SENATORS CYNTHIA A. Villar and Emmanuel D. Pacquiao maintained their position as the wealthiest senators, while detained Senator Leila M. De Lima is the poorest among them.

UNLIKE VIETNAM’s order for a total pull-out of the computer-animated movie Abominable, Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. has suggested cutting what he called the “offending scene,” which shows the nine-dash line claim of China in the South China Sea.

HOUSE SPEAKER Alan Peter S. Cayetano, who also chairs the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC), said the country is 100% ready for the 30^th Southeast Asian Games in November, though he admitted that the daily hosting of the event will be a challenge.

ALL METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforcers will soon enjoy free insurance coverage on accidental death and disablement funded by the non-life insurance sector.

CITING “WIDESPREAD” customer dissatisfaction, Cebu City Mayor Edgardo C. Labella has terminated the members of the Metropolitan Cebu Water District’s (MCWD) board of directors.

THE AGRICULTURE department’s Davao office has alerted farmers to check for possible fall armyworm (FAW) infestation after the pest was found in two farms in the region.

TROPICAL DEPRESSION Perla may brings rains over the provinces of Batanes, Apayao, and Cagayan, including the Babuyan Islands, starting Friday evening, weather bureau PAGASA reported on Thursday.

SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang has taken responsibility for the traffic congestion along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and promised that the problem would be resolved by Dec. 1.

THE TRADE Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) has expressed support on the proposed phased increase in monthly contributions by members of the Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-IBIG Fund.

News stories from across the nation. Visit www.bworldonline.com (section: The Nation) to read more national and regional news from the Philippines.

THE SUPREME Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) on Tuesday, has again deferred a decision on the election protest over the vice presidential post, instead ordering a release of the report on the initial result of recount of ballots.

THE DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) probe on possible administrative charges against resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Oscar D. Albayalde will push through, as opposed to Malacañang’s claim.