Sovereignty, accountability, and hope: Key Philippine stories of 2024
Provided by INQUIRER.net.
MANILA, Philippines — From defending its territorial waters in the West Philippine Sea to tackling domestic issues and challenges overseas, the Philippines faced a tumultuous 2024.
Maritime tensions with China persisted, putting the nation’s sovereignty to the test anew, while crackdowns on illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) highlighted authorities' struggles with criminal activities.
On the international stage, controversies such as former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnie Teves seeking asylum in East Timor and the long-awaited hope for Mary Jane Veloso’s repatriation underscored the complexities of justice and diplomacy for the Filipino people.
Together these issues painted a picture of resilience and the enduring fight for accountability, sovereignty, and human rights.
Here’s a closer look at some of the most significant stories that defined the Philippines’ struggles and triumphs in 2024:
1. Marcos: ‘All Pogos are banned!’
Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) are officially banned in the Philippines, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. announced on Monday.
“Effective today, all POGOs are banned,” Marcos said during his third State of the Nation Address. Read more here.
7. 14 years on death row: Timeline of Mary Jane Veloso’s fight for justice
The case of Mary Jane Veloso, a Filipina on death row in Indonesia for drug trafficking, has spanned over a decade and remains one of the most high-profile legal battles involving an overseas Filipino worker.
Veloso was arrested on April 25, 2010, at Adisucipto International Airport in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, after she was found in possession of more than 2.6 kilograms of heroin. Read more here.
8. Carpio: Duterte gave up PH right over Ayungin in an agreement w/ China
Former President Rodrigo Duterte surrendered the Philippines’ sovereign rights over Ayungin Shoal in what was disguised as a “gentlemen’s agreement” with China.
This statement comes from Former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio. Read more here.
9. Timor-Leste grants extradition request vs Teves for 2nd time
The Timor-Leste government has granted for the second time the Philippine government’s request to extradite Negros expelled Negros Oriental 3rd District Representative Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves Jr., the Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday.
According to the DOJ in a statement, the request was granted after a second round of extradition hearings, which resulted from the procedural objections made by Teves’ camp. Read more here.
10. China Coast Guard seizes PH supplies for Ayungin
The China Coast Guard (CCG) has been accused of seizing and dumping overboard food and other supplies meant for Filipino troops stationed at a remote outpost in Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, and allegedly obstructing a medical evacuation of ailing soldiers.
Both incidents took place on May 19, when the Philippine Navy performed an airdrop operation to bring the items to the BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated warship grounded in 1999 to protect Manila’s claims to the shoal, according to a ranking military official, who asked not to be named for not having authority to speak to the media. Read more here.
(2024/12/19-16:06)
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- 01/10 05:46 BIR: P40B in excise taxes lost due to illicit cigarette, vape trade
- 01/10 05:40 AFP chief: Electing ‘right people,’ not coups, can fix PH problems
- 01/10 05:30 Binays cleared in P1.3-B school ‘overprice’ case
- 01/10 02:30 PH trims trade deficit amid import slump
