Hong Kong leader apologizes for deadly Tai Po fire, pledges reform

MANILA, Philippines—A former Public Works and Highways official on Thursday said 25 percent of the budget allocated for infrastructure projects in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) are given as “commitments” to certain proponents, including senators. This was according to former Public Works and Highways Regional Director Gerard Opulencia, who testified as a prosecution witness

CAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division (10ID) said on Thursday it is ready to help police arrest Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, whose one-week ultimatum to surrender ends on Friday. The former national police chief is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged crimes against humanity during the

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday urged foreign manufacturers to invest in the Philippines’ electric vehicle (EV) industry as the government aims to have EVs account for 50% of the country’s vehicle fleet by 2040. He made the call during a visit to the manufacturing and assembly plant of Sazgar Philippines Inc. in

A Vietnamese company's director has been accused of designing unsafe pool suction outlets that led to an 11-year-old Japanese boy's death at the five-star Centara Mirage Resort Mui Ne in 2022.

MABALACAT CITY — A 54-year-old male employee of the Arayat municipal government died while a 10-year-old bystander was wounded in an early morning ambush at the town’s Gatiawin village on Wednesday. The municipal government employee was riding a motorcycle when a still unidentified assailant shot him several times at 7:20 a.m., the Pampanga police said.

MANILA, Philippines — Here are INQToday’s top stories this afternoon. The United States will increase its security cooperation funding to help speed up the modernization of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), following talks between US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Cebu. Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte’s

MANILA, Philippines—The Supreme Court has reduced the offense and the penalty meted on a former public school principal in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro over an unauthorized cutting of trees. The high tribunal, in a decision on June 2 released only on Thursday, partially granted the petition sought by Melencio Corpuz. Corpuz was found guilty of

MABALACAT CITY — Police arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly taking his former partner’s two children without her consent in Pasay City and bringing them to San Fernando City in Pampanga. In a statement, the Philippine National Police Public Information Office (PNP-PIO) said the children, aged 11 and three, were taken without their mother knowing

SAN ILDEFONSO, Ilocos Sur — The Laoag City government had launched the first Dulang Festival to promote Ilocano cuisine and boost food tourism by showcasing the city’s traditional dishes and local food industry. The two-day festival, which ends on Thursday, brought together city officials, the Liga ng mga Barangay, residents, and food businesses to celebrate

LUCENA CITY — A 42-year-old truck helper died while the driver was injured when their vehicle collided with an Isuzu refrigerated van on Wednesday night in Atimonan, Quezon. The truck was negotiating a descending, curved section of the diversion road in Barangay Malinao Ilaya at 8:15 p.m. when the driver reportedly lost control due to

The House prosecution panel has no reason to be demoralized amid the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 35% of Filipinos are dissatisfied with the prosecution of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, House prosecution panel spokesperson Zia Adiong of Lanao del Sur said Thursday.