REUTERSBy Justine Irish D. Tabile, ReporterTHE PHILIPPINES could ratify the free trade agreement (FTA) with South Korea by the middle of the year, with no issues expected to arise from the deal, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).Trade Undersecretary and Board of

REUTERSBy Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza, ReporterPHILIPPINE President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has ordered agencies to boost coordination on maritime security to confront “a range of serious challenges” to territorial integrity and peace, as a sea dispute with China worsens.“Despite efforts to promote stability and security

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTOBy Kenneth Christiane L. BasilioTHE HOUSE of Representatives leadership reaffirmed its support for Charter change (“Cha-cha”) despite a Pulse Asia Research, Inc. poll last month showing 74% of Filipinos are against it regardless of timing.Foreign ownership restrictions in power utilities, education and advertising

DAVID ARROWSMITH-UNSPLASHA PHILIPPINE senator has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the tax bureau’s imposition of a 25% withholding tax and 12% value-added tax (VAT) on cross-border services of foreign corporations, saying it could drive away businesses.“This could hike the cost of doing business in

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCASA LEADER in the House of Representatives has scored a former House speaker for urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to resign amid escalating tensions with China over the South China Sea, saying the call reeks of “political maneuvering.”“Former Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s

THE country’s No. 2 police official was assigned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), pending the appointment of a permanent replacement to Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda, Jr. whose retirement has taken effect.Designated as

Motorists pass Mindanao Ave. Toll Plaza in Valenzuela on Dec. 17, 2020. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCASCONGRESS should prioritize the approval of a bill imposing toll collection at expressways through Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology in order to prevent traffic congestion at toll gates, a lawmaker

POLÍCIA CIENTÍFICA E DE INVESTIGAÇÃO CRIMINAL/ FACEBOOK/PHILSTAR FILE PHOTOA LEGAL expert said on Sunday that former Philippine congressman Arnolfo A. Teves, Jr. may be qualified for political asylum in Timor-Leste if he proves that his fundamental rights had been violated in his home country.National Union

COTABATO CITY — An entrapment operation targeting illegal firearms trading in Sultan Kudarat town in the southern Philippines went haywire on Saturday, forcing police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) agents to shoot and kill an alleged gunrunner.Agents of the CIDG-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, led by

PHILSTARIMMIGRATION Commissioner Norman G. Tansingco issued a warning on Sunday against the so-called bitbit or “tag-along” scheme employed by human traffickers to dupe Filipino women into becoming sex workers abroad.In a statement, he revealed how Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents intercepted a suspected human trafficker