- 01/10 02:28 BSP eyes shift from digital transaction fees to subscription
- 01/09 23:10 PH ship challenges Chinese vessels off Zambales due to illegal presence
- 01/09 14:43 Comelec: Government aid belongs to Filipinos, not politicians
- 01/09 12:01 NVIDIA Project DIGITS puts an AI supercomputer at your fingertips
- 01/09 11:06 Tech advances, other factors to shape PH labor market until 2030
- 01/09 09:25 Femicide: Targeting women because they’re women
- 01/09 08:51 Record-high gov’t debt spooks investors
- 01/09 05:50 As ‘Monster’ leaves, new Chinese ship takes its place off Zambales
- 01/09 05:32 Gov’t to push for flexible work setups this year
- 01/09 02:28 Peso seen falling below 59:$1 by Q2
- 01/09 02:14 Competition heating up in e-money industry, says BMI research
- 01/08 15:52 9 China Coast Guard vessels patrolling PH EEZ – US maritime expert
- 01/08 14:21 284 HMPV cases logged in PH in 2024; virus mild, not new – DOH
- 01/08 12:08 PH digital lending market seen to exceed $1 billion in 2025
- 01/08 09:17 Facebook, Instagram to ditch fact-checking for community notes
- 01/08 07:17 Open-world games can boost mental health, says study
- 01/08 05:30 ‘Above normal’ rainfall, more typhoons seen January to March
- 01/08 04:40 Many tourists take bus to Baguio amid traffic woes, says mayor
- 01/08 02:10 December inflation sped up to 2.9%, fastest in 4 months
- 01/08 02:05 New high: Gov’t debt topped P16 trillion in November
- 01/07 15:30 Suspected Chinese drone ‘non-operational’ when recovered – Navy
- 01/07 05:55 PH starts temporary hosting of 300 Afghans
- 01/07 05:50 ‘Monster’ still in PH waters, ignores PCG call to leave
- 01/07 05:40 Rights advocates urge US Congress urged to reconsider bill vs ICC
- 01/07 05:00 NSC: No proof yet China behind crashed drone
- 01/07 02:10 John Hay on lockdown as BCDA takes over
- 01/07 02:05 Meralco bags deal to build 600-MW gas plant in Singapore
- 01/06 15:31 NSC restructuring not a sign of rift in security sector – Malaya
- 01/06 13:40 China’s ‘monster ship’ off Zambales an act of aggression – NSC
- 01/06 12:11 New transfer system needed for Filipino prisoners abroad – solon
- 01/06 12:06 BCDA revenues hit P11B in 2024
- 01/06 11:15 PhilRice announces new rice varieties that can lower blood sugar
- 01/06 07:56 PH firms must brace for AI-powered attacks
- 01/06 05:35 More endorsers back 4th impeachment rap vs VP Duterte
- 01/06 05:32 PCG sends ship, 2 aircraft to challenge ‘The Monster’
- 01/06 05:30 US to stay ‘laser-focused’ on PH-China maritime issues
- 01/06 05:25 Opposition mounts vs SSS premium hike
- 01/06 02:10 DBS raises PH GDP growth forecast to 5.8%
- 01/05 19:35 Ex-president also excluded Robredo from NSC – Tañada to Duterte allies
- 01/05 13:42 Rights group calls for ‘greater vigilance’ in 2025, alleges violations
- 01/05 05:41 AFP vows loyalty to flag after Marcos revamp of NSC
- 01/05 05:35 DOST: This smart pen for kids can help tell if they’re troubled
- 01/05 02:15 PH aspires to be next green power paradise
- 01/04 10:03 VP Duterte’s removal from NSC marks intense political conflict – Castro
- 01/04 05:30 BI hunts down 11,000 foreign Pogo workers still in PH
- 01/04 02:10 New year, new jets for rich Filipinos
- 01/03 16:09 Chinese embassy in PH dismisses rumors of new disease outbreak in China
- 01/03 14:57 Marcos reorganizes NSC, removes VP as member due to irrelevance
- 01/03 13:47 Oreo maker Mondelez uses AI to create new snack flavors
- 01/03 10:00 DOH verifying alleged 'international health concern'
- 01/03 08:36 BI: 22,609 Pogo workers leave PH; 11,000 others for deportation
- 01/03 07:47 China develops a self-lightening backpack
- 01/03 05:40 ‘Chinese’ drone retrieved from Masbate waters piques Navy
- 01/03 05:19 As PBA enters 50th year, will four-point shot stay?
