So I’d say we’re in a good spot, but of course we will continue to engage with our counterparts there,” Go added. Within this context, the Philippines is positioning itself as a model for policy execution and investment facilitation. According to Go, the Philippines is well positioned within Indo-Pacific trade routes and supply chain realignments, particularly in clean energy and advanced manufacturing. We have to create new markets for the Philippines to trade with,” he said, citing ongoing efforts to secure more economic partnership agreements. As ASEAN chair, Go said the Philippines aims to strengthen regional economic cooperation and raise investor confidence across member states.

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines — One of the suspects in the murder of an official of the Puerto Princesa International Airport (PPIA) in Palawan was arrested in Barangay San Miguel on Monday night. Police withheld the identity of the suspect so as not to compromise the manhunt for the other gunman who shot and killed Joana Infante, 50, administrative officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines based at the PPIA. The suspect, who was arrested at around 7:15 p.m. by members of the local police and intelligence agents, is being held at the detention facility of the Puerto Princesa City police station 1. Infante was on her way to a church in Barangay San Pedro when she was killed on Jan. 18.

Well-loved bon vivant Tim Yap was recently feted by good friend and tastemaker Yiouri Augousti at his stylish Rockwell apartment with a breathtaking view. Surrounded by an intimate group of friends who hold Tim in high esteem, the evening was both heartfelt and celebratory. The Ateneo bonds that never breakThe gentlemen of Ateneo Class 1957/61/65 have turned friendship into a lifelong tradition. They began as young boys entering Ateneo Grade School during the presidency of Ramon Magsaysay, when postwar optimism and populist reforms shaped a hopeful nation. Though his life was tragically cut short in a plane crash, the country pressed on with economic growth and a buoyant outlook that mirrored the boys’ own youthful promise.

MANILA, Philippines — The private operator of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) has initiated a first round of airline reassignments for operational efficiency. AirAsia Philippines will transfer its international flights to Terminal 1, from Terminal 3. With the change, the NNIC advised passengers to check their terminal assignment with their airlines before going to NAIA. Under the P170.6-billion concession signed in 2024, NNIC must increase NAIA’s capacity from 35 million to 62 million per year. The NNIC is building a new Terminal 4, with a wider capacity to host the domestic flights of AirAsia Philippines.

‘People powera democratic necessity, not just nostalgia’ , ,A banner depicting one of the defining moments of the EDSA revolt hangs near the People Power Monument on the eve of its 40th anniversary yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — As the country marks the 40th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt today, the University of the Philippines-Diliman University Council reminded the public that the event is more than “nostalgia” – it is a democratic necessity. “Systemic corruption and compromised accountability reflect a deeper problem: a crisis of credible leadership and democratic legitimacy. People power is therefore not nostalgia but a democratic necessity,” the UP Diliman University Council said in a statement. UP president Angelo Jimenez declared Feb. 25 an alternative learning day across the UP system and encouraged the university community to take part in commemorative activities.

“It should be corrected if Tomas Cloma was really there. Tomas Cloma was a seafarer, he’s not a discoverer,” Marcoleta claimed as the topic centered on whether Cloma’s seafaring journeys were taught at military schools. However, his claim provided a basis for the Philippines’ subsequent claim to the Kalayaan Island Group in the West Philippine Sea,” he added. “Some people still cannot move on from Tomas Cloma. Here are the historical facts, so Cloma can be left alone to rest in peace,” Lacson said.

Doors open for MannyManny Pacquiao is facing Russia’s Ruslan Provodnikov in an eight-round exhibition in Las Vegas on April 18 but beyond that, there’s a wealth of options on the table for Pacman. Pacquiao dismissed talk of a rematch with Barrios, insisting he’d done enough to win and he was moving on. But now that Garcia is on the throne, Pacquiao could reconsider fighting for the WBC belt. To add to his unsavory history, Garcia had a tumultuous relationship with his former wife and was once arrested for vandalism. So he could choose from among Garcia, Romero, Crocker or Haney to fight for a world title.

Under Duterte’s drug war, police killings rose 590%MANILA, Philippines — Police killings rose drastically during former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war, with prosecutors saying they spiked by 590% when the Davao strongman assumed power in 2016. ICC trial lawyer Robynne Croft attempted to establish the elements of crimes against humanity, showing that the drug war killings were systemic and widespread. Citing an expert on Philippine politics, the police killings under the first 25 months of Duterte’s presidency rose by 590%. In Bulacan alone, the killings rose by 1,600%. The expert cited by the prosecution also compared police killings in Bulacan with other countries and cities worldwide.

