Manila Standard
VP Sara says to run for president in 2028
VICE President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said she will run for president in 2028 – a move that was met by jeers and cheers from allies and critics alike, and a terse “good luck” from Malacañang. Duterte, who was impeached last year only to see the...
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Season of grace begins this week
IN A powerful and rare alignment this year, Catholic and Muslim communities in the Philippines are beginning their sacred seasons of Lent and Ramadan this week. Church leaders are embracing this convergence as a unique opportunity for shared spiritual...
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Fire Horse Year: Inconvenient truths coming out
THE Year of the Fire Horse will be marked by intensity, independence and strong energy – the horse being a fire animal, and fire being this year’s amplifying element. “It is a double fire year – a year of illumination and confrontation,” said feng...
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No China sanctions on PH solons
THE Chinese embassy in Manila yesterday raised the possibility of sanctions on Philippine lawmakers even as it said it would not do so for now. Embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng stressed that dialogue and debate should guide diplomatic relations...
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ICC names Go, Bato as Rody co-perpetrators
TWO sitting senators have been identified as “co-perpetrators” in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC), documents released by prosecutors showed. Senators Ronald Dela Rosa and...
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China hits senators anew: Who do you think you are?
THE spokesman of the Chinese Embassy in Manila scored Filipino senators anew, saying it was not their place to call for the designation of a new ambassador and warning that such "childish" actions could lead cost millions of jobs. Chinese embassy...
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New China envoy needed—senators
A NEW Chinese ambassador – one who is not “very aggressive and very sensitive” – could be just what is needed to ease tensions between Manila and Beijing officials over the West Philippine Sea issue, Senators JV Ejercito and Raffy Tulfo said. Ejercito...
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Stay calm, be professional, gov’t tells Beijing’s envoys
THE Philippines on Wednesday called on Chinese diplomats in Manila to observe professionalism and mutual respect in their public statements, as tensions escalated over exchanges related to the West Philippine Sea. Department of Foreign Affairs...
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Sotto...
wanted to silence this august chamber by calling us hypocrites and ignorant by issuing our stand through this resolution,” Sotto said. “He is claiming that we are intimidating Chinese diplomats, yet he continues to speak disrespectfully against us and...
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Senate adopts reso censuring Chinese embassy
THE Senate yesterday adopted Resolution 37 expressing the sense of the Senate in condemning recent public statements issued by the Chinese Embassy that criticized Philippine officials and institutions over their positions on national sovereignty and...
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‘Basyang’ dumps record rainfall as shear line worsens
TROPICAL storm ‘‘Basyang’’ has dumped extremely rare volumes of rain that exceeded Northern Mindanao’s 100-year return period and contributed to flooding in Iligan City due to overwhelmed rivers and drainage systems. The Philippine Atmospheric,...
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KIG officials, residents offended by Marcoleta
LOCAL officials and residents of the Kalayaan Island Group took offense at the statement by Senator Rodante Marcoleta that it will be easier to give up the islands than go to war against China for what he claimed to be “something that is not even...
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No giving up Kalayaan Islands, President says
MALACAÑANG on Friday rejected suggestions that the Philippines should give up the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), stressing that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not surrender any portion of the country's territory in the West Philippine Sea...
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‘Loren to head Senate by 2028’
WHAT started out as a joke among the majority bloc is now turning into a concrete plan to have Senator Loren Legarda installed as the first female Senate President, but only after the 2027 budget is approved or before her term ends in 2028. Legarda,...
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Tulfo asks colleagues to tone down verbal attacks vs. China
SENATOR Erwin Tulfo on Wednesday said he would ask his colleagues to “tone down” their verbal attacks against Chinese officials as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said stoking the world war could affect the ongoing negotiations for a code of...
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PBBM hands o on SALN release concerns, ICI future
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is taking a hands off stance on two issues -- the future of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and the protest lodged by the Ombudsman over the slow release of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth...
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‘Simultaneous impeach cases could hurt PH’
FOR the first time in the country’s history, the two highest officials – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte – are facing two fresh impeachment complaints each before the House of Representatives. “This is the first time...
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House pushes back on SC rulings, compliance
HOUSE lawmakers on Sunday pushed back against recent Supreme Court (SC) rulings on impeachment, arguing that the High Court itself must address questions on constitutional interpretation and compliance with mandated timelines. This even as the...
