The pursuit of people involved in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal continues even with the looming closure of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, Malacañang said yesterday.

On the eve of the 140th anniversary in March 2027 of its publication in the German city of Berlin, Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere” – the book that changed the course of Philippine history – is in the headlines once again.

Four people have expressed interest in joining her senatorial slate for the 2028 national elections, Vice President Sara Duterte revealed on Saturday.

The Commission on Elections is expected to release on Wednesday its decision on issues surrounding the statement of contributions and expenditures filed by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, according to Comelec Chairman George Garcia.

The Department of Migrant Workers announced on Sunday, March 15, that a total of 1,315 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their dependents affected by the crisis in the Middle East have been assisted by the government and safely returned to the Philippines.

Victims in the crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court have appealed to Filipinos to respect their right to seek justice, saying their murdered relatives were not accorded due process and other rights currently enjoyed by former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Public school teachers and personnel of the Department of Education will begin receiving their P7,000 clothing and uniform allowance starting next month.

The government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will launch on Tuesday the first wave of its cash distribution program, initially targeting the transport sector with Metro Manila tricycle drivers as first recipients.

A total of 341 distressed and stranded overseas Filipino workers affected by escalating tensions in the Middle East are set to return to the Philippines through a special chartered flight organized by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the agency said on Saturday, March 14.

The Senate Blue Ribbon committee is still open to holding a hearing on the alleged money delivery scheme – as claimed by 16 “ex-Marines” and two other alleged soldiers – as long as they tell the truth and not turn it into a circus, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has said.

A majority of Filipinos support the passage of a law that will prohibit political dynasties, a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed.

There is no leadership shuffle at the Department of Information and Communications Technology and former presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda is not being eyed to head the agency, Malacañang clarified yesterday.

The Department of Transportation said that it ordered a reduction in Passenger Service Charges at airport navigation charges in airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

ICI Chair Andres Reyes said the commission had fulfilled its mandate and should wind down by March 31.

A congressional body is studying how to replicate the Iloilo literacy program nationwide.

Slovenia wants to hire more Filipino workers, particularly caregivers, Ambassador Smiljana Knez said last week, to address demand for its aging society.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have continued canceling their flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

From his detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, a request has been made to have Ramil Madriaga – an alleged former bagman of Vice President Sara Duterte – transferred to the custody of a congressional committee to ensure his “safety and availability” when he gets summoned to testify in her impeachment case.

Jinggoy Estrada asks court to lift hold departure order.

Malacañang said Thursday, March 12, it is monitoring reports of a possible Iranian drone attack on California — where an estimated 1.7 million Filipinos live — though United States officials have already stressed the threat is not considered credible or imminent.

A total of 341 Filipinos from Saudi Arabia and Bahrain arrived yesterday on the second government-arranged chartered flight in the repatriation efforts for overseas Filipino workers affected by unrest in the Middle East.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has approved the fare increases of provincial buses and other public utility vehicles amid ongoing oil price hikes.

Reports of two Filipinos arrested in Dubai for allegedly recording and posting videos of security incidents and attacks are being investigated by the Philippine diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates.

The Philippine diplomatic missions in the United Arab Emirates are investigating reports that two Filipino nationals have been arrested in Dubai for allegedly recording and sharing videos of recent security incidents, including air defense interceptions and attacks.

Saying the “big fish are still swimming free,” Akbayan yesterday questioned the impending shutdown of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.

The Senate is aiming to pass the proposed measure granting President Marcos the power to suspend or reduce fuel excise taxes before this week’s congressional recess, with lawmakers hoping to skip the bicameral conference by directly adopting either the House or the Senate version to expedite the bill’s signing into law.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday flagged the use of the Commission on Appointments hearing of former Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Manuel Bonoan to allegedly insert P500 million in flood control projects that may have been lost to corruption.

A shipping line in Zamboanga has been summoned by the Department of Transportation for allegedly implementing a 140 percent fare increase.

