The recent declaration by Chinese academics that the Philippine province of Batanes is a “natural geographical extension” of Taiwan, an island democracy that China claims as its own, is part of Beijing’s “gray-zone” tactics to intimidate the Philippines, according to a Filipino scholar in Chinese studies. Gray-zone tactics range from coercive military presence and air...
Category: News
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Senator-judges tackle bid to subpoena VP bank, tax records
The Senate impeachment court has deferred action on the request of House prosecutors to subpoena the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial, saying it will rule on the matter on Monday, July 20. Impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero said the senator-judges decided on the postponement in a...
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House prosecutors drop VP chief of staff, another as impeachment trial witnesses
House prosecutors have decided to forego presenting Zuleika Lopez, chief of staff of the Office of the Vice President, and another witness on Wednesday’s impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan told the Senate impeachment court on Tuesday that the prosecution panel deemed “totally unnecessary” the testimonies of Lopez and Capt....
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VP threats ‘serious, true, real,’ says NBI witness
The grave threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez in an online news conference on Nov. 23, 2024, were “serious, true, and real” as well as “alarming,” according to a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) executive. Lawyer Jeremy Lotoc, who...
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P-Noy remembered as chief architect of Philippines’ landmark arbitral victory in West Philippine Sea
Supporters, allies, and representatives of fishing communities gathered Sunday at the grave of former president Benigno Aquino III to mark the 10th anniversary of the Philippines’ landmark arbitral victory in the West Philippine Sea. Aquino, fondly known as P-Noy, was the chief architect of the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China in 2013....
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Peace advocates urge President Marcos to exercise leadership in Bangsamoro peace process
DAVAO CITY — Amid “serious breaches” in the peace agreement, Bangsamoro and national multisectoral peace stakeholders urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to meet with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) leadership ahead of the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) scheduled in September. The peace advocates formulated the call...
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Video clips showing VP making threats presented in impeachment trial
House prosecutors presented on Wednesday preserved and authenticated video clips where Vice President Sara Duterte threatened to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and even hire someone to kill him, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez as an act of revenge should she end up dead. On Day 2 of the impeachment...
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At UP, a reminder that truth is not measured by decibels
Sunflowers lined the University Avenue at the University of the Philippines Diliman again as graduates gathered on a bright Sunday morning for UP’s 115th Commencement Exercises last July 5. Their families cheered from the sidelines of the University Amphitheater as the graduates raised fists—a tradition that punctuates both UP student activism and personal triumphs on...
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Senate impeachment court begins Veep’s trial with Escudero as presiding officer
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on Monday and began the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte with Sen. Francis Escudero elected as presiding officer. Led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, 21 senators dressed in red robes attended Day 1 of the scheduled 92 trial days. Duterte was not present; her lawyers said she was...
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Ombudsman files plunder and bribery charges against Marcoleta and 3 others
Saying it cannot just look away, the Office of the Ombudsman on Friday filed a nonbailable plunder case against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta at the Sandiganbayan over the ₱75 million in undeclared campaign contributions he received for the 2025 senatorial elections. Marcoleta was also charged with three counts of violating Presidential Decree No. 46, which prohibits...