The 2027 national budget comes at an awkward moment: growth is slowing, borrowing costs are rising, and the next election is close enough to concentrate political minds. For lawmakers seeking office in 2028, the 2027 budget matters most. The question is simple but consequential: can Congress resist...
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday, Aug. 15, said he had never heard of a so-called “leadership fund” for senators, as he rejected claims made by former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan. Bonoan has claimed that a P24zbillion “leadership...
Glaiza de Castro was visibly holding back tears as she talked about Ricky Davao after the special screening of “58th” at Cinemalaya Thursday night. The actress had just watched the film with us at Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong City, and she was beaming as she shared how proud she was to be...
President Marcos said his administration is reducing discretionary powers in government and expanding digitalization to strengthen safeguards in the management of public funds and prevent corruption and waste. Speaking at the traditional Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP)...
Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Bayani Jacinto urged the Office of the Ombudsman’s (OMB) newly trained field investigators to soldier on as they probe what he described as “arguably, the biggest corruption scandal in our history.” He made the appeal during the graduation ceremony for the...
Sixty employees of the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) from across the country have completed the Field Investigation Course (FIC), becoming its first batch of graduates. The graduation ceremony for FIC Class 01 SIGHARI, or “Serbisyong may Integridad, Gabay sa Hustisya, Abilidad at Responsableng...
Classes were suspended in several Metro Manila cities on Friday, Aug. 14, as persistent rains from the southwest monsoon or habagat continued to affect the capital region. The suspensions covered various grade levels in public and private schools, with some local governments shifting to...
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri on Wednesday, Aug. 12, denied personally handling or requesting lists of senators’ infrastructure project requests when he served as Senate president, following testimony linking him to a “leadership fund” for priority projects. Former...
Newly appointed Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Dr. Edwin Mercado said on Tuesday, Aug. 11, that his immediate priority is to ensure that the agency is fully aligned and ready to carry out President Marcos’ directives. “The President’s directives are clear, and our immediate priority is...
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla has criticized politicians who are also contractors, calling the practice “impunity at its highest point.” He warned that public office should not be used to serve an official’s personal interests. “‘Yung (The) ‘Cong-tractors’—it’s...
The University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH) Cancer Center Project—touted as the Marcos Jr. administration’s first public-private partnership (PPP) project—failed to attract a single bidder, delaying the construction of a new 300-bed cancer hospital intended to help...
Malls in Quezon City opened designated waiting areas for residents needing a temporary place to stay as rains and flooding brought by the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat continued on Saturday night, Aug. 8. The participating malls are providing free Wi-Fi, restrooms, charging stations, and...
