The Philippine Star
Ombudsman pushing through with plunder case vs Marcoleta
Amid religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo’s rallies, the Office of the Ombudsman will proceed with filing plunder charges in court this week against INC member Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. “Nothing has changed. We will file. This has not changed anything,”...
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INC gathers at EDSA for Marcoleta
Members of religious sect Iglesia ni Cristo gathered at the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon City yesterday to protest the looming court indictment and possible arrest of INC member Sen. Rodante Marcoleta for plunder. Four protesters were arrested...
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Bonoan accepted as state witness
The Office of the Ombudsman is dropping charges against former public works secretary Manuel Bonoan, as it seeks to utilize him as a state witness in the flood control cases. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday confirmed that his office has...
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Marchers demand accountability in corruption
Anti- corruption groups staged protest marches in Makati and Quezon City yesterday, demanding accountability from government officials suspected of involvement in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal, while urging the Senate to proceed with the...
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Sara impeach trial could last 7 months
The upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could last seven months, based on the proposed trial days of both prosecution and defense panels, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said, making it the longest impeachment trial ever. Speaking...
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CIDG recommends hazing raps vs Baldwin, 10 others
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is evaluating a police recommendation to file criminal charges ꟷ including violations of the Anti-Hazing Act and potential homicide ꟷ against former Ateneo Blue Eagles head coach Tab Baldwin and 10 other team personnel...
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Potential second school attack in Leyte foiled
Days after a deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City that left three students dead, there was an apparent copycat planned mass shooting in a school in Tolosa, Leyte, which police reported thwarting on Wednesday...
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Criminal raps filed vs school shooter, 15
Authorities filed criminal complaints yesterday against the 15-yearold student involved in the deadly shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Tacloban police filed the complaints before the City Prosecutor’s Office against the teen...
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Marcos open to lowering criminal liability age to 12
With the nation in shock over the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City involving school children, President Marcos is open to lowering the age of criminal liability and restricting minors’ access to violent online games, Malacañang said...
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Tacloban school shooting leaves 3 dead, 5 injured
TACLOBAN CITY ꟷ The Grade 9 students settled in for a regular day, opening their notebooks in a classroom that smelled of chalk and morning rain. Then, two sharp cracks. A pause. Three more. In seconds, the classroom everyone believed to be safe...
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‘No work, no pay’ policy for top officials pushed
Government officials who continue receiving their salaries despite being absent from work may want to rethink their priorities. Sen. Erwin Tulfo, in a press statement yesterday, said he would push for legislation that would enforce “no work, no pay”...
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‘Give Chiz a chance’
Despite the issues raised against him, Sen. Francis Escudero should be given the chance to serve as presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as he, being a lawyer, has “a sense of what is procedurally correct and what...
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‘Chiz as presiding officer dangerous’
Civil society groups yesterday expressed serious concern over the reported plan of the new Senate majority to designate Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero as presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. A joint statement signed...
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Trump, Iran president sign deal to end war
WASHINGTON ( AP) ꟷ US President Donald Trump signed an agreement with Iran on Wednesday that calls for Tehran to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium and waives US- backed sanctions on the country, immediately allowing Iran to sell its oil...
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Marcos arrives in Russia
President Marcos arrived in Kazan yesterday for a two-day working visit that seeks to affirm the ties between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and to promote cooperation in key areas such as energy, peace and security and...
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Cayetano, allies turn to SC amid leadership row
In an effort to retake control of the Senate leadership, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies asked the Supreme Court ( SC) yesterday to invalidate the creation of the current majority bloc led by Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, who...
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US, Iran reach peace deal
TEHRAN ꟷ The United States and Iran said they reached a deal to end the Middle East war on all fronts, including Lebanon, and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, but offered little indication on the thorny question of Tehran’s nuclear...
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Villanueva ready to attend Congress special session
Amid the leadership dispute in the Senate, Sen. Joel Villanueva yesterday vowed to attend a special session if called by President Marcos, to address issues such as disaster relief for Mindanao and the stalled promotion of military...