- 01/03 02:14 SEC drafts rules on crypto services
- 01/03 02:12 DigiPlus secures Brazil license
- 01/02 10:56 Filipino scientists made concrete blocks with coffee grounds
- 01/02 05:38 OSG: Pogo asset seizures, birth records purge next
- 01/02 05:32 Northern Luzon at risk of more quakes
- 01/02 05:25 PH ambassador to Hungary is latest Marcos appointee
- 01/02 05:21 Ecozone eyed as naval base site in Mindanao
- 01/02 02:15 IMF asks BSP to disclose info on balance sheet strategy
- 01/02 02:10 1st round of PH-Chile FTA talks set for March
- 01/01 22:45 Marbil vows ’tech-driven, apolitical’ PNP in 2025
- 01/01 18:15 PH Ambassador Romualdez to attend Trump inauguration – Palace
- 01/01 05:39 Budget critics: Veto still left ‘pork’ intact
- 12/31 12:06 OCD gears up for another Mt. Kanlaon eruption
- 12/31 05:40 Vice, gore: A peek into the sinister world of Pogo traffickers
- 12/31 05:35 Panfilo Lacson to gov’t: Brace for legal challenge vs 2025 budget
- 12/31 02:08 An upper middle-income nation by 2025? What PH is bound to lose
- 12/31 02:02 Philippine telcos ramp up cybersecurity efforts
- 12/30 14:56 ‘Broken from start’, UniTeam sees complete collapse
- 12/30 13:07 Marcos pays tribute to late former US President Jimmy Carter
- 12/30 09:33 Marcos signs P6.3 trillion 2025 national budget, vetoes P194 billion
- 12/30 05:20 Filipino booters look to clinch a first-ever Asean Cup finals berth
- 12/30 02:30 PH home prices contract for first time in 3 years
- 12/30 02:28 PH attracts net ‘hot money’ inflow of $96.59M in Nov
- 12/24 21:09 Watch out for crypto scams this Christmas – CICC
- 12/22 05:50 BFAR plane tells Chinese Navy: ‘Review your chart!’
- 12/22 05:38 AFP trusts President Marcos, system, says Brawner
- 12/22 05:30 Marcos, VP Duterte ratings down as poll reflects inflation woes
- 12/22 02:22 Woke but confused: Holidays leave adulting Filipinos financially bipolar
- 12/20 10:37 6 power projects endorsed for operating permits
- 12/20 05:52 Marcos: Let DOJ handle House move vs Rodrigo Duterte
- 12/20 05:48 PNP partners with TikTok vs online scams, exploitation
- 12/20 05:42 SC fires judge involved in wife’s illegal deals
- 12/20 05:34 3rd impeach rap filed vs VP Duterte; Leni Robredo ally an endorser
- 12/20 05:04 Golf club members join legal battle in Camp John Hay
- 12/20 02:24 Balance of payments deficit grew to widest in over 2 years
- 12/19 16:06 Sovereignty, accountability, and hope: Key Philippine stories of 2024
- 12/19 13:47 Blueleaf ramps up Laguna floating solar deployment
- 12/19 09:39 PH bracing for foreign bond comeback in H1 2025
- 12/19 09:22 Vietnam learns lesson about China aggression – everyone’s a target
- 12/19 05:42 8,000 foreign Pogo workers still in PH with tourist visas, says BI
- 12/19 05:30 House tags Duterte, et al. for ‘crimes against humanity’
- 12/19 04:32 ‘Decarbonizing’ PH a race against time – but ‘we should do it properly’
- 12/19 02:28 Marcos-Duterte clash to hurt economy – Fitch
- 12/19 02:12 Holiday online shopping fraud ‘alarmingly high’ in PH
- 12/18 12:58 Neda Board approves issuance of EO on PH-Korea free trade deal
- 12/18 10:13 Blockchain Game Alliance Report shows organic Web3 gaming growth
- 12/18 09:34 DepEd budget expose billions in unspent funds
- 12/18 09:12 Prisoner swap pacts with other nations eyed after Veloso’s return
- 12/18 05:50 House OKs bill that lets foreigners lease land for 99 years
- 12/18 05:10 PhilHealth P500-B fund investment questioned
