📰 News & Current Affairs

"THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MY BEING THE GOVERNOR OF CEBU" This is what Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia has to say in response to the issue regarding the debt owed to Hongkong Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) during a press conference held at the Capitol Friday, September 20, 2024.

Politicos’ favorite kickback sources are flood works, road widening, asphalt overlay and highway safety devices. Devices include rock netting and cat’s eyes. Crooks divvy up 70 percent of the multibillion-peso costs. The netting and cat’s eyes easily disintegrate. Filipinos are left naka-nganga (agape) at repeated rockfalls and broken highway lane markers. Politicos take 70% kickbacks from rock netting, cat’s eyes

As police have yet to solve the killing of South Upi, Maguindanao del Sur Vice Mayor Roland Benito almost two months ago, another Indigenous Peoples leader was gunned down in Barangay Bongo in South Upi on Tuesday, September 17. Police identified the victim as Elvin M. Moires, 55, a Teduray council member in Barangay Bongo. According to the Non-Moro Indigenous Peoples Youth Network (NMIPYN), Moires was the 75th victim of senseless killings perpetrated against Tedurays in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) since 2018. Moires was also the ninth victim of assassination this year based on a list from Timuay Justice and Governance (TJG). According to reports, Moires was shot dead while on his way home at...

The Office of the Ombudsman has reversed its earlier decision to indict former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña. Read the story: Ombudsman clears Tommy of charges filed by Garma

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cesar Chavez on Friday, September 20, 2024 thanks the House of Representatives for the approval of the agency's proposed P2.281-billion budget for 2025. 📸PNA

Narinig na ang boses ng Cebuanong LGBTQIA na manunulat na si Jude Bacalso matapos ang kanyang pananahimik. Matatandaang nag-trending si Bacalso noong Hulyo dahil sa insidente kung saan pinatayo niya ang isang waiter ng halos dalawang oras dahil diumano tinawag siyang 'sir.' Ilang linggo na ang lumipas, kinasuhan si Jude ng waiter na kinilalang si R-Jay Marcilla dahil sa nasabing pangyayari. Dumalo si Jude sa Cebu Press Freedom forum kahapon, Setyembre 19, 2024. Nilinaw ni Jude na may batayan ang kanyang reklamo dahil hindi lamang isang beses siyang na-misgender ng waiter. “I had a valid complaint. I was misgendered three times. My standard response is always humor, but inclusivity is crucial, especially in public-facing industries,”...

In an interview with dzRH, Arlene Stone – a former worker of KOJC and spokesperson for former KOJC members now residing in the United States – said the victim allegedly offered by Quiboloy to Duterte is still at the church compound in Davao City. Source: Quiboloy gifted Rodrigo, others with KOJC women – witness

A dismissed police officer tagged in the disappearance of a pageant candidate has been arrested along with his driver in Balayan, Batangas. Former police major Allan de Castro, 40, and Jeffrey Magpantay, 34, were collared in Barangay Caloocan on Sept. 14, according to Balayan police chief Lt. Col. Merlin Pineda. De Castro and Magpantay were tagged as prime suspects in the disappearance of former beauty pageant candidate Catherine Camilon, who was last seen in Tuy town in October last year. Camilon was allegedly De Castro’s girlfriend. Earlier, De Castro, who is married, admitted to having an affair with Camilon, but denied involvement in her disappearance. The arrest was made based on a warrant issued on Sept. 4 by Judge Jacqueline...

A Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) official on Thursday said the personal data of some 28 million passport holders are at risk of being compromised due to the absence of a cybersecurity system. "We are really concerned with the security of our more than 28 million passport holders' data," DFA Office of Consular Affairs Assistant Secretary Adelio Cruz said during a Senate finance subcommittee hearing on the DFA's proposed P27.4-billion budget for 2025. Data from 28 million passports at risk —DFA exec

The New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC) said the new website focuses on providing comprehensive information about NAIA — including details on the ongoing transformation project, its progress, and the future vision for the airport. NNIC also launched its social media pages on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) under the name newnaiaph. "These will serve as additional channels for sharing updates, engaging the public, and building a community around the NAIA transformation," the company said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/14/san-miguel-led-naia-privatization-takes-flight-945

Longer and more frequent heatwaves, soaring demand for air conditioning, and widespread disease: life in cities would become unbearable should the planet keep warming at current rates, researchers warned Thursday."At 3 degrees C of warming, many cities could face month-long heatwaves, skyrocketing energy demand for air conditioning, as well as a shifting risk for insect-borne diseases -- sometimes simultaneously," the authors wrote. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/19/-life-or-death-for-big-cities-should-planet-warm-3c-study-1706

Gayunman, tumanggi na manumpa si VP Sara at iginiit na batay sa imbitasyon na ipinadala sa kanya ng komite siya ay resource person at hindi isang witness. Ayon umano sa rules ng Kamara ang mga witness lamang ang kailangang mag-oath. Source: VP Sara tumangging manumpa na magsasabi ng totoo sa Kamara

The doctrine of operative fact “recognizes the existence and validity of a legal provision prior to its being declared as unconstitutional and hence legitimizes otherwise invalid acts done pursuant thereto because of considerations of practicality and fairness,” according to the Supreme Court. Questions on the validity of marriages officiated by Guo arise during the House of Representatives plenary debate on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s proposed 2025 budget on Monday night. Source: DOJ: Marriages officiated by dismissed mayor Alice Guo remain valid

It would be an “act of war” if China were to remove the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in an interview with a US news show. “If China were to take the Sierra Madre that is a clear act of war on the Philippine vessel. We will react naturally,” Teodoro told CBS' "60 Minutes." He added that he expected the United States to aid the Philippines against China’s harassment since there were people in the warship. “That is an outpost of Philippine sovereignty so we’re not only talking about a rusty old vessel solely. We are talking about a piece of Philippine territory in there,” Teodoro said. The BRP Sierra Madre has been aground at the Ayungin Shoal since 1999...

“We have received a copy of letter coming from Hon. Paolo Duterte with regard to some queries, addressed to quad committee chairmen,” House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said on Thursday. “The letter states that there are questions that the Hon. Paolo Duterte wishes to ask the resource persons. May we just ask the committee secretary to please make sure that the invitation will be extended to Paolo Duterte in the next Quad Comm hearing with the topic on drugs and extrajudicial killings,” House Quad Comm Lead Co-Chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/19/house-quad-comm-to-invite-rep-duterte-to-hearing-1257

A 40-year-old woman was fatally shot by two men on Tuesday while she was playing a mobile game along an alley in Barangay Guadalupe in Cebu City. CCTV footage showed the suspects wearing caps and had their faces covered when they approached the victim from behind. The victim, a former Overseas Filipino Worker, died on the spot after she was shot on the head by the suspects who hurriedly fled. The victim’s sister said she was at the alleyway to get a good signal while playing on her phone. She noted that her sister did not have any misunderstanding with anyone. “According to rumors, she was mistaken for (a police) asset. I already asked her before if the rumors were true. She just told me not to believe in what others say and just...

WATCH: Authorities manning the country’s borders were already alerted over the possible escape of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday, Sept. 18. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said there is still no indication that Roque already left the country based on the intelligence reports from the police and other agencies. https://www.facebook.com/share/v/eJVfr4A4kAPuVxpN/

Two dead bodies were found at the site of an explosion that rocked Lower Bayao village in Tukuran town of this province at 1:45 a.m. on Tuesday, police said. Lt. Col Rolando Vargas Jr., commander of the Army’s 53rd Infantry Battalion, confirmed that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), and they were working with the police in investigating the incident. Police Col. Restituto Pangusban, director of the Zamboanga del Sur provincial police, said witnesses who heard the explosion outside a beach resort saw a white utility vehicle with a broken rear door leaving the site towards the Tukuran cemetery. It left behind an exploded motorcycle and two unidentified dead bodies. Witnesses also found a bag of ammonium...

Korte Suprema: Hindi kasama sa kapangyarihang mag-audit ng COA ang pagpapataw ng administrative penalties Binigyang diin ito ng Korte Suprema matapos isantabi ang disallowance ng COA laban kay Jess Christopher S. Biong, opisyal ng PhilHealth Region III. Pinatawan ng civil liability si Biong kaugnay sa disallowance ng COA sa pagbili ng ng PhilHealth Region III ng printer inks at toners. Sa Desisyon na isinulat ni Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, sinabi ng Korte Suprema na hindi naaayon ang disallowance dahil ang mga basehan ng COA ay kaugnay sa pamamahala ng mga supplies ng opisina, na nangyari pagkatapos ng pag-bili nito. Dahil natanggap ng PhilHealth ang binayarang supplies mula sa supplier, walang pondong nawala sa...

