The Philippine Star
Legarda, son face probe over P10-B solar franchise
The Office of the Ombudsman has ordered a preliminary investigation against Sen. Loren Legarda, her son Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi over plunder and graft complaints stemming from renewable energy...
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Marcos allows opening of VP Sara’s tax records
President Marcos has given the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) the go-ahead to submit and unseal the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, documents seen to shed light on her alleged unexplained wealth and the...
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Probe to expose ‘delicious’ Taguig infra details – Ping
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee’s planned investigation into alleged anomalous infrastructure projects in Taguig City will expose “delicious” details behind at least five case studies made by Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s team and submitted to the Office of...
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BBM wants laundering, secrecy laws amended
As corruption issues continue to bedevil his administration, President Marcos said he is pushing for amendments to the laws on bank secrecy and anti-money laundering to help restore public trust and confidence in government institutions. In a report...
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‘I am not the president of my family or friends’
Saying he is neither the president of his family nor of his friends, President Marcos yesterday revealed that criminal cases were being readied against his first cousin, former speaker Martin Romualdez. In the opening part of his State of the Nation...
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Sara: I won’t resign
With her impeachment trial in the Senate underway, Vice President Sara Duterte has addressed speculations that she might step down from office. “Oh, never gonna happen. I will never resign because it would be like a betrayal to the 32.2 million people...
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14 counts of graft filed vs lawmaker in infra mess
The Office of the Ombudsman has filed criminal charges against USWAG Ilonggo party- list Rep. James Ang Jr. and former Sultan Kudarat representative Arnulfo Go before the Sandiganbayan over alleged conflicts of interest linked to government...
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‘Dumber than dumb’ Ayungin deal slammed
Retired Supreme Court (SC) senior associate justice Antonio Carpio wants the alleged “provisional agreement” between the Philippines and China on Ayungin Shoal canceled, and warned he might bring it up to the Supreme Court or Congress. In an...
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Trump to discuss Phl issues with China’s Xi
US President Donald Trump yesterday vowed to discuss the Philippines’ concerns with Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a phone call with President Marcos that came as fresh tensions erupted in the West Philippine Sea. The phone conversation between...
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VP security among 20 eyed as ‘hitman’ – NBI
Members of the uniformed services, some of them part of the security group of Vice President Sara Duterte, are among nearly 20 “persons of interest” in the “plan” to kill President Marcos, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag...
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BBM tackles sea clash with China ambassador
President Marcos met with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan at Malacañang yesterday and discussed the assault by China Coast Guard personnel on Philippine Navy men stationed in Ayungin Shoal. Jing described the meeting as “very useful, constructive and...
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Senate OKs subpoena of VP tax, bank records
The Senate impeachment court granted yesterday the request of the prosecution team of the House of Representatives to subpoena the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio ahead of the court’s deliberation on...
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Senators eye tighter rules to speed up impeach trial
With the aim of speeding up the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, senators of the impeachment court are looking to tighten proceedings by limiting arguments to issues directly related to the case and resolving pending procedural questions early,...
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LTFRB caps booking fees of app-based taxis at P60 max
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has capped the booking or platform fees of app-based taxi services at up to 20 percent of the total approved rate of P60, whichever is lower. In a memorandum, Chairman Vigor Mendoza said...
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Ombudsman reopening 2019 SEA Games probe
The Office of the Ombudsman is reopening its investigation into the alleged irregularities surrounding the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla confirmed yesterday. The move comes as the National...
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AMLC seeks expanded powers vs criminal assets
The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) is seeking expanded powers that will allow it to suspend financial transactions and initially freeze criminal assets without securing a court order. Proposed changes to the Anti-Money Laundering Act are aimed...
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DepEd seeks P8 B for hiring of school guards
The Department of Education will ask Congress to approve the allocation of P8 billion to fund the hiring of security guards amid the latest data from the DepEd that only 2,494 security guards are manning at least 48,000 public schools. “We are...
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VP team: No threat made
No threats were made. The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte insisted yesterday that her remarks during a 2024 online press conference about contracting a person to kill President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former House speaker Martin...
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Herbosa steps down as health secretary
Citing health reasons, Teodoro Herbosa has resigned as Department of Health secretary, and President Marcos named yesterday Philippine Orthopedic Center ( POC) head Jose Brittanio Pujalte Jr. as acting DOH chief. Asked whether the graft charges filed...
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Phl, 13 other nations: Arbitral ruling final, legally binding
On the 10th anniversary of the Arbitral Award yesterday, the Philippines, along with 13 other countries, reaffirmed the historic ruling, describing it as “final, legally binding, and definitive between China and the Philippines.” In a joint statement,...
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17 reported dead from Inday, habagat
Coupled with the enhanced habagat or southwest monsoon, Typhoon Inday has left at least 17 people dead, nine others missing and more than 500,000 people affected across the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported...
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Heavy rains trigger deadly landslides
Incessant, heavy monsoon rain enhanced by Typhoon Inday triggered landslides in Mindanao yesterday, killing at least 10 people in Sarangani and Lanao del Norte. A drowning incident was reported in Bukidnon. Office of Civil Defense Region 12 director...
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Senate studying ways to speed up Sara trial
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian is looking for ways to speed up the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte after the Senate court finished questioning only one witness during the first week of hearings. Gatchalian said the impeachment...
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Debates on VP Sara’s bank, tax records set
The Senate impeachment court has set for oral arguments next week the prosecution’s request for subpoenas on the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio. Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero directed both...
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Sara on trial: I will be bloodied but unbowed
Vice President Sara Duterte is ready to roll with the punches as the impeachment trial against her enters its third day at the Senate today. “In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed,” Duterte told media yesterday. Duterte...
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Presiding officer Chiz: 16 votes needed to convict
The Senate impeachment court formally began yesterday the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with newly elected presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero asserting that a conviction would require two-thirds vote of all members of the chamber. “With...
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‘Senate ready if Sara attends impeach trial’
Will Vice President Sara Duterte show up at the Senate today for her impeachment trial? In case she does, the Senate is ready for her arrival and has already made all necessary preparations. “Under the rules, she can just send a lawyer and even a...
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Princess Alex unseats Wimbledon champion
After meeting Catherine, Princess of Wales, Alex Eala dethroned Wimbledon’s reigning queen. The 21-year-old Filipina pulled off the biggest win of her career yesterday in London, ousting world No. 3 and defending champion Iga Swiatek, 7-6 (11-9), 6-2,...
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Ombudsman files plunder raps vs Marcoleta, donors
The Office of the Ombudsman has officially filed a plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta before the Sandiganbayan, rejecting his invocation of “utang na loob” or debt of gratitude to justify P75 million in undeclared funds and urging his...
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Testimonies of 8 bagmen to be used vs Romualdez
The Office of the Ombudsman will use the testimonies of eight of the 18 self-proclaimed bagmen of former congressman Zaldy Co in a case being prepared against former speaker Martin Romualdez, after finding their accounts of alleged cash deliveries...
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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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