MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday left open the possibility that a suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (Pogo) hub near Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame was used for spying, saying forensic examination of recovered materials would help establish its activities. “All possibilities are open,” Teodoro said in an online interview

MANILA, Philippines — In-person classes for Oct. 15 are suspended in some areas due to poor air quality caused by lingering transboundary haze. The following local government units on Wednesday announced class suspensions: READ: DENR: Ateneo de Zamboanga air quality now ‘very unhealthy’ The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) monitored high

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos has joined political party Lakas-CMD, several sources told reporters. According to different sources, Marcos took his oath as a member of the party in a ceremony last Monday which includes his uncle, former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as

BACOLOD CITY — The emergency department of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here issued a “severe congestion alert” on Wednesday, Oct. 14, after its occupancy rate reached 212%. A CLMMRH public health advisory said 138 patients were seeking treatment at a facility with a capacity of only 65 beds. In response to

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial agreed to alternating presentations with the defense, as suggested by Senator-Judge Bam Aquino, but the defense did not. The lead prosecutor, Rep. Gerville Luistro, pointed this out on Tuesday, saying that the arrangement could have addressed the concerns that the defense raised

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The success of a legislative push to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law “rests heavily on the mobilization of the youth and citizen action,” former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said here on Wednesday, October 14. Carpio spoke at the Archdiocesan organizational meeting of the “Dapat Isa Lang”

MANILA, Philippines — Air quality at Ateneo de Zamboanga University remained hazardous on Wednesday, with pollution levels falling from “emergency” to “very unhealthy.” The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) reported the change in its 5 p.m. advisory on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The agency said the particulate matter (PM) 2.5

“Knowing that many people don’t even know where Estonia is — that is an important task for us.” Paavo Järvi, 63, one of the world’s busiest conductors, is passionate about introducing his homeland, Estonia, to the world. He is music director of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich and artistic director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen. Beginning with the 2028-29 season, he will also serve as principal conductor and artistic adviser of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Despite conducting some of the world’s leading orchestras, Järvi has a special attachment to the Estonian Festival Orchestra (EFO), which he founded. Ahead of the ensemble’s concerts at Art Center Incheon on Oct. 18 and Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 20, he spoke to the Hankook Ilbo in a recent video interview. Reaching him in Paris, where he was staying for performances with the Orchestre National de France, Järvi said, “Anyone who comes from a somewhat smaller culture and becomes international is, in a way, an ambassador for that culture. I’m not just introducing Estonian music; through music, I’m in

Pianist Hayato Sumino, who will give a recital at Lotte Concert Hall on Oct. 29, holds a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Tokyo. He advanced to the semifinal round of the 2021 Chopin International Piano Competition while still an engineering student at the university. During the competition, he livestreamed his practice sessions and interacted with viewers using YouTube’s live chat. His second-round performance drew as many as 45,000 viewers. At the time, the classical music world largely regarded him as an eccentric who happened to enjoy playing the piano. Sumino was a top student who attended Kaisei Junior and Senior High School, one of Japan’s most prestigious schools. From an early age, he was immersed in music video games. Even while preparing for university entrance exams, he competed in gaming tournaments. While a student at the University of Tokyo, he researched music information processing at the Institute for Research and Coordination in Acoustics/Music in Paris. In a crowded field, his unconventional activities initially seemed like a gimmick desi

MANILA, Philippines — As the water sector prepares for the anticipated strong El Niño, which may extend to the first half of 2027, Manila Water continues to fortify its portfolio of additional raw water sources through major infrastructure investments designed to enhance supply reliability and reduce dependence on traditional water sources. These initiatives form part of

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Two high-value drug suspects were arrested after yielding around 500 grams of suspected shabu valued at P3.4 million in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lunzuran, Zamboanga City, on Tuesday afternoon, October 13. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Region 9 (PDEA-9) identified the suspects through their aliases as “Abdurahman,”

TACLOBAN CITY — Amid concerns over rising electricity bills in the country, a bill filed by Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez seeks to prevent power consumers from paying for losses caused by electricity theft, illegal connections, faulty meters and inefficiencies of distribution utilities. House Bill No. 11675, filed on Oct. 12, proposes to limit system-loss charges

TACLOBAN CITY — Police arrested Eastern Visayas’ No. 1 drug suspect, two other high-value individuals, and five others in separate anti-drug operations on Oct. 12 and 13. The Police Regional Office 8 said the operations yielded suspected shabu worth P1,035,844, based on Dangerous Drugs Board valuations, along with firearms and ammunition, as part of the

