General

Zamboanga City: Authorities arrested a member of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) involved in various violence here and in the provinces of Basilan and Zamboanga Sibugay, the police said Sunday. In a statement, Col. Fidel Fortaleza Jr., director of the Zamboanga City Police Office (ZCPO), identified the arrested ASG member as Isnaji Hasim, 34, a follower of ASG Urban Terrorist Unit leader Ibni Acosta. According to Philippines News Agency, Hasim was arrested by joint police and military operatives on Saturday in Purok 4, Barangay Muti, following an operation for violating the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act. ‘The arrested person

Manila: The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) is considering the provision of rental housing support to qualified beneficiaries under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s flagship Pambansang Pabahay para sa Pilipino (4PH) program. Secretary Jose Ramon Aliling emphasized the department’s openness to various feasible modalities to enhance the inclusivity and sustainability of the 4PH initiative. According to Philippines News Agency, Aliling stated, “We must exhaust all feasible modalities under 4PH. The more schemes available for our kababayans (fellow Filipinos), depending on the need and their capacity, the better.” Aliling highlighted that the DHSUD is actively studying the integration

Quezon City: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has announced a one-month postponement of the planned comprehensive rehabilitation of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila. The decision was made to explore alternative methods that could potentially reduce the project’s timeline and minimize public inconvenience. According to Philippines News Agency, the rehabilitation was initially scheduled to commence on June 13. The President emphasized the importance of reassessing the cost-benefit analysis of the two-year project, citing concerns over the severe traffic congestion it would cause for the hundreds of thousands of commuters and motorists who rely on

Manila: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized PHP1.08 billion worth of illegal drugs during operations from May 23 to 30. These operations, conducted over a week, underscore the government’s commitment to tackling the drug menace in the country. According to Philippines News Agency, the PDEA’s comprehensive anti-drug campaign included 63 operations, featuring 44 buy-busts, seven marijuana eradication missions, seven search and seizure raids, and five interdiction efforts. These coordinated actions led to the arrest of 91 individuals involved in the drug trade. The operations were part of PDEA’s ongoing efforts under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify

Tacloban: The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday night said the declaration of a state of calamity in Eastern Visayas is a vital step in addressing the immediate rehabilitation of the San Juanico Bridge and logistical and economic challenges posed by the load restrictions. According to Philippines News Agency, this move follows the recommendation of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to place the entire region in a state of calamity. OCD spokesperson Chris Noel Bendijo, in a statement, said the declaration will accelerate the release of essential funds and enable