SINGAPORE—Unwanted and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven bots now account for a significant share of internet traffic across the Asia-Pacific region, as malicious actors capitalize on high levels of AI and technology adoption. This is according to the latest security research by US-listed cloud company Fastly Inc., unveiled here on Tuesday. Fastly’s threat insights report, generated from […]... Keep on reading: This extraordinary surge in web traffic? It’s probably driven by bots

• Inquirer
• 23 saat, 19 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — Generative artificial intelligence (or Gen AI) has become one of those tools people hear about everywhere, on social media, in meetings and even in casual office conversations. Most of the time, it’s associated with one thing: ChatGPT. You ask it a question and it answers. You type a message; it fixes the […]... Keep on reading: Beyond ChatGPT: How to use Gen AI to work smarter

• Inquirer
• 23 saat, 21 dakika

(UPDATE) THE government on Thursday announced that the bounty for information leading to the arrest of fugitive businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang has been raised to P20 million from the initial P10 million. Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the money came from confidential funds accorded to the Philippine National Police, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for cases like this. “There’s no Chippy and Piattos here, we are going to pay real people,” Remulla said, taking a swipe at Vice President Sara Duterte, who had listed people with bogus names that incorporated popular snack brands as recipients of confidential funds. Despite information that Ang has already flown abroad, particularly to Cambodia, Remulla said authorities believe he is still in the country. This followed a statement from Cambodian agencies that Ang was not in their country and that they had no record of his entry or his exit. “We really believe he is still here in the Philippines,” Remulla said. He said he has also secured permission to purchase drones with lidar or light detection and ranging capability. “I’ve been given clearance to procure drones that can penetrate through canopies of trees so you can see what’s underneath trees,” Remulla said. The technology will be used in the all-out manhunt for fugitives such as Ang. Third arrest warrant Meanwhile, a regional trial court in San Pablo City, Laguna, issued a third arrest warrant against Ang in connection with the disappearance of dozens of cockfighting enthusiasts, as authorities intensified efforts to capture him. In an order dated Feb. 6, the San Pablo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 29 ordered the arrest of Ang and five others for kidnapping and serious illegal detention, offenses for which no bail is available. Also named in the warrant were Ryan Jay Orapa, Alfredo Uy Andres, Philip Simborio Almendilla, Joey Natanauan Encarnacion and Aaron Ezrah Lagahit Cabillan. The latest warrant adds to earlier arrest orders issued by courts in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna Batangas, Rizal and Quezon). On Jan. 13, the Santa Cruz, Laguna RTC Branch 26 first ordered Ang’s arrest for the same case, followed by another warrant from the Lipa City RTC in Batangas on Jan. 15. The charges stem from complaints filed by the families of missing “sabungeros” on Aug. 1, 2025, over the disappearance of 34 cockfighting enthusiasts between 2021 and 2022. Ang has remained at large since the first warrants were issued.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 15 dakika

(UPDATE) SEN. Raffy Tulfo and former senator Grace Poe emerged as the leading contenders in Tangere’s latest 2028 senatorial preference survey, conducted after survey front-runners Sen. Robinhood Padilla and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto announced they would not seek Senate seats in the next elections. Tulfo ranked first with 49.8-percent voter preference, followed by Poe with 43.5 percent. Tangere said Tulfo remains a strong prospect for both a Senate bid and a possible higher executive post, while Poe continues to benefit from high name recall and support as a “returnee” candidate. Following Padilla’s withdrawal, support shifted significantly to members of the Duterte family. Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte posted 36.6-percent voter preference, while his brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, registered 37.1 percent. Both placed within the 3rd to 7th rank cluster, capturing much of Padilla’s former voter base, according to Tangere. The survey also showed increasing support for newer political figures, particularly among millennial and Generation Z voters. Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian placed seventh with 34.4 percent, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte ranked within the 8th to 14th bracket with 29.3 percent and San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora landed in the 16th to 27th range with 19.8 percent. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong (15.1 percent), and Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Chairman Lala Sotto (14.7 percent) also gained ground, reflecting the same youth-driven demographic pattern that previously boosted Vico Sotto in earlier polls. Completing the projected top 12 were incumbent Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Loren Legarda, both at 38.0 percent and ranked 3rd to 7th; former senator Manny Pacquiao with 31.2 percent; Sen. Francis Escudero with 30.2 percent; media executive Ben Tulfo with 30.1 percent; and Education Secretary Sonny Angara with 28.4 percent. Tangere said the survey sample was distributed nationwide, with 12 percent of respondents from the National Capital Region (NCR), 23 percent from Northern Luzon, 22 percent from Southern Luzon, 20 percent from the Visayas and 23 percent from Mindanao. The survey, released on Feb. 12, has a margin of error of ±2 percent at the national level and higher margins of error for specific sub-national regions: NCR: ±5.7 percent; Visayas: ±4.6 percent; Mindanao: ±4.1 percent; and Rest of Luzon: ±3.0 percent.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 16 dakika