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A solemn blessing and candle-lighting ceremony in Barangay Guinoyoran marked the 35th death anniversary of Rev. Fr. Neri Lito Satur on Wednesday. The priest being honored was slain due to his fierce defense of Bukidnon’s environmental preservation. Fr. Teting Tumapon of the Guinoyoran Parish Church led the blessing of the spot

ILOILO CITY — Police operatives arrested a high-value individual and seized about 140 grams of suspected illegal drugs valued at P952,000 during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cogon, Panitan, Capiz, on Tuesday night, Oct. 13. The suspect was identified by authorities through the alias “Boss,” 30, a resident of Panitan. According to police reports, the

BACOLOD CITY — Tiny shrimps have turned the beachfront in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental, pink for four days now. The shrimps have blanketed about half a kilometer of shoreline, from Barangay 2 to Barangay 5, every morning since Sunday, with the largest volume seen on Wednesday, Oct. 14, said Dionilo Bogtae, coordinator of the Sipalay

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — A total of 28 firearms were surrendered to various police units across Caraga (Region 13), as authorities ramped up operations against unregistered weapons. Brig. Gen. Rolindo Suguilon, Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) director, reported that 21 loose guns were voluntarily surrendered, while seven others with expired licenses were

MANILA, Philippines —San Juan City, in cooperation with the Caring Keri Foundation, launched its Breast Cancer Awareness Month celebration on Oct. 5 at the Makabagong San Juan Theater inside the Makabagong San Juan National Government Center. The event, with the theme “Wellness and Wisdom: A Journey of Strength and Survivorship,” brought together 236 breast cancer

KORONADAL CITY — Farmers in upland communities in Tupi, South Cotabato, are finding it easier to travel and bring their agricultural products to market following improvements along the P3.9-billion Banga-Tupi-Malungon Road. The road project, which connects parts of South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces, has improved access to farming communities where residents previously had to walk

CEBU CITY — At least 41 women, including 10 minors, who were allegedly prostituted by a syndicate, were rescued during two simultaneous operations conducted in Barangays Pajac and Punta Engaño in Lapu-Lapu City last Saturday, October 10, that led to the arrest of five suspects. The said operations were jointly conducted by the National Bureau

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued the guidelines for the 2026 National Literacy Awards (NLA), reaffirming its commitment to recognize partners helping advance literacy in communities nationwide. DepEd issued Memorandum No. 062, s. 2026, which contains the guidelines, through the Literacy Coordinating Council (LCC). According to a DepEd statement issued on

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday launched new employment programs aimed at helping Filipinos develop their skills, access job opportunities, and build sustainable livelihoods. Speaking at the 26th National Public Employment Service Office Congress in Cebu, Marcos introduced the Trabahong-Dagat, SkillPass, and Sagip-Trabaho programs as part of the Department of Labor and

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Wednesday said Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. had ordered the revocation of the sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance for a vessel carrying suspected smuggled rice before it arrived in the Philippines. According to the DA, the decision came after Tiu Laurel received “derogatory” information about the

MANILA, Philippines — New public school buildings will be required to meet updated accessibility and disaster-resilience standards beginning in fiscal year 2027 under a Department of Education (DepEd) policy welcomed by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA). In a statement, the NCDA said DepEd Order No. 022, series of 2026, establishes enhanced minimum performance

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday disputed the claim that the Senate is spending P25 million daily in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying the amount represented the operating costs of the entire chamber. According to Gatchalian, “The claim that the impeachment trial costs the Senate P25 million a

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged the Sandiganbayan over the insufficient documentation of the foreign travels undertaken by its officials and employees. In its 2025 audit report, COA noted that a total of P11.87 million worth of cash advances were granted last year to the Sandiganbayan for the foreign travels of

MANILA, Philippines — A resolution seeking an investigation into the implementation of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) to ensure fairness to motorists cited for traffic violations despite poor road infrastructure has been filed in the Senate. Senate Resolution No. 732, filed by Sen. Robin Padilla on Oct. 12, seeks an inquiry into fairness and

MANILA, Philippines — El Niño has affected more than 451,000 people across the country, including over 215,000 farmers and fisherfolk, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported on Wednesday. In its situational report as of Oct. 14, the NDRRMC said 121,185 families, or 451,889 individuals, are affected in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Mimaropa,

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate will conduct an independent review of the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 and correct its own version if the review finds problems in the House-approved bill. Sen. JV Ejercito, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, gave that assurance in a statement on Tuesday. The House has approved the General

KORONADAL CITY — A 35-year-old worker lost his right leg after an oxygen tank exploded while he was refilling it at a house in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat, on Wednesday, police said. The Police Regional Office 12 (PRO-12) said the incident happened around 11:20 a.m. in Purok 8, Barangay Poblacion. Based on the initial police