Around two thousand tricycle drivers (the first batch) have received their cash relief assistance at the Aguilar Sports Complex recently, according to the social media announcement of the City Government of Las Piñas. Each tricycle driver received P5,000 as relief from the much higher prices of fuel caused by the ongoing war against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran which itself attacked multiple nations in the Middle East with missiles and drones.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the social media announcement of the City Government. Some parts in boldface…
The distribution of P5,000 cash payout of the AICS program for the first batch of tricycle drivers in Las Piñas City was held at Aguilar Sports Complex.
This is part of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s support to help drivers cope with the continuing rise of oil prices due to tensions in the Middle East.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), and other offices of the city government are working together to ensure a smooth and peaceful distribution of aid to beneficiaries.
On the first day of payout, almost 2,000 drivers from TODA groups ACAPODA, APHDA, ATODA, BFLTSODA, BFRSSCV, BFRV-VG, CCTODA, CEBMTODA and BFATODA were given cash assistance. Payout will continue in the coming days to provide all registered members of TODA.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: If you are a resident of Las Piñas City, what is your reaction to this development? Do you often ride the tricycle when moving around?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) – an intergovernmental military alliance between more than thirty member states – was slammed by US President Donald J. Trump and labeled a paper tiger due to its cowardice as it never supported the military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran, according to a news report by Newsmax.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of Newsmax. Some parts in boldface…
President Donald Trump on Friday blasted NATO and key European allies, calling the alliance “a paper tiger” and accusing its members of cowardice for refusing to back efforts to secure the Strait of Hormuz while the United States and Israel continue military strikes against Iran.
“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran.
“Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices.“
Although Trump has argued the conflict is effectively over and that Iran’s military has been severely weakened, he has stopped short of formally declaring victory.
“So easy for them to do, with so little risk,”Trump wrote. “COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!“
Trump’s criticism came after Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands signaled Thursday that they were prepared to assist in keeping the vital shipping lane open.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” the countries’ leaders wrote in a letter. “We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning.”
The letter did not specify what role those countries would play in any Hormuz security effort. The strait carries about 20% of the world’s daily oil supply, and the joint statement also voiced “deep concern” over the effect of Iranian strikes on global energy markets.
The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands are NATO members.
Trump has repeatedly pressed NATO and European allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz and has urged several countries to take part in the military campaign, though they have so far resisted direct involvement.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Thursday he believes the alliance and its members will ultimately reach a solution to restore passage through the strategic waterway.
“I’m confident that allies, as always, will do everything in support of our shared interest as we always do,” he said.
This development raises doubts about the credibility and relevance of NATO in the 21st century. Among NATO’s members are Spain and Turkey whose leaders openly support Islamic terrorists and hate Israel. I am surprised that Italy – led by its conservative Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni – did not get involved considering her nation’s healthy ties with Trump’s America and Israel. Let’s be clear here…a lot of European nations rely on oil tankers that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Finally, I believe it is arrogant and wrong for NATO to ignore Iran’s attacks against other states in the Gulf such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and even Islamist Qatar.
For additional insight, watch the YouTube news videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Apart from the obvious cowardice, what do you think are the other factors as to why NATO and its members stayed away from the military operations against the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran? Do you think the wicked Iranian regime has deep connections with most of NATO’s members? Do you consider NATO relevant and needed in this current century?
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae visited Washington for the first time as the head of her nation and met with US President Donald Trump at the White House where they discussed very important matters in front of the media and officials, according to a news report by Kyodo News. Takaichi also praised the President for his peace efforts.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday that Japan is ready to contribute to the safety of the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran intensifies, while explaining Tokyo’s legal constraints on sending ships from its defense forces to the region.
Takaichi told reporters after her meeting at the White House with Trump that she told the U.S. leader “in detail what Japan can do and cannot do” from a legal perspective under the country’s war-renouncing Constitution.
