National

Senate probe into alleged doctor-pharma prescription collusion pushed

Senate probe into alleged doctor-pharma prescription collusion pushed

April 25, 2024, 8:52 pm

MANILA – Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito on Thursday filed a resolution seeking inquiry into alleged “pyramiding scheme” involving doctors and pharmaceutical companies. Ejercito filed Senator Resolution No. 1011 after receiving reports about pharmaceutical firms allegedly recruiting… Read More

Marcos names Hans Cacdac as DMW chief

Marcos names Hans Cacdac as DMW chief

April 25, 2024, 8:10 pm

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has named Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac as Secretary of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Cacdac’s appointment was signed by Marcos on Thursday, a copy of which was made available to the media. He served as officer in charge of the DMW after… Read More

Comelec eyes voting precinct at Socorro Bayanihan community

Comelec eyes voting precinct at Socorro Bayanihan community

April 25, 2024, 7:42 pm

SOCORRO, Surigao del Norte – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is looking to set up a voting precinct at the Sitio Kapihan in Barangay Sering here for the May 2025 midterm elections. “Pinag-aaralan ng Comelec na bakit hindi mag create ng presinto sa Sitio Kapihan. Kung may higit 2,000 na… Read More

2 vehicles linked to P9-B shabu haul recovered in Pampanga

2 vehicles linked to P9-B shabu haul recovered in Pampanga

April 25, 2024, 7:39 pm

MANILA – Authorities have recovered two abandoned vehicles possibly connected to the PHP9.68 billion shabu shipment intercepted in a checkpoint in Batangas province on April 15. In a press conference held at Camp Crame on Thursday, Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo… Read More

53.6% of Filipino families rate themselves as non-poor: SWS

53.6% of Filipino families rate themselves as non-poor: SWS

April 25, 2024, 7:17 pm

MANILA – A Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 53.6 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as "non-poor" for the first quarter of 2024. According to the survey, conducted from March 21 to 25 and released on Thursday, self-rated non-poor families consist of 30 percent… Read More

BOC intercepts P29.5-M kush declared as household items from Thailand

BOC intercepts P29.5-M kush declared as household items from Thailand

April 25, 2024, 6:28 pm

MANILA – The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Thursday reported the interception of some PHP29.5 million worth of kush (dried marijuana) inside a shipment from Thailand at the Manila International Container Port (MICP). In a statement, Customs Commissioner Bien Rubio said a full physical examination… Read More

DMW padlocks consultancy firm illegally offering jobs in Canada

DMW padlocks consultancy firm illegally offering jobs in Canada

April 25, 2024, 5:55 pm

MANILA – The offices of an immigration consultancy firm were simultaneously padlocked by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday for illegally offering jobs in Canada to Filipino nurses, caregivers, nursing aides, and welders. DMW Officer in Charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac led… Read More

Marcos tells cops: Build trust, be part of the community

Marcos tells cops: Build trust, be part of the community

April 25, 2024, 5:25 pm

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged the police to immerse themselves in the community to foster better engagement and improve the trust of the public in law enforcers. Marcos issued the call during the first Joint National Peace and Order Council (NPOC) and Regional Peace and Order… Read More

Bantag arrest ‘just a matter of time,’ DOJ says

Bantag arrest ‘just a matter of time,’ DOJ says

April 25, 2024, 5:10 pm

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) assured the public on Thursday that former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag will soon be arrested. In a Palace press briefing, DOJ spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano, said authorities have been keeping tabs on Bantag’s… Read More

DSWD: 8K recovering persons who used drugs reintegrated into families

DSWD: 8K recovering persons who used drugs reintegrated into families

April 25, 2024, 5:02 pm

MANILA – A total of 8,390 Recovering Persons Who Used Drugs (RPWUDs) have been reintegrated into their families and communities since 2021 through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Yakap Bayan Program (YBP), spokesperson Irene Dumlao said on Thursday. Dumlao said the… Read More

DSWD to build regional hub on DAR-donated land

DSWD to build regional hub on DAR-donated land

April 25, 2024, 4:40 pm

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon build a regional complex on a five-hectare land in Magalang, Pampanga donated by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to better serve the marginalized and disadvantaged sectors in the Central Luzon region. DSWD… Read More

BFAR: Majority of ‘payaos’ installed near Rozul Reef missing

BFAR: Majority of ‘payaos’ installed near Rozul Reef missing

April 25, 2024, 4:08 pm

MANILA – The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Thursday confirmed that the majority of “payaos” (fish aggregating devices) installed near Rozul Reef are now missing. During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera said they received… Read More

PBBM seeks beefed-up efforts vs. online child sexual abuse

PBBM seeks beefed-up efforts vs. online child sexual abuse

April 25, 2024, 3:36 pm

MANILA – “Disturbed” by the prevalence of online sexual abuse of children, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered government agencies to ramp up efforts against offenders and abusers of children. In a press conference in Malacañang on Thursday, Margarita Magsaysay, Executive Director… Read More

Legarda bats for integration of culture into gen-ed subjects

Legarda bats for integration of culture into gen-ed subjects

April 25, 2024, 3:24 pm

MANILA – Integrating arts and culture into general education subjects will enhance student engagement, Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda said Thursday. The abundance of local references, Legarda said, can simplify learning and make lessons relatable. "We should creatively integrate arts… Read More

Quiboloy still in PH; hold departure order requested – DOJ

Quiboloy still in PH; hold departure order requested – DOJ

April 25, 2024, 3:18 pm Updated on April 25, 2024, 6:39 pm

MANILA – The Department of Justice (DOJ) believes embattled pastor Apollo Quiboloy is still in the Philippines. Speaking at a Palace press briefing Thursday, DOJ Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Mico Clavano said they have received information indicating that Quiboloy is still in the… Read More

Gov’t execs, employees liable for coordinating with ICC – DOJ

Gov’t execs, employees liable for coordinating with ICC – DOJ

April 25, 2024, 3:15 pm

MANILA – Government officials and employees who will coordinate with the International Criminal Court (ICC) or participate in its investigation in the Philippines may be held liable, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday. In a Palace press briefing, DOJ Assistant Secretary and… Read More

BI, CHED urged to probe alleged influx of Chinese students in Cagayan

BI, CHED urged to probe alleged influx of Chinese students in Cagayan

April 25, 2024, 3:14 pm

MANILA – Senator Francis Escudero on Thursday asked the Bureau of Immigration (BI) to intensify its scrutiny of foreigners entering the country, following reports of Chinese students in Cagayan allegedly "acting as spies" and engaging in "degree for sale" with local colleges and universities.… Read More

Contribute to environmental protection efforts, DILG chief urges youth

Contribute to environmental protection efforts, DILG chief urges youth

April 25, 2024, 2:55 pm

MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. called on Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials and the youth sector to contribute to the government's environmental protection and conservation efforts. Abalos, in a news release Thursday, said the youth… Read More

Lawmaker seeks P5-K teaching supplies allowance for daycare workers

Lawmaker seeks P5-K teaching supplies allowance for daycare workers

April 25, 2024, 2:22 pm

MANILA – Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan on Thursday called for the passage of a bill seeking to provide each daycare worker in government-sponsored centers a teaching supplies allowance of PHP5,000 per school year, along with continuing skills training. In a statement, Yamsuan… Read More

US Congress seen to reauthorize GSP scheme in 2024: envoy

US Congress seen to reauthorize GSP scheme in 2024: envoy

April 25, 2024, 1:59 pm

WASHINGTON DC – The United States Congress is likely to approve the revival of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP) “possibly before November,” the Philippine Embassy in the US said Wednesday. Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said a number of American companies,… Read More