Explore past headlines, AI summaries and source reporting. Full articles follow the FREE and PRO access rules.
Page 306
The economic ties between the Philippines and Hong Kong are accelerating, with Filipino firm Jollibee acquiring Hong Kong's Tim Ho Wan and using the city as a base for international expansion. Under trade and investment agreements, Hong Kong serves as a platform for Philippine companies to enhance access to capital and markets.
The Philippine government will pursue its request for an Interpol red notice against former lawmaker Zaldy Co, who faces plunder charges. The Secretary of the Interior and Local Government announced plans to follow up the request in France, seeking cooperation for the fugitive's potential extradition.
Vice President Sara Duterte's defense counsel asserted her constitutional right against self-incrimination, arguing she cannot be compelled to testify against herself in her impeachment trial. This comes after the House prosecution panel expressed intent to call Duterte to the stand.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) plans to file a motion with the court seeking custody of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to transfer him from a private hospital to the PNP General Hospital, citing him as a flight risk.
Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) has been honored as the 'Remittance Bank of the Year' in the Philippines at the Asian Banking and Finance (ABF) Awards. This recognition highlights the bank's innovation and contribution to remittance services for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), driven by its transformation of the remittance experience through fintech adoption.
The House prosecution panel in the Philippines announced its intention to present Vice President Sara Duterte herself as a witness in her impeachment trial. The defense counsel has objected, citing constitutional rights.
Philippine budget carrier Cebu Pacific announced a 'Piso Sale,' offering one-way base fares as low as P1 for both domestic and international flights. Bookings are open until September 10 for travel between January 1 and March 31, 2027.
Three individuals accused alongside former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a plunder case could not be found at their original addresses, the PNP-CIDG NCR revealed. The Department of the Interior and Local Government is seeking updates on the investigation and the case's background.
In the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, the prosecution team announced its intention to call the Vice President herself to the witness stand, citing her accountability. The defense team opposes this, invoking constitutional rights, while the court awaits a formal motion to rule.
Former House Speaker Martin Romualdez faces plunder charges totaling P7.4 billion, with an arrest warrant served while he was hospitalized. Authorities are pursuing the extradition of co-accused former lawmaker Zaldy Co, believed to be abroad, via Interpol.
The House prosecution panel announced it will drop the remaining 15 witnesses for Article 1 of the impeachment case, concerning alleged misuse of confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte. Prosecutors argue the case has become clear based on presented evidence.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has served an arrest warrant against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez in connection with a P7.4 billion plunder case. Romualdez was apprehended at a hospital where he was receiving medical treatment.
The Philippines' unemployment rate surged to 6% in July 2026, a level not seen in over four years, with 3.14 million Filipinos jobless. The rise is largely attributed to more young people entering the labor market without sufficient job absorption, linked to sluggish economic growth and weak investment.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) has returned an arrest warrant to the Sandiganbayan for former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who faces plunder charges. Romualdez was apprehended and subsequently taken to a medical center due to health issues.
The Philippine peso has hit new record lows against the US dollar, approaching the 63-per-dollar mark. A strong US dollar and expectations of further US interest rate hikes are weighing on the local currency, with the central bank's intervention being closely watched.
Five Southeast Asian nations have expressed support for a regional oil stockpiling initiative proposed by the Philippines, aiming to bolster the bloc's resilience against supply shocks like those triggered by the Middle East conflict. The UAE has also indicated willingness to cooperate.
The Philippines faces stiff regional competition in its bid to become an automotive manufacturing hub, according to BMI. To leverage its domestic market and cost-competitive labor, the country needs consistent policy support, improved infrastructure, and stronger supplier networks.
The Philippines' business process outsourcing (BPO) sector is demonstrating resilience with continued employment growth despite AI disruptions, with HSBC suggesting AI may be boosting worker productivity. However, overall industry growth forecasts have been revised downward.
The Philippine central bank governor linked the peso's weakness to low national savings, but experts argue this reflects deeper issues of insufficient income generation, low productivity, and weak institutions, rather than individual thrift. The report stresses the need for structural reforms to leverage the demographic dividend.
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) in the Philippines narrowly missed its August collection target due to weather-related shipping disruptions. However, it still managed to achieve a year-on-year increase of nearly P4 billion, signaling continued efforts towards its annual goal.
Pork prices in the Philippines are falling as hog raisers rush to sell their animals ahead of the rainy season due to fears of an African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak. This decline is attributed to farmers' risk aversion rather than increased imports.
The Philippine Department of Energy has qualified 11 corporate groups for a special auction to build waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities. Notable bidders include firms backed by major conglomerates like Metro Pacific, Prime Infrastructure, and San Miguel, signaling a new phase in the country's energy transition and waste management.
The Philippines saw its unemployment rate climb to 6.0% in July from 4.9% in June, with over 550,000 more individuals jobless, bringing the total to 3.14 million, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This marks the highest jobless figure since December 2021.
A survey by mobility provider inDrive reveals that 74% of Metro Manila residents have used ride-hailing apps in the past three months, citing time efficiency, weather, and accessibility as key drivers. Commuters book an average of three rides weekly, with demand peaking for trips from residential areas to urban centers.
Philippine property developer Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. is expected to manage its P24-billion debt maturing in 2027, with credit research firm CreditSights initiating coverage with a "buy" recommendation, citing refinancing options including asset sales and shareholder support.
A prosecutor argued that Vice President Sara Duterte's camp is too late to claim that unusual names of confidential fund recipients are aliases, citing a witness testimony that these names lack official records. The defense maintains its right to present evidence at an appropriate time.
Prolonged rotational blackouts, lasting up to nine hours, are severely impacting economic activities and daily life in the Visayas region of the Philippines. A local congressman is calling for a congressional investigation into the power supply crisis, demanding accountability and stable electricity provision.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned of intense rainfall in Zambales and Bataan due to the southwest monsoon, raising the risk of floods and landslides. Heavy downpours are expected across a wider area in the next 24 hours.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecution has requested the Chamber to admit the prior recorded testimony of witness P-1100 as evidence in the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte, aiming to expedite proceedings.
The Philippines' gross foreign reserves climbed to $104.8 billion at the end of August, up from $103.3 billion in July, according to preliminary data from the central bank. This buffer is equivalent to 6.8 months of import cover.
Malaysia has expressed concern over increased US military presence on the Philippine island of Balabac, highlighting differing strategic approaches between the two nations and potentially impacting ASEAN dynamics in the South China Sea.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has stated it already exercised its jurisdiction and concluded its investigation into Senator Rodante Marcoleta's P75 million campaign donation case, which later became the basis for a plunder case.
The Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines is intensifying efforts to combat bullying and violence in schools, as assured by Education Secretary Sonny Angara during the deliberation of the proposed 2027 budget. While programs and the revised Anti-Bullying law are being implemented, a stabbing incident involving students highlights the ongoing challenges.
The Philippine Senate has finalized its schedule, allocating three consecutive weeks in October for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Afternoons during this period will be dedicated to deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget, a decision made amidst concerns over potential impacts on budget hearings.
The Philippines enters its famed 'Ber' months starting September, unofficially kicking off the Christmas season. However, persistent household budget pressures mean supermarkets anticipate sales to remain sluggish until December, with consumers prioritizing value and selective purchasing.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) will request the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against seven individuals implicated in an alleged 'honey trap' plot against Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, including Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste. The NBI had previously filed 'qualified human trafficking' complaints against the seven before the DOJ.