The Philippine Star - January 08, 2025

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January 08, 2025

Matobato Under ‘Protective Custody’ of ICC – De Lima

Self-confessed Davao death squad (DDS) hitman Edgar Matobato is now under the protective custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC), former senator Leila de Lima said yesterday.

2 mins

SSS Rejects Calls to Defer Contribution Increase

Instead of postponing the increase in members' contributions this year, the Social Security System yesterday pushed for a program that subsidizes the contribution of informal economy workers and individually paying SSS members.

2 mins

Palace Defends Inclusion of PNPA, PMA Budgets in Education

Including military and police academies' funds in the education budget should be looked at with \"broader understanding,\" Malacañang said yesterday.

2 mins

Report: China hackers steal Palace, Phl military data

No current information compromised, says DICT

4 mins

Palace: Inflation to remain 'very low'

Inflation is likely to remain \"very low\" this year, Malacañang said on Tuesday, vowing to enforce tougher measures against smugglers and hoarders of agricultural commodities.

1 min

DSWD seeks exemption of AKAP from election ban

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is seeking an exemption of the controversial Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) from the ban that will be implemented by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) during this year's midterm election period.

3 mins

DOT: Tourism Industry Achieves Highest-Ever Revenue in 2024

The Philippine tourism industry achieved its highest-ever revenue in 2024, with the Department of Tourism (DOT) reporting approximately P760.5 billion in earnings, marking a 9.04 percent increase from 2023.

2 mins

Lawmaker condemns intensifying harassment amid impeachment moves vs VP

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro condemned yesterday what she said were increasing death threats and harassment she has been receiving through text messages and phone calls, as the meeting of impeachment endorsers and complainants against Vice President Sara Duterte draws near.

1 min

NGCP compliant with nat'l gov't franchise tax laws - BIR

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has affirmed that the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) - a privately owned firm tasked to operate, monitor and develop the government's power grid - has been fully compliant with its tax responsibilities.

2 mins

Critics Hit for Linking Sara's Removal from NSC to Politics

Malacañang yesterday lashed back at critics who linked the removal of administration ally-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte from the National Security Council (NSC), saying President Marcos must fully trust the people he listens to for advice.

3 mins

Palace Concerned Over Presence of Chinese 'Monster Ship'

Malacañang yesterday expressed concern over the presence of what has been described as a Chinese \"monster ship\" off the province of Zambales, even as it gave assurance that the latest intrusion into the West Philippine Sea is continuously being challenged.

2 mins

MARCOS ADMINISTRATION SETS UP 126 SPECIALTY CENTERS, WITH PHP26.3 BILLION BUDGET

The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has established 126 functional specialty centers across the country, with a total budget allocation amounting to PHP26.3 billion from 2022-2024.

5 mins

Bulaga!

CTALK

4 mins

Making the gun ban work

The election gun ban is set to start on Jan. 12. People whose work calls for possession of firearms, such as military and police officers, may apply for exemptions from the gun ban from the Commission on Elections.

1 min

Costly campaigns

Why do politicians devise all sorts of devious ways to get their dirty paws on public funds for their own use? Apart from the obvious reasons - plain greed, and because they can (they think) - there is the enormous cost of running for public office.

4 mins

Bulaga!

I was casually driving down Pasig Boulevard at the start of the New Year when to my surprise, there was a double roller guard rail at the junction going into C5.

4 mins

Political thieves a-running

Here in the Philippines, the vetting of candidates who are running for public office is initially being done for us voters by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

4 mins

Although victimized in PhilHealth hacking, members will pay penalty

Government kicked us PhilHealth members thrice in the gut in 2024. It will kick us a fourth time early this New Year.

3 mins

Biden warns Americans not to forget the Jan. 6 attack

President Joe Biden warned Americans not to forget the violent attack that took place at the Capitol four years ago, and he accused President-elect Donald Trump and his supporters of trying \"to rewrite even erase – the history of that day.\"

1 min

Our political leaders have failed us

Another year passed and a new one is before us. There's no better time to take stock of where we are as a nation than now.

4 mins

2,264 Metro Cops Negative for Drugs

Up to 2,264 intelligence officers assigned with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) have tested negative for drug use.

1 min

Suspend Filipiniana dress code for state workers - teachers

A group of public school teachers has urged the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to suspend the implementation of the \"impractical\" Filipiniana-inspired monthly dress code for government workers.

