General

Iloilo: Senator Joel Villanueva has urged an investigation into the PHP11.18 billion worth of expired and unused drugs and medicines reported by the Department of Health (DOH) in 2023. This call for action follows concerns raised by the Commission on Audit (COA). According to Philippines News Agency, Villanueva announced during a press conference that he has filed Resolution 1326 and is working closely with the chairperson of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to spearhead the inquiry. The senator expressed his dissatisfaction with the COA’s findings, pointing out the ongoing issue of medicine wastage. The COA report indicated that in 2020,

Iloilo City: The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) has ramped up its security preparations as the local campaign period begins Friday. According to Philippines News Agency, the ICPO announced the deployment of additional personnel to key areas, including campaign venues, public spaces, and high-risk locations, to prevent threats and ensure a swift response to security concerns. ICPO Director Col. Kim Legada has been leading coordination meetings and collaborations with unit commanders, ensuring that all necessary orders and instructions are in place for a smooth and secure campaign season. The local police is working closely with the local government, the Commission

Saint Bernard: The town of Saint Bernard in Southern Leyte has been declared as completely free from the influence of the New People’s Army (NPA), an army official said Thursday. With no sightings of armed rebels for several years now, the town has achieved insurgency-free status and officially has stable internal peace and security conditions (SIPC), Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, said. According to Philippines News Agency, officials led a ceremony on Wednesday to highlight the declarations, which included the signing of memoranda of agreements and pledges of commitment, along with the simultaneous

Antique: A total of 2,742 residents of Antique have enrolled in the Department of Labor and Employment’s Government Internship Program (DOLE-GIP), aimed at providing training opportunities in government service. According to Philippines News Agency, Ma. Cecilia Acebuque, the DOLE Antique provincial director, stated that the province has been running the GIP since January, with the majority of the interns commencing their roles in the first week of March. The program is designed to allocate funds to local government units (LGUs) or national agencies for hiring graduates or interns. “The GIP intends to provide opportunities for Grade 12 learners and college

Manila: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has expressed disappointment over Timor-Leste’s decision to deny the Philippine government’s request to extradite former Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr. The DFA spokesperson revealed the sentiment on Thursday, highlighting concerns about trust in the Philippines’ justice system. According to Philippines News Agency, Ma. Teresita Daza, a spokesperson for the DFA, stated that this decision indicates a lack of trust from Timor-Leste in the Philippines’ judiciary. Daza emphasized the Philippines’ role as a founding member of the ASEAN and its support for Timor-Leste’s aspirations to join the association. The spokesperson pointed out that the