MANILA, Philippines — Isolated rainshowers and thunderstorms are expected to prevail over the country today due to the easterlies, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. PAGASA said that most parts of Luzon would experience hot to humid weather, especially in the afternoon. Meanwhile, some portions of the Visayas and Mindanao as well as Palawan will have fair weather, although isolated rain and thunderstorms may occur at night, particularly in Davao region and Caraga as well as Eastern Visayas. The easterlies, which refer to wind systems that blow from the east, are expected to affect the country until tomorrow. PAGASA said no low-pressure area has been spotted in or outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

MANILA, Philippines — A series of lava effusion and ash emission events occurred at Mayon Volcano in Albay yesterday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Phivolcs said that video footage of a time-lapse camera showed the volcanic events occurred from 12:22 a.m. to 4:37 a.m. The ash emission generated plumes that rose 150 to 200 meters above the crater. Phivolcs said that Mayon’s effusive eruption has been occurring for 51 consecutive days, triggering incandescent lava flows, pyroclastic density currents and rockfalls. Alert Level 3 remains hoisted over the volcano.

Why not MPBL, PBA join forces? Prime examples of MPBL players moving to PBA are first overall draft picks Justine Baltazar and Geo Chiu. In return, several PBA players moved to MPBL like Marc Pingris, Jayjay Helterbrand and Encho Serrano. Vic Manuel is an example of a PBA player who moved from PBA to MPBL and back. It could be a similar situation if MPBL and PBA agree to join forces.

Embassy: China, Philippines agree to strengthen dialogueSupporters of China's Premier Li Qiang wave Chinese national flags outside an event held at the Auckland Museum in Auckland on June 14, 2024. MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and China have agreed to strengthen dialogue and cooperation to prevent conflict and confrontation at sea, according to the Chinese embassy. “They emphasized the need to strengthen dialogue between the two coast guards and the importance of their cooperation rather than confrontation or conflict,” he said. “They emphasized the need to strengthen dialogue between the two coast guards and the importance of their cooperation rather than confrontation or conflict,” he said. “If anyone continues to smear and attack China, the Chinese embassy will respond firmly and without hesitation,” he said.

Unscathed Lady Spikers too much for Fighting MaroonsMANILA, Philippines -- La Salle’s dominance n the UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball tournament continues. The La Salle Lady Spikers remained unblemished after manhandling the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 25-12, 25-15, 25-19, Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. But a drop ball by Althea Cabradilla pushed the Lady Spikers closer to the win, 23-17. The Lady Spikers, still yet to drop a set this season, punched in 44 attacks against their opponent’s 18. The Lady Spikers rose to 3-0 in the season, while UP dropped to 2-1.

ICC prosecutors used their time yesterday at the confirmation hearing to build their case, element by element, that Duterte ultimately set up a national system of killings. He added that the defense's failure to engage with the prosecution's case during the opening statement only strengthened that confidence. "If you're just going to say Marcos broke his promise not to cooperate with the ICC — what is the relevance of that? The hearing concludes Friday with closing statements from the prosecution, the legal representatives of the victims, and the defense. The court then has 60 days to decide whether to confirm the charges and send the case to trial.

LTFRB: Fare hike still under reviewLTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the board is still waiting for more documents to justify the proposed fare hike. LTFRB Chairman Vigor Mendoza II said the board is still waiting for more documents to justify the proposed fare hike. Transport network companies and transport network vehicle service drivers are seeking an increase of P20 in base fare for ride-hailing services. “We should uplift the livelihood of drivers.”Mendoza said the P1 provisional fare hike being sought by jeepney operators is still pending. Castro noted that the P1 fare increase granted to jeepney drivers in October 2023 was sufficient to cover fuel costs.

How international law experts view Duterte’s opening defense at the ICCFormer president Rodrigo Duterte’s defense counsel, Nicholas Kaufman, attends the first day of confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Michael Tiu Jr., who teaches at the University of the Philippines College of Law and heads its international criminal law program, said Kaufman was “very political” in his opening statement. Gaps in Kaufman’s initial defenseKaufman was last among the three parties to deliver their opening statement during the first day of Duterte’s confirmation of charges hearing on February 23. Tiu described the attacks as “irrelevant” in the context of international law and said the Pre-Trial Chamber I judges are trained to disregard them. The ‘reasonable’ argumentsIf Kaufman made any strong or reasonable arguments, Cruz-Ferrer said they were only “briefly mentioned” in his opening statement.

