General

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. declared a period of national mourning throughout the Philippines following the death of Pope Francis. In an official move, Marcos signed Proclamation 871, instructing all government buildings and installations in the country and abroad to lower their flags to half-mast immediately until the pontiff’s burial. According to Philippines News Agency, the proclamation highlighted the significant impact of Pope Francis’ passing, describing it as a moment of deep sorrow for both the Catholic Church and the Filipino people. The Pope was recognized as a global leader who championed compassion, peace, justice, and human dignity. The

Manila: Surveillance of Philippine vessels en route to the West Philippine Sea may be part of a wider and coordinated espionage operation tied to Chinese maritime forces, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) told a Senate panel on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, who chairs the Special Committee on Maritime and Admiralty Zones, raised the alarm over intelligence reports that Chinese vessels were aware of Philippine resupply missions even before the ships departed from Palawan. This suggests possible coordination with foreign nationals recently arrested for suspected spying. Lawyer Van Homer Angluben, executive officer of

Lianga: A dead Longman’s beaked whale (Indopacetus pacificus), identified as a pregnant female, was found beached along the shoreline of Barangay Poblacion in Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday, prompting a rapid multi-agency response. According to Philippines News Agency, personnel of the College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences of the North Eastern Mindanao State University – Lianga Campus (NEMSU-LC), in coordination with the local government, the Provincial Fisheries Office, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the local police, immediately responded to assess the marine mammal. The NEMSU-LC student publication The Sea Strivers reported that the species was identified based on distinct

Iloilo City: Sonia Cadornigara, regional coordinator of the Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines, Inc. (HPFI) for Iloilo City, will always cherish the rare privilege of embracing and not just holding the hand of Pope Francis, as well as meeting him not just once but twice. Cadornigara was among the 40 chosen community leaders worldwide to meet with the Holy Father during the Global Meeting of Popular Leaders on Oct. 27 to 29, 2014, just over a year after he was elected pope in 2013. According to Philippines News Agency, Cadornigara shared in an interview that Pope Francis, an advocate

Manila: An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is calling on the public to refrain from publicly promoting Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle to be the next head of the Roman Catholic Church following Pope Francis’ death. According to Philippines News Agency, Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP – Episcopal Commission on Public Affairs, stated that the decision regarding the next pope is in the hands of the cardinal-electors during the upcoming conclave. Secillano emphasized the importance of allowing these electors to make their choice independently, without external influence or pressure. ‘We leave it to