The Bureau of Immigration has asked the Department of Foreign Affairs to cancel the passport of mining executive Joseph Sy and has initiated deportation proceedings against him over alleged identity falsification. Immigration Commissioner Norman Tansingco said the bureau requested verification of Sy’s passport records, placed him on the immigration lookout list, and coordinated with law enforcement agencies to gather supporting documents and testimonies. The DFA will decide on the passport cancellation request, while the BI Board of Commissioners will hear the deportation case and evaluate evidence from both the bureau and Sy.

The Department of Health (DOH) announces a plan to expand its zero-balance billing program to local government unit (LGU) hospitals across the Philippines, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket costs for patients. The DOH will coordinate with LGUs, align the program with PhilHealth and other health financing mechanisms, and issue detailed guidelines on eligibility, coverage and billing procedures. The agency will phase in implementation based on hospital readiness and available resources and will monitor compliance and impact through reporting and audits.