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Senator Panfilo Lacson has filed two landmark bills aimed at stripping government officials and employees of secrecy protections over their bank and foreign currency deposits, in a bold move to promote transparency and curb corruption in public office. Citing the 1987 Constitution’s mandate that “public office is a public trust,” Lacson stressed that public servants must not use their positions …

In recent years, the Philippine economy has found an unlikely yet significant ally in online gambling. Regulated online gaming—particularly through legitimate licensees under the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR)—has not only generated billions in government revenue but also created thousands of jobs and fueled related industries such as IT, hospitality, and real estate. Yet, amid mounting concerns over illegal …

By Tracy Cabrera More than 11 million Filipino households, or 20% of families nationwide, experienced involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Conducted from April 23 to 28, the survey found that one in every five families went hungry at least once between January and March.  The figure …

In a message released ahead of the 10th World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Leo XIV drew heavily from Pope Francis’ Laudato si’, reiterating the Church’s firm stance against environmental and social injustice. He emphasized that God’s creation was never meant to be a battleground for vital resources. Set for September 1, this year’s observance is …

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) is advocating for a substantial hike in the starting monthly salary of public school teachers to P50,000—a move that Education Secretary Edgardo “Sonny” Angara appears open to supporting, though not spearheading. The proposal, filed in Congress by ACT party-list Representative Antonio Tinio and Kabataan party-list Representative Renee Louise Co, was brought up during a …

Relatives of some of the 34 missing sabungeros (cockfight enthusiasts) visited the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) headquarters at Camp Crame on Friday to request updates and appeal for renewed efforts in the search for their loved ones. Maricel Ramos, whose son is among the desaparecidos, said the families initiated the visit in the hope of meeting with CIDG …

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has ordered the closure of a travel consultancy and its partner recruitment agency in Ermita, Manila, for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment by offering unauthorized jobs in Poland. In a joint operation with the Manila Police District (MPD), the DMW’s Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) on Friday shut down Reiven Air Travel & Tours …

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to widen the list of value-added tax (VAT)-exempt medicines to help ease the financial strain on Filipino patients. “Walang Pilipino ang dapat mapagkaitan ng pagkakataong mapangalagaan ang kanilang kalusugan at makabili ng murang gamot (No Filipino should be denied the opportunity …

Leyte 1st District Representative Ferdinand Martin Romualdez is championing a bill that seeks to grant senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs) the full 20% discount and 12% value-added tax (VAT) exemption even when availing of existing promotional offers from business establishments. In a statement on Friday, Romualdez said House Bill No. 16, or the “Act Enhancing the Discount on …

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied a petition filed by former President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense team seeking the disqualification of two judges from the case he is facing. In a ruling dated July 3, the ICC’s plenary of judges found no merit in the claims questioning the impartiality of Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores …