TOP STORIES - Wednesday, 20 August 2025

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

As of 20 August 2025, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m.

1. FLOOD CONTROL PROJECTS:

-Marcos 'very angry' over P55-M 'ghost' riverwall project in Baliuag, Bulacan; eyes ‘economic sabotage’ cases vs contractors

-Marcos wants SYMS Construction blacklisted over ghost project

-Palace: No flood control master plan turned over by Aquino admin

-BIR to probe ghost flood control projects — Lumagui

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/20/marcos-inspects-flood-control-project-in-bulacan-as-probe-intensifies-0913

2. Palace: Marcos to accept NBI chief's irrevocable resignation

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://news.tv5.com.ph/breaking/read/palace-marcos-to-accept-nbi-chiefs-irrevocable-resignation

3. MILF peace panel chair blames Palace over BARMM woes

[Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, Rappler]

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/20/milf-peace-panel-chair-blames-palace-over-barmm-woes

4. Sara Duterte’s DepEd leadership is a ‘complete failure’ – Palace

[Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098154/sara-dutertes-deped-leadership-is-a-complete-failure-palace

5. Pagcor: Online gaming transactions down 50% since e-wallets ban; Over 60% sites accessed in the Philippines 'illegal'

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/956429/pagcor-online-gambling-transactions-down-50-since-e-wallets-ban/story/

6. Agri chief hits rice tariffication law, calls for reforms

[ABS-CBN News, DZBB, Inquirer, Manila Times, NewsWatchPlus]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2098159/fwd-da-on-rtl

7. Palace: Proposed mandatory drug test for all public officials violates Constitution

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/20/palace-proposed-mandatory-drug-test-for-all-public-officials-violates-constitution

8. BIR files tax raps vs illegal vape sellers over P700-million liability

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, Philstar]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/20/2466830/bir-files-tax-raps-vs-illegal-vape-sellers-over-p700-million-liability

9. Comelec chair robbed while eating in Pasay City restaurant; one suspect arrested in Bacoor

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5PH, Philstar]

https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/20/comelec-chair-robbed-in-pasay-city

10. Japanese paid P9M for 2 compatriots’ slay in Manila – police

[ABS-CBN News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, NewsWatchPlus]

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/288663/fwd-japanese-national-paid-suspects-p9m-to-kill-compatriots-in-manila-police

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit