COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Navy units seized 3,460 boxes of imported cigarettes in separate offshore operations from Tuesday, February 24, in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat in Region 12 and, subsequently, in Basilan in the Bangsamoro region on Wednesday, February 25. Officials of the Western Mindanao Naval Command and the Bureau of Customs were still initiating procedural accounting of the seized contraband until Wednesday afternoon to determine its total value in Philippine currency. The boat was intercepted by a Navy team in a patrol boat while sailing towards the seaport in Kalamansig, one of the coastal towns in Sultan Kudarat province in Central Mindanao. WMNC officials told reporters that the crew of the M/B Skyblue was to deliver the smuggled cigarettes to beachfront areas in Basilan, a component province of BARMM, and in nearby Zamboanga City. The captains of both vessels have reportedly assured to identify the smugglers behind the foiled smuggling attempts for prosecution.

Marks & Spencer ceasing Philippine operations this MayMANILA, Philippines — British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) will no longer operate in the Philippine beginning May 3 this year. Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI) addressed talks about M&S' closure in a company announcement shared to the Philippine Stock Exchange and obtained by Philstar.com. SSI confirmed the final day of M&S store operations in the Philippines is on May 2, 2026, signifiying the end of the establishment's presence in the country after almost 40 years. "This has not been an easy decision," SSI management said. We are deeply grateful to our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and partners who have supported the brand through the decades."

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Residents of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte surrendered to their local government unit and the police more than a dozen combat weapons, including assault rifles, B40 rocket and 40 millimeter grenade launchers on Tuesday, February 24. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters on Wednesday that the firearms were surrendered by owners through the efforts of Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Abdulmain Abas, Vice Mayor Bobsteel Sinsuat, members of their Sangguniang Bayan and their municipal police chief, Major Katherine Paydoen, and her deputy, Captain Sammy Paning. De Guzman said the director of the Maguindanao del Norte provincial police, Col. George Bagundol, Jr., local executives and officials and personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station are cooperating in the enforcing a local disarmament program as part of the peace and security initiatives, partly meant to boost the investment climate in all of the more than 30 barangays in the municipality. The owners of the surrendered combat weapons are from Baka, Taviran, Badak, Linek, Mompong, Sapalan, Nekitan, Labungan, Tinunggos, Tambak, Dulangan, Kusiong, Kakar, Binolen, Tamontaka, at Capiton, which are among the more than 30 na barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat, whose municipal center is just less than 40 kilometers away from the capitol of the Bangsamoro government in Cotabato City. Residents of other barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat surrendered last month more than 20 assorted military-type rifles and grenade launchers in support of their municipal government's disarmament campaign.

Kin of EJK victim: Duterte’s words were deadlyNanette Castillo grieves next to the dead body of her son Aldrin, an alleged drug user killed by unidentified assailants, in Manila on Oct. 3, 2017. MANILA, Philippines — The families left behind by the victims of the drug war echoed the point made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecution: former president Rodrigo Duterte’s words were lethal. Rise Up for Life and For Rights, a network of human rights advocates and the families of drug war victims, spoke on the matter and recounted how Duterte’s words killed their loved ones. (His words killed our loved ones. Pasco is currently in the Hague, Netherlands, attending Duterte's hearing.

Plunderers rejoice: Protesters disunited against ‘Unithieves’Disunity continues to plague anti-corruption groups. EDSA40 Committee, convened by catholic bishop Gerardo Alminaza, says both President Bongbong Marcos and VP Sara Duterte are answerable and should thus both resign. Lahat ng Sangkot Dapat Managot!”Trillion Peso March Movement, which features Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, wants VP Sara removed first, and BBM only later. They argue that these would only benefit VP Sara as next in line of succession. The stronger case filed by Bayan Muna and endorsed by Makabayan Bloc reps was rejected too.

“The best proof na hindi kaya, all the evidence, all of these police reports, the DOJ cannot find them. Carpio also pointed out the pervasive atmosphere of fear that prevents witnesses from testifying in local courts. "The Duterte people can still intimidate the witnesses here in the Philippines if the cases are filed here," Carpio said. He pointed out that the total absence of filed cases against the implementors of the drug war is one of the proofs that the local system is stalled by fear. “The best proof of that is that there has been no cases filed against these people because one of fear of witnesses.

Humble Japan ready to win hearts at Women's Asian CupThis photo taken on February 17, 2026 shows Japan's Greenland-born women's women's national football team head coach Nils Nielsen speaking in an interview with AFP at the national training center operated by JFA in Chiba. Japan is the only Asian country to have won the Women's World Cup, but it has only lifted the Asian Cup twice in 20 editions of the competition. Nielsen hopes that attitude will bring Japan success in Australia, where they reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2023. Japan won the World Cup in 2011 and went close to adding more major honors in the years that followed. But it has not gone past the Last Eight of a World Cup or Olympics since 2015.

