The Philippine Star - February 11, 2025

In this issue

February 11, 2025

AI being used in love scams report

As Valentine's Day approaches, scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to target more victims worldwide, a US-based cybersecurity firm warned.

1 min

'VP Sara impeachment trial starts after SONA'

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would commence only after President Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 21, Senate President Francis Escudero said yesterday.

4 mins

Speaker, 3 lawmakers face graft, falsification raps

Speaker Martin Romualdez and three other congressmen are facing criminal and graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly \"falsifying\" documents and illegally inserting billions of pesos worth of projects in the 2025 national budget.

3 mins

Admin Bets Maintain Senate Poll Lead — Pulse

As the official campaign period begins today, 14 bets—mainly candidates from the administration's Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas slate—have statistical chances of winning based on the latest pre-election survey conducted by Pulse Asia.

1 min

2 Career Comelec Execs Appointed Commissioners

President Marcos has named two insiders as replacements for two newly retired commissioners of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the poll body gears up for the campaign period for this year's midterm polls.

1 min

NFA Rice Rolls Out Next Week

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is expected to roll out rice from the National Food Authority (NFA) by next week.

3 mins

Official campaign period starts today - Comelec

The race is on for the 65 senatorial candidates and 155 party-list groups in the May 2025 midterm polls as the 90-day campaign period for national elections officially began at midnight.

7 mins

NEDA pursues USAID-funded projects

Caritas to lose P35 M

1 min

Ayuda, social welfare programs 'helpful' - polls

For most Filipinos, financial aid programs and other social welfare initiatives of the government are helping underprivileged sectors, recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia surveys showed.

2 mins

Franchise sought for traditional jeepneys

Transport group Piston or Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide has filed a petition seeking a five-year franchise to allow traditional jeepneys to operate.

1 min

Pacquiao convoy accosted for using EDSA bus lane

Former senator Manny Pacquiao's convoy has been flagged for illegally using the EDSA busway on Sunday.

1 min

MRT-3 to deploy four-car train sets

In response to rising commuter demand, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will add one more car to its three-car trains by June or upon the completion of facilities required to accommodate a four-car train configuration.

1 min

Go Aids Muntinlupa Fire Victims

Sen. Bong Go has provided additional aid to families affected by a recent fire in Muntinlupa.

1 min

4 Caught With P34-M Shabu in Caloocan

Five kilos of shabu valued at P34 million were confiscated by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Bagumbong, Caloocan on Sunday night.

1 min

QC Cops Arrest 218 in Anti-Crime Drive

A weeklong crackdown on illegal drugs and other crimes by the Quezon City Police District resulted in the arrest of 218 people, the QCPD reported over the weekend.

1 min

Anti-Fraud

It is easy for the layman to miss the actual significance of this latest piece of legislation

3 mins

Forthwith means now, not four months later

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Hope Springs Eternal

EDITORIAL

1 min

Magma moves upward to Kanlaon crater

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) yesterday reported that magma in Kanlaon Volcano has risen to less than five kilometers from the crater.

1 min

Rama Asks SC: Stop Ombudsman

A day before the start of the campaign period, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the Office of the Ombudsman from implementing his dismissal as mayor and perpetually disqualifying him from holding public office.

1 min

Comelec Places 8 Pangasinan Areas in 'Yellow' Category

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed Dagupan and Urdaneta cities as well as the towns of Aguilar, Binmaley, Malasiqui, San Quintin, Mangaldan and Sual - all in Pangasinan - under the \"yellow\" category.

1 min

Pagasa warns of more flooding

As shear line continues to bring strong rains

2 mins

Over 600 arrested for working illegally in UK

UK immigration enforcement teams made over 600 arrests in January, a 73-percent increase on the same period a year ago, as part of the new Labor government’s plan to tackle undocumented migration and people smuggling gangs, offi cials said on Monday.

1 min

Netanyahu praises Trump's 'revolutionary, creative' Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday praised a proposal from US President Donald Trump for US control of Gaza and the displacement of its population as “revolutionary,” striking a triumphant tone in a statement to his Cabinet following his return to Israel from Washington.

1 min

Man detained after 3 stabbed in Ireland

Police said they detained a man in Dublin on Sunday after three men were wounded, two seriously, as local media reported that the victims had been stabbed.

1 min

US-Japan SCS statement 'attacks, smears China' - Beijing

Beijing yesterday said a joint statement by the United States and Japan that condemned its \"provocative activities\" in the contested South China Sea \"attacks and smears\" China.

1 min

Russia ready for talks with US on Ukraine war

Awaits signals from US

1 min

Trump says 25% tariffs coming on steel, aluminum

The United States will move to impose 25-percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports this week, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday, the latest in a slew of trade levies he has announced.

1 min

Phl curlers hit win column

Brothers Marc and Enrico Pfister spearheaded the Philippines' 4-1 victory over Kazakhstan yesterday for its first win in curling's men's team event of the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China.

