February, 2026

• 9 February

  Sotto downplays Senate rift

  

  Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday dismissed speculation of an impending leadership shakeup in the Senate, saying recent tensions stemmed from disputes over committee assignments and procedural issues—not dissatisfaction with the Senate presidency. Speaking during a virtual briefing, Sotto said concerns raised by some senators revolved largely around committee control, a situation that escalated following the removal of Sen. …

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• 9 February

  CICC warns on love scam surge

  

  The public is being urged to stay alert as authorities warn of a spike in increasingly sophisticated “love scams” ahead of Valentine’s Day, with criminal syndicates now using artificial intelligence and advanced digital tools to deceive victims. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian issued the warning on Friday following an advisory from the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), which has flagged a …

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• 9 February

  PNP hunts illicit cigarette plants

  

  The Philippine National Police (PNP) has stepped up intelligence operations nationwide to track down and dismantle illegal cigarette factories believed to be operating across several regions. In a statement Friday, the PNP said it is conducting simultaneous intelligence validation following reports that at least 10 illegal cigarette factories are currently active in different parts of the country. “We cannot allow …

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• 9 February

  BBM vows better opportunities for teachers

  

  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday pledged to broaden career opportunities for public school teachers, saying promotions serve as a “doorway to a better life” by providing greater financial security and long-overdue recognition. Marcos made the assurance during the mass oath-taking of teachers and school heads from Metro Manila under the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) program at the Makati Coliseum …

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• 9 February

  Fuel hike seen this week

  

  Domestic pump prices are poised to climb again this week, with diesel and gasoline expected to rise by as much as ₱1 per liter, amid global supply concerns and geopolitical tensions. In an advisory, Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said diesel prices may increase by ₱0.80 to ₱1 per liter, while gasoline could go up by ₱0.30 to ₱0.50 per …

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• 9 February

  US invites Phl to peace board

  

  United States President Donald Trump has invited the Philippines to join the Board of Peace (BOP), a US-initiated multinational body focused on post-conflict solutions, including the reconstruction of Gaza. Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said on Thursday that Trump, through the White House, sent a personal letter to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. formally inviting Manila …

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• 9 February

  PAGCOR donates PTVs to 6 new beneficiaries

  

  The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) turned over patient transport vehicles (PTVs) to five local government units and a national health institution last week to strengthen healthcare delivery and emergency response across the country. The latest beneficiaries include the City of Imus in Cavite; Bataan province; the municipality of Libertad in Antique; the municipalities of Ibaan and San Jose …

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• 9 February

  Growth, stability vs. real problems

  

  The House Justice Committee’s decision to dismiss the two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for “insufficiency in substance” was swift, procedural and entirely predictable. Almost as quickly, the Senate rushed to deny rumors of any impending leadership shakeup, eager to project stability. Yet this choreography of reassurance rings hollow.  The next act is already queued: the impeachment complaint against …

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• 9 February

  Korea’s Cho bags PSC-backed Philippine Golf Championship

  

  After two years of waiting, Wooyoung Cho of South Korea can now finally call himself an Asian Tour champion. Cho fired a final round five-under par 67 for a four-shot win to capture the Asian Tour’s season-opening tournament, the 2026 Philippine Golf Championship presented by the Philippine Sports Commission on Sunday, February 8 at the East Course of Wack Wack …

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• 9 February

  Lifetime sports achievers to get spotlight at PSA Awards

  

  FIVE leading figures who played a major part in shaping Philippine sports will be feted with a Lifetime Achievement Award in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association 2025 Awards Night on Feb. 16 at the Diamond Hotel Manila. The choices of the country’s oldest media organization under its president Francis TJ Ochoa, sports editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, as Lifetime …

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