The Philippine Star - April 17, 2025

In this issue

April 17, 2025

LTO Monitoring Reckless Drivers

The Land Transportation Office has mobilized more than 1,700 traffic enforcers across the country for Holy Week to monitor major roads and take action against reckless driving, including road racing.

3 mins

Media Freedom Coalition: 'Freedom of the press is democracy'

\"Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy.\"

2 mins

ICC prosecutor: Witnesses vs Rody need protection

International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Karim Khan has confirmed the need to protect some of the witnesses against former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing charges for crimes against humanity.

3 mins

Inflation Still Most Urgent Issue for Filipinos — Pulse Asia

The rising cost of basic commodities and services remains the most urgent issue confronting Filipinos, a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed.

1 min

Enrile: Duterte arrest lawful

In response to detractors, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile disputed claims that Duterte's arrest and transfer to The Hague lacked due process and violated Philippine sovereignty.

1 min

VP's return signals she's ready for trial

For one lawmaker, Vice President Sara Duterte's return to the country means she is willing to face the charges against her during the impeachment trial.

1 min

No politics in raps vs Rody allies - NBI

With the National Bureau of Investigation recommending charges against allies of former president Rodrigo Duterte, NBI Director Jaime Santiago has asserted that he is not beholden to any political faction.

1 min

Practice healthy lifestyle during Holy Week - DOH

While vacationing during the Holy Week, the public was advised yesterday by the Department of Health (DOH) to stay healthy.

3 mins

Hot, dry weather to prevail nationwide

The easterlies are expected to be the dominant prevailing weather system throughout the week, bringing hot and humid conditions across the country, according to the latest forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

1 min

DA warns vs fish overpricing during Holy Week

As Holy Week drives up demand for fish, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging vendors to maintain reasonable prices, warning that retail costs for commonly consumed fish should stay within monitored ranges.

1 min

School bullying: Police intervention, patrols set

Police will intervene in bullying incidents and intensify patrols near \"high-risk\" schools nationwide, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday.

1 min

'Sexist' Pasig bet faces DQ

Violations of anti-discrimination guidelines have led the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to file a petition to disqualify Pasig congressional candidate Christian Sia.

1 min

10 Party-Lists Leading in OCTA Poll

Ten party-list groups are leading in a pre-election survey conducted by the OCTA Research group.

1 min

No trains, Pasig ferry during Holy Week

Rail transport and ferry services in Metro Manila will be suspended during Holy Week.

1 min

NCRPO Beefs Up Holy Week Security

Police have beefed up security in residential communities in Metro Manila ahead of the exodus of travelers to the provinces this Holy Week.

1 min

Free QC Bus Rides to Resume Sunday

The Quezon City government has suspended the operation of the Q City bus service starting today until Saturday.

1 min

OWWA: 26 trafficked victims home from Cambodia

Twenty-six Filipino victims of human trafficking returned home yesterday from Cambodia, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.

1 min

Irreversible

Chinese netizens, over the past week, released a flurry of videos showing factories producing European luxury goods. Few realize it, but about 80 percent of the priciest luxury items on the market are produced—in the main—in Chinese factories.

3 mins

Strange Fruit

EYES WIDE OPEN

3 mins

Reckless, sleepy drivers

This peak travel season, the Land Transportation Office has reportedly deployed over 1,700 enforcers nationwide to monitor and document reckless driving.

1 min

Invention of good and evil

A few days ago, amid the gentle breezes and blossoming vitality of spring, I returned to Beijing to attend two important conferences: the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries and the Conference for Chiefs of Overseas Missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3 mins

Invest in the neighborhood: Building a community of shared future with neighboring countries

A few days ago, amid the gentle breezes and blossoming vitality of spring, I returned to Beijing to attend two important conferences: the Central Conference on Work Related to Neighboring Countries and the Conference for Chiefs of Overseas Missions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

3 mins

Danding Cojuangco vindicated

There was no illegal hidden wealth after all. That is the conclusion I make after reading the stunning Dec. 6, 2024 decision of the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on the eight coconut levy cases filed by the Presidential Commission on Good Government back in 1987 and in 1995. PCGG lost all eight cases.

