INQToday: Floods and landslides leave 6 dead in Mindanao

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

Imee Marcos opposes separate, independent Mindanao proposal

“I hope it never happens.”

These were Senator Imee Marcos’ words when she was asked on Thursday what her thought was about proposals on “separate and independent” Mindanao. 

Submarines in next phase of PH military upgrade

President Marcos has approved the third phase of the military’s modernization, which includes the purchase of the country’s first submarine, in order to defend its maritime sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea.

Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Roy Trinidad, said on Thursday the third phase of modernization reflected a shift in strategy away from internal to external defense.

Identity theft, scams via social media on the rise

The Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) on Thursday reminded the public to be cautious in giving personal information online, clicking suspicious website links or downloading file attachments from dubious sources after noting that cyber identity theft cases rose by 12.2 percent last year.

PNP-ACG director Maj. Gen. Sydney Hernia said in a statement that the ACG logged 1,597 cyber identity theft cases in 2023, up from 1,402 cases in 2022.