Philippine News

MANILA, May 30 ------ The Department of Energy said there is a high chance of oil price rollback next week. DOE Oil Management Bureau director Rino Abad said the following price decreases may be expected next week based on the four-day trading in the Means of Platts Singapore: • Diesel – P8.00 per liter • Gasoline – P4.00 per liter • Kerosene – P10.00 per liter The director noted however that the energy department has allowed oil companies to submit their price adjustment ran

MANILA, May 30 ------ The Civil Aeronautics Board has slightly lowered the fuel surcharge level for June to Level 13. The fuel surcharge level was at Level 18 from May 1 to 15. This move is expected to lower flight costs for airline passengers from June 1 to 15. For domestic passengers, this means fuel surcharges can range from P423 to P1,237. For international passengers, meanwhile, surcharges can range from P1,396.74 to P10,385.42. CAB also set the forex conversion rate at

TOKYO, Japan, May 29 ------ President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. secured around $3.4 billion or roughly P210 billion in investment commitments from Japanese companies during a high-level business roundtable meeting in Tokyo. The commitments were announced during the President’s meeting with top Japanese business executives at the Imperial Hotel as part of his four-day state visit to Japan. According to the Presidential Communications Office, the investments are expected

MANILA, Philippines, May 29 ------ Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is facing a new charge of plunder, his third, and another case for graft over his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. The Office of the Ombudsman charged Estrada, along with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan, before the Sandiganbayan over the alleged P573 million worth of kickbacks from various flood control projects. Others named in the charges

MANILA, Philippines, May 29 ------ Authorities retrieved another dead body from the rubble of the collapsed building in Angeles City, raising the death toll to five. The victim was transported to the City Health Office in Angeles for identification, according to the Angeles City Public Information Office. A cellular phone recovered near the body, which authorities believe belongs to the victim, was also turned over to the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) for investigation

MANILA, May 29 ------ Tropical Storm (TS) Jangmi entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) early Friday and was given the local name Domeng. It is packing maximum sustained winds of 75 km. per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 90 kph. The TS was located 1,345 km. east of southeastern Luzon, moving northwestward at 20 kph. No wind signal is hoisted on any part of the country. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administr

TOKYO, May 28 ------ President Marcos called for enhanced defense cooperation and partnerships bound by shared values, saying the present era of disruptions and geopolitical tensions is not a time for retreat but for a “deeper engagement” with like-minded parties. In remarks delivered during a meeting with the Japan-Philippines Parliamentary Friendship League here, Marcos said recent developments have shown that the world cannot afford to have waterways disrupted or placed at

May 28 ------ Former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero is facing a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman based on documents obtained exclusively by GMA News. In Escudero’s counter-affidavit filed last Friday, the Field Investigation Office of the Ombudsman recommended on April 16 the filing of plunder, graft, and indirect bribery charges against the senator. The Ombudsman FIO alleged that Escudero had “indirectly received kickbacks of P306 million and P2

MANILA, Philippines, May 28 ------ Law enforcement conducted a manhunt for Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa across Luzon. In a statement, the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) said it searched for Dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), in four locations. The search was conducted by the PNP-CIDG along with the National Bureau of Investigation in Parañaque, Bulacan and Pampanga. In Pampanga, authorities s

MANILA, May 28 ------ The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has partnered with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) to expand its legal support for members and strengthen patient rights. Based on a Wednesday news release, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation signed on Tuesday a two-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines to strengthen support systems for its members, particularly to address concerns involving

MANILA, May 27 ------ The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) reported an increase in the number of Chinese vessels monitored in the West Philippine Sea over the past week compared to the second week of May. A total of 36 Chinese navy and coast guard vessels in key maritime features were observed from May 19 to 25, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad (Reserve), AFP spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, said. Nineteen Chinese vessels were recorded in Bajo de Masinloc, incl

MANILA, May 27 ------ The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has intensified monitoring of Filipino seafarers aboard vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz as regional tension in the Middle East continues to escalate. In a news release, the DMW said this is to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino seafarers on board these ships. “As of May 25, 2026, a total of 59 vessels carrying 1,834 Filipino crew members have crossed the Strait of Hormuz from April to May this y

May 26 ------ Motorists will have to pay more for petroleum products this week, as fuel retailers announced another round of pump price hikes to mark the fifth straight week of increases for gasoline, and the second for diesel. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), retailers will hike prices per liter of gasoline by P1.60, diesel by P1.96, and kerosene by P1.45. The adjustments will take effect on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. An industry source earlier projected pump price h

May 26 ------ The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has launched its nationwide Service Contracting Program for the maritime sector at the Batangas Pier. The Layag Alalay ng Gobyerno Program is expected to run for 14 days or two weeks. “Sakop din po ng Service Contracting Program for maritime… ang mga ruta na may high-demand na pasahero… Nasa 11 na ruta po ito with 33 operators at 93 ferries na lalahok dito sa commuter routes na t

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