Publication

SENATE COURT TO VOTE ON SARA’S FINANCIAL DOCS

Poa maintained that the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the National Internal Revenue Code contain no impeachment exception for AMLC reports and tax records, and objected to including Carpio’s records because he is not an impeachable official. ‘Second...

MARITIME PAST

The B.B. Florentino Das, a replica of the ancient Filipino boat known as the balangay, is docked along the Pasig River at the Intramuros Esplanade in Manila on Saturday. Precolonial Filipinos relied on such a vessel for trade and cultural exchange...

RESIDENTS NEAR MAYON SLOPES PREPARE TO EVACUATE

SECURITY PARTNER

The Japan Coast Guard training vessel Itsukushima arrives in Manila on Thursday for a four-day port visit, part of its global training mission that began May 1 in Kure, Japan. Tokyo and Manila have been stepping up cooperation in the areas of maritime...

THIS IS NOT YOUR USUAL DRILL

Aside from holding the usual earthquake drills on campus, public schools nationwide are now expected to prepare students, teachers and other personnel for “active shooter’’ scenarios, like in the simulation held for the first time by the Department of...

BIRTHDAY IN THE SUN

President Marcos, along with Meralco chair and CEO Manny Pangilinan, leads the inauguration of the MTerra solar power project’s Phase 1 in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, on Tuesday. The occasion also marks Pangilinan’s 80th birthday, with retired Chief Justice...

VP THREATS VS MARCOS ‘SERIOUS, REAL’–NBI EXEC

House prosecutors on Monday strengthened their impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, presenting a National Bureau of Investigation official who testified that her alleged threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos...

ALEX EALA GETS HERO’S WELCOME

Alex Eala returned home on Sunday for a short vacation in Manila before her US Open swing. The 21-year-old arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to a hero’s welcome following her historic run at Wimbledon in London, where she became...

EDITORIAL: AN AWARD THAT ENDURES

FLOOD MESS REMINDER

Commuters and motorists brave the flash flood near the intersection of Taft and UN Avenues in Manila as Typhoon “Inday” (Bavi) enhanced monsoon rains on Friday. The yearly urban ordeal refreshed memories of the public works corruption scandal that...

‘PREPARE FOR TYPHOON INDAY’

That’s all Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, has to say to the press when she showed up at the Senate on Thursday for some “administrative matters” relating to her appearance as a prosecution witness in her boss’...

DEFENSE ARGUMENT: SARA’S THREAT NOT A HIGH CRIME

The Vice President’s legal team maintains there is no proof that she actually hired an assassin and her threat against the President can’t be considered an impeachable offense. For the prosecutors, the testimony of their first witness remains solid.

VP TRIAL STARTS: CHIZ PRESIDES, SETS RULES

The Senate, sitting as impeachment court, elected Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, a lawyer, to preside over Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial. The court set a 16-vote conviction threshold, resolved procedural issues and heard the parties’ opening...

THAT (ONCE) LITTLE GIRL

In a three-minute, 33-second-post match interview that she started as an emotional wreck, Alex Eala let the world know what the path that got her this far was all about. And what making the round of 16 of a Grand Slam event after dethroning Wimbledon...

EALA OUSTS WIMBLEDON DEFENDING CHAMP

CANADA CONNECTIONS

President Marcos, with first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos by his side, is received by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Vancouver Convention Centre at the start of Mr. Marcos’ official visit on July 2. The two countries later signed declarations...

PRETRIAL PRAYERS

BLESSING Members of the House prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is set to begin on July 6, receive a blessing from Catholic priests during a Mass held on Thursday at a chapel of the Immaculate Conception...

PH ATTAINS ‘UPPER MIDDLE INCOME’ RANK–WORLD BANK

MARCOS WANTS ‘MAXIMUM TOLERANCE’ FOR PROTEST THAT RUINED HIS SKED

FOOD AID FOR SENIORS

BASIC NEED First lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, assisted by San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora, leads a rice distribution activity under the government’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” program at FilOil Centre on Monday. Nearly 9,000 senior citizens in San Juan...

‘BLOODY’ BICAM SEEN OVER ANTIDYNASTY BILL

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he expects heated and “bloody” debates when members of the bicameral committee finally meet to reconcile the House and Senate versions of the long-awaited antidynasty law, due to major differences between the...

HAZING RAPS PUSHED VS ATENEO EX-COACH, STAFF

Two members of the Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball team drowned after being subjected to “intense physical activity” and hazardous sea conditions, the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said on...

AFTER THE CUTTING COMES THE PLANTING

MAKE-UP ACT? Unable to prevent the recent cutting of some 200 trees on Quirino Avenue in Manila to make way for a road project, the government plants saplings along Roxas Boulevard on Thursday. Mayor Francisco Domagoso and Environment Secretary Juan...

HOUSE PROSECUTORS: OPEN BOX OF VP’S TAX RECORDS

The House prosecution panel has formally called for the unsealing of the box containing Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records so that these can already be marked at the pretrial stage of her impeachment case. The team maintained that its request,...

GOV’T BLOCKS VIOLENT ONLINE GAME AFTER TACLOBAN SCHOOL SLAYS

The government on Tuesday ordered the temporary blocking of the online shooting game GoreBox as authorities intensified their investigation into whether exposure to the platform may have influenced one of the teenage suspects in the school shooting in...

PROSECUTORS’ GOAL: VP’S CONVICTION REGARDLESS OF VOTE LIMIT

The goal of the private prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is to build a case with overwhelming evidence, regardless of how the constitutional provision on the vote threshold is interpreted, lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr....

GOV’T TO PROBE ALLEGED ILLEGAL RECRUITMENT OF RUSSIA OFWS

The government on Sunday said it would look into reports that the 24 Filipinos recently repatriated from Russia were victims of illegal recruiters. The Filipinos—22 women and two men—arrived in Manila in two batches over the weekend after they were...

DRILON WARNS VS ‘SECOND ENVELOPE’ CRISIS IN VP TRIAL

The former Senate President, who took part in two impeachment trials during his 24 years as senator, says the suppression of evidence during the impeachment trial of President Joseph Estrada created political instability in 2001. The decision to stop...

GROUPS OPPOSE CHIZ RETURN AS IMPEACH TRIAL PRESIDER

As senators get back on track following a short-lived but tumultuous Senate leadership, a broad coalition of activist groups and concerned individuals warned on Friday that designating Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as the presiding officer of the...

MARCOS INVITES PUTIN TO MANILA

President Marcos has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend the East Asia Summit (EAS) in Manila this November for what would be his first visit to the Philippines. Mr. Marcos, the current Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)...

50 TECH TITANS KEEN ON PH ‘PAX SILICA’ HUB –BCDA CHIEF

More than 50 companies, including trillion-dollar tech titans, are keen on investing at the first site tipped to be developed for the United States-led Pax Silica initiative at New Clark City in Pampanga, according to Joshua Bingcang, president and CEO...

PRESIDENT BACK IN QUAKE ZONE TO BRING AID, OVERSEE RECOVERY

GENERAL SANTOS CITY—President Marcos returned to the quake-affected areas in Region 12 for the second time on Monday, less than a week after a powerful earthquake struck the region on June 8. Mr. Marcos arrived at the airport here on Monday morning...

VILLANUEVA SAYS ‘WILL BE THERE’ IN SPECIAL SESSION

Citing urgent work in the chamber, Sen. Joel Villanueva said he will join a special session of Congress if called by President Marcos. Malacañang said the Senate must first resolve its dispute—which can be settled by the attendance of one more senator.

NEGROS TEACHERS GO ON A TREK FOR THEIR IP PUPILS

TANJAY CITY—Classes have resumed for the new school year, but for teacher Milton Ramirez, getting to school is a journey that would test anyone’s resolve. Every Monday before dawn, Ramirez and his fellow teachers leave their homes and travel about 35...

CHINA SANCTIONS VS GIBO, KIN ‘UNFRIENDLY ACT’–DFA

The defense chief says he will not stop working against the ‘wickedness’ of Chinese actions in Philippine waters. Manila sees Beijing’s sanctions against him as undermining bilateral ties while tension heightens over their maritime dispute.

SCREEN GENERATION

President Marcos and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora check on the pupils who are given new computer tablets for class at Pinaglabanan Elementary School on Thursday. The children are among the city’s 13,000 public school students receiving the gadgets.

BALIGOD GROUP SHOWS UP IN SENATE BUT SNUBS PANEL

The 18 men who claimed to have served as “bagmen” of former Rep. Zaldy Co and delivered suitcases of cash to several government officials arrived at the Senate on Monday following the invitation of the Senate blue ribbon committee. But they did not...

