Manila Times

Miss Universe Thailand Names Catriona Gray as Inspiration for Pageant Journey

Newly crowned Miss Universe Thailand Tharina Botes has cited Filipina pageant winner Catriona Gray as a major inspiration, highlighting the continued cultural influence of Philippine entertainment and pageantry across Southeast Asia.

Imee Marcos and Claire Castro Renew Public Dispute Over Philippine Education Issues

Senator Imee Marcos and Claire Castro have become involved in a renewed public dispute over teacher-related issues, reflecting wider political disagreements over education reforms, working conditions and funding priorities.

Philippine Police Cites 65 Percent Public Satisfaction Rating as Basis for Stronger Community Policing

The Philippine National Police has welcomed an OCTA Research survey showing 65 percent public satisfaction, saying the result will encourage further efforts to strengthen anti-crime and community policing operations.

Philippine Police Dismiss 13 Highway Patrol Officers After Unauthorized Customs Raid

The Philippine National Police has dismissed 13 officers from the National Capital Region Highway Patrol Group following an unauthorized and poorly coordinated operation with the Bureau of Customs, citing the need for stricter internal d...

Philippine House Speaker Calls for Moral Recovery Among Lawmakers

House Speaker Faustino Dy III has called for a moral recovery program within the House of Representatives, saying the success of the new Congress should be judged by the integrity of lawmakers as well as the legislation they pass.

Philippine Senate Proposes Five-Year Terms for Barangay and Youth Council Officials

Senator Francis Escudero has proposed fixed five-year terms for barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials, arguing that longer, predictable electoral cycles would reduce repeated postponements of local elections.

Philippine Feeding Program Reaches More Than One Million Children

The Department of Social Welfare and Development says its nationwide Supplementary Feeding Programme has provided nutritious meals to more than 1.084 million children across more than 1,600 local government units as part of efforts to ad...

Philippine Government Expands Internet Industry Cooperation Against Online Extremism and Child Abuse

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is working with internet providers on stronger digital safeguards against online child sexual abuse material and nihilistic violent extremism under directives from President Fer...

Philippine Interior Department Seeks Criminal Cases Over Substandard Bulacan Flood Projects

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has called for criminal prosecution of contractors and other individuals allegedly responsible for substandard flood-control projects in Bulacan after severe flooding damaged homes and agricultural liveli...

Philippine Corrections Bureau Seeks 11.9 Billion Pesos for Prison Modernization in 2027

The Bureau of Corrections has proposed an 11.9 billion peso budget for 2027 to address overcrowding and modernize infrastructure and operations across the country's penal facilities.

Philippine Supreme Court Says Banks Cannot Automatically Recover Mistakenly Credited Funds Before Check Clearing

The Supreme Court's Third Division has rejected BDO Unibank's petition in a case involving funds mistakenly credited to a customer's account before a deposited check had cleared, establishing that the depositor could not be compelled to ...

Philippine Authorities Rescue Eight Trafficking Victims Recruited Through Online Romance Scam

The Bureau of Immigration and the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking have intercepted eight Filipinos who were allegedly recruited for illicit offshore operations through deceptive online romantic relationships.

Philippine Education Department Delays Realistic Active-Shooter Drills Over Student Safety Concerns

The Department of Education has instructed public schools to postpone hyper-realistic active-shooter simulations after concerns that highly intense scenarios could cause panic and psychological distress among students.

Philippines Pushes ASEAN Space Cooperation Framework During 2026 Chairmanship

The Philippine Space Agency is leading discussions on a regional ASEAN space cooperation declaration focused on disaster resilience, food security and governance as the Philippines holds the group's 2026 chairmanship.

Philippine Military Backs Legislation Against Foreign State-Sponsored Influence Operations

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has endorsed proposed legislation aimed at detecting and countering disinformation campaigns allegedly organized by foreign state actors to influence public opinion in the Philippines.

Anti-Organized Crime Commission Searches Davao Steel Plant Over Radioactive Isotope Concerns

The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission has executed a court-authorized search of Davao Mighty Steel Corporation as part of an investigation into allegedly substandard construction materials and reported radioactive isotopes at ...

Philippine Justice Department to Closely Review US Extradition Request for Apollo Quiboloy

The Department of Justice says it will carefully examine the United States government's formal extradition request for religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, with Chief State Counsel Dennis Chan stressing that required procedures will be foll...

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes Remains Open to Testifying in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV remains open to serving as a witness in the Senate impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to former representative Terry Ridon, potentially adding another prominent political f...

Prosecutors Question Sara Duterte's Use of Confidential Funds for Tree-Planting Activities

The Senate impeachment court has examined discrepancies involving confidential funds after Vice President Sara Duterte attended a tree-planting event without using such funds, despite earlier claims that confidential funding was required...

Philippine Senate Impeachment Trial of Sara Duterte Resumes With Scrutiny of Confidential Funds

Prosecutors at the Senate impeachment court have questioned former Office of the Vice President special disbursing officer Gina Acosta over her qualifications and repeated role in handling confidential funds during the seventeenth day of...

Philippine Government Sends More Than One Billion Pesos in Relief to Cyclone-Affected Families

The Department of Social Welfare and Development says it has distributed 1.09 billion pesos in financial assistance and essential relief supplies to families affected by recent tropical cyclones across the Philippines.

