The International Criminal Court has granted former President Rodrigo Duterte permission not to personally attend the confirmation of charges hearing scheduled to begin on February 23. In its decision, Pre-Trial Chamber I approved the request of Duterte’s defense team to hold the hearing in his absence. The confirmation of charges hearing will proceed from February 23 to 27, 2026, even without the former president present. According to ICC Spokesperson Oriane Maillet,“Today,

BISLIG CITY, Surigao del Sur — Several families were evacuated Friday morning (Feb. 20, 2026) after rising floodwaters inundated parts of Bislig City due to continuous heavy rains brought by a shear line affecting Mindanao. Residents of Maglikian-Requina in Purok 7, Barangay Tabon were among those forced to leave their homes as water levels rapidly increased overnight. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), assisted by local emergency responders and

NEW YORK — Assemblymember Jessica González-Rojas, State Senator Gustavo Rivera, and Council Member Lynn Schulman welcomed the announcement of $1.5 billion in additional state operating support for New York City over the next two years, calling it a long-overdue step toward correcting inequities in public health funding. At the center of the agreement is legislation sponsored by González-Rojas and Rivera to reform Article 6 public health funding formulas , addressing years o

"Honor is not the exclusive property of any political party." --Herbert Hoover SOME of the incumbent politicians—especially senators and representatives—loyal to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. today are expected to start distancing themselves from Malacanang early this year if they feel he will become a sitting duck two years before the next presidential election. Especially if the anti-Duterte forces in the lower and upper chambers of congress can’t eliminate Vice

Vice President Sara Duterte has officially declared that she will run for president in the 2028 national elections, while also issuing an apology for supporting Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the 2022 presidential race. In a recent announcement, Duterte confirmed her intention to seek the country’s top post, positioning herself as an early contender in the next presidential election cycle. During the same remarks, the vice president also expressed regret over her role in helping

NEW YORK - Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II praised the Association of Filipino American Teachers in America (AFTA), Inc. for its sustained contributions to the Filipino community abroad during the 4th International Education Convention held on February 14, 2026. The convention, themed “Puso: Paghabi at Paghubog ng Kaalaman Tungo sa Pandaigdigang Antas,” gathered nearly 200 educators, professionals, parents, and students at the ballroom of

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed criminal charges before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against a former newsman and a prominent YouTuber for the alleged dissemination of false medical information about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. In a statement, the NBI said the complaints stemmed from a targeted cyber-surveillance operation conducted by its Cybercrime Division (NBI-CCD) in January 2026. The operation identified two primary sources of the alleged misi

“Who’s the husband of the queen? I mean, the father of the eggs?” I asked, my voice coarse from a sore throat. It wasn’t a Netflix series I was asking about. This rather naïve question was meant for Indig to answer. He’s an agriculturist and beekeeper at Bluewater Maribago Beach Resort. He seemed a bit stunned by my question, but he went on to explain that about eight to 15 drones would mate with the queen bee and then die afterward. The queen bee, after mating only once in h

QUEENS, NEW YORK - Assemblymember Steven Raga is exploring a possible run for the New York State Senate seat expected to open in 2026, as political movement begins to take shape in Western Queens. The seat is currently held by State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, who has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026, opening the door to a competitive race in the 12th Senate District. In a statement, Raga expressed gratitude for Gianaris’ long tenure and confi

The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has identified several senior Philippine police and government officials as alleged co-perpetrators in its case against former President Rodrigo Duterte over killings linked to the anti-drug campaign. In a newly released, less-redacted Document Containing the Charges (DCC), prosecutors alleged that Duterte and his close associates carried out a “common plan” to neutralize suspected criminals through violen

NEW YORK - The International Criminal Court (ICC) has released a less-redacted version of the Document Containing the Charges (DCC) against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, revealing for the first time the names of several alleged co-perpetrators linked to the controversial “war on drugs.” The DCC—similar to an “Information” in Philippine criminal procedure—was originally filed in July 2025 and made public in September 2025. However, key details, including the ide

NEW YORK - The nurses’ strike at NewYork-Presbyterian is set to continue after a crushing rejection of a proposed contract, extending what is already the longest nurses’ strike in New York City history. More than 70 percent of the roughly 4,200 striking nurses voted down the tentative agreement negotiated by their own union, the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). The deal would have ended the 31-day walkout. Hospital officials said the proposal included more than 12 p

A Filipino-born U.S. Navy officer from Caloocan City has been recognized for her leadership and service after being named Junior Officer of the Year at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) New England. Lt. Ara Gutierrez , who has served in the Navy for 14 years, currently works with NMRTC New England in Newport, Rhode Island. The honor recognizes her performance, leadership, and contributions to mission readiness within the command. Reflecting on her journey,

QUEENS, New York — U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed community organizer Brian Romero in the race for New York State Assembly District 34, a move expected to strengthen progressive support for his campaign as the petitioning period approaches. The endorsement adds significant momentum to Romero’s bid to succeed Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, who is running for State Senate. It also signals growing unity among progressive leaders, grassroots o

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) is set to pursue criminal charges against social media personality Norman Mangusin, also known online as Francis Leo Marcos, over the controversial use of a Philippine National Police (PNP) uniform. In a strongly worded statement, NAPOLCOM Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan stressed that the police uniform represents honor, duty, and sacrifice, and should never be treated as a costume or used for publicity. “We previously issued a

NEW YORK - Filipino-American comedian and musician JR De Guzman is making waves on the global stage as a standout contestant on Netflix’s Star Search, capturing audiences with his originality, humor, and undeniable talent. After winning three consecutive nights, JR is now one crucial vote away from securing a spot in the finals. This Wednesday, fans and supporters are encouraged to tune in and vote live during the broadcast, as voting happens in real time and every vote count

The real number of jobless Filipinos may be far higher than the figures released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), according to a new analysis by the IBON Foundation. The nonprofit think tank said that if unpaid family workers and discouraged jobseekers are included, the true number of unemployed could reach 7.2 million in December 2025 and 6.9 million for the entire year. IBON warned that the country is facing a deepening jobs crisis, driven by what it described

NEW YORK — Approximately 10,500 nurses at Montefiore Medical Center and the Mount Sinai hospital system have reached tentative contract agreements, a major breakthrough that could end weeks of picketing and labor unrest across New York City hospitals. The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) announced that nurses at Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital, and Mount Sinai Morningside and West will vote on the proposed contracts from February 9 to 11. If ratified, the nurses ar

NEW YORK — The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) says hospitals are spending heavily on temporary staff and replacement nurses instead of reaching contract agreements with frontline healthcare workers. According to the union, hospitals have continued to allocate significant funds to short-term staffing solutions while contract negotiations remain unresolved. NYSNA argues that these resources should instead be directed toward fair contracts and improved working conditi

A Filipino former lawyer has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of his client in Kamloops, Canada. Attorney Rogelio “Butch” Bagabuyo was convicted for the murder of Mohd Abdullah, an instructor at Thompson Rivers University, in a case that prosecutors said was driven by missing funds amounting to nearly $800,000. In her ruling, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Kathleen Ker said the killing was premeditated. The court