“Tinatanong nga siya (Guo), saan galing ito? Sino ito? Saan ginamit ito? Hindi nga nila alam eh,” David said. “Puro generalization yun eh. Tapos kukuhanin mo yung details sa tao, kukuhanin mo yung detalye kay Alice… Kung talagang solid yung evidence niya, ilabas mo na lang.” “Hindi mo pwedeng ipilitin ang isang tao na idiin ang sarili niya,” David said. “Kasi lahat ng sasabihin niya pwedeng magamit para sa kanya o laban sa kanya sa mga kasong kinahaharap niya.” “Sabi nila nagsisinungaling ka, hindi kami naniniwala sa iyo. Ang tanong, bakit pa siya tinatanong at bakit pa siya tinatawag kung hindi mo rin lang naman paniniwalaan, di ba?” “Kasi ito in aid of prosecution eh. Parang gusto mo lang talaga ma-establish yung guilt nung tao,” he...

Among them is Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who said Marbil should file a case against Villanueva for putting the PNP in a bad light if the latter fails to substantiate his innuendos. Azurin also chided Villanueva for insinuating a former PNP chief is colluding with Guo while admitting they are still verifying the information. Source: Marbil: 24 ex-PNP chiefs probed over Guo ties

The two are facing charges of kidnapping and serious îllégâl detention before the Batangas City Regional Trial Court Branch 3. They were arrested by operative of the Batangas PNP Special Intelligence and Tracker Team on September 14. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/9/18/ilang-napinsala-ng-bagyo-habagat-sa-occ-mindoro-nagpupumilit-bumangon-058

The PNP arrested Lao through the warrant of arrest issued by Sandiganbayan First Division Chairperson Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega dated September 12. According to the Ombudsman, Duque and Lao allegedly caused injury to the government since the transaction charged a 4% service fee, which totaled P1.659 billion. Source: PNP arrests ex-DBM official tagged in multibillion-peso COVID-19 supplies mess

still gathering data and confirmation but news should come out later

“This is actually a battle of who can get the natural resources because the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is about exploitation of natural resources, and we are running out of gas in Malampaya,” retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday. Source: Will Manila’s gas exploration in South China Sea spark conflict with Beijing?

More than 60 Chinese vessels were observed loitering at Escoda Shoal on Tuesday, following the Philippines' pullout of its coast guard ship, BRP Teresa Magbanua, over the weekend. The Chinese ships spotted at Escoda Shoal include 52 maritime militia vessels, 5 coast guard ships, and 4 People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/17/over-60-chinese-ships-spotted-at-escoda-after-pcg-s-pullout-1334

A Babbler revealed that Imee is the prime suspect behind the leak of Duran Duran’s private concert at Bongbong’s 67th birthday bash at the Manila Marriott. She’s believed to have immediately sent the leaked pic to a vlogger linked to Duterte Die-hard Supporters (DDS). Source: Hungry like the wolf! Imee sabotages Bongbong party as Marcos sibling war intensifies

It would be an “act of war” if China were to remove the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in an interview with a US news show. Source: Teodoro: Act of war if China takes BRP Sierra Madre

WEATHER UPDATE: Tropical Storm #HelenPH (PULASAN) has entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility, according to PAGASA-DOST. Stay tuned for updates as the next bulletin will be released at 5:00 AM tomorrow. #DailyTribune #HelenPH

MANILA, Philippines — For weeks, “lugaw” or rice porridge filled their stomachs and they resorted to drinking boiled rainwater as well as droplets from their ship’s air-conditioning system to quench their thirst. ‘Lugaw’ and rainwater for weeks: BRP Teresa Magbanua crew’s struggles in WPS

Former President Donald Trump called his vice-presidential running mate, JD Vance, just 10 minutes after an assassination attempt during a round of golf, and according to Vance Trump said he was "a little mad" because the Secret Service had stopped him from finishing the game when he was lining up a birdie putt on the sixth hole. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/17/trump-a-little-mad-over-unfinished-golf-game-during-assassination-attempt-1006

A lawmaker is seeking to reduce the proposed budget of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) for next year due to its unfinished projects and slow use of funds, specifically under the Barangay Development Program (BDP). The BDP is one of the main initiatives under the NTF-Elcac for this year. The program “intends to bring sustainable development programs to conflict-prone and conflict-affected communities,” the NTF-Elcac’s website reads.