ZAMBOANGA CITY – Authorities have uprooted about 21,200 fully grown, high-grade marijuana plants valued at P18.2 million, and seized high-powered firearms during a law enforcement operation in two remote plantations in Sulu province on Thursday. Brig. Gen. Alaric Avelino Delos Santos, the Army’s 1102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said Friday that the marijuana plantations were discovered in the villages of Masjid Punjungan and Pitogo, both in Kalingalan Caluang town. “The scale, maturity, and quality of the plantations indicate an organized and well-established illegal cultivation operation situated in remote and difficult terrain,” Delos Santos said in his report. The alleged cultivators, identified as […]... Keep on reading: P18.2-million marijuana plants destroyed in Sulu

• Inquirer
• 20 saat, 24 dakika

Fans were abuzz after Maris Racal dropped a photo of her being cozy with Cup of Joe vocalist Gian Bernardino, with netizens speculating either romance or a collaboration between the two. Days before Valentine’s Day, the actress, via her Instagram page, showed herself holding a bouquet of flowers while Bernardo was sitting beside her, leaning on her shoulder. “plot twist,” her brief caption read, along with a white heart emoji. The post immediately became a trending topic on social media, so far garnering over 534,000 likes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maris Racal (@mariesteller) In a […]... Keep on reading: Maris Racal intrigues after 'plot twist' post with Cup of Joe’s Gian Bernardino

• Inquirer
• 20 saat, 28 dakika

PINAIIMBESTIGAHAN Lawmakers filed separate resolutions seeking a congressional probe into alleged Philippines-based operations that may have aided convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Read:

• Philstar.com
• 20 saat, 28 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed that it has started discussions with the Chinese Embassy to identify measures aimed at de-escalating tensions between the Philippines and China, focusing on enhanced law enforcement cooperation and cultural exchanges. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said he met with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Jing Quan on Feb. 12, 2026 to exchange views on strengthening peace and order, particularly in ensuring the safety of Chinese in the country. Remulla said the talks centered on practical steps that could ease tensions and improve mutual understanding between the two countries, including cooperation in maintaining peace and public order. He clarified that the meeting did not touch on territorial issues involving the Kalayaan Group of Islands. “We did not discuss Kalayaan. What we talked about was how to de-escalate the tensions between the two countries, and a lot of that has to do with cultural exchanges,” Remulla said “There are many areas where we can help each other in law enforcement and in maintaining peace and order. That was the extent of our discussion. As far as Kalayaan is concerned, we did not talk about it,” he added. Despite this, Remulla reiterated the Philippines’ position on the disputed islands, stressing that the country maintains its sovereign rights over them. “It is within Philippine territorial waters. It is our sovereign right to occupy those islands. Plain and simple,” he said. Meanwhile, various civil society groups held a lightning rally in front of the Chinese Embassy on Friday morning, a day after they staged a similar protest at the Senate to condemn what they described as persistent aggression by Chinese vessels and officials in the West Philippine Sea. Around 100 members and leaders from at least nine organizations led by the Filipinos Do Not Yield (FDNY) Movement gathered at the embassy’s perimeter along Ayala Avenue at 10 a.m. The groups, including Alyansa Bantay Kapayapaan at Demokrasya (ABKD), Liga Independencia ng Pilipinas – Youth (LIPI YOUTH), and Kabataang Artista, Manunulat, at Mananaway para sa Sining at Kultura (KaMaSKaRa), denounced recent statements from the Chinese embassy that they said disparaged Philippine officials. During the rally, the FDNY Movement accused China of harassing Filipino navy personnel, coast guard members, municipal officials from Kalayaan, and fishermen. Protesters carried placards and streamers reading “China: Get Out of the WPS” and “Diplomasya, Hindi Pananakot.” The demonstrators also celebrated the recent adoption of Senate Resolution 37, which formally condemns foreign intimidation and affirms the Philippine position on sovereignty in the Exclusive Economic Zone. The resolution was a key focus of Thursday’s rally at the Senate, organizers said. According to the organizers, Friday’s action aimed to demonstrate public unity in defending national sovereignty and the rights of Filipino fishermen. They also called for “responsible diplomacy” and respect for international law, including the 2016 Arbitral Award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos). A short symbolic program was held, with speakers reiterating the movement’s opposition to what they described as intimidation and blame directed at Philippine officials. No counter-protest was observed. Police personnel were deployed to secure the area, and the event concluded peacefully before noon. The FDNY Movement said the embassy rally was the second in a series of actions planned in February.

