ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – A late-night robbery turned bloody in Ipil town after five armed men stormed a lending company past midnight on Tuesday, August 29, escaping with ₱726,409 in cash and leaving its manager wounded. Police said the suspects, clad…
Marcos keeps trust in DPWH chief Bonoan amid flood control project mess
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to back Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan despite mounting calls for his resignation over alleged ghost and overpriced flood control projects nationwide. Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on Wednesday,…
Torre out as PNP chief days after clash with Napolcom
Police General Nicolas Torre III was removed from his position on Tuesday, August 26, just three months into his tenure as the nation’s top policeman, amid a publicized showdown with the National Police Commission (Napolcom) in a row over a…
Philippine debt to hit ₱19 trillion in 2026 — DBM
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines’ debt stock is projected to breach ₱19 trillion by the end of 2026, as the Marcos administration leans heavily on borrowings to fund infrastructure, social services, and economic recovery. Budget documents show the national government’s…
Opinion I OCTA Survey Points to a Nation at Breaking Point
The recent OCTA Research findings indicated that around 11.9 million Filipino families—or approximately 45%—consider themselves poor as of July 2025, a moderate rise from 42% in April. These survey results are not mere statistics—they’re a resounding alarm. The jump—translating to…
South Cotabato, BARMM officials firm up peace, development push
IPIL, Philippines – Officials from South Cotabato and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) are laying the groundwork for stronger peace and development cooperation in communities straddling their borders. On Thursday, August 7, Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair…
Basilan eyes agri-industrial leap, shedding old image of conflict
ISABELA CITY, BASILAN – Once branded as a hotspot of violence, Basilan is now planting the seeds of transformation—this time, as Mindanao’s emerging agri-industrial hub. From coconut and rubber plantations to thriving fisheries and potential halal tourism, the island province…
Tribal leaders, execs back new watchdog group for Tampakan mining project
COTABATO CITY – Local officials, business groups, and Blaan tribal leaders have thrown their support behind a newly formed multi-sectoral body tasked with monitoring community development projects tied to the controversial Tampakan mining venture in Central Mindanao. The National Commission…
Bangsamoro biz leaders welcome $400-M ADB grant for coastal, economic development
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Business leaders in the Bangsamoro region welcomed the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) commitment of a $400-million grant to support economic programs and protect marine resources in Mindanao. Ronald Hallid Dimacisil Torres, chair of the Bangsamoro Business…
Bangsamoro lawmakers urge Marcos: Keep Lagdameo as Special Assistant
COTABATO CITY, Philippines – A bloc of lawmakers in the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament is urging President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to retain Special Assistant to the President Antonio Ernesto Lagdameo Jr., citing his key role in supporting peace initiatives in Mindanao.…
Bombmaker From Dawlah Islamiya Surrenders in Maguindanao, Vows to Help Deradicalize Others
COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A bombmaker from the outlawed Dawlah Islamiya group has surrendered to the Philippine military and pledged to help convince remaining members of the terror group to return to the fold of the law. Badruddin Saligua Mundir, 35,…
Historic Shift in Datu Odin Sinsuat as New Leaders from Noble Clans Take Office
CAMP SIONGCO, Maguindanao del Norte — For the first time since the 1950s, the municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat — originally named Dinaig — has new leaders from noble Maguindanaon clans that had long been excluded from local governance. Datu…