SHERWIN ON SENATE ROW: ‘I WILL TALK TO EVERYONE’

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said he is open to talks with Sen. Alan Cayetano who had suggested that they meet, amid the dispute in the upper chamber impeding the government’s work. Senate employees have also weighed in on this matter.

DTI: MOST SCHOOL SUPPLY PRICES UNCHANGED THIS YEAR

Prices of school supplies have largely remained stable this year, with more items posting price cuts than increases ahead of the opening of classes, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). In its latest school supplies price guide,...

MATIBAG: SENATE TURMOIL A PLOY FOR ‘CHAOS,’ THEN ‘TIPPING POINT’

Recent political developments appear to be intended to sow chaos and reach a “tipping point” leading to the ouster of President Marcos and the takeover by Vice President Sara Duterte, according to National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin...

LAWMAKERS DISMISS ‘MALETA’ REPLAY AS ‘LIES’ AHEAD OF VP TRIAL

Several lawmakers were quick to dispute the narratives given by a group of “ex-Marines’’ who on Thursday was provided a Senate platform to repeat earlier statements that they had delivered suitcases (“maleta”) packed with cash to various political...

WIN ACTING SENATE PREZ AS CHIZ ENDS DEADLOCK

A surprise appearance by Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday broke a three-day deadlock in the Senate, allowing the minority bloc led by former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III to reclaim key leadership posts, reorganize the chamber and...

ARRAIGNMENT OF ESTRADA, BONOAN POSTPONED

The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division on Tuesday postponed the arraignment of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan to June 4. In the case of Bonoan, who arrived in a wheelchair, his arraignment was postponed after he...

ESTRADA YIELDS AS COURT WARRANT ON PLUNDER OUT

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on Monday issued an arrest warrant against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for charges of plunder and graft. Estrada eventually surrendered to agents of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group...

VIETNAM’S LEADER ON STATE VISIT

Vietnamese President To Lam arrived in Manila on Sunday for a two-day state visit that’s seen to boost cooperation with the Philippines on investment, trade and maritime security, especially in the South China Sea. This is the first visit of Lam,...

ROW ON SENATE VOTING RULE WON’T DIE DOWN

Former Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson says debates on a proposed amendment to Senate rules isn’t wrong but it isn’t right either to ignore parliamentary procedures to ram down a motion. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano insists that...

PH, JAPAN UPDATE TAX TREATY

The Philippines and Japan have signed a renegotiated double taxation agreement, updating a decades-old treaty in a bid to support cross-border investments and business activity between the two countries. In a statement on Friday, the Department of...

PLUNDER RAPS VS ESTRADA, BONOAN OVER ‘INSERTIONS’

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was charged with plunder in the Sandiganbayan on Thursday over alleged irregular insertions in the 2025 national budget—the third time he has been accused of the same crime for which he was twice acquitted. The Office of the...

TRUTH COMMISSION ON DRUG WAR LAUNCHED: ‘FOR CATHARSIS’

An independent “EJK Truth Commission” backed by Church and civil society leaders was formally launched on Wednesday to document the killings and other atrocities linked to the bloody war on drugs waged by former President Rodrigo Duterte. The body was...

CLASH ON SENATE ONLINE VOTING ENDS IN WALKOUT

Members of the minority bloc leave the plenary session and force an adjournment as they strongly object to a motion calling on the body to already decide on a rule change proposed by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta just over two weeks ago.

BRACING FOR FLOODS

SET FOR RAINY DAYS President Marcos, accompanied by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, inspects the P774-million Sunog Apog pumping station in Tondo, Manila, on Monday. The President ordered the...

BUILDING PROJECT COLLAPSES; 1 DEAD, 20 FEARED TRAPPED

ANGELES CITY—A Malaysian national died while more than 20 workers were feared trapped beneath the rubble after a nine-story building still under construction collapsed in Barangay Balibago here before dawn on Sunday. Fire Chief Superintendent Wilberto...

TOWN CHARMS

BOLINAO, PANGASINAN—Three decades ago, residents of this coastal town fought to stop a multibillion-peso cement plant that threatened to transform Bolinao’s limestone hills and marine ecosystem into an industrial zone. Today, many locals believe that...

POLICE, NBI URGE BATO TO SURRENDER, FACE ICC

The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation on Friday appealed to fugitive Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to surrender and face the charges against him in the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Department of Justice...

TORRE’S MUSE

With a mascot named “Lola Daisy Plina,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority General Manager Nicolas Torre III leads a campaign for discipline in public spaces—starting with proper waste disposal and observance of traffic rules—in a program held...

