Philippine News

MANILA, May 26 ------ The Philippines and Japan will sign new defense, energy, and trade agreements during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s trip to Tokyo this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said. The DFA declined to give particular details of these deals, but noted that Manila hoped to have “deeper operational cooperation in maritime and security areas.” “Mapapagusapan po ng dalawang bansa para i-implement fully yung ating defense agreements such as the Recipro

ANGELES CITY, Philippines, May 26 ------ The death toll from the collapsed building in Barangay Balibago in this city has risen to four, with 17 still missing. Family members of Malaysian national Mohd Rezal Abdullah, along with a representative of the Malaysian embassy, arrived in Pampanga to claim his remains yesterday. Abdullah, who was staying at an adjacent apartelle, was trapped under the collapsed structure. The two other casualties were identified as construction work

ANGELES CITY, Philippines, May 25 ------ A Malaysian tourist was confirmed dead following the collapse of a nine-story building being constructed at a subdivision in Barangay Balibago, with 23 people still missing. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), the Malaysian tourist was trapped inside the apartelle next to the collapsed building. The Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO) said at least 26 people had been rescued as of yesterda

MANILA, Philippines, May 25 ------ About 49 provinces may experience below-normal rainfall by October when meteorologists expect the emergence of a “very strong” El Niño, according to Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. Most of the provinces affected will be in the Visayas and Mindanao, where rainfall may be only 41 to 80 percent of the average. By November, some areas in Northern Luzon may experience way-below-normal rainfall, receiving just 20 percent of the average. Solid

MANILA, Philippines, May 25 ------ The Philippines remains free of Ebola, the Department of Health (DOH) assured the public even as the World Health Organization (WHO) raised concern over a growing outbreak of the Ebola Bundibugyo virus in parts of Africa. DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said the country is not affected by the current outbreak, which has been detected in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “To be very clear, there are no Ebola cases in the Philippines,” Dom

MANILA, May 25 ------ A magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolted Surigao del Sur, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said. The tectonic quake struck 24 kilometers northeast of the municipality of Bayabas at 12:48 a.m. It was 20-km. deep. Intensity IV was felt in Bayabas and City of Tandag, Surigao del Sur; Claver, Surigao del Norte. Intensity III was reported in Cagwait and Lingig, Surigao del Sur; and Intensity II in City of Bislig, Surigao del Sur; Nab

May 24 ------ The number of Chinese vessels spotted in some West Philippine Sea (WPS) features has decreased to 27 in the past week, based on the data from Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson for WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad. This is lower compared to the 35 Chinese vessels recorded in the previous report. From May 12 to 18, China Coast Guard (CCG) and People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels have been monitored in the following WPS features: - Ayu

May 24 ------ The Japanese government has renewed its commitment to support the Philippines during disasters and emergencies. In a statement, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines said it is pledging closer coordination on emergency response efforts and broader cooperation on environmental initiatives, citing Tokyo’s response to Manila’s request for technical assistance related to firefighting operations, air quality monitoring, and waste management following the Navotas Sa

MANILA, May 23 ------ The prices of gasoline, diesel and kerosene are expected to increase by P1.00 to P1.50 next week based on the fourth day of trading in the Mean of Platts Singapore, the Department of Energy said. This is a peso lower than the projected price increases based on the first two days of trading. DOE Oil Industry Management Bureau director Rino Abad explained that diesel lowered from $163 to $156 per barrel on the fourth day of trading. He said the projected

MANILA, May 23 ------ Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is still in the Philippines, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group said, as the search continued for the lawmaker wanted by the International Criminal Court. The ICC last week unsealed an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa, accused along with former president Rodrigo Duterte and other "co-perpetrators" of the crime against humanity of murder under the war on drugs. Dela Rosa had sheltered at the Senate last week, but l

MANILA, Philippines, May 22 ------ The government is applying for an Interpol red notice against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa who has been in hiding for months since the issuance of a warrant for his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity. Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesman Polo Martinez revealed the development when asked if the government has already alerted law enforcement agencies around the globe to the issuance of an ICC arrest warrant

MANILA, Philippines, May 22 ------ The senators have agreed that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will start on July 6, Monday, after the pretrial and summons have been complied with. Senators held an all-member caucus on Wednesday night to discuss the impeachment calendar, now that the summons had been served on the Vice President, who was given until June 1 to formally answer the case against her. The trial proper can start in July, with the whole of Jun

MANILA, May 22 ------ Recent rains experienced in some parts of the country failed to increase the water levels in major reservoirs, and six dams are "critically low", the head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said. "The lack of sufficient rainfall for the past weeks was the key factor in the decrease in the dams' water levels. The recent rainfall is localized due to thunderstorms," PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Ser

MANILA, Philippines, May 22 ------ Malacañang has declared May 27, 2026 a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid’l Adha. Acting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto signed Proclamation No. 1264 by authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., declaring the holiday to allow the Muslim community to celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice. Eid’l Adha, also known as the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command. Und

MANILA, Philippines, May 21 ------ Extreme heat has pushed six dams in Western Visayas to critical levels while eight major dams in Luzon have also started to go below their normal water levels. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday, San Roque Dam has the largest gap at 227.3 meters against its normal water level at 280 m. Angat Dam is now at 177.05 m against its normal water level of 210 m and Pantaba

MANILA, Philippines, May 21 ------ As Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown, the Supreme Court has rejected his petition for a temporary restraining order against his arrest on the strength of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Voting 9-5-1, the Supreme Court justices denied Dela Rosa’s petition for a TRO and status quo ante order. The SC clarified, however, that it “only decided on the prayers for interim relief. The main issues raised by the parties

MANILA, May 21 ------ The National Maritime Council condemned the presence of Chinese maritime research vessels spotted in various areas within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. According to monitoring of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, at least four Chinese vessels were seen in Philippine waters. These include the Shi Yan 1 and Jia Geng seen near Itbayat in Batanes, the Zhuhaiyun seen 171 nautical miles from Bolinao, Pangasinan, and the Xiangyangh

MANILA, May 21 ------ The Senate Impeachment Court gave Vice President Sara Duterte until June 1 to file her answer to the Articles of Impeachment that the House sent to the Senate for trial. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, the court's presiding officer, announced this during the regular session of the Senate, saying the summons was served to the Office of the Vice President earlier in the day. The prosecution also received a copy on the same day, he said. "Under the ap

MANILA, Philippines, May 20 ------ The Philippine Coast Guard deployed an aircraft and a patrol vessel to challenge a China Coast Guard ship found "drifting" roughly 48 nautical miles west of Pandaquit, Zambales. In a statement today, the PCG said tracking by Canada's dark vessel detection program first flagged the unauthorized presence of CCG vessel 4305. This prompted PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan earlier this morning to send aerial and surface assets "to challenge a

MANILA, May 20 ------ President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. welcomed Japan’s expanded defense export policy, saying it would further strengthen security cooperation and military modernization efforts between Manila and Tokyo. Responding to questions on Japan’s reported easing of restrictions on defense exports, Marcos said Manila and Tokyo have existing arrangements under their Official Security Assistance (OSA) framework involving military and defense-related equipment. “Well, t