Day: September 23, 2025

Manila: Former Department of Public Works and Highways-Bulacan First District Engineer Henry Alcantara, now under the custody of the Department of Justice (DOJ), has sought protection under the Witness Protection Program as he detailed in a sworn statement the alleged involvement of several lawmakers in anomalous flood control projects. According to Philippines News Agency, Alcantara, who was earlier cited in contempt by the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, presented his affidavit during Tuesday’s hearing, naming former senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., Senator Jinggoy Estrada, Senator Joel Villanueva, Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, and former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy as among

Manila: Senator Loren Legarda on Tuesday lauded the signing of Republic Act (RA) 12288, or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, saying the measure will help attract, develop, and retain the country’s best educators. Legarda, who authored and co-sponsored the measure, described it as a landmark reform that recognizes the competence, dedication, and vital role of Filipino teachers in shaping the nation’s future. According to Philippines News Agency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed into law RA 12288 last Sept. 12, establishing a competency-based promotion system that allows elementary and secondary teachers to advance

Bacolod: Anti-drug operatives of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) seized more than PHP2 million in shabu and arrested four individuals in two buy-bust operations conducted over the past two nights in the city. According to Philippines News Agency, the first operation took place on Monday night along Vicente Yap St., Barangay Singcang-Airport, where police confiscated 250 grams of shabu valued at PHP1.7 million. The City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) apprehended a 25-year-old man known as ‘Jameson,’ a resident of Zone 5, Barangay Vista Alegre, after he sold a sachet of shabu worth PHP1,000 to an undercover officer. His 15-year-old companion,

Manila: Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua has assured support to over 61,000 families impacted by severe flooding in Maguindanao del Sur, emphasizing that the regional government is actively addressing their needs. According to Philippines News Agency, Macacua highlighted that the towns of Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Shariff Saydona Mustapha, Datu Piang, Datu Salibo, Sultan sa Barongis, Mangudadatu, and Gen. Salipada K. Pendatun are heavily affected. During a meeting on Monday with local officials, Macacua assessed the flood situation, received reports from disaster responders, and spearheaded the distribution of essential supplies to some 306,000 individuals impacted by the calamity. The Maguindanao del

New york city: The Philippine government, through its Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), has expressed its appreciation for the recognition of the State of Palestine by several countries during a prominent international conference held in New York City. According to Philippines News Agency, the DFA highlighted the acknowledgment from nations such as France, Portugal, Australia, Monaco, Canada, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Andorra. These countries recognized the State of Palestine at the High-Level International Conference in New York City, where discussions focused on ending the ongoing conflict and human suffering in Gaza. The DFA emphasized the Philippines’ longstanding support

Manila: The Philippine financial sector experienced a significant increase in its total resources, rising by over 6 percent in July, as reported by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The recent data revealed a substantial growth in the financial sector’s resources, reaching PHP34.59 trillion, compared to PHP32.50 trillion in the same period last year. According to Philippines News Agency, banks and non-bank financial institutions have both shown notable increases in their total resources. Banks alone reported a rise in resources, totaling PHP28.60 trillion, up from PHP26.79 trillion in July of the previous year. Specifically, universal and commercial banks saw their