News

Suspended Cebu City mayor Rama gets support from other mayors

CEBU CITY, Philippines — At least three mayors who are members of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) have voiced their support for suspended Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. In separate statements, Mayors Ma. Josefina “Joy” Belmonte (Quezon City), Carmen Geraldine Rosal (Legazpi City), and Baby Armi Alvarez (Muñoz City) expressed their support for Rama, who was the LCP president. “We write to express our support to Mayor Michael L. Rama...

Senate starts review of Baguio charter

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Senate on Tuesday began correcting flaws in the modern Baguio City Charter (Republic Act No. 11689), which had upset sectors here for technically downgrading the city’s status as an independent, highly urbanized local government and for granting another agency power in the titling of city properties. The upper chamber is reviewing House Bill No. 7406 that was recently passed by the Lower House to amend erroneous...

Refugee 'so proud' to be town's first Hindu mayor

Elango Elavalakan says he chose Ipswich as his home town because the people were so friendly.

Russia wanted to capture a key settlement by May 9th but it failed

Is Ukraine losing the war?

Abalos warns LGUs anew vs project fund ‘fixers’

MANILA, Philippines — Local government and barangay officials nationwide should beware of dealing with people who claim they can help facilitate the release of funding for their projects. “These incidents of poseurs claiming to be government agents pose serious threats to the integrity of government processes, and undermine the trust and confidence of the public in the administration of government funds,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said in...

Russian troops leave Karabakh, now back under Azerbaijan's control

(This May 15 story has been corrected to say 'recaptured' instead of 'captured' in paragraph 1) By Nailia Bagirova KHOJALY, Azerbaijan (Reuters) - Russia shut down a military base in Azerbaijan on Wednesday where nearly 2,000 of its troops had been deployed, after Azeri forces recaptured the area last year despite a two-year Russian mission to prevent war between Azerbaijan and Armenia. A total

Woman killed, placed in icebox after trying to collect debt —police

A woman was killed and placed inside an icebox after allegedly trying to collect a debt from the suspect in Trece Martires City, Cavite, according to the police on Thursday. According to a report from the Philippine National Police's Police Regional Office 4A (PRO 4A), authorities received a phone call reporting that a dead body had been found inside an icebox in Barangay Hugo Perez on Wednesday. The victim was identified as Mari Joy Singayan....

Why Egypt backed South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the ICJ

Angered by Israel’s moves in Gaza and the regional security risks they pose, Egypt joined the genocide case.

Controlled explosion 'at back of pre-school'

Met Police are now leading the investigation and a man is held under the Terrorism Act.

Court averts water cut in Cagayan de Oro

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — A local court has temporarily eased the worries of some 40,000 households here whose taps could run dry due to an unresolved dispute between the water district and its bulk supplier. On Tuesday night, Mayor Rolando Uy announced that Regional Trial Court Branch 17 Judge Ana Candida Casiño issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Cagayan de Oro Bulkwater Inc. (Cobi) and Rio Verde Water Consortium Inc....

Solicitor General’s probe team formed vs Bamban Mayor Guo

MANILA, Philippines—The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has organized a team to determine if Bamban Mayor Alice Guo has the legal right to hold a public position. Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra said the team was created last week. “We are presently coordinating with various agencies,” Guevarra told INQUIRER.net. He said coordination with various agencies is meant to gather “relevant facts and information” regarding the case of the...

Aussies turn on tenant who blasted Anthony Albanese over eviction

Jim Flanagan, 45, has lived in one of Mr Albanese's investment properties in the inner-west Sydney suburb of Dulwich Hill for four years.

Rift in Israel war cabinet as defence chief opposes ‘military rule’ in Gaza

Israeli Defense Minister Gallant challenges PM Netanyahu over failure to address issue of post-war plan for Gaza.

House wants parallel investigation of Bamban mayor Alice Guo

MANILA, Philippines — House lawmakers are eyeing a parallel investigation of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, who is being investigated by the Senate over allegations she may be a Chinese asset who has infiltrated the government by winning the local post in 2022. During a regular press briefing, House Assistant Majority Leaders AKO Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon and La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega said it was “possible” to have a parallel investigation in...

Man arrested after disorder at Bristol pub

Police said several people suffered injuries after the disorder at The Rising Sun in Bristol.

Marcos: I won’t allow destabilization, division in our nation

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday stressed that he would fend off any destabilization plot against his administration. “We will also not allow agents within the country to destabilize our government and create division within our nation,” Marcos said during his Talk to Troops at Camp Edilberto Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City. “So, I urge all of you to continue to [demonstrate] your loyalty, patriotism, and service to your...

House panel to probe killings in Duterte war on drugs

The House human rights panel will investigate the drug war deaths during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte on May 22, House human rights panel chairman Bienvenido Abante said Thursday. Abante said the inquiry, which will be attended by the relatives of drug war victims, police officers, and Cabinet officials from the Duterte administration, remains significant and timely in the interest of justice. “Ang tanong siguro ng iba,...

Delivery driver helps police find £87K cannabis farm

The driver called police because he could smell cannabis at a property with covered-up windows.

