CATEGORIES

SoKor's Impeached President Defies Warrant After Hourslong Standoff

A US army veteran loyal to the Islamic State jihadist group likely acted alone when he killed 14 and injured dozens in a truck attack on a crowd of New Year revelers in New Orleans, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said on Thursday.

Firecracker-related deaths now 2

The number of fatalities from firecracker explosions during the holidays has increased to two after another man succumbed to injuries he suffered from lighting a \"triangle,\" according to the Department of Health.

ASF Cases Down 38%

Cases of African swine fever (ASF) have decreased by 38 percent after the number of barangays with reported outbreaks went down to 225 from 365 previously, according to the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Search for missing Pinoy seafarer suspended

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has suspended the search for a Filipino crewmember of a bulk carrier who fell overboard as the vessel was sailing in the waters off Basilan and Sulu early this week.

49,577 Students Displaced by Kanlaon Eruption

Up to 49,577 students from 88 schools on Negros Island have been affected by the eruption of Kanlaon Volcano, according to the Department of Education.

Hope, fear and change in the New Year

Filipinos have entered 2025 with the least hope and the most fear since 2009.

One-fifth of world's children live amid armed conflicts

While I wish everyone a happy new year, especially children, I am constrained to write about the dire plight of children living in areas of armed conflict, specifically in Palestine's now devastated Gaza Strip.

Denim in the White House? President Carter made it so

In the 1970s, jeans weren't considered presidential. Former president Gerald Ford, a square-jawed Republican, wore stocky suits, and while it's possible that Lyndon Johnson or John F. Kennedy wore denim in the Oval Office, there is no record of them in Levi's as they held the nation's highest office.

Gaza Truce Efforts Proceed Cautiously

Talks between Israel and Hamas to end the war in the Gaza Strip and free the remaining hostages have appeared to make little headway, according to officials familiar with the discussions, as the clock runs down on the Biden administration's remaining days to reach an agreement on a ceasefire.

Inflation-bound

Through all of 2025, we will be battling inflation. It will be an uphill battle—considering we have a government seemingly bent on stoking inflation than quelling it.

We are what we eat

As we start the new year, a lot of resolutions will again be made and, without fail, we will not follow all of them anyway. But we try and every year, we would like to start on a clean slate. Let us try once more to change our diets because we are what we eat.

Epal pols keep out

Brushing aside concerns over possible fund misuse, President Marcos retained the allocation inserted by Congress in the 2025 national budget for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program. AKAP, administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, duplicates the functions of another DSWD-run unconditional cash dole-out, the AICS or Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations.

Las Piñas Area Declared Special Economic Zone

President Marcos has declared the One Townsquare Place in Las Piñas City as a special economic zone.

Comelec: Erice's disqualification final, executory

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared its decision to disqualify former congressman Edgar Erice from running in the May 2025 elections as final and executory.

NCRPO Reports Fewer Firecracker, Bullet Injuries

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) recorded a 50-percent drop in the number of stray bullet cases in Metro Manila during the Yuletide season last year.

Drilon raises alarm on unchecked pork barrel

Former Senate president Franklin Drilon raised alarm over the staggering P731.4 billion in pork barrel allocations across 2024 and 2025, a massive amount that has largely remained unchecked.

Address triple planetary crisis this year

The Philippines should address this year the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity, according to Sen. Loren Legarda.

'Suspend cruel SSS contribution hike'

The government should suspend the Social Security System (SSS) \"cruel New Year's gift\" of higher contribution rates, from 14 to 15 percent, according to Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas.

Oil Price Hike to Greet Motorists Next Week

Following a recent rollback, motorists can expect fuel prices to increase in the second week of the year.

Groups vs VP willing to meet, discuss impeach complaints

A lawyer for proponents of the third impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is open to having discussions with the legal team of two other petitioners, as proposed by ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro.

Masbate submersible drone probe sought

Citing security concerns, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino is calling for a probe into the submersible drone recently found in Masbate.

Removing

Meanwhile, watchdog group Bantay Bigas yesterday said that the move of the government to sell \"sulit rice\" and \"nutri rice\" is a \"deceptive tactic\" amid the broken promise to bring down the retail price of the staple to P20 per kilo.

Stay out of Traslacion, pols told

Candidates in the May 2025 midterm elections should not take advantage of the annual Traslacion and should respect religious devotees, according to the Commission on Elections.

DSWD chief bans election bets from AKAP payout sites

Candidates in the midterm polls are banned from payout areas for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, to insulate AKAP from politicians, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said yesterday.

Despite end of holidays, vegetable prices remain high

The retail price of vegetables remained high despite the end of the holidays, with tomatoes reaching P350 per kilo, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

AMLC Lifts Asset Freeze on 13 Delisted as Terror Suspects

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has lifted the freeze order and other financial sanctions on the assets of 13 people delisted as terrorist entities, but maintained those for 17 others.

DepEd, DOST Vow to Boost Science Education

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) vowed stronger collaboration in order to strengthen science education in public schools.

DSWD says 2024 a challenging, but outstanding year

The year 2024 may have been a challenging year for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) with the country suffering severe calamities, but it was also an outstanding one for the agency.

BBM Reorganizes NSC, Drops VP, Ex-Presidents

The vice president and past presidents of the country are no longer part of the National Security Council, under a new executive order issued by President Marcos to ensure that the NSC could \"adapt to evolving challenges.\"

BFAR appeals SC ruling on delimitation of municipal waters

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reverse its decision allowing commercial fishing within the country's 15-kilometer municipal waters reserved for small-scale fishers.