A Philippine Navy (PN) sailor previously assigned to the BRP Sierra Madre outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) is facing an investigation over alleged illegal drug use, a military spokesperson said Friday, Aug. 7. PN spokesperson Capt. Marissa Martinez clarified...
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Friday, Aug. 7, said the government should not label Filipinos as pro-China based only on their beliefs as debate intensified over officials accused of siding with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Teodoro said the DND...
Stressing that threats or acts of violence against any individual, including foreign nationals and government officials, are unacceptable, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday, Aug. 7, strongly condemned the display of caskets bearing an anti-Chinese message . In a statement, the DFA...
Police are investigating the abandoned caskets found in five areas across Metro Manila early Friday, Aug. 7, as authorities work to identify those responsible for leaving the items in public places. The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the caskets were discovered in Sta. Cruz,...
The House "Young Guns" Bloc has filed what it called the "West Philippine Sea Education Act." But it could very well be called the "anti-Filipino traitor law". The measure, House Bill (HB) No. 10587, was filed by Deputy Speakers Paolo Ortega V (La Union, 1st district), Jay Khonghun (Zambales, 1st...
Stressing that broad statements without naming individuals could unfairly cast suspicion on others, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, on Thursday, Aug. 6, called on Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. to identify the government officials he claimed...
China Bank Savings Inc. (CBS), the Philippines’ second-largest thrift bank in terms of assets, has nearly doubled its loan-loss reserves to cover bad loans in the first half of 2026, even as the ratio of soured loans to its loan book remained lower than the banking industry’s. CBS said in a...
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and China’s Fujian Provincial Public Security Department have agreed to deepen intelligence sharing and law enforcement cooperation against transnational criminal syndicates following a meeting between their top officials. On Aug. 4, PNP chief General Jose...
China Banking Corp. (Chinabank), one of the two banking units of the SM Group, posted an 11-percent increase in net income to ₱14.5 billion in the first half of 2026 as it continued to deliver robust growth despite the challenging operating environment. In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock...
TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan kicked off annual military exercises Wednesday aimed at simulating a response to a potential Chinese invasion of the self-governed island Beijing claims as its own. The live-fire exercises will test the Taiwanese army 's ability to sustain 24-hour defense...
Despite lingering upside risks to inflation, China Banking Corp. (Chinabank) expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to conclude its rate-hiking cycle this August, arguing that second-round inflation effects have largely dissipated. The projection follows a third consecutive month of...
Despite a previous denial by the National Maritime Council (NMC), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday, Aug. 4, confirmed that Chinese naval forces carried out actual military exercises near Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) recently,...
