MANILA, Philippines—Amid growing concerns over El Niño-driven water shortages, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has mobilized all units to intensify conservation measures and prepare assistance for affected communities. In a statement on Sunday, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. issued the order following a water conservation advisory from the Department of Environment and

MANILA, Philippines — The recent hacking of the websites of the Senate and the House of Representatives has prompted the Philippine National Police (PNP) to call for a government-wide review of cybersecurity measures amid concerns over attacks on key state institutions. The House website was reportedly defaced on Saturday, just days after the Senate’s website

MARIVELES, Bataan — A worker assigned to the seawater intake pump house of GNPower, one of the power plants operating in this town, died on Saturday (June 13) after his safety harness reportedly became entangled in a crane hoist cable, tightening around his body, authorities said. Police identified the victim as Marko Puno, who was

MANILA, Philippines — Over 720,000 people were affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Mindanao on June 8, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said Sunday. According to the NDRRMC’s latest situation report on the effects of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake in Maasim, Sarangani, a total of 724,000 individuals or 173,000

ILOILO CITY — Police arrested 25 suspected illegal fishers and seized more than P1.3 million worth of prohibited fishing equipment in a series of coordinated operations across Western Visayas, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) reported on Saturday, June 13. The regionwide crackdown, conducted over a 24-hour period from 6 a.m. on June 12 to

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Joel Villanueva on Sunday announced that he would attend a special session of Congress that may be called by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — a venue that some say could be used to resolve the leadership row in the Senate. In a video message to his family in the Jesus Is Lord

Manila Rep. Joel Chua on Saturday said that he believes that only the senator-judges participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should decide on her conviction or acquittal, given the current composition of the Senate. This is what Chua answered if the House prosecution panel thinks that the number of senators participating

TANJAY CITY—Classes have resumed for the new school year, but for teacher Milton Ramirez, getting to school is a journey that would test anyone’s resolve. Every Monday before dawn, Ramirez and his fellow teachers leave their homes and travel about 35 kilometers to Sitio Ponglo in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental. READ: Securing land for IPs

DAVAO CITY – Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) on Saturday has offered scholarship for all six siblings of Rene Clert “Bobet” Baterbonia. Fr. Karel San Juan, AdDU president, made the announcement after the 6 p.m. mass inside the Christ the King Chapel of Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School – Bangkal Campus. READ: Baterbonia’s

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano defended his references to late opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., saying no family holds an exclusive claim to Aquino’s legacy. In a lengthy social media post on Saturday evening, Cayetano clarified that he does not equate himself with Aquino or other national heroes like Jose Rizal and

MANILA, Philippines — A woman identifying herself as “Efi,” who claimed to be the estranged wife of Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin, alleged that she had repeatedly warned Ateneo de Manila University that “children are not safe around him.” She also alleged that she had urged school officials to remove him from the

MANILA, Philippines — A National Police Commission (Napolcom) officer was arrested Friday for alleged grave threats after he reportedly drew a firearm and threatened a Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) driver, police said. According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), the incident began with a minor collision along Edsa in Mandaluyong City. “The suspect

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Third District Rep. Joel Chua and Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co on Friday questioned how detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada can effectively serve as a senator-judge in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial if he will not be physically present. According to Chua, “This is just my personal opinion, but how can

MANILA, Philippines — Manila City 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua believes that only the senator-judges participating in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte can decide on her conviction or acquittal, given the current composition of the Senate.  This is what Chua answered on Saturday when asked if the House prosecution panel thinks that

TACLOBAN CITY — A 38-year-old fisherman was found dead Saturday morning after failing to return home from a nighttime spearfishing trip in the waters of Padre Burgos, Southern Leyte, police said. The victim, identified only as “Gino,” a resident of Padre Burgos, was last seen alive at around 10 p.m. on Friday. Initial investigation showed

TUGUEGARAO CITY — Apayao’s rich biodiversity has once again come into focus after a recent wildlife survey documented a wide variety of frogs, lizards, snakes, and other amphibian and reptile species thriving in the province’s forests, rivers, and mountainous areas. The documentation survey, conducted last month in the towns of Calanasan, Luna, and Pudtol, was

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off Glan, Sarangani Saturday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.  Phivolcs said that this is an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit off the coast of Maasim, also in Sarangani last June 8. In its updated bulletin, Phivolcs downgraded the magnitude

MANILA – The Manila Cathedral in Intramuros will be the first stop of the six-month Philippine pilgrimage of the replica image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe starting Saturday, June 13. Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera said the pilgrimage will run until Dec. 12. “The image shall visit different

MANILA, Philippines — Mayon Volcano in Albay remains under Alert Level 3 which signifies intensified unrest as it had 24 volcanic earthquakes and other seismic activities in the last 24 hours, the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said on Saturday.  Phivolcs said that entry into the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone remains prohibited.

Over 800 erring drivers had their licenses suspended or revoked by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) since October last year. In a statement on Friday, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao said 434 driver’s licenses have been revoked, while 396 have been suspended since his appointment to the LTO. READ: LTO suspends SLEX hit-and-run driver’s

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Flash floods triggered by heavy rains disrupted parts of Maasim and Maitum towns in Sarangani on Friday, June 13, stranding motorists and passengers after a bridge in Barangay Kanalo was rendered impassable, authorities said. The Maasim Information Office (MIO) said in an afternoon advisory that the Kumaba Bridge had to be closed after

MANILA, Philippines — The national government will provide essential school supplies to 2 million learners from Kindergarten to Grade 3 throughout the entire school year. In a statement on Sunday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said the Marcos administration has launched the “Bagong Bag sa Mag-aaral: Presidential Assistance to Primary Grade Learners” program. According to Recto, the

MANILA, Philippines — Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Sunday urged the Senate to move swiftly with Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case, as House prosecutors ready a pre-trial brief and line up the entry of private lawyers ahead of next week’s pre-trial conference. In a statement, Adiong said the House prosecution team

CALASIAO, Pangasinan — Two elderly passengers died after the sport utility vehicle (SUV) they were riding plunged into a creek along the national highway in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, at around 6:25 p.m. on Friday, June 12. Capt. Elison Pasamonte, officer-in-charge of the Badoc Municipal Police Station, said the 69-year-old driver from Langangilang, Abra, admitted that

LUCENA CITY — The municipal mayor of Pakil, Laguna clarified that the local government unit (LGU) has no legal authority to implement the cease-and-desist order (CDO) issued by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) against the proponent of the controversial 1,400-megawatt Ahunan Pumped Storage Hydropower Project (APSHP). “Although the local government unit received

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s comparison of his group’s political struggle in the Senate to the fight waged by the late opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. against the Marcos dictatorship is “laughable,” “insulting” and “delusional,” the August Twenty-One Movement (Atom) said on Saturday. “The delusions of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano know no bounds, as he

A strong aftershock shook Sarangani province on Saturday morning, even as government agencies scrambled to attend to the effects of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that destroyed or damaged private structures and public infrastructure in parts of Mindanao on June 8. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said in its last report that the

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Bohol 3rd District Rep. Alexie Besas-Tutor has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent House Bill No. 833, or the Disasters and Emergencies Management Act, following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on June 8. Tutor said the proposed measure aims to strengthen the capacity

TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Officials of the National Museum and local government here have intensified efforts to protect and preserve an archaeological site, known as Elephant Hill, in Sitio Greenhills, Barangay San Pedro in Rizal town, Kalinga. A composite team did an ocular inspection on Monday, June 8, at the site to assess the Elephant

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors on Friday questioned whether Sen. Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada could effectively perform his duties as a senator-judge in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial if he could not physically attend the proceedings and observe witnesses firsthand. House Prosecutor Joel Chua of Manila and impeachment trial spokesperson Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutor and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said the House prosecution panel may not need to present all four Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte if one article is already strong enough to secure a conviction in the Senate impeachment trial. Speaking at the Saturday News Forum at

