How inclusive is the Philippines compared to its neighbors?

December 18, 2025 | 12:00 am

The Philippines climbed nine places to 84^th out of 152 countries in the 2025 edition of the Inclusiveness Index by UC Berkeley’s The Othering and Belonging Institute. With an overall index score of 58.35 out of possible 100, the Philippines was the fourth most inclusive country among its peers in the region. The index examines the experiences of groups across a range of social dimensions including race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and general population.

How PSEi member stocks performed — December 17, 2025

December 18, 2025 | 12:00 am

Here’s a quick glance at how PSEi stocks fared on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

President Marcos rejects Philippines portrayal as terrorist training hotspot

December 17, 2025 | 9:09 pm

PBBM Marcos — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

THE Philippines rejected claims by some foreign media outlets that portrayed the country as an Islamic State training hub following reports the alleged gunmen linked to the Bondi Beach mass shooting in Australia entered the country 15 days before the incident.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. “strongly rejects” what Malacañang called a sweeping and misleading characterization of the Southeast Asian nation.

There is no validated report or confirmation that the individuals involved in the Bondi Beach incident received any form of terrorist training in the Philippines, Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro quoted the National Security Council (NSC) as saying, in a briefing on Wednesday.

No evidence have also been presented to support such claims, the council noted.

“The President strongly rejects the sweeping statement and the misleading characterization of the Philippines as the ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) training hotspot,” she said.

The Palace also urged foreign media to be “critical and responsible” in their reporting, warning that unverified characterizations could undermine the country’s integrity and international image.

The NSC said ISIS-affiliated groups have been significantly weakened since the 2017 Marawi siege and now operate in a fragmented capacity, with violence in Mindanao largely driven by local conflicts rather than extremist groups.

“Recent assessments indicate significant improvements in the domestic security environment that [was] previously affected by terrorism,” the NSC added.

“These developments reflect the sustained efforts of our security forces and the resilience of our communities in advancing peace, order and development across the nation.”

National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año said the government is investigating the travel of the two alleged gunmen, adding that Philippine authorities are coordinating with their Australian counterparts.

“There is no valid report or confirmation that the two received any form of military training while in the country and no evidence supports such a claim at present,” he said in a statement. “A mere visit does not support allegations of terrorist training and the duration of their stay would not have allowed for any meaningful or structured training.”

The NSC earlier assured there is so far no indication their visit posed a security threat and described the matter as not a serious or immediate concern.

Mr. Marcos ordered the Anti-Terrorism Council and member agencies to remain vigilant in preventing any terrorist activity within Philippine territory and to continuously enhance coordination with international partners to safeguard national security.

MINDANAO EXTREMIST NEUTRALIZED
Also on Wednesday, the Philippine military said it had already neutralized top leaders of extremist groups in Mindanao.

Armed Forces spokeswoman Col. Francel Margareth Taborlupa said the military had made strides in keeping the peace in Mindanao, which had long grappled with Muslim extremism, dismantling the leadership and structures of terrorist cells in the region.

She acknowledged, however, that some members of what she called “local terrorist groups” remain in Mindanao.

“There is no training capability or large-scale attacks,” she said in a media briefing. “There have been no recorded terrorist training activities, recruitment efforts or large-scale attacks by domestic groups since 2016.”

Australian police said on Tuesday the two alleged gunmen behind the country’s worst mass shooting in nearly 30 years had traveled to the Philippines before the assault and may have been inspired by Muslim extremists.

At least 25 people remain hospitalized following the attack, which killed Sajid Akram at the scene and injured his son, and was described by police as a terrorist incident during a Hanukkah event.

Philippine officials said no Filipino casualties have been confirmed, with the consulate in Sydney coordinating with local authorities as Australia reviews its gun laws after confirming the older Akram was a licensed firearm owner.

A Philippine Immigration bureau spokesman confirmed the two men traveled to Manila and flew to Davao on Nov. 1 and left on Nov. 28, just weeks before carrying out Sunday’s shootings that killed 15 people.

The National Bureau of Investigation has also launched its own counterterrorism probe and is coordinating with the Immigration bureau, the military and regional offices to trace the suspects’ activities in Davao and nearby areas.