(UPDATE) THE International Criminal Court (ICC) allowed both the defense and prosecution to expand their lists of evidence in the case against former president Rodrigo Duterte, even as the court received hundreds of additional applications from individuals seeking to participate as victims in the proceedings. In a decision issued on Wednesday, the Pre-Trial Chamber I granted separate requests by Duterte’s defense team and the Office of the Prosecutor to add new material to their respective evidence lists. The Chamber authorized the defense to submit 78 additional items and permitted the prosecution to include two more. The defense, in its application filed on Feb. 6, said the prosecution had reviewed the 78 items and confirmed that it did not oppose their admission. On the same day, the prosecution also filed its own request to add two items, noting that the defense had agreed not to object. The Common Legal Representatives of Victims informed the Chamber on Feb. 7 that they did not oppose either request. In granting the applications, the judges said there was “good cause,” citing the limited scope of the additional material, its relevance to the charges and the absence of objections from parties and participants. Both sides were ordered to submit updated lists of evidence by Feb. 13. The ruling was issued by Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc, together with Judges Reine Adélaïde Sophie Alapini-Gansou and María del Socorro Flores Liera. Separately, the ICC disclosed that it had received 227 new victim applications in the same case, bringing the total number of applicants transmitted in the latest filing to 500. The court’s Registry submitted the applications to Pre-Trial Chamber I on Feb. 9, in compliance with a Jan. 28 order directing it to forward any additional Group A claims received within the initial deadline. The new batch followed a Jan. 26 decision by the Chamber authorizing 39 victims — 29 from an earlier Group A transmission and 10 from Group C — to participate in the pretrial proceedings. Under the Chamber’s definition, victims qualified if they were survivors or relatives of victims of murders or attempted murders committed from at least Nov. 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016, in and around Davao City, when Duterte was mayor, or from at least June 30, 2016 to March 16, 2019, across the Philippines, during his presidency. The newly submitted applications were contained in 227 annexes listed in a confidential Annex I. All annexes were classified as confidential ex parte and were accessible only to the Registry and the Common Legal Representatives of Victims, in line with procedures set out in the Chamber’s April 2025 order on confirmation proceedings. Duterte faces crimes against humanity charges before the ICC in connection with the killings linked to his antidrug campaign. His administration had previously rejected the court’s jurisdiction, but the ICC had ruled it could proceed with investigations into alleged crimes committed before the Philippines withdrew from the Rome Statute in 2019.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 17 dakika

SEN. Rodante Marcoleta on Thursday welcomed the decision of retired associate justice Antonio Carpio to accept his challenge to debate the West Philippine Sea issue, but balked at his proposed two-part structure that would focus the discussion on specific legal and geographic questions. Marcoleta, who recently proposed ceding the Kalayaan Island Group, which is a part of Palawan province, to China, said limiting the scope of the exchange could unduly narrow what he described as a “complex, contested and far-reaching” issue. “The West Philippine Sea issue cannot be reduced to a binary legal inquiry on terminology or geographic inclusion,” he said. “This risks pre-framing the debate in favor of a particular narrative rather than enabling a genuine examination of all relevant discussions.” Marcoleta said the maritime dispute between the Philippines and China involves not only legal arguments but also historical claims, geopolitical dynamics and policy considerations affecting national sovereignty and regional stability. The West Philippine Sea refers to portions of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, including areas near the Kalayaan Island Group and Scarborough Shoal. Tensions have persisted for years amid overlapping territorial claims by China and several Southeast Asian nations. In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines, invalidating China’s expansive “nine-dash line” claim, an award that Carpio has consistently defended and publicly advocated. Carpio is regarded as one of the primary legal architects and most tireless advocates behind the Philippines’ victory at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. He was a member of the Philippine delegation to The Hague and provided critical legal expertise and guidance to the team led by then-Solicitor General Florin Hilbay and international counsel Paul Reichler. As of press time, details regarding the date, venue and format of the proposed debate have not yet been finalized. Observers say the exchange between the veteran jurist and the sitting senator could draw significant public interest, given the continuing national debate over how the Philippines should assert its rights in the contested waters. The anticipated discussion comes amid renewed tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where recent encounters between Philippine and Chinese vessels have once again brought maritime sovereignty and foreign policy to the forefront of national discourse.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 18 dakika

