No security detail assigned to ImeeMANILA, Philippines — Sen. Imee Marcos has no security detail with the Presidential Security Command (PSC) amid her widening rift with her family, a Commission on Appointments (CA) hearing found. “When I arrived three months ago, I studied the security plans and close-in protection system of the PSC. When I checked all the personnel assigned, I saw that there was no personnel assigned to the good senator,” Abayon said. Lacson said while it is the “basic function of the PSC to secure the siblings,” it seems the PSC has failed to provide security for Senator Imee, who is the President’s eldest sister. The President and his sister have been at odds ever since Vice President Sara Duterte became the Chief Executive’s arch-critic.

South Korea's Lee to visit Singapore and the Philippines from March 1 to 4South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks next to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (not pictured) during their joint press conference after meeting at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, February 23, 2026. JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS

AI boom will be no free pass for debt-laden major economiesAI (Artificial Intelligence) letters and robot hand are placed on computer motherboard in this illustration created on June 23, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The sex lives of Neanderthal males - and human femalesAn AI-reconstructed image, created at Tel Aviv University, shows a mixed Neanderthal–Homo Sapiens family. Image obtained by Reuters on August 19, 2025. Tel Aviv University/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

What's behind the latest fighting between Afghanistan and Pakistan? Taliban soldiers load a rocket launcher in a vehicle, following exchanges of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces, near Torkham border in Afghanistan, February 27, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

Rodrigo Duterte 'most responsible' for drug war, ICC prosecutor saysMANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution has reiterated a point that former president Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly made in the past: that he was the "most responsible" for the deaths in the drug war. He noted that Duterte has repeatedly claimed responsibility for the drug war in public statements. And the most responsible is his client, former president Duterte. Not the people on the ground who committed the killings, they are responsible but they are not the most comfortable. And unlike his client, the ones who have come forward, have shown remorse for what they have done,” Nicholls said.

Duterte lawyer urges ICC to probe Marcos over killingsMANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman has challenged the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution to investigate what he described as the "sky-high" rate of killings under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.During the defense presentation on February 26 (Manila time), Kaufman presented statistics from the Dahas Project of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center, which recorded 342 killings during the first year of the Marcos administration alone. Kaufman also contended that for Duterte to be held liable as a co-perpetrator, the prosecution must prove that the alleged crimes would not have occurred without his specific involvement. However, it should be noted that the Philippines withdrew from the ICC in 2019 following the former president's unilateral withdrawal from the international tribunal. In the ongoing proceedings, prosecutors have leveled three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte. These charges encompass 78 specific instances of murder and attempted murder allegedly committed during his dual tenures as mayor of Davao City and president of the Philippines.

Duterte's defense: Prosecution witnesses ‘unreliable,’ ‘self-confessed murderers’Families of victims in extrajudicial killings of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte's drug war watch a live stream of Duterte's confirmation hearing from The Hague, in Quezon City, Metro Manila on February 26, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Detained Rodrigo Duterte’s lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, challenged the credibility of the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution’s witnesses against the former president. Kaufman raised serious concerns regarding how the witnesses were recruited, alleging political motivation behind their appearances. Neither the Rome Statute, nor its accompanying texts, regulate the way statements of limited use are employed. The defense, prosecution, and the representatives of the victims will make their closing statements.

South Korean president to visit PhilippinesPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. speaks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea on Friday, October 31, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to visit the Philippines on March 3, the Palace announced on Friday, February 27. “Ito ang kauna-unahang pagbisita ni President Lee, at kauna-unahang state visit matapos maging epektibo ang Free Trade Agreement o FTA sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Republic of South Korea noong December 31, 2024,” Castro said. (This is the very first visit made by President Lee, and the very first state visit after the Free Trade Agreement or the FTA between the Philippines and the Republic of South Korea became effective last December 31, 2024.) The last visit made by a South Korean head of state to the Philippines was in 2024, when former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol visited before his historic removal from office.

