The Philippine Star
Baste set to appear this week at impeach court
Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and former senator Antonio Trillanes IV are slated to take the witness stand before the Senate impeachment court this week, as prosecutors drill down on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged ill-gotten...
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VP Sara denies receiving P2 B from ex-Velasco aide
Vice President Sara Duterte has denied allegations made by a security officer of former speaker Lord Allan Velasco that he delivered suitcases containing cash amounting to P2 billion to her, and to her father former president Rodrigo Duterte and...
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BBM postpones b’gay, SK elections to 2028
For the third time in four years, President Marcos has postponed the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE). And instead of just one year, incumbent BSK officials get to stay in their posts for two additional years as the new law fixes...
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Security, bomb threats rock several schools
Less than a week after a school shooting that left three people dead in South Cotabato, panic again erupted at several school grounds in Metro Manila as well as in Biliran due to security alerts, including bomb threats ꟷ hours apart from each other ꟷ...
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Defense: Conviction voting issue may be raised before SC
The defense team going to the Supreme Court “is a real possibility” as it questioned the decision of the Senate impeachment court to effectively allow a lower number of votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte from the fixed 16. Defense counsel...
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THE PROMISE OF PROTECTION
For Filipinos, the most important promises are rarely made with fanfare. They are found in the quiet decisions we make for the people we love: to protect a family’s way of life, prepare for a child’s education and health, be ready when uncertainty...
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Sara retained business stakes after becoming VP
Despite constitutional prohibition, Vice President Sara Duterte retained her holdings in companies held by her family even after her election in 2022, an official of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said at the resumption of her impeachment...
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Senate tackles today VP impeach vote threshold
Senators are expected to go into caucus today in an attempt to resolve the question on the conviction threshold for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. This comes after the amici curiae ( friends of the court) voiced their expert opinions...
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DILG: School shooter was into deep dark web
The 16-year-old Grade 9 student who went on a shooting rampage at the Banga National High School in South Cotabato on Friday was suffering from depression and was exposed to the deep dark web, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla disclosed...
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High school shooting leaves 3 students dead, 8 wounded
Three high school students died while eight others were wounded when a 16-year-old schoolmate went on a shooting rampage at the Banga National High School (BNHS) in Banga town, South Cotabato yesterday. Banga Mayor Albert Palencia said the Grade 9...
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Romualdez co-accused Serenio out of Phl – BI
The personal assistant of former House speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who was charged with him in a P7.4-billion plunder case, has left the country, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) confirmed yesterday. In a statement, BI spokesperson Anisha...
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SC directs Congress: Pass anti-dynasty law
The Supreme Court has directed Congress to immediately comply with its constitutional duty to enact a law that will put an end to political dynasties. At a press briefing, SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the high court has issued a writ of mandamus...
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Chiz OKs presentation of VP’s SALNs from 2007
The Senate impeachment court will scrutinize Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records starting from her time as a local official in Davao City to establish a “baseline” for her wealth, presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero said...
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Sandigan orders QC jail transfer for Romualdez
With assurance by doctors that there was “no imperative need” for continued hospital confinement for former speaker Martin Romualdez, the Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered yesterday his transfer to the New Quezon City Jail. The Sandiganbayan issued...
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Ex-Comelec chair Abas tagged in vote-buying
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered its former chairperson Sheriff Abas to explain a social media post allegedly showing vote-buying involving his candidacy as Cotabato congressman ahead of the 2026 Bangsamoro parliamentary election...
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Ferry fire death toll rises to 76
An additional 41 charred remains were recovered on top of the 30 earlier reported following a fire involving the MV June As ter in Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard said yesterday. PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the total...
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‘Only 10 votes needed to reverse 16-vote rule’
It will take only 10 votes from senator- judges to overturn the initial ruling that requires 16 votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, the Senate impeachment court clarified yesterday. Impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol explained that...
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Five dead, 86 missing in Coron ferry fire
A passenger ferry caught fire off Coron in Palawan Wednesday night, leaving five dead and 86 missing. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is not discounting the possibility that other victims remain trapped inside passenger and roll-on roll-off ship MV...
