Category: Politics

Philippines

EDSA Rehab Work Triggered a Massive Traffic Snarl — Now the Contractor Could Face a ₱50,000 Fine, and That’s Not the Project’s Only Problem

MANILA, Philippines — A weekend road repair meant to improve EDSA instead left motorists trapped in a major traffic bottleneck — and now the contractor behind the rehabilitation work could face a ₱50,000 penalty for allegedly failing to put enough traffic personnel on the ground. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to penalize the contractor following severe congestion along the Guadalupe-to-Shaw Bo

August 26, 2026

Philippines

43 Gun-Related Incidents Hit BARMM Despite Election Gun Ban as Historic Sept. 14 Polls Near

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Less than three weeks before the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao holds its historic first regular parliamentary elections, police have recorded 43 gun-related incidents across BARMM since the election gun ban took effect on July 16, leaving 14 people dead and eight others wounded. The latest figures, released by the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), underline the security challenge facing authorities as approximately 2.3

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Supreme Court’s Baguio Building Gets Heritage Marker, Cementing Its Place in Philippine Judicial History

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — A building that has quietly witnessed decades of Supreme Court deliberations in the City of Pines is receiving new national attention after the National Historical Commission of the Philippines unveiled a historical marker recognizing the significance of the Supreme Court’s Baguio Building. The marker, titled “Gusali ng Korte Suprema ng Pilipinas sa Baguio,” was unveiled at the SC Baguio Compound on August 24, 2026, as the Supreme Court celebrates its 125th anniversar

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Ligutan Defends Viral Post on ‘Misleading Questions’: ‘It’s Not Personal, It’s About the Law’

MANILA, Philippines — What began as a tense courtroom exchange has spilled into a wider debate over legal ethics, social media and the rules governing cross-examination in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan stood by his viral Facebook post about misleading questions on Wednesday, insisting that his message was never meant as a personal attack against any member of the defense team. “It’s not personal. It’s about the law,” Ligutan main

August 26, 2026

Business

Japan’s Oil Lifeline Is Under Pressure—Tokyo’s Next Move Could Reshape Asia’s Energy Security

Japan is preparing to strengthen its energy defenses after months of disruption exposed just how vulnerable one of the world's biggest economies remains to a crisis far beyond its shores. Tokyo is expected to unveil a sweeping energy-resilience plan aimed at reducing its dependence on crude oil shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz—a strategic chokepoint that has become a major concern following the Iran war and disruptions to Middle Eastern energy flows. The proposed measures include

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Duterte Family Marks Grandma’s 100th Birthday in Rare Moment of Unity Amid a Turbulent Political Season

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Away from the noise of national politics, the Duterte family came together for a milestone that few families get to celebrate: the 100th birthday of their beloved matriarch, Purisima “Lola Puring” Abellana Zimmerman. Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, Vice President Sara Duterte and other members of the prominent political family joined the celebration for their grandmother, honoring a woman whose life spans a century of Philippine history. Reports

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Lachica Ready to Testify in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial—But Prosecutors Say They May Not Need Him

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel is not currently inclined to present former Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) chief Col. Raymund Dante Lachica as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, with private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan saying his testimony could be redundant. Kapunan made the statement on Wednesday, August 26, a day after Lachica said he was prepared to appear before the Senate impeachment court and testify if he were lawfully i

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Romualdez’s Leyte District Emerges as Top DPWH Fund Recipient, Records Show

MANILA, Philippines — The 1st District of Leyte emerged as the country’s biggest recipient of Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) funding during the first three years of the Marcos administration, receiving about ₱57 billion in infrastructure funds from 2023 to 2025, according to budget records obtained and analyzed by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ). At the time, the district was represented by Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s co

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Proposed 5-Year Term for Barangay, SK Officials Gains House Backing—Here’s What Could Happen Next

MANILA, Philippines — Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials could soon be looking at a longer term in office after the House Committee on Local Government approved in principle measures seeking to set their terms at five years instead of the current four. The House panel approved the proposals on August 25, 2026, and agreed to consolidate several bills into a substitute measure. The proposal would also set the next regular Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) for the se

August 26, 2026

Philippines

Escudero Draws the Line: Public Statements on Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Now Under Strict Rule

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court has drawn a firmer line on what participants in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial may say publicly, with Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ordering the strict enforcement of a rule barring public comments on the merits of the ongoing proceedings. The directive covers senator-judges, prosecutors, Duterte as the respondent, their respective lawyers, and witnesses involved in the impeachment trial. Escudero issued the order

August 26, 2026