Probe Bicol Saro insertions – Leviste
Probe Bicol Saro insertions – LevisteRep. Leandro Leviste (Batangas, 1st District) holds a press conference on Monday, Aug. 26, 2025 after filing criminal cases against the district engineer who attempted to bribe him. In his resolution, Leviste is also seeking a probe on insertions in the 2025 budget made by Bicol Saro party-list. He called on Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon to resign as chairman of the Housecommittee on public accounts to ensure a fair investigation. Leviste alleged that Cabral’s files show that Bicol Saro party-list proposed P150 million in road projects in the 2025 DPWH budget, later awarded to Bicol Goldrock for P73.5 million, or two percent below the approved budget. Ridon shouldn’t hide Bicol Saro Party-list’s insertions, whether for 2025 or 2026, if his party-list truly has no relationship with the Ibasco family, who own Bicol Goldrock and won the projects they proposed.
Source:Philippine Star
December 24, 2025 04:01 UTC
‘VP visited Teves, not Madriaga’
‘VP visited Teves, not Madriaga’Vice President Sara Duterte faces the media at the headquarters of the Office of the Vice President, hours after holding a thanksgiving lunch with them, Dec. 11, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte visited former congressman Arnolfo Teves Jr. in October at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday. Lawyers of Duterte’s former aide Ramil Madriaga, however, maintained that the Vice President visited him twice. Joyce” allegedly linked to the Vice President had also visited Madriaga, they noted. It actually supports that Vice President Sara visited the jail,” they said.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 22:02 UTC
Reenacted budget looms as review set
Reenacted budget looms as review setRecto: Marcos mobilizes review teamsMANILA, Philippines — A week-long reenactment of the 2025 national budget won’t affect government operations, Malacañang said yesterday, as it emphasized the importance of thoroughly examining the P6.793-trillion proposed outlay for next year. President Marcos has decided to skip Christmas break so he can review the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026, Malacañang said yesterday. On Monday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III raised the possibility of this year’s national budget being reenacted in the first week of January. The national budget for the preceding year is automatically reenacted if a new appropriations law is not enacted. The P6.793-trillion proposed national budget for next year was subjected to intense scrutiny as the government faced mounting calls to punish those involved in the multibillion-peso flood control mess.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 22:01 UTC
No holiday visits for Duterte
No holiday visits for DuterteMANILA, Philippines — Detained former president Rodrigo Duterte will be spending Christmas and New Year without his family, following International Criminal Court (ICC) rules barring visitation during the holidays. Also, obviously, his foreign supporters,” Kitty said. Kitty arrived in The Hague on Dec. 19. “I think (the visit) today was better, also longer since I arrived before the time started. According to Kitty, her father is OK as they ended the visit with a prayer.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 19:19 UTC
PNP says antidepressant drug detected from Cathy Cabral's body
The toxicology report revealed the presence of the antidepressant medication Citalopram, as per an ABS-CBN News report. Maria Catalina Cabral tested positive for an antidepressant drug, according to the Philippine National Police. An earlier autopsy report detailed that Cabral had died of "blunt traumatic injury consistent with a fall." Cabral died after she allegedly fell from a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba, Benguet, on Dec. 18. Roberto Bernardo alleged that Cabral is involved in kickbacks that benefited several public officials.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 18:30 UTC
Chinese fugitive deported
Chinese fugitive deportedChinese authorities took custody of Shi, 40, upon his arrival in Jinjiang on a Xiamen Air flight, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Monday deported Chinese fugitive Shi Chunfang, who is wanted in China for kidnapping. Chinese authorities took custody of Shi, 40, upon his arrival in Jinjiang on a Xiamen Air flight, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said yesterday. Arrested on Dec. 14 in Taytay, Rizal, Shi faced an arrest warrant issued in 2024 by the Jinjiang public security bureau. Shi headed a shabu laboratory in Rizal, Viado said.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 17:31 UTC
Spending Christmas with the farmers in Langin
Spending Christmas with the farmers in LanginI gave my children and grandchildren a choice between spending Christmas in the U.S. or celebrating the birth of Jesus in the far-flung mountain village in Langin, Ronda, Cebu. They all voted to enjoy Christmas with the farmers in Langin. Langin is a small village with less than 2,000 people with houses far from each other. Langin was the land of my rebirth, where I really spent more than seven years of my youth. We also had a very memorable tree planting, whereby each of my seven grandchildren was tasked to plant 10 trees.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 17:14 UTC
In what practical way will you follow Jesus today?