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Ombudsman to oppose Martin’s bid for hospital detention
The Office of the Ombudsman will “strongly oppose” the bid of Leyte congressman and former speaker Martin Romualdez for continued hospital confinement as he faces detention for a non-bailable P7.4-billion plunder charge. “If his illnesses can be...
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Sandiganbayan summons Cardinal Santos doctors
The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered four doctors of former House speaker Martin Romualdez to testify on his medical condition as it studies whether to let him remain in hospital confinement under custody. The anti-graft court ordered doctors...
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Romualdez arrested, in hospital ‘detention’
Former House speaker Martin Romualdez was placed under arrest last night on orders of the Sandiganbayan, where he was indicted for P7.4- billion plunder together with fugitive ex-congressman Zaldy Co and two others. Romualdez was served the arrest...
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NBI to file raps over P55-M SEAG cauldron
The National Bureau of Investigation is set to file cases in the coming days over alleged irregularities related to the “golden cauldron” installed for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said. Speaking at a forum in...
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VP Sara posts P360K bail for threats case
Vice President Sara Duterte yesterday posted P360,000 bail for three counts of grave threats directed at President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez, evading possible arrest that she claimed would have exposed her to...
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QC court issues arrest warrant vs VP Duterte
The Quezon City Regional Trial Court (QC RTC) yesterday ordered the arrest of Vice President Sara Duterte over the grave threats case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ). The case against Duterte stemmed from her online press briefing in November...
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Raps filed vs 15-year-old suspect in Tacloban shooting
Four charges of frustrated murder and six for attempted murder were filed by the Tacloban City prosecutor against the 15-year-old who opened fire inside the San Jose National High School that left three students dead and 20 injured, the Department of...
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Pilandok exits PAR today
Tropical Storm Pilandok is set to exit the Philippine area of responsibility today, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. As of 4 p.m. yesterday, Pilandok was located 1,080 kilometers...
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Sandiganbayan drops Bonoan as co-accused
The Sandiganbayan has allowed the exclusion of former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan from the plunder and graft charges filed against officials including Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in connection with the flood control corruption scandal. The...
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Pumping station thieves to be jailed, Palace warns
Grappling with intense criticism over the severe flooding in many parts of Luzon, Malacañang yesterday warned those engaged in pilfering flood control infrastructure parts of serious legal consequences for “sabotaging” government projects. Palace...
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Pumping stations fail as flood infra pilfered
Stolen cables, valves and manhole covers are impairing flood control infrastructure in Metro Manila, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon lamented yesterday. “Citizens must not steal or vandalize public assets. Stripping one small wire causes...
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Heavy monsoon rains flood MM roads anew
Heavy rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon again inundated many parts of Metro Manila, leaving roads impassable, rivers rising to critical and dangerous levels and the La Mesa Dam spilling. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and...
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P735.56 B ‘red flag’ items spotted in 2027 budget
A coalition of civil society organizations has flagged P735.56 billion in President Marcos’ proposed 2027 national budget as vulnerable to political intervention and insertions, raising concerns ahead of the 2028 polls. The People’s Budget Coalition...
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PSA: 12.8% of Pinoys felt multiple forms of poverty
An estimated 12.8 percent of Filipinos were classified as multidimensionally poor in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The first Multidimensional Poverty Index released by the PSA yesterday showed that the national MPI at...
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Ombudsman says 107 gov’t execs on lifestyle checks
The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting lifestyle checks on 107 government officials, particularly those in “incomegenerating” agencies such as the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla...
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Witness on VP secret funds: Request made before plans
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) requested P250 million in confidential funds before it had even prepared a plan on how to spend it, a witness testified before the Senate impeachment court yesterday. During direct examination by private...
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BBM blames heavy rain for massive flooding
The massive flooding that hit parts of the country was caused not only by issues involving flood control projects, but also by the unprecedented volume of rain brought by recent weather disturbances, President Marcos said yesterday. After a situation...
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Telcos ready to block more sites promoting violence
The country’s biggest internet service providers (ISPs) are taking online safety a notch higher by preventing Filipinos, especially the youth, from accessing malicious platforms promoting violent activities. In a statement, Converge ICT Solutions Inc....
