their lives in Central Luzon during the Holy Week. According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-3 documented nine drowning incidents involving 12 individuals in Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, and Zambales over the Holy Week period. Out of these incidents, seven fatalities were confirmed. Additionally, PRO-3 reported three vehicular accidents in Nueva Ecija, Zambales, and Bataan, which resulted in multiple injuries. Investigations into all these cases are currently underway. Despite these unfortunate events, Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo, director of PRO-3, described the Holy Week observance in the