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday thanked Sen. Erwin Tulfo for “speaking the truth” after the latter revealed that some fellow senators had discouraged him from signing a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee report on the alleged anomalies in flood control projects. According to Lacson, Tulfo’s remarks confirmed what he had long believed was

MANILA, Philippines — Detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Friday rejected claims that he can no longer participate as a senator-judge in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Estrada said the issue remains unresolved while proceedings involving his suspension in the Senate are still pending. “The issue is far from settled,” Estrada said in a statement

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s comparison of his group’s political struggle in the Senate to the fight waged by the late opposition leader Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. against the Marcos dictatorship is “laughable,” “insulting” and “delusional,” a progressive group said. The August Twenty-One Movement (Atom) in a statement on Saturday also called Cayetano

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — The provincial government of Bukidnon has extended P1.5 million in financial assistance to General Santos City to support relief and recovery efforts following the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of Sarangani and caused widespread destruction across southern Mindanao. The assistance was formally turned over by the Provincial

MANILA, Philippines – Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island Region emitted ash on Saturday morning and remains under Alert Level 2, an indication of increased unrest, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.  Phivolcs showed footage of the ash emission, which it said occurred at 7:04 a.m. “This event generated grayish plumes that rose 600

MANILA, Philippines – A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental on Saturday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.  In its earthquake bulletin, Phivolcs said that this was an aftershock of the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that hit off the coast of Maasim, Sarangani on June 8. Phivolcs

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Emergency Medical Assistance Team (PEMAT) will arrive in Glan, Sarangani on Sunday, June 14, with specialized medical personnel and water filtration equipment for residents affected by the deadly magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday.  According to the DOH, the PEMAT

MANILA, Philippines — A new regional framework is urging island communities to move beyond traditional waste management and adopt a broader approach that links waste reduction with food security, water conservation, energy resilience and local livelihoods. Released by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives Asia Pacific, “Pathways Towards Circularity: The Zero Waste Islands Framework” presents

The Court of Appeals (CA) has junked the petition filed by contractor Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya to reverse a trial court’s ruling that kept him under Senate custody for nearly nine months after being cited in contempt. In a June 4 resolution, the CA’s Third Division denied the petition for certiorari by Discaya for “being procedurally

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) on Sunday said no sensitive government information was compromised in the recent defacement of the House of Representatives website. “Initial assessment indicates that, at present, no confidential or sensitive government information has been compromised,” the DICT said in a statement READ: Hackers deface website

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Erwin Tulfo has called on his colleagues to put an end to the widening division within the Senate, urging them to set aside their “colors” and focus on the chamber’s legislative mandate. Tulfo made the call as he pointed out how there are more pressing matters in the country, which means

TACLOBAN CITY — A 14-year-old girl sustained injuries after an amusement ride collapsed during a fiesta celebration in Matag-ob, Leyte on Friday evening, June 12. Police identified the victim only as “Nina,” a resident of Matag-ob, Leyte. She suffered minor physical injuries after the amusement ride, locally known as the “Balangay,” suddenly gave way at

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Authorities arrested a fisherman for allegedly operating without the required permit and seized about P780,750 worth of fishing equipment and catch during a maritime law enforcement operation in the waters off Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro, early Saturday, June 13. The operation was carried out by personnel of the Occidental Mindoro Maritime

MANILA, Philippines — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake shook Sarangani, Davao Occidental on Sunday morning, said the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs). Phivolcs in an advisory said this tremor was another aftershock from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the province on June 8. READ: Magnitude 5.3 quake strikes off Glan, Sarangani Recorded at

Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Saturday thanked Sen. Erwin Tulfo for “speaking the truth” after the latter revealed that some fellow senators had discouraged him from signing a Senate blue ribbon committee report on alleged anomalies in flood control projects. According to Lacson, Tulfo’s remarks confirmed what he had long believed was the reason the committee’s