1 min

Black Nazarene's Pahalik Draws 9,404 Devotees

The first day of the traditional pahalik or kissing of the image of the Black Nazarene drew more than 9,000 devotees at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

2 mins

DA Undersecretary Savellano Dies

Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano passed away yesterday. He was 65.

1 min

House probe into OFW murder in Kuwait sought

The murder of 35-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) Dafnie Nacalaban in Kuwait has sparked calls for an investigation at the House of Representatives.

1 min

MERALCO INTENSIFIES WIRE CLEARING OPERATIONS IN MANILA IN PREPARATION FOR TRASLACION

Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Manila Electric Company (Meralco) conducts wire clearing operations in the streets of Quiapo, Manila days ahead of the Feast of Jesus Nazareno on January 9, 2025 when millions of Catholic devotees are expected to gather in the area.

1 min

Cops Probing Scam Involving Batangas Court's E-mail Account

Police are investigating a scheme that uses the e-mail account of the Batangas Regional Trial Court (RTC) to dupe people online.

1 min

SMC Completes Pampanga River Cleanup

Business conglomerate San Miguel Corp. has completed the cleanup of the Pampanga River as part of an SMC initiative to help mitigate flooding in Luzon.

1 min

Suspended Tarlac dump still operating

The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has denounced the continued operation of the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill in Capas, Tarlac despite a restraining order issued by the Court of Appeals.

1 min

AFP Probes Possible Military Use of Submersible Drone

While the underwater drone recovered by fishermen in the waters off Masbate appears to be meant for research or civilian use, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is not discounting the possibility that the device may have military applications.

1 min

Gov't to redesign LRT-1 Cavite line

Commuters may have to wait longer before they can travel to Cavite faster through the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) as the government needs to redesign the extension to resolve a project conflict.

1 min

Louisiana reports 1st bird flu-related death in US

A US patient hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu has died, the Louisiana Department of Health said on Jan. 6, marking the country's first reported human death from the virus.

1 min

Zelensky: 15,000 Russians killed in Kursk region

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Russia had suffered heavy losses in five months of fighting Ukrainian forces in southern Russia's Kursk region, with 15,000 killed.

1 min

SoKor investigators seek new warrant to arrest Yoon

South Korean anti-graft investigators were holding on Tuesday for a new court-ordered arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, whose failed martial law bid threw the country into turmoil.

1 min

Biden pays tribute to victims of New Orleans attack

US President Joe Biden told mourners in New Orleans on Monday that they are not alone as he paid tribute to victims of the deadly New Year's attack and channeled the pain felt by their loved ones.

1 min

Honolulu fireworks explosion toll rises to 4

A three-year-old boy who died Monday was the fourth person to succumb to injuries from a massive explosion of fireworks on New Year's Eve at a Honolulu home, and a doctor said six others faced long recoveries in Arizona, where they were sent to be treated for severe burns.

1 min

Trudeau resigns as PM after 9 years

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said he would step down in the coming months after nine years in power, bowing to pressure from lawmakers alarmed by his Liberal Party's miserable showing in pre-election polls.

2 mins

France to Remember Charlie Hebdo Attacks 10 Years On

France is set to mark today 10 years since an Islamist attack on the Charlie Hebdo satirical newspaper that shocked the country and led to fierce debate about freedom of expression and religion.

1 min

Next round of bitter cold, snow to hit southern US

The next round of bitter cold was set to envelop the southern US on Tuesday, after the first significant winter storm of the year blasted a huge swath of the country with ice, snow and wind.

1 min

Zendaya, Tom Holland engaged

\"Spider-Man\" co-stars Zendaya and Tom Holland are engaged, US media reported on Monday, the day after she was spotted wearing a huge diamond ring.

1 min

J-Lo, Affleck seek judge's approval of divorce settlement

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck (in photo) have settled their divorce and are asking a judge to finalize their breakup.

1 min

Powerful quake kills 95 in Tibet, rattles Nepal

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake rocked the northern foothills of the Himalayas near one of Tibet's holiest cities on Tuesday, Chinese authorities said, killing at least 95 people and shaking buildings in neighboring Nepal, Bhutan and India.