1 min

PBA Season 50 logo unveiled

When the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals fire off on Feb. 26, the competing teams will start sporting a different league logo than the one that fans are used to.

2 mins

Asian Boxing, OCA affirm alliance

ABAP chairman DL Ricky Vargas inked a Memorandum of Understanding confirming the partnership of Asian Boxing, where he is a board member, and the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) represented by director general Dr. Husain Al-Musallam at a signing ceremony during the Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China last Saturday.

1 min

EAGLES SOAR TO GREAT WIN

CHIEFS' 3-PEAT QUEST FOILED

1 min

Import clearance fee on sugar alternatives to push through

The imposition of a clearance fee on imported alternative sugars will soon push through after the government resolved the concerns of industry stakeholders regarding the measure, particularly on possible red tape.

2 mins

Vehicle output revs up 14.7% in 11 months

The Philippines posted the second fastest growth in motor vehicle output in ASEAN in the January to November period last year, rising by 14.7 percent yearon-year.

2 mins

FDI inflows ease in November

Uncertainties over US trade policies and local political tensions continue to take their toll on the country as the net inflow of foreign direct investments slipped to a two-month low in November last year, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

2 mins

Maharlika, CP Group forge $1-B partnership

The Maharlika Investment Corp. (MIC) and Thailandbased Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd. (CP Group) have entered into a landmark agreement to drive investments in agriculture, digital innovation and sustainable energy in the Philippines.

1 min

Shares down ahead of BSP rate decision

Investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the policy meeting of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas later this week.C

1 min

MVP, Revillame team up for P4-B world-class studio

The MVP Group of Companies, through MediaQuest Holdings Inc., is teaming up with TV host Willie Revillame and Golden Pacific Holdings Inc. to put up a P4-billion multi-purpose building project beside the TV5 Media Center in Mandaluyong.

1 min

Cebu Pacific gets half of Cebu market

Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific flew half of the passengers that traveled through the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) in 2024, cementing its dominance in the second busiest gateway in the Philippines.

1 min

Lalamove enters ride-hailing segment

In-city courier Lalamove has entered the ride-hailing market by introducing its own four-seater and six-seater services, providing commuters with another mobility option.

1 min

ACEN scores higher rating for climate action

Ayala-led ACEN Corp. has obtained a leadership level and an A-rating from environmental nonprofit disclosure system CDP for its commitment to climate action and transparency.

1 min

Bonoan denies charges of physical, financial abuse

Former finance undersecretary Emmanuel Bonoan, who stepped back from his role as president of business group Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), has responded to physical and financial abuse allegations made by his daughter, Martina.

2 mins

DOE: P2.4-T projects get nat'l significance certifications

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued national significance certifications to P2.4 trillion worth of power generation and transmission projects to fast-track licensing and permit processing.

1 min

Robinsons Malls, DOLE partner for nationwide job fairs

Robinsons Malls is advancing its partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for conducting job fairs and other employment facilitation programs in different areas nationwide.

1 min

Retail leaders to convene in key summit next month

The Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), the country's leading organization representing retailers, suppliers, and allied industries, is staging the highly anticipated Retail Leaders Summit on March 5 at Novotel Manila Araneta City, Quezon City.

1 min

Alsons raises P1.6 B via commercial papers

Alcantara-led Alsons Consolidated Resources Inc. (ACR) has returned to the debt market, raising P1.6 billion from the first tranche of its P3-billion commercial paper program.

1 min

BancNet transactions reach P11.4 T in 2024

Transactions processed through electronic payments network operator BancNet reached P11.38 trillion in 2024, surging by 33.9 percent from P8.5 trillion in 2023.

1 min

TRB seeks Palace directive on proposed Pasig River tollway

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) urged President Marcos to issue a clear policy on the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), as the project is stuck in the approval stage with more troubles on the horizon.

1 min

'Into the Woods' becomes a family affair for Lea Salonga and Nic Chien

Theatre Group Asia (TGA) is staging Stephen Sondheim's \"Into the Woods\" to the Samsung Performing Arts Theater (S-PAT) this August, featuring an all-star cast led by Olivier and Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga.

3 mins

DONNY, BELLE REVISIT BONDING MOMENTS IN LA UNION

DONNY PANGILINAN AND BELLE MARIANO COULDN'T HELP BUT GUSH about their beautiful experience in La Union, where they filmed the romcom \"How to Spot a Red Flag.\"

3 mins

A 'KONSIYERTO' SHOWCASE OF THE MAGNIFICENT FILIPINO MUSIC ARTIST

When the bravos and the applause died down, remarks of \"amazing, ang galing, astounding, what a show, parang nuong nanalo si Carlos Yulo, so proud of Filipino music\" and even a loud \"magnificent\" followed.

2 mins

Hot date but lackluster performance?

Intimacy matters whether it's Valentine's Day or any other day.

2 mins

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