DA chief urged to take leave amid rice import probe

MANILA, Philippines — In-person classes for Oct. 15 are suspended in some areas due to poor air quality caused by lingering transboundary haze. The following local government units on Wednesday announced class suspensions: READ: DENR: Ateneo de Zamboanga air quality now ‘very unhealthy’ The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) monitored high

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Marcos has joined political party Lakas-CMD, several sources told reporters. According to different sources, Marcos took his oath as a member of the party in a ceremony last Monday which includes his uncle, former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, as

BACOLOD CITY — The emergency department of the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here issued a “severe congestion alert” on Wednesday, Oct. 14, after its occupancy rate reached 212%. A CLMMRH public health advisory said 138 patients were seeking treatment at a facility with a capacity of only 65 beds. In response to

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial agreed to alternating presentations with the defense, as suggested by Senator-Judge Bam Aquino, but the defense did not. The lead prosecutor, Rep. Gerville Luistro, pointed this out on Tuesday, saying that the arrangement could have addressed the concerns that the defense raised

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The success of a legislative push to pass a genuine anti-political dynasty law “rests heavily on the mobilization of the youth and citizen action,” former Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said here on Wednesday, October 14. Carpio spoke at the Archdiocesan organizational meeting of the “Dapat Isa Lang”

MANILA, Philippines — Air quality at Ateneo de Zamboanga University remained hazardous on Wednesday, with pollution levels falling from “emergency” to “very unhealthy.” The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) reported the change in its 5 p.m. advisory on Wednesday, Oct. 14. The agency said the particulate matter (PM) 2.5

MANILA, Philippines — As the water sector prepares for the anticipated strong El Niño, which may extend to the first half of 2027, Manila Water continues to fortify its portfolio of additional raw water sources through major infrastructure investments designed to enhance supply reliability and reduce dependence on traditional water sources. These initiatives form part of

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Two high-value drug suspects were arrested after yielding around 500 grams of suspected shabu valued at P3.4 million in a buy-bust operation in Barangay Lunzuran, Zamboanga City, on Tuesday afternoon, October 13. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Region 9 (PDEA-9) identified the suspects through their aliases as “Abdurahman,”

TACLOBAN CITY — Amid concerns over rising electricity bills in the country, a bill filed by Leyte Rep. Richard Gomez seeks to prevent power consumers from paying for losses caused by electricity theft, illegal connections, faulty meters and inefficiencies of distribution utilities. House Bill No. 11675, filed on Oct. 12, proposes to limit system-loss charges

TACLOBAN CITY — Police arrested Eastern Visayas’ No. 1 drug suspect, two other high-value individuals, and five others in separate anti-drug operations on Oct. 12 and 13. The Police Regional Office 8 said the operations yielded suspected shabu worth P1,035,844, based on Dangerous Drugs Board valuations, along with firearms and ammunition, as part of the

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A solemn blessing and candle-lighting ceremony in Barangay Guinoyoran marked the 35th death anniversary of Rev. Fr. Neri Lito Satur on Wednesday. The priest being honored was slain due to his fierce defense of Bukidnon’s environmental preservation. Fr. Teting Tumapon of the Guinoyoran Parish Church led the blessing of the spot

ILOILO CITY — Police operatives arrested a high-value individual and seized about 140 grams of suspected illegal drugs valued at P952,000 during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Cogon, Panitan, Capiz, on Tuesday night, Oct. 13. The suspect was identified by authorities through the alias “Boss,” 30, a resident of Panitan. According to police reports, the