TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)
17 March 2026, Tuesday, 5:00 p.m.
1. LTFRB approves fare increase for jeepneys, buses, TNVS; Transport groups says P1 jeepney fare hike not enough, strike to proceed
[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Guardian, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]
https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/ltfrb-approves-balanced-fare-hikes-for-jeepneys-other-puvs
2. Marcos leads cash payout to PUV drivers
affected by oil price shocks
[ABS-CBN
News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times,
NewsWatchPlus, News5PH, Philstar]
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980261/marcos-leads-cash-payout-to-puv-drivers-affected-by-oil-price-shocks/story/
3. COUP
RUMORS:
-DND, AFP
dismiss yet another rumor of coup plot, this time by 'third force'
-Palace
dismisses coup talk, says police deployment part of security exercise
[ABS-CBN
News, BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin,
Manila Times, Malaya, News5PH, Sunstar]
https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/dnd-afp-dismiss-yet-another-rumor-of-coup-plot-this-time-by-third-force
4. DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT CASE:
-Luistro:
Duterte reply to impeachment raps is like a motion to dismiss
-3rd
impeachment complainants waive right to reply to VP Duterte’s 'non-answer'
[ABS-CBN
News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Mindanao Times,
News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]
5. Marcos vows reforms, calls himself ally of
women
[ABS-CBN
News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Philstar]
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2196980/marcos-on-womens-welfare’
6. PH lacks capability to escort ships in Strait of Hormuz – Teodoro
[ABS-CBN
News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Times, Sunstar]
7. Plane fares to surge in April as fuel surcharge more than doubles
[ABS-CBN
News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Mindanao Times, Panay
News, Philstar]
8. DFA dismisses China’s Scarborough evidence; Chinese embassy insists value of document
-Defense
chief Teodoro dismisses China’s alleged 1990 letter on Scarborough Shoal
[ABS-CBN
News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila
Standard, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Rappler]
https://www.inquirer.net/470450/dfa-dismisses-chinas-scarborough-evidence/
9. BFP names Wilberto Tiu as new officer-in-charge
[ABS-CBN
News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Mindanao Times, Philstar, Sunstar,
Watchmen Daily Journal]
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/980273/bfp-oic-wilberto-tiu/story/
10. Lacson: Chavit Singson to testify on flood control projects
[DZBB,
DZRH, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar]
https://mb.com.ph/2026/03/17/lacson-chavit-singson-to-testify-on-flood-control-projects
© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit