📰 News & Current Affairs

In a statement, Bayan secretary general Mong Palatino said Duterte’s refusal to answer questions on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) confidential fund (CF) usage during budget deliberations might be enough basis for an impeachment complaint to be filed against her. Source: Impeaching VP Sara Duterte ‘necessary’ – Bayan

“The actions of the respondents (referring to the House of Representatives Quad Com) were committed with grave abuse of discretion in exercising their legislative powers in an abusive manner, and in usurping the investigative powers reserved for the Executive Branch and the adjudicative powers reserved for the Judicial Branch of government,” read the petition. Source: Harry Roque’s daughter seeks SC protection writ vs House arrest order

Antipolo City 2nd District Rep. Romeo Acop made the statement after dela Rosa claimed that former Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog’s testimony during the quad committee was part of a “demolition job targeting the vice president and her allies ahead of the 2028 elections.” Source: Acop tells dela Rosa to stop ‘hiding behind Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s skirt’

The police in Davao are preparing at least 200 cases of obstruction of justice, disobedience and other violations committed by various personalities here who tried to delay or hamper the arrest of pastor Apollo Quiboloy, including those who knew his whereabouts but concealed him from the police before and during the 16-day police operations. Source: Police ready 200 cases vs Quiboloy protectors

“As a matter of procedure before turning over to BJMP (Bureau of Jail Management and Penology), she underwent required medical and physical examination conducted by the PNP General Hospital and the forensic group during the medical examination the doctor found a probable infection in her left lung,” Fajardo told reporters. Source: Alice Guo diagnosed with suspected lung infection, says PNP

Days after withdrawing its lone patrol from Escoda Shoal, the Philippines will reassert its claim over the area by deploying both coast guard and naval vessels to the shoal. The NMC also did not say if the vessels are already in Escoda. Source: Philippines sends AFP, PCG vessels to Escoda Shoal

Saying that the fight for reform is “here in the now,” former senator Leila de Lima announced Friday, September 20, a comeback in politics as the lead nominee of Mamamayang Liberal, the sectoral wing of the once-ruling Liberal Party (LP), in the May 2025 elections. Source: Leila de Lima guns for House seat as Mamamayang Liberal nominee

Liberal Party (LP) president and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman previously said that Robredo had told him she would run for the local post to continue the programs of her late husband, former Naga City mayor and Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash in 2012. Source: Former VP Leni Robredo to run for Naga City mayor

In an interview with dzRH, Arlene Stone – a former worker of KOJC and spokesperson for former KOJC members now residing in the United States – said the victim allegedly offered by Quiboloy to Duterte is still at the church compound in Davao City. Source: Quiboloy gifted Rodrigo, others with KOJC women – witness

The New NAIA Infra Corp (NNIC) said the new website focuses on providing comprehensive information about NAIA — including details on the ongoing transformation project, its progress, and the future vision for the airport. NNIC also launched its social media pages on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) under the name newnaiaph. "These will serve as additional channels for sharing updates, engaging the public, and building a community around the NAIA transformation," the company said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/2024/9/14/san-miguel-led-naia-privatization-takes-flight-945

Longer and more frequent heatwaves, soaring demand for air conditioning, and widespread disease: life in cities would become unbearable should the planet keep warming at current rates, researchers warned Thursday."At 3 degrees C of warming, many cities could face month-long heatwaves, skyrocketing energy demand for air conditioning, as well as a shifting risk for insect-borne diseases -- sometimes simultaneously," the authors wrote. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/19/-life-or-death-for-big-cities-should-planet-warm-3c-study-1706

Gayunman, tumanggi na manumpa si VP Sara at iginiit na batay sa imbitasyon na ipinadala sa kanya ng komite siya ay resource person at hindi isang witness. Ayon umano sa rules ng Kamara ang mga witness lamang ang kailangang mag-oath. Source: VP Sara tumangging manumpa na magsasabi ng totoo sa Kamara

The doctrine of operative fact “recognizes the existence and validity of a legal provision prior to its being declared as unconstitutional and hence legitimizes otherwise invalid acts done pursuant thereto because of considerations of practicality and fairness,” according to the Supreme Court. Questions on the validity of marriages officiated by Guo arise during the House of Representatives plenary debate on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s proposed 2025 budget on Monday night. Source: DOJ: Marriages officiated by dismissed mayor Alice Guo remain valid

“We have received a copy of letter coming from Hon. Paolo Duterte with regard to some queries, addressed to quad committee chairmen,” House Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano said on Thursday. “The letter states that there are questions that the Hon. Paolo Duterte wishes to ask the resource persons. May we just ask the committee secretary to please make sure that the invitation will be extended to Paolo Duterte in the next Quad Comm hearing with the topic on drugs and extrajudicial killings,” House Quad Comm Lead Co-Chair Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/19/house-quad-comm-to-invite-rep-duterte-to-hearing-1257

“Tinatanong nga siya (Guo), saan galing ito? Sino ito? Saan ginamit ito? Hindi nga nila alam eh,” David said. “Puro generalization yun eh. Tapos kukuhanin mo yung details sa tao, kukuhanin mo yung detalye kay Alice… Kung talagang solid yung evidence niya, ilabas mo na lang.” “Hindi mo pwedeng ipilitin ang isang tao na idiin ang sarili niya,” David said. “Kasi lahat ng sasabihin niya pwedeng magamit para sa kanya o laban sa kanya sa mga kasong kinahaharap niya.” “Sabi nila nagsisinungaling ka, hindi kami naniniwala sa iyo. Ang tanong, bakit pa siya tinatanong at bakit pa siya tinatawag kung hindi mo rin lang naman paniniwalaan, di ba?” “Kasi ito in aid of prosecution eh. Parang gusto mo lang talaga ma-establish yung guilt nung tao,” he...

