Philippines

21 Filipino Seafarers Caught in the Hormuz Crisis as 2 More Die — But the Bigger Danger May Still Be Ahead

MANILA, Philippines — The deadly attack on a Saudi-flagged oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz has pushed the human cost of the worsening maritime crisis closer to home, with Philippine authorities saying 421 Filipino seafarers aboard 31 vessels have now been affected by attacks connected to the strategic waterway since February 28. Two Filipino crew members were killed in the latest incident involving the crude oil tanker SIDR, operated by Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri. The ve

September 4, 2026

Philippines

NBI Files Qualified Human Trafficking Complaint Against Leviste and 6 Others — But the Evidence It Says It Has Could Open Another Fight

MANILA, Philippines — What began as an investigation into an alleged plan to use women to manufacture damaging accusations against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto has escalated into a major criminal complaint involving a sitting congressman, a former lawmaker, four lawyers and the talent manager whose testimony helped expose the supposed operation. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Friday, September 4, formally filed a complaint for qualified trafficking in persons before the Depart

September 4, 2026

Philippines

PRO-6 Warns Filipinos Against Posting Real-Time Travel Plans — Your Vacation Update Could Reveal More Than You Think

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — That airport selfie, beach check-in or countdown to a long-awaited family vacation may seem harmless. But police in Western Visayas are warning that posting those details in real time could also tell the wrong people something far more important: your home may be empty. The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) has urged residents to avoid publicly sharing their real-time locations, travel schedules and prolonged absences on social media as the Philippines enters the exten

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Sara Duterte Gets Arrest Warrant Over 3 Grave Threats Charges — But the Court Also Rejected a Crucial Defense Move

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte is facing an arrest warrant after a Quezon City court found probable cause to proceed with three criminal charges of grave threats linked to controversial remarks she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 issued the warrant on Friday, September 4, 2026, setting bail at ₱120,000 for each of the three counts, or a total o

September 4, 2026

Philippines

Sara Duterte Faces Arrest After QC Court Issues Warrant—What Happens Next?

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte is now facing arrest after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court issued a warrant in connection with a criminal case accusing her of three counts of grave threats. Duterte’s lawyer, Paul Lawrence Lim, confirmed the issuance of the warrant on Friday, September 4, 2026, saying that the vice president has no intention of evading the law and will continue to pursue available legal remedies. The warrant was issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court

September 4, 2026

Philippines

ARMAS NA NAMAN! 4ID TROOPS UNEARTH HIDDEN WEAPONS CACHE IN SURIGAO DEL SUR—HERE’S WHAT THEY FOUND

CANTILAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR — A buried weapons cache containing high-powered rifles, magazines and more than a hundred rounds of ammunition has been recovered by Philippine Army troops in the hinterlands of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, in another operation aimed at preventing communist insurgent remnants from regaining access to firearms. Troops from the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), under the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), discovered the cache on Thursday, September 3, in Signalnan, Sitio K

September 4, 2026

Business

24 Bacolod Sewers Turn Simple Fabric Into Market-Ready Products—But What Comes Next Could Be Bigger

BACOLOD CITY — What started with sewing machines, fabric and raw creativity is now becoming a potential pathway to livelihood and entrepreneurship for a group of Bacolod artisans. Twenty-four participants have completed the pilot G-Hive Artisan Makers Bootcamp Sewing Track, producing contemporary, market-oriented items while gaining technical and business skills designed to help turn their craft into sustainable income opportunities. The five-day training, held from August 24 to 28, 2026, was

September 4, 2026

Philippines

₱90M May Be Needed to Save Cebu City’s 32-Year-Old Sports Oval—But That’s Not the Only Problem

CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) could be facing another multimillion-peso rehabilitation as officials consider spending between ₱70 million and ₱90 million to restore its aging rubberized track oval. The proposed funding comes as the facility’s track continues to show signs of deterioration, raising fresh questions about its long-term durability, maintenance and previous repair work. The oval has been in use for roughly 32 years, and officials now say a more compreh

September 4, 2026

Entertainment

Miss Grand International 2026 Abruptly Changes Course—Here’s What’s Waiting in Thailand

The road to the Miss Grand International 2026 crown has taken an unexpected turn, with Thailand now set to host the remaining activities of the competition after the organization pulled out of India. The Miss Grand International (MGI) organization announced the host-country change on September 3, saying the remaining events would be transferred to Thailand following what it described as the failure to meet agreed contractual standards in India. MGI said the host arrangement required five-star

September 4, 2026

Philippines

ROBBERY TAKES A STRANGE TURN: Man With Knife Fails to Get Cash—What He Took Instead Left Police Surprised

CEBU, Philippines — What began as an alleged armed robbery in Liloan, Cebu, took an unusual turn after a man reportedly failed to get money from a store and instead left with cigarettes and a bottle of soft drink. According to a report published by Cebu Daily News on September 4, a 35-year-old man was arrested after allegedly robbing a store in Liloan while armed with a knife. The suspect reportedly demanded money but was unsuccessful in getting cash from the establishment. Instead, the suspec

September 4, 2026