MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Oct. 8 began a probe into workplace safety and conditions aboard the M/V June Aster following the deadly fire off Coron, Palawan. Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino chaired the Lupong Pamagawa inquiry to determine possible compliance failures that may have contributed to the disaster. The vessel, operated

DAVAO CITY — Efforts at conservation of the critically endangered Philippine Eagle  (Pitechopaga jefferyi), the country’s national bird, suffered a setback in the past several days with two raptors having died from electrocution. The first, a female juvenile eagle, was found dead near an electric post in Barangay Guinalaban, Salay, Misamis Oriental on Oct. 1. The

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato — Heavy rains poured over this city on Thursday afternoon (October 8), flooding several low-lying roads. This situation prompted disaster officials to alert barangays prone to flooding and landslides. The sudden downpour came after a hot and humid morning, with floodwaters quickly rising in some areas as the rains intensified. In

MANILA, Philippines — Classes at all levels in public and private schools, as well as government work, in General Santos City will be suspended until further notice following the magnitude 5.6 earthquake off Davao Occidental. In an advisory, the General Santos government said the suspension of government work will take effect Thursday, Oct. 8. Meanwhile,

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking court permission to travel abroad amid an ongoing graft case against him. Demujin Antiporda, director IV of the energy resources development bureau under the DOE, filed a motion to allow travel before the Sandiganbayan Third Division by email on Sept. 29.  He

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has included mathematics and introduced flexible tutoring into its flagship Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program. According to a statement issued on Wednesday, DepEd made the move to build on the gains the Philippines made in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). It broadens

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 19 applicants are vying for a Supreme Court post that will be vacated on Nov. 16 upon the compulsory retirement of Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier. The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) will interview the 19 applicants starting Oct. 13. Of the 19 applicants, the JBC will interview eight, while

MANILA, Philippines — Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, has no record of paying taxes on the transfer of his shares in Cale88 Food Corporation, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said Thursday — possibly rendering the sale non-binding to third parties outside the buyer and seller. READ: Pangilinan notes Cale88 ownership change

MANILA, Philippines — The lawyers of detained Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday said they were unaware of claims that the Sandiganbayan may grant bail in their plunder cases. “Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Dante Marcoleta will soon be set free on bail by the Sandiganbayan,” retired columnist Ramon Tulfo, citing a source, wrote

[Updated Oct. 8, 2026, 7:06 p.m.] MANILA, Philippines — Records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) revealed Vice President Sara Duterte’s cash on hand and in banks – money which did not appear in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) since she assumed her post. Citing the Audited Financial Statements (AFS)