Category: Philippines

China

Two Chinese Nationals Get Life Over ₱1.62-B Shabu Shipment Hidden in Tea Bags

MANILA, Philippines — What looked like hundreds of ordinary tea packs turned out to be one of the biggest pieces of evidence in a billion-peso drug importation case — and nearly six years after the shipment was intercepted, two Chinese nationals have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The Pasay City Regional Trial Court Branch 116 found Jason Ang and James Soriano guilty beyond reasonable doubt of illegally importing more than 239 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, into the

September 2, 2026

Entertainment

Frank Rivera’s Ambon, Ulan, Baha Returns to the Metropolitan Theater — and Its 50-Year-Old Warning Feels Uncomfortably Current

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly five decades after Frank G. Rivera first created Ambon, Ulan, Baha, the award-winning Filipino ethno-pop-rock modern zarzuela is returning to the Metropolitan Theater with a message that feels strikingly relevant to a country repeatedly confronting floods, landslides, deforestation and climate-related disasters. The production will run September 26 and 27, 2026, marking a remarkable return to the same historic venue where the musical was staged in 1992 as the final

September 2, 2026

Philippines

PAVIA CRACKS DOWN: 7 Motorcycles Clamped on Day One — And the Fines Could Get Much Bigger

PAVIA, Iloilo — Motorists in Pavia are being put on notice: illegal parking is no longer being treated lightly. Seven motorcycles were already clamped on the first day of enforcement of the municipality’s new wheel-clamping ordinance, signaling the start of a stricter campaign against vehicles parked in designated no-parking areas. The Pavia Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) reported that the seven motorcycles had been clamped as of noon on September 1, the day Municip

September 2, 2026

Philippines

PRO-6 Chief Tells Cops Heroism Starts With Everyday Service — But the Real Test Comes After the Ceremony

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Police officers do not need a battlefield, a medal or a dramatic rescue to prove their heroism. For Western Visayas’ top police official, the more difficult test may come during the ordinary decisions officers make when nobody is celebrating them. Police Regional Office 6 chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño used the observance of National Heroes Day to challenge police personnel and ordinary Filipinos to turn patriotism into daily action, arguing that service, compassion a

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Black Hawks Rush 1,000 Relief Packs Into Flood-Hit Zambales — But Getting Food In Is Only Half the Battle

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Air Force Black Hawk helicopters have airlifted 1,000 family food packs to flood-stricken communities in Zambales, underscoring the growing logistical challenge facing authorities as weeks of heavy monsoon rains leave roads damaged, bridges impassable and thousands of residents displaced. The Philippine Air Force said its S-70i Black Hawk helicopters transported the Department of Social Welfare and Development relief supplies from Clark Air Base in Pampanga on S

September 2, 2026

Business

RAZON’S ICTSI BREAKS THE P2-TRILLION BARRIER — NOW THE PSE IS ASKING: HOW MUCH HIGHER CAN IT GO?

MANILA, Philippines — Tycoon Enrique Razon Jr.’s International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) has officially cemented its place in Philippine stock-market history after becoming the first domestic listed company to reach a ₱2-trillion market capitalization, prompting the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) to hold a special recognition ceremony for the port operator. The PSE celebrated ICTSI’s milestone on September 1, highlighting what exchange officials described as an extraordinary acc

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Two Filipino Seafarers Killed in Saudi Tanker Attack as Strait of Hormuz Becomes Deadlier Flashpoint

MANILA — Two Filipino seafarers have been killed aboard a Saudi oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, turning another attack on commercial shipping into a deadly reminder of how rapidly one of the world's most important energy corridors is becoming a frontline in the widening Middle East conflict. Saudi Arabia's national shipping company Bahri confirmed Wednesday, September 2, that its Saudi-flagged tanker SIDR was involved in a security incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the night

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Luzon Floods Refuse to Recede After Habagat as NLEX Gridlock, Evacuations Deepen Crisis

MANILA, Philippines — The rain may have weakened in parts of Luzon, but for thousands of families trapped by stubborn floodwaters, the disaster is far from over. Days after torrential monsoon rains inundated communities across Central Luzon and other parts of the country, floodwaters remained dangerously high in several areas Wednesday, September 2, disrupting highways, isolating communities and keeping families inside evacuation centers. The prolonged flooding has transformed what began as a

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Balanga Launches Citywide Cleanup After Habagat Flooding as Bataan Shifts From Rescue to Recovery

BALANGA CITY, Bataan — Balanga has launched a citywide post-disaster cleanup after another stretch of punishing rains and flooding linked to the southwest monsoon, or Habagat, as authorities race to clear communities and waterways before the next round of heavy weather arrives. The cleanup operation, reported by the Manila Standard on September 2, comes after days of weather disruptions across Bataan and much of western and Central Luzon. But for Balanga, the bigger challenge may go beyond cle

September 2, 2026

Philippines

Lazatin Gives Angeles Cops ₱100,000 After Five Robbery Suspects Are Caught in Three Days

ANGELES CITY, Pampanga — A three-day police operation that led to the arrest of five people linked to robbery incidents in Angeles City has earned local officers a ₱100,000 cash incentive from Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr., putting renewed attention on the city’s campaign against street crime. The five suspects were arrested in separate police actions conducted from August 25 to 27, 2026, according to reports from Pampanga News Now and Punto Central Luzon. The operatio

September 2, 2026