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Two recent recantations involving alleged deliveries of luggage containing tens of millions of pesos to key government officials should raise more questions than they settle. The former soldiers who supposedly witnessed or participated in the deliveries have now withdrawn their testimonies, claiming that Senator Rodante Marcoleta and former Congressman Michael Defensor contrived the stories and attributed these to them. This is not merely another political sideshow. …

LOVE FOR ALL​By: Virginia Rodriguez When a government official earns the highest public trust and performance rating among Cabinet secretaries, the recognition should mean more than a congratulatory message. It should be treated as a responsibility to do even more for the people who depend on government. Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has emerged as …

REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The Palace’s declaration of a higher development budget for local government units (LGUs) in 2027 is being framed as a bold step toward inclusive growth. More money for local projects, more resources for communities—on paper, it sounds progressive. Yet in the unforgiving calculus of politics, timing is everything. And the timing here is suspect.   Why now? …

School shootings will continue to plague the country despite the familiar assurances from government and the police that everything is being done to prevent another tragedy. The recent shooting at a high-end private school in Zamboanga will likely not be the last. A parent at the earlier shooting in Tacloban, Leyte, warned as much—and the warning appears to have gone …

EBITDABy DIEGO C. CAGAHASTIAN It is both the mandate and duty of the government to manage the economy well, and thus provide jobs and livelihood for its constituents, who in turn are expected to dutifully pay their taxes, cooperate in nation-building, and even willfully surrender part of their privacy and rights for the sake of national security. Under this framework, …

The combined effects of tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon (habagat) have caused more than ₱2.9 billion in damage to infrastructure and agriculture, underscoring the growing economic toll of extreme weather on communities and livelihoods across the country. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported as of August 13 that infrastructure damage had reached …

Malacañang has challenged lawmakers criticizing the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 to examine the spending plan in full before labeling it either overly focused on cash aid or “anti-poor.” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro issued the challenge on Thursday after lawmakers gave sharply different assessments of the proposed budget.  Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice reportedly argued that government spending places …

The Senate is moving to tighten rules on electricity system losses, with lawmakers pushing to ensure that consumers are not charged for power losses caused by theft, illegal connections, meter tampering, and other problems that utilities can prevent. Senator Erwin Tulfo, chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, said the policy should clearly distinguish unavoidable technical losses from non-technical losses …

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) has released ₱65.60 million worth of food and essential non-food assistance to communities in Luzon and Metro Manila affected by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat. The state gaming regulator distributed a total of 47,192 relief items, consisting of 23,596 food packs valued at ₱28.91 million and …

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has intensified monitoring of markets and agricultural supply chains as it moved to prevent traders and sellers from taking advantage of supply disruptions caused by tropical cyclones Luis and Maymay and the southwest monsoon or habagat. PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said police units nationwide will work with the Department of Agriculture …