-
Civil society organizations have issued a scathing rebuke of the House Committee on Appropriations’ Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARC), accusing it of operating as a “rubber stamp” for opaque budget realignments and systematically excluding public participation—especially youth voices—in the national budget process. The statement, released in response to a closed-door BARC meeting that tackled the…
-
In a powerful address before thousands of demonstrators at the EDSA People Power Monument, Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), called on individuals involved in alleged corruption in flood control projects to come forward and speak the truth—offering the Church as a sanctuary for whistleblowers. “It is…
-
The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has reported a major breakthrough in its anti-smuggling campaign, confiscating ₱2.390 billion worth of illicit goods in just two months under the leadership of Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno. From July to August 2025, the agency launched 128 enforcement operations targeting illegal drugs, counterfeit cigarettes, and agricultural contraband. The intensified crackdown…
-
Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., personally visited hospitalized officers who sustained injuries while maintaining peace and order during Sunday’s anti-corruption protest. The rally, held near the People Power Monument, drew thousands of demonstrators and was marred by pockets of unrest. Despite the aggressive behavior of some…
-
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla announced Thursday that the Department of Justice (DOJ) will begin filing cases within 40 to 60 days against individuals implicated in ghost infrastructure projects linked to widespread corruption in public works. Speaking during the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s resumed probe into flood control anomalies, Remulla confirmed that five cases have…
-
DEFENSE CHIEF TEODORO EMPHASIZES AFP’S ROLE IN SECURING HISTORIC BARMM ELECTIONS DURING MARAWI VISIT
With the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections (BPE) just weeks away, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. visited the 103rd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army on September 19, 2025, to highlight the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) critical role in ensuring a peaceful and credible electoral process in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region…
-
On the eve of the historic Trillion Peso March, twelve surviving delegates of the 1971 Constitutional Convention have issued a powerful manifesto condemning what they describe as “blatant injustices and staggering corruption” gripping the nation. In a rare unified statement, the signatories — including Senator Richard Gordon, Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr., and former Cabinet…
-
In a major stride toward bolstering the nation’s health security, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act No. 12290, officially creating the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP). The new national research center will focus on virus studies, vaccine development, and diagnostics to prepare the country for future pandemics and emerging…
-
In a move to enhance transparency and ensure timely financial communication across the police force, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has officially relaunched its Finance Service Text Blast program. The initiative, backed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aims to modernize internal systems and uphold the welfare of government personnel. Originally introduced by Police Lieutenant…
-
In a major push to modernize the country’s agricultural sector, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inaugurated a ₱61.7 million Rice Processing System (RPS) II in Pampanga on Friday, September 19, 2025. The facility, along with newly distributed farm machinery, is expected to benefit over 36,000 rice farmers across the province. The RPS II, funded under…
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
The Bench Files 