1 min

NoKor's Kim: New hypersonic missile will deter rivals

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un said it tested a new hypersonic missile this week aimed at deterring the country's Pacific rivals, state media reported yesterday, as Washington's top diplomat visited the region.

1 min

PHOENIX ROLLS BACK TERRA

Phoenix stepped on the gas in the second quarter to overturn Terrafirma's early charge and clear its path to a 122-108 romp in the PBA Commissioner's Cup at the PhilSports Arena last night.

1 min

Korovin takes oath as naturalized Filipino

After becoming a naturalized Filipino citizen, world figure skating champion Alexander Korovin will spearhead the Philippines in the 9th Asian Winter Games set Feb. 7 to 14 in Harbin, China.

1 min

Giannis cuts finger, hits triple-double

Giannis Antetokounmpo posted his fourth triple-double of the season and Damian Lillard scored 25 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 128-104 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

1 min

Spreading holiday cheer

The holiday season isn't over and this Sunday, we'll be awarding prizes to 20 winners of our Christmas Contest, called \"Pasko Sa Enero\" presented by PSC, at 10 a.m. right outside Starbucks in Molito, Alabang.

1 min

Southwoods Ready for Phl Open

The roughs will be grown longer, the greens will be faster, and with the winds buffeting this Southern part of the country at this time of year, the Masters course of the Manila Southwoods will be a big test for the Asian Tour field seeing action in the revival of the Philippine Open.

1 min

Eala makes early exit in Melbourne

Alex Eala bowed to Croatia's Jana Fett, 7-5, 6-2, for an unceremonious first-round exit in the qualifying round of the Australian Open yesterday at the Melbourne Park.

1 min

Phl sports mourns death of SEAG gold medalist

Philippine sports was in a state of shock after Southeast Asian Games double gold medalist Mervin Guarte of obstacle racing and athletics suffered a tragic death yesterday in his hometown in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

1 min

Forex buffer rises to $106.8 B, but misses BSP's 2024 target

The country's foreign exchange buffer rose by three percent to $106.84 billion in 2024 from $103.75 in 2023, marking its second straight year of increase, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

1 min

Inflation heats up to 2.9% in December

Inflation rose for the third straight month in December, driven by the faster uptick in housing and transport costs, but average inflation for 2024 remained within the government's two to four percent target.

3 mins

Ernest Cu: It's the perfect time to leave Globe

When Ernest Cu took the helm of Globe Telecom in 2009, he was an outsider in the industry, and the Ayala-led telco was struggling to find its footing in a cutthroat market.

3 mins

Debt balloons to P16.09 T as of end-November

The country's outstanding debt reached another record high, hitting P16.09 trillion as of end-November last year amid the peso's depreciation against the dollar, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said.

1 min

PSEi Drops as December Inflation Quickens

The local stock market suffered its first loss of the year as investors pocketed gains from a three-day rally following a faster December inflation.

1 min

Building classrooms

The moral mayhem over the pork-laden 2025 national budget brings up the question of whether we can trust the government to properly invest in the things we need to get our people out of poverty and the country out of a death spiral.

4 mins

ERC OKs P101-B energy investments in 2024

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the implementation of energy projects worth P101 billion last year, aimed at improving electric service for nearly 200,000 customers nationwide.

2 mins

Nickel Asia exits Coral Bay amid volatile global market

The volatility in the global nickel market has promted Zamora-led Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC) to divest its minority stake in a nickel processing plant as it opts to focus on its upstream mining and renewable energy businesses.

1 min

Of PX goods and Korean marts

I will admit that I love imports. My love for US products started quite early in my childhood, surprisingly shaped by American cartoon strips - specifically Popeve

4 mins

Rice imports hit record high in 2024

Total rice imports last year rose to a new all-time high of almost 4.7 million metric tons (MT) as the country turned to foreign supplies to plug its shortfall in domestic stocks and temper retail prices of the staple.

2 mins

Phl mineral production up 3% in 9 months

The value of the country's metallic mineral production from January to September last year grew by three percent on an annual basis to over P195 billion, driven by higher gold and copper sales.

1 min

Clearance fees for imported sugar alternatives take effect Feb 1

Imported sugar alternatives and other sugar-based products must secure and pay a clearance fee from the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) beginning February before being allowed to be released in the market.

