Category: Asia

Business

Chanda Atienza Reportedly Arrested in Kuala Lumpur—But What Happens Next Could Reopen the Entire Dermacare Investment Scam

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Businesswoman Chanda Atienza, whose name has been at the center of the long-running Dermacare investment controversy that previously dragged celebrities Neri Naig and Rufa Mae Quinto into court, has reportedly been arrested in Kuala Lumpur, potentially opening a major new chapter in the case. Beauty queen and social media personality Lars Pacheco told PEP.ph that Atienza and her sister, Vilma, were arrested on August 21 at Pavilion Mall in Kuala Lumpur following what Pa

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Iloilo City Flooded Again Despite Ongoing Flood Projects—What the Latest Deluge Revealed Could Change Everything

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo City is facing renewed pressure to address its long-running flooding problem after an intense southwest monsoon downpour overwhelmed communities across the city on Aug. 17, prompting calls for stronger drainage infrastructure and long-term engineering solutions. Panay News reported that as much as 197 millimeters of rain fell within six hours, flooding 70 barangays and affecting more than 3,000 people. The report said the rainfall was the highest recorded in the city since

August 22, 2026

Entertainment

Herlene Budol Thought It Was Just a Love Gift—Then She Learned How Much It Was Really Worth

Herlene “Hipon Girl” Budol has discovered that a sentimental gift from her earlier days in showbiz was worth far more than she initially realized. The actress and beauty queen reportedly brought the long-kept piece to Maddox Jewelry for appraisal, where its value was placed at nearly ₱1 million. The revelation adds an unexpected twist to what Budol apparently regarded as a simple keepsake from her Wowowin years. A gift that became a fortune According to Manila Standard, Budol had been holdi

August 22, 2026

Business

301,000+ Visayans Affected by Sugarcane Pest Crisis — But the Bigger Threat May Be What Comes Next

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — More than 301,000 people across Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region have been affected by the worsening red-striped soft scale insect (RSSI) outbreak, as government agencies race to protect sugarcane farmers and communities from deeper agricultural and economic losses. The latest data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DSWD-DROMIC) showed that 301,084 individuals from 74,115

August 22, 2026

Philippines

DSWD Has Readied 3.8 Million Food Packs for Saudel—But the Bigger Threat Could Hit Even Without a Landfall

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development has placed its disaster response machinery on heightened alert as Typhoon Saudel moves closer to the Philippine Area of Responsibility, with authorities warning that the storm could trigger another round of heavy monsoon rains even if it never makes landfall in the country. DSWD Quick Response Teams at both the central and regional levels have been placed on standby, while millions of family food packs and hundreds of millio

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Ati Families Are Being Taught Their Rights—But What Those Laws Could Help Them Fight Goes Far Beyond the Classroom

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — For members of an Ati community, knowledge may prove to be one of the strongest forms of protection. An initiative aimed at increasing awareness of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and children’s rights is helping Ati families better understand the laws, protections and government mechanisms available to them—an important step for communities that have historically faced discrimination, limited access to services and struggles over recognition of their rights. The effort g

August 22, 2026

Philippines

FROM CYBERCRIME TO MUAY THAI: Filipino Cybercop Wins 2 Medals in Thailand—But Here’s What Makes His Victory Remarkable

MANILA, Philippines — A Philippine National Police officer known for fighting cybercrime has shown he can also hold his own in the ring, winning two medals at an international Muay Thai competition in Thailand, according to a report published by Manila Standard on Aug. 22, 2026. The achievement adds an unusual dimension to the work of a police officer whose professional duties center on law enforcement and cybercrime prevention. While the officer works in the digital arena as a so-called “cybe

August 22, 2026

Philippines

Iloilo Wants Jeepneys Running Until 9 P.M.—But the Viral Overloading Incident Revealed Why Commuters Were Risking Their Lives Just to Get Home

ILOILO, Philippines — The frightening sight of passengers riding on the roof and clinging to the sides of an overloaded jeepney may have gone viral for all the wrong reasons. But for Iloilo officials, the incident exposed something much deeper than one reckless trip: hundreds of commuters may simply be running out of safe rides home at night. Now, the Iloilo Provincial Government, transport operators, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Region 6 are moving to ke

August 22, 2026

Philippines

PNP Is Tightening Gun Rules After Another School Shooting—But the Bigger Question Is How Government Firearms Keep Reaching Minors

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police is tightening firearm-accountability measures for its personnel as a second deadly school shooting in less than two months intensifies scrutiny over a disturbing question: How are weapons assigned to government personnel ending up within reach of children? PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has ordered police commanders nationwide to reinforce rules on the storage and handling of firearms, particularly when officers are off duty and ke

August 22, 2026

Business

ILOILO VENDOR ARRESTED AFTER MARKET CLASH: What Really Happened During the Clearing Operation?

ILOILO CITY — A dispute over market regulations has escalated into a legal battle after the Iloilo City Government’s Local Economic Enterprise Office (LEEO) filed a case against an ambulant vendor following an altercation during a market-clearing operation. The LEEO said it filed the case before the City Prosecutor’s Office on August 19, one day after the confrontation near a market area at around 5 p.m. on August 18. According to the LEEO, the vendor had previously been warned against selling

August 22, 2026