Philippines Warns of Heavy Monsoon Rains as Super Typhoon Saudel Threatens the Country

The state weather bureau is monitoring Super Typhoon Saudel and two other tropical cyclones offshore as the Southwest Monsoon brings intense rain to Luzon, prompting local authorities to suspend classes and government work in several pro...

Marcos Administration Prioritizes Critical Minerals for Clean Energy and Semiconductor Supply Chains

President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has issued an executive order aimed at accelerating the extraction and processing of critical minerals, positioning the Philippines to benefit from rising demand for materials used in clean-energy and se...

Philippine Government Orders Review of One Hundred Seven Billion Peso Flood Control Budget

Lawmakers are preparing a detailed audit of national flood-control spending managed by the Department of Public Works and Highways after typhoons and monsoon rains caused widespread damage across the country.

Philippines Raises 2026 Inflation Forecast to Six to Seven Percent as Growth Risks Increase

Economic officials now expect average inflation to reach six to seven percent in two thousand and twenty-six, well above earlier projections and raising concerns about household purchasing power and the pace of economic expansion.

Philippine Central Bank Expected to Raise Interest Rates Again as Inflation Remains Above Target

Analysts expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to raise its benchmark rate by twenty-five basis points to five percent, prioritizing inflation control even as weaker economic growth increases pressure for policy support.

Philippine Senate Reshapes Schedule for Extended Impeachment Trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

Senators agreed to move regular sessions to the morning to allow potentially prolonged afternoon and midnight hearings as prosecutors prepare to present a former disbursing officer as a key witness against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels Mass Near Second Thomas Shoal as Regional Security Concerns Rise

More than two hundred Chinese vessels have gathered at Mischief Reef near the Philippine-controlled outpost, raising concerns about a possible escalation ahead of planned Chinese live-fire exercises in the South China Sea.

Swiss Tourist Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Insulting Bali's Sacred Day of Silence

An Indonesian court convicted twenty-six-year-old Luzian Andrin Zgraggen of blasphemy after he breached strict holiday restrictions and posted an explicit video from an empty beach.

Father Reprimanded After Leaving Seven-Year-Old Son Alone on Mount Fuji During Summit Climb

Japanese police intervened after the child was discovered abandoned for hours in rainy, foggy conditions at 2,000 meters while his father continued hiking toward the peak.

Philippine Police Kill Suspect Linked to Eight Murders in Lanao del Norte Gunfight

A suspect wanted in connection with eight murder cases was killed during a gun battle with officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant in Lanao del Norte.

Bangsamoro Maritime Police Seize 14 Million Pesos Worth of Smuggled Cigarettes

Bangsamoro maritime officers have intercepted an illegal shipment of untaxed cigarettes worth fourteen million pesos, targeting smuggling networks operating through the southern Philippines.

Philippine Authorities Seize 2.3 Million Pesos Worth of Methamphetamine in Misamis Oriental

Anti-narcotics officers in Misamis Oriental have seized methamphetamine valued at more than two point three million pesos and arrested a high-value suspect in a coordinated operation against provincial drug networks.

Philippine Police Launch Nationwide Crackdown on Electricity Theft

The Philippine National Police is coordinating with power distributors to target illegal connections and meter tampering, seeking to reduce system losses that contribute to higher electricity costs for legitimate consumers.

Philippines Repatriates 26 Distressed Workers and Four Dependents From Dubai

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration has brought twenty-six Filipino workers and four dependents home from the United Arab Emirates after they encountered serious employment and immigration difficulties.

Philippine Science Agency Funds 10 Million Peso Smart Farming Program in Bukidnon

The Department of Science and Technology is funding a precision agriculture project in Bukidnon that will use sensors and data analytics to modernize farming and increase production of higher-value crops.

Coast Guard Evacuates Residents in Occidental Mindoro After Dike Collapse

Hundreds of residents in Santa Cruz and nearby communities were evacuated after monsoon rains destroyed a road dike and caused widespread flooding, prompting an emergency humanitarian response.

House Considers Calamity Pay for Essential Workers During Extreme Weather

Philippine lawmakers are considering legislation that would provide additional calamity pay to essential workers required to report for duty during severe typhoons, state of calamity declarations and other extreme weather disruptions.

Philippines Intensifies Crackdown on Counterfeit Fertilizers to Protect Farmers and Food Supply

The Department of Agriculture has launched a nationwide campaign against fake fertilizers, seeking to prevent crop losses and soil damage while protecting farmers and domestic food production.

Philippine Army and Police Arrest Lanao del Sur Vice Mayor Wanted on Murder Charges

Police have arrested a sitting vice mayor in Lanao del Sur who was wanted on murder and frustrated murder charges, as authorities intensify efforts to curb political violence in Mindanao.

Philippines Moves to Restrict Social Media Access for Children Under 13

A bill filed by Pasig Representative Roman Romulo would prohibit social media use by children aged thirteen and below and impose tighter usage rules for teenagers through age seventeen.

Philippine Authorities Arrest 19 for Violating Bangsamoro Election Gun Ban

Security forces have arrested nineteen people for carrying unauthorized firearms as authorities enforce a gun ban ahead of parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Philippines Plans Major River and Coastal Dikes to Protect Flood-Prone Bulacan Communities

The Department of Public Works and Highways is planning large river and coastal dikes to protect municipalities in Bulacan from recurring flooding, extreme weather and rising sea levels along Manila Bay.

Philippine Power Grid Issues Yellow Alert for Visayas as Reserves Tighten

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines has placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert after operating reserves fell below required levels, renewing concerns over regional power supply and generation capacity.