Trump, for his part, reiterated his expectation that Japan would be engaged, while saying during the part of their talks open to media that he believes Japan has been “stepping up to the plate” in recent days over the Iran war, “unlike NATO.”
The U.S. leader has made public his dissatisfaction with Washington’s allies, including Tokyo and members of the trans-Atlantic alliance, over their reluctance to pitch in to help secure the Hormuz strait, a vital waterway for global oil transportation now largely blocked by Iran.
“I expect Japan to step up, because, you know, we have that kind of relationship,” he said. “We have 45,000 soldiers in Japan. We have, we spend a lot of money on Japan…so I expect, I’m not surprised that they would step up.“
Noting also that more than 90 percent of Japan’s crude oil imports normally pass through the strait, Trump said Japan has a “big reason” to do more.
In affirming Japan-U.S. collaboration on expanding U.S. energy production, Takaichi said she proposed to Trump a joint oil-reserve project to ease supply concerns driven by the Middle East conflict.
At the talks, Takaichi praised Trump’s “peace” efforts, expressing readiness to assist by reaching out to other countries. “Donald is the only person who can bring peace and prosperity across the world,” she said.
Takaichi emphasized that the prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is unacceptable. Trump alluded earlier to Iran’s nuclear program to explain the U.S. decision to launch its military campaign against the country.
Facing an increasingly assertive China, Takaichi also reminded Trump that the security environment remains severe in the Indo-Pacific, at a time when reports have emerged that some U.S. military assets are being moved from the region to the Middle East.
The two leaders “committed to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of regional security and global prosperity” and “opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, including by force or coercion,” the White House said in a press release without naming China.
They confirmed that their nations oppose measures threatening critical mineral supplies such as export controls, senior Japanese government officials told reporters, apparently referring to Beijing’s tighter regulations on rare earths exports.
They agreed to advance broad defense cooperation, including joint missile development and production, and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to Takaichi. The White House said the production of the interceptor Standard Missile-3 Block 2A in Japan will be quadrupled.
“We were able to affirm many concrete forms of cooperation that will further enhance the quality of our alliance in wide-ranging fields,” Takaichi said, adding that she and Trump are aiming to elevate bilateral ties to “a higher level” together.
Trump welcomed Japan buying “a lot of” U.S. military equipment. He further stressed that he has a “very fine relationship” with Takaichi, describing her as “a very special person” who is doing a “fantastic job.”
The U.S. side did not bring up fresh demands for Japan to spend more on its defense, the officials said.
Takaichi’s main goals in her first trip to the United States since taking office in October were to strengthen the personal trust in her ties with Trump and reaffirm the U.S. security commitment to the Indo-Pacific region as China’s influence grows.
The meeting came amid increasing concerns within Japan that the U.S. focus in terms of policy and military assets could shift from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East if the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran drags on, a development that would work in China’s favor.
The U.S. military has reportedly begun relocating the amphibious assault ship Tripoli and over 2,000 Marines from their bases in southwestern and southern Japan to the Middle East.
Takaichi got off to a positive start in building personal ties with Trump when they met in person for the first time in October in Tokyo, shortly after she became Japan’s first female prime minister.
Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, Tokyo has sought to strike a delicate balance between maintaining its strong alliance with Washington and its friendly relations with Tehran.
For more insight about the Trump-Takaichi meeting, watch the videos below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? What is your impression about the many matters and announcements that happened during the Trump-Takaichi meeting at the White House? Were you surprised when it was announced that US allies Japan, Italy, England, Netherlands, Germany, and France jointly agreed to secure the Strait of Hormuz in response to Trump’s demand? With Japan having a close relationship with Trump’s America now, do you think Communist China and North Korea will feel intimidated at their side of the Pacific?
Recently inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño formally led the opening of a new two-storey Starbucks Coffee shop with drive-thru, according to the official announcement of the authority. The newest branch of the coffee giant was made with an investment of over P36 million.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from official announcement by the SBMA. Some parts in boldface…
Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño led the opening of the first two-storey Starbucks Coffee Shop with drive-thru facility here on March 6, 2026.
According to Aliño, the opening of the two-storey Starbucks Coffee Shop indicates Subic Bay Freeport’s status as a popular tourist destination, anticipating a year-round influx of customers.
The Starbucks Coffee Shop invested ₱36.75 Million in a 1,700-square-meter area at the portion of Lot 75-A, Rizal Highway, Central Business District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The inauguration was attended by Engr. and Mrs. Rhammeth Paras, Arch. and Mrs. Adonis Co, Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Tang, and Engr. Aries Tanglao, owners of Pandabest Realty and Trading, Inc.
The two-storey Starbucks locations usually offer enhanced, often scenic, spaces with increased seating, frequently housed in restored, architecturally unique, or heritage buildings.
Notable examples include the heritage shophouse in Singapore’s Chinatown, the sprawling Reserve Hiraya in Tagaytay, and a colonial-style bungalow in Rochester.
“Now we have one here, with the building designed to be ‘work and study-friendly,’ providing more intimate, quiet spaces on the upper level compared to the busy ground floor,” Aliño said.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Have you visited other Starbucks branches inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone during your recent visit there? Do you think there is still more room for further coffee shops or cafes inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone? How often do you order coffee by drive-thru?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of Kyodo News Some parts in boldface…
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering expressing Japan’s desire to cooperate on the U.S. “Golden Dome” next-generation missile defense system at her upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump, Japanese government sources said Tuesday.
The envisaged missile defense collaboration is among the expected agreements, covering various areas from the long-standing Japan-U.S. alliance to the fields of economic security and cutting-edge technology, at the summit slated for Thursday in Washington, the sources said.
Revealed by Trump in May, the Golden Dome scheme is intended to detect and destroy hypersonic missiles, which can fly at above five times the speed of sound, in outer space in mid-flight. The total costs are estimated at $175 billion.
The trajectories of hypersonic weapons are irregular and low-altitude, making them difficult to shoot down or track by radar. China, North Korea and Russia have been aggressively pursuing such arms.
In August 2023, Tokyo and Washington agreed to develop a new type of missile to intercept hypersonic weapons, with the goal of completing it by the 2030s. It is intended that Aegis destroyers of the U.S. Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will be equipped with the missile.
To enhance the missile defense system’s detecting and tracking capabilities, the U.S. military has been building a “satellite constellation” system that allows it to capture incoming missiles with high accuracy by linking multiple small satellites.
Japan’s Defense Ministry, which has also been conducting research on technologies necessary for detecting projectiles from outer space, is eyeing information sharing with the United States, the sources said.
During the summit talks, which will take place amid the Middle East conflict following U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, Takaichi also plans to ask Trump about purchasing crude oil produced from Alaska, according to the sources.
Japan, which relies heavily on the Middle East for its crude oil imports, has once again had its energy vulnerability exposed in the wake of the war in the region, with the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting oil flows.
Takaichi and Trump, meanwhile, are expected to agree on a $100 million joint project in shipbuilding, a sector both countries are keen on enhancing amid dominance by Chinese makers.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the US-Japan summit this week will result in big breakthroughs with regards to defense, economics and energy? What do you hope to see happen after President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi meet in Washington? Do you think the Golden Dome missile defense project will be fully realized and operational in the years to come?
Esmaeil Khatib – the Minister of Intelligence of the Islamic terrorist state of Iran – was eliminated successfully by Israel which severely damaged the regime whose number of officials have been reduced even more, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz and the military confirmed the assassination.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from The Jerusalem Post news report. Some parts in boldface…
The IDF has assassinated Iranian Intelligence Minister Esmaeil Khatib, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and the military both confirmed on Wednesday.