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No Palace talk on Cha-cha
MALACAÑANG on Saturday said proposals to amend the 1987 Constitution have not been discussed with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., citing the administration’s focus on strengthening the country’s economy. Presidential Communications Office...
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RESUMPTION.
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has rejected calls from some lawmakers to declare Chinese ambassador Jing Quan and other embassy officials persona non grata after their recent verbal tussle with Filipino officials over the West Philippine Sea...
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ASEAN sets monthly meet for COC negotiations
CEBU CITY—Technical working groups of ASEAN member-states will meet face-to-face every month to hasten negotiations on a binding Code of Conduct which the bloc aims to finish this year under the Philippine chairmanship, Foreign Affairs Secretary...
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‘Pinoys see China as top threat’ OCTA survey also shows 6 in 10 Filipinos distrust China
MAJORITY of Filipino adults distrust China and consider it the greatest external threat to the Philippines, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey conducted by OCTA Research. As this developed, some senators are considering filing a...
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Better health benefits for middle class sought
EXECUTIVE Secretary Ralph Recto has directed the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to expand their health benefit packages, particularly for middleincome contributors who are paying the most for the...
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CAPTIVATING.
Performers reenact bamboo planting and harvesting, adorned in intricate and delicate costumes as the Tultugan Festival brings Maasin’s heritage to life. Inset photo shows Ilonggos and visitors coming together for ‘AweSM Iloilo 2026,’ where joy, color,...
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Senate panel to start hearing on priority measure next week
THE Marcos administration has started to review provisions for a proposed anti-dynasty bill, a key reform which the President last month said should be prioritized by Congress. “This is now being studied, and if a good framework can be developed...
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Remulla: Co sending ‘feelers’
FORMER congressman Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co has sent “feelers” seeking a possible dialogue with the Ombudsman through intermediaries, including priests known to him, regarding his involvement in anomalous flood control projects, Interior Secretary Juanito...
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Bong Revilla jailed in QC on malversation charge
FORMER senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. was ordered detained at the Quezon City Jail’s Male Dormitory in Payatas on Tuesday following a malversation of public funds case filed with the Sandiganbayan, despite posting bail for a separate graft charge at...
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NBI arrests Hernandez, Mendoza in case vs. ex-Sen. Revilla
NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents arrested former DPWH engineers Bryce Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza at the Senate last night. The Sandiganbayan Third Division had earlier issued warrants for former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and six...
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Bonoan back, to face probe
FORMER Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan made a surprise return to the country yesterday, about a month ahead of schedule, and will attend today’s hearing of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee. In a statement, the Bureau of Immigration said Bonoan...
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ICI nearing end of its mandate, says PBBM
THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure is nearing the completion of its mandate, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Friday, noting that its future would depend on how much work remains to be done. “It depends on how much work they still have...
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HONORING OFWS.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. praised OFWs in the United Arab Emirates as a source of honor and pride for the country during a gathering of the Filipino community in Abu Dhabi, recognizing their significant contributions to the development of the...
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Flood infra witnesses told: Don't be deceived
MALACAÑANG on Monday cautioned potential witnesses in flood control mess cases against being misled by alleged promises of protection. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro issued the statement following a social media post...
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Race against time: Death toll rises to 6 in landfill collapse, 32 remain missing
HARD hat-wearing rescue workers and backhoes dug through rubble in search of survivors on Saturday in the shadow of a mountain of garbage that buried dozens of landfill employees in Cebu City, killing at least six. About 50 sanitation workers were...
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PBBM orders PhilHealth amnesty for non-payers
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to implement a general amnesty and a onetime interest waiver this year to help employers and selfemployed members settle unpaid contributions. Mr....
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No letup in getting ‘big fish’
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is himself waiting for key resolutions from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice on anomalous flood control projects, the Palace said as it assured the public that more cases will be filed amid...
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PBBM vetoes P92.5b unprogrammed funds
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law this year’s P6.793 trillion national budget, vetoing almost P92.5 billion in unprogrammed funds while putting tighter controls on public spending, including barring politicians from distributing cash and...