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Navy units seized 3,460 boxes of imported cigarettes in separate offshore operations from Tuesday, February 24, in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat in Region 12 and, subsequently, in Basilan in the Bangsamoro region on Wednesday, February 25. Officials of the Western Mindanao Naval Command and the Bureau of Customs were still initiating procedural accounting of the seized contraband until Wednesday afternoon to determine its total value in Philippine currency. The boat was intercepted by a Navy team in a patrol boat while sailing towards the seaport in Kalamansig, one of the coastal towns in Sultan Kudarat province in Central Mindanao. WMNC officials told reporters that the crew of the M/B Skyblue was to deliver the smuggled cigarettes to beachfront areas in Basilan, a component province of BARMM, and in nearby Zamboanga City. The captains of both vessels have reportedly assured to identify the smugglers behind the foiled smuggling attempts for prosecution.

Marks & Spencer ceasing Philippine operations this MayMANILA, Philippines — British retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) will no longer operate in the Philippine beginning May 3 this year. Stores Specialists Inc. (SSI) addressed talks about M&S' closure in a company announcement shared to the Philippine Stock Exchange and obtained by Philstar.com. SSI confirmed the final day of M&S store operations in the Philippines is on May 2, 2026, signifiying the end of the establishment's presence in the country after almost 40 years. "This has not been an easy decision," SSI management said. We are deeply grateful to our loyal customers, dedicated employees, and partners who have supported the brand through the decades."

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — Residents of Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte surrendered to their local government unit and the police more than a dozen combat weapons, including assault rifles, B40 rocket and 40 millimeter grenade launchers on Tuesday, February 24. Gen. Jaysen De Guzman, director of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, told reporters on Wednesday that the firearms were surrendered by owners through the efforts of Datu Odin Sinsuat Mayor Abdulmain Abas, Vice Mayor Bobsteel Sinsuat, members of their Sangguniang Bayan and their municipal police chief, Major Katherine Paydoen, and her deputy, Captain Sammy Paning. De Guzman said the director of the Maguindanao del Norte provincial police, Col. George Bagundol, Jr., local executives and officials and personnel of the Datu Odin Sinsuat Municipal Police Station are cooperating in the enforcing a local disarmament program as part of the peace and security initiatives, partly meant to boost the investment climate in all of the more than 30 barangays in the municipality. The owners of the surrendered combat weapons are from Baka, Taviran, Badak, Linek, Mompong, Sapalan, Nekitan, Labungan, Tinunggos, Tambak, Dulangan, Kusiong, Kakar, Binolen, Tamontaka, at Capiton, which are among the more than 30 na barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat, whose municipal center is just less than 40 kilometers away from the capitol of the Bangsamoro government in Cotabato City. Residents of other barangays in Datu Odin Sinsuat surrendered last month more than 20 assorted military-type rifles and grenade launchers in support of their municipal government's disarmament campaign.

Kin of EJK victim: Duterte’s words were deadlyNanette Castillo grieves next to the dead body of her son Aldrin, an alleged drug user killed by unidentified assailants, in Manila on Oct. 3, 2017. MANILA, Philippines — The families left behind by the victims of the drug war echoed the point made by the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecution: former president Rodrigo Duterte’s words were lethal. Rise Up for Life and For Rights, a network of human rights advocates and the families of drug war victims, spoke on the matter and recounted how Duterte’s words killed their loved ones. (His words killed our loved ones. Pasco is currently in the Hague, Netherlands, attending Duterte's hearing.

Plunderers rejoice: Protesters disunited against ‘Unithieves’Disunity continues to plague anti-corruption groups. EDSA40 Committee, convened by catholic bishop Gerardo Alminaza, says both President Bongbong Marcos and VP Sara Duterte are answerable and should thus both resign. Lahat ng Sangkot Dapat Managot!”Trillion Peso March Movement, which features Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David, wants VP Sara removed first, and BBM only later. They argue that these would only benefit VP Sara as next in line of succession. The stronger case filed by Bayan Muna and endorsed by Makabayan Bloc reps was rejected too.

“The best proof na hindi kaya, all the evidence, all of these police reports, the DOJ cannot find them. Carpio also pointed out the pervasive atmosphere of fear that prevents witnesses from testifying in local courts. "The Duterte people can still intimidate the witnesses here in the Philippines if the cases are filed here," Carpio said. He pointed out that the total absence of filed cases against the implementors of the drug war is one of the proofs that the local system is stalled by fear. “The best proof of that is that there has been no cases filed against these people because one of fear of witnesses.

Humble Japan ready to win hearts at Women's Asian CupThis photo taken on February 17, 2026 shows Japan's Greenland-born women's women's national football team head coach Nils Nielsen speaking in an interview with AFP at the national training center operated by JFA in Chiba. Japan is the only Asian country to have won the Women's World Cup, but it has only lifted the Asian Cup twice in 20 editions of the competition. Nielsen hopes that attitude will bring Japan success in Australia, where they reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 2023. Japan won the World Cup in 2011 and went close to adding more major honors in the years that followed. But it has not gone past the Last Eight of a World Cup or Olympics since 2015.