Excel 'dead list' ranking Duterte drug war targets bared at ICCInternational Criminal Court trial lawyer Edward Jeremy speaks before the Pre-Trial Chamber I and presents a table that shows the alleged ranking of targets in former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war, Feb. 24, 2026. Screengrab via International Criminal Court One of the slides in the ICC prosecution's presentation of the merits of the case on February 24, 2026, includes an Excel sheet that shows a supposed list of targets in former President Rodrigo Duterte's drug war. Screengrab via International Criminal Court One of the slides in the ICC prosecution's presentation include a five-tier scale in which Duterte's drug war organized "targets." This number is not the total number of alleged deaths during Duterte's drug war but is instead the number of incidents in which ICC prosecutors have chosen to include in the case. "The PRRD list is a dead list," Jeremy said.

BIR ends audit freeze: New rules in motionThe Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) lifted the nationwide suspension of tax audits and field operations on Jan. 27 2026 through Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) 8-2026, ending a pause that began in November 2025 following a leadership change. Alongside this, it issued Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) 1-2026 prescribing revised policies, controls and procedures for audit and assessment processes. The overarching aim is to ensure transparency, prevent abuse of audit authority, uphold due process and promote responsibility and accountability. This approach effectively prevents overlapping assessments, where multiple divisions audit the same taxpayer for different taxes in the same year. With the audit freeze lifted, the BIR has put RMO 1-2026 into motion, introducing reforms that aim to simplify audits, prevent overlaps and reinforce accountability.

Duterte’s drug war targeted the poor, killed children — ICC prosecutionMANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecution continued to establish its case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, reiterating a point made by activists and victims: the war on drugs was a war on the poor; one that resulted in the death of children. ICC lawyer Edward Jeremy continued the prosecution team’s case buildup, establishing the systemic pattern in which Duterte’s drug war was perpetuated on a national scale. "When Duterte said that someone should be killed, they ended up dead," Jeremy said. The prosecution also focused on the children killed in the campaign. Kill them, not because they are an alleged druglord, not even an alleged criminal, but simply because they may have an addiction to drugs.” Jeremy said.

DILG tracks Duterte's alleged co-perpetrators in ICC caseMANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is already gathering information on the seven co-perpetrators named in former president Rodrigo Duterte's crimes against humanity case at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The alleged co-perpetrators include Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa, Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, former high-ranking police officers Dante Gierran, Isidro Lapeña, Oscar Albayalde, Camilo Cascolan, Vicente Danao and lawyer Vitaliano Aguirre II. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa and Albayalde both served as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during Duterte’s presidency. As Go remains present at Senate plenary sessions despite being named co-perpetrator, Dela Rosa is still missing. DILG's Remulla believes Dela Rosa is hiding in Davao with his family.

What evidence did the ICC prosecution present vs Duterte on Day 1? Nicholls instead focused on witness testimonies that, according to the prosecution, show Duterte created the Davao Death Squad. Screengrab from the International Criminal Court's livestream The prosecution's witness, a former Davao Death Squad member, recounted memories of Duterte during his initiation. I have a death squad, a death squad, but not the police." Screengrab from the International Criminal Court's livestream Duterte watched recorded CCTV footage of the three men who killed alleged thieves.

After dad's ICC hearings, Sara Duterte impeach hearings to start March 2Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, during a hearing of the House quad committee, Nov. 14, 2024. House Committee on Justice Chair Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro announced on Tuesday, February 24, that panel deliberations on the four complaints filed against Duterte will start on March 2. Luistro said the committee hearings will run until March 4, but only for the purpose of determining whether the complaints are sufficient in form and substance. In case a complaint reaches the plenary and is found sufficient in form and substance, Duterte will be given 10 calendar days to respond to the allegations. Longer hearings likelyPresident Bongbong Marcos, who similarly faced impeachment complaints, survived the attempt to oust him in just three hearings.

He accused the ICC prosecution of "cherry-picking" speeches to prove he incited to murder over speeches with Duterte's more tempered language. Kaufman said it found 35 speeches where Duterte referenced lawful self-defense, versus 20 the prosecution cited as evidence of incitement to murder. Instead, he trained his fire on Duterte’s speeches and the media coverage around them. "It is indeed the defense case that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set out to neutralize Rodrigo Duterte and his legacy," Kaufman told the three-judge chamber. Marcos has denied the arrest was politically motivated, saying the case was initiated in 2017 while Duterte was still president.