Before the assassination was confirmed, two sources gave The Jerusalem Post different indications on the likelihood of the success of the operation, which took place Tuesday night.
Khataib’s death marks the next most significant assassination in Iran since the early days of the war, other than the killing of Ali Larijani and the Basij chief on Monday night.
Khatib has been the intelligence minister since August 2021, when ultra-hardliner and former Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was elected.
When Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, and Masoud Pezeshkian succeeded him as Iranian president, he kept Khatib in his role, an unusual move given that traditionally new presidents replace top ministers with their own close associates.
Khatib seen as hardliner close to Khamenei checking Pezeshkian – However, Khatib was close to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was viewed as a hardliner who could keep Pezeshkian’s more moderate positions in check.
In addition, over the years, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) started to displace aspects of the authorities and power of the intelligence ministry, causing friction and competition between the bodies.
Raisi was closer to the IRGC than former president Hassan Rouhani, and Khatib spent much of his career in the IRGC’s intelligence branch.
When Raisi moved Khatib from the IRGC to run the intelligence ministry, it also cemented some of the IRGC’s new intelligence powers.
Khamenei wanted to keep Khatib in place partially to ensure continued IRGC dominance.
Although the IRGC was viewed by Khamenei as more loyal and ideologically committed to his causes, the Post has reported that the intelligence ministry had been viewed by outside CIA and Mossad officials as far more professional and competent.
If IRGC intelligence officials might sometimes be promoted to their roles due to ideological loyalty, top intelligence ministry officials usually only achieve promotion based on outstanding spycraft.
Indeed, the elimination of Khatib is very significant and it weakens the regime even more. The regime, whose so-called new supreme leader could not even show himself living, will continue to pretend it is functioning even after losing Ali Larijani and the Basij chief prior to Khatib. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel is very capable of tracking and finding Iranian regime leaders for elimination. If the Islamic terrorist proxies realize that Iran – whose entire military has been decimated already by Israel and Trump’s America – has a pretentious and smaller leadership existing, they will feel the pressure knowing they can’t keep on fighting without Iran’s support.
As for the oppressed Iranians who protested against their government, the eliminations of Khatib, Larijani and the Basic commander should embolden them to take action against the wicked regime soon.
For additional insight, watch the YouTube news video below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran has much fewer commanders remaining behind the scenes? Do you think their so-called new supreme leader is in a coma behind closed doors? With Khatib dead, do you think the number of Iranian soldiers and police officers will contemplate abandoning their posts to escape overseas?
In a serious attempt to protect its users and restore confidence, digital wallet GCash blocked more than three thousand and two hundred merchants that were linked to illegal online gambling and scamming, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Digital wallet giant GCash has blocked more than 3,200 merchants found to be linked to illicit activities, including illegal online gambling platforms, as part of its effort to bolster consumer protection.
In a statement, GCash said it has been coordinating with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) since last year to shut down these merchants’ access to the digital wallet.
By prohibiting their access to the digital wallet, this move prevents illegal operators from misusing the QRPh payment rail, which has been used to lure users to fake GCash payment pages.
Many of these illegal merchants employ deceptive tactics to mislead customers into sending payments to unauthorized accounts. Among the most common schemes is QR masking, where seemingly legitimate QR codes redirect payments to a different account.
Scammers also create fake payment pages that imitate legitimate businesses, as well as pages designed to mimic the official GCash interface to deceive customers and collect unauthorized payments.
GCash said it does not partner with these illegal merchants and operators, noting that they are typically independent entities attempting to route transactions through legitimate digital services.
To enhance consumer protection, GCash deploys proactive monitoring to identify and disable these schemes, which are then reported to authorities and the CICC to support government enforcement efforts.
“Entities attempting to misuse the GCash payment app and QRPh without authorization or are masking QRPh leading to unauthorized transactions are flagged, suspended, and reported to the relevant authorities,” it said.
