Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla on Monday said he would order the antigraft body to form a study group in a bid to pin down those who “gamed” the budget in the past few years. Remulla made this remark after the Supreme Court declared “unconstitutional” certain provisions of the 2024 and 2025 national budgets, as well

National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag on Monday sought the inhibition of the Davao City head prosecutor from the libel and cyberlibel case filed against him last week by Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, citing the “closeness of her relationship with the complainant.” In an interview before he filed his urgent motion for

Less than a week before “Undas,” prices of flowers at the Dangwa Market in the City of Manila remain at P450 to P1,500 per bundle. But vendors expect the flower prices to rise further by Wednesday. As of Monday, a bundle of local white roses costs P450, while Korean roses are priced at P650 per

Discussions about Vice President Sara Duterte’s possible removal from office while her impeachment trial is ongoing are “uncalled for” and “premature,” some senators said on Monday. “It’s as if there’s already a certainty of a guilty verdict,’’ said Sen. JV Ejercito, who welcomed Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano’s post urging his colleagues to follow

The Sandiganbayan’s First Division on Monday denied the move of former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III to bar Department of Health (DOH) Administrative Officers Dawnavi Lae Lacsado and Abegail Conchada, from testifying in his graft case. Special prosecutors also noted that the DOH, as the procuring entity, had the authority to directly negotiate or purchase

BACOLOD CITY—Labor and business leaders in Negros Occidental have expressed dissatisfaction with the daily minimum wage increase of P40 to P45 for private-sector workers in Western Visayas, with labor groups calling the adjustment inadequate and employers warning of higher operating costs and possible price increases. The wage adjustment, approved by the Regional Tripartite Wages and

DAGUPAN CITY—Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas urged the Marcos administration to remain “firm and unyielding” in defending the country’s sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), “without provoking hostilities but without cowering in the face of threat.” In a pastoral message issued on Sunday, Villegas said he was lending his voice to fisherfolk in Pangasinan and

KORONADAL CITY—For as little as P5 per grave, youths and adults living beside Koronadal City Public Cemetery earn extra money by cleaning tombs and lighting candles for visitors ahead of “Undas” (All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day). The annual influx of cemetery visitors offers these residents a chance to earn money for their families’

A Myanmar citizen living in Denmark on Monday filed a complaint with Danish authorities against the country’s ruling military junta for alleged war crimes committed against minorities. The complainant, Ngun Siang Dim, who is from the Chin minority, claims she saw 40 houses burn down in her village in Chin State, in western Myanmar, and that several members of her family and friends were killed or left permanently disabled by landmines laid by the junta. The military junta “has done so many...

A decision by Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar and Indonesia to jointly develop and produce weapons systems marks a major push to reduce reliance on Western armaments that come with political strings attached, observers say. Following the signing of the Badr memorandum of understanding in Doha on Wednesday, the four governments separately said they would work towards integrating their defence industries and supply chains to meet military needs. “By leveraging the capabilities of each country in the field...

The Pentagon has assigned the USS Colorado as the first US nuclear-powered attack submarine to join a rotating force to be based in Western Australia. The 115-metre (380-foot) Virginia-class submarine, armed with land-attack missiles and sophisticated torpedoes, would sail to the new Australian base in late 2027, officials said on Tuesday. The deployment was a “significant milestone” in building up a joint US-Australia-UK deterrence in the Pacific under their Aukus defence pact, the allies said...

In parts of Southeast Asia, unsold homes are piling up as developers struggle to clear housing stock – yet young buyers hoping to land their first property still cannot find an affordable home. The paradox reflects a growing mismatch between the homes being built and what aspiring buyers can afford, according to analysts, who point to speculative investment, financing hurdles and poor locations as factors leaving properties empty even amid demand for affordable housing. In Vietnam, the problem...

MANILA, Philippines — No bettor won the ₱305.12 million Grand Lotto 6/55 jackpot or the ₱15 million MegaLotto 6/45 jackpot in the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) draws on Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. According to the PCSO results provided, the Grand Lotto 6/55 draw produced the winning combination 27-38-44-51-20-47, with a jackpot prize of ₱305.12

BAGUIO CITY— Police arrested all five regional-level most wanted persons in the Cordillera Administrative Region during manhunt operations conducted across the region in October, the Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-CAR) said. In a report on Monday, Oct. 26, PRO-CAR said the five suspects, listed as the region’s top most wanted persons for the fourth quarter of

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — Environmental and human rights advocates on Monday urged the Marcos administration to adopt a national industrial policy and enact an alternative minerals management law, warning that current mining policies could promote destructive extraction without ensuring Filipinos benefit from mineral resources. At the Oct. 26 launch of Mining Hell Week, Alyansa

MANILA, Philippines — As early as Monday, Oct. 26, the Manila North Cemetery has started its preparations for Undas — the Filipino term encompassing All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, which are commemorated on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively. According to Daniel Tan, the cemetery director, some 2 million people are expected to visit

BACOLOD CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has disbursed P677.8 million in assistance to more than 66,000 small sugarcane farmers and laborers affected by the red-striped soft scale insect infestation across the Negros Island Region, DSWD-NIR Regional Director Arwin Razo said Monday, Oct. 26. Data from the DSWD Disaster Response Operations

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go called out the First Bukidnon Electric Cooperative Inc. (FIBECO) after an unscheduled power outage hit the city during the turnover of a P12-million Department of Health (DOH) Super Health Center in Barangay Laligan here on Monday, October 26. The brownout forced Go to rely on a

MANILA, Philippines — Two bus drivers tested positive in initial drug screenings conducted at transport terminals in Parañaque and Cubao as authorities stepped up safety inspections ahead of the Undas long weekend, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday. At the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), one of the 32 drivers screened tested positive,

CLARK FREEPORT ZONE — The Medical City Clark (TMC Clark) has reaffirmed its commitment to comply with the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law, which prohibits hospitals from requiring deposits before providing basic emergency care to patients in emergency or serious condition. TMC Clark serves as the official medical facility and emergency trauma response hub for the Clark

BAGUIO CITY — Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong on Monday called on the Commission on Audit (COA) to audit government appropriations following the Supreme Court’s ruling declaring provisions of the 2024, 2025, and 2026 national budgets unconstitutional. Magalong also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct an independent investigation to determine whether government officials

MANILA, Philippines — The National Police Commission (Napolcom) is pushing for reforms in criminology education and stricter screening of aspiring police officers amid concerns over the character of future law enforcers. Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan made the call on Monday during a press briefing following an incident involving a criminology intern who was photographed

MANILA, Philippines – Rep. Terry L. Ridon, a House prosecutor, challenged Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday to explain why more than P100 million in bank deposits, investments, and insurance holdings allegedly did not appear in her 2023 statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). In a press briefing on Monday, Ridon said the

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution intends to question defense witnesses about mansions and other properties allegedly linked to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her family when her impeachment trial resumes Nov. 9. In a statement issued on Monday, House prosecutor Terry L. Ridon said the properties could become an issue during cross-examination as the

MANILA, Philippines — Two leaders of the House of Representatives have appeared lukewarm toward a push to recall the 2027 budget bill recently passed by the chamber, saying any issues can be addressed at the bicameral conference committee. At a press briefing on Monday, Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno and Bataan Rep. Albert Garcia said they

MANILA, Philippines – A parish in M’lang, Cotabato, has suspended all Masses and sacramental celebrations inside its main church after a break-in that resulted in the desecration of the Blessed Sacrament that is kept in the tabernacle. The Sta. Teresita del Niño Jesus Parish, in an announcement, expressed profound sorrow over the incident, saying the

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday described the 2027 budget consultation with civil society organization (CSO) representatives as “a big paradox.” “After hearing all the grievances and problems, you can’t help but ask, ‘Is there still hope for this country?” Lacson said. “On the other hand, after hearing their passion and their respective

MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon — Classes were suspended Monday at the Bukidnon National High School-Senior High School (BNHS-SHS) campus here due to an alleged violent online threat. Police authorities and education officials placed the BNHS-SHS on high alert following the threat sent by an unidentified user sent to a group chat on Sunday, October 25, threatening

MANILA, Philippines – Endless “thank yous” reverberated at the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) office on Monday, Oct. 26, as outgoing Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez bid goodbye to the agency he has led since September last year. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Lopez as the new chief of the Department of Public Works and Highways

From AUKUS to trade, for Australia, the implications of the midterms are particularly profound.