World View with Marites Vitug: Inside the fight against POGOs

Rappler - Sep 17, 2026

Rappler editor-at-large Marites Vitug speaks to former PAOCC officials Winnie Quidato and Winston Casio about their book, The Rogue Compound: POGOs, Human Trafficking, and the Fight to Reclaim the Philippines

Read full article

More News

Rappler Live Jam: Healy After Dark

Sep 17, 2026

Rappler Live Jam: Healy After Dark

Catch the 'Isip' hitmakers perform on Rappler Live Jam for the first time!

Southeast Asia's most populous metropolis ranks its 2nd smartest city

Sep 17, 2026

Southeast Asia's most populous metropolis ranks its 2nd smartest city

Indonesia's capital Jakarta has emerged as one of Southeast Asia's leading intelligent urban centers, ranking second in the region in an assessment of cities using AI and digital technology to enhance urban life.

Escape through drone in Bilibid, jail facilities? No chance, says BuCor's Catapang

Sep 17, 2026

Escape through drone in Bilibid, jail facilities? No chance, says BuCor's Catapang

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. on Thursday ruled out the possibility of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) escaping through drones, amid viral posts that a South Korean national planned to escape through such a method.

How Hong Kong’s new 5-year plan courts global capital with an eye on market dominance

Sep 17, 2026

How Hong Kong’s new 5-year plan courts global capital with an eye on market dominance

Hong Kong is broadening its equity markets, deepening its offshore yuan business and expanding further into gold trading under its first five-year plan for economic and social development, as the city seeks to defend its standing as Asia’s top financial centre and close the gap with London. Unveiled on Wednesday by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu alongside his 2026 policy address, the blueprint outlines a package of financial plans to “consolidate and enhance Hong Kong’s status as an...

Sanofi, VNVC sign joint declaration on next-generation vaccine manufacturing in Vietnam

Sep 17, 2026

Sanofi, VNVC sign joint declaration on next-generation vaccine manufacturing in Vietnam

Sanofi and Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) have signed a joint declaration on next-generation vaccine manufacturing in Vietnam, with three vaccines initially selected for assessment as potential candidates for local production.

FACT CHECK: INC rally misrepresented as protest against VP Sara arrest warrant

Sep 17, 2026

FACT CHECK: INC rally misrepresented as protest against VP Sara arrest warrant

The video shows a commotion between police and members of the Iglesia ni Cristo during a June 2026 protest in support of Senator Rodante Marcoleta

North-south Commuter Railway full operation timeline revised to 2033

Sep 17, 2026

North-south Commuter Railway full operation timeline revised to 2033

North-south Commuter Railway full operation timeline revised to 2033

ASEAN economic ministers back PH bid to host creative center

Sep 17, 2026

ASEAN economic ministers back PH bid to host creative center

The Philippines is seeking to host the planned ASEAN Center of Excellence for Creative Industries (ACE-CI), with the country targeting its launch by 2028.

If Tuanku Muhriz is no longer your ruler, quit on principle and honour, DAP dares N Sembilan excos

Sep 17, 2026

If Tuanku Muhriz is no longer your ruler, quit on principle and honour, DAP dares N Sembilan excos

Loke reminds them that they took their oaths in front of the state ruler.

AirAsia, Capital A shares tumble following reports; MAS, Batik Air eyed to absorb domestic routes

Sep 17, 2026

AirAsia, Capital A shares tumble following reports; MAS, Batik Air eyed to absorb domestic routes

Contingency plans being weighed for budget airline's operations.

Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war: report

Sep 17, 2026

Russia employs North Koreans to build drones for Ukraine war: report

Russia is increasingly mobilising North Korean workers to build military drones for use against Ukraine in defiance of international sanctions, giving Pyongyang a key source of revenue to fund its unlawful weapons programmes, according to a report by the US and its allies. Up to 25,000 North Koreans were believed to be working in Russia’s drone industry, including at facilities in Alabuga, Tatarstan, where unmanned aerial vehicles were assembled, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team said...

