TODAY’S TOP STORIES - Friday, 16 October 2026

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

16 October 2026, Friday, 5:00 p.m.

 

1. Marcos to summon Chinese envoy over 'use of force' remark

-DFA, Tarriela, China embassy trade barbs over envoy’s remarks; Teodoro: Chinese envoy’s remarks a threat, not a ‘slip’

-China accuses DFA of misreading envoy’s ‘easily win’ remarks

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/1006107/marcos-to-summon-chinese-envoy-over-use-of-force-remark/story/

2. VP camp accuses Marcos admin of political persecution over NBI probe

-'He's a nobody': VP Duterte dismisses NBI chief Matibag over SALN allegations

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Sunstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2324863/vp-camp-accuses-marcos-admin-of-political-persecution-over-nbi-probe

3. DILG tags 11 persons of interest in Laos drug haul

[ABS-CBN News, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Rappler]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/10/16/dilg-tags-11-persons-of-interest-in-laos-drug-haul-1338

4. Marcos vows to strengthen Coast Guard capabilities amid maritime challenges

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, Philstar, Philstar, Rappler]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2324881/marcos-vows-to-strengthen-pcg-amid-maritime-challenges

5. Marcos appoints Victor Alfonso Limlingan as new SSS chief

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, Philstar, Rappler, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/1006124/marcos-appoints-victor-alfonso-limlingan-as-new-sss-chief/story/

6. Ex-Co bodyguards' lawyer Levi Baligod arrested

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Times, News5PH, Panay News, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/10/16/ex-co-bodyguards-lawyer-levi-baligod-arrested-1259

7. Ex-Pampanga Rep. Dong Gonzales faces graft cases over infrastructure projects

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Rappler, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/10/16/ex-pampanga-rep-dong-gonzales-faces-graft-complaint-over-infrastructure-projects-1053

8. Remulla on filing of plunder case of Legarda, Leviste: ‘malapit-lapit na ‘yan’

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Mindanao Times, News5PH]

https://x.com/inquirerdotnet/status/2110988264525955557

9. NBI summons ‘Machong Chismisan’ hosts over derogatory remark

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2324934/nbi-summons-machong-chismisan-hosts-over-derogatory-remark

10. Peso breaches P63:$1 level further

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/1006111/peso-breaches-p63-1-level-further/story/

11. Up to P4.20/liter gasoline rollback, P0.40/liter diesel hike seen next week

[Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, Philstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/1006105/up-to-p4-20-liter-gasoline-rollback-p0-40-liter-diesel-hike-seen-next-week/story/

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit