Charred homes and abandoned churches mark the path of the Allied Democratic Forces in remote villages across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a militia now linked to the Islamic State’s Central Africa Province. In northern Nigeria, grieving families bury…
BIR’s Audit Freeze Exposes Deeper Crisis: Can the Agency Clean Up Its Own Ranks?
MANILA, Philippines – When the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) abruptly suspended all field audit operations this week, it looked like a routine administrative pause. But behind the announcement lies a deeper, more troubling question: Can the country’s most powerful…
Myths and Promises: How the ‘Green Transition’ Risks Repackaging Old Mining Models in the Philippines
MANILA, Philippines – The global race to secure minerals for electric vehicles, batteries, and renewable energy is accelerating. And at the Philippine-Sweden Smart Mining Forum held on November 18 at the Baguio Country Club, Environment Secretary Raphael Lotilla framed it…
Peace fuels economic momentum in this BARMM coastal town
DATU BLAH T. SINSUAT, Maguindanao del Norte – Long known as the fishing capital of Maguindanao del Norte, this quiet seaside town is now drawing an unusual wave of attention: investors are coming, business groups are asking questions, and regional…
Peaceful BARMM Seaside Town Draws Interest, Emerging Investment Hub
Maguindanao del Norte – Datu Blah Sinsuat, the most peaceful seaside town in Maguindanao del Norte, is emerging as a new investment hub in BARMM. Local leaders, business groups, and parliament members credit its strong peace and security situation for…
The Perils of a “Peace” That Penalizes the Weak — Trump’s 28-Point Peace Plan and the Lessons for Small States
The recently revealed 28-point peace plan, reportedly backed by Donald Trump, for ending the war between Russia and Ukraine offers a deeply unsettling vision. Rather than a restoration of Ukrainian sovereignty, it proposes a structural compromise that heavily favors Russia…
Gunmen attack church in Nigeria, escalate pressure on Tinubu government
Gunmen killed at least two people and kidnapped pastor, along with several worshippers, after they stormed a church on Tuesday evening in Eruku, a town in central Nigeria’s Kwara State, local police and witnesses said on Wednesday. The assault comes…
EXPLAINER: Why choose PMVIC over PETC when renewing your vehicle registration?
Vehicle oowners know that renewing a vehicle’s registration often boils down to one requirement: proof that the vehicle is safe and compliant. But where should you go to secure that proof—Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs) or Private Motor Vehicle Inspection…
Why Corruption in the Philippines Never Dies: Inside a System Built to Protect Itself
IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay – Every new administration arrives with the same promise: to end corruption “once and for all.” But every administration eventually finds itself trapped in the same web – scandals involving infrastructure, taxes, agriculture, procurement, or political influence.…
Feature: Why the AFP is Staying Out of Any Ouster Plot Against Marcos Jr.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) today is no longer the same institution that toppled — or attempted to topple — presidents in the past. And that may be a good thing for our democracy. Rumors of destabilization and…
Ipil installs P3.4-M AI-powered security cameras in key commercial areas
ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY, Philippines – The municipality of Ipil has begun installing its first batch of high-technology security cameras in the town’s commercial district, a move local officials say is aimed at boosting public safety and modernizing surveillance systems. Mayor Ramses…
Tungawan Mayor Welcomes Establishment of Cooperative Development Council
TUNGAWAN, Zamboanga Sibugay — Mayor Angelito “Lito” B. Aniñon has welcomed the establishment of the Municipal Cooperative Development Council (MCDC), describing it as a long-overdue mechanism to strengthen the cooperative movement and spur inclusive development in Tungawan. The move marks…