- 12/17 14:13 DTI revising regulations for vape products
- 12/17 12:25 AFP: Yearend WPS resupply, Noche Buena delivery missions successful
- 12/17 10:05 Peza expects approved investments to rise by 10% in 2025
- 12/17 09:56 Shadowy uranium trade reaches PH, raises fear of ‘dirty bomb’
- 12/17 05:45 COA: 4,000 dead seniors still on PhilHealth database
- 12/17 05:35 SC: Suspension of single, pregnant teacher illegal
- 12/16 18:23 Marcos on current state of PH: We’re quite stable amid political noise
- 12/16 05:33 Island Cove’s jobless: The other side of the Pogo ban
- 12/15 17:47 Dolly de Leon says a celeb’s craft deserves more focus than personal life
- 12/15 05:50 Senate bill forfeits illegal Pogo assets in favor of gov’t
- 12/15 05:25 DBM opens e-market for gov’t suppliers
- 12/15 02:03 Engineers build innovative roof manufacturing business
- 12/14 09:25 AI solar boat cleans 2.5 million liters of river water daily
- 12/14 08:40 AI agents will become brand ambassadors in 'Agentic Era' – study
- 12/14 05:55 House panel: Ex-president Duterte center of grand criminal enterprise
- 12/14 05:30 SMNI duo ordered to pay TV journalist P2M in damages
- 12/14 04:40 Negros Occidental declares state of calamity after Kanlaon blast
- 12/13 12:48 Harvard opens access to 1 million books for training AI models
- 12/13 12:21 Marcos aims to make PH military a 'world-class force'
- 12/13 11:39 Philippines deports 2,300 Pogo workers to China, other Asian countries
- 12/13 10:01 Gov’t eyes more diversified external financing before losing ODA perks
- 12/13 08:55 Teacher uses this trick to check students’ AI homework
- 12/13 05:30 Seized Pogo properties pose next gov’t challenge
- 12/13 02:32 It’s final: BCDA regains control of John Hay
- 12/12 22:14 2 more PH nature reserves tagged of ‘international importance’
- 12/12 10:59 VP Sara Duterte wrong in saying DOJ is ‘biased’ in probing her – exec
- 12/12 09:14 AI’s real impact on the global economy
- 12/12 05:48 Fisherfolk to SC: Void Manila Bay reclamation works
- 12/11 17:30 VP Sara Duterte considering hiring private security force
- 12/11 15:09 Local identity fraud cases surged 119% this year — study
- 12/11 14:24 DA bans poultry from The Netherlands
- 12/11 14:10 PDEA raises alarm over marijuana's growing popularity as holidays near
- 12/11 11:38 Marcos vows to make overseas work a choice, not a necessity
- 12/11 11:14 Readers more likely to distrust news from AI articles – study
- 12/11 07:32 Pogo phaseout in full swing; only 17 remain
- 12/11 05:55 Marcos rules out warship deployment in West Philippine Sea
- 12/11 02:04 World Bank trims PH growth outlook
- 12/10 15:34 China’s acts of war in West PH Sea accelerating ecological ruin
- 12/10 10:18 LTO vows stricter regulation of motorcycle taxis
- 12/10 05:50 Secret fund use hits P10B; OVP outspends 4 security agencies
- 12/10 05:45 Over 100 kilos of uranium seized in Pasay, CDO and Mandaue
- 12/10 04:40 Thousands evacuated as Mt. Kanlaon erupts anew
- 12/10 02:11 PH emerges as hot spot for RE investments
- 12/09 08:00 105 y.o. saved from stroke through advanced procedure in The Medical City
- 12/09 05:55 Chinese vessel hits BFAR ship with laser six times
- 12/09 05:50 Kalookan bishop, drug war critic is PH 10th cardinal
- 12/09 04:35 Eastern Samar has ‘fastest’ economic growth in Eastern Visayas
- 12/08 02:04 Demand for first-class seats rising among Filipino jetsetters