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Attack on Venezuela stirring up oil prices
CONSUMERS should brace for higher pump prices following the United States' attack and capture of President Nicolas Maduro on oil-rich Venezuela, the Department of Energy (DOE) said yesterday. Rino Abad, director of the DOE’s Oil Industry Management...
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TRUMP: VENEZUELA’S MADURO CAPTURED IN ‘LARGE-SCALE’ US STRIKE
WEST Palm Beach—President Donald Trump said Saturday that US forces had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro after launching a “largescale strike” on the South American country. Trump’s stunning announcement follows months of steadily mounting US...
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Fabella Hospital welcomes ‘New Year babies’ Yuri, Zamara
BABY boy Yuri and baby girl Zamara came bouncing into the world just as the clock struck midnight, heralding the arrival of the new year at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila. Sally Alburo delivered Yuri, her second child, while Jenylyn...
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SWS: More Pinoys expect better life quality in 2026
NEARLY half (44 percent) of Filipino adults expect their quality of life to improve over the next 12 months, a November survey by the Social Weather Stations showed. At least 89 percent of adult Filipinos are also entering the New Year with hope...
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Children most affected by firecracker blasts
THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday reported 140 firework-related injuries recorded nationwide from Dec. 21 to 30, based on monitoring from 62 sentinel hospitals. Children aged 5 to 14 accounted for 78 cases, or 58% of the total, underscoring...
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MARTYR HERO.
Workers clean ‘The Martyrdom of Dr. Jose Rizal’ monument by National Artist for Architecture, Ildedonso Paez Santos, inside the Rizal Park in Manila yesterday in preparation for today’s commemoration of the 129th death anniversary of national hero Jose...
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Trace Cabral files source — Palace
MALACAÑANG yesterday said that the real source of the so-called “Cabral Files,” which Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste claims was handed to him by the late Public Works Undersecretary Cathy Cabral, must be ascertained in view of...
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Dizon rebuffs Leviste on validity of ‘Cabral list’
PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon has rejected claims he has validated the so-called “Cabral list” in the possession of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. “For the record, I have not authenticated any document in the possession of Cong. [Leviste],...
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Gatchalian rejects ‘Cabral list’
SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian added his voice in rejecting claims of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste that all senators and congressmen, both district and partylist, made insertions in the 2025 budget of the Department of Public Works and...
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Leviste makes public portion of ‘Cabral list’
BATANGAS Rep. Leandro Leviste on Wednesday made a partial disclosure of the so-called "Cabral list," but limited it to a summary of the "allocable" funds that district representatives recommended for the 2025 budget of the Department of Public Works...
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Giant lanterns light up X’mas in PH
IN THE Christmas-mad Philippines, thousands cheer as hand-crafted lanterns towering six meters (20 feet) high light up the night sky in San Fernando, northwest of the country’s capital. The dazzling display of lights, accompanied by religious and...
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'Cabral list explosive: More lawmakers, top officials'
BATANGAS Rep. Leandro Leviste yesterday claimed that the list handed over to him by the recently deceased former Public Works Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral is a potential bombshell because it contains the names of more highly placed...
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Autopsy shows no foul play in Cabral’s death
INITIAL autopsy results indicate that former Public Works undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral died from blunt force trauma from her fall, with no signs of foul play, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Saturday said. “The initial reports...
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Bicam averts reenacted budget
ANEW spending plan for 2026 is now assured after the bicameral conference committee ironed out differing provisions in the proposed 2026 national budget, including the restoration of more than half of the slashed budget of the Department of Public...
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Bicam moves to avert reenacted nat’l budget
MEMBERS of the bicameral conference committee moved to finish deliberations of the proposed 2026 national budget today at the earliest to avoid a reenacted budget, with the Senate now inclined to restore a part of the P45 billion slashed from the...
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PBBM urges Congress: Avoid reenacted budget
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. does not want a reenacted budget for 2026, as Malacañang warned that several government projects could face delays if the proposed General Appropriations Act is not approved on time. At least three senators, however,...
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PBBM: Deploy forces to WPS
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the deployment of forces in “strategic locations” across the West Philippine Sea to protect Filipino fishermen after China utilized water cannons near Escoda (Sabina) Shoal off Palawan last week. Palace Press...
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Senate vows pork-free budget
THE Senate is prepared to “fight to the very end” to ensure that the 2026 budget is free of pork-barrel-type provisions, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said yesterday. In particular, Lacson and Senator Erwin Tulfo jointly flagged sharp...
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Plunder rap filed vs. VP over confi funds
CIVIL society leaders on Friday filed a plunder complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte and 15 other officials before the Office of the Ombudsman over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds of the OVP and the Department of...
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PH HARVESTS 5 GOLDS, 5 SILVERS, 19 BRONZES ON DAY 3 OF SEAG
BANGKOK—The Philippines banked on the brute force of jiu-jitsu and the fluid motion of artistic gymnastics to deliver the good tidings in the form of three gold medals for the Philippines in Day 3 of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here on Thursday. At...
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Gov’t cancels Zaldy Co’s passport—PBBM
THE government has cancelled the passport of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said as he ordered the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine National Police to track the fugitive ex-lawmaker and bring...
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PBBM backs 4 key reform bills
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has called on Congress to prioritize four key reform measures, including proposals for an Anti-Political Dynasty Act and the creation of an Independent People’s Commission that would act against corruption across...
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‘ICC arrest order vs. Bato out’
THE International Criminal Court has already released the arrest warrant against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa in connection with the crimes against humanity case against former President Rodrigo Duterte, former presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. The...
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HAIL MAMA MARY.
Devotees accompany various Marian icons during the annual Grand Marian Procession inside Intramuros, Manila yesterday, marking the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception — one of the country’s most prominent religious traditions. Norman...
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GIFT-GIVING.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the ‘Balik Sigla, Bigay Saya 2025 Nationwide Gift-Giving’ at the Kalayaan Grounds in Malacañan Palace on December 6, 2025 that gathered over 3,000 attendees, including children from the Department of Social Welfare...
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Return P60b in excess funds to PhilHealth—SC
THE Supreme Court has ordered the return of P60 billion in remitted funds to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) through the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). "The SC, through the ponencia of Associate Justice Amy C....
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‘Fighting corruption like a major cancer surgery’
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the country is going through a "difficulty" now as he likened the fight against corruption to "a very major surgery...to excise a cancer." "When you have to excise a cancer out of such a complicated system, you need...
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Singson quits as ICI commissioner—Reyes
FORMER Public Works chief Rogelio Singson has resigned from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure effective December 15, ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said in a statement yesterday. "He mentioned the very intense and stressful ICI work has...
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ICI livestream begins; Sandro, Pulong invited to next hearings
THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure began livestreaming its proceedings for the first time yesterday, with Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr. and officials from the Land Bank of the Philippines appearing before the body. The ICI...
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OFWs urged: Help us catch Co
IN A bid to tighten the net around former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, the government is asking overseas Filipinos to take a photo of the fugitive ex-lawmaker and post it online. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla made the appeal on Monday as he said Co is...
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Marcos: Honor Bonifacio’s selflessness
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. encouraged Filipinos to embody the patriotism and selflessness of Andres Bonifacio as the nation commemorated the revolutionary hero’s 161st birth anniversary on Saturday.
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All systems go for rallies today
TWO major protest movements will call for accountability and justice amid corruption issues hounding government flood control projects today, even as they diverge on how systemic change can be effected. In Manila, progressive groups will stage the...
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65 die, 19 OFWs hurt in HK apartment complex blaze—DMW
AT LEAST 65 were killed, 70 injured including 19 Filipinos, and 250 people listed as missing in the massive fire that swept through a high-rise residential complex in Hong Kong, authorities said yesterday. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac urged...
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ICI: Charge 8 ‘cong-tractors’
THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure has recommended the filing of criminal and administrative charges against former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co and seven incumbent congressmen over their alleged involvement in government...
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‘Co part of destab plotters’
HOUSE Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos on Tuesday pushed back against resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, branding him as the new “champion of the DDS cabal” and accusing him peddling lies from abroad to destabilize the...
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7 more accused in flood control scam arrested
SEVEN more co-accused of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co have been arrested over the questionable P289.5-million road dike project in Oriental Mindoro. Along with Dennis Abagon, a member of the Bids and Awards Committee of Department of...
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