Day: August 14, 2025

Manila: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III has issued a public warning regarding the dangers of smoking illegal Thuoc Lao cigarettes, also known as ‘tuklaw’. He emphasized that continued consumption of these cigarettes could be as deadly as other illegal drugs. According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) has been actively collaborating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to investigate the composition and effects of “tuklaw”. PDEA and DDB have previously identified that “tuklaw” contains not only nicotine but also a synthetic cannabinoid, which can induce

Manila: Investors’ decision to look for cheaper-priced shares resulted in the negative close of the local bourse’s main index Thursday, and the peso ended weaker against the US dollar. The Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) shed 0.53 percent to 6,291.85 points, and the broader All Shares followed with a decline of 0.57 percent to 3,743.03 points. According to Philippines News Agency, half of the sectoral indices also finished the day in the red, namely Services, down 2.42 percent; Property, 1.02 percent; and Holding Firms, 0.65 percent. On the other hand, Industrial rose by 0.38 percent, Financials by 0.09 percent, and

Pasay city: The intensified membership campaign of the Pag-IBIG Fund Antique branch has led to it recording the highest number of members among small branches across the country. According to Philippines News Agency, Antique Branch Manager Donald Alton Cahilo reported a 139.37 percent accomplishment with 23,026 members as of June 2025, surpassing the target of 16,522 members set for small branches. In recognition of this achievement, Cahilo received an award during the State of the Funds Address at the Lansons Hotel in Pasay City on August 8. In May, Cahilo collaborated with the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office in

Manila: Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada on Thursday stood by the Marcos administration’s amnesty initiative for communist rebels despite the deadly clash in Oriental Mindoro on Aug. 12 that claimed the lives of government forces. According to Philippines News Agency, Estrada emphasized that the tragic encounter should not derail the goal of Presidential Proclamation No. 404, which grants amnesty to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) and other rebel groups who are willing to lay down their arms and reintegrate into society. Estrada stated, “Ito ang dahilan kung bakit itinulak

Manila: E-wallet GCash and digital payment firm Maya assured compliance with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) order to unlink from online gambling sites. In a recent statement, GCash confirmed its intention to adhere to BSP’s directive aimed at removing links and icons that connect payment apps to online gambling platforms. According to Philippines News Agency, GCash emphasized its alignment with BSP’s commitment to ensuring responsible use of digital financial services to protect the welfare of Filipinos. The company stated its readiness to enforce necessary changes once the official directive is received, with a focus on safeguarding its users. During