Day: October 22, 2025

Manila: The Office of the Ombudsman on Wednesday voiced its support for the decision to livestream the bicameral conference committee proceedings on the 2026 national budget. ‘The Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) welcomes and fully supports the decision of the Bicameral Conference Committee to livestream its proceedings. Transparency in legislative deliberations strengthens public trust and ensures that accountability remains at the heart of governance,’ Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said in a statement. According to Philippines News Agency, the OMB encourages practices of openness and transparency, as they allow citizens to better understand and engage with the democratic process. ‘By opening

Washington: The Philippine Embassy in Washington is coordinating with United States authorities over the reported denial of entry to Filipinos in some US ports of entry. The embassy revealed that it is aware of reports concerning Filipino seafarers facing this issue “in recent months.” According to Philippines News Agency, the denial of entry for the concerned seafarers was conducted in compliance with existing US laws, regulations, and policies. The embassy assured that it will continue to engage with the relevant agencies regarding these denials and ensure that mandatory consular notification is observed in such cases. Furthermore, the embassy mentioned that

Manila: Police arrested a female drug suspect and seized suspected shabu with an estimated street value of PHP4.08 million during a buy-bust operation in Pili, Camarines Sur. According to Philippines News Agency, Police Regional Office (PRO) 5 (Bicol) Director, Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr., identified the suspect as alias Leila, 37, of Kalubihon, Dalipuga, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. The suspect was apprehended while selling 50 grams of suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer for PHP100,000 in marked money. A subsequent search led to the recovery of five knot-tied plastic bags and one heat-sealed plastic sachet, all containing suspected shabu

Manila: The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) has firmly refuted reports linking it to a financier involved in Malaysia’s infamous 1MDB scandal. The corporation described these reports as ‘false and misleading,’ emphasizing that they threaten its reputation and integrity. According to Philippines News Agency, MIC issued a statement addressing claims by several online outlets, including SarawakReport.org, which suggested that British businessman Patrick Mahony was acting as an ‘advisor’ to the corporation. Sarawak Report, known for its investigative journalism on environmental and corruption issues in Malaysia, was specifically mentioned as the source of these claims. MIC strongly denied these allegations, stating, “MIC

Iloilo city: The Regional Inter-Agency Task Force Against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (RIATF-IUUF) in Western Visayas is ramping up its enforcement efforts in anticipation of the Visayan Sea closed season commencing on November 15. According to Philippines News Agency, during its third quarterly meeting, the task force revealed that it had confiscated PHP13.2 million worth of fish and fishing paraphernalia as a result of 577 seaborne patrol operations conducted from January to September this year. These operations resulted in the apprehension of 551 individuals and 218 fishing vessels, along with the filing of 32 legal cases. In addition to

Caraga: Nearly 5,000 workers across the Caraga Region have received financial assistance through efforts by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE-13). In a statement, the agency said that PHP10.8 million in payments have been released to the concerned workers as of September this year. According to Philippines News Agency, the payments were made after increased labor inspections focused on compliance with labor standards and occupational safety regulations. “The inspections covered Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) investigations, safety checks, complaints, and routine reviews,” the agency said. The inspections identified gaps in both General Labor Standards and OSH regulations, leading to