Michael Punongbayan

Philippines

Reporter for The Philippine Star. Present Beat : Department of National Defense - Armed Forces of the Philippines (DND-AFP)...

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Articles

Pinay hurt in Israel-Iran conflict still critical

22 hours ago | philstar.com | Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Filipina caregiver who was hurt more than a week ago in one of Iran’s missile attacks on Israel remains in critical condition.
DFA endorses Philippine names for 131 Spratly features

22 hours ago | philstar.com | Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines — Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo signed yesterday a National Maritime Council (NMC) initiative that seeks to name some 131 features in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In a post on X and one of his last acts as department head, Manalo said NMC Resolution No. 002 recommends the adoption of the standard set of Philippine names for unnamed features belonging to the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), part of the Spratlys archipelago.
DFA endorses Philippine names for 131 Spratly features

22 hours ago | flipboard.com | Michael Punongbayan

3 hours agoRanked: Top 15 Countries by Military Budgets in 2025Two ongoing wars and intensifying geopolitical risks, ranging from great-power rivalry in the Indo-Pacific to flare ups in the Middle East mean …3 hours agoAussies ditch United States for new favourite holiday destination: 'Huge reversal'Back in 2015 Australian tourists loved a US holiday but now travellers are turning away in droves and picking Japan instead. I love America. Their …
PAF says it needs more multi-role fighter jets

3 days ago | philstar.com | Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines — Confirming its plan to acquire more powerful multi-role fighter jets (MRFs), the Philippine Air Force (PAF) said the country needs a credible defense posture that can at least make foreign intruders hesitate. “We’re not even small. We are what we call a niche air force. So we cannot ask for a very robust integrated air defense system. We should be asking for what is practical to us in terms of what we can procure, what our fund will allow us.
Gov’t Execs Stranded In Israel Back In Philippines

6 days ago | onenews.ph | Emmanuel Tupas |Michael Punongbayan

Politics & Other News Features Emmanuel Tupas, Michael Punongbayan June 22, 2025 The officials – in two groups – were concluding their respective study tours when Israel came under successive missile attacks from Iran, forcing the cancellation of flights. DILG photo shows Secretary Jonvic Remulla with Philippine government officials who arrived at NAIA-3 on June 21, 2025 after being evacuated from Israel where they had been participating in a study tour.
Government Execs stranded in Israel back in Philippines

6 days ago | philstar.com | Michael Punongbayan |Emmanuel Tupas

MANILA, Philippines — The 21 government officials who were stranded in Israel finally arrived in Manila yesterday after a grueling journey by land to Jordan and later to Dubai, from where they took a commercial flight home. The officials – in two groups – were concluding their respective study tours when Israel came under successive missile attacks from Iran, forcing the cancellation of flights. Iran said it was retaliating against Israel’s attacks on its nuclear facilities.
Navy Seizes P10-Billion Shabu Haul Off Zambales Coast

1 week ago | onenews.ph | Michael Punongbayan

Politics & Other News Features Michael Punongbayan June 21, 2025 The fishing vessel was suspiciously in an area away from other fishing boats, prompting the Philippine Navy to send gunboats to check on the vessel. Image courtesy of the Philippine Navy shows the ship carrying 1.5 tons of suspected shabu seized off the coast of Zambales on June 20, 2025.
Lawmaker to government: Halt deployment of Pinoy workers to war zones

1 week ago | philstar.com | Rhodina Villanueva |Michael Punongbayan |Bella Cariaso

MANILA, Philippines — Senator-elect and outgoing ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Erwin Tulfo is asking concerned government agencies to halt the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to areas caught in the middle of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
Navy seizes P10 billion shabu haul off Zambales coast

1 week ago | philstar.com | Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Navy announced the seizure of some 1.5 tons of suspected shabu – believed to be worth P10 billion – off the coast of Zambales early yesterday morning. There is no information yet if arrests have been made, but according to the Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLVC), the boat caught transporting the illegal substance, also known as methamphetamine hydrochloride, had one foreign national and at least four Filipino fishermen on board. Navy spokesman Capt.
12 additional FA-50 fighter jets not enough, says PAF

1 week ago | philstar.com | Michael Punongbayan

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) wants more multi-role fighter aircraft on top of the 12 FA-50 light combat aircraft (LCA) being readied for delivery in batches from South Korea. “Of course, the plans or the proposal to acquire multi-role jet fighters is still pending and still part of our plans because we still need more,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said at briefing yesterday.