-
Quezon City, October 16, 2025 In a wide-ranging and candid conversation over coffee, Attorney Levito Baligod sat down with this broadcast journalist to unpack the complex layers of Philippine governance—from the enduring pork barrel system to the philosophical underpinnings of law, economic policy, and regional security. The discussion offered a sobering yet insightful look into
-
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has raised concerns over the legitimacy of 204 new hires made at the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) in July, suggesting they may fall under the category of “midnight appointments”—a term used for last-minute government hires that often bypass standard vetting procedures. Speaking during a flag ceremony and media interview, Remulla
-
As anticipation builds for the upcoming summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest, the Kremlin has outlined its expectations, framing the meeting as a potential breakthrough in global diplomacy. Russian officials have expressed cautious optimism, emphasizing that the summit could pave the way for renewed dialogue on key international
-
The rural-based group Anakpawis Party-list has blamed the government’s import-liberalization policies—particularly the Rice Liberalization Law (Republic Act 11203)—for the steep decline in farmgate prices of palay (unhusked rice), calling for its immediate repeal. Citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Anakpawis revealed that the average farmgate price of palay in September dropped to P15.60
-
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) held a dialogue with ten Filipino seafarers who were recently repatriated following the bombing of the MV Minervagracht in the Gulf of Aden on September 29. The meeting, led by Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac alongside Assistant Secretary Jerome T. Pampolina and Director Augusto San Diego, aimed to ensure
-
The National Food Authority (NFA) has launched a pilot test of a new 1-tonner bagging system for palay, aiming to modernize grain storage and reduce post-harvest losses. The initiative began Friday and is part of a broader strategy to upgrade NFA’s warehousing capacity with minimal cost to the government. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel
-
In a move to deepen diplomatic relations, Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Bendito dos Santos Freitas, is set to embark on a working visit to the Philippines from October 21 to 23, 2025. The visit will include a bilateral meeting with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro on October 22,
-
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso convened in Malacañang to discuss a slate of transformative infrastructure and urban renewal projects aimed at reshaping the capital city’s landscape. At the heart of the meeting was the proposed Intramuros Forest Park, a green initiative envisioned to revitalize the historic district while
-
A growing storm brews in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), as security expert Prof. Rommel Banlaoi raises alarm over escalating tensions between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), compounded by delays in regional elections and troubling signs of youth radicalization. In a recent interview on ABANTE-Radyo’s “Walang Atrasan,”
-
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced that his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) will be made available to any authorized body that requests it, including the Office of the Ombudsman and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which is currently investigating alleged irregularities in flood control projects. Speaking after the oathtaking of
-
Subscribe
Subscribed
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
The Bench Files 