Author: Jericho Zafra

MANILA, Philippines — The people behind the production and spreading of a “fake” video showing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr sniffing an alleged illicit substance will face legal charges, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said. “The Department of Justice will take all necessary actions to identify and prosecute those responsible for this deceitful act,” DOJ spokesperson Mico Clavano said. In a message to reporters, Clavano said that the production and spreading of the fake video showing the president allegedly sniffing a drug is prohibited under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code. The official also said that the “timing” of the…

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 300 passengers are now stranded in several ports in Southern Luzon as authorities suspended sea travel due to severe tropical storm Carina, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Tuesday.In a report, the PCG said that several ports in  Quezon Province and Bicol Region have tallied 294 stranded passengers due to the suspension of sea travel in certain areas in Luzon due to severe tropical storm Carina. As per the PCG advisory, all trips of vessels with 250 gross tonnes and below plying the route within the areas of Northern Quezon are suspended as the state weather bureau…

MANILA, Philippines — Starting today, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) will no longer be allowed to operate in the Philippines, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in his third State of the Nation Address. “Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” said Marcos. He then instructed the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to cease POGO operations by the end of the year. “I hereby instruct PAGCOR to wind down and cease the operation of POGOs by the end of the year,” he said. The chief executive’s announcement sparked a wave of enthusiasm from the crowd with lawmakers erupting into a standing…

Unlike other issues, the West Philippine Sea dispute with China has had the briefest mention in Marcos’ address. He also did not lay down any concrete plans as to how the Philippines would access the maritime territory without his fisher folks facing violent aggression from Chinese authorities. But the embattled president stood his ground: the disputed maritime region is a Philippine territory. What now? MANILA, Philippines — Despite no concrete solutions mentioned to stop the friction between China and the Philippines in the disputed waters, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Monday that the maritime area is not a figment…

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday it will deploy 1,300 personnel on thoroughfares surrounding the Batasang Pambansa while the Quezon City Government will continue its free service program for commuters on the day of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address. In a statement, the MMDA said it will deploy over 1,300 personnel along Commonwealth Avenue and thoroughfares around Batasang Pambansa to manage the traffic around the area. The MMDA likewise announced that it will implement the Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme from 7 a.m. to…

MANILA, Philippines — The Department and Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippines and China have agreed on a “provisional arrangement” in the rotation and resupply (RORE) missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. In a statement Sunday, the foreign affairs department said the two countries “will not prejudice each other’s positions in the South China Sea.” “The Philippines and the People’s Republic of China have reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement for the resupply of daily necessities and rotation missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,” it said following the 9th Bilateral Consultation Mechanism on…

MANILA, Philippines — Several dissenters have gathered in the streets of Commonwealth Avenue to protest ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno refuted the president’s “grand claims of progress” and said insecure jobs and several policies affect the workers in the country. During the protest, the “real state of the nation” according to the militant labor group, is the lack of security for Filipino workers. “Top 5 na usapin ng manggagawa at mamamayang Pilipino ang pagkontrol sa mga taas-presyo, pagtaas ng sahod ng mga manggagawa, pagtugon…

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is set to face the Filipino people in his third State Of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 22. But even before he delivers his speech to the nation and lets the public know what he has done in the past year, the people know the Philippines is in hot waters with China over its perennial dispute with Beijing over the West Philippine Sea alongside economic turmoil and quagmires involving the people inside the Palace. On July 12, the Philippines marked the eighth anniversary after the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that China’s…

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino workers have the worst work-life balance after Nigeria, Remote’s Global Life-Work Balance Index 2024 said. Over 60 countries have participated in the study where the Philippines ranked 59th and is considered second with the worst work-life balance experiences next to Nigeria under several factors. Among the factors identified for the study in the Philippines include: With a score of 27.46 points out of 100, the Philippines ranked just above Nigeria, which had a score of 16.15. Compared to our Southeast Asian neighbors, Singapore (26th), Vietnam (37th), Thailand (39th), Indonesia (43rd), and Malaysia (47th) ranked higher in…

MANILA, Philippines — The now-viral ramp at EDSA-Philam station in Quezon City which is deemed risky for pregnant women and persons with disability (PWDs) might not have a “perfect design” but it’s still helpful for them, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said. Shortly after the MMDA faced clash on social media for building a ramp so steep and tagged by commuters “unfriendly” for PWDs and pregnant women, the bureau said that there is a height restriction for the MRT that the MMDA followed, which made it impossible to align the elevator with the footbridge. “Hindi ito perpektong disenyo lalo…