Nine Discaya luxury cars fetch P102 million at auctionAn image of the Rolls-Royce Cullinan displayed on screen during the Bureau of Customs auction on Feb. 11, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has generated over P102 million from the sale of nine of the 13 luxury vehicles it seized from contractor couple Sarah and Pacifico "Curlee" Discaya. Customs officials held a total of four public auctions for 13 of the Discaya's luxury cars, with the first as early as November 2025. The first auction raised a total of P38 million from three vehicles, followed by P9.5 million in proceeds from the second auction and P29 million from the third. The next public auction is tentatively set for March 17.

If “looking” is not enough, you can register at the UAAGI main display area for a test drive and once that’s done, the UAAGI team will facilitate your request. Competition today is tough, and the signs are there: most if not all car brands and distributors are presenting special deals and offers, even substantial discounts. Part of the pressure comes from the arrival and entry of new or latest models that need to be introduced. This “perfect storm” now brings deals and offers previously unheard of which is why I ask: time to buy? With so many car brands and models now in the Philippines, there are not enough days to test drive the units.

Prada unravels, layers, reveals at Milan Fashion WeekModels present creations of the Prada collection at the end of a fashion show as part of the Milan Fashion Week Womens-Mens collection Fall-Winter 2026-2027on February 26, 2026. MILAN, Italy — Does Prada want to coddle you in an unravelling world? At Milan Fashion Week on Thursday, the Prada show opened with cozy knit sweaters and multi-colored scarves, only for garments to be ripped open, exposed, and distressed as the catwalk continued. The setting inside the Fondazione Prada emphasised the inside/outside theme, with pink and white walls decked out with elegant boiserie and marble fireplaces, but also exposing brick construction beneath. Newsboy caps, button-down vests, and a predominance of subtle plaids recalled "Peaky Blinders," while pocket watch chains consolidated the 1920s feel.

Rody’s defenseVice President Sara Duterte is a lawyer, and judging from her latest statements, she sees her father the former president proceeding to trial before the International Criminal Court. ICC judges have allowed Rodrigo Duterte to skip attendance at the hearings for the confirmation of charges and his continued detention. Yesterday, as the defense took its turn in the confirmation of charges at the ICC, Kaufman argued that there’s no smoking gun proving Duterte to be directly responsible for the killings. In particular, he argued that the anti-drug campaign did not target the civilian population in the Philippines, but mainly crime suspects. Duterte’s defense team, in their opening statements at the ICC, said his public pronouncements threatening to kill drug personalities were meant chiefly to instill fear.

Rice farmers may earn more as NFA eases buying ruleIn a statement, the NFA said it tweaked its procurement rules, including lowering moisture content requirement and refining the definition of pest-free produce, to allow more farmers to sell their produce to the grains agency. MANILA, Philippines — Rice farmers can now earn more from selling their produce to the National Food Authority (NFA) after the state-run agency relaxed its moisture content requirement, allowing for more palay to be bought at a higher price. In a statement, the NFA said it tweaked its procurement rules, including lowering moisture content requirement and refining the definition of pest-free produce, to allow more farmers to sell their produce to the grains agency. The NFA will now buy dry and clean palay with a moisture content range of 11 to 14 percent. The NFA met with rice farmers, millers, retailers and field officials on Feb. 23 to review and update its procurement rules.

‘No smoking gun vs Duterte’ for crimes vs humanityA pro-Duterte supporter holds a sign during a rally in front of the International Criminal Court in The Hague. “There is no smoking gun in this case,” Kaufman told the three-judge panel at the ICC. “Do not kill if you are not in danger of losing your life,” Kaufman cited Duterte as saying in one speech. The Duterte family has authorized Medialdea and three other lawyers to attend the hearings on confirmation of charges against the former president. The video, supposedly showing a case of extrajudicial killing during the Duterte administration, was presented by prosecutor Julian Nicholls during the hearing.