4 mins

Harvard's decision

The world's most famous university has done the right thing, and this is major news.

2 mins

PPA Bracing for Lenten Passenger Surge

Over 1.7 million travelers are expected to flock to different seaports nationwide to observe the Holy Week in their hometowns, according to the Philippine Ports Authority.

2 mins

Water Level in 7 Dams Decreasing

The water level in seven dams in Luzon continued to decline amid high temperatures being experienced in the country.

1 min

First Phl Eagle hatched unassisted dies

Riley, the first Philippine Eagle that hatched without human intervention early this year, has died, according to the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

1 min

Ben Tulfo warns traders deceiving fisherfolk

Senatorial candidate Ben Tulfo yesterday warned traders who are taking advantage of marginal fishermen and farmers of seaweeds.

1 min

Netanyahu Visits Gaza, Calls for Hostage Release

JERUSALEM (Reuters)—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited northern Gaza on Tuesday, accompanied by the country's defense minister, head of the military and other senior officials, his office said.

1 min

Weinstein's retrial for sex crimes begins in NY

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's retrial on rape and sex assault charges began on Tuesday, forcing survivors who helped fire up the \"#MeToo\" movement to prepare to testify against him once more.

1 min

Singapore to hold election on May 3

Singapore will hold a national election on May 3, the election commission said on Tuesday, amid worries about the cost of living and fears of a recession as a result of US tariffs.

1 min

SoKor police raid presidential office, security compound

South Korean police raided yesterday the office of former president Yoon Suk-yeol and his security detail as part of a spiraling criminal probe into the impeached leader.

1 min

WHO Countries Strike Landmark Agreement on Tackling Pandemics

Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries approving the text of a landmark accord on how to tackle future pandemics, aimed at avoiding the mistakes made during the COVID-19 crisis.

1 min

Pope Leaves Faithful Guessing Over Easter Appearances

Pope Francis may be on the mend, but as Easter nears, Catholic faithful are wondering how much of the celebrations the 88-year-old will be able to take part in after battling life-threatening pneumonia.

1 min

Chargers soaring high with bronze feat

With another podium finish, it is probably safe to say that Akari Chargers own one of the successful programs in the Premier Volleyball League.

1 min

RAIN OR SHINE NAILS 1ST WIN

Former Gilas Pilipinas standout and now Gilas youth head coach LA Tenorio gets a baptism of fire at home as the Philippines hosts the 2025 FIBA U16 Asia Cup SEABA Qualifiers on May 24 to 30.

1 min

Arca Scores Big Reversal vs Gustafsson

Filipino FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca pulled off a stunning win over Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson of Germany last Tuesday in the third round of the Bangkok Open.

1 min

Warriors, Magic Gain Playoff Passage

Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler combined for 75 points as the Golden State Warriors squeezed into the NBA playoffs on Tuesday with a pulsating 121-116 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

1 min

Petro Gazz taps Day for AVC

It's a brand new Day for newlycrowned PVL All-Filipino champion Petro Gazz as Angels team manager Dave Dichupa confirmed yesterday that former Baylor and Maryland University outside hitter Giovanna Milana Day will reinforce the squad in the 2025 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women's Champions League at the PhilSports Arena on April 20-27.

1 min

Tour of Luzon draws 4 foreign teams

The Tour of Luzon was intended to resurrect multi-stage road racing in the country but its lure went into overdrive resulting in four foreign teams competing against 12 continental and domestic club teams in the eight-stage competition dubbed the \"Great Revival.\"

1 min

Breakthrough for Angels

Take it from Petro Gazz' Japanese coach Koji Tsuzurabara. The team that won the recently concluded PVL All-Filipino Conference was \"entirely different\" from the squad that took third place in the same tournament the previous season.

