Philippine and Chinese coast guards have mounted separate search and rescue operations, with China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels being the first on the scene after being informed by a nearby maritime rescue center. As of 12:30 p.m. Friday, 17 crew members had been rescued, according to numbers in a report shared by the Chinese Embassy in Manila. The embassy later shared a video showing CCG personnel pulling up Filipino sailors onto their ship. The ship had departed from Gutalac in Zamboanga del Sur province and was bound for Yangjiang, China. The Chinese Embassy said the incident occurred "55 nautical miles northwest" of what Beijing calls "Huangyan Dao" — the Chinese name for Scarborough Shoal.

Filipino-American Autumn Durald Arkapaw has become the first woman of color to be nominated at the Oscars for Best Cinematography for her work in the film, Sinners. Arkapaw was nominated alongside Adolpho Veloso (Train Dreams), Michael Bauman (One Battle After Another), Dan Laustsen (Frankenstein), and Darius Khondji (Marty Supreme). “I thought how special it would be for in the future someone to look up this nomination, because I’m the fourth woman. Arkapaw majored in art history at Loyola Marymount University and later entered the AFI Conservatory’s cinematography program. It has set a new record in the award-giving body, bagging 16 nominations, including Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Original Screenplay.

JuanHand partners with PNP to protect borrowersMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and JuanHand, the country’s leading fintech cash lending firm, have forged a partnership to protect Filipinos from scammers. Initiatives such as information sharing, training programs and public workshops on the evolving nature of cyber threats as well as public awareness on responsible and safe borrowing can educate them on how to avoid traps set up by predatory lenders. The goal is to equip Filipinos with the knowledge and tools to identify and report suspicious activities effectively. “Our partnership with PNP-ACG reinforces JuanHand’s commitment to protect Filipinos in the digital lending space,” said Francisco Roberto D.C Mauricio, president and CEO of JuanHand. “Through education and collaboration, we aim to help consumers avoid scams and borrow safely from legitimate platforms.”

PSEi tumbles as investors lock in gainsThe benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 1.02 percent or 65.34 points to cap off the week at 6,333.26. MANILA, Philippines — The local stock market fell back to negative territory as investors took profits following the previous day’s sharp increase. The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index shed 1.02 percent or 65.34 points to cap off the week at 6,333.26. “The PSEi ended lower, testing the 6,300 support level, reflecting cautious market positioning,” Luis Limlingan of Regina Capital said. Market breadth was negative as decliners squashed decliners, 119 to 86, while 59 issues did not change hands.

BYD sales zoom over 400 percent in 2025In a statement, BYD Cars Philippines, a subsidiary of ACMobility, said its retail sales reached 26,122 units last year, well above the 4,780 units sold in 2024. MANILA, Philippines — BYD Cars Philippines finished strong in 2025 as sales surged by 446 percent year-on-year. In a statement, BYD Cars Philippines, a subsidiary of ACMobility, said its retail sales reached 26,122 units last year, well above the 4,780 units sold in 2024. The Seagull leads BYD’s 4,608 battery electric vehicle sales as the top-selling vehicle. BYD Cars Philippines managing director Bob Palanca said 2025 marked a significant milestone in the advancement of new energy vehicles in the country.

He accuses the agency of failing in its basic mandate of protecting the public from dubious pharmaceutical and health products. He took the FDA to task for allowing continued sale of unregistered health products and criticizes the agency for issuing unenforceable health advisories. Our public health infrastructure is a disaster area. The original Malampaya field (Service Contract 38) had a 2,700 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of deposits. This is less than four percent of what the original Malampaya field held.

Two views on doing business under BBMThere are two views on how to do business under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas administration. The vice chair of SM Investments Corp. and chair of BDO Unibank, TSC views business from a sprawling perspective. Tan III views business from the focused lens of aviation. AT BBR, TSC said:On greater market access through free trade agreements• We support free trade agreements because government and business share the same goal: progress. Business matching helps accelerate investments, and investments translate into jobs.

Duterte tells birthday boy Bato: Be strong as a rockMANILA, Philippines — Detained former president Rodrigo Duterte greeted Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa on his 64th birthday, as he told him to be “strong like a rock,” according to Vice President Sara Duterte. “Earlier, I spoke to president Duterte and I told him that it’s Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s birthday. I told him if he has a birthday message for Sen. Bato dela Rosa. He said, ‘Happy birthday, Sen. Bato. Be strong like a rock.’ That’s his wish,” the Vice President said in The Hague, Netherlands.

Government taps white hat hackers for cybersecurity protectionWhite hat hackers are cybersecurity professionals who use their hacking skills ethically to identify and report security vulnerabilities. White hat hackers are cybersecurity professionals who use their hacking skills ethically to identify and report security vulnerabilities. Unlike malicious hackers, white hats help organizations strengthen their defenses by exposing weaknesses before they can be exploited. The DICT divided the SHPBBP into two: the private program, which is limited to a select group of experts; and the public program, which is an open invitation to cybersecurity researchers. The SHPBBP covers all agencies under the government, including state-owned firms, as well as private companies belonging to the Public-Private Cybersecurity Partnership Program.

He lamented the economic repercussions of having two impeachment trials this year against Marcos and Duterte, who used to be allies until their political falling out. Ejercito said despite his reservations, he still believed in the constitutional duty of the Senate to “proceed to trial forthwith” in case both impeachment complaints are transmitted by the House. But I’m just airing out my frustration of the implications that this would bring if the impeachment process proceeds for them both,” Ejercito said. Not blocking impeachmentHouse majority leader and Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos said yesterday that he is not blocking any impeachment complaint against his father the President. “I cannot stop any impeachment complaint from being referred to the floor or to any committee or the committee on justice,” Marcos said.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines placed 53rd out of 101 economies in the World Bank’s 2025 Business-Ready (B-Ready) report, which assesses the state of the business environment. The B-Ready report replaces and improves upon the World Bank’s Doing Business report, which was discontinued by the multilateral lender due to internal reports of data irregularities. While the 2024 B-Ready report assessed 50 economies, the latest edition covered 101 economies. In terms of operational efficiency, the Philippines got a score of 51.45 and ranked 80th out of 101 economies in the latest report. It also said reforms introduced after the period of the 2025 B-Ready report, including those implemented from late 2024 onwards, are expected to be reflected in future results.

The CEBB experience demonstrates that while justice holds individuals accountable, it must also enable them to change. Justice Miranda spoke about equality before the law and the continuing task of correction. Justice Miranda often speaks of the two main goals of imprisonment: holding the offender accountable for the crime and providing the offender with the opportunity to reform. Justice Miranda knows change is possible because he has seen it. When a person leaves prison ready to live honestly and society allows him the chance to do so, justice has done its duty.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways is working to adopt a bottom-up budgeting framework to plan its budget for 2027. Secretary Vince Dizon said they were coordinating with the private sector and civil society for the effort. Catalina) Cabral.”According to the DPWH chief, identifying priority infrastructure projects based on local needs has long been government policy. The move forms part of the DPWH leadership’s broader push to make infrastructure budgeting more transparent, needs-based and insulated from political insertions, particularly as preparations begin for the 2027 national budget. Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco, another panelist in the breakfast forum, said that he was willing to sponsor the filing of proposed legislation institutionalizing the BUB framework for the national government budgeting process.

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Joel Villanueva yesterday filed his counter-affidavit before the Department of Justice (DOJ) for a malversation complaint against him in connection with the flood control scam. “Yes, he filed his counter-affidavit ahead of the PI (preliminary investigation) this Monday,” DOJ spokesman Raphael Niccolo Martinez confirmed to reporters. He was earlier granted an extension until Jan. 26 to file his counter-affidavit in one of the three complaints. Villanueva is also facing graft and direct bribery complaints at the DOJ over alleged receipt of P150 million in kickbacks from the flood control scam. Hernandez was the first one to reveal Villanueva’s alleged receipt of kickbacks from flood control projects in Bulacan.

MANILA, Philippines — Political prisoners’ group Kapatid yesterday urged the courts to allow community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and co-accused Mariel Domequil to post bail, citing “legal flaws” in their conviction. The Tacloban Regional Trial Court Branch 45 convicted Cumpio and Domequil on Thursday of terror financing but acquitted them of illegal possession of firearms. “Justice demands that Frenchie and Marielle be granted bail while the courts review a conviction that remains deeply contested for being legally infirm and constitutionally unsound,” Lim said. The Media Freedom Coalition Embassy Network in the Philippines also reiterated their call for the protection of press freedom following Cumpio’s conviction. “We urge all stakeholders to ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear of persecution,” the statement read.