Day: April 21, 2025

Manila: The Court of Appeals (CA) has upheld the multiple life sentences handed down to Police Officer 1 Jefrey Perez, who was convicted in connection with the deaths of two Caloocan youths in 2017 during the previous administration’s controversial war on drugs. According to Philippines News Agency, the CA’s Second Division, in a 50-page decision dated April 10, affirmed the November 10, 2022, ruling by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 122, which found Perez guilty of torturing 14-year-old Reynaldo de Guzman, alias “Kulot,” and 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz. Perez was also found guilty of planting drugs and a

Manila: Archdioceses throughout the Philippines have expressed their sympathies for the death of Pope Francis, who died Monday morning in the Vatican. According to Philippines News Agency, in separate statements, the Archdioceses of Cebu, Lingayen-Dagupan in Pangasinan, and Palo, Leyte said they are one with the “Universal Church” in mourning the demise of the 88-year-old Holy Father. “The Archdiocese of Cebu joins the Universal Church in mourning the death of Pope Francis,” they stated. They invited all the lay faithful, clergy, and religious to offer prayers and Masses for the eternal repose of his soul, hoping the Lord grants him

Bacolod: Coffee farmers from Negros Occidental province have emerged victorious in the 2025 Western Visayas Regional Coffee Quality Competition organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), with Rogelio Claridad of Murcia town securing first place among the top five winners. Claridad is part of the Doong Anangue Coffee Integrated Farmers Association, a group based in Barangay Buenavista that receives support from the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) under the Integrated Social Forestry (ISF) Program. According to Philippines News Agency, the PEMO expressed its congratulations to the Negrense coffee farmers who excelled in the competition. The provincial government of

Manila: The country’s gross international reserves (GIR) level at end-March 2025 remained healthy even as the balance of payment (BOP) last month recorded a USD2-billion deficit. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported Monday that the GIR level at end-March 2025 slightly declined to USD106.7 billion from USD107.4 billion in February. According to Philippines News Agency, this latest GIR level provides a robust external liquidity buffer, equivalent to 7.4 months worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income, as stated by the BSP. Additionally, it covers approximately 3.6 times the country’s short-term external debt based on

Bangkok: Filipino FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca settled for a draw with Indian Grandmaster Surya Shekhar Ganguly in Round 8 of the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Thailand last Sunday. Arca, playing the white pieces, split the point with Ganguly after 43 moves of the Catalan Opening, gaining 6.0 points and securing his third and final International Master (IM) norm. According to Philippines News Agency, Arca is tied for sixth place with eight others, including his final round opponent, British GM Nigel Short, a former World Championship challenger. The 16-year-old from