SC Asks PBBM to Answer Petition on Mental, Physical Health
The Philippine Supreme Court has ordered President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to respond within ten days to a petition demanding mandatory physical and mental health examinations, including a hair‑follicle test for illegal drug use. The petition, filed by former congressman Pantaleon Alvarez and others, alleges erratic behavior, possible drug addiction, and undisclosed hospitalizations. Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto is also named as a respondent. The court’s directive does not guarantee the petition’s success but compels a formal comment from the administration.
Gatchalian Urges PNPA to Review, Strictly Enforce Anti-Hazing Policy
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called on the Philippine National Academy (PNPA) to overhaul its anti‑hazing rules after a criminal case was filed against seven cadets for allegedly mistreating 22 fellow trainees. The complaint, lodged by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group,...
US Business Group Warns ‘Anti-Endo’ Law Could Hurt Philippine Jobs
The American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) cautioned that the Senate’s proposed Anti‑Endo and Magna Carta for Workers in the Informal Economy bills could unintentionally curb foreign investment and erode the country’s competitive edge in Southeast Asia. While...
LTO Suspends, Summons Vlogger in Viral Prank of Gas Station Attendant
The Philippine Land Transportation Office (LTO) summoned a vlogger, his driver and the SUV’s registered owner after a prank video showed them fleeing a gas station without paying, prompting the attendant to chase the vehicle on foot. A show‑cause order...
What to Know as Ceasefire in the Iran War Hangs in the Balance
The two‑week ceasefire between Iran, Israel and the United States, which began on April 8, is set to expire at 0000 GMT on April 22 without a confirmed extension. Islamabad is gearing up for a possible new round of US‑Iran talks, but neither...
Solon Spots 'Continuing Pattern' As COA Issues Fresh Disallowance Notice to OVP
The Commission on Audit (COA) issued a fresh disallowance notice covering ₱375 million (≈$6.8 million) in confidential funds for the Office of the Vice President, bringing the total potential exposure to about ₱448 million (≈$8 million) after a prior ₱73 million case. COA ordered Vice...
The Philippine Government Seeks Concrete Action From Meta on Disinformation, Threatens Regulatory Crackdown
The Philippine government warned Meta that its response to a joint request on disinformation was inadequate. The Department of Information and Communications Technology, together with the DOJ and the Presidential Communications Office, demanded clear, binding, time‑bound actions to curb false...
Balikatan Drills Signal PH Firm Line in West PH Sea, Think Tank Says
The Philippines launched the largest‑ever Balikatan drills on April 20, featuring the United States, Australia, Japan, Canada, France and New Zealand, signaling a firm commitment to a rules‑based order in the West Philippine Sea. Stratbase Institute highlighted the exercises as proof the...
MREIT and E27 Partners for McKinley Hill’s Digital Park
Real estate investment trust MREIT, the REIT arm of Megaworld, has signed a strategic partnership with Singapore‑based startup media platform E27 to develop the Philippines’ first Digital Park in the McKinley Hill township of Taguig. The 2,000‑square‑meter innovation hub, slated...
Boracay Group Asks PBBM to Halt Bridge Project
The Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) has formally asked President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to intervene and stop the proposed 2.54‑km bridge linking Boracay Island to mainland Malay. The appeal, dated Feb. 4, precedes the Department of Public Works and Highways’ approval of a roughly...
‘Let the Games Begin!’ Biggest Balikatan Drills Commence April 20
The 41st Exercise Balikatan launches on April 20, involving roughly 17,000 troops from the Philippines, the United States and five partner nations. The drills have expanded beyond traditional kinetic training to include joint all‑domain operations across land, air, sea,...
Quieting the Chaos
The author revisits a video of her masked wedding during the Philippines’ ECQ lockdown in April 2021, finding unexpected beauty in the constrained ceremony. She uses that memory to illustrate how moments of love can thrive amid pandemic chaos. The...
Debt: Tool or Trap?
Debt can be a growth engine, but in the Philippines it is increasingly a survival lifeline. A Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas survey shows one‑third of Filipinos borrow to cover basic needs, with food accounting for roughly a third of loan...
Iran War Energy Shock Drives Nuclear Power Plans in Hard-Hit Asia and Africa
The Iran war’s energy shock is driving Asian and African nations to boost nuclear power output and accelerate new reactor projects. South Korea is increasing generation, Taiwan is considering restarting mothballed plants, and Japan has signed a $40 billion reactor deal...
Nazal Places Spotlight on Credibility Issue vs Madriaga
House Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Robert Nazal Jr. urged the House Committee on Justice to closely examine the testimony and affidavit of detainee‑turned‑witness Ramil Madriaga in the impeachment hearings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Nazal highlighted Madriaga’s detention for a...