The Philippine Star - February 18, 2025

In this issue

February 18, 2025

DepEd Investigates 'Ghost Students' in Voucher Program

The Department of Education (DepEd) has commenced an investigation into the issue of \"ghost students\" under the senior high school (SHS) voucher program in private schools across nine divisions.

1 min

Higher ratings for VP? Fake news, says OCTA

The OCTA Research group yesterday denied social media posts claiming that it has conducted a February survey showing that Vice President Sara Duterte obtained higher trust and performance ratings than President Marcos.

1 min

SC May Tackle Petition on Sara Impeach Trial Today

The Supreme Court may take up today in full session a petition seeking to compel the Senate to start immediately the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

3 mins

CIDG files sedition raps vs Rody; NBI says no case

'KILL 15 SENATORS'

5 mins

Gas, diesel up by P0.80 per liter today

Motorists will have to pay more for fuel, with oil companies implementing price hikes today.

1 min

Potential dengue outbreaks in 9 areas nationwide - DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) warned yesterday that apart from Quezon City, eight more areas in the country may soon declare a dengue outbreak due to a significant rise in cases.

2 mins

No complacency on media security, says task force

President Marcos' media security task force yesterday vowed to shun complacency and to continue addressing all forms of threats against journalists, following a global report stating that no Filipino journalist was killed in the country last year.

2 mins

PCG: Three China ships swarm West Philippine Sea

Three patrol ships of the China Coast Guard (CCG) were spotted swarming the West Philippine Sea, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) Commodore Jay Tarriela reported.

3 mins

Charges filed this week vs 3 Chinese 'spies'

Three suspected Chinese spies arrested on Feb. 14 in Laguna will face charges for violating immigration laws and operating a business without documentation, according to the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

1 min

Comelec can't stop negative campaigning

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) can't stop negative campaigning because it is allowed by law, according to the chief of the poll body.

3 mins

Go Receives Golden Legacy Award at PHC's 50th Anniversary

Sen. Bong Go, chairman of the Senate committee on health, joined the 50th anniversary celebration of the Philippine Heart Center last Sunday at the Manila Hotel, where he was honored with the Golden Legacy Award in recognition of his commitment to strengthening the country's health care system.

2 mins

Rice max SRP lowered; P49/kilo seen in March

Authorities are expecting the maximum suggested retail price of rice to decline to P49 per kilo by March after the Department of Agriculture (DA) on Saturday enforced a max SRP of P52 per kilo.

1 min

House resumes fake news probe, warns absent vloggers

The tri-committee of the House of Representatives investigating the proliferation of fake news will resume its second hearing today, serving notice to absentee vloggers that failure to attend again will be dealt with accordingly.

1 min

Address learning crisis, poll bets told

Candidates in the May midterm polls should present their plans to address the learning crisis and commit to prioritizing education in their agenda, according to the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd).

2 mins

AI risks include child porn, existential threats

Artificial intelligence presents a growing list of risks—from cybercrimes, scams and non-consensual intimate imagery to AI-enabled terrorism and biological threats—and if left unchecked, could cause widespread harm to society, experts warn.

1 min

P8.5-B tax case filed over illicit cigarette factory, warehouses

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has filed an P8.5-billion tax evasion case against those behind an illicit cigarette factory and three warehouses in Bulacan and Valenzuela.

1 min

DA Backs Proposed P380/Kilo Max SRP on Pork

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is open to enforcing a maximum suggested retail price (SRP) of P380 per kilo of pork, as suggested by a farmers' group.

2 mins

Ex-VP Leni's X account hacked

Former vice president Leni Robredo confirmed yesterday that her X (formerly Twitter) account had been hacked.

1 min

BOC raids net P1.76-B hot cars

Following the raid in which smuggled vehicles valued at P1.4 billion were seized in Pasay and Parañaque cities last Thursday, the Bureau of Customs-Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (BOC-CIIS) recently uncovered more high-end luxury cars, bringing the total value of the seized vehicles to P1.766 billion.

1 min

285 gun ban violators nabbed in MM

The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has nabbed nearly 300 people for violating the six-week-old gun ban imposed for the upcoming midterm elections.

1 min

LTO Revokes License of Angkas CEO

The Land Transportation Office yesterday revoked the driver's license of Angkas CEO George Royeca after he took full responsibility after a convoy of motorcycle riders of the ride-hailing app obstructed traffic at an intersection in Cainta, Rizal on Feb. 4.

