LOAs resume; Blue Ribbon seeks BIR briefing on safeguardsMANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will hold a hearing this week on the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)’s decision to resume issuing letters of authority (LOAs) and mission orders (MOs) after more than two months of suspension, Senate President Pro Tempore and committee chair Panfilo Lacson said yesterday. “The Senate Blue Ribbon committee needs… to prevent or at least minimize abuse committed against our taxpayers, then we may have to conclude the committee hearings on the matter,” Lacson said. “We will schedule a hearing this week in this regard to hear what the BIR has to say,” he added. BIR Commissioner Charlito Mendoza earlier said reforms would be implemented, including limiting the issuance of LOAs to one per taxpayer per taxable year. Also all LOA issuance has to pass through the office of the Commissioner from now on, not only on the RD level,” he said.

Oil firms to raise fuel prices again on Feb. 3Fuel prices go up again Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026 with gasoline, diesel and kerosene all increasing. MANILA, Philippines — Oil companies will raise pump prices on Tuesday, February 3, marking another round of increases in the first week of February. In separate advisories issued Monday, February 2, oil firms said prices will go up across all fuel products. Last week, oil firms also raised prices, with gasoline up by P0.40 per liter, kerosene by P0.80, and diesel by P1.40. Media reports said global oil prices surged last week after Donald Trump escalated geopolitical tensions by threatening military action against Iran.

Cutting across the seasForeign policy is not decided by a majority vote without full-blown debate in the halls of Congress. Although not binding, a Senate resolution shows strength and unanimity. This was the direction of the Senate majority when it moved to adopt a resolution condemning recent statements by the Chinese embassy in Manila. Foreign policy does not end with a vote. “As Ambassador, he bears responsibility for all words and actions of the Chinese embassy,” Ji pointed out.

'Konsyensya': 4th suspect in killing policewoman, child surrendersOne of the suspects in the killing of Police Senior Master Sergeant Diane Marie Mollenido and her son, John Ysmael at the Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit at Camp Caringal in Quezon City on Feb 1., 2026. MANILA, Philippines — A fourth suspect in the killing of Police Senior Master Sgt. Diane Marie Mollenido and her son, John Ysmael, has surrendered to police, authorities said. At a press briefing Monday, PNP Chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police have already established the motive behind the killing. They were reported missing on January 19 by Mollenido's husband, John Mollenido.

Govt offers moving allowances for affected households in Sai Wan Estate and Phase 1 of Ma Tau Wai Estate redevelopment

Death toll from Basilan ferry sinking rises to 40Coast Guard personnel recover three bodies off the coast of Basilan yesterday amid search and rescue operations following the sinking of Trisha Kerstin 3. MANILA, Philippines — Three more bodies were recovered in Basilan yesterday, raising the death toll in the sinking of the vessel MV Trisha Kerstin 3 to 40, the Philippine Coast Guard confirmed. “Our fallen Coast Guard personnel will always be remembered for his selfless dedication and commitment to public service, exemplifying courage and professionalism in the line of duty,” PCG spokesperson Capt. Citing survivors’ accounts, Delos Santos said passengers were supposed to board another vessel last Jan. 25, not MV Trisha Kerstin 3. “The actions of our PRO-9 personnel during the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 tragedy exemplify the highest ideals of the Philippine National Police.

Workers walk between precision-machining machines for automotive parts inside a factory at Kyowa Industrial Co. in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan April 11, 2025.

At the 2026 Grammy Awards on Feb. 1, Steven Spielberg won his first Grammy under the Best Music Film category for the documentary Music by John Williams. Spielberg's Grammy win was for his work as one of the producers for Music by John Williams, as reported by Variety. Spielberg won the award twice—for the Holocaust-era film Schindler's List in 1993 and the World War II epic Saving Private Ryan. As Spielberg joins the likes of fellow EGOT winners Elton John, Audrey Hepburn, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Viola Davis, and Whoopie Goldberg, and Jennifer Hudson. The 2026 Grammy Awards are being handed out on Monday, Feb. 2.

Sara Duterte is facing another impeachment rap, making it the second complaint filed against her on Monday, Feb. 2. The second impeachment complaint against the VP was filed by Tindig Pilipinas and endorsed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and Akbayan Rep. Percy Cendaña. "Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa sumasagot ng personal si VP Sara Duterte sa mga kaso ng katiwalian, pang-aabuso sa kapangyarihan, at pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan," Cendaña told the press. In its July ruling, the SC voided an impeachment complaint against Duterte for the reason that it was transmitted to the Senate without a plenary vote. He recounted that on Feb. 5, the fourth impeachment complaint, filed and signed by 215 House members, was submitted to the Senate, adding that the three earlier complaints against Duterte had been archived.

