The Philippine Star - February 19, 2025

In this issue

February 19, 2025

China helicopter flies dangerously close to BFAR plane

A Chinese military helicopter flew dangerously close to an aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) yesterday as the latter was on patrol over Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

1 min

Koko to Chiz: Start Sara impeach proceedings 'without delay'

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should be done \"forthwith\" or immediately as provided under the Constitution, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III reminded the Senate leadership yesterday.

4 mins

NFA rice rollout in MM begins today

The National Food Authority will start today the rollout of NFA rice to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

1 min

NFA rice rollout in MM begins today

The National Food Authority will start today the rollout of NFA rice to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

1 min

SC orders Comelec to comment on Miru disclosure petition

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the Commission on Elections and Miru Systems to comment on a petition seeking to compel the Comelec and Miru to disclose documents related to the P18-billion contract for the 2025 midterm elections.

2 mins

PNP-CIDG chief defends sedition raps vs Rody

Defending his decision to file criminal cases against former president Rodrigo Duterte, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III said it is time to hold him accountable for abandoning police officers who followed his orders during his term.

4 mins

Michelin to debut Phl guide in 2026

The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced yesterday that the prestigious Michelin Guide will officially turn its focus on the Philippines, marking a significant milestone for the country's culinary scene.

1 min

Petition filed at SC to stop impeachment

Supporters of Vice President Sara Duterte have asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the Senate from proceeding with her impeachment trial, saying the complaint was \"haphazard and procedurally flawed.\"

5 mins

Disclose rising dengue cases, LGUs told

Amid surging dengue cases nationwide, local government units (LGUs) should disclose if they are facing rising cases of the mosquito-borne disease in their respective areas, a health expert said yesterday.

1 min

Palace hit for downplaying EDSA Day anniversary

Calling it \"an obvious attempt to erase the victory of the people versus his father's dictatorship,\" former Bayan Muna representative and now senatorial candidate Teddy Casino yesterday said President Marcos downplayed the anniversary of the EDSA people power revolt by declaring it a mere \"special working holiday.\"

4 mins

Go: Upgrade PhilHealth's outdated system

Sen. Bong Go urged an immediate updating of the reported outdated system of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) to improve the agency's service to the people.

1 min

Efficient, inclusive distribution of gadgets to public schools pushed

Public school teachers urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to prioritize efficiency and inclusivity in the distribution of 62,000 laptops and smart TV packages to schools to ensure equitable access for all students.

1 min

15 Party-Lists Lead OCTA's January Poll

Fifteen party-lists, mostly incumbents, are leading the latest pre-election survey conducted by the OCTA Research group.

1 min

Pray for Pope Francis' healing, faithful urged

Caceres Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon has asked the Catholic faithful to pray for 88-year-old Pope Francis, who has been confined in a hospital due to a polymicrobial infection of the respiratory tract.

2 mins

The negative list

With candidates and parties opting for negative campaigning, there are now people who are also dwelling on the negative, swapping notes on who they will NOT vote for in May.

3 mins

Dengue desperation

\"Piso para sa lamok.\" \"Ibalik ang Kodak.\" After the Quezon City government declared a dengue outbreak alert, a barangay in Mandaluyong City, Barangay Addition Hills, launched their own anti-dengue campaign offering one peso for every mosquito – dead or alive!

4 mins

Musings on American statehood

It was my daughter's birthday last month and we decided to celebrate it at Anvaya Cove in Subic Bay. My family and friends went ahead. I followed with my driver so I had time alone in the car to let my mind roam.

4 mins

QC rolls out hybrid vehicles

The Quezon City government has launched a centralized vehicle management system to enhance efficiency and strengthen efforts to promote environmental sustainability.

1 min

8 Get Life For Kidnap Of Bank Exec

A Quezon City court has sentenced eight people to life in prison for kidnapping a Philippine National Bank (PNB) executive in 2008.

1 min

21 South Koreans, Pinoys nabbed in POGO raid

Six South Korean nationals and 15 Filipinos were apprehended in a raid on a suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hub in Pasay City on Monday.

1 min

Man Takes 2 Women Hostage in Manila

Two women were held hostage by a man inside a shop along Recto Avenue in Manila yesterday afternoon.

1 min

Marcos Launches DSWD's Online Portals

President Marcos led yesterday the launching of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)'s two online portals, including one that streamlines the process of application of clearance for minors traveling abroad or MTA.

1 min

'Killer' of NBI lawyer's son nabbed in Bulacan

Agents of the National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a drug suspect tagged in the killing of a son of an NBI lawyer in this city last year.

1 min

School principal gets 11 years for 'pocketing' P5,000

A public school principal in Virac, Catanduanes has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for alleged falsification of public documents and pocketing P5,000 in government funds.

1 min

Fishing ban in Zamboanga, Visayan Sea lifted

Commercial fishing vessels may now resume operations in Zamboanga peninsula and the Visayan Sea as the three-month fishing ban in these areas has been lifted, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.

1 min

Cops: Slain doctor's partner eyed as person of interest

Police are eyeing the partner of the slain doctor, who was found with a gunshot to the head in Naga City, Camarines Sur on Sunday, as a person of interest in the case.

1 min

UN nuclear chief to view soil removed from Fukushima

The UN nuclear watchdog chief is set to arrive in Japan on Tuesday for a trip that will include his first visit to storage facilities for vast quantities of soil contaminated in the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

1 min

Costa Rica to Receive Deported Migrants From US

Costa Rica announced on Monday it would receive migrants from other countries who were deported by the United States, following in the footsteps of Panama and Guatemala.