THE fate of Raymon Santos Gumangan, a Filipino detained as a prisoner of war (POW) in Ukraine, took center stage on Wednesday as Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Erwin Tulfo met with Ukraine’s first resident ambassador to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv. Gumangan, a native of Alcala, Pangasinan, was reportedly recruited in 2025 for what was advertised as a logistics job in Russia through an online job-hunting platform. According to earlier reports, he later found himself enlisted in military operations and was captured by Ukrainian forces in September 2025 amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now entering its fourth year. During the meeting, Tulfo appealed to Fediv to allow Gumangan to communicate with his family in the Philippines, who have been seeking updates on his condition. Fediv assured the senator that she would facilitate communication between Gumangan and his relatives, signaling a possible first step toward easing the family’s concerns. However, the Ukrainian envoy cautioned that securing Gumangan’s release may not be immediate, citing the absence of a special bilateral agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines that would cover cases involving detained foreign nationals in conflict situations. In response, Tulfo committed to coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers to explore formal mechanisms and possibly draft joint agreements that could address Gumangan’s case and similar situations involving Filipinos caught in conflict zones. “I will ensure that the communication lines between the Philippines and Ukraine remain open so we will be updated about the safety of Filipinos in Ukraine,” Tulfo said. Tulfo also raised concerns about the safety of Filipino seafarers working aboard commercial vessels that could potentially become military targets amid heightened tensions in the region. The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of seafarers, making their protection a continuing priority for the government. Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, the DFA has maintained Alert Level 4 over Ukraine, which mandates the mandatory evacuation of Filipinos and suspends the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to the country. Fediv said a joint labor agreement between Ukraine and the Philippines is currently in the works, aimed at strengthening employment cooperation once conditions stabilize. “It translates to more jobs for our workers. It’s like we are helping you and you are helping us,” Fediv said. Tulfo, who has intensified diplomatic engagements since assuming chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he will continue coordinating with foreign diplomats and Philippine agencies to safeguard the welfare of Filipinos abroad, particularly those in high-risk areas.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 19 dakika

THE House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reform held its first public consultation on the proposed anti-dynasty law at the Carsigma Gym here on Thursday. The aim of the three-hour consultation, according to Committee Chairman and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, was to listen to the people’s opinion on the measure. “What kind of political system do you wish to experience? What protections do you want included in the anti-political dynasty bill? Where do we draw the line between preventing the excessive concentration of power and the right of the people to choose their leaders?” Adiong asked. He said the people have the right to be heard before Congress sets the boundaries of a law that would shape the country’s politics for future generations. “Rest assured that your views will serve as a guide in our continued effort to craft an anti-political dynasty law that is just, balanced and faithful to our Constitution. This is your chance to speak, and it is our duty, as your representatives, to listen,” Adiong said. He was joined by Cebu Rep. Rachel del Mar, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, Gabriela Party-list Rep. Sarah Elago and Cavite Rep. Roy Loyola, whose wife is the mayor of Carmona. In his video message, Speaker Faustino Dy III said the consultations are part of the House’s commitment to ensuring that significant laws are crafted through open and honest dialogue. “It is clear that the Filipino people have long been waiting for this. We are aware that this issue carries various perspectives, experiences and sentiments,” Dy said. Several longtime Carmona residents told the committee they oppose the proposed law, owing to the longtime service of their leaders in their locality. “We don’t have a political dynasty in our town, we have different leaders, but we don’t know if our town would either move forward, backward, sideways, or otherwise,” John dela Cruz, a resident of nearby General Mariano Alvarez town, said. Marcos Saladino proposed instead of banning corrupt families from running for office because they put a stain on political families who run their municipalities progressively. “Sinasabi po na hindi namamana ang posisyon, pero hindi naman po diktador ang ating bansa (While we say that positions are not inherited, our country, however, is not in a dictatorship),” Saladino said. Most of the young people who took part in the consultation were opposed to political dynasties, and called on the panel to pass the law. In the press briefing after the consultation, Adiong said the consultations have been “lively” and that their inputs would be incorporated in the final draft that would be passed in the plenary. “Definitely, they would be part of our basis to approach on how we provide legal definition on what really constitutes a political dynasty in this country,” Adiong said. He said the passage of the measure is only one step toward improving the country’s political system. “It should be paired with campaign finance. We should also review our campaign finance because we are talking of resources that would give undue advantage to a certain politician who has so many resources over that of a candidate with no resources at all,” Adiong said. The two other consultations will be held in the cities of Cebu and Cagayan de Oro in the next few weeks.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 20 dakika

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered pertinent government agencies and local officials to ramp up relief efforts in areas affected by Tropical Storm Basyang, Malacañang said Thursday. According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Marcos issued the directive in his meeting last Wednesday with agency heads and governors from provinces severely affected by Basyang. The president also directed the early release of funds for disaster preparedness, simplification of aid distribution and the rapid delivery of seeds to farmers to restore agricultural activity after the storm, the PCO said. Marcos ordered the cascading of financial assistance programs to affected residents, as well as accelerated river clearing operations to reduce the risk of flooding. The meeting was attended by Governors Damian Mercado of Southern Leyte, Humerlito Dolor of Oriental Mindoro, Eduardo Gadiano of Occidental Mindoro, Ralph Evardone of Eastern Samar, Harris Ongchuan of Northern Samar, Carlos Petilla of Leyte, Patrick Azanza of Catanduanes and Acting Gov. Arnold Tan of Samar. Also present were Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Basyang, which made landfall in Bayabas, Surigao del Sur, on Feb. 5, left 12 dead and injured 36 others. More than 182,000 families from 1,285 villages were displaced. Surigao del Sur was placed under a state of calamity because of the devastation left by the typhoon.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 21 dakika

SEN. Bong Go has filed a new batch of Senate bills, outlining a broad legislative agenda for the current Congress. Among the measures is Senate Bill (SB) 1776, or the proposed National Reintegration Act, which seeks to establish a comprehensive framework for returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). The bill mandates closer coordination among government agencies to provide employment facilitation, skills recognition, livelihood training and access to credit for OFWs. Under the proposal, the Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Migrant Workers would hold regular job fairs, while the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority would certify OFWs’ education and work experience. Business training and loan access would be coursed through the Small Business Corp. “When our OFWs return home, the government’s support should not end there,” Go said. SB 1778 proposes survivorship benefits for the legitimate spouse and dependent children of deceased retired officials of the National Labor Relations Commission, placing them on par with members of the Judiciary in terms of post-retirement benefits. SB 1780, or the Mandatory School Clinics Act, requires the establishment of clinics in all public elementary and secondary schools to strengthen on-site health services. Go also proposed the creation of two national high schools in Banaybanay and San Isidro, Davao Oriental (SBs 1781 and 1805), and the conversion of extension campuses of Davao Oriental State University into regular campuses (SB 1782) to improve access to higher education. He also submitted several health infrastructure bills. SB 1779 seeks to establish a nursing home for senior citizens in every region. Other proposals include the creation of new Department of Health-run hospitals in Tigaon (SB 1783), Sogod, Southern Leyte (SB 1784), and Antipolo, Rizal (SB 1789), as well as the conversion of the Mabini Community Hospital into a general hospital (SB 1790). Addressing government workforce concerns, SB 1786 would grant civil service eligibility to qualified casual and contractual employees who have rendered continuous and satisfactory service. SB 1788, or the Public Dentistry Salary Modification Act, seeks to raise the entry-level salary of government dentists from Salary Grade 13 to 17. For economic and food security initiatives, Go filed SB 1777 to institutionalize the Shared Services Facilities Project for micro, small and medium enterprises, and SB 1787, or the Zero Food Waste Act, which would require food businesses to partner with food banks to donate excess but safe food. Rounding out the package are proposed amendments to the Special Education Fund (SB 1785) and the Bureau of Immigration Modernization Act (SB 1791). The latest filings reflect Go’s push for expanded social services, institutional reforms and regional development through sector-focused legislation.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 22 dakika

