Manila Times

Weather Bureau Issues Alerts as Tropical Storm Queenie Enters Philippine Territory

The state weather bureau activated regional disaster protocols as Tropical Storm Queenie moved into the national boundaries, threatening the eastern seaboards.

Mary Jane Veloso Repatriated to Philippines After 17 Years on Indonesia Death Row

Following high-level diplomatic negotiations, overseas Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso has returned to Nueva Ecija, ending a long-running humanitarian case.

Philippine National Police Link Former Executives to Assassination of Board Secretary

High-ranking police officials testified that former executives orchestrated the assassination of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Board secretary Wesley Barayuga.

Marcos Orders Crackdown on Illegal Logging Following Deadly Typhoons

Following devastating landslides caused by Severe Tropical Storm Enteng, President Ferdinand Marcos Junior ordered an uncompromising crackdown on unauthorized land conversion.

President Marcos Congratulates Bangsamoro Leaders Following Parliamentary Polls

The national government welcomed the successful conclusion of parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, reinforcing the commitment to the Mindanao peace process.

Sulu Province Declared Stable Following Decades of Conflict

Local government and military officials have formally declared the province of Malaysia-neighboring Sulu a zone of stable internal peace and security.

Department of Agriculture Warns of Rice Price Surges Due to El Niño

National agricultural planners cautioned that severe El Niño drought conditions could reduce domestic rice yields and trigger renewed food inflation.

Marcos Administration Suspends Fuel Taxes to Offset Energy Price Spikes

The national government has temporarily suspended excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene to shield low-income households from volatile international energy markets.

President Marcos Pledges Support for Semiconductor and Robotics Manufacturing

President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has committed increased state resources and policy incentives to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing and robotics in the electronics sector.

Philippine Inflation Drops to 1.9% in September, Opening Door for Rate Cuts

National macroeconomic data shows headline inflation fell to 1.9% in September, providing the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas with the flexibility to lower interest rates.

Supreme Court Orders Philippine Congress to Enact Anti-Political Dynasty Laws

The Supreme Court of the Philippines has issued a landmark decision directing Congress to pass long-delayed legislation prohibiting political dynasties to reform the national democratic system.

Commission on Audit Flags Vice President’s Office Over Disaster Relief Documentation

State auditors have published a review flagging the Office of the Vice President for unauthorized operational deviations and missing documentation regarding disaster risk reduction funds.

Dismissed Mayor Alice Guo Faces Espionage Allegpendations in Congressional Inquiry

Former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo faced intense questioning during House Quad-Committee hearings, where officials raised allegations that she operated as a foreign intelligence asset.

Senate Tensions Escalate as Prosecutors Prepare to Question Davao Mayor Sebastian Duterte

Congressional prosecutors have announced plans to interrogate Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, deepening the political confrontation between the Marcos administration and the Duterte political dynasty.

Philippine Senate Debates Impeachment Thresholds as Vice President Faces Scrutiny

The Philippine Senate is clashing over the voting thresholds required for a conviction in the potential impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Defense Secretary Teodoro Says West Philippine Sea Sovereignty to Dominate Upcoming Elections

National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro declared that territorial defense in the West Philippine Sea will be the defining political issue for the next presidential elections.

Philippine Navy Reports Record Surge of 251 Chinese Vessels in West Philippine Sea

The Armed Forces of the Philippines have recorded an unprecedented deployment of 251 Chinese maritime militia, coast guard, and naval vessels, with a heavy concentration near Sabina and Ayungin Shoals.

Philippines, US, and Allies Launch Joint Maritime Patrols in West Philippine Sea

The armed forces of the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand have executed coordinated operations within the Philippine exclusive economic zone to ensure freedom of navigation and deter territorial incursions.

President Marcos Declares Local Holidays Across Five Municipalities

Through Proclamation Number 1450, President Ferdinand Marcos Junior has declared special non-working days in parts of Isabela, Cebu, Palawan, Nueva Vizcaya, and Davao del Sur to support regional cultural celebrations.

Police Recover Thirty-Three Protected Animals in Palawan Wildlife Raid

Local law enforcement intercepted a significant wildlife smuggling attempt in Palawan, seizing thirty-three illegally captured animals from sophisticated poaching networks.

Authorities Intercept Illegal Wildlife Trade Operation in Palawan

Environmental protection agencies and law enforcement rescued thirty-three endemic species during a major anti-smuggling operation, highlighting the ongoing struggle against poaching syndicates in Palawan.

