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The PR firm called the accusation malicious and baseless, adding that the "service agreement" presented during the Senate hearing was "unauthenticated" and possibly "a forgery crafted to fit a political narrative." China has also denied the claims, saying it has no interest in meddling in Philippine affairs. Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/2/-we-are-not-trolls-pr-firm-denies-disinformation-deal-with-chinese-embassy-1419

EXCLUSIVE: Owing to security concerns, intelligence operatives in the Philippines begin tracking a Chinese man over 'inconsistencies' in his declared work and actual activities As COVID-19 restrictions were slowly easing around the world, a man identified by Philippine intelligence operatives as an agent of China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) quietly slipped into the country, settling into a comfy, high-end ******inium complex in one of Metro Manila’s posh enclaves. From 2021 until 2024, Zhang “Steve” Song — publicly Manila’s bureau chief for the Shanghai Wen Hui Daily — “established a significant network in various strategic institutions,” according to a May 2024 Philippine intelligence report seen by Rappler. In Manila, how...

Source: Senate bill seeks to penalize foreign interference in the Philippines https://web.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/4576641734!.pdf

“To all my fellow Dabawenyo, you must have recently seen a video. That [incident] happened sometime ago,” he said in the vernacular. “Anyhow, it is still up to you to decide whom to vote for congressman of the first district. I will not interfere,” said the congressman, who is seeking reelection. Duterte said he had yet to receive a copy of the complaint. Source: Pulong Duterte on assault complaint: It’s up to Davao voters

The picture, which was shared by official White House social media accounts, comes as Catholics mourn the death of Pope Francis, who died on 21 April, and prepare to choose the next pontiff. The New York State Catholic Conference accused Trump of mocking the faith. The post comes days after he joked to reporters: "I'd like to be Pope." The New York State Catholic Conference, which represents bishops in New York, took to X to criticise the picture. "There is nothing clever or funny about this image, Mr President," the group wrote. Source: Trump criticised after posting AI image of himself as Pope

The President mentioned Sen. Pia Cayetano even if, like Villar, was also absent from the sortie. Villar's camp has confirmed she would skip the rally, further fueling speculations of a rift between the Villar and Marcos camps. The tension reportedly stems from the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte, a longtime ally of the Villar family, on March 11 by the International Criminal Court. Since March, Villar has been noticeably absent from multiple Alyansa sorties. Her sudden endorsement from Vice President Sara Duterte, once a staunch ally of the administration and now one of its most vocal critics, also raised eyebrows within the coalition. Source: Marcos skips endorsing Camille Villar in Batangas sortie

On Saturday, Vietnam's foreign ministry spokeperson Pham Thu Hang said in a statement posted on the government's official website that Hanoi had "issued protest notes to the countries involved regarding violations of its sovereignty over Sandy Cay". Vietnam considers the resource-rich Spratly Islands -- which lie some 500 kilometers (310 miles) off its east coast -- as part of its territory. Pham Thu Hang said that Vietnam demands "relevant parties" respect its sovereignty over the archipelago, urging them to "refrain from actions that further complicate the situation". Source: Vietnam protests China, Philippines claims on Sandy Cay

Source: Mindsets that keep Filipinos from building wealth

Danao Mayor Mix Durano said in an interview that local officials were neither consulted nor made aware of the program. He noted that even the city agriculturist has no information about it. Durano raised several questions he wants clarified—who will sell the subsidized rice, whether the city must issue receipts to recipients, and other procedural details. Source: Danao City to skip joining the 'P20 per kilo rice' program

MANILA, Philippines — The Palace on Friday told Vice President Sara Duterte to “level up” her arguments against the Marcos administration by using actual reason and data, rather than her usual claim of politicking. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the pronouncement after Duterte recently brushed off the investigation into the Villar-owned PrimeWater as mere politics, following her endorsement of senatorial candidate Camille Villar. Read: Palace tells Sara Duterte to ‘level up’ her arguments

Lawyers of former president Rodrigo Duterte have formally challenged the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC) over alleged crimes against humanity committed in relation to his administration’s bloody campaign against îllégâl drugs. In a 38-page filing dated May 1, defense lawyers Nicholas Kaufman and Dov Jacobs said the “preconditions for the exercise of jurisdiction” were not met at the time when the Pre-Trial Chamber authorized an investigation on Sept. 15, 2021. “The Republic of the Philippines was no longer a State Party to the Rome Statute at that critical point in time,” the defense challenge read.The ICC prosecutor earlier maintained that it was authorized to investigate the alleged crimes committed in the...

Source: NBI summons content creator over fake news

“Initially, the program of the DA was supposed to last until December, and it can be extended until February, but the President has given the directive to the DA to formulate this to be sustainable, and it will continue until 2028,” said DA Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. in a press conference held in Cebu City. Source: DA to roll out ‘P20 rice program’ in Visayas - Philippine Information Agency

Source: ABS-CBN Film Restoration Project ends 14-year run with over 200 remastered films

Source: Bad money habits Filipinos should break

Reelectionist Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is not stepping down despite the six-month preventive suspension order issued against her by the Office of the Ombudsman. Garcia, however, clarified that she was not defying the Ombudsman’s order but was following the advice of her lawyers to remain in office since the order was issued during the election period that banned any suspension of officials without approval from the Commission on Elections (Comelec). Source: Cebu governor won’t step down despite suspension

The submission, dated May 1, 2025, was signed by Duterte's counsel Nicholas Kaufman and associate counsel Prof. Dr. Dov Jacobs. According to Duterte's lawyers, the preconditions for the exercise of jurisdiction in the Situation of the Philippines were not met at the time the Pre-Trial Chamber authorised the opening of an investigation on September 15 2021. This, as his camp maintained that, "The Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute became effective on 17 March 2019. When the former Prosecutor filed her request, and the Pre-trial Chamber issued its decision, more than two years later." "As a consequence, all procedural steps taken in the Situation and, subsequently, in the case against Mr Rodrigo Roa Duterte, lack legal...

