Politics
Raphael "Popo" Lotilla is out of the Marcos Cabinet. The veteran bureaucrat who served as both Energy secretary and DENR chief is being shipped off to Rome as the Philippines' next ambassador to the Holy See. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced the move on Friday, insisting
Politics
On the final day of the ICC confirmation of charges hearing, defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman dropped a bombshell: former President Rodrigo Duterte has told him he's "accepted his fate" and realizes he could die in prison. "I was a faithful servant of the people, and
Politics
In a pointed closing statement at The Hague, ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Julian Nicholls thanked Duterte's defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman for his arguments — then said every single one of them proved exactly why the case should proceed to full trial. "Everything he said, literally this morning, showed
Politics
Malacañang wants everyone to know that Senator Imee Marcos having zero presidential security detail has absolutely nothing to do with her public rift with President Bongbong Marcos. "Wala pong kinalaman iyon," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said during Friday's press briefing, insisting that the President doesn&
Politics
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte — the man who once dared the International Criminal Court to "come get him" — sat in pre-trial proceedings at The Hague on Thursday afternoon. The irony was thick enough to cut with a knife. The same leader who taunted, mocked, and threatened the ICC
Politics
Former Anakalusugan party-list representative Mike Defensor admitted Friday that he has been helping the 18 individuals presented as former Marines who claimed they delivered suitcases full of cash to politicians — pero he insists he had nothing to do with their affidavit or testimony. In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB,
Politics
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to make his first-ever state visit to the Philippines on March 3-4, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced Friday. The visit comes upon the personal invitation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. — and it couldn't be more strategically timed. This will
Politics
The Senate Ethics Committee, led by Senator JV Ejercito, is finally getting to work — he announced that an executive session will be held next week to begin vetting the growing pile of complaints filed against six of their colleagues. Senate President Sotto has lent his conference room for the March
Politics
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has given his blessing to a Department of Budget and Management proposal that could fundamentally change how the national budget works: capping unprogrammed appropriations at just 3% of the total budget. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed the President's support on Thursday. Unprogrammed appropriations
Politics
The live broadcast of Duterte's ICC hearing was partially redacted on Day 3 after the defense team repeatedly disclosed information that could identify victims and witnesses — prompting the prosecution to request immediate protective measures. ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I Presiding Judge Iulia Antoanella Motoc confirmed that redactions were applied
Politics
Hours after Salvador Panelo declared the prosecution's case 'shattered to pieces,' the victims' camp fired back with a blunt rebuttal: hindi totoo. Human rights lawyer Neri Colmenares said he saw no indication that the defense weakened the prosecution's evidence during Day 3 of
Politics
Defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman revealed that he visited former President Rodrigo Duterte at the ICC detention facility the night before Day 3 of the confirmation of charges hearing — and found his client 'in good spirits' despite the enormity of the charges against him. 'I went up to