General

Tel Aviv: The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv has activated its crisis management team to enable quick response amid the developing security situation in the Middle East after Israel mounted a direct military attack on Iran on Friday. Philippine Ambassador to Israel Aileen Mendiola is personally overseeing efforts to monitor the situation on the ground, coordinate with Israeli and Philippine authorities, and ensure that timely advisories and support are extended to Filipinos in need. According to Philippines News Agency, the embassy emphasized that the safety and well-being of Filipinos in Israel remain its top priority. In a statement dated June

Agusan del Sur: A top leader of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested by combined forces of the military and the police in the villages of Bunawan Brooke and San Teodoro in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur on Friday. In a statement on Saturday, the Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) identified the arrested NPA leader as Charisse Bernadine Ba±ez, alias Nikki, the Secretary of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC) of the NPA. According to Philippines News Agency, also arrested were Ronnie Igloria, alias Gideon, a vice commanding officer; Louvaine Erika Espina, alias Pam, the unit’s medic; Sinag Lugsi,

Manila: Several parts of the country will experience rains due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and the easterlies, the weather bureau said. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced in its 4 a.m. bulletin that the ITCZ will bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms over Mindanao and Eastern Visayas. Additionally, Batanes and Cagayan will experience similar weather conditions due to the influence of the easterlies. PAGASA warned that moderate to heavy rains in these areas could result in flash floods or landslides. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of

Manila: Over 16,000 minimum wage earners have benefited from the nationwide rollout of the ‘Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na for Minimum Wage Earners’ program, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported Saturday. According to Philippines News Agency, DOLE Officer-in-Charge Benjo Santos announced that 16,126 employees from 100 establishments across the country participated in the program. Among them, about 800 rank-and-file port workers were able to purchase five kilos of rice each at the Manila Harbor Center in Tondo, Manila, on Friday. The launch was led by Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The initiative is part

Manila: Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Saturday discussed with officials of Western and Central Visayas and Negros Island Region strategies and operations implementation for the five-minute response time. Torre visited Camp Martin Delgado in this city, headquarters of the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas, and was received by Director Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky. According to Philippines News Agency, Torre emphasized the need to focus and delineate their strategies since there are urban and rural areas in Visayas, noting that officials should know what is happening on the ground and what services need to be delivered. He mentioned