“Gov. Garcia has served Cebu with strength and consistency. Until all legal questions surrounding this suspension are resolved, she deserves to be treated fairly and with the respect owed to her office,” he added. The president said that politics should not get in the way of public service. The Cebu governor, who is currently gunning for reelection, said that she will comply with the suspension order but will contest it through the proper channels. Source: Marcos to Ombudsman: Observe due process in Gwen Garcia suspension

The content of the report involves a large number of gold transactions. Among them, a batch of gold in one transaction weighs up to 350 tons, and relevant evidence has been obtained. The letter of authorization in which Imelda authorizes her personal housekeeper to conduct money laundering transactions in Hong Kong Archives of the 350 Tons of Gold Transaction Some of the 18 bank accounts of the family of the former President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., around the world Source: https://www.apacnews.org/en/20255143/

“Today, Labor Day, we fulfill a promise made three years ago by President Bongbong Marcos to the Filipino people: to bring down the price of rice to P20 per kilo. That promise is now a reality—Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. The DA said Cebu provinces’ local government units (LGUs) have started drawing stocks from the National Food Authority warehouse in Cebu City. It said that between April 29 to May 1, the Cebu LGUs have withdrawn around 3,700 50-kilo bags of rice. Source: DA rolls out P20/kg rice pilot test in Cebu

In a message to reporters, Prosecutor General Anthony Fadullon confirmed the summons. He also said the preliminary investigation will be held on May 9 and May 16. During a preliminary investigation, prosecutors will determine if the complaint has “prima facie evidence” with reasonable certainty of conviction before it can be filed before a court. The complaint against Duterte was filed by the National Bureau of Investigation last February, over her threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez in a Zoom press conference. Source: DOJ summons Sara Duterte as probe into Marcos death threat starts

“Huwag naman po nating bigyan ng malisya, hayaan po nating makinabang iyong taumbayan sa mga maaaring itulong ng gobyerno sa kanila,” she said. This was a “small recognition of the sacrifice and the contribution of our workers not only to our economy but also to our society,” he said in a video message. Source: Palace defends timing of free MRT, LRT rides

Source: Leaked paper lays out poll attack plan

Source: House leaders slam ‘weaponization of disinformation’

A UST Graduate School student has exposed a Chinese-linked disinformation network pushing pro-Duterte and anti-Marcos narratives on X (formerly Twitter) in an investigative report presented during a House of Representatives hearing on Tuesday. Niceforo Balbedina III, a UST master’s in journalism student and multimedia editor of PressOne.PH, discovered 107 suspicious accounts systematically publishing content supporting Vice President Sara Duterte while attacking President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. The network is also pushing content against Manila’s claim on the South China Sea. Balbedina and UST Department of Journalism Chair Felipe Salvosa II, founding editor of PressOne.PH, discussed the report and other aspects of foreign...

Source: Sandy Cay 'seizure' a fake, Palace says

The Vatican’s criminal court convicted Becciu in 2023 of embezzlement and other finance-related charges at the end of the so-called “trial of the century.” But in recent days, he insisted he was still entitled to vote in the conclave. He withdrew on Tuesday, apparently after he was presented with two letters, written by Pope Francis before his death, saying he shouldn’t participate. Source: Convicted Cardinal Angelo Becciu withdraws from conclave

The senatorial re-electionist and sister of the president appeared before a crowd of Duterte supporters at the event held in support of Vice President Sara and former President Rodrigo Duterte. However, she was noticeably absent by the end of the rally, having walked offstage before VP Sara’s speech concluded. This happened after VP Sara warned Imee that she would be speaking critically about the senator’s brother. After a brief exchange, Imee stepped down from the stage. “I’m going to rant about your brother. You can go now,” VP Sara jokingly told Imee. Source: Imee Marcos walks offstage before VP Sara’s rant on BBM at Carcar rally

Source: DFA says supporting efforts to counter 'influence operations'

Chinese national na nahuling mayroong IMSI catcher sa Intramuros, apat na beses daw nagpabalik-balik sa tapat ng Comelec head office at pumarada sa gilid nito bago tuluyang na-intercept ng NBI, ayon kay RD Ferdinand Lavin ng NBI NCR. Kabilang si NBI Direktor Jimmy Santiago sa nag-inspeksyon sa nahuling gamit ng Chinese national na kaya raw kumuha ng text messages, tawag at iba’t ibang sensitibong impormasyon sa mga gusali na may distansyang 500 metro hanggang 1 kilometro ang layo. https://x.com/gmanews/status/1917125471441195519

Source: House leader files cyberlibel case over report on alleged Duterte plot

Source: Marcos orders probe into alleged foreign interference in elections