Currently, GCash has measures in place to detect unauthorized merchant activity before users are scammed, helping maintain service integrity.
Furthermore, it immediately disables links to fraudulent operations and reports suspicious transactions to the CICC and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).
“By proactively blocking unauthorized actors and reporting them to our regulators and authorities, we are helping protect Filipinos and maintain trust in the country’s digital financial ecosystem,” Miguel Geronilla, chief information and security officer of GCash.
As another layer of security, GCash said users should never share their mobile personal identification number (MPIN) or one-time password (OTP), as these details are not required.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think GCash has done a huge effort to protect its users and other customers? What do you think the scammers and purged merchants will do now that they have been blocked by GCash?
Recently in the progressive City of Muntinlupa, local police officers successfully arrested a 21-year-old man for committing the illegal sale of firearms, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
The Southern Police District (SPD) arrested a 21-year-old man for illegally selling firearms in Muntinlupa on March 15.
The suspect, identified by his aliases Roniel and Yanyan, was arrested along the PNR Site in Barangay Poblacion, Muntinlupa at about 1:30 a.m. during a gun buy-bust operation led by the SPD’s District Special Operations Unit (DSOU).
The operation was launched after authorities received information from an informant about the suspect’s alleged involvement in the illegal sale of firearms in Muntinlupa and nearby areas.
Based on the report, DSOU operatives conducted the coordinated sting operation together with personnel from the District Intelligence Division, Intelligence Section of the District Mobile Force Battalion, and Muntinlupa police.
Seized during the operation were two .38-caliber revolvers, two pieces of .38-caliber live ammunition, a marked P500 bill used in the transaction along with boodle money, and bags used by the suspect to carry the firearms.
The arrested individual, a resident of the barangay, failed to present any legal documents authorizing him to possess or sell firearms.
He was brought to the DSOU office for documentation and to the Pasay City General Hospital for physical and medical examination.
The police will request firearms records verification from the Firearms and Explosives Office to determine whether the suspect is a licensed firearm holder.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? If you are a resident of Muntinlupa City, are you thankful to the local police for the successful arrest of the suspect?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
In what can be described as the most significant eliminations since that of the demonic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) successfully eliminated Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and Basij Commander Gholamreza Soleimani, according to a news report by The Jerusalem Post.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from The Jerusalem Post news report. Some parts in boldface…
Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Iran overnight, the IDF and Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Tuesday afternoon.
Israeli confirmation of the assassination came after three separate sources confirmed to The Jerusalem Post he was targeted in what is the single most momentous targeted killing following the death of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
The military referred to Larijani as “the de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime.”
Basij commander killed along with ‘majority of leadership’ – The IDF also confirmed it had assassinated the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Basij paramilitary militia, Gholamreza Soleimani, and his deputy, Seyyed Karishi. The two were killed in a makeshift tent area, which had been set up to make it harder to follow them as opposed to in a known headquarters.
An Israeli official also confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the majority of the Basij leadership was eliminated overnight in the Israeli airstrike.
The military also announced that it killed the IRGC’s Aerospace Force chief.
Larijani was due to give public address in Iran on Tuesday – Iranian authorities stated that Larijani was due to give a public address on Tuesday, but two IDF sources expressed skepticism about his making a statement and expressed stronger optimism that the strike succeeded in killing him, before his death was announced.
After Larijani’s death was confirmed, the Mossad Farsi account posted on X/Twitter, saying “In the end, people without mercy will die.”
The Prime Minister’s Office released an image later on Tuesday, which it said captured the moment in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued the order for the targeted assassinations.
Netanyahu also released a statement via video following confirmation of Larijani’s death, calling him the “boss” of the regime, whom he called a “group of gangsters.”
“We’re undermining the regime, in the hope of giving the Iranian nation the opportunity to get rid of it,” he said. “It won’t happen all at once, it won’t happen easily, but if we commit to it, we’ll be able to give them the chance to take their fates into their own hands.”
