Leviste discloses possession of secret DPWH ‘insertion’ files from CabralRep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas, 1st District) holds a press conference on Monday, Aug. 26, 2025 after filing criminal cases against the district engineer who attempted to bribe him. According to Leviste, the files are not limited to members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. “They list proponents of flood control and other DPWH projects from the whole government. In his Senate testimony and sworn statements, Bernardo said that as head of planning, Cabral managed the allocation of infrastructure funds, specifically for flood control projects. After she was implicated in the flood control controversy, Cabral resigned from the DPWH on September 16.

Solons mourn Acop's deathFile photo showing the facade of the House of Representatives in Quezon City. MANILA, Philippines — Several members of the House of Representatives mourned the death of their colleague Rep. Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo). Puno described Acop as a “devoted, courageous, honest public servant.”“The Congress and our Country are the lesser for his loss,” Puno said. "I will remember Rep. Acop as someone who stood up for what was right, even when it was uncomfortable or costly. He showed up, did the work, and stayed true to the belief that public office is a public trust,” Romualdez added.

Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop has passed away. In a text message to News5, National Unity Party president and Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno said Acop died of a heart attack. "He had his successful kidney transplant last Nov. 28. Then he had a heart attack last night," Puno said. House Speaker Bojie Dy called Acop's passing a huge loss to Congress and to Antipolo.

Thailand nabbed a record-breaking number of gold medals as the Southeast Asian Games closed in Bangkok on Saturday, but the two-week event was overshadowed by a deadly border conflict with Cambodia. Colorful dances, fireworks, and pop performances stunned crowds at the closing ceremony at Rajamangala National Stadium on Saturday evening, with athletes representing 10 countries parading with their national flags. Notably absent were the Cambodian athletes, who fully withdrew from the 33rd SEA Games the day after its opening on Dec. 9, citing security fears due to an ongoing border conflict with Thailand. The host country took a record 233 gold medals, far outstripping second-place Indonesia with 91 gold, and Vietnam at third with 87. Meanwhile, the Philippines bagged 50 gold medals, 73 silver, and 154 bronze.

The Swedish Academy said Saturday its permanent secretary, Mats Malm, is stepping down after seven years of heading the prestigious institution that awards the annual Nobel literature prize. As of June 1, 2026, Academy member Ingrid Carlberg, an author and journalist, will take over as permanent secretary. "He (Malm) has held the position for seven years and now wants to pass it on to Ingrid Carlberg," Academy spokeswoman Louise Hedberg told AFP. "It has been a privilege to work for the Academy as Permanent Secretary. Ultimately, seven members quit the Academy, including then permanent secretary Sara Danius.

What to know about the SnapRoll camera: Features, where to get it, and moreIf you're one of those who've been all over the trending Charmera Keychain Camera, you'd be pleased to know that there's another mini camera entering the scene. Meet the "SnapRoll," a new digital camera by Japanese camera brand Escura that's designed to replicate the effects of 135 film at a 1:1 scale. Before you add this item to your wishlist, here's what you need to know about the gadget. The camera features four lens designs and simulates a 135 film frame, making each photo radiate a unique retro charm. Specs-wise, photos come with a 1440 x 1440 resolution, while videos are in 720 x 720 at 30 fps.

Hong Kong banks offer deposit rates of around 3pc as year-end approachesA Hong Kong dollar note is seen in this illustration photo May 31, 2017.

A search for “Trump” shows no results on the U.S. Department of Justice online library of new documents from disgraced late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, seen on this computer screen and arranged for a photograph by Reuters in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 19, 2025. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

PNP to focus on securing evidence in Cabral’s deathMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has shifted its focus toward investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of former Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral and securing potential evidence related to a multi-billion-peso flood control controversy. “With the confirmation of her death, we were able to clear things up on the speculations of the identity of the remains. The PNP is also taking further measures to "shed light" on the former official’s final days before she was reported dead. The PNP is also coordinating with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure and other government agencies to determine which pieces of evidence in Cabral's possession need to be prioritized for the flood control investigation. Before her death, the Department of Justice was set to refer a plunder complaint against her to the Office of the Ombudsman regarding alleged anomalies in Bulacan's flood control systems.

Court of Appeals orders removal of Pryde Henry Teves from terrorism designationThis photo shows the facade of the Court of Appeals. MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals has ordered the delisting from the terrorism designation of the brother of former Negros Oriental lawmaker Arnolfo Teves Jr. In a 45-page ruling dated Dec. 18, 2025, the appellate court granted Teves’ petition for certiorari, effectively nullifying his designation under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act. With this, the Court of Appeals cleared Teves of his terrorism designation and ordered the government to unfreeze his assets. Accordingly, ATC Resolution Number 50 (2023) and ATC Resolution No.

It’s hard to say what happens next but the stakes are certainly high, and it’s difficult not to speculate on the circumstances surrounding her death. Given what she knew, her silence, for sure, would favor many people in high places. As I said, the stakes are certainly high. • Pledging to host the 2026 ASEAN Chinese Business Leaders Summit in Manila next October. This commitment follows the successful inaugural summit held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last October, which recognized Thailand’s Dhanin Chearavanont of the Charoen Pokphand Group as the ASEAN Chinese Business Leader of 2025.

Tumana water service restoredMarikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro (left), 1st District Rep. Marcy Teodoro (center), and members of the City Council went to the Manila Water office in Tumana on Dec. 20, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Water service to about 3,000 residents of Barangay Tumana in Marikina was restored yesterday after the payment of P15 million to Manila Water. Under the “Patubig sa Tumana” agreement, residents pay their water bills to the barangay, which is tasked to remit the collections to Manila Water. Yesterday, Teodoro and the city officials accompanied the water firm’s personnel in opening the 13 water gate valves in the barangay to ensure that water supply is restored. The reconnection capped a tense week for Tumana residents, whose water supply was cut on Dec. 18 after Manila Water cited the barangay’s unpaid obligations amounting to P37,192,199 as of Dec. 2.

USCIS updates guidance on marital petitionsPart 2The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently updated its Policy Manual (PM) on spousal petitions. The PM sets forth rules, regulations, policies, guidance and basic do’s and don’ts when pursuing various immigration benefits. When a couple is pursuing a marital petition, it is critical that they follow and meet the requirements contained in the PM. In a previous article, I discussed some highlights of the PM in connection with successful marital petitions. Similarly, if a divorce is valid where it was obtained, it is also recognized for immigration purposes.

MAGA civil war erupts into the open at Turning Point meetingPhoto by OLIVIER TOURON / AFP Conservative political commentator and podcast host Tucker Carlson speaks at Turning Point's annual AmericaFest conference, in remembrance of late right-wing political activist Charlie Kirk, in Phoenix, Arizona on December 18, 2025.

Firms brace for cautious hiring, expansion plansResults of the fourth quarter 2025 Business Expectations Survey (BES) showed that while firms may continue to hire in early 2026, the pace is expected to moderate. Results of the fourth quarter 2025 Business Expectations Survey (BES) showed that while firms may continue to hire in early 2026, the pace is expected to moderate. In contrast, hiring intentions over the next 12 months remained broadly stable. For the first quarter, the share of firms planning to expand declined to 13.6 percent from 16.1 percent, while expansion plans over the next 12 months fell to 15.4 percent from 19.9 percent. Still, a slightly higher proportion of households plan to acquire real property over the next 12 months, rising to 6.2 percent from 5.6 percent.