Two-thirds of children worldwide report cyberbullying – UNThe report launched at the UN Human Rights Council on Tuesday in Geneva was based on the findings of a recent poll carried out by the UN’s top official who works to end violence against children. MANILA, Philippines — Around two-thirds of children worldwide said cyberbullying is increasing, with one in two saying they don’t know how to get the right support, and artificial intelligence is a key driver of harm, according to a new United Nations report. “We meet today once again in a challenging world, where children are paying the highest price,” said Najat Maalla M’jid, UN special representative of the secretary-general on violence against children, while launching the report at the Human Rights Council. With responses from two-thirds (66 percent) of 30,000 children polled globally, the report emphasized the widespread impact of AI in “fundamentally transforming the threat” facing children online. Children find it challenging to report cyberbullying because they face stigma and fear, being rejected by their peers or being judged by adults, according to the findings.

Marcos back from New YorkMANILA, Philippines — President Marcos arrived from what he described as a “very productive” visit to New York, which saw him call for peaceful resolution of disputes, promote the Philippines’ bid for the United Nations Security Council and sell the country as an investment destination. The plane carrying Marcos and his delegation arrived on Wednesday at 11:29 p.m., officially ending the President’s 41st foreign trip since assuming office in 2022. Marcos said his engagements in the UN and other multilateral fora complement ongoing efforts to enrich bilateral relations with countries around the world. “As we end our visit to New York, we will continue to serve our nation with new knowledge, methods and the partnerships we (forged) while we are here,” he added. During the visit, Marcos delivered the Philippines’ national statement at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women and argued that a nation’s true progress is gauged by the empowerment and status of its women.

Tiu, Phoenix shoot for winning start vs MagnoliaMANILA, Philippines — Phoenix seeks to give coach Charles Tiu a winning debut and get its redemption tour off to a positive start as it battles Magnolia in the PBA Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup today at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. The Fuel Masters installed Tiu as the man at the helm at the start of the year, replacing Willy Wilson who steered them to a 3-8 record and ninth place in the season-opening Philippine Cup. Also poised to hit the ground running in their maiden appearances are 6-foot-10 import James Dickey III and No. 8 rookie selection Will Gozum, who join forces with Phoenix holdovers led by veteran Jason Perkins and young guns Ricci Rivero, Ken Tuffin, Kai Ballungay and Tyler Tio. Magnolia changed reinforcements ahead of its Commissioner’s Cup drive, tapping 6-foot-9 South Sudanese Anunwa “Nuni” Omot in lieu of original choice Terrell Brown-Soares.

Galon-Entera rules Kosmas Novice playJammy Jueza-Entera plays a backhand return at the kitchen line as teammate Berdhel Galon looks on during the women’s doubles 20+ Novice division gold medal match against Bless Maiso and Gail Bercede in the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Berdhel Galon and Jammy Jueza-Entera joined forces in outdueling Bless Maiso and Gail Bercede, 15-11, and headlining the gold medal winners in the Novice division of the Kosmas Pickle Fest 2026 Adult Categories at the Net and Paddle courts in Cebu City Wednesday. Galon and Jueza-Entera dictated the pace with controlled dinks and well-placed volleys, but they still had to fend off several spirited rallies from Maiso and Bercede to claim the women’s doubles 20+ crown in the five-day tournament. Hazel Ceniza and Jonielyn Alburo completed the podium with a bronze-medal finish. In the women’s doubles 35+ division, Karen Café and Mabel Aguirre pulled away for a 15-8 victory over Julie Ann Cantel and Hannah May Pepito for the gold.

Girls Altas sweep way to semisThe Altas Girls will be up against defending champion Arellano Baby Lady Chiefs on March 16 in a match that will determine who will occupy the top post in the Last Four. MANILA, Philippines — The amazing Perpetual Help Junior Lady Altas completed a mighty sweep of the NCAA Season 101 junior girls volleyball elims with a 25-17, 25-21 disposal of their Arellano U counterparts yesterday at the Arellano Gym in Pasay City. Elizha Sildo tallied 10 points, with eight from attacks and two on blocks to lead the Lady Altas to the victory that secured them top spot in the Final Four. Penelope Vargas and Catherine Chu led Arellano with six points apiece. With this, Perpetual secured the first spot in the Final Four with Arellano ranked second.

Marcos certifies as urgent fuel excise tax billMANILA, Philippines — President Marcos yesterday certified as urgent a measure allowing him to suspend or reduce the excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global emergencies as the Philippines grapples with soaring oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict. If a measure is certified as urgent, it becomes exempted from the rule that a bill can only be approved on final reading three days after it is passed on second reading. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said the chamber hopes to finish next week its deliberation on a similar measure soon after the House transmits its approved version. Castro also disputed Vice President Sara Duterte’s claim that the administration is not doing enough to address the impact of the crisis. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, for his part, called for the release of fuel subsidies for farmers and fisherfolk.

800 private hospitals may be barred from PhilHealth’s YAKAPThe Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said PhilHealth advised them to hire a service provider capable of installing the EMR, which cost they would have to shoulder. MANILA, Philippines — Some 800 private hospitals will be barred from participating in the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth)’s Yaman ng Kalusugan program (YAKAP) if they fail to install an electronic medical records (EMR) system by June this year. The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines Inc. (PHAPI) said PhilHealth advised them to hire a service provider capable of installing the EMR, which cost they would have to shoulder. “PhilHealth’s threat to bar hospitals from Yakap participation if they fail to install EMR is coercive and unfair,” said PHAPI. De Grano added that imposing an additional expense is unreasonable and contrary to the spirit of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law.

‘Leverage ASEAN chairship to promote regional energy security’MANILA, Philippines — Energy Secretary Sharon Garin is urging the government to leverage the Philippines’ chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year to promote regional energy security in light of the global oil crisis. “It’s not really predictable in the sense that whatever happens with the rest of the world that we’re not involved in, the Philippines is affected and the ASEAN region is affected,” she stressed. In the event of fuel shortages, though, the Philippines can activate the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement, signed in Cha-am, Thailand, in 2009. It builds on the ASEAN Energy Cooperation and ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement, inked in Manila in 1986. Meanwhile, Bayan Muna, through its chairman Neri Colmenares, submitted a letter to Garin asking the Energy Department to oblige oil companies to unbundle the costs of their fuel products.

March 20 a holiday for Eid’l FitrMuslim devotees gather at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo, Manila on February 19, 2026 rally along Recto Avenue. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has declared March 20 a regular holiday nationwide in observance of Eid’l Fitr, the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. According to Castro, the declaration recognizes the significance of Eid’l Fitr and reaffirms the government’s respect for the traditions and contributions of Muslim Filipinos. “The Palace extends its greetings to the Muslim community in the Philippines and around the world as they prepare to celebrate Eid’l Fitr with their families and communities,” Castro said. Eid’l Fitr or “festival of breaking the fast,” is celebrated by Muslims for three days after the end of the month of fasting.

House custody of Madriaga soughtMANILA, Philippines — From his detention at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, a request has been made to have Ramil Madriaga – an alleged former bagman of Vice President Sara Duterte – transferred to the custody of a congressional committee to ensure his “safety and availability” when he gets summoned to testify in her impeachment case. Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno made the request in a March 5 letter addressed to committee on justice chairperson Gerville Luistro of Batangas. Joel Saballa and lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera “sufficient in form and substance.”The committee is expected to discuss Diokno’s request next week. Madriaga earlier claimed there had been an attempt on his life in detention. “If transferring his custody to the House of Representatives ensures that, then we welcome the move,” lawyer Paolo Panelo said.

Flights to Dubai, Riyadh canceledA passenger sits alone at the NAIA Terminal 1 on May 3, 2020 after a suspension of international flights. MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have continued canceling their flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Philippine Airlines suspended flights until March 28 while Cebu Pacific canceled all flights until March 17. Philippine Airlines executive vice president Carlu Fernandez said all slots for the Dubai airport have been canceled until March 28 as security assessments also show that flights to Dubai will be extremely risky. Foreign carriers like Emirates Air from Dubai, Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi, Gulf Air from Bahrain, Kuwait Airlines from Kuwait and Qatar Airways from Doha have canceled their flights to Manila since March 1.

Custody of self-proclaimed bagman Madriaga sought for VP Sara impeachmentVice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, days after the House of Representatives moved to impeach her. MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker asked the House Committee on Justice to take custody of detained witness Ramil Madriaga to ensure his safety and availability for the ongoing impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. Madriaga, identified as a material witness in the case, is currently detained at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig. Madriaga allegedly acted as the bagman and organizer for Duterte, according to his affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman in November 2025. In addition to the custody request, Diokno moved for the issuance of “subpoenae duces tecum” to compel the production of various government records.

Supreme Court backs DOJ rule raising bar for criminal casesThe logo of the Supreme Court at the Supreme Court Building in Manila. MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has upheld the validity of a Department of Justice (DOJ) circular that raises the bar for evidence in filing criminal cases, shifting the requirement from "probable cause" to "prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction." DOJ Department Circular 15 defines the threshold of evidence prosecutors must meet before filing a criminal case in court. "On this account, the Court has adopted a policy of non-interference in the public prosecutor's conduct of preliminary investigation," the court said. The high court clarified that the DOJ circular applies only to the conduct of prosecutors during preliminary investigations and inquests.

Frasco out as DOT chief, tapped for climate roleMANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has removed Christina Garcia Frasco from the helm of the Department of Tourism to reassign her as presidential adviser for sustainable and resilient communities, Malacañang said Thursday, March 12. Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso will temporarily lead the tourism department, according to a statement relayed by Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro. The DOT earlier faced criticism over tourism promotional materials that prominently featured Frasco's image, including a magazine cover. Some online users also circulated promotional materials showing the tourism chief, prompting calls for her resignation. In 2023, the DOT faced backlash over the launch of the "Love the Philippines" tourism campaign, which sparked criticism shortly after its unveiling.

Jinggoy Estrada asks court to reconsider precautionary travel banMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Jinggoy Estrada questioned the preliminary hold departure order issued against him by a Manila Regional Trial Court. "It should be lifted because the rules require that there should be probable cause and second that the respondent is at flight risk," Soriano said. "So, you already attack the evidential nature that there's no probable cause… and second, that respondent Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is not a flight risk," she added. The Manila RTC issued the precuationary travel ban on February 10 against Estrada and several other officials. On March 11, Estrada also asked the Sandiganbayan to allow him to travel abroad despite his pending graft cases.