About 26.2 million people live in Mindanao, recognized as one of the Southeast Asian nation’s most volatile regions long plagued by militant groups advocating for the major Philippine island’s separation.

The region has a long history of extremist attacks, including the 2017 siege of Marawi, when the Islamic State-inspired Maute group seized the southern city and held it for five months through military counterattacks.

Ms. Taborlupa said that only 50 members of extremist groups remain, from more than 1,200 in 2016. “The numbers will clearly show that there are now very few of them, and they are fragmented.”

“They no longer have any real leadership, and the vacuum of leadership is evident,” she said. “These gains are the result of sustained security operations, peace building efforts and strong community engagement.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana and Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

ICC chamber seeks counsel, prosecution ‘observations’ in Duterte’s jurisdiction appeal

December 17, 2025 | 9:08 pm

FPPRD Duterte-ICC — FORMER PRESIDENT RODRIGO R. DUTERTE — INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT / COUR PÉNALE INTERNATIONALE

THE Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has ordered the prosecution and counsel for victims to file “additional observations” on the appeal of former Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte challenging the court’s jurisdiction over his crimes against humanity.

In an order dated Dec. 16, the Appeals Chamber invited the Deputy Prosecutor and the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) to submit the observations by Jan. 16, 2026, with the defense allowed to respond by Jan. 23, 2026.

The chamber explained that the additional briefing is needed “for the proper disposal of the Appeal” and that the parties should address issues “which have not been fully developed in the Impugned Decision and in the submissions presented before the Appeals Chamber thus far.”

The ruling was issued by a five-judge panel presided over and signed by Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza.

Specifically, the judges requested input on how Articles 12(2) and 13(c) of the Rome Statute should be interpreted within the ICC’s legal framework on jurisdiction. These articles define the legal framework governing the ICC’s ability to initiate proceedings and exercise jurisdiction over core international crimes.

The judges also sought observations on how these provisions interact with Article 127, which governs the withdrawal of a state from the court.

“How do Articles 12, 13 and 127 of the Statute interact? What are the consequences of such an interaction, both generally and in the specific case at hand?” the chamber asked the parties to clarify, the order read.

In a decision dated Oct. 23, Pre-Trial Chamber I rejected the defense’s challenge to the ICC’s jurisdiction, noting that Article 127 provides for the “consequences” of the withdrawal of a state from the Statute and, as such, takes precedence over the general rules on jurisdiction for the matters the court must decide in this case.

Mr. Duterte’s defense filed its appeal on Nov. 14, arguing that the Pre-Trial Chamber erred in law by treating Article 127 as overriding the jurisdictional requirements in Article 12.

The defense also argued that the ICC shouldn’t be able to continue the case after the Philippines withdrew and questioned whether the court, including the prosecutor, had the authority to proceed.

In its response, the prosecution said citing its first instance submission, that the two articles should be read to only require that a “state has the status of a state party to the Statute” at the time the alleged crimes were committed.

The prosecutor also submitted that the Pre-Trial Chamber’s interpretation of these provisions “was adopted with very limited reasoning, was not strictly necessary.”

The Appeals Chamber rejected the defense’s request for leave to file a reply to the prosecution’s response, noting simply that it considers it appropriate to reject.

The families of those killed in the deadly drug war and their counsel have said that the primary issue before the judges is to determine whether Mr. Duterte is fit to stand trial and whether the international court has jurisdiction, arguing that the ICC must affirm its authority to hear the case against him. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Palace optimistic Congress can deliver ‘clean’ national budget on time

December 17, 2025 | 9:07 pm

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

MALACAÑANG said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. is still confident Congress can deliver a “clean” 2026 national budget in time, following recommendations that a reenacted budget may be necessary.

“Senator Ping Lacson’s suggestion is good, but the President’s clear preference is to avoid having a reenacted budget,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino on Wednesday.

“It is still December — only Dec. 17 — and the President believes there is still enough time to study the budget thoroughly.”

Ms. Castro maintained the President is opposed to the use of a reenacted budget in early 2026, which Senator Panfilo M. Lacson, Sr. suggested amid questions over P5 billion worth of farm-to-market projects.