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ICC chamber orders new health check for Duterte
Trial judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have directed a panel of medical experts to clinically assess former president Rodrigo Duterte anew to determine his fitness to stand trial. In a 17- page decision released Friday night, the ICC...
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Marcos recognizes Gatchalian leadership
President Marcos publicly recognized Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore during the 128th Independence Day celebration on Friday, underscoring Malacañang’s support for the Senate leadership amid an ongoing dispute in the...
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House to shoulder medical bills; quake deaths now 47
Speaker Faustino Dy III said the House of Representatives would shoulder the medical expenses of all people injured as a result of the recent earthquake in Mindanao, whether they are receiving treatment in government or private hospitals. Dy made the...
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Powerful quake rocks Mindanao
At least 32 people died following a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked Mindanao yesterday morning, causing widespread damage to buildings and vital infrastructure, and triggering tsunami waves in at least six coastal areas, the Office of Civil...
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Cayetano urged: Give up, accept Senate shake-up
For the sake of the country, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano should accept the current Senate reorganization and just elevate his constitutional grievances to the Supreme Court (SC) afterwards, according to former Senate president Franklin Drilon. “Under the...
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18 ‘bagmen’ facing flood of lawsuits
For retelling their tale of having delivered billions of pesos in kickbacks from flood control projects to more than a dozen officials ꟷ including President Marcos ꟷ 18 men claiming to be former soldiers are now facing an avalanche of legal cases. The...
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US cancels Romualdez’s diplomatic, tourist visas
The United States has revoked the diplomatic and tourist visas it issued to former House speaker Martin Romualdez, Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed yesterday. “I just found out now. Yes, it’s true. We just got word...
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BBM may call special session of Congress
President Marcos is ready to call for a special session of Congress to pass priority measures, derailed by the ongoing political ruckus and leadership row in the Senate. Undersecretary Claire Castro said Marcos would “act immediately” on an official...
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Gatchalian is acting SP as Chiz breaks impasse
In a stunning, eleventhhour coup on the final day of the legislative calendar, the 11- member minority bloc capitalized on the continued absence of the majority senators to seize control of the Senate floor, electing Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as Senate...
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Minority senators to Cayetano: Resign
After an hour of waiting in vain for members of the majority bloc to arrive for yesterday’s session, minority senators left the floor to hold a caucus after which they demanded the resignation of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, slamming him for...
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Majority a no-show at Senate
In the wake of the disturbance caused by the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada yesterday, the Senate floor was emptied of members of the majority, forcing a cancellation of plenary session as the minority senators later decided to leave. The Senate...
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BBM worried about Sara reversing his policies
President Marcos does not regard as a mistake his decision to run with his ally-turned-arch critic Vice President Sara Duterte in the 2022 elections, but is “very much” concerned that his policies might be reversed if she wins the presidency. “No, I...
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Sotto justifies walkout
With debates over rules likely to again mar the session tomorrow, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III is flexing his institutional experience to contest the majority bloc’s move to railroad an amendment that would allow fugitive senator Ronald...
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Sandigan issues arrest warrant, HDO vs Jinggoy
The Sandiganbayan has issued arrest warrants and hold- departure orders against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan in connection with their graft case related to the multibillion-...
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Plunder, graft cases filed vs Estrada, Bonoan
Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is facing a new charge of plunder, his third, and another case for graft over his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. The Office of the Ombudsman charged Estrada, along with former Department of...
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Palace: No calamity to justify online vote
TOKYO ꟷ Unlike during the COVID pandemic, there is no calamity at present that can justify electronic voting in the Senate, Malacañang said, even as it maintained that it would be up to the chamber to decide on its procedures over which the senators...
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Remote vote sparks walkout by ‘SB-11’
Members of the 11-member minority bloc stormed out of the Senate plenary hall last night after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s majority attempted to “railroad” an amendment to the chamber’s rules to allow members to attend sessions remotely ꟷ...
