General

Manila: Malaca±ang will study the request of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla to be granted authority to suspend classes during typhoons. Remulla earlier said he would ask President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for such authority, citing his experience as a long-time governor of Cavite and the need for timely announcements during tropical cyclones. According to Philippines News Agency, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a press briefing Thursday, said there is no official response to Remulla’s proposal yet. Castro stated, ‘Sa ngayon ay wala pang opisyal na sagot patungkol sa suggestion ni Secretary Jonvic

Manila: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang and actress Gretchen Barretto are being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) after being implicated in the disappearance of several cockfight enthusiasts, known locally as ‘sabungeros’. According to Philippines News Agency, the investigation follows allegations made by Julie Patidongan, also known as Totoy, who accused Ang of masterminding the abductions and linked Barretto to the disappearances. Remulla stated that both individuals would be included as suspects in the DOJ’s ongoing probe. “They will be included. Because they were named, then we will have to include them as

Butuan city: The Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) has reported a crime clearance efficiency rate of 98.9 percent for the first half of 2025. This achievement comes as the region recorded 4,493 crimes from January to June, which included 2,561 incidents under the Peace and Order Indicator (POI) and 1,932 incidents under the Public Safety Indicator (PSI). According to Philippines News Agency, Maj. Jennifer Omiter, the PRO-13 information office chief, highlighted in an interview that despite the volume of cases, the office maintained a high crime clearance efficiency rate. The POI category, which includes both index and

Manila: The Philippines will take center stage of Asian women’s basketball as it has been named host of the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2027. The FIBA Regional Office-Asia made the announcement following a board meeting held on June 26, according to a FIBA news release Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, this event marks the first time a continental-level basketball event will be hosted in the basketball-crazy nation in more than a decade. The Philippines last hosted a continental event when Manila was the venue for the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup (formerly FIBA Asia Championships), when Gilas Pilipinas bagged silver

Siaton: The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 7, Central Visayas, has officially announced that Siit Bay in Siaton, Negros Oriental, is now free from the toxic red tide. According to Philippines News Agency, BFAR-Negros Oriental provincial chief Florencia Mepa±a confirmed in an interview that the bay’s shellfish meat tested negative for harmful red tide toxins. This conclusion was reached following a laboratory examination, indicating that the shellfish in the area had not ingested water contaminated with toxins responsible for harmful algal blooms. Previously, on June 13, BFAR 7 issued a public advisory warning local residents against