Lacson announced his decision to step down as Senate Blue Ribbon Chair
Senator Panfilo Lacson file photo – (Senate of the Philippines / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0) Senator Panfilo Lacson announces his decision to step down as chair of the…
Category: Dateline Philippines
Covering the week’s most noteworthy news stories in the Philippines for the Filipino-American and Global Filipino community.
Read More
AFP chief Brawner denies coup rumors, warns destabilization would set nation back
AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S Brawner Jr – Armed Forces of the Philippines file photo MANILA — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner…
Kiko Barzaga calls for Marcos resignation, testing limits of ‘meow’ politics in Congress
Known for his self-styled “Congressmeow” persona, Kiko Barzaga, relaxes with rescued cats in his district and often brings one to the House of Representatives. His animal welfare advocacy is central to his…
Court closes De Lima drug case as Muntinlupa judge reaffirms acquittal
Rep. Leila de Lima House of Representatives file photo MANILA — On October 1, 2025, the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 formally closed the last drug case against…
Philippine economy under pressure
International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Tdorante10 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons) The widening flood-control scandal is eroding confidence in the Philippine economy, driving the peso lower…
PICC reopens as renewed stage for art, culture, and diplomacy
Former First Lady Imelda Marcos, assisted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Louise Araneta-Marcos, led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the reopening of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in…
Vico Sotto and Manny Jacinto named among TIME’s most influential rising stars
Mayor Vico Sotto of Pasig City – Photo Credit : City Government of Pasig / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) TIME Magazine has included Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto and Filipino…
Senate and the DOJ clash over witness protection: must applicants return public funds first?
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla (left) and Senator Rodante Marcoleta (right) clashed over whether applicants for witness protection must return alleged ill-gotten wealth before being admitted into the program,…
Discaya couple has testified before ICI, lawyer says
Pacifico “Curlee” and Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya (PNA photo by Avito Dalan) MANILA — The contractors at the center of the Philippines’ widening flood-control scandal have already given testimony before the Independent…
Strong earthquake rocks Cebu: casualties rise, homes and heritage shrine among damaged structures
Cebu Governor Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro addresses media and constituents after the September 30, 2025 earthquake, stressing safety inspections of public buildings and assuring communities that the provincial government is fully…
PH lawmaker Zaldy Co resigns as flood-control probe intensifies
Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co. (Photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau) Manila – Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, a party-list lawmaker representing Ako Bicol, resigned on Monday, Sept….
Baguio Mayor Magalong quits as ICI adviser; retired PNP chief Azurin to take over
Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (left) resigned as ICI adviser citing conflict-of-interest concerns. Retired Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr. was named as his replacement. (Photos from City Government of…
Peso slips past ₱58 per dollar as corruption fears weigh on confidence
The Philippine peso slipped past ₱58 per US dollar as flood-control corruption fears and US dollar strength shook investor confidence, raising inflation risks but boosting OFW remittances. MANILA — The Philippine…
₱457m cash withdrawals put Land Bank under Senate probe in flood-control scandal
The Land Bank of the Philippines Malolos Highway branch is under Senate scrutiny after revelations that contractors linked to the ₱545-billion flood-control scandal withdrew hundreds of millions of pesos in…
Palace keeps distance as ICC case against Duterte is postponed
MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday, September 24, reiterated that it has “no reaction” to the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) charges against former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, emphasizing that the Philippine government is…
Discayas, ex-DPWH engineers placed under DOJ protection in flood-control scandal
Contractors Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya (left), along with former DPWH officials Henry C. Alcantara, Brice Ericson P. Hernandez, and Jaypee Mendoza (right, top to bottom), are…
Charges pile up as Zaldy Co, Villanueva, Estrada, and Revilla face flood-control controversy
Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co of Ako Bicol Party-list, implicated in Senate hearings and DOJ–NBI findings on alleged flood-control anomalies involving billions in public works contracts. (House of Representatives photo) The…
September 21 rallies press Marcos government on corruption probe
Thousands of Filipinos called for accountability over anomalous flood-control projects. The day began with a Mass at the EDSA Shrine led by Fr. Jerome Secillano, followed by a march to…
ICI slams tampering of DPWH records in flood control probe
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon orders the suspension of Baguio City District Engineer Rene Zarate for allegedly refusing to cooperate in the government’s probe of flood-control projects. Dizon is shown speaking…
Marcos Cancels UN General Assembly Trip, DFA Secretary to Represent Philippines
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro, shown in her official 2025 portrait, will lead the Philippine delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York after President Ferdinand…
PH Right-of-way law seen boosting critical infrastructure projects
Photo Courtesy of DPWH / PIA New ARROW Act aims to cut delays, reduce costs, and speed up delivery of public services MANILA — A new law streamlining the acquisition of land…
Lacson flags ₱207-B DPWH awards to Discaya firms; family denies wrongdoing
Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Senate president pro tempore and chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, leads questioning during the inquiry on alleged flood-control contract irregularities. (Senate PRIB photo) Senate hearings…
Tony Meloto faces qualified sex trafficking indictment, denies allegations
Tony Meloto, award-winning social entrepreneur and founder of Gawad Kalinga, has denied allegations in an ABS-CBN interview following his DOJ indictment. (Photo from The World Economic Forum) DOJ cites abuse…
Gretchen Barretto files counter affidavit, denies role in missing sabungeros case
Gretchen Barretto waves to reporters as she arrives at the Department of Justice in Manila on Friday, September 19, 2025, to personally submit her counter-affidavit denying allegations linking her to…
Romualdez’ exit as Speaker of the House draws renewed attention to wife in Congress
Rep. Yedda Marie Kittilsvedt Romualdez is a former beauty queen and now serves in the House of Representatives under the Tingog Party-list. – Photo credit: Tingog Party-list / Office of…
CHED chair flags English communication as Filipinos’ weakest skill
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis has identified English communication as the weakest skill among Filipinos, urging higher education institutions to strengthen workforce readiness. – Photo credit:…
Philippines sees major leadership shake-up as Romualdez quits, Dy elected House Speaker
Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez (left) and Isabela Rep. Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, photographed in their official portraits as members of the 20th Congress. – Photo credit: House of Representatives…
Marcos finalizes lineup of independent commission on flood-control projects, launches full probe
The newly formed Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is headed by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres Bernal Reyes Jr., with former DPWH Secretary Rogelio “Babes” L. Singson and SGV & Co. Country Managing Partner Rossana…
Church, civil society lead Metro Manila rallies vs corruption
The Rizal Monument at Luneta (left) and the EDSA People Power Monument (right) serve as the twin stages of the Sept. 21, 2025 rallies, “Baha sa Luneta” in the morning…
The Senate Saga: A Mirror of Wealth and Misplaced Priorities
Symbols of excess set against flood-ridden communities in the Philippines, where ordinary people wade through disease-infested waters: a garage filled with luxury cars, a Rolls-Royce prized for its built-in umbrella,…