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Hold order sought on Marcoleta, donors
The Office of the Ombudsman has asked the Sandiganbayan to prevent Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, former congressman Mike Defensor and two others from leaving the country after they were indicted for plunder and other charges over the P75-million campaign...
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Malaysian dead, 23 missing in Angeles building collapse
ANGELES CITY ꟷ A Malaysian tourist was confirmed dead following the collapse of a nine- story building being constructed at a subdivision in Barangay Balibago here yesterday, with 23 people still missing. According to the Bureau of Fire Protection...
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NBI chief says more ICC arrest warrants coming
Former president Rodrigo Duterte may soon have company in The Hague, as the International Criminal Court ( ICC) is set to issue more warrants against his co-perpetrators in the crimes against humanity charges, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)...
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DOJ orders NBI, PNP to arrest Dela Rosa
Law enforcers particularly from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) are under orders to “effect the arrest” of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said yesterday. “I would like to...
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SC rejects Bato plea for TRO vs ICC arrest
As Sen. Ronald dela Rosa’s whereabouts remain unknown, the Supreme Court has rejected his petition for a temporary restraining order against his arrest on the strength of an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant. Voting 9-5-1, the Supreme Court...
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‘All evidence shows no attack on Senate’
The Philippine National Police (PNP) maintained yesterday that the Senate was not under attack last week, as it presented evidence and witness accounts to disprove claims of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. At a late afternoon press briefing at...
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Senate impeachment court summons Sara
The Senate has officially convened as an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte, ordering her to file her response to the Articles of Impeachment within 10 days. Unlike last year’s transmittal of Duterte’s Articles of Impeachment, the...
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Gov’t urges SC: Junk Bato plea vs ICC arrest
The Office of the Solicitor General has urged the Supreme Court ( SC) to reject Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s bid to block his arrest following an International Criminal Court ( ICC) warrant, with the OSG referring to him as a “fugitive from...
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BBM to PMA grads: Loyalty to Constitution, not politics
President Marcos yesterday reminded the new graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) that their loyalty should be to the Constitution and not to any political interest or personality, as he urged them not to condone wrongdoing that could...
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Senate security chief suspended over shooting
The Office of the Ombudsman has placed Senate sergeant-at-arms Mao Aplasca under preventive suspension for six months over the discharge of firearms in the Senate premises on May 13. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he ordered the suspension as...
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Dela Rosa leaves Senate with Padilla
Hours after chaos erupted at the Senate as he evaded uniformed armed men supposedly sent to arrest him on Wednesday, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa reportedly managed to slip out of the building at 2:30 a.m. yesterday. At a press briefing later, Senate...
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Gunshots fired inside Senate
Shots were fired last night on the second floor of the Senate building, triggering chaos and panic, as police and military personnel scoured the premises searching for Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. President Marcos addressed the nation last night to clarify...
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Minority senators urge Dela Rosa to surrender
Members of the new minority bloc have urged Sen. Ronald dela Rosa to surrender to authorities as he continues to take refuge within the Senate premises to avoid an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. The new minority, comprising...
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Voting 257-25, House impeaches VP Sara
For the second time, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, launching the transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate for her trial. Two hundred fifty- seven House members voted to have...
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House votes today on VP impeachment
Members of the House of Representatives are expected to cast their votes as the chamber resumes session this afternoon, as they move to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte ꟷ the second time for the nation’s second highest official. Lawmakers have...
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Rody replaces defense team ahead of ICC trial
Former president Rodrigo Duterte has tapped a new defense lawyer as part of a move to reorganize his defense team ahead of his crimes against humanity trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Both of his primary defense lawyers ꟷ lead defense...
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Zaldy staying in P14-B house in Paris – Jonvic
Fugitive former Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co is staying at a posh home in Paris while waiting for the results of his application for asylum, according to Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla. Remulla said Co, the alleged mastermind of the...
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Asean leaders begin arriving for summit
LAPU-LAPU CITY ꟷ Leaders have arrived here for the 48th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit, with Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah the first to come in on Wednesday, flying his own aircraft and accompanied by his son Prince Abdul...
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US, Iran nearing deal to end war
The United States and Iran are closing in on an agreement on a one-page memorandum to end the war in the Gulf, a source from mediator Pakistan familiar with the negotiations said. The Pakistani source said a report earlier by the US media outlet Axios...
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Inflation surges to 7.2%
Inflation in April rose to 7.2 percent ꟷ its highest level in over three years ꟷ driven by faster increases in food and transport costs linked to the Middle East conflict, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Headline inflation, or...
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VP impeachment OK’d for House plenary vote
In a unanimous vote, members of the justice committee of the House of Representatives approved yesterday the report containing the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, triggering its submission to the plenary where at least 106...
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Trump reviewing new Iran peace proposal
WEST PALM BEACH (AP) ꟷ US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he was reviewing a new Iranian proposal to end the war but also expressed skepticism it would lead to a deal. “I’ll let you know about it later,” he said before boarding Air Force...
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DND chief rejects new peace talks with Reds
Calling the New People’s Army (NPA) a band of terrorists and criminals, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. has ruled out peace talks with the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. “No. I object to any peace talks with the NPA,”...
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BBM vows better jobs, protection for workers
As the country faces challenging economic pressures, President Marcos vowed to boost workers’ protection and opportunities as well as create more and better jobs for Filipinos. Marcos, however, did not provide details on how he intended to pursue...
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Sara camp calls impeach evidence ‘curated, spliced’
The presentation of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on alleged inciting to sedition and grave threats during the House committee on justice hearing “publicly revealed the paucity of the charges” against Vice President Sara Duterte, according...
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VP’s husband to file raps over bank secrecy breach
Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, is set to file today criminal complaints against Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor Eli Remolona Jr., Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura and House of...
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Precautionary HDO also sought vs Escudero, Ngu
After former House speaker Martin Romualdez, the Office of the Ombudsman is now seeking to bar former Senate president Francis Escudero and another individual from leaving the country over their alleged involvement in the flood control...
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Rody to face trial as ICC judges confirm charges
Former president Rodrigo Duterte will face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC) after pre-trial judges confirmed all crimes against humanity charges against him yesterday. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I ꟷ composed of Presiding Judge Iulia...
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Ombudsman blocks Romualdez departure
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is seeking a freeze order on the bank accounts and assets of former speaker Martin Romualdez as part of a possible money laundering case being readied against the lawmaker. At a press briefing, Remulla also said he...
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Transport group seeks P10 jeepney fare hike
Amid continued high diesel prices, transport group Piston filed a petition yesterday before the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to raise base jeepney fares by at least P10. If approved, the minimum fare for traditional...
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Ombudsman seeks SALNs of all House members
The Office of the Ombudsman has requested for the statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of all members of the House of Representatives, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said, as his office continues its probe into the irregularities in...
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P24.9 price drop for diesel – BBM
The biggest fuel price cuts since the easing of tension in the Middle East are seen to take place next week, with diesel cost getting slashed by P24.94 per liter, gasoline by P3.41, and kerosene by P2. President Marcos made the announcement in his...
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Lacson: Blue Ribbon to summon Zaldy Co
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will invite former congressman Elizaldy Co to testify in its flood control corruption probe following his apprehension in the Czech Republic, according to Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson. In interviews...
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Zaldy Co caught in Prague – BBM
Flood control scam suspect and resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co has been arrested in the Czech Republic, President Marcos announced last night, in a development that may lead to the disclosure of more details about the multibillion corruption...
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DOE sees another fuel price rollback
Motorists may see another round of fuel price cuts next week as global oil prices remain steady despite the United States’ blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, energy officials said yesterday. Energy Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said prices in the...
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