TARLAC CITY PIOFORMER Quezon City (QC) Mayor Herbert M. Bautista was found guilty of graft over a P32.1-million procurement deal with a local software company in 2019, the Philippine anti-graft court said on Monday.In a 146-page decision, released on Jan. 20, the Sandiganbayan Special Seventh

COURTESY OF DBP FACEBOOK PAGETHE HOUSE of Representatives on Monday approved on second reading a measure seeking to raise the Development Bank of the Philippines’ (DBP) authorized capital stock to P300 billion from P35 billion.Through voice voting, congressmen agreed to House Bill (HB) No. 11230,

PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD PHOTOTHE PHILIPPINE Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill that would fix the term of the commandant of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to three years, expected to ensure stability in the agency’s leadership structure amid maritime tensions.Twenty

PHILIPPINE STAR/MICHAEL VARCASTHE Philippine Congress should fast-track the approval of proposed laws to make food affordable, a congressman said on Monday, as the Agriculture department looks to declare a food security emergency to curb mounting food prices.Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said last

NBI FACEBOOK PAGETHE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday said it arrested a Chinese man, and two Filipino cohorts believed to be using surveillance types of equipment for espionage around military sites.In a briefing in Manila City, Director Jaime B. Santiago said they apprehended

MAYNILAD Water Services, Inc. said it is nearing the completion of its P330-million pipe replacement project in South Caloocan, aimed at enhancing water pressure and reducing water losses in the area.“This initiative is part of our P11.2-billion investment in pipe replacement projects from 2023 to

UNSPLASHA SENATOR on Monday called for more mechanisms to boost transparency and accountability in the use of the Special Education Fund, which is meant to cover school building repairs, maintenance, and construction, after reports of the fund’s misuse and underspending.In a statement, Senator Sherwin T.

PHC.GOV.PHTHE Commission on Audit (CoA) has flagged the Philippine Heart Center for violating the 2019 Universal Healthcare Act by failing to provide patients with an accessible price list of all health services and goods.In a December report, state auditors said the state’s heart hospital lacks

RAWPIXEL.COM-FREEPIKBAGUIO CITY — Four alleged drug traders, whose names were withheld by authorities, were caught with 11.2 grams of crystal meth (shabu), worth over P76,000, during a raid Sunday morning in Barangay Irisan, here.Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. David K. Peredo said operatives from the

COTABATO CITY — The Army collected 20 more combat weapons on Saturday, turned in by Moro villagers in Talitay, Maguindanao del Norte in support of a disarmament program complementing the Mindanao peace process.Lt. Gen. Antonio G. Nafarrete, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID),

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALESTHE Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Monday that it is expecting the harvest of palay (unmilled rice) this year to exceed 20 million metric tons (MMT), with officials seeking to fund a rice productivity program for an additional P10 billion.In a statement,

PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALESTHE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) further reduced the fee paid by electronic games (e-games) operators to 30% of revenue to further encourage underground gaming operators to become licensees.The fee had earlier been reduced to 35% in April.In a statement, PAGCOR