1 min

UST, DLSU Suspend Classes on EDSA Day

The Marcos administration may have made the EDSA People Power Revolution anniversary a working day, but some universities in Metro Manila will be keeping their campuses empty on Feb. 25 to allow students, faculty, and staff to join events commemorating the occasion.

2 mins

Vote for change

EYES WIDE OPEN

4 mins

A Year Without Journalist Killings

EDITORIAL

1 min

What America can gain if Trump goes to China

President Trump reportedly wants to visit China within his first 100 days in office.

4 mins

The best way to have a healthy, happy heart

Thoughts to guide us by

1 min

Pagasa expects cooler weather this week

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said cooler temperatures are expected this week as the northeast monsoon or amihan has strengthened anew.

1 min

BuCor Mulls ‘Home Imprisonment’ Policy Nationwide

The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is studying the feasibility of allowing persons convicted of lesser offenses to serve their sentences at home.

1 min

Over 9,000 Suffer From Sulfuric Smell, Water Contamination

Two days after the Kanlaon Volcano ash eruptions, residents of Barangay Mailum in Bago City, Negros Occidental still complain of suffering from sulfuric stench as they also deal with a shortage of potable water.

1 min

US Halts Mass Firing of Nuke Arms Federal Workers

The Trump administration has halted the firings of hundreds of federal employees who were tasked with working on the nation's nuclear weapons programs, in an about-face that has left workers confused and experts cautioning that DOGE's blind cost cutting will put communities at risk.

1 min

Red-hot HD Spikers go for No. 3 seeding

Games today (PhilSports Arena) 4 p.m. -- Cignal vs Akari / 6:30 p.m. -- Capital1 vs Farm Fresh

1 min

Uy revives proposal to manage Phl air traffic

Tech tycoon Dennis Anthony Uy is taking another shot with his P30-billion proposal to manage the country's air traffic, this time backed up by Spain's controller for aircraft movement.

1 min

DA seeks legal review of profiteering

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is seeking to revise the definition of profiteering in existing laws in order to provide it with the power to curtail unscrupulous wholesalers and retailers of commodities in the market.

2 mins

Remittances reach record-high $38.3 B

The strong finish during the holiday season in December boosted dollars sent home by Filipinos abroad to reach an all-time high of $38.34 billion in 2024, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said.

2 mins

Index Back Below 6,000 Level

The local stock market opened the week in the red zone, falling below the 6,000-level anew as investors maintained a cautious stance given prevailing concerns locally and overseas.

1 min

The perfect time for sound decision-making

I suspect that 95 percent of customers don't want to wait.

3 mins

Axelum readies P400 M capex for next-level growth

Axelum Resources Corp., a listed integrated manufacturer and exporter of premium coconut products, is earmarking as much as P400 million this year to fuel the company's \"next-level growth.\"

1 min

Cebu BRT contracts fully awarded in H1

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will award the remaining contracts for the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) within the first semester, as it is on schedule to top off the initial phase of the project next month.

2 mins

S&P: Phl banks face risks amid shifts in US policies

Philippine banks, alongside their regional counterparts, are bracing for heightened volatility this year as shifting trade policies in the US under President Donald Trump's administration reshape global financial conditions, according to S&P Global Ratings.

2 mins

Phl remains heavily dependent on coal power plants, says IEA

Despite the government's ban on new coal-fired power plants, the Philippines remains heavily dependent on coal to meet its growing energy demand, according to the International Energy Agency.

1 min

Ayala Land Launches Luxury Residences in Davao

Property giant Ayala Land is strengthening its foothold in Mindanao with its first high-end horizontal residential development in Davao under Ayala Land Premier (ALP).

1 min

JTI ranks second in list of top employers in Phl

The local unit of global tobacco company JTI made it to the list of top employers in the Philippines for the fourth straight year, achieving its highest score ever to land at second place.

1 min

THE DAWN'S JETT PANGAN REFLECTS ON ALMOST 40 YEARS OF ROCKING OPM SCENE

THE DAWN FRONTMAN Jett Pangan still finds himself marveling at the band's longevity in the OPM scene. As they prepare for their upcoming concert, \"The Dawn: Almost 40,\" on Dec. 22 at the Music Museum, he and his bandmates can't help but ask themselves: How have they lasted this long?

5 mins

DEBUNKING BEAUTY MYTHS

With so much conflicting information, it's easy to feel confused. To help clear up common skincare myths, let me share with you the definitive answers to some of the most frequently asked skincare questions and debunk common beauty myths:

4 mins

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