2 mins

PPP Project Pipeline at P2.64T as of April

The government has added 14 projects to its public-private partnership pipeline, bringing the total to 187 PPP projects amounting to P2.64 trillion.

1 min

PCC Raises Threshold for M&A Notification

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has set higher thresholds for mergers and acquisitions (M&As) that should be notified to the antitrust agency.

1 min

Luzon railway project gets $1.45 B financing

MALOLOS-CLARK LINE

1 min

Profit-taking Ends Market's 5-Day Climb

The local stock market snapped its five-day winning streak, ending the shortened trading week in the negative territory as investors decided to take profits.

1 min

Corporate Rationality and NGOs Irrationality in Electricity Pricing

Last week and this week, there were a number of important developments in the Philippine electricity sector.

4 mins

SB Capital seals nearly P300 B deals

The investment banking arm of Security Bank Corp. facilitated nearly P300 billion in capital markets and project finance deals in 2024, cementing its role in driving infrastructure development and accelerating the country's shift to renewable energy.

2 mins

Collective action to power through the dry season

Filipinos are no strangers to the dry and humid season — living in a country located just above the equator, we have long endured elevated temperatures. But in recent years, heat indexes have soared to dangerously high levels, posing a serious threat to the health, safety and well-being of our communities.

3 mins

SM Sees Strong Uptake for Offices Based in Malls

SM Prime Holdings, the integrated property developer of the SM Group, is expanding its office portfolio to support the strong demand for its mall-based offices as more businesses seek premium spaces.

1 min

BIR: Vape regulation to trim excise tax gap

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is banking on the imposition of vape stamps to contribute to the further reduction of the excise tax gap this year.

1 min

ERAP, CHARO, LAURICE & LAV THROUGH THE EYES OF COLLEAGUES, PEERS

THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDEES AT the third Film Development Council of the Philippines' Parangal ng Sining received something far more enduring — heartfelt tributes from fellow artists whose lives and careers they've touched.

4 mins

JOHN ESTRADA STILL LOVES HIS WIFE PRISCILLA MEIRELLES

Glo is Miss U. Philip is \"Mr. Missed Dues.\" As a close friend of John Estrada and Priscilla \"Pri\" Meirelles, I have been privy to their marital woes long before Pri spilled the beans in her interview with Karen Davila.

2 mins

South Korean artist Choi Bo Min: I'm ready to show my talent in Phl

South Korean singer, actor and host Choi Bo Min is eager to showcase his acting and singing flair to Filipino audiences.

2 mins

More veggies, please

The vegetable industry is a thriving yet wanting industry in the Philippines.

2 mins

BABY GIRL'S NTH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

Agile Zamora's year-long birthday celebrations was hosted this time by Consul Helen Ong at her lovely home in Forbes Park. Only 40 friends were invited, especially those who have supported the Philippine Best Dressed for the Philippine Cancer Society, plus some newcomers. It was a sit-down dinner featuring a delicious set menu.

1 min

Halo-Halo Espesyal: Ice, Ice, Baby!

Usually come on weekends,\" Caren informs us. \"Dating couples and working people come on weekdays. Yes, our prices are mid-range; compared to other restaurants, we're lower. We try to maintain our value-for-money offerings.\"

1 min

Elevate The Art Of Cooking

Sub-Zero and Wolf continue to set the benchmark for excellence in kitchen design and performance.

1 min

Beyond Food: How The Halal Market Is Quietly Transforming Beauty, Tourism And More

The term halal might bring to mind dietary restrictions and food choices, but a recent roundtable at the Malaysian Embassy in Manila revealed a much broader landscape: a $7.7 trillion global industry that has expanded well beyond the dining table into cosmetics, tourism, banking, and pharmaceuticals.

3 mins

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