Here are the latest news and events that happened today, Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Marcos seeks responsible mining; says forest cover 'can be monetized'

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Saturday reiterated the importance of properly implementing mining laws in the country, and vowed that environmental protection and the economy should be balanced when it comes to boosting the sector. Speaking to reporters during the Philippine Military Academy's alumni homecoming in Baguio City, Marcos said his administration is "environment conscious." "It has See more...

Philippines records 158 new COVID-19 cases

The Philippines on Saturday logged 158 new COVID-19 cases, while the active tally rose to 9,188. According to the Department of Health, the new infections brought the nationwide caseload to 4,075,324, while the active cases climbed from 9,170 on Friday. In the past two weeks, the National Capital Region registered the highest number of new cases with 445. It was See more...

MMDA to probe enforcer allegedly bribed by Stephen Speaks crew

MANILA – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will investigate the traffic enforcer who was allegedly bribed by the crew of pop rock act Stephen Speaks after their vehicle reportedly committed a traffic violation. In a series of tweets, the MMDA said it will coordinate with LTO Chief Jay Art Tugade to look probe the now-viral post of Stephen See more...

Marcos: Laser-pointing incident partly escalatory, invoking MDT unnecessary

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Saturday that the laser-pointing incident is only a part of what constitutes an "escalatory act" that would intensify Philippine-China tension in the West Philippine Sea, and that invoking the Mutual Defense Treaty with the US is unnecessary. Also, Marcos said that he reminded Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian during their meeting in Malacañang after the February See more...

'That actually worked': Stephen Speaks chuckles at Manila road experience

MANILA - Acoustic pop rock act Stephen Speaks got an experience in Manila that any famous personality may be familiar with. In a Facebook post, the band said their Grab driver was pulled over by a traffic enforcer for a violation but was let off in exchange for a favor. "Our Grab (like Uber) driver just got pulled in Manila See more...

DILG orders manhunt vs ambushers of Lanao del Sur's Adiong

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos on Saturday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to conduct manhunt operations against the unidentified gunmen responsible for the ambush on Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal “Bombit” Alonto Adiong Jr. “Mariin kong kinokondena ang ginawang pag-ambush kay Governor Bombit at sa kanyang mga kasamahan. Agad akong nagbigay ng direktiba See more...

Quimbo: Charter change ‘necessary but not sufficient’ to curb corruption

Marikina City Representative Stella Quimbo said Saturday that amending the 1987 Constitution would be “necessary but not sufficient” to curb corruption in the country. Quimbo was responding to a question on how changing the Constitution will address the problem of corruption in the country during a public consultation on constitutional reform in San Jose Del Monte City, Bulacan. “It is See more...

Starstruck Season 4 contestant Jan Manual injured in car accident

Starstruck Season 4 contestant Jan Manual is currently receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in a car accident. Nelson Canlas reported on "24 Oras Weekend" on Saturday that Jan and his family were traveling to the hospital to get their two-month-old baby vaccinated when their car began to slide down the road. Jan tried to stop it himself when the See more...

Pageant queens banner Miss Universe PH official candidates

MANILA – Former runner-up finishers and past winners in various pageants spearheaded the official candidates of Miss Universe Philippines 2023. The Miss Universe Philippines organization on Saturday named the 40 candidates who will vie for the most coveted national crown in the county. Leading the pack are 2022 Miss Universe Philippines Tourism Michelle Dee and 2022 Miss Universe Philippines Charity See more...

'Threat to our sovereignty': Marcos won't allow ICC in PH for Duterte drug war probe

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Saturday said the International Criminal Court (ICC) has "no jurisdiction" over the Philippines to investigate former President Rodrigo Duterte for his bloody drug war, saying it is a "threat to our sovereignty." In a chance interview with reporters, Marcos said "there are many questions about their jurisdiction" in the Philippines to even See more...

DMW handang pauwiin ang mga OFW sa Turkey na naapektuhan ng lindol

MANILA -- Handa umanong pauwiin ng gobyerno ang mga overseas Filipino workers (OFW) na nais bumalik sa Pilipinas matapos ang kanilang dinanas na lindol sa Turkey at Syria. Ito ang naging pahayag ni Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac sa TeleRadyo nitong Sabado ng umaga kung saan aniya'y patuloy ang pagmomonitor ng mga kinauukulan sa mga nasalanta See more...

Filipino caregivers may look to Japan as nation of opportunities

Filipinos aspiring to work abroad can look to Japan as a country of opportunities. Japan is the 11th most populous nation in the world today with inhabitants exceeding 125 million based on the United Nations World Population Dashboard. While its population may be high, there is a steady imbalance in its demography attributed to the aging population. Based on the See more...

LMP­-Lanao Sur condemns attack on Gov. Adiong's convoy

Members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Lanao del Sur chapter on Saturday condemned the ambush on the convoy of the province's governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong Jr., which left four of his companions dead, and him wounded. “We the League of the Municipalities, represented by all the mayors in the Province of Lanao del Sur strongly condemn in all See more...

Rocco Nacino's blooper on 'Maria Clara at Ibarra' got us all laughing

Even a tough guy like Elias makes mistakes! On Facebook, actor Rocco Nacino shared a blooper that showed “Isa sa kapalpakan ni Elias.” In what looks like an intense scene, Elias and Fidel (David Licauco) are holding their rifles and hiding from enemies in the woods. Then Rocco says his line, but it’s totally out of Elias’ character. “Patuloy kaming See more...

Authorities seize P100 million in allegedly smuggled agricultural products

Authorities discovered more than P100 million in allegedly smuggled agricultural products in separate operations in Malabon and Manila. According to a report by Nico Waje on “24 Oras Weekend,” The Bureau of Customs (BOC), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) raided a cold storage facility in Barangay Catmon, Malabon City and found over 250,000 kilos See more...

MMFF receives 33 film submission for summer edition

MANILA – The upcoming first-ever summer edition of the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) received overwhelming support as 33 films submitted their application, hoping to join the April event. According to the MMFF, 23 of the 33 submissions were new movies while the other 10 were resubmissions from the December 2022 MMFF. MMDA Acting Chairman and MMFF overall See more...

ICC gives PH more time to file appeal on resumption of drug war killings probe

MANILA — The International Criminal Court has granted the Philippine government’s request for more time to file an appeal over an ICC pre-trial chamber’s ruling allowing the resumption of the probe on the killings in the drug war in the Philippines. In a decision dated Friday, February 17, the ICC Appeals Chamber extended until Monday, March 13, 2023 at See more...

Rain expected over the central Philippines, north Luzon –PAGASA

A low-pressure area (LPA) and the Northeast Monsoon or Amihan will bring rain over the central Philippines and northern Luzon, according to weather bureau PAGASA's Saturday afternoon forecast. Based on PAGASA’s 4 p.m. forecast, the LPA 315 kilometers northeast of Davao City or 175 kilometers east-northeast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur would bring cloudy conditions with scattered rain showers and See more...

Marcos Jr. says P708-B investments secured from Japan visit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday said he secured P708-billion worth of investments during his state visit in Japan earlier this month. In a new YouTube vlog, Marcos Jr. said the Japanese investments will boost the economy, transportation, and employment. "Php708-B worth of investments at sa libo-libong trabaho na malilikha nito, isang matatag na ekonomiya ang nakaabang sa See more...

Mary Delle Cascabel is Showtime’s ‘Girl on Fire’ grand winner

MANILA – Mary Delle Cascabel set the stage on fire as she was hailed as the grand winner of “It’s Showtime!” segment “Girl on Fire” on Saturday. Cascabel bested Kaye Alfafara and Beverly Ypon in the final three of the “Blazing Finale” of the competition to take home the P500,000 cash prize and an exclusive management contract from Star See more...