• The Manila Times
• 20 saat, 31 dakika

The most compelling stories are not always found up close. Many exist in the distance, hidden within landscapes, city skylines, and night scenes that are often overlooked by the naked eye. The vivo X300 Pro aims to bring these moments into sharper view through its 200MP ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera, allowing users to capture faraway subjects with enhanced clarity and detail. The device positions itself as a flagship tool for mobile photographers seeking to document scenes beyond their immediate reach. In traditional photography, shooting from a distance often results in visual compromise, with textures softened and details lost. However, advancements […]... Keep on reading: vivo X300 Pro brings distant details into focus

• Inquirer
• 20 saat, 31 dakika

EH IKAW, MASAYA KA BA SA LOVE LIFE MO? The percentage of Filipinos who are happy with their love lives stayed at 46 percent, the lowest in over two decades, based on the latest survey conducted by Social Weather Stations (SWS). Read:

• Philstar.com
• 20 saat, 31 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded two ash-emission events from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano on Friday morning. In a Facebook post, Phivolcs shared time-lapse footage of the emissions, recorded at 8:21 a.m. and 8:27 a.m. “These events generated a grayish plume that rose 50 meters above the crater before drifting west-southwest,” Phivolcs said. READ: More than 20 Albay villages affected by Mayon ashfall In its 24-hour observation summary, Phivolcs also recorded lava effusion with lava flow in its three gullies: Basud, Bonga, and Mi-isi. Sulfur dioxide flux was measured at 3,749 tons […]... Keep on reading: Mayon Volcano emits ash

• Inquirer
• 20 saat, 32 dakika

'Diddiga,' which means pride, is a presentation of the finest expressions from Kalinga’s sub-tribes. But beyond the color and choreography, the parade is anchored in the 'bodong,' the province’s traditional peace pact system.

• Rappler
• 20 saat, 39 dakika

'Diddiga,' which means pride, is a presentation of the finest expressions from Kalinga’s sub-tribes. But beyond the color and choreography, the parade is anchored in the 'bodong,' the province’s traditional peace pact system.

• Rappler
• 20 saat, 39 dakika

Singer-actress Sharon Cuneta-Pangilinan drew laughter during a performance after making a light political remark about President Marcos’ vice presidential choice while appearing at an event in Intramuros. Speaking onstage before the President, who was seated beside First Lady

• Manila Bulletin News
• 20 saat, 49 dakika

MAYON VOLCANO ASH EMISSION Phivolcs recorded ash emission activities from the summit crater of Mayon Volcano at 8:12 a.m. and 8:27 a.m. on Friday, February 13. The events produced grayish plumes that rose about 50 meters above the crater before drifting west-southwest.

• Philstar.com
• 20 saat, 52 dakika

Ahead of her 55th birthday on Valentine’s Day, Kris Aquino said her birthday wish is simple: to live long enough to turn 60 and finally qualify for both a senior citizen and a person with disability (PWD) card. In an Instagram post on Thursday, February 12, Aquino shared that she is “so grateful to reach 55” despite battling with autoimmune diseases.  “I am now praying to reach 60 so I’ll have both a PWD (Person With Disability) and Senior Citizen’s Card,” she wrote. “So many online establishments don’t accept the PWD as a valid government issued ID. I never learned […]... Keep on reading: Kris Aquino’s birthday wish: to reach 60, have senior citizen and PWD cards

• Inquirer
• 20 saat, 58 dakika

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro — A student from Oriental Mindoro won top honors at an international science competition in the United States, besting participants from 16 countries. Warren Wade Casuga, a Calapan City native and a student at Holy Infant Academy, was named absolute winner (first place overall) in the Natural Science category of the 7th Copernicus Olympiad in Houston, Texas, held January 21-25, 2026.  He also received a gold award. The awarding ceremony was held on January 26.  The Copernicus Olympiad is regarded as one of the most challenging and prestigious science competitions in the United States, drawing young […]... Keep on reading: Filipino student takes top prize at US science olympiad

• Inquirer
• 21 saat

MANILA, Philippines — Retired Supreme Court justices Antonio Carpio and Adolfo Azcuna allegedly misrepresented international maritime law and endangered the Philippines’ claims in the South China Sea by promoting what he called a misleading theory of “automatic” maritime entitlements, a former diplomat and geopolitical analyst said on Friday. In a presentation during a forum organized by Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute (ACPSSI) on Friday, Adolfo “Ka Ado” Paglinawan said Carpio’s long-standing argument that the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) existed automatically under international law ignored key provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), particularly those governing overlapping maritime claims. Paglinawan was reacting to recent remarks by Carpio and Azcuna in an online interview, where they dismissed Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s legal competence and reiterated that a coastal state did not need to publish geographical coordinates to assert its EEZ. According to Paglinawan, Carpio’s reliance on Articles 76 and 77 of Unclos — which recognize inherent rights over the continental shelf — was incomplete and misleading without reference to Articles 74 and 75, which require delimitation agreements and publication of coordinates when maritime zones overlap. “Automatic entitlement alone is not enough,” Paglinawan said, citing Article 74 of Unclos, which requires states with overlapping EEZs to negotiate boundaries or adopt provisional arrangements pending agreement. He argued that without formally defined and publicized coordinates, Philippine maritime claims remained legally weak, diplomatically vulnerable, and difficult to enforce. “Without defined coordinates, a claim cannot be objectively tested, peacefully contested, or credibly defended,” he said, echoing the views of Washington-based international lawyer Arnedo Valera, whom he quoted in his presentation. Paglinawan also criticized Carpio’s claim that satellite-based GPS measurements were sufficient for determining the country’s EEZ, saying this oversimplifies enforcement and ignores the legal requirement for official charts and deposited coordinates under Article 75 of Unclos. The former diplomat further linked the debate to ongoing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, arguing that the Philippines’ assertion of “automatic” rights without negotiated delimitations has contributed to confrontations at sea, including incidents involving blockades, water cannons, and boarding. Paglinawan defended Marcoleta’s call for legislative review of existing maritime laws, saying the senator’s position was aimed at improving enforcement and strengthening diplomacy rather than political grandstanding. He also questioned the Philippine Maritime Zones Act (Republic Act 12064), authored by former senator Francis Tolentino, claiming it contains internal contradictions and may conflict with both Unclos and the 2016 arbitral ruling in favor of the Philippines. Paglinawan said failure to address these legal gaps could weaken Philippine claims in the South China Sea and expose the country to greater external influence, particularly from major powers involved in regional disputes. He said that while land generates maritime rights, as Carpio often argues, international jurisprudence shows that such rights must eventually be translated into precise and publicly verifiable boundaries to be legally operable.

• The Manila Times
• 21 saat, 1 dakika

Written by Linda B. Bolido DigiPlus, the company behind the hugely popular BingoPlus and other online gaming platforms, tops the list of the Philippines’ Growth Champions 2026 after posting an almost 200-percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The digital entertainment firm recorded total revenues of P75.22 billion in 2024, up from P2.81 billion in 2021—translating to a CAGR of 199.29 percent and an absolute growth rate of 2,580.83 percent. DigiPlus’ rapid expansion reflects the accelerating shift toward digital entertainment, driven by technology research and product innovation designed to serve diverse lifestyle preferences. The Philippines’ Growth Champions 2026 recognizes the 50 […]... Keep on reading: DigiPlus tops list of 2026 PH Growth Champions

• Inquirer
• 21 saat, 9 dakika

The provincial government is eyeing the rollout of the program this June, at the start of the next school year

• Rappler
• 21 saat, 9 dakika