Category: Politics

Philippines

₱147 Million in Smuggled Fuel and Cigarettes Intercepted — But What Else Is Moving Through Western Mindanao Waters?

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Philippine Navy forces have intercepted more than ₱147 million worth of suspected smuggled diesel fuel and foreign-brand cigarettes in two separate maritime operations in Western Mindanao, highlighting the continuing battle against illicit trade along one of the country’s most strategically important sea corridors. The Naval Command Western Mindanao (NCWM) said the operations were carried out on August 22 and August 24, targeting vessels allegedly transporting carg

August 27, 2026

Philippines

12.8% of Filipinos Face ‘Hidden Poverty’ Beyond Income, New PSA Report Reveals

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino family may earn enough to stay above the official poverty line and still struggle to finish school, secure decent housing, access basic services, or find stable work. That is the reality highlighted by the Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) newly released Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), which found that 12.8% of Filipinos were multidimensionally poor in 2024. Unlike the country's traditional poverty statistics, which focus primarily on whether a pers

August 27, 2026

Philippines

₱5.95 Billion in Infrastructure Damage: The Full Cost of Luis, Maymay, Neneng and Habagat Keeps Rising

MANILA, Philippines — The devastating impact of Tropical Cyclones Luis, Maymay and Neneng, combined with days of intense rains from the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, has left nearly ₱6 billion worth of infrastructure damage across the Philippines — with millions of Filipinos affected and dozens of communities now under a state of calamity. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Thursday that infrastructure damage from the four weather systems had reached ₱5.95 billion as of its latest assessmen

August 27, 2026

Philippines

Michael Poa Set to Take the Stand in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: What His Testimony Could Reveal

MANILA, Philippines — A dramatic turn could be looming in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as one of her own defense lawyers, former Department of Education (DepEd) official Atty. Michael Wesley Poa, is expected to testify as a prosecution witness next week. The development comes as the Senate impeachment court moves deeper into allegations involving the handling of confidential funds during Duterte's tenure as Education secretary — placing a key figure who once worked close

August 27, 2026

Philippines

BSKE 2026 Still On for November 2—But Congress May Change Everything Before Candidates File

MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON — With uncertainty still hanging over proposals to move the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), one thing remains clear for now: the November 2, 2026 elections are still on. The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is continuing its preparations nationwide, including in Malaybalay City, because no new law has yet been enacted to postpone or reset the elections. COMELEC Malaybalay Election Officer Atty. Danilo Dividina said preparations remain in full swin

August 27, 2026

Politics

Former Malaysian PM Ismail Sabri Charged Over Asset Declaration as Graft Probe Casts Shadow

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has been charged with failing to declare his assets under Malaysia's anti-graft law, marking a dramatic new chapter in a wider investigation that has already drawn national attention over millions of ringgit in seized cash, gold and alleged government spending. The 66-year-old former leader pleaded not guilty and claimed trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Thursday, Aug 27, after being charged under Section 36(2) of the

August 27, 2026

Philippines

Padilla Questions Whether Confidential Funds Can Prevent Security Threats

Senator-judge Robin Padilla has raised a pointed question during Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial: Can confidential funds be justified as a tool to prevent security threats before they happen? Padilla’s remarks came as the Senate impeachment court examined the controversial use of confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) during Duterte’s tenure. The issue has become one of the most closely watched portions of the proceedings because the funds are int

August 27, 2026

Philippines

Iloilo City Charter Day 2026: More Than 15,000 Jobs, 222 Hired on the Spot, Free Healthcare Offered

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo City turned its 89th Charter Day celebration into a major public-service push, bringing employment opportunities and free healthcare closer to residents instead of focusing solely on ceremonies and festivities. The August 25 celebration featured a large-scale job fair and free medical and dental services for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs), highlighting the city government’s effort to make the month-long Charter Day celebration directly beneficial to re

August 27, 2026

Business

Iloilo City Turns 89th Charter Day Into Jobs, Free Healthcare Drive as Thousands Seek Opportunities

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Iloilo City turned its 89th Charter Day celebration into a major public-service push, bringing employment opportunities and free healthcare closer to residents instead of focusing solely on ceremonies and festivities. The city’s August 25 celebration generated more than 15,000 job opportunities, while hundreds of senior citizens and persons with disabilities benefited from ongoing medical and dental missions held across several districts. The employment drive, organi

August 27, 2026

Politics

CIA Director’s Rare Moscow Mission Reportedly Carried Stark NATO Warning to Russia

WASHINGTON/MOSCOW — CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare and previously unannounced trip to Moscow this week, reportedly carrying a direct warning to Russian officials: do not test NATO’s defenses or attack members of the Western military alliance. The extraordinary visit, confirmed by the Kremlin after reports of Ratcliffe’s movements emerged, comes at a volatile moment in relations between Washington and Moscow as the Russia-Ukraine war grinds on, tensions across NATO’s eastern flank inten

August 27, 2026