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Malacañang challenged former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and face the allegations against him instead of seeking asylum abroad. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro made the call last week after Roque disputed Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s claim that his asylum application in Austria had been denied. Roque has maintained that his application remains pending and that …

By Tracy Cabrera The Philippine maritime industry is set to gain additional repair capacity as the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) moves to support the expansion of a key ship repair facility at Subic Bay in Zambales and Bataan. Leading the initiative, the Subic Drydock Corporation (SDC) vowed it’s commitment to expand operations through the upgrade of its …

After former House Speaker Martin Romualdez gets detained over alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, it would be one of the most consequential developments in the administration’s anti-corruption drive. The Ombudsman has said it is preparing multiple cases against him, while government authorities continue efforts to bring former Rep. Zaldy Co back to the Philippines to face charges related to alleged …

The return of siblings Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano to the Vice President’s impeachment proceedings adds another layer of political theater to an already extraordinary spectacle. Their participation is significant because the Senate impeachment court must ultimately confront a fundamental constitutional question: conviction requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members. The debate over how that threshold should operate …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez Government agencies are often judged by promises. The Bureau of Customs, however, can also be judged by numbers. Under Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno, the BOC has reported substantial gains in revenue collection, enforcement, modernization, and trade facilitation since he assumed office in July 2025. The figures are difficult to overlook. From July 2025 to June …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) should serve as a wake‑up call. Net inflows of foreign direct investments (FDI) fell by 17.8 percent in the first half of the year, dropping from over $4 billion last year to just $3.38 billion today.  FDI is not abstract money—it represents real businesses: factories, infrastructure projects, …

EBITDABy DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN The world is reeling under the weight of high diesel prices.  That’s a cold fact, without any exaggeration. In Metro Manila, jeepney drivers, operators and other players in the transport industry are protesting en masse, with the Department of Energy and Malacañang unable to do anything substantial but to issue promises. During the Sept. 15-21 weekly …

Former president Rodrigo Duterte made his first public appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday, more than 18 months after he was detained in connection with crimes against humanity allegations arising from his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs. Duterte, wearing a black suit and white shirt, appeared before Trial Chamber III for the court’s third status conference on …

The government is putting a massive ₱53.1 billion behind its digital transformation drive next year, aiming to expand public internet access, modernize government systems, and equip Filipino workers for an increasingly technology-driven economy. The proposed allocation for information and communications technology (ICT) and digitalization expenditures under the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP) represents a major push to make digital connectivity …

The House of Representatives is pushing for a bigger infrastructure budget in 2027, arguing that increased government spending on roads, bridges and other public projects could provide a much-needed boost to economic growth and employment amid a slowdown in the Philippine economy. The chamber is considering raising the proposed ₱643.95-billion allocation for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), …