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Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:10 UTC
DOH chief, 2 others face P98 million graft case
DOH chief, 2 others face P98 million graft caseDepartment of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa answers questions from the media on May 22, 2024. The ombudsman has been asked to place Herbosa, acting DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo and director of the Health Promotion Bureau Ma. The respondents are facing charges for violating Republic Act 3019, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as well as grave misconduct. The complainants alleged that the DOH officials financed the radio program using government funds. “The respondents did not merely approve a media program.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
2 to 8 tropical cyclones likely in early 2026
2 to 8 tropical cyclones likely in early 2026According to the forecast presented on Thursday by Ana Liza Solis during the 191st climate forum, tropical cyclone activity during the first half of 2026 is expected to be relatively low. Some areas may experience cooler-than-average conditions early in the year, followed by a gradual warming trend beginning in March. Rainfall forecasts indicate above-normal to near-normal rainfall in January across most regions, except in western Luzon, where below-normal rainfall is expected. May is expected to bring near-normal rainfall nationwide, while June will likely maintain near-normal conditions with some regional variations. It is expected to persist into early 2026, with a transition to ENSO-neutral conditions likely between January and March.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
BOI approves P124.8 billion investments
BOI approves P124.8 billion investmentsTotal investments for 2025 are expected to increase further as the BOI is still evaluating big-ticket projects. MANILA, Philippines — The Board of Investments (BOI) approved P124.81 billion worth of investments in mid-December, lifting the year-to-date tally to P977 billion. Total investments for 2025 are expected to increase further as the BOI is still evaluating big-ticket projects. In a statement yesterday, Trade Secretary and BOI chair Cristina Roque said the agency has approved 29 projects with a total investment value of P124.81 billion. In 2024, investments approved by the BOI hit an all-time high of P1.62 trillion.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
Window dressing lifts PSEi ahead of Christmas break
Window dressing lifts PSEi ahead of Christmas breakThe bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched up by 0.01 percent or 0.65 points to end yesterday’s session at 6,041.91. MANILA, Philippines — The local stock market posted a slight gain before the Christmas break amid some window dressing activities. The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) inched up by 0.01 percent or 0.65 points to end yesterday’s session at 6,041.91. The broader All Shares index also posted slight gains, increasing by 0.04 percent or 1.23 points to close at 3,447.53. Ricafort, however, said that the market was in some holiday mode already in terms of reduced trading activities.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
Promotion of 1,887 teachers awaits DBM approval
Promotion of 1,887 teachers awaits DBM approvalIn line with President Marcos’ commitment that no teacher should retire at the entry level, the agency said it has recommended the promotion of 1,887 retirable Teacher I positions to the DBM to accelerate career reform. MANILA, Philippines — The promotion of 1,887 retirable Teacher I positions is now pending approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of Education (DepEd) revealed yesterday. In line with President Marcos’ commitment that no teacher should retire at the entry level, the agency said it has recommended the promotion of 1,887 retirable Teacher I positions to the DBM to accelerate career reform. Of this number, 16,025 teachers have received official appointment papers, while 39,296 reclassification applications remain under review, alongside the 1,887 pending cases involving retirable Teacher I positions. In line with the law, DepEd implemented the Expanded Career Progression system to address long-standing backlogs in teacher promotions.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
Of Christmas past
Of Christmas pastAs we busily prepare for tonight, I am sure most of the adults are feeling harassed and stressed, especially if they are doing the hosting. In reality, Christmas is now mostly celebrated by nuclear families, comprising a mother and father and their children. More likely, the Christmas meals by most families would be store bought fried or roasted chicken, a bilao of pancit or spaghetti, perhaps orange is still in the budget, a cake and soft drinks. But take it from a Baby Boomer, embrace your family and the Christmas tradition, no matter how simple it may be, because they are still here. SMC said the toll waiver is intended to benefit motorists traveling late at night to reach their families during the holidays.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
Palace: Deeper drug war probe warranted
Palace: Deeper drug war probe warrantedMalacañang still needs to review the SC decision, Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said. MANILA, Philippines — Calls for a deeper investigation into drug war killings are reinforced by the Supreme Court (SC)’s ruling affirming the conviction of three police officers for murdering 17-year-old Kian delos Santos, a Palace official said yesterday. Several House bills have been filed, seeking the creation of a truth commission to probe killings linked to former president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war. Facing life in prison, the three have been ordered to jointly pay Delos Santos’ family P275,000 in damages. Hontiveros said Delos Santos’ death, followed by the killing of teenagers Carl Angelo Arnaiz and Reynaldo de Guzman, showed systematic killings in the drug war.
Source:Philippine Star
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC