Marcos under ‘medical observation’ — PalacePhilippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr (C) attends the 20th East Asia Summit during the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur on October 27, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is currently under "medical observation" after experiencing “discomfort,” according to Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Thursday, January 22. “The president spent the night under medical observation as a precautionary measure after experiencing discomfort. “The president continued to carry out his responsibilities while under medical observation and has returned to Malacañang,” she added. The Palace did not specify what this discomfort was, but reassured the public that he was able to work.

Marcos impeach case transmitted to Speaker’s officeMANILA, Philippines — A verified impeachment complaint filed against President Marcos is now in the office of Speaker Faustino Dy III after being transmitted by House of Representatives secretary-general Cheloy Garafil. She explained that upon receipt of any impeachment complaint, the Office of the Secretary General should make sure the document is properly entered, recorded and forwarded to the proper office, in the interest of order and due process. This shall be included in the Order of Business within 10 session days and referred to the proper House committee within three session days. Earlier, the Speaker said the impeachment complaint against Marcos will only cause divisiveness and discord among Filipinos, and might even be weaponized by detractors of the administration. “Neither President Marcos nor Vice President Duterte passes that standard,” he said.

Dizon: DPWH campus job fair successfulPublic Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon oversees the campus job fair at the Mapua University in Intramuros, Manila yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday welcomed the strong response to the agency’s first campus job fair at the Mapúa University, saying it exceeded expectations despite concerns over the flood corruption mess. Dizon said he was worried that the recruitment caravan might fail to attract applicants. “We were nervous that we might end up embarrassed and no one would apply, but here, at least at Mapúa, we exceeded our expected number of applicants,” he said during the job fair. Several Mapúa alumni and engineering board passers applied during the event, which marked the first in a series of campus job fairs for aspiring DPWH engineers.

Frenchie Mae Cumpio found guilty of terror financingFrenchie Mae Cumpio, a detained Filipino journalist, gestures as she arrives at Tacloban Regional Trial Court in Leyte island on January 22, 2026, to attend the promulgation of her court case. TACLOBAN, Philippines — A young community journalist who spent nearly six years in a crowded provincial prison was found guilty of terror financing on Thursday in a case rights groups and a UN rapporteur had labelled a "travesty of justice". UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan had previously said the charges against Cumpio appeared to be "in retaliation for her work as a journalist". Cumpio and Domequil were arrested in February 2020 on weapons charges, accused of possessing a handgun and a grenade. More than a year later, a charge of terror financing, with a potential 40-year jail sentence, was added.

Hard as it is to imagine, it wasn't always thus -- and doesn't have to remain this way, argues Judith Enck in her new book, "The Problem with Plastics." Last year, the administration helped derail a global plastics treaty and reversed a phase-out of single-use plastics in national parks. 'Myth' of plastic recyclingEnck's book traces the history of plastic: from its earliest incarnation in 1909, when Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, through the "myth" of plastic recycling promoted by industry from the mid-20th century onward. Along the way, Enck argues that responsibility for the crisis has been systematically shifted onto consumers, even as plastic production continues to soar. "In the United States, only five to six percent of plastics actually get recycled," she notes.

SEA Games medalists to receive additional cash incentives from OPMANILA, Philippines — Winning athletes from the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games will get additional cash incentives, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Wednesday, January 21. The Philippines was able to win 277 medals in the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand, with 50 of these being gold, 73 were silver and 154 bronze. The 2025 SEA Games also saw the historic win of the Philippine women's football team—the first ever for the country. The National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act guarantees P300,000 to SEA Games gold medalists, P150,000 for silver medalists, and P60,000 for bronze medalists. Marcos announced that the Office of the President will match these awards, as well as give P10,000 for athletes who win in other competitions outside of the SEA Games.

