Sandigan stops seizure of Kokoy’s P410 million Swiss depositsMANILA, Philippines — Foreign currency deposits in foreign banks are covered by bank secrecy laws and cannot be attached or seized by the government as part of a probe on ill-gotten wealth, the Sandiganbayan has ruled, in a case involving Swiss deposits held in escrow of a brother of former first lady Imelda Marcos. The PCGG is seeking to forfeit in favor of the government a total of $5,193,726.37 in alleged illegally amassed wealth supposedly concealed in Swiss bank deposits by the Romualdez couple – parents of former House speaker Martin Romualdez. The court said the subject bank account is covered by the “secrecy of foreign currency deposits” provision under Section 8 of Republic Act 6426 or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act. “Section 8 of the FCDA expressly provides that all foreign currency deposits authorized under the FCDA shall be exempt from attachment,” the court said. The PCGG earlier said that Romualdez had a net worth of only P2.348 million in 1983 based on his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth.

Congressman, contractor offered P2 billion bribe – JonvicMANILA, Philippines — After rejecting an earlier offer of P1 billion each to make him and his brother go easy on a congressman and a contractor being linked to flood control anomalies, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla were offered P2 billion each, which he said they rejected. He said an emissary of the congressman from Luzon, who is also a contractor, communicated the offer through a friend about two weeks ago. The second person, a contractor from the Visayas, made the same offer about three to four days ago, Remulla said. Remulla said he rejected the offer outright, while his brother felt insulted when informed of the bribe offer. “As I was told, he’ll do it with utmost prudence – consult bishops and other stakeholders before doing so, and bring with him some individuals as observers during the meeting,” Secillano added.

Ping to Bato: Stop hiding, report for dutySenate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, leads the launch of the probe into extortion and other abuses at the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has advised his fellow former police chief Ronald dela Rosa to stop hiding and instead report for duty as a duly elected senator. So this means Dela Rosa is not yet a “wanted” person. “If there is no arrest warrant, he should come to work. “Why are you hot on the heels of Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa?

A poster featuring an image of US billionaire and businessman Elon Musk, calling for users of his X social media platform to delete their accounts due to the AI chatbot Grok's image-creation feature, is pictured installed in a bus stop by activists from UK collective 'Everyone Hates Elon', in London on January 13, 2026. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

1 up in 11 areas as 'Ada' gains strengthMANILA, Philippines — Tropical Depression Ada slightly intensified as it moved over the Philippine Sea east of Mindanao on Thursday morning, January 15, with Signal No. 1 remaining hoisted over 11 areas, the state weather bureau PAGASA said. PAGASA said the center of Ada was last located 385 kilometers east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, or 465 kilometers east of Surigao City, Surigao del Norte. Track, intensityPAGASA on Thursday warned that Tropical Depression Ada may still bring heavy rains and strong winds even to areas outside its forecast path. Ada is expected to reach tropical storm strength within the day and continue to gradually intensify over the Philippine Sea.

‘This madness is for life’There are no perfect lives — only perfect moments.”Thus said STAR travel columnist Christine Dayrit when she recently launched her book “60 Dream Holidays Around the World” to an SRO crowd at Chef Jessie’s in Makati City. The 60 stories featured in her 464-page, four-kilo book are reprinted from her articles in The STAR. “But life gives us second chances. And this coming February, I will finally go (to Antarctica) — and complete the circle of all seven continents. Travel does not make life perfect, but it gives us more moments worth holding on to.

Visa-free entry for Chinese travelers starts todayMANILA, Philippines — Chinese nationals may enter the Philippines strictly for tourism or business purposes without the need to obtain a visa for a stay of up to 14 days starting today, Jan. 16, the Department of Foreign Affairs announced. The DFA yesterday said the “visa-free entry arrangement will be in effect for one year and will be reviewed accordingly before it expires.”“This is in line with the President’s directive to facili- tate trade, investments, and tourism, as well as strengthen people-to-people exchanges between the Philippines and China,” the DFA said. Chinese nationals traveling to the Philippines strictly for tourism or business purposes may avail themselves of the new visa-free entry privilege. The privilege allows for a non-extendable 14-day stay, which is non-convertible to any other type of Philippine visa category. The visa-free privilege will be valid for entry only through the Ninoy Aquino Interna- tional Airport in Metro Manila and the Mactan-Cebu Interna- tional Airport in Cebu.