Police take back building from protesters at University of California, Irvine

By Daniel Trotta and Mike Blake IRVINE, California (Reuters) -Police on Wednesday took back a lecture hall from pro-Palestinian protesters who for hours occupied the building at the University of California, Irvine, then cleared a student encampment that stood for more than two weeks, witnesses said. Officers from about 10 nearby law-enforcement agencies converged on the campus after university

‘Atin Ito’ convoy breaches China’s blockade at Bajo de Masinloc

MANILA, Philippines — An advance team sent a day before the civilian convoy for the West Philippine Sea embarked on a voyage to Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal has reached the area and breached China’s blockade, according to Atin Ito (This is Ours) Coalition. In a Facebook post on Thursday, the coalition said the 10-member advance team comprised of members from Akbayan Party, Pambansang Katipunan ng mga Samahan sa Kanayunan and the Philippine Rural...

Putin and Xi reaffirm Russia-China friendship in a Beijing state visit

Iloilo under state of calamity due to El Niño

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The provincial board of Iloilo on Tuesday placed the province under a state of calamity due to damage wrought by the El Niño phenomenon on agriculture, which topped P1 billion. The declaration, which was recommended by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC), enables the provincial government, through the PDRRM Office (PDRRMO), to utilize P75.78 million in allocated funds for its El Niño...

Chinese ships block convoy’s mother boat from reaching Scarborough

ABOARD FBCA BING BING — The mother boat of a civilian convoy aiming to bring supplies to Filipino fishermen could not reach Scarborough Shoal due to shadowing by China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels. “It is not advisable to proceed because it is already risky,” Ariel Bustillos, the captain of Fbca Bing Bing, told INQUIRER.net here in the West Philippine Sea. According to Bustillos, the Atin Ito coalition’s mother boat was about 50 nautical miles away...

Marcos hopes for closer ties with 6 countries

MANILA, Philippines — The government is looking forward to forging deeper diplomatic relations with different countries in Asia, Europe and Central America as President Marcos received their envoys in Malacañang on Tuesday. The nonresident ambassadors from Belarus, Ghana, Turkmenistan, Malta, the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua presented their credentials to Marcos who said that “distance should not get in the way of our continuing relations.”...

Valenzuela public schools 2024 grads to get P1,500 cash incentive

MANILA, Philippines — Over 16,200 candidates for graduation from Valenzuela public schools are set to receive a P1,500 cash incentive from the city government. The local government units announced on their Facebook page that the money will be given to each graduating student as an aid to their educational expenses. The distribution of the cash incentive will be from May 15 to 27. A total of 16,252 elementary and senior high school students from...

Xi and Putin condemn U.S., pledge closer ties as Russia advances in Ukraine

By Bernard Orr and Guy Faulconbridge BEIJING/MOSCOW (Reuters) -Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned what they cast as increasingly aggressive U.S. behaviour on Thursday and pledged to deepen their countries' already close defence and military ties. In a clear snub to Washington, whose top diplomat flew into China last month to try to persuade Beijing to

Murder investigation launched after woman's death

Three people are arrested after a woman in her 30s is found dead in east Belfast.

No mandatory graduation fees in all public schools in Marikina City

MANILA, Philippines — Graduating students of elementary and high school levels in public schools in Marikina City will have less to worry about their graduation expenses as their local government announced that they will not have to pay anything for their graduation. According to a Facebook post of the Marikina City Public Information Office on Wednesday, all graduation expenses will be handled by the local government. READ: Marikina lawmaker...

Worshippers locked in Nigeria mosque and set on fire

A suspected arsonist sprays a mosque with petrol and sets it on fire over a family dispute, police say.

Philippines-Norway MOA Paves Way for 25,000 Filipino Seafarers’ Deployment by 2029

The Philippine Embassy in Norway estimates that 25,000 Filipino seafarers can be deployed to Norwegian-owned vessels in three to five years following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Philippines’ Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA). Philippine Ambassador to Norway Enrico T. Fos hosted and witnessed the […] The post Philippines-Norway MOA Paves Way for 25,000 Filipino...

A Ukrainian naval drone has done hundreds of millions in damage to Russia

El Niño-hit communities in Mindanao assured of continuous gov’t aid

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed to continue extending aid to Mindanao communities affected by the El Niño phenomenon. The President led the turnover of different government assistance to El Niño-hit communities in Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental on Thursday. “Asahan po ninyo ang patuloy naming pag-iikot sa Mindanao at sa iba’t-ibang bahagi ng bansa upang masiguro na maihahatid namin ang tulong at...

Philippine group calls civilian mission in South China Sea a ‘major victory’

MANILA — A Philippine group leading a civilian supply mission in the South China Sea delivered food and fuel to Filipino fishermen despite being shadowed by Chinese vessels, its officials said on Thursday, calling it a “major victory”. Atin Ito (This is Ours) said a 10-member team sailed to the Scarborough Shoal a day before the […]

Suspect in photojournalist’s ambush rearrested in QC

One of the suspects behind the ambush of photojournalist Rene Joshua Abiad in 2023 was rearrested by the police last Tuesday, May 14. The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) arrested Jomari Campillo, 25, in front of the Quezon City Hall of Justice, following an arrest warrant issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 86. The arrest warrant stemmed from the cases of murder and three counts of frustrated murder against Campillo and his...

