News & Current Events

MANILA, Philippines — A Canadian tagged as the prime suspect in smuggling 1.4 tons of shabu worth P9.68 billion seized in Alitagtag, Batangas last month was arrested in Tagaytay on Thursday night. Thomas Gordon O’Quinn was apprehended by intelligence operatives of the National Capital Region Police Office, Calabarzon police and Bureau of Immigration at a spa in Barangay Maitim II. O’Quinn, also known as James Toby Martin, was arrested based on a red notice alert from the International Criminal Police Organization for conspiracy to possess, export and distribute îllégâl drugs into the US. Authorities said the suspect was found in possession of undetermined quantities of shabu, cocaine and Ecstasy tablets aside from 14 identification...

Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Marine Corps conduct a live-fire exercise against an imaginary enemy target facing the West Philippine Sea at the Laoag Sand Dunes on May 6, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla wants his panel to conduct a hearing on the Balikatan Exercises between the Philippines and the United States to better inform Filipinos about its benefits. Padilla, who chairs the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, filed Senate Resolution 1026 that seeks a hearing on the matter by the panel to inform the public of the success of Balikatan 2024. "It is important that every Filipino would understand the Balikatan Exercise, the need for it, the...

Commission on Elections Chairperson George Erwin Garcia (Noy Morcoso/ Inquirer.net file photo) MANILA, Philippines — The substitution of candidates after the last day of filing of certificates of candidacies (COC) will no longer be allowed if the substitution is due to the candidate’s wí†hdráwal, Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Wednesday. Garcia said the Commission En Banc approved his proposal to ban substitution after the last day of filing COCs on grounds of wí†hdráwal from candidacy. “Unanimous po, pumayag ang ating Commission En Banc sa naging proposal ng inyong lingkod na wala nang substitution after ng last day ng filing ng candidacy, which is October 8, kung ang ground ay wí†hdráwal ng...

INQUIRER file photo LUCENA CITY — Police arrested two alleged drug pushers early Sunday (April 14) and seized more than P648,000 worth of shabu (crystal meth) in separate buy-bust operations in Quezon. Colonel Ledon Monte, Quezon police chief, reported that anti-îllégâl drugs operatives nabbed at 2:17 a.m. a certain “Inok,” 29, after he sold P1,000 worth of shabu to a police agent in Barangay (village) Isabang. Authorities confiscated from the suspect, reportedly a newbie in the îllégâl drug trade, three plastic sachets containing 26 grams of meth worth P176,800, per the estimate of the Dangerous Drugs Board. It is worth P530,400 in the street market at the prevailing price of P20,400 per gram, the report said. The police also...

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros gladly received news on the divorce bill’s progress at the House of Representatives. Source: Hontiveros welcomes divorce bill’s progress at House: ‘Sana all!’

Prime Foods Acquires Filipino Instant Coffee Brand [Esquire, May 13, 2024] Mega Prime Foods, a subsidiary of the company behind Mega Sardines, now owns Jimm's Coffee Mix. https://www.esquiremag.ph/money/industry/mega-prime-foods-acquires-jimms-coffee-mix-a7943-20240513#:~:text=Mega%20Prime%20Foods%2C%20Inc.%20%28MPFI%29%20has%20made%20its,the%20coffee%20brand%E2%80%94from%20manufacturing%20to%20the%20products%20itself. BCDA to start disposition of Market! Market! in 2025 [GMA News Online, May 13, 2024] The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is planning to redevelop the Market!Market! area into a mixed-use property in the next two years with the disposition of the asset starting in 2025, as the agency seeks maximum...

Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo’s lips are sealed amid questions on her citizenship and ties to mainland China. Source: ‘Ayaw na po ng lawyer ko:’ Alice Guo no longer responding to questions on citizenship

Pumalo noong April 28 sa Zambalez ang Heat Index na 53° C, grabe! Buti pa si Lola nakaisip ng paraan, CCTO nakita ko lang somewhere Ang tawag ko dyan Hell_melt.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro Jr. called on the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday to investigate how unnamed people in the Chinese embassy in Manila allegedly recorded a supposed phone conversation between a Chinese diplomat and a top Armed Forces official discussing a so-called new model agreement on rotation and resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea last January.

