Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Ex-DPWH chief Babes Singson resigns as ICI commissioner - Sara Duterte’s security detail comprised nearly half of OVP personnel in 2024 - Pope urges Middle East to reject 'horror of war' at end of first overseas trip - Alex Eala, Bryan Bagunas named Philippines' 2025 SEA Games flag bearers - Sabrina Carpenter tells White House to stop using her music
00:06Former Public Works Chief Rogelio Babe Singson resigns as Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure.
00:19The Commission on Audit says nearly half of the Office of the Vice President's personnel in 2024 were Sara Duterte's security.
00:28Pope Leo XIV appeals to leaders in the Middle East to reject the horror of war.
00:34Alex Ayala and Brian Bagunas are the Philippines' flag bearers at the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
00:41And American pop star Sabrina Carpenter tells the White House to stop using her music.
00:48Former Public Works Chief Rogelio Babe Singson resigns as Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure or ICI.
00:55ICI Chair Andres Reyes confirms this Wednesday, December 3.
01:00Singson says he's quitting because of the, quote,
01:03very intense and stressful work at the commission.
01:06His resignation will take effect on December 15.
01:09Singson was on board since the ICI was created in September amid public clamor to prosecute perpetrators of corruption in flood control projects.
01:18He is the second official to leave the commission.
01:20Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong resigned early on as its special advisor.
01:26Singson was the Public Works Secretary of the late former President Noinoy Aquino from 2010 to 2016.
01:32He is known for instituting reforms in the Department of Public Works and Highways.
01:36According to a Commission on Audit report, nearly half of the Office of the Vice President's personnel in 2024 were the security detail for Vice President Sara Duterte.
01:48Of the OVP's 781 personnel in 2024, 42% or 335 were members of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group.
01:59Officials and employees with permanent positions numbered only 165.
02:03The OVP says members of Duterte's security group joined her delegation in foreign and local trips.
02:10The unit was also among the recipients of donations from the OVP in the form of motor vehicles amounting to more than 5 million pesos.
02:18In late June 2022, the Armed Forces of the Philippines activated the VPSPG as a separate unit from the Presidential Security Group.
02:26In April this year, the AFP said it reorganized the VPSPG into the AFP Security and Protection Group as part of its rationalization and streamlining efforts.
02:37Pope Leo XIV appeals to leaders across the Middle East to listen to their people's cries for peace and to change course away from the horror of war.
02:49This as he wrapped up his first overseas trip as Catholic leader by addressing 150,000 people at a mass on Beirut's historic waterfront.
02:56He also pleads for Lebanon to address years of conflict, political crises, and economic misery.
03:03Leo adds, the region as a whole needs new approaches to overcome political, social, and religious divisions.
03:09The path of mutual hostility and destruction in the horror of war has been traveled too long with the deplorable results that are before everyone's eyes.
03:23We need to change course. We need to educate our hearts for peace.
03:29Pope Leo was on a three-day visit to Lebanon where he urged Middle East peace and warned that growing global conflicts threaten humanity's future.
03:36Tennis superstar Alex Ayala and world-class volleyball player Brian Bagunas are set to fly the country's flag at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
03:48Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham Bambol Tolentino says Alex and Brian are the best choice to carry the flag in the SEA Games because of their impact on the global sports community.
03:58Ayala finished the 2025 WTA season with a career-high World No. 50 ranking, highlighted by multiple breakthrough wins against the world's best players.
04:09Bagunas captained Alas Pilipinas to a monumental run at the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.
04:17Ayala and Bagunas will jointly lead the Philippines' opening ceremony delegation at the SEA Games on Tuesday, December 9.
04:23U.S. pop star Sabrina Carpenter demands the White House to stop using her music.
04:31This after the Trump administration featured one of her songs on a social media video showing ICE agents apprehending people.
04:38The video shared by the White House features Carpenter's song, Juno.
04:42Have you ever tried this one? Have you ever tried this one? Have you ever tried this one? Have you ever tried this one?
04:48It showed federal immigration enforcement officers chasing people and detaining them while bystanders recorded the activity on their cell phones.
04:55The caption reads, quote, Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye. Echoing a lyric from the song.
05:02Carpenter says in a post, quote, This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.
05:10In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson says the administration won't apologize for deporting dangerous criminal offenders.
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