TEARS AT PLENARY

Sen. Pia Cayetano turned emotional on Wednesday as she protested a colleagues’ remarks about the May 13 shooting incident in the Senate. “It’s as if nothing happened. That is the statement of our honorable senator,” Cayetano said, referring to a...

PNP PROBE INDICATES SENATE ‘NOT ATTACKED’

All the evidence gathered from the initial investigation of the Philippine National Police on the May 13 shooting incident inside the Senate building showed that no “attack’’ took place, contrary to the description used empathically by Senate President...

VP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ON AS SENATE CONVENES COURT

The Senate on Monday formally convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with 23 senators donning maroon robes and taking their oath as judges. Notably absent from the proceedings was Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa,...

NO VENAL CREATURE

ENDANGERED CROC Long maligned here as a symbol of the corrupt, deceitful politician, the Philippine freshwater crocodile, locally known as “bukarot,” is actually a critically endangered species. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources...

SNAPPY SALUTES, TENDER KISSES

President Marcos (left inset) leads the traditional review of troops during the graduation rites of the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City on Saturday. Cadet 1st Class Christine Kaye Librada of Lipa City, Batangas (right), the valedictorian of...

DOLOMITE BEACH DRILLS

USEFUL, AFTER ALL The controversial dolomite beach facing Manila Bay, a project completed during the Duterte administration, serves as the site on Friday for this year’s Sarex, or Search and Rescue Exercise, a multiagency drill for coordinating land,...

PALACE: SENATE SECURITY CHIEF TRIGGERED SHOOTING

A warning shot fired by a personnel of the Senate’s Office of Sergeant-at-Arms (Osaa) triggered Wednesday’s shooting incident inside the complex occupied by the Senate and the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) in Pasay City, Malacañang said on...

SHOTS FIRED IN SENATE AS IT GIVES BATO REFUGE

It was an unprecedented night of terror when shots were fired on Wednesday evening inside the Senate building where Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa had been holed up for the third day to avoid arrest and transfer to the International Criminal Court...

ALAN: ONLY PH COURT WARRANT CAN GET BATO

Newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is under the chamber’s “protective custody,” may only be turned over to authorities on a warrant issued by a Philippine court. Cayetano laid down this position...

VP IMPEACHED; HOUSE GETS 257 VOTES TO START TRIAL

The House of Representatives on Monday indicted Sara Duterte on charges of corruption and constitutional violations, making her the first vice president in the country’s history to be impeached twice. The case will now be sent to the Senate for a...

SKATE DANCE

NEW PLAYGROUND A skateboarder checks out the newly inaugurated skatepark at Quezon Memorial Circle on Sunday. The 3,758-square-meter facility is designed for all skateboard enthusiasts and has a practice area for beginners.

RESTFUL, RESTRICTIVE

Dusk descends on the shoreline of Barangay San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales, where fisherfolk have returned from a day at sea, in this photo taken on April 24. For this coming Monday, however, they have been warned not to come near the disputed...

MARCOS: MIDEAST CRISIS CALLS FOR AGILE ASEAN

CEBU—The 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit on Friday spotlighted maritime and energy security concerns as leaders of the regional bloc grappled with urgent challenges to food security, disaster preparedness and the safety of...

PH TO ASEAN: AGILITY, UNITY NEEDED TO ADDRESS GLOBAL CHALLENGES

LAPU-LAPU CITY, CEBU—The leaders of about 680 million people in Southeast Asia gathered in Cebu City on Thursday to forge contingency plans amid global challenges for the 11 economies that comprise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean),...

PALACE SAYS MARCOS, MABANTA ‘NOT FRIENDS’; BUT TIES SHOW

Malacañang sought to disassociate President Marcos from social media operator Franco Mabanta, who was arrested on Tuesday over an alleged attempt to extort P350 million from former Speaker Martin Romualdez, a cousin of the President. The President and...

38 FILIPINOS AMONG CREW OF HANTAVIRUS-HIT SHIP

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it was in close coordination with the World Health Organization (WHO) following reports that a cruise ship hit by a suspected hantavirus outbreak had 38 Filipinos among its crew members. “The good news,...

MAYON VOLCANO ASHFALL HITS OVER 30,000 FAMILIES

Mayon Volcano’s ashfall have so far affected 30,522 families or 102,406 people across 87 barangays in Bicol region as of Monday morning, according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano. Of those who were affected, 5,440...