The Philippine Navy confirmed that it monitored and challenged a Chinese warship spotted “loitering” off the coast of Zambales, prompting a calibrated maritime response. According to the Navy, the vessel was identified as a Jiangkai II–class frigate of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, bearing bow number 569. The ship was detected approximately 41 nautical miles southwest of Capones Island, within waters closely monitored by Philippine authorities. Upon initial detection, th

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has affirmed the murder conviction of three police officers for the killing of Kian delos Santos, a 17-year-old student fatally shot during an anti-drug operation in Caloocan City in 2017. In a Decision written by Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, the Court’s Second Division found police officers Arnel Oares, Jeremias Pereda, and Jerwin Cruz guilty of murder. The High Court sentenced the three to reclusion perpetua, or up to 40 years in p

Philippine lawmaker Antonio Tinio has called for the immediate return of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, insisting he must face investigation over alleged large-scale irregularities in flood control projects. Tinio said Bonoan, as DPWH secretary at the time, held ultimate authority over project approvals and funding releases, stressing that no allocation could be approved and no public funds could move without Bonoan’s knowledge

NEW YORK CITY - Top business leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest converged at the Philippine Center in Manhattan on December 17 as the Philippine Trade and Investment Center–New York (PTIC New York) hosted Impact Social: A Year-End Networking Mixer , an event aimed at strengthening trade, investment, and cross-sector partnerships between the United States and the Philippines. Organized in collaboration with Planet X Studios and Th

Contractor Sarah Discaya and eight engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) are now behind bars after being implicated in a ₱96.5-million “ghost” flood control project in Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental. Discaya was escorted by NBI-Central Visayas agents upon her arrival at Mactan Cebu International Airport late Friday night, December 19. Within hours, she and her co-accused were hauled before the Lapu-Lapu City court and ordered detained. Judge Ne

Authorities are investigating the death of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, whose body was recovered from a steep ravine along Kennon Road an incident drawing heightened public scrutiny given her past role in overseeing major flood control projects that have been the subject of ongoing controversy. Police said Cabral was found at around 8:00 p.m. on December 18, approximately 20 to 30 meters below a highway near the B

Philippine Congresswoman Leila de Lima has called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into reports that iron ore extracted from the coastal town of Jose Panganiban in Camarines Norte province may have been shipped to China, raising concerns over legality, environmental impact, and government oversight. De Lima said reports of several vessels positioned near the shoreline allegedly preparing to transport iron ore overseas must be thoroughly examined, stressing th

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has raised a red flag over what he called a ₱33-billion “pork barrel” insertion in the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) 2026 budget this time hidden under farm-to-market roads (FMRs). Lacson blasted the massive allocation, saying the DA proposal fails to identify where the roads will actually be built, as it contains no grid coordinates a red flag he warned mirrors the same scheme used in the now-exposed “ghost” flood-control

Three Filipino fishermen were injured after Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels blasted water cannons and harassed around 20 Filipino fishing boats operating lawfully near Escoda Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said. The PCG said the attack happened on December 12, when CCG vessels 21559 and 21562, backed by CMM ships, carried out aggressive blocking maneuvers and fired high-pressure water cannons at Filipino

Vice President Sara Duterte on Friday hit back at mounting accusations against her, branding the investigations as “fishing expeditions” designed to manufacture grounds for impeachment rather than uncover the truth. In a statement, Duterte accused the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability of conducting a “full-blown fishing expedition” last year, alleging that lawmakers searched for anything that could be twisted into impeachment charges. She further cl

Multiple criminal and administrative complaints have been filed with the Office of the Ombudsman against Vice President Sara Duterte and several officials of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) over the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds. The cases were filed on Friday, December 12, by civil society groups and Church leaders, who accused Duterte and her subordinates of serious violations involving public funds. Th

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has ordered a worldwide manhunt for fugitive and former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co—one of those implicated in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). In his “Ulat sa Bayan” video message, the President said he has directed the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to coordinate with Philippine embassies in var

Officials who could potentially implicate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in kickbacks and anomalous government projects are allegedly using resignation as a “convenient escape hatch.” This was the statement of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives following the resignation of Justice Undersecretary Jojo Cadiz on Friday. “He is not an ordinary employee he is a former Senate staff member of President Marcos Jr., a trusted associate now accused of being the bagman f

The Office of the Ombudsman has formally filed malversation and graft charges against Sarah Discaya and several others in connection with the alleged ₱96.5-million ghost project in Davao Occidental. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed that the cases were lodged before the Digos Regional Trial Court (RTC) at around 2:15 p.m. on December 5. Also charged were Maria Roma Angeline Rimando of St. Timothy Construction and multiple officials from the DPWH Davao Occidental Dist

Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte has rejected the invitation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to appear before its investigation into the alleged irregularities in flood control projects in his district. Duterte slammed the commission, saying wala raw kapangyarihan ang ICI na ipatawag ang isang mambabatas at binansagan niya itong political harassment. In a strongly worded letter sent to ICI Chairman Andres B. Reyes Jr., Duterte argued

Rogelio “Babes” Singson, former DPWH secretary, has stepped down as commissioner of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI). According to ICI chairperson Andy Reyes, the intense and stressful nature of the work has taken a toll on Singson’s health, prompting him to resign. His resignation takes effect on December 15, pero puwedeng ma-extend hanggang December 21. Si Singson ay isa sa tatlong miyembro ng ICI na personal na pinili ni President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Ma

NEW YORK - Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno is pushing for a nationwide ban on dual citizenship, arguing that holding more than one citizenship raises concerns about national loyalty and conflicting interests. His proposal has sparked debate among immigrants, legal scholars, and community advocates, including one Ohio State University professor who views the idea as misguided. The United States has long been described as a cultural and intellectual melting pot, shaped by

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has confirmed the discovery of 250 “ghost projects” during joint inspections of flood control and other infrastructure programs nationwide. These findings emerged from the ongoing validation of approximately 10,000 projects already inspected, which form part of the 30,000 infrastructure items flagged for verification under the government’s intensified probe into alleged irregularities in public works spending. According to the AFP, th

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray issued a powerful call for accountability as she stood before thousands of protesters during the “Trillion Peso March” at the EDSA People Power Monument on Sunday, urging the government to act swiftly on the widening flood control scandal that has rocked the nation. Gray, who has consistently used her platform to champion social issues, appealed directly to the Office of the Ombudsman, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. She demanded

A Filipino man was arrested inside his home in Dallas, Texas, in what experts say reflects the Trump administration’s increasingly aggressive stance on immigration enforcement. Yaakub Vijandre, a longtime resident and beneficiary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, recounted the tense moments when six unmarked vehicles suddenly pulled up outside his home. Federal agents rushed in, and one officer allegedly pointed a gun at him before placing him unde