The persistent turmoil surrounding the “Cabral Files” took a decisive turn as Malacañang confirmed that the Office of the Ombudsman now holds jurisdiction over the authentication and investigation of the controversial documents. Leaked by Batangas Representative Leandro Leviste, the files allege systemic corruption in flood control projects, a claim that Department of Public Works and…
The Philippine music community is in mourning following the death of Jimmy Regino, backing vocalist of the iconic Original Pilipino Music (OPM) group April Boys. His passing on December 27, 2025 was publicly confirmed by his brother and fellow band member, Vingo Regino, in a heartfelt video message shared on social media. With Jimmy’s death,…
National Security Adviser Eduardo Año warned that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) continues to pose a significant threat despite its declared holiday ceasefire. Citing recent deadly clashes with the New People’s Army (NPA) during the Christmas and New Year period, Año dismissed the truce as insincere and urged remaining rebels to surrender and…
As 2025 draws to a close, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has placed flood control projects squarely at the center of his administration’s intensified anti-corruption drive. In a decisive policy shift, the President ordered stringent audits and performance reviews across infrastructure agencies, halting new allocations for flood control in 2026 until it is proven that…
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has formally surrendered all computers, digital storage devices, and relevant documents from the late Undersecretary Maria Catalina “Cathy” Cabral’s office to the Office of the Ombudsman. This key development, completed on December 23, 2025, marks a critical step in a growing investigation
Filipinos can expect a welcome Christmas gift at the pump as fuel prices are set for a notable rollback during Christmas week, beginning Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Gasoline prices are projected to drop by approximately ₱1.20 per liter, while diesel and kerosene could see declines ranging from ₱1.00 to ₱1.75 per liter, offering much-needed relief…
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te pledged a comprehensive and transparent investigation following a brazen metro attack in Taipei that left three civilians dead and eleven more injured. The assault, carried out by a 27-year-old suspect armed with smoke grenades and a knife, unfolded during Friday’s evening rush hour at the city’s busiest transit hub. As the…
Three members of a family riding a motorcycle in Pola, Oriental Mindoro, lost their lives on the afternoon of December 19, 2025, when a passenger van collided with their vehicle along a provincial highway. The victims—a husband, wife, and their child—were declared dead on arrival upon admission to Grace Mission Hospital, where authorities also treated…
The manhunt for the suspect behind a deadly mass shooting at Brown University ended on December 18, 2025, when authorities found Claudio Manuel Neves-Valente dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire. The 48-year-old Portuguese national, a former Brown student, had been wanted for the massacre that claimed two…
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral was questioned at the Office of the Ombudsman on December 3, 2025, just two weeks before her untimely death in a fall from a cliff along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano confirmed Cabral’s appearance as part of an ongoing…
The Philippines asserted its dominance in triathlon at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Rayong, Thailand, by capturing gold medals in both the men’s and women’s relay events. The victories, highlighted by a narrow win in the mixed relay, reaffirm the country’s stature as a regional force in the sport and add significant momentum to…
Gerard Opulencia, former director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) office, has surrendered ₱40 million to the Department of Justice (DOJ) as part of a broader plea agreement connected to the ongoing flood control corruption scandal. This initial repayment marks a significant step in efforts to recover public…
Former DPWH Official Surrenders ₱40 Million Amid Flood Control Scandal In a pivotal development in the ongoing investigation into the massive flood control scandal, Gerard Opulencia, the former Director of the Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR), handed over ₱40 million in cash to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on…
Malacañang Palace has strongly rejected claims alleging that the two gunmen responsible for the deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach trained with ISIS in the Philippines, calling the assertion sweeping and misleading. No verified evidence from Australian or international investigations supports the alleged connection to training in the Philippines, with official statements confirming the attackers…
The Bicameral Conference Committee on the 2026 national budget suspended its meeting on December 15, 2025, after failing to reach an agreement on the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) plea to reinstate significant portions of budget cuts imposed by the Senate. The dispute centers on a P45–54 billion reduction attributed to adjustments in…
Three Filipino fishermen were injured and two fishing vessels damaged after China Coast Guard (CCG) ships used water cannons and severed anchor lines near Escoda Shoal in the contested West Philippine Sea. The December 12, 2025, encounter marks another escalation in persistent maritime tensions, drawing sharp condemnation from Philippine officials who denounced the dangerous maneuvers…
The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has publicly condemned China’s recent radar illumination of Japanese military aircraft, describing the action as “perilous and provocative” amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region. The incident, involving Chinese fighter jets locking weapon radars on Japanese F-15s during carrier drills near Okinawa, underscores a fragile security environment where…
Vice President Sara Duterte faces plunder and graft charges filed by a coalition of civil society groups accusing her and 15 officials of misappropriating over ₱612 million in confidential funds during her tenure at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and Department of Education (DepEd). The complaints, lodged on December 12, 2025, cite a…
The Taal Volcano in the Philippines continues to display persistent eruptive activity, with the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) maintaining its vigilant monitoring amid ongoing emissions, tremors, and minor eruptions. Authorities urge residents and nearby communities to stay alert as the risk of ashfall and sudden volcanic events remains present, even as the…
In the wake of years marked by financial scandals and international scrutiny, Malta is intensifying its drive to regain investor confidence. A sweeping agenda of business and financial reforms is now gathering pace, as the government, buoyed by fresh financing from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and strong public demand for transparency, doubles down on…