MANILA, Philippines — Groups have requested that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) investigate Sen. Rodante Marcoleta's campaign spending during the 2025 elections. “Any failure to report such income would constitute a violation of income tax laws,” the groups explained. During the 2025 elections, Marcoleta placed sixth, bagging 15,140,342 votes. On February 19, the Comelec said it is set to issue a resolution on Marcoleta's SOCE discrepancy. The case stems from Marcoleta’s SOCE for the May 2025 elections, in which he reported spending P139.9 million on his campaign but declared zero donations.

MANILA, Philippines — Senators commemorated the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, with Sen. Bam Aquino calling it not the end, but the beginning. Aquino, who hails from the family that is associated with the EDSA revolution, called it proof that a peaceful revolution was possible. (EDSA is not the end but the start of a long journey as a nation. In a separate media interview, Aquino called EDSA an “unfinished revolution,” saying that the fight for democracy still continued, especially amid massive corruption schemes in the government. EDSA reminds us that things that seemed impossible before, like higher income for farmers and fishers and ending corruption, will become possible.

MANILA, Philippines — Protests are set on Wednesday, February 25, for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the People Power Revolution. As of writing, several groups have been marching from the EDSA shrine to the People Power Monument for the third part of the Trillion Peso March organized by the Trillion Peso March Movement and Caritas Philippines. White Plains Avenue was closed for the rally as of 6 a.m.RELATED: Alternative routes, road closures in Quezon City due to ‘Trillion Peso March 3’This will be the third part of the anti-corruption rally. The first Trillion Peso March took place on Sept. 21, 2025, as a protest against corruption. A separate protest is also expected to be held at the EDSA Shrine, led by the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

PNB: Consumer-led growth lifts FY25 earningsFrom AB Capital's The Opening Bell: Three MovesEventPNB reported FY2025 net income up 20% to P25.3bn, driven by strong consumer lending growth of 27%, improved NIM at 4.51%, and lower provisions. CatalystSustained consumer loan growth and digital onboarding expansion could support earnings momentum. Disclaimer: The information, analyses, and views contained herein is based on sources which we, AB Capital Securities, believe are reliable, but is not guaranteed by us and is not to be considered all inclusive. It is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy the securities herein mentioned. AB Capital Securities and its Directors and Officers and/or members of their families may have a position in the securities herein mentioned and may make purchases and/or sales of the securities from time to time in the open-market and otherwise.

RCBC: Consumer segment growth drive FY25 bottom lineFrom AB Capital's The Opening Bell: Three MovesEventRCBC reported 2025 net income of P10.6 billion, up 11% YoY, as net interest income rose 32% and margins expanded. Loan growth reached 7%, with consumer lending up 29% and now 49% of portfolio. Downside risk centers on asset quality normalization as consumer portfolios season, especially if employment recovery or sentiment weakens. Investors should monitor credit costs, consumer delinquency trends, and deposit mix stability as key drivers for further ROE improvement. It is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy the securities herein mentioned.

‘Duterte drew up death lists, boasted about murders’n this screengrab yesterday, International Criminal Court trial lawyer Edward Jeremy cites to the ICC the killing of 17-year-old Kian delos Santos in a drug war operation in 2017. ‘This brutal murder led to a massive public outcry across the Philippines,’ he told the courtMANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte personally drew up “death lists” and boasted about murders committed during his “war on drugs,” an International Criminal Court (ICI) prosecutor said yesterday. On day two of the hearing on confirmation of charges against Duterte, ICC prosecutor Edward Jeremy laid out searing testimony, including allegations that children had their heads wrapped in packing tape and were strangled to death. “As president, Duterte publicly named persons he alleged were involved in drugs, and many of those would end up as victims in his so-called war on drugs,” Jeremy said. “During his campaign to be president, Mr. Duterte expressly promised many times that he would kill criminals if elected… The murders skyrocketed in the months immediately after Mr. Duterte became president in June 2016.

Call it divine coincidence if you will, but as Filipinos celebrate another anniversary of EDSA – The People Power Revolution, I was actually going to write about “the freedom most taken for granted.”Many people might think that the “freedom” I’m referring to would be freedom of expression, freedom as in democracy or freedom to gather or assemble in protest like EDSA 1. After 40 years, those freedoms seem to have been taken for granted indeed. But since many Filipinos have done so, why not list down another freedom we all take for granted – the freedom of religion and worship. And she did not take for granted the freedom to worship unrestricted. So, next time you don’t feel like it, remember, others make real sacrifices for what you take for granted.

To secure a conviction for crimes against humanity, the ICC prosecution must prove more than Duterte's alleged responsibility for individual killings. Here is what the prosecution presented about some of Duterte's co-perpetrators, based on their own public statements and the roles they played in his administration. The prosecution told the court that Aguirre publicly acknowledged the common plan and his agreement to it as a member of Duterte's administration. The ICC prosecution cited Aguirre's remarks in an interview: "Which do you want? Low-level members of the national network risked losing their jobs or being killed if they did not comply, based on evidence collected by the ICC prosecution.