Meron na pala copy ng buong transcript Source: Reddit

(INQUIRER file photo / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ) MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Wednesday told the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to step up its regulatory powers and monitoring of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs). PAOCC Spokesperson Winston Casio said this after the agency shut down an îllégâl hospital in Pasay City, allegedly catering to POGO workers. “Really the bottom-line is the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation must step-up in its regulatory powers – they have to go beyond mere inspection,” said Casio at the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing. Casio said that POGOs should not be allowed to operate on a provisional licenses. The Bureau of...

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV files libel and cyber libel cases before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against “pro-Duterte” personalities and social media account holders due to “persistent online attacks and the dissemination of false accusations.” (Photo courtesy of the Office of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV) MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed libel and cyberlibel cases on Tuesday against “pro-Duterte” personalities and social media account holders due to “persistent online attacks and the dissemination of false accusations.” The separate complaints for libel and cyber libel were filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office against former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque...

While you were sleeping umutang po ang gobyerno ng mahigit ₱114 billion sa mga dayuhang mamumuhunan. Dolyar po ang inutang nila. In today’s exchange rate of USD1 = ₱57.37 it’s a little over ₱114 billion. If the Peso depreciates further to ₱58 to 1USD it shoots up to ₱116 billion. That’s ₱2 billion more debt without us doing anything. This is the problem with Dollar denominated debt in a very strong USD environment. Well, what can we do at mga walang kwentang hampaslupa lang tayo. Good morning pala dun sa inutangan ko. Extend po ako hanggang katapusan. 🙏🏻

China has expressed "grave concern" over the US' deployment of a medium-range missile system in the Asia Pacific, saying it worsens tensions in the region and increases the risk of misjudgment and miscalculation. Source: China: US missile system in PH worsens tensions in Asia Pacific

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Wednesday that it is still verifying if any law was broken regarding the candidacy of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo. Guo’s citizenship came into question after she failed to provide details about her birth and schooling when she was grilled during a Senate hearing by Senator Risa Hontiveros. “Patuloy naman po namin tinititingnan kung mayroon mang nalabag sa batas. Hinihintay din po naming kung mayrong magsampa ng kasong election offense at makaka-asa po kayo, kung mayroon magfi-file ng verified complaint, ito naman ay agad na diringin ng Comelec at susulong ang ating tinatawag na preliminary investigation,” said Comelec Spokesperson John Rex Laudianco at the Bagong...

Top officials of the Marcos administration, including Defense Secretary Gilbero Teodoro Jr. and National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, have agreed to a “new model” for easing tension in the South China Sea, the Chinese Embassy in Manila said. Preferred Source: Out with gentleman’s agreement: China claims Marcos execs OK’d ‘new model’ for easing South China Sea tension Mainstream Media Source: China Embassy: AFP WESCOM agreed to ‘new model’ on Ayungin Shoal

Ang gandang tignan ng development! Sa mata ng mga kapitalista at corrupt na mga opisyal.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) has joined forces with giant social media companies in the Philippines to collectively combat misinformation and disinformation. Source: https://pco.gov.ph/news_releases/pco-ties-up-with-social-media-giants-meta-google-tiktok-to-combat-misinformation-disinformation/

US versus ICC United States Senate issues warning to the International Criminal Court: "Target Israel and we will target you." "If you move forward with the measures indicated in the report, we will move forward to end all American support for the ICC, sanction your employees and associates, and bar you and your families from the United States. You have been warned." Toroyyyyyy. O ano, kayo lang naman yung uto-uto na fair ang ICC. Tignan natin kung kayanin nila ang US. Or baka Pilipinas lang ang kina-kaya kaya nila. In that case, have some dignity. At tignan nyo ang US, ok lang sa kanila ang widespread human abuses basta ally nila. When it’s them and their allies, ok lang kahit genocide levels. So ano, ICC pa rin? Na namimili...

The piles of corals were a dead giveaway. Filipino scientists on Saturday said there might be an ongoing artificial island-building in the waters close to Pag-asa in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said they suspect the Chinese were behind it. Also on Saturday, a Philippine maritime expert said the findings of the marine research team that surveyed the area could be used in another case to add to the arbitral tribunal ruling invalidating Beijing’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea. Retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said former President Rodrigo Duterte waived the country’s sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc [Panatag, or Scarborough, Shoal] in a “temporary...

eto na cctv footage ni Morales na pinapa-gur-gur siya ni LAM Source: Maharlika @ YøùTùbé

Crushed corals in Escoda Shoal (PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD ) MANILA, Philippines — Crushed corals were dumped in Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in a development that could be a prelude to the emergence of an artificial island there. Commodore Jay Tarriela, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said this was learned during the deployment of BRP Teresa Magbanua in the area. Tarriela said the deployment was done after Jonathan Anticamara of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology found coral rubble or dead coral fragments “piled on Pag-asa Cays 1, 2 and 3 that are now exposed during high tide.” In his presentation last May 4, Anticamara said that the developments in Pagasa Cays “are possibly products of...

