https://www.scmp.com/rss/523036/feed The latest news and top stories on the Philippine National Police. A prominent Philippines-based governmental body, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is dedicated to maintaining peace and order, preventing and investigating crimes, as well as enforcing laws. Its national headquarters are located at Camp Crame in Quezon City. The PNP’s main areas of focus include law enforcement, public safety and internal security. The institution is recognised for its crucial role in solving major crimes,... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com The Korea Times The Korea Times A Filipino taxi driver who attempted to overcharge a member of K-pop group TXT has been suspended from operating, after the incident sparked backlash both in South Korea and the Philippines. According to a report aired on Monday on JTBC’s Chief Investigator, TXT member Choi Soo-bin, known mononymously as Soobin, was targeted in a taxi fare scam while travelling in Cebu, a popular tourist destination in the Philippines. The incident was originally revealed on Wednesday through the group’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349213/filipino-taxi-driver-suspended-after-overcharging-k-pop-star-soobin-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3349213/filipino-taxi-driver-suspended-after-overcharging-k-pop-star-soobin-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 04:07:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse A former Philippine air force general accused of encouraging the military to abandon President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr was arrested on a charge of sedition on Monday at Manila’s international airport. Romeo Poquiz, who had publicly called for the armed forces to “withdraw their support” from Marcos amid a burgeoning corruption scandal, was detained by police after returning from a holiday in Thailand, interior department secretary Jonvic Remulla said. “He was arrested for the charge of sedition in... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338739/philippine-ex-general-who-urged-troops-desert-marcos-arrested-sedition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3338739/philippine-ex-general-who-urged-troops-desert-marcos-arrested-sedition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Jan 2026 05:50:09 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles As the Philippines counts down to the new year, authorities are bracing themselves for another familiar increase in injuries and deaths linked to fireworks, despite decades of regulation, annual warnings and stepped-up police raids. Health officials say dozens of people have already been hurt in the run-up to December 31, with more casualties expected as Filipinos usher in the new year with explosive celebrations that light up streets, backyards and skylines across the country. The Department of... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338063/why-filipinos-risk-injury-and-death-ring-new-year-dangerous-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3338063/why-filipinos-risk-injury-and-death-ring-new-year-dangerous-fireworks?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:00:13 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Washington is set to deepen its defence support for the Philippines after approving billions of dollars for a loan and a grant to its Southeast Asian ally next year to counter what an American senator has called “serious threats” from China and its partners. Philippine defence officials have welcomed the approval by the House and Senate in Washington as further evidence of the US commitment to their alliance, even as analysts caution that the bill under the US National Defence Authorisation Act... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336962/philippines-get-us35-billion-defence-aid-counter-serious-threats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3336962/philippines-get-us35-billion-defence-aid-counter-serious-threats?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 14:11:49 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk A Philippine police anti-narcotics team has been disbanded after a teenager accused several officers of raping and robbing her during what authorities later described as a failed drug operation in Cavite, a province south of Manila, triggering a series of arrests and high-level investigations. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said all 15 members of its Drug Enforcement Group – Special Operations Unit 4A were relieved of duty after the Grade 9 student, identified publicly only as “Nena”,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3334073/philippine-anti-drug-unit-disbanded-after-teen-accuses-police-officers-rape-robbery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3334073/philippine-anti-drug-unit-disbanded-after-teen-accuses-police-officers-rape-robbery?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 25 Nov 2025 08:06:50 +0000 Jeoffrey Maitem Jeoffrey Maitem The Philippines and Japan have activated their new defence pact through a joint mission focused on delivering humanitarian aid following the deadly earthquake in Cebu, in a move that analysts say can lay the groundwork for deeper security cooperation in the region. The deployment marks the start of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a landmark deal that allows troops from both countries to conduct joint exercises on each other’s territory. Signed in July 2024 and in force since September 11,... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328229/philippines-and-japan-signal-defence-pacts-depth-aid-quake-hit-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328229/philippines-and-japan-signal-defence-pacts-depth-aid-quake-hit-cebu?