Philippine raises $2.75 billion from global bondsProceeds for budget funding, debt refinancingMANILA, Philippines — The Philippines raised a total of $2.75 billion from its return to the global bond market after pricing a triple-tranche dollar offering that drew strong investor demand and locked in funding across the medium to long end of the curve. Based on the final term sheets released yesterday, the Bureau of the Treasury priced $500 million of 5.5-year global bonds due 2031, $1.5 billion of 10-year bonds due 2036 and $750 million of 25-year bonds due 2051. The global bonds are rated investment grade, with Moody’s assigning a Baa2 rating, S&P Global Ratings giving a BBB+ rating and Fitch Ratings rating the bonds BBB. This includes a dual-currency $2.25 billion and €1 billion deal in January 2025, a $2.5 billion triple-tranche offering in August 2024 and a $2 billion dual-tranche issuance in May 2024. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the issuance attracted strong investor interest, with total bids reaching about $5.95 billion, more than double the $2.75 billion actually awarded.

Of state witnesses and big, bold reformsOnly in the Philippines can someone who has been implicated in a massive corruption scandal feel like he’s been robbed when asked to return the money. Some of these state witnesses have amassed so much wealth that the amount they vowed to turn over to the government could be just a drop in the bucket. Thus, the government must be careful in selecting its state witnesses. Big, bold reformsWe welcome the “big, bold reforms” announced by the Marcos administration last week after presenting it to businessmen in a closed-door meeting. Thus, the big, bold reforms announcement is the good news we need these days and Finance Secretary Frederick Go is on the right track in spearheading these reforms.

Trump tells Davos the US will not use force to gain GreenlandUS President Donald Trump gestures as he delivers a special address during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 21, 2026.

Atong Ang surrenders firearmsTwo of Atong Ang’s firearms sur- rendered to the Mandaluyong City police. MANILA, Philippines — The camp of fugitive gambling tycoon Charlie “Atong” Ang has surrendered five of his six firearms after the Philippine National Police revoked their licenses. Manalad said the firearms are still with the Mandaluyong police. Now, they volunteered (to surrender the firearms),” Manalad told reporters in a phone interview. Remulla clarified that none of the active and retired police officials allegedly connected with Ang are coddling the gambling tycoon.

Offloading US assets is a "dangerous bet": UBSCEO of UBS Sergio Ermotti attends the Swiss Bank Annual General Meeting, one year after buying rival Swiss bank Credit Suisse, in Basel, Switzerland, April 24, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

On a high: Eala makes homecomingMANILA, Philippines — There is no way to go but up for Alex Eala. With Brazilian partner Ingrid Martins (WTA doubles No. 80), Eala also crashed out in the doubles opener with a 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 3-6 defeat to Japan’s Shuko Aoyama (WTA doubles No. Spanish superstar Alcaraz came through a tough arm-wrestle 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena against hard-hitting German Yannick Hanfmann to take another step towards a career Grand Slam. Third seed Gauff was clinical against Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, 6-2, 6-2.

EU and the Philippines: Manigong Bagong Taon! Built on shared values of democracy, the rule of law, human rights, sustainable development, peace and open trade has never been stronger. Also under Global Gateway, our EU-Philippines Digital Economy Package will be in full swing in 2026 following the signing of the bilateral financing agreement last year. This initiative will support the Philippines’ digital transition and technology innovation in 5G, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence in earth observation and digital connectivity. The EU remains one of the Philippines’ largest trading partners and an important source of foreign direct investment.

DisorderedSince the end of World War II, nations have worked hard to build a rules- and values-based global order presided over by multilateral institutions such as the United Nations. Washington’s attack against Venezuela brazenly violates all sovereignty guarantees the post-war global order has been trying to provide. When the US invaded Afghanistan, Washington told us this was necessary to protect the global order from the rise of terrorism. Since America’s oil giants expressed their dark assessment about the future of oil investments in Venezuela, Trump has kept quiet about the matter. In his obsession with acquiring Greenland, Trump has offered to pay off the island’s tiny population.

Choosing the right CabinetThere is a lot of talk these days about a possible Cabinet revamp. Choosing the right Cabinet members will be a make-or-break decision for this current President, whose approval ratings are at an all-time low. In his book, “Leading Change,” Kotter said: “The first step in putting together the right kind of team that can direct a change effort is to find the right membership. There are four types of individuals that should be avoided at all costs when putting together a Cabinet or a team. Individuals who believe that corruption is a way of life and therefore cannot be eradicated can be classified as reluctant team members.