Leyte gov seeks national aid for El Niño preparations

Who is Zofia Canlas? The controversial urban poor commissioner

MANILA, Philippines – The newly appointed commissioner of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) has drawn scrutiny from the public for her fashion-forward lifestyle and lavish trips abroad, which appear to contrast sharply with her role at the agency. Zofia Canlas, who was sworn in as PCUP commissioner at 27 years old, graduated

Graft trial of ex-BFP chief Fernandez begins, number of witnesses cut

MANILA, Philippines — The graft trial of former Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) chief Jesus Fernandez before the Sandiganbayan Third Division began on Wednesday. The prosecution further trimmed its number of witnesses from nine to six. Fernandez's case stemmed from an alleged P4 million bribemade to him which he purportedly received in connection with the

PCG divers join search for missing farmer in Bukidnon river

VALENCIA CITY, Bukidnon — A specialized Philippine Coast Guard scuba diving team from Cagayan de Oro City reinforced the search and retrieval operation on Wednesday for a farmer who went missing at a river here. Rocky Bitos, 38, a resident of Barangay Colonia, went missing on Sunday after powerful currents of the Manupai River overwhelmed

Prosecutors file formal offer of evidence in Sara Duterte trial

MANILA, Philippines — House prosecutors have submitted their formal offer of evidence to the Senate impeachment court in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, prosecution adviser Robert Ace Barbers said on Wednesday. Barbers said the prosecutorial panel submitted its evidence on Tuesday evening, providing the Senate with bank, tax, and corporate records. The team

Agusan del Sur logs 18 dengue deaths

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Two more individuals died from dengue in Agusan del Sur, bringing the death toll to 18 as of Tuesday, data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed. Since January 1, authorities recorded 2,775 dengue cases, with an overall fatality rate of 0.65 percent. The provincial government declared a province-wide

DOTr eyes automatic fare collection in Edsa busways before year-end

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Wednesday said that an automated fare collection system (AFCS) may be implemented before 2026 ends. This is to promote a hassle-free commuting for passengers.  According to Transport Secretary Giovanni Lopez, bus operators will be required to implement cashless options for fares in every busway station along

Pangilinan calls for national state of emergency due to Super El Niño

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Wednesday called for the declaration of a national state of emergency amid the adverse effects of the Super El Niño. Pangilinan issued his call during a Senate hearing on the P171.3-billion proposed budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA). READ: El Niño affects over 451,000 people in

Maguindanao village chief survives 17 bullets in daylight ambush

COTABATO CITY – A Maguindanao del Norte village chairman has miraculously survived 17 bullets fired by riding-in-tandem suspects in a daylight ambush in Barangay Awang, Datu Odin Sinsuat town on Tuesday afternoon. Municipal Mayor Abdulmain "Baba" Abas said Barangay Dinaig Proper chairperson Ahmad Jabiden sustained a very minor wound on his belly. Abas said Jabiden

Bong Revilla asks Sandiganbayan to junk P92M malversation case vs him

MANILA, Philippines — Former Sen. Bong Revilla asked the Sandiganbayan Third Division to dismiss his malversation case over an alleged ghost project in Bulacan worth over P92 million. The divisions clerk of court Dennis Pulma gave this information on Wednesday. Pulma told reporters that Revilla filed a motion for leave with an attached demurrer to evidence

Soldiers seize P29-M 'smuggled' cigarettes in Zamboanga del Sur

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – Soldiers intercepted at least P29 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during an early morning patrol in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur, on Wednesday. Troops from the Philippine Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion (IB), led by 1st Lt. Arnulfo Ramonez, were patrolling at around 12:30 a.m. in Barangay Old Labangan when

Pagasa raises Signal No. 2 in Batanes as Super Typhoon Rosal moves away

MANILA, Philippines — Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 was raised over Batanes as Super Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi) moved east of northern Luzon on Wednesday morning, according to the state weather bureau. In its 11 a.m. bulletin on Wednesday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the center of Rosal

Olongapo heat index hits 'danger level' of 44.6°C

SAN ANTONIO, Zambales— The heat index in Olongapo City reached 44.6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, remaining at dangerous levels as temperatures felt hotter than usual in parts of the city. Data from the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office showed the heat index at its Barretto automated weather station reached 44.6°C as of 8:56 a.m., while

SolGen to appeal SC ruling declaring 2024, 2025 budgets unconstitutional

[Updated Oct. 21, 2026, 2:44 p.m.] MANILA, Philippines The Office of the Solicitor General will file a motion for reconsideration to the Supreme Court (SC) to challenge its declaration that the 2024 and 2025 budgets are unconstitutional, Palace press officer Claire Castro said on Wednesday. This comes after the SC declared "unconstitutional" Congress's increase of the

PH ranks 15th in child protection index, trails in abuse prevention

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines ranks 15th among 60 countries assessed for their efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence against children, but its weaker performance in prevention highlights the limits of relying on legal sanctions alone. Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, Inquirer data scientist and an associate professor at the University of the Philippines

WATCH: Super Typhoon Rosal update leads INQToday's newscast

MANILA, Philippines – Here is INQToday's top stories this afternoon. Super Typhoon Rosal maintains its strength as several areas remain under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 and 2, prompting residents to stay alert for possible severe weather conditions. Meanwhile, an OCTA Research survey shows that most Filipinos want to see evidence against Vice President

Man shoots, wounds neighbor in Cavite over personal dispute

LUCENA CITY — A 34-year-old man with a speech impediment was wounded after he was shot over a personal dispute in Dasmariñas City, Cavite, on Tuesday, police reported. The victim was walking home from work when the suspect, a 55-year-old neighbor, approached him and allegedly fired a .38-caliber revolver, hitting him in the right shoulder,

House to probe interception of half-ton shabu shipment bound for PH

MANILA, Philippines The House Dangerous Drugs Committee is set to probe the attempted smuggling of 521 kilograms of shabu (methamphetamine) valued at P3.5 billion intercepted in Laos bound for the Philippines, its chairman Las Pinas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said on Wednesday. Santos said his panel summoned Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla

Small vessels kept off Northern Samar coasts due to Rosal

TACLOBAN CITY — The Philippine Coast Guard has temporarily suspended voyages of vessels with a gross tonnage of 250 and below along the Northern Samar coast due to strong to gale-force winds from Super Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi). In an advisory issued on Wednesday, the Coast Guard said the suspension covers vessels operating in

Rosal to bring heavy rains, gusty winds in parts of Northern, Southern Luzon

MANILA, Philippines — Super Typhoon Rosal (international name: Champi) will bring heavy rains and gusty winds over several areas in Northern and Southern Luzon from Wednesday to Friday. This forecast was given during the climate forum of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Weather specialist Benison Estareja said that while Rosal will