1 min

Factory output drops in November

The country's factory output contracted in November due to declines in the production of food, transport equipment, as well as computer and electronic products, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

1 min

Digital lending seen breaching $1 B this year

The country's digital lending market is seen to be worth over $1 billion this year, driven by the high demand for online technologies from consumers.

1 min

FORD EVEREST TITANIUM 4X4

Lucky Are Those Who Can Have It

4 mins

Bentley introduces new Mulliner Hybrid pinnacle models

Unique design details, bespoke craftsmanship, enhanced wellness, and more tech define Mulliner versions

1 min

2025 Porsche 911 Carrera: The evolution of an icon

How does the Porsche 911 remain timeless in a world that's constantly evolving?

3 mins

HMPH Launches “Dream Green” Project

In partnership with Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

1 min

Suzuki PH Unveils Highly Anticipated Jimny 5-Door Rhino Edition for the New Year

Kick off the New Year with a bold statement as Suzuki Philippines proudly announces the arrival of the Jimny 5-Door Rhino Edition, the latest addition to the iconic Jimny lineup.

1 min

SEC Revokes Registration of F2M Agri-Farm

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has revoked the corporate registration of a group found engaging in an illegal investment solicitation scheme.

1 min

GOCC subsidies rise in Nov

The government jacked up its budgetary support to state-run firms by 81.6 percent to P12.23 billion in November last year, with the bulk going to the irrigation sector, according to the Bureau of the Treasury.

1 min

BAGS GO FROM PRACTICAL TO GLITTERY IN 2025

Bags are no doubt investment pieces to last for a couple of years, which makes practicality a key consideration particularly this season when large totes, doctor carry-alls, buckets, waist-to-body convertibles and backpacks have many iterations.

1 min

MIGZ ZUBIRI LAUNCHES BOOK ON THE BANGSAMORO ORGANIC LAW'S LEGACY

Sen. Juan Miguel \"Migz\" Zubiri unveiled his latest book, The Road to Peace: Crafting the Bangsamoro Organic Law, a vivid chronicle of the legislative journey behind one of the Philippines' most significant legal milestones: the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

1 min

MAX MARA'S MESSAGE TO WOMEN: EMBRACE YOUR INDIVIDUALITY

Since its founding in 1951, Max Mara has remained true to its mission: creating garments that accompany women throughout their lives, inspiring them to embrace their true selves.

1 min

KOKOY DE SANTOS DESCRIBES THE PAST YEAR AS FRUITFUL AND PRODUCTIVE

For Kapuso actor Kokoy de Santos, 2024 was full of blessings. The year that was saw him as a mainstay of 'BBL Gang,' as a celebrity participant in 'Running Man Philippines,' and as a part of the acting ensemble in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) golden edition entry, 'And The Breadwinner Is...'. His work in 'Mga Batang Riles' did start last year. In the GMA Prime drama-action, Kokoy plays the gifted and strategic batang riles named Kulot.

3 mins

Inside the Golden Globes: What You Didn't See on Television

The Golden Globes are a social affair with occasional breaks for awards.

3 mins

Pinoys can promote the country in local and international markets

Aside from being postcard-perfect and Instagram-worthy, our local attractions were stunning settings of famous Filipino movies. These include Vigan, Ilocos Sur ('Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay'), Sagada ('That Thing Called Tadhana'), Albay ('Kailangan Kita'), Boracay ('When Love Begins'), Siargao ('Siargao'), Negros Occidental ('Oro Plata Mata'), Palawan ('Mr. and Mrs. Cruz'), Baler ('Baler'), Bacolod ('Everyday I Love You'), Intramuros ('Unofficially Yours'), and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar ('Quezon's Game').

2 mins

Single mother's heartwarming win on Chavit's game show grabs attention

The Christmas Day episode of senatorial aspirant Manong Chavit Singson's online game show \"58 Days ng Milyon-milyong Pa-premyo\" took a touching turn when a single mom from Marinduque captured the audience's hearts.

1 min

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The Philippine STAR is the flagship title of the country's largest and most successful print media enterprise, the Philstar Media Group. Owned and published by Philstar Daily Inc., The Philippine STAR is a vaunted pillar of Philippine journalism whose integrity is anchored on the Biblical motto, “Truth Shall Prevail”. The Philippine STAR is a two-time winner of the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award given by the Rotary Club of Manila.