44 new lieutenants assigned to 10th Infantry DivisionThe new 44 Army lieutenants who reported to the headquarters of the Army's 10th Infantry Division in Mawab, Davao de Oro early this week were immediately assigned to different units of the division. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Army has assigned 44 new lieutenants to the 10th Infantry Division, to be mobilized for community projects meant to restore normalcy in areas its units had cleared from communist insurgents in recent months. Luzon led the traditional military welcome ceremony for the 44 new Army lieutenants early this week at their headquarters in Camp General Manuel Yan Sr. in Barangay Tuboran in Mawab, Davao de Oro. The 10th ID deployed to far-flung areas just last December, for the same civil-military relations thrusts, 700 new members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit trained by its Division Training School. The newly-trained CAFGUs are now helping local government units rehabilitate the local communities that NPA had subjected before to forced taxation and its ruthless one-sided justice system that favored only its abusive members.

Iran minister says 'there is no plan for hanging' when asked about protestsIranian demonstrators gather in a street during a protest over the collapse of the currency's value, in Tehran, Iran, January 8, 2026. Stringer/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Art Fair PhilippinesNew venue Art Fair Philippines is known for its striking artwork displays in Makati's The Link and One Ayala, but for this version, they are turning the former racetrack complex Circuit Makati into a central site for the country’s contemporary art ecosystem. Speaking for the exhibit, Art Fair Philippines co-founder Lisa Periquet said the move is not only a change in scale but a change of ambition to further bring forward Philippine art to global conversations. Art Fair Philippines is set to take over Circuit Corporate Centre One, occupying six levels. Art Fair Philippines also worked with Nazareno/Lichauco once again for the exhibition design of the curated selection of exhibits. Art by Kaida Contemporary Art Fair PhilippinesAll the participating exhibitors in the fair include 1Art Cube Gallery, Art for Space, Art Lounge Manila, Archivo 1984, Art Underground, Ames Yavuz, Boston Art Gallery, Avellana Art Gallery, Artemis Art, Art Verité Gallery, CCP x Scarletbox, Cayon, Cartellino, Caiyun Art, GALLERT KOGURE, Galerie Stephanie, Gajah Gallery, CORE Contemporary Art, Kawata Gallery, Kaida Contemporary, J STUDIO, ISTORYA STUDIOS, Pintô Art Museum and Arboretum, Parallel+, Orange Project, León Gallery, Silverlens, SHUKADO+SCENA, ROSE STUDIO ART GALLERY, Qube Gallery, The METRO Gallery, The Crucible Gallery, The Columns Gallery, TARZEER PICTURES, Village Art Gallery, Triangulum, Tomura Lee, TLYR Collective, Ysobel Art Gallery, YOD Gallery, Yeo Kaa (Ames Yavuz), White Walls Gallery, among others.

PDEA agents entrap student peddling shabu near campusesThe student entrapped by agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 in Kidapawan City on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, is now detained. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A male student who is to graduate from college next year got locked in jail instead for ignoring intercessions by his close relatives for him to stop peddling shabu in Kidapawan City and in nearby municipalities in Cotabato province. The 24-year-old man was immediately arrested by non-uniformed agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 after selling to them P40,800 worth of shabu in an entrapment operation on Wednesday, January 14, along Osmeña Drive near the City Hall Complex in Barangay Poblacion in Kidapawan City. They also confirmed that he secretly sold shabu near school campuses in Kidapawan City and in Cotabato's nearby Matalam and Makilala towns. Magdurulang said they shall use the shabu seized from him as evidence in prosecuting him in court for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A couple in their 90s proved that it’s never too late for a fairytale ending. In a report by WTVR CBS 6, Harold Pugh, 91, and Frances Pugh, 90, decided to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary by renewing their vows through an official ceremony they had never had the chance to experience. The Pughs exchanged vows once more at Cawson Street Church of Christ in Hopewell, Virginia on Jan. 10. WTVR CBS 6 / YouTubeDuring their big day, Harold was jokingly asked by a guest, "It's a big decision, are you sure you want to get married?" According to loved ones who witnessed the ceremony, Harold and Frances have long been known for putting others first and quietly serving their community throughout their 70 years together.

Russian vlogger Vitaly to be deported after serving his timeMANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration confirmed on Thursday, January 15, that the Taguig City Regional Trial Court has resolved the criminal cases against Russian vlogger Vitaly Zdorovetskiy, who has already served his penalty and may be deported in the coming weeks. "Nag-issue na po ng deportation order against Vitaly Zdorovetskiy ng Board of Commissioners. (The Board of Commissioners has already issued a deportation order against Vitaly Zdorovetskiy. The order states that his deportation is subject to clearances from the NBI and from the courts where his cases were filed.) The Russian vlogger was roughly detained for nine months after his arrest.

Photo by - / UGC / AFP This video grab taken on January 10, 2026, from UGC images shared online on January 9, 2026, shows crowds gathered in the evening around an open fire in Pounak Square, in the Iranian capital Tehran.