Philippines

Should these negotiations between the Philippines and China take place during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York later this month, foreign affairs secretary Enrique Manalo is ready to represent the country.  Responding to questions on who will represent Manila at the prestigious event, Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to the United States, Manalo’s participation is meant to …

Monday the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality took significant step citing Alice Guo, the dismissed mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, in contempt for the second time.  This decision highlights the committee’s ongoing concerns on the veracity and credibility of Guo’s remarks during Senate sessions. The behavior fits a more general examination of grave charges against Guo, …

Alice Guo, the ousted mayor of Bamban, Tarlac, was captured earlier this week when Indonesian authorities traced her using an active SIM card in her cell phone. Thanks to thorough Bureau of Immigration (BI) tracking and local law enforcement, Guo, who had been avoiding authorities in the Philippines for months, was apprehended in Tangerang City, Indonesia.  SimCard Arrest and Trace …

On Thursday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said it is under talks on a possible prisoner swap to help former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo with her extradition. Guo was caught early this week in Tangerang City, Indonesia, on a run spanning several months. She is sought in the Philippines for a variety of illegal activities, including likely participation in …

Once taken under scandal, former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo was arrested in Indonesia in a big event attracting national notice. Underlining her claimed involvement in various illegal activities, this arrest, confirmed by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) on Wednesday represents a turning point in the ongoing legal and criminal investigations into the former mayor. Early on Wednesday, September …

2024 has been a horrible year for the Philippines, a nation well accustomed to the power of nature. But this year the country has suffered an unheard-before typhoon attack that has tested both the will of its people and the capability of its disaster response systems.  Having made landfall, five strong storms—Aghon, Butchoy, Carina, Dindo, and Enteng—have left an incredible …

Though the SIM Card Registration Law has recently passed, cybercrimes in the country are advancing quickly. Concerned about the government’s readiness to carry out Republic Act 11934, often known as the SIM Card Registration Law, a group of Information Technology experts from the Computer Professionals’ Union has sounded the alert. The Union claimed that many people have had considerable difficulty …

Often called the “Summer Capital of the Philippines,” Baguio City is well-known for its bustling and varied dining scene in addition to its cool climate and gorgeous surroundings. This mountain refuge offers a gastronomic trip appropriate for a wide range of palates with its combination of colonial past and regional culture.  From elegant fine dining establishments to rustic farm-to–table businesses, …

Arrested in Indonesia and arrived in the Philippines on August 22, 2024, Cassandra Li Ong—a key player in an ongoing investigation on unlawful Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs)— Her arrest has attracted a lot of attention since she allegedly participated in illicit POGO activities—mostly related with a busted facility in Porac, Pampanga. Ong’s returning to the Philippines was a significant …

Officially, Carlos Yulo, the Olympic gold medallist who made great pride for the Philippines with his exceptional performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has claimed he would not be liable for taxes on the big prizes, awards, and presents he acquired in the wake of his historic achievements. Based on the clauses of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), this …