INQToday: China slams US, Philippines ‘provocative military activities’ in West Philippine Sea

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

China slams US, Philippines ‘provocative military activities’ in West Philippine Sea

Philippine and US Navy warships steamed toward a designated meeting point off Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro for a joint exercise before dawn on Wednesday.

Mild swells gently rocked the Philippine Navy patrol ship BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15), a former US Coast Guard cutter working for more than half a century, as it approached the area.

Over 2 million expected to join the Nazarene procession

At least two million devotees are expected to join the Feast of the Black Nazareno or Nazareno 2024 on January 9 (Tuesday).

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna made the projection in a press conference on Thursday.

Palace declares January 9 a special non-working holiday in Manila

Malacañang on Thursday declared January 9 a special non-working holiday in the City of Manila commemorating the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin declared the holiday in Proclamation 434.

Govt debt bloated to record high P 14.51 trillion in 2023

The government’s outstanding debt sustained its ascent to a new record high in November 2023 amid rising borrowing costs and high inflation that bloated the Marcos administration’s expenditures.

The state’s total debt burden got heavier by P27.92 billion month-on-month to P14.51 trillion in November 2023, the Bureau of the Treasury reported on Wednesday.

Maharlika Investment Corp. OKs P125 billion capitalization scheme

The Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC) approved a capitalization scheme of P125 billion.

The MIC, which is the governing body of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), held a meeting on Wednesday.

DOH debunks “COVID-19 wave alert”: It’s false information

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday warned the public against “fake” messages claiming that a fresh COVID-19 wave sweeping across Metro Manila.

The supposed alert was attributed to a doctor of a famous hospital in the capital region, but the DOH clarified in an advisory that: “There is no credible evidence or official announcement from health authorities supporting the assertion of a surge in COVID-19 cases at the mentioned hospital.”

DOH confirms two more cases of New Year stray bullet injuries

The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday confirmed two more cases of stray bullet injuries (SBIs), bringing the total to three.

In a bulletin, the DOH said that a 28-year-old man from the National Capital Region (NCR) and a 60-year-old man from the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) sustained wounds from stray bullets, resulting in fractures in different parts of their bodies.