Antipolo lawmaker Acop, ex-quad comm member, 78MANILA, Philippines — Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop passed away yesterday at a hospital in Antipolo City. He is the perfect example of one who has integrity in public service,” Speaker Faustino Dy III said. Acop served in the Philippine National Police for decades and rose to the rank of two-star general before resigning in January 2001. Former House speaker Martin Romualdez, under whose leadership Acop served as a panel chairman, paid tribute. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon vowed to continue the legacy of his co-chair in the 20th Congress’ quad committee.

The United States Congress has approved $2.5 billion (roughly P146 billion) in new security assistance for the Philippines, locking in Washington's multi-year military funding for Manila at a time of flaring tensions in the South China Sea and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

Use ‘Pinggang Pinoy’ in preparing holiday meals, families urgedThe Department of Health is urging the public to celebrate Christmas safely by choosing healthy food and following the “Pinggang Pinoy” guide. MANILA, Philippines — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) is urging Filipino families to use the “Pinggang Pinoy” as a guide when preparing meals for the holiday season. “With Pinggang Pinoy, the greener your plate is, the better. The more vegetables, the better,” NNC Regional Nutrition Program coordinator Eileen Blanco said in a radio interview Saturday. The Pinggang Pinoy, developed by the Department of Science and Technology, serves as a visual guide to a balanced meal.

DPWH execs behind overpricing face sanctionsMANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon vowed sanctions against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) regional directors and district engineers who enforced the systematized overprice of construction materials and infrastructure projects. Dizon said that they have already centralized the CMPD setting process, with the Approved Budget Cost for procurement or bidding processes given to the DPWH Technical Services. “In the central office, it’s the office of Undersecretary Lara Marisse Esquibil that is going down (to the regional and district level to set the CMPD). We are not entrusting the canvassing to the regional and district offices,” Dizon said. Dizon recently posted that DPWH needs to hire more engineers after the scandalous DPWH ghost projects.

PNP tightens security for Christmas seasonLocal police units have been directed to plan and adjust personnel deployment in major transport terminals to ensure the safe and orderly movement of passengers. More than 100,000 police personnel have been deployed nationwide for the Christmas and New Year celebrations, higher than last year’s 60,000. “Our security measures are in place, with regular adjustments based on the situation on the ground. We are seeing a noticeable increase in the number of people in terminals and along roads leading to transportation hubs. Police personnel will be on the ground around the clock to ensure safe travel of passengers as well as to secure business and residential areas during the Christmas season, according to Nartatez.

DA extends sugar import ban to December 2026“The ban on sugar importation will remain in place until December next year – not September, when the current crop year ends – extending protection for local producers amid improving supply conditions,” the DA announced in a statement yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Believing local production of sugar has improved, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is maintaining its ban on importing sugar until December 2026. “The ban on sugar importation will remain in place until December next year – not September, when the current crop year ends – extending protection for local producers amid improving supply conditions,” the DA announced in a statement yesterday. Also, land used to plant sugarcane enlarged from 380,000 hectares in 2022 to 409,000 hectares this year. Only after those obligations are met – and based on a predetermined ratio – will imports be permitted, subject to SRA approval,” the agencies explained.

CA delists Pryde Henry Teves as terroristMANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has ordered the delisting of former Negros Oriental governor Pryde Henry Teves as a terrorist, ruling that his designation by the government was baseless and constituted a grave abuse of discretion under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). In a 45-page decision penned by Associate Justice Ruben Reynaldo Roxas, the CA’s special former Sixth Division found that the Anti-Terrorism Council (ATC) designated Teves as a terrorist without establishing probable cause. The appellate court also ordered the lifting of the freeze order on Teves’ assets issued by the Anti-Money Laundering Council, saying it was likewise unjustified. In July 2023, the ATC designated Teves, his brother former lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr., and 11 others as terrorists following the assassination of then Negros Oriental governor Roel Degamo. However, the CA ruled that ATC Resolution 43 failed to explain how Teves supposedly committed acts that warranted his designation as a terrorist.