This is on top of an impasse over the P45-billion cut to the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) budget, with senators firm on keeping the billions of pesos it cut, while congressmen warned that failing to restore funding could lead to economic losses.

This has prompted the bicameral conference committee to cancel deliberations of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 on Monday. It resumed late on Tuesday, tackling other agencies, while it tabled talks on the DPWH budget.

“My position is — better a reenacted budget in January or even in the entire first quarter of 2026 than an unchecked, corruption-conducive and worse, graft-ridden GAA (General Appropriations Act),” he said, according to a statement on Tuesday.

“Most of my colleagues, at least in the majority bloc share the same sentiment.”

Lawmakers are racing to reconcile its budget differences before the Dec. 22 deadline, in time for the President’s signing before the yearend.

Failure to do so would force the government to operate under a reenacted budget, which would mirror the previous year’s spending plan and limit funding for new programs and projects.

Hansley A. Juliano, political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, cautioned that a blanket approach could stall key initiatives.

While a reenacted budget could safeguard taxpayer funds, Mr. Juliano said it also “risks cutting the legs off” of ongoing projects.

He recommended limiting any reenacted budget exclusively to the Public Works department’s allocations and ensuring unconstitutional provisions remain severable.

“Considering we are just dealing with the credibility of DPWH projects, it would not be fair to implicate all other government offices who have established credibility,” Mr. Juliano said via Facebook Messenger.

“If there is a budget to be reenacted, limit it only to the part of the DPWH. Severability of unconstitutional parts of the law should still be considered for this highlighting the need to balance fiscal prudence with continuity in public works projects.”

Marcos tells new PNP generals to exercise restraint, uphold public trust 

December 17, 2025 | 9:07 pm

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. urged newly promoted Philippine National Police (PNP) generals to exercise restraint and uphold public trust as he presided over the oath taking of 50 star-ranked officers at Malacañang on Wednesday.

Speaking to six newly appointed police major generals and 44 brigadier generals, Mr. Marcos said the promotions carried higher expectations and broader authority, placing greater responsibility on senior officers to lead with judgment and consistency in enforcing the law.

He said leadership at their level would be measured by how they balance firmness with respect for citizens’ rights and dignity.

“I ask you to continue to improve yourselves — personally, professionally, institutionally. Do not be complacent,” he said. “Be firm, be fair, be decisive while remaining fully respectful to the rights and dignity of every single Filipino.”

Mr. Marcos said the police force faces increasingly complex challenges, including social divisions, political tensions and digital threats that can spill beyond physical spaces and trigger disorder.

In such an environment, he said, Filipinos rely on the police as their most immediate line of protection, underscoring the need for professionalism and public confidence in law enforcement.

The President reiterated his administration’s support for the PNP, citing reforms aimed at boosting capacity and morale.

He pointed to Executive Order No. 107, issued earlier this month, which updated the base pay schedule for military and uniformed personnel.

The pay hike will be rolled out in three tranches starting January next year, with further adjustments in 2027 and 2028. He also announced an increase in the daily subsistence allowance to P350.

With the holiday season approaching, he called on the police to maintain a visible presence on roads, transport hubs and public spaces as more Filipinos travel and gather.

He said public service does not pause during celebrations and urged officers to ensure public safety so communities can celebrate the season with peace and unity. — Chloe Mari. A Hufana

Local transactions to peak Dec. 23

December 17, 2025 | 9:05 pm

HOLIDAY spending in the Philippines will likely post a steady increase this year, with card payments expected to peak two days before Christmas, data from Visa Philippines showed.

Josh Bosiños, director and head of data science for the Philippines and Cambodia at Visa, said they project the volume of payments from holiday spending to grow around 8% more this year.

“That’s huge,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Visa Philippines’ Christmas Spend Trends launch on Wednesday. “Because we’re talking here about the percent of growth increase, not the actual growth… We cannot disclose the actual growth, but the percent of growth increase is already in that number.”

Based on Visa Consulting and Analytics data, local transactions will likely hit the highest on Dec. 23, as Filipinos usually join the holiday rush in malls and commercial districts.

