Philippines

Remulla Rejects Sara Duterte’s Harassment Claim, Calls Jail Narrative ‘Drama’

MANILA, Philippines — Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla has strongly rejected Vice President Sara Duterte's allegations of harassment surrounding the service of an arrest warrant against her, describing her camp's account of possible detention as “drama.” The dispute has added another volatile chapter to the widening political conflict between the Duterte and Marcos camps, following Duterte's arrest warrant over three counts of grave threats and her subsequent decision to p

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Philippines

ADULT DUGONG FOUND DEAD OFF ANTIQUE COAST—WHAT HAPPENED TO THE THREATENED SEA MAMMAL?

SEBASTE, ANTIQUE — Concern grew over the condition of marine wildlife in Antique after a large adult dugong was found dead along the coast of Barangay Aras-Asan in Sebaste town on Monday, September 7. The discovery came just one day after residents in nearby Caluya town rescued a juvenile dugong that had become stranded during low tide, successfully helping the young sea mammal return to the water. The adult dugong, scientifically known as Dugong dugon, was found along the shoreline and was ex

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Philippines

DOT Moves to Cut Music Licensing Costs for Accredited Tourism Businesses

MANILA, Philippines — Hotels, restaurants, resorts and other tourism establishments could soon get some relief from music licensing costs after the Department of Tourism (DOT) announced a partnership aimed at securing discounted music-use rates for DOT-accredited tourism businesses. The initiative is designed to help tourism enterprises legally use music in their establishments while reducing operating costs and supporting the country's wider creative and tourism industries. The DOT announced

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Philippines

PNP Personnel Set for 5% Pay Hike in 2027—But the Bigger Boost May Be What Comes With It

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel are set to receive another 5% increase in base pay in 2027, a move expected to improve police morale as the government expands funding not only for salaries but also for personnel welfare, additional manpower, healthcare and operational capabilities. The salary adjustment is part of the second tranche of the compensation increase for military and uniformed personnel (MUPs) under Executive Order No. 107, which takes effect on Janua

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Philippines

DMCI Spends ₱168.3 Million Rehabilitating Former Palawan Nickel Mine—More Work Still Ahead

QUEZON, Palawan — DMCI Mining Corp. has spent ₱168.3 million rehabilitating its former Berong nickel mine in Palawan, exceeding its original rehabilitation budget as the company pushes to restore the mined-out area before eventually turning the site over to the government. The rehabilitation spending covers work carried out from June 2022 through August 2026, according to the company. The amount is about 53% higher than the original ₱110-million budget announced for the six-year rehabilitation

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Philippines

PH Debt Bill Explodes: Nearly All of July’s Debt Payments Went to Interest—Here’s What It Means for Filipinos

The Philippine government faced another sharp increase in debt-servicing costs in July, with interest payments consuming almost the entire amount spent on servicing the national debt during the month. According to the latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr), the national government spent ₱139.99 billion on debt service in July 2026, up 29.55 percent from ₱108.06 billion during the same month last year. The overwhelming bulk went toward interest. Interest payments reached ₱137.18 bil

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Philippines

Itogon Warns Travelers: Daytime Trips Urged as Landslide Risk Rises

ITOGON, Benguet — Residents and motorists in Itogon are being urged to exercise extreme caution on mountain roads as prolonged rains continue to increase the risk of landslides across the municipality. The Itogon Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) is advising travelers to prefer daytime trips, when visibility is better and road conditions can be more easily monitored. The warning comes as saturated slopes across Benguet remain vulnerable to soil movement, rockfall

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Philippines

Zamboanga Tightens Senior Pension Verification Amid Fraud Concerns

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Zamboanga City is moving to tighten the verification of beneficiaries under its social pension program after authorities raised concerns over fraudulent claims, prompting Mayor Khymer Olaso to demand stricter checks before public funds are released. The move is aimed at ensuring that government assistance reaches qualified senior citizens rather than individuals who are ineligible or improperly included in the beneficiary database, according to the Philippine News

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Philippines

Tulfo Can Accept Aliases in Sara Duterte’s Confidential Funds—But One Detail Raises a Bigger Question

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo said he could understand why confidential informants might use aliases, but he questioned why several acknowledgment receipts tied to Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds appeared to carry similar signatures and handwriting. Tulfo raised the issue Monday during the Senate impeachment trial of Duterte, as the prosecution presented Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Assistant National Statistician Marizza Grande as its 11th witness fo

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Entertainment

From Lea Salonga to Michelle Yeoh: Asian Stars Who Made History on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

HOLLYWOOD, California — Lea Salonga has added another historic milestone to a career that has taken her from the Philippines to Broadway, London's West End and Hollywood. The acclaimed Filipina singer and actress received the 2,855th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sept. 4, becoming the first Filipina woman and the first Philippine-born artist to receive the prestigious honour. Her star, awarded in the Live Performance category, places her alongside a select group of Asian entertainers wh

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