NAIA blacklists man for bomb jokeDuring a security check on Saturday, the suspect told airport staff that he carried a grenade. MANILA, Philippines — A male passenger departing for Singapore has been offloaded for making a bomb joke at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3. During a security check on Saturday, the suspect told airport staff that he carried a grenade. After confirming the absence of a bomb in his luggage, authorities blacklisted the passenger. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy and will take immediate action to ensure the safety and security of airport operations,” acting police Aviation Security Group director Brig.

QCPD: Missing bride-to-be faced financial woesMANILA, Philippines — Missing bride-to-be Sherra de Juan had been dealing with financial problems related to her wedding and her father’s medical condition, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) said. Based on a digital forensic examination of De Juan’s gadgets, QCPD chief Col. Randy Glenn Silvio said she had been suffering from emotional distress and money-related concerns prior to her disappearance. De Juan was last seen at around 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 10 at a gas station along Commonwealth Avenue in North Fairview, Quezon City. The QCPD said efforts to trace De Juan’s whereabouts remain ongoing as police continue to assess all leads surrounding her disappearance. Police considered De Juan’s fiancé, Mark Arjay Reyes, as a person of interest but not as a suspect.

MMFF 2025 features largely family-friendly lineupThe Metro Manila Film Festival 2025 promises a largely family-friendly lineup of films, with most entries receiving G or PG ratings from the MTRCB. MANILA, Philippines — The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has completed its evaluation of all eight official Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2025 entries. MMFF is not just a festival, it is a celebration of the creativity, heart, and value of Filipino storytelling,” Sotto said. She encouraged the public to support all MMFF entries during the holiday season, noting that each film offers a unique experience that reflects the diversity and talent of Filipino filmmakers. With traffic measures in place and most films suitable for family viewing, MMFF 2025 promises to bring a festive holiday entertainment to Filipinos both on the streets and in theaters.

UN body calls for AI systems vs corruptionDuring the 11th Session of the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) last week in Doha, Qatar, participants addressed the role of AI and new technologies to match the realities of today’s complex crime patterns. MANILA, Philippines — Governments around the world were urged to leverage emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) to deter corruption and sever links with financial and organized crime. He recognized, however, that technology can also be a “transformative” force against corruption, especially in aiding investigations. The Philippines signed UNCAC on Dec. 9, 2003 and ratified it on Nov. 8, 2006. As a state party to UNCAC, the Philippines is obliged to criminalize certain forms of private and public corruption; institute or strengthen corruption prevention measures; establish procedures that improve international cooperation; and set up systems for the recovery of forfeited assets.

Antipolo congressman Romeo Acop dies at 78Rep. Romeo Acop (Antipolo, 2nd District) during the Tri-Committee's hearing on Feb. 18, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo) died on Saturday, December 20. In a statement Sunday, December 21, Acop's friend, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Rep. Ronaldo Puno, confirmed the late congressman's death. According to Puno, Acop had a heart attack. Acop argued that a failure to understand these fundamental legal processes directly contributed to the agency's inability to detect and stop "ghost" flood control projects.

In a statement on their Instagram account, MCR revealed new show dates for their concert shows in different countries, including the Philippines. My Chemical Romance fans in the Philippines will have to hold onto their black parade a little longer, as the band announced that they will be postponing their highly anticipated Manila concert to November 2026. Related Article Ticket details, seat plan for My Chemical Romance in Bulacan 2026 are outThey will now be performing in the country on Nov. 14 next year at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. "All purchased tickets will be honored for the new dates," the band stated. Formed in 2001, My Chemical Romance is known for the hit songs Welcome to The Black Parade, I Don't Love You, and The Ghost of You, among many others.

Africa Cup of Nations moved to every four yearsSoccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations - Final - Senegal v Egypt - Olembe Stadium, Yaounde, Cameroon - February 6, 2022 General view of the Africa Cup of Nations trophy on display before the match REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

People take a moment of silence after lighting a candle for the victims of a mass shooting during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, in Sydney, Australia, December 20, 2025. REUTERS/Eloisa Lopez