Day: July 17, 2025

Manila: The Department of Agriculture (DA) has reported the confiscation of more than PHP3.09 billion worth of smuggled rice and agri-fishery products amid an intensified campaign against agricultural smuggling, hoarding, and profiteering-now considered forms of economic sabotage under the Marcos administration. According to Philippines News Agency, the seized items were confiscated from November 2023 to February 20, under the leadership of Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. This effort was carried out through the DA-Inspectorate and Enforcement (IE) operations. DA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa highlighted the scale of the operations in a pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA)

Shariff aguak: A massive manhunt is underway for assailants who ambushed and killed a municipal engineer, which also wounded another person here Wednesday night, police reported Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, Engineer Shed Ariff Malang, municipal engineer of adjacent Shariff Saydona Mustapha town, was pronounced dead on arrival at the Maguindanao provincial hospital. The ambush occurred around 6:15 p.m. in Barangay Timbangan, Shariff Aguak. Col. Sultan Salman Sapal, provincial police director, said Malang was driving a black pickup truck with three other passengers, heading to Shariff Aguak from Shariff Saydona Mustapha town, when the attack happened. ‘Despite his injuries,

Manila: The Philippines’ international peace and development partners have expressed support for the implementation of the Normalization Program under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU). According to Philippines News Agency, OPAPRU stated that the partners expressed their support during the 30th Joint Normalization Committee (JNC) meeting held on Tuesday. JNC-Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) co-chair Akmad Brahim emphasized that the gathering was not just a routine meeting but a significant moment to reflect on the journey toward lasting peace and inclusive change in the Bangsamoro.

Manila: The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it remains committed to deepening financial inclusion to ensure that more Filipinos will be onboarded to the formal financial system. The BSP made the statement late Wednesday after the release of a World Bank report showing a slight decline in financial account ownership. According to Philippines News Agency, in its Global Findex 2025 report, the World Bank said that 50.2 percent of Filipinos 15 years old and above owned an account in banks and other microfinance institutions. This was slightly lower than the 51.4 percent reported in 2021. The BSP commented that

Manila: Senator Pia Cayetano on Thursday called for a Senate inquiry into the reported sale of babies on social media platforms, as she urged the full enforcement of laws that safeguard children against trafficking and illegal adoption. ‘Babies are not commodities,’ Cayetano said, following reports from the Commission on Human Rights and the Philippine National Police that criminal groups are exploiting vulnerable families online. According to Philippines News Agency, these are heartbreaking reports that demand swift and coordinated action. The sale of children online is a gross violation of their rights and a crime under our laws. Cayetano said she