TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)
19 August 2026, Wednesday, 5:00 p.m.
1. TD 'Neneng' maintains strength as habagat threatens Luzon with heavy rain
-Red
rainfall warning up in Bataan, other Luzon areas
-DPWH
chief Dizon visits flood pumping station
in Manila
-La Mesa Dam
hits Alert Level 3; Marikina River under first alarm
[ABS-CBN News,
BusinessWorld, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, Manila Times,
News5PH, Philstar, Rappler]
2. Marcos leads situation briefing, directs DPWH to coordinate with QC gov't on flood control master plan
[GMA
News, Inquirer, Daily Tribune, Philstar, Manila Bulletin]
3. Death toll from 'Luis', 'Maymay' and Habagat rises to 27
[GMA News,
News5PH, Manila Bulletin, NewsWatchplus]
https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/08/19/death-toll-from-storms-habagat-now-at-27
4. ZAMBOANGA SCHOOL SHOOTING:
-Zamboanga City declares Day of Mourning,; Ateneo de Zamboanga extends class suspension to Aug. 20
-VP Duterte
visits wake of student killed in Zamboanga shooting
-Angara joins
Zamboanga briefing after Ateneo shooting incident
-PCO appeals to
media: Exercise restraint in coverage to avoid copy cats
-Remulla claims
Zamboanga shooter may have been influenced by Roblox
-PNP orders
takedown of school shooting videos, probes how minor got guns inside school
-Ateneo de
Zamboanga shooter under pressure over grades; security lapses possible —mayor
-Zamboanga
school shooter took 2 guns from Customs exec father’s car–BOC chief
[ABS-CBN News, DZBB, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila
Times, News5PH, Philstar, Rappler]
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/zamboanga-day-mourning-class-suspension-ateneo-school-shootings/
5. 'Robin
Padilla Law' blamed for surge of crimes, Jonvic seeks stricter penalties for
gun-related offenses
[ABS-CBN News,
GMA News, Inquirer, Philstar, News5PH, NewsWatchplus, Manila Bulletin] https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/19/robin-padilla-law-blamed-for-surge-of-crimes-jonvic-seeks-stricter-penalties-for-gun-related-offenses
6. No apology:
Castro stands by remarks on teachers
[ABS-CBN News,
Manila Bulletin, Inquirer, News5PH, NewsWatchplus, Philstar]
https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/19/castro-clarifies-i-wasnt-blaming-teachers
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2288023/castro-on-act-teachers
7. Sara Duterte
cancels Japan trip, slams Palace over continued travel schedule public
disclosures
[Manila
Standard, Manila Times, Manila Bulletin, NewsWatchplus]
8. Panelo:
Madriaga could be VP Duterte’s ‘star witness’ in impeach trial
[Inquirer,
GMA News, Daily Tribune]
9. Visayas grid
on red alert
[ABS-CBN News,
Inquirer, GMA News]
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/999105/visayas-power-grid-red-alert/story/
10. Peso sinks to new record low, nears P62/$1
[GMA News,
Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard]
https://business.inquirer.net/606617/peso-sinks-to-new-record-low-nears-p62-1
© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit
