General

Muntinlupa City: A female visitor of a person deprived of liberty (PDL) was arrested by prison guards at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City after she tried to smuggle suspected shabu into the facility, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. reported that Rovelyn Fabillar, 26, from Pasig City, was accosted on Tuesday after the contraband, which was wrapped in a condom and placed inside a transparent plastic, was discovered in her private parts. The item was found when BuCor personnel noticed irregularities in Fabillar’s abdomen during

Manila: Seven personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) suspected to be involved in illegal activities have been relieved from their posts. In a statement Wednesday, Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the move aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to eliminate corruption and strengthen border security. According to Philippines News Agency, the relieved personnel, assigned at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminals 1 and 3, are under investigation following reports linking them to the illegal departure of trafficking victims repatriated on March 25. If found to have assisted the victims, these employees would face charges before the Department

Marilao: The Department of Transportation (DOTr) expressed gratitude to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation for the expedited reopening of all four lanes under the Marilao Interchange Bridge, completed one week ahead of the initial schedule. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOTr highlighted that this development would help restore nearly normal travel times, enabling commuters and motorists on NLEX to enjoy more time with their families and reach their destinations promptly. The NLEX Corporation confirmed that as of 1 a.m., all lanes were accessible to vehicles. Despite the reopening, the corporation noted that supporting steel poles would remain on

Manila: The Philippines is emerging as one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia this year, as highlighted by an economist from Moody’s Analytics during a recent virtual briefing. According to Philippines News Agency, economist Sarah Tan emphasized that the robust growth of the Philippine economy is largely driven by its domestic market, particularly private consumption. Tan indicated that Moody’s Analytics anticipates the country’s economic growth to reach 5.9 percent this year, up from 5.6 percent projected for 2024. Looking ahead, the forecast for next year suggests a growth rate of 5.8 percent. Although this falls short of the government’s

Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) has successfully recovered approximately PHP65 million from 40 out of 54 private schools flagged for irregularities in the Senior High School Voucher Program (SHS-VP) for the School Years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. According to Philippines News Agency, DepEd announced that from the 54 schools expelled from the SHS-VP, 38 have fully refunded the government, while two have made partial repayments. Fourteen schools are yet to return the disbursed funds, prompting the department to issue final demand letters. The investigation continues as the agency evaluates whether the irregularities constitute fraud. For the current academic year, DepEd’s