Marcos: Laws on responsible mining will continue to be enforced

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Saturday that laws on responsible mining must be enforced to protect the environment. At a media briefing in Baguio City, Marcos was asked about his policy direction towards protecting the environment in the Cordillera Administrative Region. “In terms of protecting the environment, it’s very clear what the position of this government has always See more...

Marcos: This country will not lose one inch of its territory

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday reiterated that the Philippines will not give up an inch of its territory. "This country will not lose one inch of its territory. We will continue to uphold our territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with our Constitution and with international law. We will work with our neighbors to secure the safety and security See more...

DTI on China laser-pointing: Geopolitics, business can't be separated

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Saturday that Chinese investments and trade with the Philippines had continued amid the territorial tensions between both countries. In a statement, DTI said that business and geopolitics or countries' political relations could not be separated. "A lot of Chinese investments would be... from state trading corporations and companies," said DTI Foreign Trade See more...

Bahagi ng bayan ng Monkayo, Davao de Oro, apektado ng baha at landslide dulot ng LPA

Nagdulot ng baha at landslide ang magdamag na ulan sa ilang bahagi ng Monkayo sa Davao de Oro nitong Sabado. Gumuho ang lupa sa Sitio Depot sa Barangay Upper Ulip sa bayan ng Monkayo dahil sa ulan. Tanging mga motorsiklo pa lang ang makakadaan sa kalsada na nabalot sa putik, pero patuloy ang clearing operations sa lugar. Nagkaroon din ng See more...

No studies on sources of funding for Maharlika — Escudero

Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero said there are no studies on the sources of funding for the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF). “Kada araw nagbabago depende kung sino ang kausap mo, nagbabago depende kung sinong congressman at senador ang kausap mo na nagsusulong nito. May kanya kanyang opinion sila, ang pinagbabatayan ko lamang ay ang nakasulat sa mga panukalang batas na See more...

Pinay na nasawi sa Turkey quake, nailibing na

MAYNILA - Nailibing na ang Filipina na nasawi dahil sa malakas na lindol sa Turkey. Sa Tayabas City, Quezon Province inilibing si Wilma Abulan Tezcan, ang isa sa dalawang Pinay na namatay sa lindol sa Turkey, matapos matabunan ng guho sa Hatay Province. Ang ama niyang si William Abulan, minsan nang pinayuhan si Wilma na umuwi na sa See more...

Marcos’ trip to Japan, meeting with businessmen yield orders, gains: DTI

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on Saturday touted the gains of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.'s meeting with businessmen in Japan, saying some of these have already materialized. Vichael Angelo Roaring, OIC of DTI's Foreign Trade Service Corps, said Filipino business delegates have spoken with their potential counterparts in Japan. Roaring noted that based on reports, See more...

Landslide tumama sa Bayugan, Agusan Del Sur

Muntik nang matabunan ang anim na bahay matapos magkaroon ng landslide nitong Sabado, February 18 sa Purok 10-Masabong, Bayugan 3, Rosario, Agusan del Sur. Ito ang ibinahagi ni Michael Rhay Hambala, punong barangay ng Bayugan 3. Kita sa mga larawang ibinahagi ng Bayugan 3 Search and Rescue ang pinsalang dala ng landslide sa Barangay Bayugan 3. Kwento See more...

COVID-19 infection gives similar immunity to vaccination — study

PARIS, France - The protection against COVID-19 from being previously infected lasts at least as long as that offered by vaccination, one of the largest studies conducted on the subject said on Friday. Ten months after getting COVID-19, people still had an 88 percent lower risk of reinfection, hospitalization and death, according to the study published in the Lancet journal. See more...

Gasoline, diesel price hikes expected on Tuesday –DOE

Gasoline and diesel prices are expected to increase on Tuesday, according to Bernadette Reyes’ “24 Oras Weekend” report on Saturday. The Department of Energy (DOE) said the possible price adjustment was due to reports that Russia would cut the production of crude oil. “Itong mga bansang nasa Europe, eh mapipilitang kumuha sa ibang other sources kung magkakaroon ng pagtaas ng See more...

DILG chief vows justice for victims of Lanao del Sur ambush

MANILA - Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur”Abalos, Jr. on Saturday vowed justice for the victims of the ambush incident in Lanao del Sur that wounded the provincial governor and killed four of his police escorts. "Mariin kong kinokondena ang ginawang pag-ambush kay Gov. Bombit at sa kaniyang mga kasamahan. Agad akong nagbigay ng direktiba sa PNP na magsagawa ng manhunt operations See more...

Contact lost with Cessna plane flying from Bicol –CAAP

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed that Bicol Airport air traffic controllers lost contact with a Cessna 340 airplane on Saturday morning. According to Mao dela Cruz's Super Radyo dzBB report, CAAP said the aircraft with registry number RP-C2080 departed Bicol International Airport at 6:43 a.m. Air traffic controllers last contacted the aircraft at 6:46 a.m., when See more...

Diokno: Gov't should be 'more aggressive' in fighting inflation

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said Saturday that the Executive Department has to be “more aggressive and focused” to tackle inflation, which reached a 14-year high in January. In a statement, Diokno said the “main sources of inflation remain on the supply side, which should be the responsibility of fiscal authorities.” “While evidence of second-round effects is increasing, the previous direct See more...

Curtismith, Leila Alcasid take relationship to next level

MANILA -- Singer-songwriter and rapper Curtismith and his girlfriend Leila Alcasid have taken their nearly five-year relationship to the next level. Just this pandemic, the couple has decided to live together to make things easier for both of them. “Both Leila and I decided on that and we really wanted to be together,” Curtismith told ABS-CBN News in the opening See more...

'Amid prevalence of online sexual abuse of children, parents must brush up on internet use'

MANILA - As the Philippines remains the top source globally of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials, an advocacy group said Saturday parents or guardians of minors must also improve on their knowledge and skills on internet use. Allan Nunez, Advocacy Specialist of ChildFund Philippines, said that with children now being regarded as “native online citizens” or “digital natives”, making See more...

CAAP: Another Cessna plane reported missing

MANILA, Philippines -- The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) confirmed Saturday that they are looking for another Cessna plane that went missing in Bicol. On board the small aircraft are four individuals: a pilot, co-pilot, and two passengers. In a memorandum, CAAP said the 6-seater Cessna (Caravan) 340 with tail number RP-C2080 took off at Bicol International See more...

How do I un-Regina?: Janella Salvador bids farewell to Regina, Valentina ‘for now’

MANILA – Actress Janella Salvador will rest her Regina Vanguardia and Valentina personas – for now. After her iconic role as the super villain on “Mars Ravelo’s Darna,” Salvador penned a goodbye letter to her characters Valentina and Regina Vanguardia in the series. Salvador took to Instagram to share a late farewell post for her characters that she enjoyed See more...

Filipina who died in Turkey quake laid to rest in Tayabas City

QUEZON PROVINCE — Wilma Tezcan, who died in an earthquake in Turkey, has been laid to rest at Heaven’s Garden Memorial Park in Tayabas City. Teczan's well-attended funeral on February 18 had both mourners, including her husband Gurol Tezcan, relatives and friends. William Abulad, Tezcan’s father, said that he advised his eldest daughter to consider settling down in See more...

Marcos won’t cooperate with ICC over sovereignty, jurisdictional issues

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Saturday he would not cooperate with the inquiry of the International Criminal Court (ICC) into the abuses in the campaign against illegal drugs of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte. Speaking to reporters in Baguio City, Marcos said his position on the ICC probe has not changed. “I have stated it often, even before I See more...

Airports see smoother summer travel than 2022 but brace for headaches

Global airports expect smoother travel this summer as staffing improves, but surging passenger demand during peak periods in Europe and North America could still bring long lines, baggage piles and delayed flights, an industry group said. Airports, airlines and government agencies have been staffing up to avoid crippling labor shortages that curbed capacity and led to travel headaches last summer. See more...

Presyo ng gulay, mas mababa dahil sa magandang panahon

Makakaasa ang mga mamimili ng mas murang halaga ng mga gulay sa mga pamilihan, ayon sa Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG). Ayon sa presidente ng grupo na si Rosendo So, maganda ang ani ng mga magsasaka bunsod ng magandang lagay ng panahon. "Harvest kasi ngayon, medyo maganda ang weather maski sa upland at lowland. Kung maganda naman ang harvest See more...

Japan, inaasahan na kukuha pa ng mga Filipino careworker

Hinahangaan umano ang husay ng mga Filipino careworker sa Japan kaya inaasahan na kukuha pa ng karagdagang manggagawang Pinoy ang naturang bansa para mag-alaga sa kanilang mga nakatatanda at maging sa mga bata. Sa ulat ni Ian Cruz sa GMA News "24 Oras" nitong Biyernes, sinabing nasa 125 milyon ang populasyon ng Japan batay sa world population dashboard ng United See more...

Theater review: KD, Alexa bring star magic to PETA's 'Walang Aray'

First performed in 1902, Severino Reyes' Tagalog zarzuela "Walang Sugat" told about the love story between Tenyong and Julia set during the Philippine Revolution of 1896, with music by Fulgencio Tolentino. The play was revived in 1971 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, Mike Velarde Jr. and Constancio de Guzman composed new music to augment Tolentino's original music which See more...

‘Kaloka’: Catriona Gray calls out ‘fake news peddler’ on Facebook

MANILA – Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray did not let a fake post about her get away, as she denied her involvement in a certain project. Gray called out Pinoy History Facebook page for spreading “fake news” about her inclusion to a film allegedly billed as “Papaano Kung ‘Di Namatay Si Jose Rizal?”. In the post, the beauty queen See more...

LPA, amihan to bring rain over parts of Philippines

At 3 a.m. on Saturday, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was estimated at 285 kilometers east Southeast of Davao City as the northeast monsoon bring rain over Luzon, PAGASA reported. Visayas, Caraga, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao, Bicol Region, Romblon, Marinduque, and Quezon will have cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms brought about by the LPA with possible flash See more...

PNP suspends permit to carry in parts of Mindanao after deadly ambush

BAGUIO CITY -- PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. says they have suspended Permit To Carry Firearms Outside of Residence or PTCFOR in three Mindanao provinces. This, after the ambush that wounded Lanao Del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto-Adiong Jr. and killed three of his escorts on Friday in Maguing town. "Actually we are suspending the PTCFOR on the following areas, See more...

3-anyos na bata sa Mandaue City, patay nang magulungan ng dump truck

Nasawi ang isang tatlong taong gulang na batang lalaki matapos siyang masagasaan ng dump truck sa Mandaue City, Cebu. Sa ulat ni Nikko Sereno ng GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak, na iniulat din sa Saksi, mapapanood sa CCTV ng Brgy. Paknaan na naghihintay ang biktimang si Gelo Detrago at ang kaniyang 7-anyos na kuya na makatawid sa abalang kalye. Ilang See more...

VP Duterte, Lanao del Sur mayors condemn Adiong ambush

Vice President Sara Duterte condemned Saturday the ambush that targeted Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal "Bombit" Alonto Adiong Jr. Duterte said "we should collectively reject this cowardly act of violence and demand that the perpetrators are immediately brought to justice." Mayors of Lanao del Sur also released a statement describing the incident as "an attack against us and a travesty See more...

LOOK: Anne Curtis gets tons of gifts on her birthday

MANILA – Kapamilya actress and host Anne Curtis could not help but gush over the love she received on her birthday. Curtis took to Instagram on Saturday to thank everyone who did not forget her special day. In her post, the “It’s Showtime!” host flaunted the gifts she got, which almost filled a room. The actress got a See more...