Day: June 16, 2025

Manila: The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has rescued 10 minors from a suspected online child abuse ring in Concepcion, Tarlac and arrested two sisters, the children’s relatives who reportedly run the syndicate. According to Philippines News Agency, in a press briefing on Monday, NBI Director Jaime Santiago indicated that the June 10 entrapment and rescue operations were a follow-up to the case involving Swedish national and alleged child sexual offender Heinz Henry Andreas Berglund on April 2. The NBI-Violence Against Women and Children Division (VAWCD) initiated an investigation after receiving a referral from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Manila

Manila: The Philippine government is ramping up efforts in protecting overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) caught in the Middle East crossfire amid the escalating tension between Israel and Iran. On Monday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) welcomed 18 OFWs repatriated by the Philippine government at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 in Pasay City. According to Philippines News Agency, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac revealed that one of the OFWs is in critical condition at a hospital intensive care unit in Israel, while another is reportedly in a moderate but more

Manila: Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday reminded the House of Representatives to respond formally and in unison after the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, returned the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte and asked the House to comply with specific procedural requirements. According to Philippines News Agency, the Senate impeachment court recently voted to remand the articles of impeachment and directed the House to submit a certification that the complaint did not violate the one-year ban on impeachment, as well as a formal manifestation from the 20th Congress affirming its interest to pursue the case. Escudero

Bicol: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the Bicol region has announced that 2,615 out of the 2,806 candidates who filed their certificates of candidacy for the May 12 national and local elections have submitted their Statements of Contribution and Expenditure (SOCEs) before the June 11 deadline. According to Philippines News Agency, Maria Juana Valeza, the Comelec Bicol Director, stated in an interview that late submissions will not be accepted. Across the six provinces, Albay saw 455 out of 475 candidates submitting their SOCEs, Camarines Norte had 334 out of 349, Camarines Sur reported 854 out of 929, Catanduanes had

Manila: Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday defended the constitutionality of a bill that proposes extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials from three to four years, arguing that it rectifies the issues highlighted by the Supreme Court in a similar law that was partially declared unconstitutional in 2023. Escudero emphasized that the previous law was voided due to a failure to define the term of office for officials while postponing elections. According to Philippines News Agency, Escudero explained that the newly proposed bill avoids the previous errors by rescheduling the elections and explicitly stating the four-year