Coast Guard Searches for Eight Missing Passengers Following Palawan Ferry Incident

Maritime search and rescue teams have deployed additional vessels to locate eight individuals missing after a commercial passenger ferry encountered severe conditions off the coast of Palawan.

Dengue Outbreak in Camarines Sur Results in Eighteen Fatalities

Provincial health authorities in Camarines Sur have confirmed eighteen deaths due to a surge in dengue fever, prompting emergency vector-control operations as unseasonal weather worsens transmission.

Police Target Flawless Efficiency for Upgraded 911 Emergency System

The Philippine National Police announced new operational targets for the national Unified 911 hotline, aiming to improve upon a recent 96 percent efficiency rate in emergency dispatch.

Typhoon Queenie Intensifies While Moving Out of Philippine Area of Responsibility

The state weather bureau reported that Typhoon Queenie gained strength as it exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility, though maritime warnings and disaster preparations remain in place for eastern seaboards.

Government and MILF Reaffirm Commitment to Bangsamoro Peace Agreement

Implementing panels from the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front have signaled renewed momentum toward finalizing the peace and autonomy framework in the southern Philippines.

DFA Urges Global Cooperation to Protect Overseas Filipino Workers

Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro called for strengthened United Nations cooperation to ensure collective institutional responsibility in protecting vulnerable migrant populations.

Cebu City Lawyers Recommend Halting Bus Rapid Transit Payments

Local legal authorities in Cebu City have advised suspending financial disbursements for the Bus Rapid Transit project, citing the need for operational clarifications from the national Department of Transportation.

Senate Leader Calls for Rural Infrastructure Investment to Curb Urban Migration

Reviewing the Department of Public Works and Highways budget, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano urged the government to pivot construction investments toward rural provinces to reduce unsustainable migration into urban centers.

NCR Police Mobilize Security Ahead of Nationwide Transport Strike

Security forces across Metro Manila have activated deployment plans to maintain order during a three-day transport strike, even as some provincial governments suspend in-person classes to avoid logistical disruptions.

AFP Accelerates Lumbia Air Base Development to Enhance Regional Capabilities

The Armed Forces of the Philippines has directed sustained modernization of the Fifteenth Strike Wing at Lumbia Air Base in Cagayan de Oro to improve military operational readiness in Mindanao.

National Wages and Productivity Commission Approves Wage Hike for Central Visayas

Over 337,000 formal sector employees in the Central Visayas region will receive a forty-two-peso daily increase as the government moves to align regional compensation with rising living costs.

Sixty Peso Minimum Wage Increase Takes Effect in Metro Manila

The Department of Labor and Employment confirmed a sixty-peso daily wage hike for the National Capital Region, raising rates for smaller enterprises to 718 pesos in an effort to help households cope with inflation.

Department of Labor Overhauls National Employment Programme for Maritime Workers

Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino has signed directives to upgrade the national emergency employment initiative, introducing verifiable skill certifications and pathways for coastal workers to enter the formal economy.

Philippine Senate Flags Thousands of Infrastructure Projects Over Data Anomalies

During deliberations on the 2027 national budget, senators uncovered massive discrepancies across thousands of Department of Public Works and Highways projects, prompting calls for greater accountability in national infrastructure spending.

President Marcos Grants Absolute Pardon to Mary Jane Veloso

The Philippine government has confirmed that former overseas worker Mary Jane Veloso has received executive clemency, ending a long-standing diplomatic and legal battle following her years of incarceration on death row in Indonesia.

Vice President Sara Duterte Denies Bribery Allegations Amid Impeachment Trial

Vice President Sara Duterte has publicly rejected claims from a former congressional aide regarding regular cash deliveries, as House prosecutors scrutinize her corporate interests and links to former special envovers to China.

IMF Downgrades Philippine Economic Growth Forecast to 3.4 Percent

The International Monetary Fund has lowered its projection for Philippine gross domestic product growth, citing weaker public investment, subdued private-sector confidence, and prolonged sluggishness in the property sector.

United States Condemns Chinese Coast Guard Interference in West Philippine Sea

US Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton has issued a strong statement denouncing China's harassment of a Philippine humanitarian resupply mission at Ayungin Shoal, reinforcing Washington's commitment to maritime freedom and regional ...

Mary Jane Veloso Returns to the Philippines After 17 Years

Overseer Filipino worker Mary Jane Veloso has returned to her home in Nueva Ecija following an executive pardon, ending a nearly two-decade legal and diplomatic ordeal.