Latest news in Philippines? September 13th, 2026

Key news developments in the Philippines as of September 13, 2026:

• Security Ramped Up for Historic BARMM Elections: The Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have placed all Mindanao regional police offices on full alert and deployed extra infantry battalions across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The Commission on Elections completed final testing and sealing of automated counting machines ahead of the region’s first-ever parliamentary elections on Monday, amid warnings over potential vote-buying and local security tensions.
• Palawan Ferry Fire Search Operations: Search and retrieval operations continue off Coron, Palawan, after a severe passenger ferry fire brought the death toll to 76, with 13 people still reported missing. The Philippine Coast Guard and maritime authorities are carrying out safety and criminal investigations into the vessel’s crew, emergency protocol compliance, and cargo hold conditions.
• President Marcos’ Diplomatic Engagements in India: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. concluded official engagements in New Delhi during the BRICS Summit as Chair of ASEAN, marking his 69th birthday. During the trip, the administration formalized the Philippines’ entry as the 59th member of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and secured a $75 million expansion commitment from Indian tech conglomerate iSON Group.
• Repatriation of Seafarers Killed in Gulf Attack: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and OWWA received the remains of two Filipino seafarers in Metro Manila who died following a projectile strike on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, following the earlier repatriation of 14 surviving crew members.
• Preparations for High-Level ASEAN Meetings: The Philippine government finalized schedules to host regional ministerial meetings throughout mid-September in Metro Manila, including the ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) sessions starting September 14 and the Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience.