Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
The relationship between Japan and the Philippines in the security field has been strengthened in recent years. In 2023, Japan provided the Philippines with an airborne surveillance radar system.
President Marcos on March 22 called on all cabinet members to submit their resignations, paving the way for a "major government reset" aimed at better meeting public expectations following disappointing results in the recent midterm elections.
About 163,000 police officers have been deployed nationwide to ensure security at polling stations, in coordination with the military, fire brigades and other support units. In addition, the government has extended the early voting period for the elderly and people with disabilities, starting at 5 am on May 12.
The Philippines’ economic transformation will be driven by initiatives that promote new growth drivers while strengthening existing sectors, with private sector involvement playing a key role, particularly in infrastructure and investments that will deliver lasting impact and shared prosperity.
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported on April 17 that a vessel capsized off the coast of Occidental Mindoro province in the Philippines' western part, leaving at least four dead and seven others missing.
Local authorities are closely monitoring the impact of the ash column on residential areas, and they are recommending the closure of offices and schools as a precautionary measure.
The DOH said tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates over 8 million annual deaths attributable to tobacco.
US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s strong commitment to its alliance with the Philippines during his official visit to the Southeast Asian country on March 28.
The Philippine government on March 15 said it will not intervene in the legal defence mounted by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte as he faces charges of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
In a video posted on the Rody Duterte Facebook page, the former president said he told the police and military to just do their job and he will take responsibility for everything.
The Philippine National Police on March 11 morning executed the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with his controversial policy in the war on drugs while in office, which left thousands of people dead.
The Philippine Department of Agriculture said the rapid spread of bird flu in a short period since the first laboratory detection necessitates a wider coverage of trade restrictions. It had previously banned poultry imports from Illinois, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Maryland, and Missouri.
A Philippine Air Force (PAF) FA-50 fighter jet carrying two-member crew went missing on March 4 during an aerial support mission for ground forces in southern Mindanao.
With temperatures expected to hit 33 degrees Celsius on March 3, local authorities in Manila and six other cities ordered classrooms closed as a precaution.
Philippine Secretary of National Defence Gilberto Teodoro said stressed the need for a strong partnership between the Philippines and Japan to prevent any unilateral efforts to change the existing global framework.
The Philippine Department of Health (DOH) on February 21 reported that there are more than 43,000 dengue cases recorded all over the country as of February 15.
The Philippine Government is considering a ban on raw nickel ore exports to boost its domestic processing industry, which could lead to higher international nickel prices.
Last year, the Philippines managed to thwart a hacking attempt allegedly from China, which targeted presidential websites and email systems and a number of government agencies.
