News

LOOK: Manila's newest sensation

ABS-CBN News
Jan 30 10:43 PM | Updated Jan 31 02:09 AM

Is Manila Bay the new Boracay? Read more »

Philippines to expand railway network as key economic policy

Kyodo News
Jan 30 10:11 PM

The Philippine government is pressing ahead with a plan, dismissed by critics as unrealistic, to expand the national railway network from just 77 kilometers to 1,900 km in three years as the core of its economic stimulus policy.   Read more »

FACT CHECK: No, the new national ID is not yet available

Agence France-Presse
Jan 30 07:08 PM | Updated Jan 30 07:10 PM

A Facebook post that has been shared tens of thousands of times claims that a new Philippine national identity card is now available. Philippine authorities said the claim is false and the application process for the new national ID card has not yet begun. Read more »

FACT CHECK: No, the US State Department has not announced travel sanctions on VP Robredo

Agence France-Presse
Jan 30 04:26 PM

An article that has been shared thousands of times since it was first posted on Facebook in 2017 claims that the "US Department of States" has imposed travel sanctions on Philippine Vice President Leonor 'Leni' Robredo.  Read more »

FACT CHECK: No, Bongbong Marcos did not write a free education bill

Agence France-Presse
Jan 30 02:10 AM

A post shared hundreds of times by multiple Facebook accounts claims that Philippine politician Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the "original" author of a senate bill that mandates free education for students at state colleges and universities. Read more »

Opposition bets go direct via 'door-to-door' campaigning

ABS-CBN News
Jan 29 09:57 PM

The Liberal Party is supporting 8 senatorial candidates using the tag "Otso Diretso." Read more »

Talking trade, peace process, and Miss Universe with Australia’s new ambassador to the Philippines

Annalisa Burgos
Jan 28 10:32 PM | Updated Jan 28 10:46 PM

For Filipinos, there’s no gray area when it comes to where this year’s Miss Universe comes from. Which is why diffusing any bad blood over the Australian media’s claim to Miss Universe Catriona Gray has become one of the more unique jobs of the new Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steve Robinson. Read more »

Philippines cathedral bombing sparks peace process worries

Ayee Macaraig, Agence France-Presse
Jan 28 03:54 PM

The Islamic State-claimed bombing of a Catholic cathedral that killed 20 in the Philippines' restive south put fresh pressure Monday on peace efforts aimed at ending decades of separatist violence. Read more »

Who is behind the Jolo church bombings?

Martin Petty, Reuters
Jan 28 03:17 PM

Philippines security forces investigating a deadly twin bombing at a church on a predominantly Muslim southern island are zeroing in on what they say is an affiliate of the militant Abu Sayyaf Group. Read more »

Ferry bomb to Marawi siege: Philippines' worst attacks

Agence France-Presse
Jan 27 11:44 PM

The Philippines has struggled for decades to end a Muslim separatist insurgency in its south, which has killed tens of thousands and left the region mired in poverty. Read more »

Only 2% of crimes committed by kids, says children's rights group

ABS-CBN News
Jan 27 06:26 PM | Updated Jan 27 06:46 PM

Holding 12-year-old children criminally liable will not address the problem of criminality in the country, the leader of a children's rights group said Sunday.  Read more »

After Bangsamoro Organic Law is ratified, now comes the hard part

Patrick Quintos, ABS-CBN News
Jan 25 11:30 PM | Updated Jan 26 12:41 AM

After the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law comes the hard part of homeland building and keeping the peace. It's going to be a "very long struggle," MILF leader Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim tells ABS-CBN News Read more »

Securing Bangsamoro’s ‘crown jewel’: How Cotabato City was won

Christian V. Esguerra, ABS-CBN News
Jan 25 03:57 PM

This week’s plebiscite produced a rather stunning result: majority of the residents voted to join the new region that will replace the ARMM. Read more »

Hontiveros: Lowering age of criminal liability 'immoral, unnecessary, ineffective'

ABS-CBN News
Jan 25 05:09 AM

MANILA - Lowering the age of criminal responsibility, whether 9 or 12, is immoral, unnecessary, and ineffective, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Thursday. Read more »

FACT CHECK: No, Obama is not supporting PH opposition candidates

Agence France-Presse
Jan 24 07:18 PM | Updated Jan 24 08:23 PM

A picture shared by a Facebook group with thousands of members purports to show former US president Barack Obama holding a t-shirt and his wife Michelle wearing a dress bearing campaign emblems of the Philippine opposition party.  Read more »

LIST: Age of criminal liability in some Asian countries

Aleta Nieva Nishimori, ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 10:45 PM

MANILA – The Philippines may soon have a new law that would lower the age of criminal responsibility from the current 15 years old.   Read more »

Jail 9-year-olds? Psychologist details why it's 'morally, neurologically' wrong

Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 03:57 PM | Updated Jan 23 06:33 PM

From a neurological standpoint, areas of the human brain involved in moral attitudes only reach maturity in the mid-20s, said the doctor.  Read more »

Low-carb? World’s changing diet no bane for rice farmers

Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 03:10 PM

Is the movement towards leaner eating a bane to producers of rice, among the world’s leading sources of carbs?  Read more »

Why most Cotabato City voters voted 'yes' for Bangsamoro law

Gillan Ropero, ABS-CBN News
Jan 23 01:25 AM

The ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law in Cotabato City was due to the influence of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and traditional politicians, an analyst said Tuesday.  Read more »

Online store lets you buy straight from farmers, help them earn amid veggie 'oversupply'

Rose Carmelle Lacuata, ABS-CBN News
Jan 22 07:43 PM | Updated Jan 22 08:39 PM

Consumers from Metro Manila can now avail of fresh fruits and vegetables straight from farmers in Benguet. Read more »

READ: House bill lowering age of criminal liability to 9

ABS-CBN News
Jan 22 06:46 PM

The proposed measure seeks to amend provisions of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 which exempts children 15 years old and below from criminal liability.  Read more »

After Bangsamoro plebiscite, hopes are high but no quick fixes expected

Patrick Quintos, ABS-CBN News
Jan 22 05:13 PM | Updated Jan 22 07:30 PM

While the Bangsamoro law provides a space for reforms that may finally bring peace in the south, changes will not come overnight, says a peace advocate.  Read more »

READ: What will happen to kids in conflict with the law under new House bill?

Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News
Jan 22 04:16 PM | Updated Jan 22 04:44 PM

The House of Representatives justice panel swiftly approved on Monday a bill seeking to lower the criminal age of liability to 9 years old. Read more »

UN Environment, IRRI, partners seek sustainable rice, launch production standards

Tarra Quismundo, ABS-CBN News
Jan 22 02:56 PM | Updated Jan 22 05:31 PM

How does the world respond to the rice demand without harming the environment amid challenges posed by climate change? Read more »

What's behind autonomy vote in Mindanao?

Martin Petty, Reuters
Jan 22 03:07 AM

MANILA - Predominantly Muslim areas of the mainly Catholic Philippines took part in a plebiscite on Monday to decide whether power should be devolved to a locally elected administration in one of Southeast Asia's most conflict-torn regions. Read more »