The Philippines and Japan on Tuesday, May 5, formalized plans to deepen their defense ties, including the potential transfer of Abukuma-class destroyer ships and TC-90 patrol aircraft, following a high-level defense ministerial meeting in Makati City. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary...
President Marcos told Japanese officials that the Philippines will continue to build on the trilateral ties it established with Japan and the United States. In his meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi Shinjiro at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, May 5, Marcos reaffirmed Manila 's...
The national government intensified its readiness for a prolonged relief operation in Albay as the number of residents affected by Mayon Volcano’s activity climbed toward the 200,000 mark, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said Tuesday, May 5. OCD spokesperson Junie Castillo confirmed that while...
Thick volcanic ash from Mayon Volcano’s recent eruptions began to strain local water resources in Albay, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said on Monday, May 4, as government agencies scrambled to deploy filtration systems to affected towns. The OCD said a total of 30,522 families or 102,406...
The Philippine Army (PA) and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) conducted their first combined live-fire exercise during Exercise Salaknib 2026 at the lahar fields of Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Capas, Tarlac, it was revealed on Sunday, May 3. The PA said the exercise, held from May...
(UPDATED) The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) stepped up road clearing, water delivery, and mask distribution in Albay on Sunday, May 3, as ashfall from Mayon Volcano spread across 52 barangays, with authorities keeping Alert Level 3 in place and enforcing a six-kilometer Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ)...
The legal team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, April 30, criticized the recent proceedings of the House Committee on Justice, arguing that the presentation of evidence against her lacks substance and fails to meet the standard for probable cause. In a statement, lawyer Paul Lawrence...
The impeachment defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, April 29, said the House panel’s finding of probable cause in the impeachment case against her was “not unexpected,” citing the direction of the proceedings before the House Committee on Justice. In an official...
Filipino and American forces have successfully integrated advanced air defense systems to counter “drone warfare” during the 41st interation of Exercise Balikatan, just as reports revealed a massive new Chinese dredging project in the South China Sea (SCS). The four-day Integrated Air and...
The legal defense team of Sara Duterte on Thursday, April 23, pushed back against allegations raised in recent proceedings, asserting that the claims would not withstand proper scrutiny in a formal impeachment trial before the Senate. During a press conference, lawyers Atty. Michael Poa, Atty....
The Philippine Army (PA) and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) agreed to step up joint training and explore defense technology cooperation following their latest high-level talks. Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, PA commanding general, and Gen. Arai Masayoshi, JGSDF chief of staff, held their...
The national government announced Wednesday, April 15, that it has finalized a 10-year-long strategic plan to overhaul how the nation conducts urban search and rescue (USAR) operations. The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said that the Search and Rescue Strategic Plan 2026–2036, a comprehensive...