Huawei quickens AI chip pace, promises next entrant 3 quarters early

Sep 17, 2026

Huawei quickens AI chip pace, promises next entrant 3 quarters early

Huawei Technologies said on Thursday that it would launch its next-generation artificial intelligence chip in the first quarter of 2027, moving the target launch forward by nine months as the firm aggressively expands its ecosystem amid China’s self-sufficiency push. David Wang Tao, rotating and acting chairman for Huawei, said on Thursday that the Ascend 960DT chip, an AI chip designed for model training, “with performance doubling”, would be “ready in the first quarter of 2027”, three quarters...

Senators question NIA's P233.85B budget request for 2027

Sep 17, 2026

Senators question NIA's P233.85B budget request for 2027

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is seeking a P233.85-billion budget for 2027, nearly four times its P64.37-billion allocation for this year, drawing questions from senators.

DOE scraps coal bid, plans rebid in weeks as Semirara contract nears expiry

Sep 17, 2026

DOE scraps coal bid, plans rebid in weeks as Semirara contract nears expiry

‘We’ll rebid in a few weeks. New rules, new bidding,’ Energy Secretary Sharon Garin tells Rappler as Semirara’s contract nears its July 2027 expiry

House summons Meta’s Zuckerberg over child safety, defers action on 2027 DICT budget

Sep 17, 2026

House summons Meta’s Zuckerberg over child safety, defers action on 2027 DICT budget

The DICT says Meta Platforms 'continues to fall short of its responsibility and commitment to youth safety,' and authorities will take steps to remedy that in the Philippines

Alas Pilipinas Women fall short vs Kazakhstan, relegated to Asian Games classification round

Sep 17, 2026

Alas Pilipinas Women fall short vs Kazakhstan, relegated to Asian Games classification round

The Alas Pilipinas Women put up a gallant stand but fell short against Kazakhstan, 27-29, 26-24, 25-23, 25-19, on Thursday at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan.

SNAPSHOT | Court stays evidence bid by Rosmah; plea by Papagomo to halt payment rejected

Sep 17, 2026

SNAPSHOT | Court stays evidence bid by Rosmah; plea by Papagomo to halt payment rejected

What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm, and 9pm.

Exchange Fund weighs bigger gold holdings to support Hong Kong’s trading hub plan

Sep 17, 2026

Exchange Fund weighs bigger gold holdings to support Hong Kong’s trading hub plan

Hong Kong’s Exchange Fund, the war chest used to defend the local currency, is considering increasing its exposure to gold and other precious metals as part of the government’s push to develop the city into a gold trading hub. Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) chief executive Eddie Yue Wai-man said on Thursday that the Exchange Fund would continue to invest mainly in US dollar assets to support the Hong Kong dollar’s peg with the US currency. Yue said the Exchange Fund could increase its...

Rene Baterbonia's mom watches UAAP, interacts with UST's Koji Buenaflor as Tigers dedicate game to late player

Sep 17, 2026

Rene Baterbonia's mom watches UAAP, interacts with UST's Koji Buenaflor as Tigers dedicate game to late player

Rene Baterbonia"s mom, Rovelyn, was on the sidelines of the UAAP Season 89 game between the University of Santo Tomas and De La Salle University on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Marcos: Work progress on Metro Manila subway at 60%

Sep 17, 2026

Marcos: Work progress on Metro Manila subway at 60%

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) is almost 60 percent complete, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday at the groundbreaking for the subway’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3 station in Pasay City. Work on the Naia Terminal 3 station, which will be located beneath the open parking area, is

Exclusion of motorcycles, trikes from P60-B incentive for EVs questioned

Sep 17, 2026

Exclusion of motorcycles, trikes from P60-B incentive for EVs questioned

Ahead of its planned rollout, the Philippines’ P60-billion incentive scheme for electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers is facing pushback from a leading industry group, which questioned why the program is focused on four-wheeled vehicles and excluded motorcycles and tricycles. Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (Evap) president Willy Tee Ten said he was puzzled as to

Marcos wants anti-political dynasty bill passed during his term

Sep 17, 2026

Marcos wants anti-political dynasty bill passed during his term

Marcos wants anti-political dynasty bill passed during his term

Recommended