General

Ilocos Region: The inflation rate in the Ilocos Region eased to 2.5 percent in February, a decrease from 2.9 percent in January, as price hikes in essential goods such as food and utilities slowed, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report released Thursday. According to Philippines News Agency, the February figure was 0.4 percentage points lower than the previous month but 0.5 percentage points higher than the 2.0 percent recorded during the same period last year. PSA Ilocos Region Director, lawyer Sheila de Guzman, noted that the slowdown was observed across several commodity groups, including food and non-alcoholic beverages

Kalinga: Women in the province of Kalinga are assured of protection with the local government ensuring that budget is allotted for initiatives that push the advancement of the sector. According to Philippines News Agency, under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women, government agencies, including national government agencies and local government units, are required to have a Gender and Development (GAD) budget, which is at least 5 percent of their annual budget. In an interview on Thursday, Flordeliza Moldero, Provincial Planning and Development Officer of Kalinga, stated that their budget for women inclusivity exceeds the law-mandated 5 percent.

Marawi City: A notorious drug suspect was arrested and PHP3.4 million worth of shabu was seized during a buy-bust operation in Marawi City, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PDEA-BARMM) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA-BARMM Director Gil Cesario Castro said the operation, conducted with police support, took place in Barangay Matampay on Wednesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the operation aligns with the ongoing efforts of PDEA-BARMM and the local government unit to dismantle drug networks in the area. The suspect, identified as ‘Angko,’ 35, a resident of Barangay Kanyugan Papandayan, was arrested after intensive

The Hague: Former President Rodrigo Duterte has arrived in The Hague, the Netherlands, and is now in the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC). He landed at Rotterdam Airport on a chartered flight, and his custody was transferred by Philippine law enforcement authorities to ICC officials. According to Philippines News Agency, an ICC nurse has already conferred with Duterte’s personal nurse regarding his medical condition and requirements, with the information relayed to the ICC Medical Doctor for an immediate check-up at the ICC Detention Center. The Philippine Embassy in The Netherlands has provided consular assistance, including winter clothing and

Manila: The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into other key personalities involved in former president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on illegal drugs is actively progressing, as confirmed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday. This development follows the issuance of an arrest warrant against Duterte, signaling that other individuals are under scrutiny for their alleged roles in the controversial anti-drug campaign. According to Philippines News Agency, DOJ Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty highlighted that police chief-turned-senator Ronald Dela Rosa and retired police chief Oscar Albayalde are among the prominent figures under the ICC’s ongoing investigation. In a panel discussion with Presidential