General

Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to issue a show cause order (SCO) against incumbent Duterte Youth party-list Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema over the allegation that “Cardema” is not her real surname. According to Philippines News Agency, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia stated that they will ask Drixie Mae, the party-list group’s first nominee, to explain the allegation circulating on social media. “On social media, she is being accused of using a different family name, not her real family name. We just want to know the truth,” Garcia said in an interview Thursday. Social media posts alleged that Drixie

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that school supplies remain affordable for Filipino families, as announced by Malaca±ang on Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the DTI, following the President’s directive, has released a detailed guide to help consumers identify the prices of essential school items for the upcoming academic year. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized the President’s order for the DTI to maintain reasonable pricing of school supplies. Castro highlighted the President’s demand for prompt action to monitor and sustain the affordability

Zambales: Crew members of the Philippines’ latest guided missile frigate, the BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), conducted extensive familiarization and training exercises on Wednesday to enhance their operational knowledge of the ship’s systems. According to Philippines News Agency, the personnel trained with the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to gain a comprehensive understanding of the ship’s advanced systems. These drills were conducted while the vessel sailed in the waters off Zambales. Commander Randy Garbo, the spokesperson for the Philippine Fleet, emphasized that the exercises were focused on OEM training and system familiarization. Following the drills, the BRP Miguel Malvar returned to Naval

Tokyo: The number of stalking cases in Japan in which police took action surged by 260, or 24.1 percent, in 2024 compared to the previous year, reaching a record high of 1,341, the National Police Agency reported Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the number of restraining orders issued under the stalking control law increased by 23 percent to 2,415, surpassing 2,000 for the first time. Emergency orders made up about 60 percent of these restraining orders. The number of consultations with police regarding stalking remained relatively steady at 19,567. Police actions concerning noncompliance with restraining orders totaled 233 cases.

Tondo: Beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Walang Gutom Program (WGP) in Tondo, Manila have affirmed the effectiveness of the government’s anti-hunger initiative as they narrated to members of the media its impact on their lives. According to Philippines News Agency, one of the beneficiaries is Edwin Jimeno, a scavenger from Tondo who recalled how his family’s life significantly changed after being included in the WGP. Jimeno expressed his joy upon learning about his inclusion, as it meant his family could finally enjoy decent meals instead of relying on leftovers found in trash. Before joining the