Larijani was ‘de-facto leader’ of Iran after Khamenei’s killing – Some have viewed Larijani as the man running the Iranian regime since Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated by the IDF, along with Iran’s military chief, IRGC chief, defense minister, and around 40 other top officials on February 28.
Larijani has been the Islamic regime’s most public voice, responding directly to threats and comments by US President Donald Trump and others.
Whereas Mojtaba Khamenei has been technically appointed the next supreme leader, IDF and American intelligence have said he is badly wounded, and given a total lack of public appearances, doubts have been expressed about whether he is actually running the country.
Further, Larijani was promoted to run day-to-day operations for the country and all negotiations with the West over the conflict in the weeks before the war started.
Larijani, on March 1, announced that he would be heading an interim committee for running the country, given Khamenei’s death. However, just because Larijani issued such a statement does not mean that he is for sure calling the shots.
The Iranian leader has had ups and downs with Khamenei, having been an IRGC commander, speaker of parliament, and a national security council chief, but then was disqualified from running for Iranian president to pave the way for Ebrahim Raisi’s election in 2021, and was out of favor for a time.
However, in recent months, Larijani made a comeback as one of the older and still living top advisers to Khamenei, following so many top officials being killed in June 2025, and became Khamenei’s number two, running the country’s day-to-day security affairs and nuclear negotiations with the US.
If Larijani has been the number one official in Iran these last two weeks, and even if he is only one of the top few, killing or wounding him could significantly impact the overall strategic picture.
This development is the latest addition to the number of Islamic terrorist leaders Israel eliminated under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu. With Larijani confirmed dead, one has to wonder who exactly are leading the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran and why is it their chosen so-called supreme leader – son of the demon Ali Khamenei – has not physically emerged. For additional insight, watch the YouTube news video below.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the significance of the latest Islamic terrorist leaders of Iran will be realized soon as the war in the Middle East goes on? Who do you think is actually leading the evil regime of Iran right now?
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the BusinessWorld. Some parts in boldface…
The Philippines’ unemployment rate climbed to 5.8% in January 2026, marking its highest level in more than three years, as the labor market cooled after the holidays, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Friday.
Preliminary results from the January 2026 Labor Force Survey (LFS) showed the number of unemployed Filipinos rose to 2.96 million, from 2.17 million in the same month last year, and 2.26 million in December 2025.
PSA Assistant Secretary Divina Gracia L. Del Prado said that the January unemployment rate was the highest recorded since June 2022, when unemployment stood at 6.0%.
The January jobless rate was higher than the 4.3% in January 2025, and the 4.4% in December 2025.
“Usually in our time series, after the Christmas season, our employment rate really goes down… because there are no longer available jobs,” Ms. Del Prado told a livestreamed news briefing.
“Because in December, of course, there are lots of jobs available for our labor force. But month on month, the number of unemployed increased by 695,000. And most of the reasons for this are that people got tired — maybe they were exhausted from working in December, or believing that there are no jobs available,” she added.
The quality of employment also saw a shift, as the underemployment rate — the proportion of those with jobs but seeking more hours — stood at 13.2% in January 2026. This was a tad lower than the 13.3% underemployment rate in January 2025, but higher than the 8% in December 2025.
About 6.35 million Filipinos were considered underemployed persons in January, slightly decreased from the 6.47 million underemployed in January 2025, and 2.42 million seen in December 2025.
The country’s employment rate fell to 94.2% in January 2026, down from 95.7% in January 2025 and 95.6% in December 2025. This was also the lowest employment rate recorded since June 2022 when it stood at 94%.
The number of employed persons in January 2026 fell to 47.94 million, a decline from 48.49 million employed in the same month last year, and 49.43 million in December 2025.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you personally know anyone who has been unemployed for the past three months? Do you consider the higher unemployment rate a sign that the economy of the Philippines could fall into a recession this year?
Author Carlo Carrasco 