US prisoners are being assigned dangerous jobs. But what happens if they are hurt or killed?

PHOENIX (AP) — Blas Sanchez was nearing the end of a 20-year stretch in an Arizona prison when he was leased out to work at Hickman’s Family Farms, which sells eggs that end up in the supply chains of huge companies like McDonald’s, Target and Albertsons. While assigned to a machine that churns chicken droppings into compost, his right leg got pulled into a chute with a large spiraling augur. “I could hear ‘crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch,’”...

Russian forces are trying to take Ukrainian village 30km from Kharkiv, says RIA

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian forces are preparing to try to take a village called Lyptsi located about 30 km (19 miles) north of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, according to a Russian-installed official quoted by Russia's RIA state news agency. Russia last week opened a new front in the Ukraine war by pushing swiftly over the border into the Kharkiv region of northeastern Ukraine with small

Marcos tasks LWUA to study possible management of CDO Water District

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. on Thursday directed the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) to study the possible management of the Cagayan de Oro (CDO) Water District to address water supply issues. In his speech during the distribution of assistance in CDO, Marcos said he already talked to business tycoon Manny Pangilinan, owner of Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Incorporated (COBI), about the matter. ''Pumayag po si Mr....

US soldier held in Russia pleads guilty, RIA agency reports

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Gordon Black, a U.S. soldier being held in the Russian city of Vladivostok, has pleaded guilty to theft charges and is cooperating with investigators, Russia's RIA state news agencies reported on Thursday. "He is cooperating (with the investigation), he admitted (guilt)," RIA cited a representative of the local interior ministry as saying. Black could not be reached for

China challenges aircraft of senators bound for Pag-asa Island

KALAYAAN, PALAWAN—China issued a radio challenge Thursday to a private aircraft carrying Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Deputy Majority Leader JV Ejercito before landing at Pag-asa Island. The three lawmakers visited the largest island in the Kalayaan Island Group for the groundbreaking of a new barracks inside the Emilio Liwanag Naval Station and a Super Rural Health Unit in this municipality. The same...

Comelec gets stricter: No more ‘placeholder’ ploys

MANILA, Philippines — For the 2025 midterm elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has banned the substitution of poll aspirants who withdraw from the race at the last minute to open a spot for reserve candidates. In an interview with reporters, Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia said the poll body approved during Wednesday’s en banc session a resolution disallowing substitutions beyond the designated period for filing certificates of...

Improving education in PH is Marcos' top priority

Improving the quality of education in the country is a top priority, President Marcos said, stressing that it is the "most important service" the government must provide. READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2024/5/15/improving-education-in-ph-is-marcos-top-priority Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin Visit our website at http://mb.com.phFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletinTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletinInstagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletinTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin #ManilaBulletinOnline#ManilaBulletin#LatestNews

Four dead in New Caledonia riots, France declares state of emergency

By Kirsty Needham, Juliette Jabkhiro and Augustin Turpin SYDNEY/PARIS (Reuters) -France declared a state of emergency on the Pacific island of New Caledonia on Wednesday after three young indigenous Kanak and a police official were killed in riots over electoral reform. The state of emergency, which entered into force at 5 a.m. local time (1800 GMT), gives authorities additional powers to ban

Bone found during missing Japan steel worker search

Police say DNA tests will be carried out to see if the remains are those of the 30-year-old employee.

Pag-asa residents 'safe' from Chinese invasion, says Defense chief

PAG-ASA ISLAND, Palawan — Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro believes that the residents here, numbering less than 200, are safe from Chinese invasion since "no right thinking nation will attack civilians." Teodoro was asked whether the civilian residents were safe amid the constant presence of Chinese Coast Guard vessels and Chinese maritime militia ships loitering near the island. Pag-asa is the biggest among the Philippine territories within...

US says warship Mason intercepted Houthi missile, vessel Destiny untouched

DUBAI (Reuters) -The U.S. navy's destroyer the USS Mason intercepted an inbound Houthi anti-ship missile over the Red Sea on Monday, U.S. Central Command said in a statement, after Yemen's Houthis said on Wednesday that they had targeted the warship. The U.S. forces also destroyed two drones, Central Command said. On Wednesday the Houthis said they had also targeted a vessel called "Destiny" in

Cyclist in 70s dies in crash near railway station

Kent Police is looking for witnesses to the fatal crash on Tuesday.

Powerball numbers revealed

Half of the Australia's adult population were expected to buy a ticket for Thursday night's $100million jackpot in the hope of snaring a lifechanging windfall. Here are the winning numnbers.

China and Russia ties shown to the world stronger than ever

China and Russia are sending messages to the world as their ties are stronger than ever. Putin has arrived for a state visit and signed a new partnership agreement with President Xi as he looks for support over Ukraine war.

Patrols stepped up along 'racetrack' village bypass

Leicestershire Police says the warmer weather has led to an increase in car meets.