“Christmas brings people together, and our data underscores the holidays’ enduring sociocultural and economic significance to the country,” Visa Philippines Country Manager Jeffrey Navarro said in a statement. “For Visa, it’s important that we enable these personal journeys and experiences through payments that are fast, seamless, and secure, so that Filipinos and tourists alike can have meaningful celebrations anywhere across the country and abroad.”

Locally, Visa saw that holiday spending was also high in areas outside of Metro Manila, including the cities of Cebu, Angeles and Davao.

Meanwhile, overseas spending is projected to pick up post-Christmas and peak on Dec. 29, indicating “continued leisure and travel-related purchases during overseas vacations.”

“Tourists and returning overseas Filipinos drive higher local transactions using foreign-issued cards,” Visa said.

In terms of payment volume in dollars, the United States emerged as the top country source, followed by Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

Visa also noted that tourists from the US, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, and Hong Kong spend most on lodging, while Taiwanese and Japanese tourists typically splurge on entertainment.

On the other hand, visitors from India spend more on education and the government, while those from Canada and the US prioritize food and groceries.

“As holiday spending continues to shape consumer trends, Visa remains committed to enabling secure, seamless, and innovative payment experiences for Filipinos and travelers alike,” Visa said. “These insights highlight how payments power connections during the most festive time of the year.” — Katherine K. Chan

Discaya case sent to Cebu RTC

December 17, 2025 | 9:05 pm

THE Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday confirmed the transfer of the malversation and graft cases filed against contractor Cezarah “Sarah” C. Discaya from Davao Occidental to the Visayas region.

“The two criminal complaints against DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) engineers of Davao Occidental and Sarah Discaya were transferred to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lapu-Lapu City,” SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae L. Ting told reporters via Viber group chat.

She said the transfer to Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, was carried out in accordance with the Court’s guidelines, which provide that corruption-related cases arising from government infrastructure projects should be referred to the nearest designated anti-graft court in the closest judicial region.

Justice spokesperson Raphael Niccolo L. Martinez said the move was initiated by the courts following the Office of the Court Administrator’s (OCA) designation of special courts to hear cases linked to alleged flood control anomalies.

The development follows the Supreme Court en banc’s designation last month of 26 Regional Trial Courts as special anti-graft courts under Republic Act No. 10660, which expanded the jurisdiction of trial courts to include cases involving anti-graft laws.

Under the guidelines, the OCA is mandated to monitor the filing of corruption-related cases.

Ms. Discaya and eight other Public Works officials are charged in connection with an alleged P96.5-million ghost flood control project in Davao Occidental awarded in 2022, which investigators said was declared completed and paid despite the absence of actual construction. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

EDSA Busway now accepts GCash

December 17, 2025 | 9:04 pm

edsa bus carousel — Commuters line up at the Main Avenue station of the EDSA bus carousel in Quezon City, July 18, 2022. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Department of Transportation (DoTr) has rolled out cashless fare payments for the EDSA Busway as part of its push to modernize public transport transactions.

“The implementation of cashless payment for EDSA carousel is part of our project to modernize the transport system,” Transportation Acting Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez said in a media release on Wednesday.

The Transportation department said that online payments through e-wallet platform GCash and QR payment will now be accepted at EDSA carousel system.

“This is going to be convenient to commuters. It is very fast, we pay the exact fare and the payment will go directly to the operator,” said Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Deputy Governor Mamerto E. Tangonan.

Data provided by the Transportation department showed that the EDSA Busway served more than 63 million passengers alone in 2024, or about 177,000 commuters daily.

The EDSA Busway, a dedicated bus lane along Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare, is seen as a crucial step towards a progressive public transportation system with 23 stations operating round-the-clock.

Mr. Lopez said that the agency is working on modernizing the country’s transport system by implementing digital payment options in line with the automatic fare collection system of the government.

“We want to modernize all our transportation systems, while at the same time improving the passenger’s overall experience,” he said.

Earlier this year, the DoTr also launched cashless turnstiles for train lines allowing passengers to pay via GCash QR codes, debit and credit cards and NFC-enabled phones. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

DBM releases guidelines on one-time incentive grant

December 17, 2025 | 9:04 pm

THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released the guidelines on the one-time Service Recognition Incentive (SRI) this year for government employees.

In a budget circular dated Dec. 15, the DBM published guidelines on the grant of SRI for this year worth P20,000 for each qualified government employee, as first issued in an administrative order last week.

The DBM said the one-time SRI will be given to “personnel in recognition of their collective and invaluable contributions to the government’s continuing efforts in pursuing the objectives, commitments, targets, and deliverables” under the government goals.

The guidelines said the grant covers civilian personnel of the national government agencies including state university colleges, and state-run firms, occupying regular, contractual or casual positions.

Recipients also include military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines under the Department of National Defense, and uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Public Safety College, Bureau of Fire Protection, and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology under the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Personnel of the Bureau of Corrections under the Department of Justice, the Philippine Coast Guard under the Department of Transportation, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will also be entitled to the incentives. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

Marcos tells gov’t agencies to scale back holiday celebrations

December 17, 2025 | 9:04 pm

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. directed national agencies to scale back Christmas and year-end celebrations as part of a renewed push for fiscal discipline and in solidarity with communities still recovering from recent natural disasters.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 110, signed on Dec. 15, all national government agencies and instrumentalities — including government-owned or -controlled corporations and state universities and colleges — are required to observe austerity during the holiday season.

“In light of recent natural disasters and calamities in the country, it is necessary to adopt austerity measures during the Christmas season to ensure greater efficiency in public spending,” it read.

Local government units were encouraged to follow the same guidelines.

The directive instructed agencies to keep Christmas activities “simple and meaningful,” citing the need to prioritize essential programs and services amid ongoing socioeconomic pressures and disaster recovery efforts. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

PHL shares inch up as investors pick up bargains

December 17, 2025 | 9:00 pm

PHILIPPINE SHARES inched up again on Wednesday as investors picked up bargains and as the peso’s strength versus the dollar provided some relief.

The bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) went up by 0.38% or 23.34 points to end at 6,079.02, while the broader all shares index climbed by 0.2% or 7.19 points to 3,459.45.

“Our local market stood tall against the regional decline, but shed most of its intraday gains last minute, which was driven by the absence of a strong catalyst to bank on,” AP Securities, Inc. said in a market note.

“The Philippine market rose as market players took advantage of bargain prices following [Tuesday’s] decline. The peso’s appreciation against the US dollar also supported the market. Overall, these factors contributed to [Wednesday’s] positive trading session performance,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message.

On Wednesday, the peso slipped by half a centavo to close at P58.725 versus the greenback from its P58.72 finish on Tuesday, which was a two-week high, Bankers Association of the Philippines data showed.

Meanwhile, global share markets drifted early on Wednesday after a mixed US jobs reading failed to move the needle on the rate outlook there, leaving investors awaiting fresh cues for their next moves, Reuters reported.

While jobs growth rebounded more than expected in November following its biggest drop in nearly five years in October, the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, the highest in more than four years. But analysts said there was a lot of noise in the data, which was impacted by the government’s record 43-day shutdown.

MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan gained 0.35%, while Japan’s Nikkei rose 0.28%.

Nasdaq futures and S&P 500 futures eased slightly, while Euro Stoxx 50 futures were down 0.05%. FTSE futures rose 0.1%.

Fed funds futures suggest markets are still pricing in roughly two US rate cuts next year, with the latest labor market reading doing little to shift expectations.

The next key data point for investors will be Thursday’s release of the US November inflation report.

Most sectoral indices closed in the green on Wednesday. Services rose by 0.99% or 23.79 points to 2,408.69; mining and oil increased by 0.57% or 82.20 points to 14,341.21; holding firms went up by 0.88% or 41.45 points to 4,753.68; industrials added 0.34% or 29.47 points to end at 8,697.74; and financials climbed by 0.25% or 5.20 points to 2,041.84. Meanwhile, property slumped by 1.3% or 30.16 points to 2,282.37.

Advancers outnumbered decliners, 97 to 88, while 59 names closed unchanged.

Value turnover went down to P5.99 billion on Wednesday with 1.56 billion shares traded from the P7.69 billion with 1.66 billion issues dealt on Tuesday.

Net foreign selling went up to P706.91 million from P399.92 million. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno with Reuters