Progressive groups file fresh impeachment raps against VP Sara DuterteComposite photo shows Rep. Antonio Tinio (ACT Teachers Party-list) and members of the Makabayan Coalition holding up the impeachment complaint they filed against Vice President Duterte on Monday, Feb. 2, 2026. It also shows Reps. Perci Cendaña (Akbayan Party-List) and Leila de Lima (ML Party-List) taking their oath as endorsers of the second impeachment complaint. MANILA, Philippines — Progressive groups behind the first two 2024 impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte have returned to the House of Representatives to refile their cases after the one-year bar lapsed. Second impeach rapA second impeachment complaint was filed right after by the first group to ever file a complaint against Duterte. The House, on its end, also said it is ready to handle new impeachment complaints against the vice president while it holds committee hearings on the complaints filed against President Bongbong Marcos.

Cheap fuel from Sabah ending up in Philippines black marketThis photo taken on April 18, 2023 shows the sun setting behind a Philippine fishing boat anchored in the Sulu sea. Short routes, strong demandParts of Sabah’s eastern coastline lie within 120 kilometers of the Philippines’ southern islands, with the narrowest maritime gap only about 18 kilometers near the Semporna islands. “Enforcement is complicated by the dense distribution of islands near international borders,” Sabah Marine Police Force regional commander Ahmad Amri Abdul Rahman told SCMP. Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu was quoted as saying that fishermen could purchase their full fuel quotas but sell unused portions on the black market. Authorities also pointed to fuel storage sites on small islands near maritime borders, which complicate monitoring due to unclear regulations on storage limits.

The 68th Grammy Awards are being handed out in Los Angeles, with rapper Kendrick Lamar as the top nominee. Lady Gaga had seven nods, while Bad Bunny, Sabrina Carpenter, and Leon Thomas all had six. Here is a complete list of the 2026 Grammy winners that have been announced so far. (Note: Refresh this page from time to time as this list is being updated live.) <3 — SkrillexBest Latin Pop AlbumCosa Nuestra – Rauw AlejandroBOGOTÁ (DELUXE) – Andrés CepedaTropicoqueta – KAROL GWINNER: Cancionera – Natalia Lafourcade¿Y ahora qué?

It is art outside the box, where everyday objects and experiences take on new meaning, unfold in all directions, and shake you out of your complacency for the ordinary. Spanish artist Ampparito was brought in by the Embassy of Spain for Art Fair Philippines 2026. Cultural Counselor of the Embassy of Spain Alvaro Garcia, Ampparito and Art Fair Philippines co-founder Trickie LopaWhat started this “Esperanza de Vida (Life Expectancy)” project, a combination of performance (drawing all the calendars of one’s life within a week) and installation, was the recent death of an uncle, which forced the artist to start thinking of life and mortality. There are many ways to look at being in a space where one of the calendars (inevitably) contains the day of your death. You could view it as all the years pertaining to life, and what you would do with those days.

EDITORIAL — Incorrigible crooksConsidering the scandal that has erupted over large-scale corruption in public works projects, you have to admire the audacity of anyone who persists in pursuing the dirty kalakaran or business as usual in the scandal-plagued Department of Public Works and Highways. Dizon was inspecting the Candating flood control project in Arayat, Pampanga last Friday when he announced the administrative relief of the three DPWH officials. Several other DPWH officials, including an undersecretary and engineers, have been sacked, with some of them now being held without bail for graft-related cases. And yet if the reports that reached Dizon about the three latest DPWH officials to be purged are true, the crooks in the department are undeterred. The suspension of the three apparently incorrigible public works officials last week illustrates the difficulty of eradicating the culture of corruption, whether in the DPWH or in other agencies of government.

Gov’t profits the most but does the leastNow, more than ever, there is public pressure, particularly on social media, for the Philippine government to address the high cost of travel in the Philippines compared to traveling to other countries. What angers Filipinos is that they get NOTHING in return for the travel tax. Columnists have targeted the travel tax as the main culprit. Between the travel tax and the 12 percent VAT, the DOF gets the cake, not just a pie. It is a right, and all Filipinos must fight for the right to travel that we can all afford!