SEN. Loren Legarda blamed concerned government agencies for the sea tragedies that claimed scores of lives, saying they failed to strictly enforce the law. During the inquiry on the sinking of Marine Vessel Trisha Kerstin, the senator said sea tragedies were "not solely due to climate or weather conditions." The sea tragedy last Jan. 26 resulted in the death of 52 people while 316 others survived. There were still an undetermined number of missing persons. “I’ve been here since 1998, this is not just once or the first time, this is a bad habit of negligence by government agencies," Legarda said. It it truly was an accident, it was "clearly the negligence" of the Department of Transportation, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), she said in Filipino. “I'm not saying that it's been like this all the time since I witnessed it in 1998, but most of the time, it's negligence," Legarda said. "First, in the overloading of passengers; second, in the overloading of cargo; third, in the decision to sail whether the weather is good; and fourth, the seaworthiness of the vessels," she said. "If you think about it, this is very basic if the PCG and the Marina are doing their jobs,” Legarda added. She urged all concerned government agencies to strictly enforce the law to avoid another sea accident. Sen. Raffy Tulfo, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Services, earlier cited reports showing a disturbing safety record for the shipping company, yet its vessels were still permitted to operate. “Thirty-two incidents since 2019 — these ships have become floating coffins. Authorities should have first conducted thorough inspections of its vessels, and ensured that its crews were properly trained before allowing them to sail again,” he said in Filipino. “Somebody should be held liable. Suspension is not enough. Somebody has to go to jail,” Tulfo said.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 23 dakika

COMMISSION on Filipinos Overseas Secretary Dante Ang II has pledged commitment to the goals of the United Nations Association of the Philippines (UNAP) in advancing the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ang made the commitment Saturday when he spoke at the UNAP presentation of its Magna Carta of Volunteerism at the Technological University of the Philippines. The event commemorated the UN declaration designating 2026 as the Year of Volunteerism. Ang's pledge follows UNAP’s earlier invitation for him to serve as governor of the overseas workers sector, a role focused on mobilizing overseas volunteers to implement community-level programs that address real needs and promote peace, dignity, and sustainable development. He emphasized the role of overseas Filipino volunteers in connecting with their motherland beyond mere financial remittances. He highlighted the CFO’s strategic shift toward deeper diaspora engagement. The CFO chief said that the contributions of Filipinos abroad extend beyond money sent home to include knowledge transfer, innovation, and specifically, high-impact volunteerism that aids national development. He presented two key CFO programs as concrete mechanisms for this engagement: the Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino (Linkapil) and Youth Leaders in the Diaspora (YouLeaD). Linkapil, or Link for Philippine Development, serves as the central conduit for overseas Filipinos to fund specific, small-scale development projects back home. Through this program, diaspora groups and individuals directly channel resources to build school classrooms, equip rural health centers, or provide livelihood starter kits for local communities, effectively linking donors with beneficiaries in the Philippines. Ang said the YouLeaD project aims to ensure that these ties "last into the next generation." This initiative connects young Filipinos born or raised abroad with their heritage through immersive cultural tours and historical workshops in the Philippines, fostering a personal connection with their roots. Established in 1947, the UNAP is a national civic organization dedicated to promoting the ideals and objectives of the United Nations in the Philippines.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 24 dakika

