Lois Calderon, Author at newswatchplus.ph

Espionage trend in past two years – Philippine Navy

Lois Calderon — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:43:54 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Navy has sounded the alarm over what it described as a “trend of espionage” in the past two years following the arrests of suspected Chinese spies in Zambales and Bohol – one of them a Mongolian pilot with military background tied to China’s People’s Liberation Army. In a briefing on

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Impeachment proceedings vs. VP Sara Duterte begin

Lois Calderon — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:51:31 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 23, referred to the committee on justice four complaints seeking to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, setting in motion the impeachment proceedings as well as a one-year immunity rule against any other bid to remove her from office. Deputy Speaker Ferjenel Biron, who presided over

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Anti-political dynasty bill meets opposition from Cavitenos; lawmakers guarantee swift passage

Lois Calderon — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:12:10 +0000

Cavite, Philippines — The passage of a bill ending political dynasty is certain with House Speaker Bojie Dy as one of its authors, a lawmaker said on Thursday, Feb. 12. The debate has narrowed down to the most contentious issue: whether the law applies up to 4th degree, or just be limited to 2nd degree

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Unemployment worsens as builders shed jobs amid corruption scandal

Lois Calderon — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 07:03:25 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine labor market capped 2025 with just 172,000 new jobs – on a net basis – created, the most modest gain in post-COVID years, according to data the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released on Friday, Feb. 6. The full-year unemployment rate worsened to an annual 4.2 percent in 2025, from 3.8

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Higher rents, power rates and fast-food prices drive inflation to 11-month peak

Lois Calderon — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 10:48:44 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Inflation, or the pace at which consumer prices rise, sped to 2 percent in January – its fastest in 11 months – cementing bets that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will soon end the era of easy cash. January’s inflation print topped market forecasts and December’s 1.8 percent, but fell within

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Philippines, US and allies hold 2-month drills in West Philippine Sea

Lois Calderon — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:24:46 +0000

Manila, Philippines – A two-month series of military drills between the Philippines and US, together with defense allies, began in late January in the West Philippine Sea, a navy official said on Tuesday, Feb. 3, as Manila countered Beijing’s accusation of stoking tensions in the maritime flashpoint. Maritime and aviation authorities have issued a notice

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2025 growth target missed amid corruption scandal fallout

Lois Calderon — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:46:40 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Full-year economic growth in 2025 was below expectations, an economic minister of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. said on Thursday, Jan. 29, in part because of the fallout from a corruption scandal that hurt business confidence and private consumption. Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed the economy expanded by just

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Navy says China’s M/V Devon rescue does not justify illegal intrusions in West PH Sea

Lois Calderon — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 02:32:44 +0000

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Navy acknowledged Beijing’s rescue of Filipino survivors of the M/V Devon Bay tragedy, but questioned the Chinese Coast Guard vessel’s presence within the country’s maritime territory. The Chinese Coast Guard vessel that responded to the distress call of M/V Devon Bay was part of a Chinese fleet that had encroached

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Ridon to SC: Clear hurdle on VP impeachment bid ahead of one-year ban lapse

Lois Calderon — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:50:53 +0000

Manila, Philippines – A Supreme Court reversal of its July 2025 decision that junked an impeachment bid against Vice President Sara Duterte could pave the way for an impeachment trial to proceed, and spare lawmakers from filing a fresh complaint come February, House committee on public accounts chairman Rep. Terry Ridon said on Wednesday, Jan.

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Chinese ships block Filipino fishers from access to Scarborough Shoal

Lois Calderon — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 16:07:28 +0000

Manila, Philippines – Chinese ships drove away Filipino fishermen from waters near Scarborough Shoal on Monday, Jan. 12, in what the military said was this year’s first incident of aggression in this atoll – maritime flashpoint. In a video filmed by the Filipino fishermen and released by the Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday, Jan. 13,

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