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 09:00:08 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Mass protests swept across the Philippines as Super Typhoon Ragasa approached, with citizens from all walks of life venting outrage at deepening corruption, particularly over the alleged plunder of funds from flood control projects meant to shield communities from disasters. The demonstrations in cities across the country that took place on Sunday – loosely organised through social media, university groups, churches and word of mouth – marked perhaps the country’s largest protests in years... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3326439/philippine-protests-voices-mark-moral-outrage-dangerous-hopeful-period?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3326439/philippine-protests-voices-mark-moral-outrage-dangerous-hopeful-period?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 14:50:40 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles The waters of Lake Taal have long captivated visitors with serene vistas and storied myths. But this idyllic image of the Philippines’ third-largest lake has since been darkened by a chilling discovery. Since July, divers have uncovered hundreds of skeletal fragments from its depths – and with them, an extraordinary story of gambling scams, alleged police pay-offs and men who never came home. Investigators believe the ribs, skulls and other bones found may belong to at least 35 sabungeros, or... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3325365/philippines-hidden-horrors-emerge-lake-taals-murky-depths?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3325365/philippines-hidden-horrors-emerge-lake-taals-murky-depths?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 13 Sep 2025 06:00:40 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China’s designation of a national nature reserve in the contested Scarborough Shoal – and its punitive measures for unauthorised entry – have prompted strong pushback from the Philippines, with analysts warning the move could escalate tensions in the strategically important waterway. Beijing’s announcement of the decision on Wednesday marked its latest efforts to consolidate its claims in the contested area that is now a focal point of intense confrontations between the two countries and could... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325243/why-chinas-new-plan-bolster-its-south-china-sea-claims-has-manila-worried?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3325243/why-chinas-new-plan-bolster-its-south-china-sea-claims-has-manila-worried?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:00:22 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles A controversy over an alleged overpriced firearms deal has intensified in the Philippines, with insiders claiming that national police chief Nicolas Torre III was removed from his post for rejecting a proposed procurement of 80,000 assault rifles – a transaction some believe was padded by billions of pesos. While officials framed Torre’s dismissal as an administrative matter, multiple sources told This Week in Asia he was sacked for rejecting the “overpriced” 8 billion Philippine peso (US$140... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324564/was-philippine-police-chief-sacked-rejecting-us140-million-overpriced-gun-deal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3324564/was-philippine-police-chief-sacked-rejecting-us140-million-overpriced-gun-deal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 14:03:53 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has dismissed national police chief Nicolas Torre III after just 84 days in the role, following a dispute over authority within the force stemming from his defiance of the National Police Commission. The move ends the brief, high-profile tenure of a police chief who had led headline-grabbing arrests and become a public figure in his own right. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin announced Torre’s removal in a brief two-paragraph order on Monday evening... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3323228/champion-shortest-serving-philippine-police-chief-sacked-after-just-84-days?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3323228/champion-shortest-serving-philippine-police-chief-sacked-after-just-84-days?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 11:42:51 +0000 Alan Robles Alan Robles Philippine National Police chief General Nicolas Torre III has accepted a challenge to a fist-fight from the son of former president Rodrigo Duterte, proposing that the clash be held this weekend as a charity event to raise funds for typhoon and flood victims. The dramatic exchange, which has captivated Filipinos online, is the latest escalation in an increasingly personal feud between the Duterte family and the country’s top police officer. Tensions have simmered since Torre oversaw the March... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319461/dutertes-son-challenges-philippine-police-chief-fist-fight-perfect-says-general?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3319461/dutertes-son-challenges-philippine-police-chief-fist-fight-perfect-says-general?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:00:27 +0000 Raissa Robles Raissa Robles Three sacks weighted with sandbags recovered from the depths of a Philippine volcanic crater lake have added a dramatic new twist to the chilling case of at least 34 missing cock fighters, bolstering claims by a whistle-blower that the killings were orchestrated by a gambling tycoon with powerful political and police connections. The first sack, pulled from the murky waters of Taal Lake on Thursday, contained charred bones, according to the Department of Justice. Forensic tests have yet to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3317943/philippine-cock-fighters-deaths-duterte-drug-war-sack-bones-mark-mounting-mystery?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3317943/philippine-cock-fighters-deaths-duterte-drug-war-sack-bones-mark-mounting-mystery?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 12 Jul 2025 07:00:08 +0000