MANILA, Philippines – The “evidence” allegedly proving that a Philippine army official reached an agreement with China regarding a “new model” on Ayungin Shoal should be made available to the government, Senator Risa Hontiveros said on Wednesday. “Kung meron talaga silang recording at kung meron talaga silang transcript, they should at the least make it available to the government — to the Executive, dahil seryosong claim na naman nila yan ng isang new model,” said Hontiveros in a press conference, pertaining to China. (If they really have a recording and if they really have a transcript, they should at least make it available to the government — to the Executive, because this “new model” is another serious claim by China.) In an...

As häçkers continue to attack government websites, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday said it is boosting its cyberdefense capabilities by investing in technology and personnel that could help neutralize the threat. "The AFP is enhancing its cyber capabilities through a combination of modernization efforts and strategic investments in technology, training, and partnerships,” AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told Philippine News Agency on Thursday. These include upgrading the AFP cyberinfrastructure, investing in cutting-edge cybersecurity tools and software, and providing specialized training to personnel, Padilla said. Aside from this, she said the AFP is also collaborating with other government...

Pa report nga po dumaan lang ito sa profile ko nagcomment sya sa profile ko at nag react ng nakakatawa, di ko sya kilala wala ko kasalanan dito taong to di ko alam kung ano nakain nito batang to

credits: PNA MANILA – The Chinese Embassy's claim of having an audio recording of a Filipino general talking with a Chinese diplomat regarding a "new model" agreement on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is tantamount to an admission of violating Philippine laws, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said Wednesday. "Kung totoo man ito, labag sa international relations at labag sa batas dahil hindi sila nakipag-ugnayan sa Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) at sila ay umoperate na pailalim kung totoo ito (If this is true, they have also violated international relations and violated the law as they failed to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs as they have operated underhandedly if this is true)," Teodoro said on the...

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday thumbed down proposals to put water cannons on Philippine vessels patrolling the West Philippine Sea. Source: Marcos rejects water cannons on Philippine vessels

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Monday merely laughed off drug use allegations hurled against him and actress Maricel Soriano, as claimed by a document purportedly leaked by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Source: Bongbong Marcos laughs off ‘leaked’ PDEA report vs him, Maricel Soriano

Lady cop shoots husband she caught having *** with spouse of police major CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – A 40-year-old police master sergeant was shot and wounded by his wife, who is also a police officer, after he was caught having *** with the spouse of a police major inside a car in a mall parking area in Barangay Canlubang here on Thursday morning, April 25. The shooting incident was related to the complaints of a 39-year-old lady police master sergeant and 41-year-old police major against their respective spouses who are also members of the Philippine National Police. Based on the police report, the wounded police officer is the husband of the lady police master sergeant assigned to the Police Regional Office 4-A. The wounded...

They died together, holding hands. Their last words? "I love you." Bert Keizer, a 77-year-old Dutch doctor, has helped more than 125 people to die but this case hit him hard because this time it was a couple, “two superb women”. Read more: Dying together saying ‘I love you’: couple’s éùthanasia in Netherlands

Wearing of full face helmets not allowed in San Carlos City proper Last month, Mayor Renato Gustilo signed Executive Order (EO) 89, Series of 2024 prohibiting the use of full face helmets within the city proper of San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. Under EO 89, all motorcycle riders, as well as their pillions, are only allowed to wear half face helmets to identify their faces. EO 89 also says that the reason behind this requirement is the rise of incidents involving motorcycle-riding assailants, a.k.a. riding-in-tandem criminals, wherein the perpetrators evade justice by simply hiding their identity behind bonnets and full face helmets. “One of the alarming issues affecting our City very recently is the incident involving...

ARINGAY, La Union, Philippines — A public school teacher and her lover were allegedly caught having *** in a classroom in this town on Wednesday night. The husband and son of the teacher caught the two ***** on a bench when they went to the school at 9:30 p.m., according to a police report. The husband of the teacher sought police assistance through the barangay captain. He said he would file charges against his wife and her lover. Teacher, lover caught having *** in classroom