1 min

Musk Launches 'Scary Smart' AI Chatbot

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company unveiled on Monday the latest version of its chatbot, Grok 3, which the billionaire hopes will find traction in a highly competitive sector contested by the likes of ChatGPT and China's DeepSeek.

1 min

US-Russia talks begin in Saudi

No seat for Ukraine RIYADH (AFP) - Top US and Russian diplomats were meeting in Saudi Arabia yesterday for talks on resetting their countries' fractured relations and making a tentative start on trying to end the Ukraine war.

1 min

Delta jet flips over during landing in Toronto

A Delta Air Lines jet flipped on its roof while landing at Toronto's Pearson Airport on Monday, but all 80 people on board survived and those hurt had relatively minor injuries, the airport's chief executive said.

1 min

Shakira Resumes World Tour With Concert in Peru

Colombian superstar Shakira said she will resume her world tour and perform in Lima, Peru on Monday evening, following the cancellation of a concert over the weekend due to a stomach illness.

1 min

Death of SoKor actor sparks discussion about social media

South Korean actor Kim Sae-ron's (in photo) death this week has triggered an outpouring of grief and calls for changes to the way the country's celebrities are treated in the public arena and on social media, which critics say can foster a culture of harassment.

1 min

Rubio discusses Gaza deal with Saudi crown prince

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, during talks with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, that any deal on the future of war-torn Gaza must boost regional security, the US State Department said.

1 min

Gilas picks up points in Qatar trip

There were hard lessons learned from the Qatar trip that Gilas Pilipinas hopes will serve it well moving forward.

1 min

Lady Bulldogs Eye Win No. 2

Polar opposites attract as reigning champion National U shoots for a second straight win against the rebuilding Ateneo side, coming off a debut meltdown, in UAAP Season 87 women's volleyball today at the Filoil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

1 min

POC Grants Curlers Additional Bonus

The Philippine men's curling team of Marc and Enrico Pfister, Christian Haller, Alan Frei and Benjo Delarmente received an additional bonus of $5,000 each (P291,000) for their historic Asian Winter Games gold-medal feat in Harbin, China last week.

1 min

Chinese-Taipei out for revenge

Chinese-Taipei battles Gilas in the third FIBA Asia Cup qualifying window at the Taipei Heping Gymnasium tomorrow with two players who didn't see action in their first round meeting.

1 min

DOTr Overhaul Looms

Ahead of Dizon's Entry

2 mins

Gov't readies new incentives for local automakers

The government is planning to roll out a new incentives program to further promote the growth of local vehicle manufacturing in the country, according to the economic czar.

2 mins

JAZA Urges Foreign Investors To Capitalize On Phl's Growth Trajectory

Ayala Corp. chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala has called on foreign investors to take advantage of the Philippines' growth momentum, citing the country's resilience amid a volatile global environment.

2 mins

Let's use our brains

There's no doubt we have enough Filipinos with good working brains that should have been used to elevate our country's economy a long time ago.

4 mins

SM Prime raises P25 B from fixed-rate bonds

SM Prime Holdings Inc., the integrated property developer of the Sy family, has beefed up further its balance sheet after successfully raising P25 billion from an oversubscribed retail bond offering.

1 min

Aboitiz, foreign partner ink loan with major banks

A joint venture between Aboitiz Power Corp. and Oslo-listed Scatec has secured financing from major local banks for its battery energy storage system (BESS) projects across Luzon.

1 min

Nomura Sees BSP Cutting RRR in April

Nomura expects the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to further lower the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) as early as April, ahead of anticipated policy rate reductions later in the year.

1 min

Insurers work on EV insurance guide rates

The Philippine Insurers and Reinsurers Association (PIRA) is finalizing the guide rates for electric vehicle insurance, taking into account the unique risks associated with EVs and referencing data from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Thailand.

1 min

Nickel miners already compliant with sustainability requirements

The Philippine Nickel Industry Association (PNIA) said its members are already incorporating the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in their social development and management programs (SDMPs) even before the government required them to do so.

1 min

Figaro posts 15% growth in 6-month profit

Figaro Coffee Group Inc. posted strong profitability in the first half of its current fiscal year on the back of strengthened operational capabilities and expanded market presence.

1 min

Airfares going up in March

Travelers may have to pay more for their flight tickets by March, as airlines were given the green light to collect higher fuel surcharges for the first time in five months.

1 min

Vespa Sprint Tech - A classic ride with a modern twist

Vespa has officially launched its latest model, the Vespa Sprint Tech, in the Philippines.

2 mins

FERRARI 12CILINDRI IS NOW IN MANILA

Enzo Ferrari is alleged to have said, \"When you buy a Ferrari, you pay for the engine.\" That's a pretty fair assessment when it comes to the 12Cilindri—the latest in Ferrari's long line of storied V12-powered grand tourers.

4 mins

Women Now Proudly Wear Their Heritage

When you wear Filipino fashion, you represent not only your culture, but also tradition, hard work and dreams of generations of weavers.

2 mins

GMA NETWORK'S ART GAP IS 'CREATIVITY FROM THE HEART'

GMA Network deeply values creativity and regards employees as its greatest assets.

2 mins

WHY REGINE'S 'RESET'

THE IDEAL WAY TO fully enjoy Regine Velasquez's recent venture \"Reset\" is to watch all four shows in the concert series. That meant being present at the Samsung Theater last Feb. 14 for \"Originals\" and then on the 15th for \"Covers,\" and then again on Feb. 21 and 22 for the same titles.

2 mins

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