Day: September 10, 2025

Seoul: The top defense officials of the Philippines and Japan discussed the importance of maritime cooperation amid regional challenges during a meeting in South Korea on Tuesday. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of National Defense (DND) said the meeting between Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Japanese Defense Minister Nakatani Gen took place on the sidelines of the recently concluded Seoul Defense Dialogue. According to Philippines News Agency, the two leaders emphasized that maritime cooperation remains crucial amidst evolving regional security challenges. Teodoro and Nakatani also highlighted the importance of strengthening the Philippines’ defense capabilities in air and maritime

Baguio: The city government’s anti-smoking task force seized around PHP3 million worth of cigarettes from a seller found operating without a permit, the Public Information Office reported on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, City Information Officer Aileen Refuerzo stated that members of the deputized anti-smoking task force in Barangay Brookside discovered the illegal distribution and alerted the Smoke-Free Task Force. The task force swiftly implemented the city’s anti-smoking ordinance on September 5. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 33 boxes and 62 packs of cigarettes, which are now in the custody of the task force. The cigarette products

Davao: The Department of Trade and Industry-Davao (DTI-11) reminded consumers on Wednesday to ensure that Christmas lights and similar decorations bear the Philippine Standard (PS) mark or Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker, emphasizing the importance of product safety and quality this holiday season. In a press briefing here, DTI-11 Senior Trade and Industry Development Specialist Dexter Bermudez said the agency has begun monitoring seasonal items. According to Philippines News Agency, Bermudez advised, “When purchasing Christmas lights, make sure they have PS and ICC stickers. Read the label carefully and understand its intended use,” noting that some Christmas lights are specifically

Baguio city: The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested three individuals and rescued 27 victims in a series of operations against human trafficking in Tawi-Tawi. The NBI’s Human Trafficking Division, in a statement, identified the three suspects as Hashim Sanilyn, Asanuddin Nursida, and Halon Mozamil. According to Philippines News Agency, the operation stemmed from a complaint filed by one of the victims, who alleged that a specific group of individuals was involved in human trafficking by recruiting and transporting victims to work abroad illegally. During the investigation, the complainant disclosed that he was recruited via Telegram by the group

Quezon city: The chief of the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) is hopeful that their request for at least PHP80 million allocation for 2026 will be approved, to further boost their capacity to investigate complaints against government personnel and agencies. ARTA Director General Ernesto Perez, in an interview on the sidelines of the launch of ARTA’s electronic complaints management system (eCMS) at the agency’s office in Quezon City on Wednesday, said their proposed budget for next year is around PHP490 billion. According to Philippines News Agency, Perez expressed that they will request additional funding to support regional field offices and hire