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‘Testimony of OVP witness a smoking gun in Sara trial’
The testimony of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte’s disbursing officer is the “smoking gun” in the prosecution’s effort to pin her down for misuse of her confidential funds, Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon said yesterday. At the Saturday...
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PNP to tighten firearm security rules for cops
The Philippine National Police is reinforcing firearm security rules among PNP personnel after investigation showed that the suspect in the Zamboanga City school shooting used guns issued by the government to his father. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio...
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28 witnesses to testify in probe of Romualdez
The Office of the Ombudsman still has 28 witnesses who can provide material information linking former speaker Martin Romualdez to the flood control scandal ꟷ despite the recantation of Orly Guteza, a retired Marine and former security aide to fugitive...
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Ateneo shooter’s dad left guns in car – BOC
BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno yesterday said he was told by Lt. Elias Jalani II, the gunman’s father, that his firearms were in the car that took his son to school. Nepomuceno told ANC that he was able to talk to Jalani after the shooting...
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2 dead in Ateneo de Zamboanga shooting
A junior high school student killed a classmate before shooting himself dead in a rampage inside the Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU) campus in Barangay Tumaga, Zamboanga City yesterday morning. The shooting occurred at around 7: 45 a. m., barely...
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Metro inundated as monsoon rains persist
Torrential rains brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon caused swift and severe flooding in key areas in Metro Manila yesterday, with roads rendered impassable and rivers reaching critical level. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (...
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No secret funds for civilian agencies in 2027 – Senate
The Senate will maintain its ban on confidential funds for civilian agencies in the 2027 national budget, according to the head of the chamber. “As a rule, if you are a civilian agency, for example, DICT (Department of Information and Communications...
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Senate impeach court eyeing schedule flip
The Senate impeachment court is seriously considering a proposal to hold the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the afternoon, according to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. This way, the senators can have regular plenary sessions in the...
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750 tons of garbage hauled from waterway
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has removed nearly 750 metric tons of waste and debris from the Redemptorist Water Channel in Parañaque since Monday, equivalent to around 203 truckloads of garbage. “We have collected the major bulk of...
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Lacson seeks Senate probe on EDSA rehab
Sen. Panfilo Lacson is seeking a Senate public works committee inquiry into the EDSA rehabilitation program after potholes emerged on newly repaired roads during monsoon rains. Lacson said road damage just months after completion exposed flaws in...
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Garbage problem critical, says BBM
Refusing to call it a “crisis,” President Marcos however described as “critical” the garbage problem that has contributed to flooding in parts of Metro Manila and nearby areas hit by heavy rains from the southwest monsoon. Marcos yesterday inspected...
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COA auditor: VP Sara liable for P73-M disallowed funds
The Commission on Audit (COA) deems Vice President Sara Duterte herself to be liable along with two others for P73.287 million in disallowed disbursements over just 11 days using the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP). COA...
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‘Big improvement’ in NCR flood mitigation – MMDA
Despite reports of flooding in areas across the National Capital Region, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the situation in the metropolis has seen “a big improvement” because of the government’s flood mitigation...
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Ping: PRA to seize illegally reclaimed areas in Taguig
The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) is moving to seize substantial areas of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City, Sen. Panfilo Lacson revealed, with the contractors behind 32 “ghost” flood control projects to face plunder charges for billing...
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6 reported dead due to typhoons, habagat
The death toll from days of heavy rains brought by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon or habagat has climbed to six, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported yesterday. According to the NDRRMC, two...
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Legarda, Leviste left the country – NBI chief
Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste left the country for France with his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, before the National Bureau of Investigation served him a subpoena over the alleged honey trap plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, NBI Director...
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US formally asks Phl to extradite Quiboloy
The United States has formally asked the Philippine government to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to face trial on charges including child sex trafficking and fraud that landed him on the federal most wanted list. The US...
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Auditor: OVP confidential funds ‘personally’ used
Unless proven otherwise, Vice President Sara Duterte is presumed to have spent her confidential funds for personal use or benefit after her office failed to properly liquidate the funds despite a formal demand from the Commission on Audit (COA), the...
