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The bicameral conference committee reconciling the Senate and House versions of the proposed 2026 national budget has restored the allocation for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) to P889 million, reverting to the amount originally proposed by Malacañang in the National Expenditure Program (NEP). The decision was reached during a committee meeting that extended late into Tuesday night, as lawmakers worked to resolve differences between the two chambers’ versions […]

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has directed the prosecution and the legal counsel representing victims of the Philippine drug war to submit additional arguments on the issue of jurisdiction in the crimes against humanity case against former president Rodrigo Duterte. In a six-page order dated December 16, the Appeals Chamber instructed the Office of the Prosecutor, through the deputy prosecutor, and the Office of Public Counsel […]

A citywide moratorium on upland and watershed development is being pushed at the Cebu City Council following the deadly impact of Typhoon Tino, which left 33 people dead and renewed concerns over flooding, landslides, and environmental degradation linked to unchecked construction in mountain areas. During the regular session of the City Council on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, Councilor Joel Garganera delivered a privilege speech urging the city’s executive branch to […]

The National Security Council (NSC) has dismissed concerns that the recent stay in the Philippines of the father-and-son gunmen responsible for the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, posed a security threat to the country. In a statement read by Palace press officer Claire Castro during a media briefing, the NSC said there is currently no indication that the two individuals’ visit to the Philippines had security implications. […]

Stranger Shielded 3-Year-Old Girl With Her Body During Bondi Beach Shooting A couple has described the terrifying moments they believed they had lost their three-year-old daughter during the deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia on Sunday night. Wayne and Vanessa Miller were attending a Hanukkah gathering at the popular beach on December 14 when gunfire suddenly erupted, sending crowds scrambling for cover. Amid the chaos, they became separated from […]

Rice prices in Cebu have increased by as much as P500 per sack since August, driven by a combination of supply disruptions, weather-related damage to crops, and heightened demand from bulk buyers, according to industry representatives. The sharp rise in prices has raised concerns among retailers and consumers, particularly low-income households that rely heavily on rice as a staple food. The situation has also highlighted vulnerabilities in the country’s rice […]

An outpouring of global support has propelled a fundraising campaign for Ahmed al Ahmed, the man hailed as a hero for disarming a gunman during the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack, to more than $1 million, as Australia continues to mourn the victims of one of the worst mass shootings in the country’s history. The fundraising effort, launched through GoFundMe to support al Ahmed’s recovery and future, had surpassed $1.2 […]

The Philippine government may invoke an international anti-corruption treaty to help locate and arrest former Ako-Bicol party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, who has been declared a fugitive from justice by the Sandiganbayan in connection with alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, who chairs the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating anomalies in the implementation of flood control projects, said the government can explore invoking […]

Australia is reeling after a deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach left at least 15 people dead, including a 10-year-old girl, in what authorities have declared an antisemitic terrorist attack targeting a Jewish community celebration. Police said the victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, and at least 42 others were hospitalized following the attack, among them two police officers. The shooting occurred on a clear Sunday […]

The National Government has started distributing emergency cash assistance to more than 24,000 families in Cebu Province that were severely affected by typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi), which struck the Visayas region more than a month ago. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is leading the rollout of the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program in eight local government units identified as among the hardest hit by the typhoon. […]