Ridon defends move to drop VP bribery rap; respects Palace view

MANILA, Philippines — Sixteen teachers and students were injured following tensions with police at a protest outside Malacañang on Sunday, a day before World Teachers’ Day, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said. The group said the protesters were calling for economic relief, including a P50,000 entry-level salary for teachers, a P5,000 Personnel Economic Relief

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Basilan State College has reached a historic milestone, having been elevated to university status. It was formally declared the Basilan State University (BasSU) during a ceremony held at the institution’s gymnasium in Barangay Sumagdang, Isabela City, Basilan, on Friday. Dr. Shirley Agrupis, Commission on Higher Education (Ched) chairperson, announced

MANILA, Philippines – Former Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV’s allegations involving China-linked funds and other financial transactions cannot simply be disregarded because he will no longer testify in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial, prosecution spokesperson Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said over the weekend. Tolosa said the allegations are serious enough to warrant

MANILA, Philippines – The full amount of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth has yet to emerge as prosecutors continue to piece together evidence on properties, firearms and financial transactions against what she declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), a House prosecutor said over the weekend. House prosecutor

Dennis Trillo wholeheartedly dedicated the two Best Actor awards he received from the Multi-Media Press Society of the Philippines at the Golden Screen Dekada Awards last night, October 4. In his acceptance speech, Dennis said, “Gusto kong i-special mention ang aking number one supporter sa buhay, sa bahay, at sa lahat ng kaganapan sa mundo ko. Kay Jennylyn Mercado, maraming salamat sa 'yo. Sobrang proud ako sa 'yo. Kung proud ka sa akin, mas proud ako sa 'yo.” In a separate interview with GMANetwork.com and other entertainment media, the Kapuso actor expressed how grateful he is to his wife. “Hindi ko mararating ito kung hindi dahil sa kanya, kung hindi dahil sa ginawa niya sa akin, ginawa niyang pagbabago sa buhay ko. Siya yung nag-lead sa akin para mapunta dito sa maganda.” The media then asked about their family, which is currently embroiled in controversy following Patrick Garcia's statements about his past relationship with Jennylyn and their son, Alex Jazz. READ: Patrick Garcia, nilinaw na hindi iniwan si Jennylyn Mercado at ang kanilang anak “Well, kailangan mo lang maging matibay, siyempre. Isipin mo palagi yung pamilya. Sila naman yung pinakaimportante talaga. And, ayun, harapin nang matapang dahil, siyempre, kapag pamilya yung pinag-usapan, ibang usapan na 'yon.” On the issue, the actress has chosen not to make any statement. However, Dennis has been noticeably responding to and making remarks about comments regarding the controversy. READ: Jennylyn Mercado's agency issues official statement on Patrick Garcia's interview According to the actor, he and Jennylyn did not discuss his decision to defend their family. He explained, “Ako na lang talaga dahil, siyempre, pamilya ko 'yan. Walang ibang magtatanggol dahil ako yung padre de pamilya. Yun 'yong talagang pangunahing responsibilidad ng ama. Bilang tumatayong tatay ng pamilya, gagawin mo ang lahat para protektahan sila at to all costs.” Dennis admitted that they were surprised by Patrick's statements in his interview with Ogie Diaz. “Siyempre, nagulat, di ba?” he said. “Dahil, more than 20 years na, after 18 years, bago napagdesisyunang magsalita, bago magkuwento. Nakakagulat lang dahil tahimik na yung lahat. Siyempre, ayaw naman nating maungkat pa yung mga dating pinagtatalunan.” He said the situation could have been avoided if Patrick had spoken to them directly instead of going through other people. “Sa totoo lang, wala namang problema dun. Ngayon, siyempre, mas mahirap lang kasi nagkaroon ng ganyan. Pero lahat naman ito, madadaan sa mabuting usapan. Kung, alam nyo, siguro dumiretso siya sa amin, hindi na dumaan sa ibang tao, hindi na siguro nagkaroon ng ganitong klaseng pag-uusap.” Despite the controversy, Dennis said his support for his wife and family remains unwavering. His advice to Jennylyn was, “Maging masaya pa rin. Kahit na, ano yan, hindi maiiwasan ng mga itong kasi problema at mga pinagdadaanan sa buhay. So, ayun, maging masaya, maging thankful pa rin sa lahat ng blessings, siyempre. Thankful dahil maraming nagtatanggol sa amin, nagmamahal, at sumusuporta.” In the end, Dennis once again appealed for the issue to come to an end as their respective children have already been affected. “Hiling namin, matapos na lahat ng pamba-bash, ayaw na natin nangyari yun dahil mga magulang involved dito. Huwag na natin idamay ang mga bata dahil, at the end of the day, sila yung buhay natin, sila yung pinoprotektahan natin, sila yung mga mahal natin. “At ayaw nating masangkot sila sa ganitong klaseng at ayaw natin, alam ninyo, masangkot sila sa ganitong klaseng kaguluhan pa,” he concluded. Meanwhile, here are photos that show why Dennis Trillo stands out as the best dad ever:

MANILA, Philippines — As the country marks World Teachers’ Day on Monday, the Department of Education (DepEd) recognized a community-based teacher in Pampanga for nearly two decades of work providing education to out-of-school youth and other underserved communities. Allan Delos Reyes, a Master Teacher II and Alternative Learning System (ALS) teacher at Minalin Elementary School

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Police arrested six people in five separate anti-drug operations across the Caraga region on Saturday. In a statement on Sunday, the Police Regional Office-Caraga (PRO-13) said its operating units confiscated 20.2494 grams of suspected shabu with a standard drug price of P137,695.92. The anti-drug operations were conducted in Butuan

MANILA, Philippines – Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial enters a crucial week Monday, with the House prosecution set to present witnesses from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), banks, insurance companies and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as it moves closer to completing its unexplained wealth case. The Senate impeachment court is scheduled

ROXAS, Isabela — Three children, including an eight-year-old boy, and an 85-year-old woman died, while two other minors were wounded when an unidentified explosive device went off in Sitio Raniag, Barangay Sinamar, Roxas, Isabela, at around 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, police said. The two other minors, all residents of the village, were brought

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has mobilized its regional offices, line bureaus and field units to strengthen nationwide preparedness and mitigation measures against the ongoing El Niño, as DOST-PAGASA warns that this climate pattern may intensify into a very strong event before the end of 2026 and persist through

DON CARLOS, Bukidnon — Two men sustained shoulder injuries after being hacked by an intoxicated neighbor in Purok 5, Barangay Mahayahay, late Saturday night. According to the Don Carlos Municipal Police Station (MPS), led by Maj. Al-Nico Haman, the incident occurred at around 11:45 p.m. while the victims were having a drinking session with family

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Education Secretary Sonny Angara welcomed the approval by a House of Representatives panel of P1.952 billion in budget additions for the Department of Education (DepEd) under the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 national budget. The Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) of the House Committee on Appropriations, chaired by Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep.