BAGUIO CITY–A Tuguegarao City court has acquitted student activist Amanda Socorro Echanis of illegal possession of firearms and explosives, citing major flaws in the police search that led to her arrest and five-year detention. In a ruling dated Dec. 27, 2025, and promulgated last Jan. 14, Regional Trial Court Branch 10 Judge Racquel Reyes-Aglaua also said...
Category: News
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Marcos flies to Abu Dhabi (he has ₱1.018 billion in travel funds for 2026)
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. flew out Monday night to attend a sustainability summit in Abu Dhabi, his first foreign trip this year. The 2026 national budget earmarks ₱1.018 billion for his local and international travels. Mr. Marcos will also witness the signing of trade and defense agreements between Manila and Abu Dhabi during his three-day...
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Challenge at SC looms even as Marcos vetoes ₱92.5B in 2026 budget
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday vetoed ₱92.5 billion in unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget, but an opposition lawmaker said he and his colleagues would take the matter to the Supreme Court (SC). House Senior Deputy Minority Leader and Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said they were awaiting a copy of the President’s veto message...
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No big fish? Confidence eroding in government inquiry into corruption scandal
With no apparent result in the Palace’s promise to jail ranking officials “before Christmas,” one more lawmaker has expressed loss of confidence in the government’s sincerity in unraveling the corruption scandal involving the multibillion-peso plunder of taxpayer money. “I no longer believe that the government is sincere in uncovering the truth behind the flood control...
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The wrong target: Why doctors’ fees are not the main driver of hospitalization costs in the Philippines
Rising hospitalization costs in the Philippines are a legitimate and urgent concern for policymakers, patients, and providers alike. The Department of Health is right to focus on the growing financial burden faced by Filipino families. However, the recent emphasis on physicians’ professional fees risks not only misdiagnosing the problem but also diverting attention from the...
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Rights groups denounce arrest of Cordillera labor leader
BAGUIO CITY—Police arrested labor leader and folk musician Michael “Mike” Cabangon at his home in Baguio City on Dec. 27 on a charge of terrorism financing, according to the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA). Cabangon, spokesperson of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Cordillera and an advocate for workers’ and transport rights, was served a warrant...
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Philippine authorities cautious about forum seeking Taiwan’s ‘reunification’ with China
A recent forum hosted by a group closely linked to the Chinese Communist Party that opposes Taiwan’s independence has come under scrutiny amid concerns over foreign influence. The Philippine Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China (PCPPRC) convened more than 300 representatives of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification...
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ICI member quits as Marcos fails to jail ‘big players’ in flood scandal
Seasoned accountant Rossana Fajardo resigned from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) on Friday, leaving Chairman Andres Reyes as the sole official steering the body just over three months after its creation. Lawmakers say the departure of key figures from the ICI highlights the body’s failure to effectively investigate multibillion-peso flood control projects. In a...
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Probe of ex-public works official Catalina Cabral’s mysterious death continues
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article includes mention of suicide. Those in distress may call the phone numbers listed at the end of the report. BAGUIO CITY—The mysterious death of former public works undersecretary Catalina Cabral has prompted growing concern over the handling of evidence by police and the transparency of the investigation. Cabral was discovered unconscious...
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What the Bondi Beach shooters did during their stay in Davao City
Sajid Akram, who with his son Naveed killed 15 persons in an attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Dec. 14, was seen jogging with Naveed each morning and visited a gun shop during their nearly monthlong stay in Davao City. Police Maj. Catherine dela Rey, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, told CoverStory...