Author: Jericho Zafra

MANILA, Philippines — Another eight vessels from the United States Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have arrived in the Philippines to join the oil recovery of three troubled vessels that sank off the waters of Bataan last month, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday. In a message sent to reporters, PCG said that the USCG and NOAA personnel arrived in Lamao Port in Limay, Bataan Wednesday, August 6. USCG and NOAA personnel are providing technical assistance to the Incident Management Team for the ongoing recovery operations following three maritime incidents involving the MTKR Terranova, MTKR Jason…

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos continue to bear the brunt of increasing basic commodity prices following the higher 4.4 percent inflation rate in July, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Tuesday. This is 0.7 higher compared to the 3.7 percent June inflation rate reported last month. The July 2024 inflation rate, however, is slightly lower compared to the 4.7 percent July 2023 inflation rate, the PSA said. At a press briefing, national statistician Dennis Mapa said that the inflation went up in July 2024 mainly because the cost of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels increased by 2.3 percent, compared…

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte has no threats on her life at the moment, despite the PNP recalling 75 cops under her security detail, the Philippine National Police said. “Wala po kaming nakita. She’s being loved by our people,” PNP chief Marbil told the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs Monday. This came after a series of statements and open letters came out online, alleging that reducing Duterte’s security personnel was an act of “political harassment” and she claimed the recall jeopardized her family’s safety. Last month, the PNP recalled 75 police officers in the Vice…

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education has reminded school administrators of both public and private educational institutions that selling of tickets and collection of contributions from students and teachers are prohibited In a memo released over the weekend, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that public elementary and high schools should not collect any fees. This is based on Republic Act No. 4206, which bans selling tickets or collecting contributions from students and teachers in public and private schools, colleges, and universities, and as amended by RA 5546. If someone does not follow this rule, they can be fined, jailed…

If you know, you know MANILA, Philippines — Just days after the popular Irish rock band “The Script” announced their Manila concert, several social media users couldn’t help reminisce about the hits that brought out the best in their teenage lives. Wilbros Live announced on Friday that the Irish band, The Script, will bring their “Satellites World Tour” to the Araneta Coliseum on February 11, 2025. Tickets for the concert will be available starting August 10, 2024, at 10 a.m. through TicketNet.com.ph and TicketNet outlets across the country. While the ticketing details are yet to be finalized, The Script’s Manila…

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Sunday that the Philippines never deported babies, contrary to reports surfacing online. BI Commissioner Norman Tansingco issued this statement following reports that a newborn was part of the 33 foreign nationals who were deported last week. “We have waived other requirements to allow the smooth travel of the child, who left together with the parents,” Tansingco said. According to the report, the baby is the child of a female worker of Smart Web Technology. The company was raided late last year by the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PAOCC). Tansingco said that they…

MANILA, Philippines — The national government should pass a comprehensive law to combat the proliferation of deepfakes in the country, the Department of Information and Communications Technology said Monday. A “deepfake” is a kind of artificial image or video created using a specialized type of machine learning called “deep learning.” There were lots of allegedly deepfake technology-generated images and videos currently surfacing online, with one being President Ferdinand Marcos being victimized following the release of a video of him allegedly sniffing an illicit substance in time for his third State of the Nation Address. “I think we need to have…

MANILA, Philippines — The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) ship CSB 8002 arrived in Manila on Monday where they will be conducting joint exercises with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Manila Bay for four days. The PCG said the VCG vessel, which was composed of over 80 crewmen, will be in Manila from August 5 to 9. “Concluding the port call will be the conduct of SAR (search and rescue), fire and explosion prevention training, and passing exercise in the vicinity waters of Manila Bay,” PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said in a statement. He also said that the…

MANILA, Philippines — Even if authorities recalled 75 cops in Vice President Sara Duterte’s security detail, the vice president still has 320 bodyguards, which remains higher compared to the contingent of the president, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said. At a forum, the DOJ official said there is no big deal with the relief of cops in the vice president’s contingent, defending earlier pronouncements about why the Philippine National Police (PNP) removed 75 police officers in Duterte’s security detail. “She still has 300 bodyguards. That’s bigger than the President’s contingent,” Remulla Remulla declined to give specific numbers on the President’s…

MANILA, Philippines — Following the balangay expedition to the West Philippine Sea, former transportation and environment undersecretary Art Valdez told China to revisit its relationship with the Philippines following the recent tensions in the disputed waters. At a forum where Valdez shared the expedition of the newly-constructed balangay “Florentino Das” to the West Philippine Sea, said that the Philippines should continue to assert its rights in the disputed waters and asked China for its “arrogance” in owning the maritime region. “We have to face them straight and tell them exactly: how can you be so arrogant when you were not…