​THE Human Settlements Adjudication Commission (HSAC) has voided the zoning approval for a 15-story condominium project along Tinio Street in Addition Hills, Mandaluyong City. ​The Addition Hills North Homeowners’ Association Inc. (AHN HOA) shared the order to stop construction with The Manila Times on Thursday. ​In its decision, the Commission en banc set aside the Dec. 15, 2021 and Aug. 17, 2022 resolutions of the Mandaluyong Local Zoning Board of Adjustment and Appeals (LZBAA). Those resolutions had granted a variance and exception to Wee Community Developers Inc. (WCDI) for the project, known as “WeeComm Centre,” at 54 Tinio St. ​The HSAC ruled that the property is located within a Medium Density Residential Zone (R-2), where the maximum allowable height is four stories or 12 meters under the city’s zoning ordinance. The commission stated that even applying the 50-percent development ceiling, the building could only reach six stories or 18 meters, making the 15-story plan a “blatant” violation of restrictions.​ The commission found that WCDI failed to submit mandatory written affidavits of non-objection from adjacent property owners. During a clarificatory hearing on Oct. 16, 2025, WCDI counsel acknowledged that several names on a submitted consent list were employees of joint venture partner Profriends living in a company-owned townhouse at 56 Tinio St., adjacent to the project site. ​The ruling also flagged a lack of due process, noting that no proper public hearing was conducted despite numerous objections from residents. While the developer claimed an online hearing was held, it failed to produce minutes of the proceeding when ordered by the commission. ​Further inconsistencies were found in the project’s technical documents. The HSAC noted that a soil investigation report cited a five-level basement for a project actually proposing six levels, and that both the soil and traffic reports were submitted unsigned by licensed professionals. ​The HSAC permanently enjoined WCDI and its assigns from continuing construction and ordered the company to pay attorney’s fees and costs of the suit to the homeowners’ association. ​The case stems from WCDI’s 2021 joint venture with Profriends to develop the Tinio Street site. The project faced a closure order in June 2022 for operating a showroom without a license from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 25 dakika

​THE country’s aviation regulator announced Thursday that it is accelerating airport development to lower airfares and improve accessibility. ​In a statement, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez recently ordered that all airports — excluding those with topographical constraints — must have a minimum 2,100-meter runway to accommodate jet aircraft operations. ​CAAP reported that 20 commercial airports already meet the standard, including nine international airports, 10 Principal Class 1 airports, and one Class 2 airport. ​“In addition, 29 airports are currently operating jet aircraft,” it said. CAAP is also studying further runway extensions, subject to right-of-way, terrain, and safety considerations. ​To support safer night and early morning operations, the regulator is advancing night-rating capabilities; currently, 23 airports are night-capable. ​Cauayan and Tuguegarao are prioritized for immediate upgrades, while Busuanga, Siargao, Dipolog, Pagadian and Antique airports remain in the pipeline. ​CAAP Director General Raul del Rosario noted that “these developments will expand airport capacity and flight availability while encouraging competition that will directly benefit Filipinos through safer and more affordable air travel.” ​The regulator reaffirmed its commitment to modernizing airport infrastructure through coordinated efforts with the Department of Transportation and other agencies to future-proof the Philippine aviation system for future demands.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 26 dakika

THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has pushed for the swift passage of various pending bills filed before the House of Representatives, seeking for the establishment of its own charter. In a position paper submitted to the House, the CHR stressed that a legislated charter is necessary to firmly entrench the commission’s mandate, independence and operational foundations in line with international human rights standards. CHR Chairman Richard Palpal-latoc on Thursday reiterated that for nearly four decades, the agency has operated without a legislated charter, relying solely on the Constitution and an executive order issued in 1987. “While these instruments grounded the commission’s creation, they do not provide the full guarantees required of a modern, effective and internationally compliant national human rights institution,” said Palpal-latoc. He said this gap has been repeatedly raised by the United Nations through the Universal Periodic Review, the UN Treaty Bodies and the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (Ganhri). He said effective human rights protection requires institutions that remain steadfast regardless of political transitions or shifting priorities. “A commission reinforced by a robust legislated charter serves as a guardian of the people, particularly those with the least access to justice,” he pointed out. Palpal-latoc said the agency strongly supports the core pillars cited in the pending bills, including full fiscal autonomy, operational and policy independence, a broadened mandate covering all human rights and a transparent, merit-based and pluralist selection process for the chairman and commissioners. “These pillars are essential to ensuring that the CHR can function without political pressure and maintain the credibility expected of an independent national human rights institution,” Palpal-latoc said. He called on lawmakers to further strengthen key provisions to ensure full alignment with the Paris Principles and preserve its “Status A” accreditation under Ganhri. The proposed charter likewise strengthens the CHR’s capacity to investigate violations, assist victims and monitor State compliance with international human rights obligations, Palpal-latoc said. It reinforces visitorial powers and enhances legal and preventive measures, enabling swift and independent action, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable groups, he added.

• The Manila Times
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 28 dakika

... Keep on reading: Love Knots, February 13, 2026

• Inquirer
• 1 gün, 1 saat, 28 dakika