Isnihayah Sumndad, 22, said she found it difficult to speak out against corruption and political dynasties in her province because of fear for her family. “As a youth leader for how many years, I never spoke about politics in Lanao [del Sur] because of my fear,” Sumndad, a member of the student council at Mindanao

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bohol 1st District Engineering Office (DPWH-B1DEO) has assured the public that Bato Bridge in Barangay Cabawan in Maribojoc town remains structurally safe despite the collapse of a portion of its approach, which forced authorities to temporarily close the bridge to vehicular traffic. In an

MANILA, Philippines—No bettor won the jackpot prizes for Grand Lotto 6/55 and Lotto 6/42 during the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) draws held Saturday, June 13. PCSO said the winning combination for Grand Lotto 6/55 was 16-43-21-22-26-50, which carried a jackpot prize of ₱45 million. No ticket matched all six numbers to claim the top

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutor Terry L. Ridon of the Ako Bicol Party-list on Friday disclosed that new evidence in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte involves assets allegedly owned by her and her husband that were not declared in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2007 to

MANILA, Philippines — A National Police Commission (Napolcom) officer was arrested Friday for alleged grave threats after he reportedly drew a firearm and threatened a Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) driver, police said. According to the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), the incident began with a minor collision along Edsa in Mandaluyong City. “The suspect

MANILA, Philippines — Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong thinks the House version of a bill banning political dynasties reflects a “genuine attempt” from the chamber to enshrine the constitutional mandate to outlaw dynasties. His belief comes even as civil groups and election watchdogs described it as a toned-down legislative piece.  In an interview,

MANILA, Philippines — The mother of Ateneo de Manila University recruit Rene Baterbonia has rejected the characterization of her son’s death as an accident, saying she remains unconvinced by head coach Tab Baldwin’s apology over the tragedy. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Rovelyn Baterbonia questioned the circumstances surrounding the death of her 19-year-old son,

LUCENA CITY — The local government of Atimonan in Quezon province urged residents to remain cautious after the town’s heat index reached a dangerous 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday, June 13. In a public advisory posted on Facebook at 12:10 noon, the Atimonan Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) said the 44°C heat index

LUCENA CITY — The police arrested four alleged drug traffickers and seized more than P1.6 million worth of suspected “shabu” (crystal meth) and an unlicensed firearm during a buy-bust operation in Rodriguez, Rizal on Saturday. The Police Regional Office 4A identified the suspects only by their aliases: “Mark,” “Jomar,” “Jerson,” and “Cooky.” The suspects were

BACOLOD CITY — The Negros chapter of the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PhilExport) on Friday expressed concern over the U.S. suspension of Philippine blue crab imports which may threaten the livelihood of thousands of workers, fisherfolk, and coastal communities across the country, including those in Negros Occidental. In a statement, PhilExport Negros called for immediate

ILOILO CITY — Over 500,000 individuals were affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani on June 8, while government humanitarian assistance has exceeded P84 million, according to the latest Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).   The DSWD-DROMIC Report No.

SARANGANI, Philippines — Nearly a week after a powerful earthquake rattled southern Mindanao, families in one of Glan town’s most isolated communities are still waiting for relief goods, with many surviving on boiled bananas, sweet potatoes and coconuts as damaged roads, poor communication and lack of transport continue to hamper aid delivery. Residents of Purok

MANILA, Philippines — Cloudy skies and rain showers are expected in many parts of the country on Saturday due to the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, the state weather bureau said.  In the 5 a.m. weather forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), weather specialist Veronica Torres said

More than 1,000 police officers were deployed at the Government System Insurance Service (GSIS) Complex in Pasay City as Duterte supporters began to gather for a protest coinciding with the commemoration of the 128th Independence Day on Friday, June 12. In an ambush interview, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) regional director Maj. Gen. Anthony