(PAGASA 24-HOUR PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST as of Monday, 09 September 2025) Easterlies continue to affect Mindanao. Severe Tropical Storm TAPAH (formerly “Lannie”) – Outside PAR as of 3:00 AM today Location: 910 km west of Extreme Northern Luzon (20.8°N, 113.1°E) Maximum Sustained Winds: 95 km/h near the center Gustiness: Up to 115 km/h Movement: North-northwestward at 15 km/h 🔹 Forecast: CARAGA Region: Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms due to Easterlies. Moderate to heavy rains may cause flash floods and landslides in some areas. Rest of Mindanao: Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms also due to Easterlies. Winds and Seas: Light to moderate winds from the east to northeast. Coastal waters will be slight to moderate (wave heights: 0.6 – 1.5 meters).


TOP STORIES –Monday, 04 December 2023

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online and print media monitoring)

As of 5:00 p.m., 04 December 2023, Monday

1. MARAWI BOMBING:

-Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly Marawi bombing

-Strong indications of 'foreign element' in Marawi bomb attack —DND

-PNP creates SITG to probe Marawi blast; identifies 2 persons of interest 

-AFP validating Islamic State's hand in MSU bomb attack

-Security officials probing possible links between Marawi blast, 2019 Jolo Cathedral bombing

-More troops to Mindanao as MSU blast kills 4, hurts 27; 7 victims to undergo major surgeries in hospitals

-Israel, more countries condemn Marawi bombing, express support on search for justice

-Marawi bombing sought to divide Muslims and Christians, solon says

[ABS-CBN News, Abante, Bulgar, BusinessMirror, CNN Philippines, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Standard, Manila Bulletin, Philstar, Pilipino Mirror, Pilipino Star NGAYON, Remate, Rappler]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/world/2023/12/4/isis-marawi-mass-mindanao-state-university-explosion.html

2. SURIGAO QUAKES:

-Marcos assures aid to earthquake-affected families in Mindanao

-Over 108K residents displaced due to magnitude 7.4 Hinatuan earthquake

-Over 1.7K aftershocks logged after Surigao earthquake

-2 dead, 4 injured, 11,000 families in Hinatuan affected by M7.4 quake

-Davao del Norte cities, towns suspend classes after M7.4 quake

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5, Philstar, Rappler, Manila Bulletin]

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/3/marcos-ensures-aid-to-families-affected-by-mindanao-quake

3. SC to VP Sara: Answer petition on constitutionality of OVP’s P125M CF

[CNN PHL, Daily Tribune, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar, Rappler, ABS-CBN News, GMA News]  https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/04/23/sc-asks-vp-sara-to-comment-on-petition-vs-p125-m-confidential-funds

4. PBBM extends Acorda's term as PNP chief until March 31, 2024

[ABS-CBN News, CNN PHL, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar, Rappler, GMA News] 

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/890300/marcos-extends-acorda-s-term-as-pnp-chief/story/

5. WEST PHL SEA:

-PCG: Over 135 Chinese maritime militia vessels swarm Julian Felipe Reef

-PCG: Maritime Patrol to challenge ‘illegal’ Chinese Maritime Militia in WPS

-Analyst: Strengthen united front with like-minded states on WPS

[Daily Tribune, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Rappler, CNN PHL]

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/12/3/pcg-over-135-cmmvs-swarming-julian-felipe-reef.html

6. ICC PROBE:

-De Lima: Probe ex-cop's claim Duterte is 'lord of all drug lords'

-Escudero backs review of PHL's return to ICC

-De Lima eyes suing bloggers that ‘degraded’ her as a woman

[Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Philstar, Inquirer, Manila Standard]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1869868/probe-ex-cops-claim-du30-is-lord-of-all-drug-lords-de-lima

7. MRT3 to hike fares in 2024

[GMA News, Rappler, Daily Tribune, ABS-CBN News]

https://tribune.net.ph/2023/12/mrt-3-logs-p6-2b-deficit-with-deferred-fare-hike/

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit