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Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines has achieved upper-middle income status this year, the World Bank (WB) said on Wednesday, July 1. The global development lender said the country’s gross national income (GNI) per capita of $4,850 exceeded the $4,636 threshold to break through to the upper-middle income category. The WB Development Data Group updates country classifications annually on July 1.  GNI is a metric used by the bank to classify economies into income brackets based on a country’s final income divided by its midyear population. “The Philippines achieved its reclassification through broad-based expansion. GDP [gross domestic product] grew at an average of 5.8% per year over five years, reflecting gains across all major industries, not a single sector boom, but an economy-wide shift,” the bank said in its latest blog. The group said these updates reflect which countries can get access to concessional loans and development assistance, and provide…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) recommended the filing of two counts of homicide and two counts of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against ex-Ateneo coach Tab Baldwin and eight others over the drowning of student athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili in Aurora on June 8. Also named were:  +strength and conditioning coach Grant Hearns +assistant coach Dean Caesar Castaño  +strength and conditioning coach Ceasar Vincent Elumba  +assistant coach Sandro Nicholas Soriano  +assistant coach Reynaldo Jacinto Jr. +athletic director Emmanuel Fernandez  +physical therapist John Eric Rueca  +sports facility officer Vincent Raphael Mangulabnan  The Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that it received the recommendations on Tuesday, July 1. Police investigators said the coaching staff and team officials failed to provide enough safety measures such as flotation devices, lifeguards, rescue equipment, proper swimmer assessment, and sufficient emergency preparations. They also allegedly pushed through…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Ombudsman Boying Remulla is unfazed by the strong pushback from Senator Rodante Marcoleta’s supporters on his possible plunder case, saying the filing of charges against the lawmaker will push through. “Nothing has changed,” said Remulla in a chance interview on Wednesday, July 1. The ombudsman previously said the non-bailable plunder case against Marcoleta and three others may be released this week. On Tuesday, June 30, tens of thousands of Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) members stormed the Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) in a surprise rally questioning the possible case against Marcoleta. The religious group, which counts Marcoleta as a member, extended its protest on Wednesday. The case is related to ₱75 million in campaign donations Marcoleta received from private persons for the 2025 midterm elections. Remulla said while he acknowledges the protesters’ freedom of expression, they get the “wrong premise” on the ombudsman action. “There is…

Metro Manila, Philippines – An online nihilistic violent extremist group called “764” may have influenced one of the Tacloban school shooters, Senator Risa Hontiveros said during her panel’s hearing into rising youth violence on Wednesday, July 1.   Canada and New Zealand have designated 764 a terrorist group, while the US Department of Justice considered the group as a terrorist network and a national security threat.   The group allegedly grooms vulnerable youth online through games such as Gorebox, Minecraft, and Roblox. It supposedly encourages the creation of graphic pornography, harm family pets, commit self-harm and even suicide. Hontiveros said the group also has instruction material on how to create weapons, and explosives, and how to commit “sextortion” – blackmailing people with their explicit images and videos. The senator presented evidence gathered from suspect Nash’s dummy social media page. Comments on previous posts show that some now-deactived user accounts encouraged Nash to…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Alex Eala showcased her dominant form in a straight set win over Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 6-1, 6-2, to reach the second round of Wimbledon on Wednesday, July 1 (Philippine time). Seeded in a major for the first time in her career, the 21-year-old Eala took care of business from start to finish and just needed an hour and 17 minutes to complete the triumph. Eala broke early in the second set with a 2-0 lead before the world No. 75 Zarazua got on board. The Filipino tennis ace proved to be too much to handle as she won three straight games after and eventually sealed the victory. This was not the first meeting between Eala and Zarazua as the two previously met at the ITF Cary Tennis Classic in 2024, with the Mexican prevailing in three sets in the quarterfinals. Eala will face Australia’s Maya…