The remains of an overseas Filipino worker who was killed in a missile attack in Israel have been repatriated to the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Saturday.

Teachers in public schools are not covered by the implementation of the work-from-home arrangement every Friday, according to the Department of Education.

Households in Metro Manila and nearby provinces will be greeted with higher water bills starting next month.

Young mothers aged 14 and below in the country have been increasing, the Commission on Population and Development reported yesterday.

The Bureau of Immigration on Friday, March 13, announced visa relief for foreign nationals whose flights were affected by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

The jobless rate in January rose to 5.8%, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

A congressional body is pushing to replicate a literacy program in Iloilo that raised reading levels among Grade 3 students from 28% to 90% in just one year — results that come as the commission looks for scalable solutions to the nationwide reading crisis.

The proposal to abolish the travel tax for outbound Filipino travelers was approved by the House of Representatives on second reading, paving the way for easing travel costs and a boost to tourism and economic activity.

Energy Secretary Sharon Garin is urging the government to leverage the Philippines’ chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year to promote regional energy security in light of the global oil crisis.

Malacañang has declared March 20 a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid’l Fitr, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday, March 12, certified as urgent a bill granting him emergency powers to suspend or reduce the excise tax on fuel products.

Sen. Gatchalian warns of P136B revenue loss for government services.

Proceedings for the two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte pending at the House of Representatives will most likely last beyond Congress’ March 18 recess – whether she decides to defend herself or waive her right to file a response.

Most Filipinos support the continued public disclosure of China’s actions in the West Philippine Sea even as the Philippines hosts the Association of Southeast Asian Nations this year, according to a Pulse Asia survey.

Lawyers representing victims in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court have accused the defense team of filing “frivolous” appeals that they said waste the court’s time and resources.

In separate statements, the DMW said that OFWs arrived from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson cautioned the Commission on Appointments against approving Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s request to strike out from its records his controversial “give up the Kalayaan Island Group” remark.

The first Philippine chartered flight since the Middle East crisis broke out brought home 442 Filipinos yesterday, according to the Department of Migrant Workers.

The committee on justice of the House of Representatives expects Vice President Sara Duterte to beat tomorrow’s deadline for her to submit a response to allegations in the impeachment cases filed against her.

A total of 442 Filipinos from the United Arab Emirates arrived in the Philippines on Saturday afternoon, March 14, aboard a government-arranged charter flight as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East.

After months of silence, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure has announced that it will end its operations on March 31, wrapping up its investigation into anomalous infrastructure projects and turning over all evidence to the ombudsman and the justice department.

Sen. Ronald dela Rosa has not been seen for four months, but has requested his family’s use of a Senate facility in Baguio.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he has “unvalidated” information the Commission on Elections is being pressured not to sign its draft resolution on issues hounding Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s Statement of Contributions and Expenditures.

Foreign nationals staying in the country and affected by disruption of global flights due to the Middle East conflict may be able to continue their stay even if the validity of their visas has lapsed, the Department of Justice said.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro questioning why Duterte did not warn authorities if she knew the Iran War would happen.

Power firm says plants stable despite global oil tensions.

The proposed “4+1” blended learning of the Department of Education will not resolve the country’s classroom shortage and may shift the burden onto students, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said yesterday.

Senate migrant workers committee chair Raffy Tulfo yesterday pushed for his bill giving free financial literacy education to OFWs, calling it timely amid the Middle East crisis.

Gas stations can continue selling petroleum products placed in drums and containers, the Department of Energy said yesterday, as long as they are bought for “legitimate operational use.”

Some 800 private hospitals will be barred from participating in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.Yaman ng Kalusugan program if they fail to install an electronic medical records (EMR) system by June this year.

A leadership change at the tourism department.

A lawmaker asked the House Committee on Justice to take custody of detained witness Ramil Madriaga to ensure his safety and availability for the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.