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‘OVP staff lobbied COA to downgrade findings’
Core staff of the Office of the Vice President lobbied the Commission on Audit in 2023 to downgrade COA audit findings on the OVP’s use of confidential funds, a prosecution witness testified during Day 12 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara...
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Sandigan rejects Bonoan as state witness in graft
The graft case against former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan will remain for now after the Sandiganbayan junked the Office of the Ombudsman’s proposal to remove him as accused and eventually make him a state...
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Senators push truce between Ping, Alan
Senators are pushing for a truce between warring colleagues to focus on a mounting legislative workload, including the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. In a weekend interview over dzBB, Blue Ribbon committee chairman Erwin Tulfo...
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Ombudsman: Granting of Revilla bail expected
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he had expected the granting of bail to former senator Ramon Revilla Jr. in his malversation case over an alleged flood control project. “It is inevitable that this will happen, that this is being worked on to...
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Legarda, son face probe over P10-B solar franchise
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a preliminary investigation against Sen. Loren Legarda, her son Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi over plunder and graft complaints stemming from renewable energy...
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Marcos allows opening of VP Sara’s tax records
President Marcos has given the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the go-ahead to submit and unseal the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, documents seen to shed light on her alleged unexplained wealth and the...
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Probe to expose ‘delicious’ Taguig infra details – Ping
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s planned investigation into alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City will expose “delicious” details behind at least five case studies made by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s team and submitted to the Office of...
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BBM wants laundering, secrecy laws amended
As corruption issues continue to bedevil his administration, President Marcos said he is pushing for amendments to the laws on bank secrecy and anti-money laundering to help restore public trust and confidence in government institutions. In a report...
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‘I am not the president of my family or friends’
Saying he is neither the president of his family nor of his friends, President Marcos yesterday revealed that criminal cases were being readied against his first cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez. In the opening part of his State of the Nation...
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Sara: I won’t resign
With her impeachment trial in the Senate underway, Vice President Sara Duterte has addressed speculations that she might step down from office. “Oh, never gonna happen. I will never resign because it would be like a betrayal to the 32.2 million people...
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14 counts of graft filed vs lawmaker in infra mess
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed criminal charges against USWAG Ilonggo party- list Rep. James Ang Jr. and former Sultan Kudarat representative Arnulfo Go before the Sandiganbayan over alleged conflicts of interest linked to government...
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‘Dumber than dumb’ Ayungin deal slammed
Retired Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Antonio Carpio wants the alleged “provisional agreement” between the Philippines and China on Ayungin Shoal canceled, and warned he might bring it up to the Supreme Court or Congress. In an...
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Trump to discuss Phl issues with China’s Xi
US President Donald Trump yesterday vowed to discuss the Philippines’ concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a phone call with President Marcos that came as fresh tensions erupted in the West Philippine Sea. The phone conversation between...
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VP security among 20 eyed as ‘hitman’ – NBI
Members of the uniformed services, some of them part of the security group of Vice President Sara Duterte, are among nearly 20 “persons of interest” in the “plan” to kill President Marcos, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag...
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BBM tackles sea clash with China ambassador
President Marcos met with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan at Malacañang yesterday and discussed the assault by China Coast Guard personnel on Philippine Navy men stationed in Ayungin Shoal. Jing described the meeting as “very useful, constructive and...
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Senate OKs subpoena of VP tax, bank records
The Senate impeachment court granted yesterday the request of the prosecution team of the House of Representatives to subpoena the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio ahead of the court’s deliberation on...
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Senators eye tighter rules to speed up impeach trial
With the aim of speeding up the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, senators of the impeachment court are looking to tighten proceedings by limiting arguments to issues directly related to the case and resolving pending procedural questions early,...
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LTFRB caps booking fees of app-based taxis at P60 max
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has capped the booking or platform fees of app-based taxi services at up to 20 percent of the total approved rate of P60, whichever is lower. In a memorandum, Chairman Vigor Mendoza said...
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Ombudsman reopening 2019 SEA Games probe
The Office of the Ombudsman is reopening its investigation into the alleged irregularities surrounding the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed yesterday. The move comes as the National...
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