Among them is Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who said Marbil should file a case against Villanueva for putting the PNP in a bad light if the latter fails to substantiate his innuendos. Azurin also chided Villanueva for insinuating a former PNP chief is colluding with Guo while admitting they are still verifying the information. Source: Marbil: 24 ex-PNP chiefs probed over Guo ties

The two are facing charges of kidnapping and serious îllégâl detention before the Batangas City Regional Trial Court Branch 3. They were arrested by operative of the Batangas PNP Special Intelligence and Tracker Team on September 14. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/regions/2024/9/18/ilang-napinsala-ng-bagyo-habagat-sa-occ-mindoro-nagpupumilit-bumangon-058

The PNP arrested Lao through the warrant of arrest issued by Sandiganbayan First Division Chairperson Associate Justice Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega dated September 12. According to the Ombudsman, Duque and Lao allegedly caused injury to the government since the transaction charged a 4% service fee, which totaled P1.659 billion. Source: PNP arrests ex-DBM official tagged in multibillion-peso COVID-19 supplies mess

“This is actually a battle of who can get the natural resources because the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) is about exploitation of natural resources, and we are running out of gas in Malampaya,” retired Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio told ABS-CBN News on Wednesday. Source: Will Manila’s gas exploration in South China Sea spark conflict with Beijing?

More than 60 Chinese vessels were observed loitering at Escoda Shoal on Tuesday, following the Philippines' pullout of its coast guard ship, BRP Teresa Magbanua, over the weekend. The Chinese ships spotted at Escoda Shoal include 52 maritime militia vessels, 5 coast guard ships, and 4 People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a media briefing at Camp Aguinaldo. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/17/over-60-chinese-ships-spotted-at-escoda-after-pcg-s-pullout-1334

A Babbler revealed that Imee is the prime suspect behind the leak of Duran Duran’s private concert at Bongbong’s 67th birthday bash at the Manila Marriott. She’s believed to have immediately sent the leaked pic to a vlogger linked to Duterte Die-hard Supporters (DDS). Source: Hungry like the wolf! Imee sabotages Bongbong party as Marcos sibling war intensifies

It would be an “act of war” if China were to remove the BRP Sierra Madre at the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in an interview with a US news show. Source: Teodoro: Act of war if China takes BRP Sierra Madre

Former President Donald Trump called his vice-presidential running mate, JD Vance, just 10 minutes after an assassination attempt during a round of golf, and according to Vance Trump said he was "a little mad" because the Secret Service had stopped him from finishing the game when he was lining up a birdie putt on the sixth hole. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/9/17/trump-a-little-mad-over-unfinished-golf-game-during-assassination-attempt-1006

Villanueva said the “rumors within the intelligence community” were not only about the alleged involvement of people in the Bureau of Immigration (BI) but also of “PNP officials.” When asked what PNP units were supposedly involved, Villanueva said in a mix of Filipino and English: “Not a PNP unit, Ma’am, but personalities…. I think it was mentioned, the former chief PNP.” Source: Is a former PNP chief on Alice Guo’s payroll?

AKAP, which has a budget of P26.7 billion in 2024, is for those earning minimum wage but are negatively impacted by high inflation. However, the DSWD did not request this project in the 2024 National Expenditure Program (NEP), which serves as the executive branch’s budget proposal to Congress. “Paano naging national program, by law, ang isang programang hindi dumaan sa other House ng Congress?” Pimentel asked. Source: DSWD grilled over 'secret' program anew

Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Jil Bongalon, the designated budget sponsor of the DOJ’s proposed P37.7-billion budget for 2025 during the House plenary deliberations, provided the information in response to a query from House Assistant Minority Leader and Gabriela party-list Representative Arlene Brosas. Source: Over half of witnesses vs. Quiboloy now in witness protection program

Acknowledging the national government’s lack of anticipation of the high court’s ruling that the province of Sulu is not part of the BARMM, Tolentino said the consequence is the difficulty of funding BARMM offices in the detached province. The lawmaker was reacting to Sulu Gov. Abdusakur Tan’s report that employees of the BARMM offices in his province were already informed of the last salary until Sept. 10. Source: Tolentino brings up fiscal problem for Sulu province following SC ruling

Can a hair follicle test be done on a bald person to determine potential drug use? This was the question of Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) during the hearing on the agency’s proposed 2025 budget of P3.8 billion. "Puwede yung hair sa ilong, hair sa ge̾nitals?" Dela Rosa asked. “Puwede lahat,” Lazo said. PDEA said, however, that they are not yet capable of doing a hair follicle drug test and is still developing the process for it. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/16/dela-rosa-asks-pdea-can-a-bald-person-take-a-hair-drug-test-1452

“My freedom is important to me. I will not surrender my freedom again as I did before, when I surrendered it for one day (contempt) while I was imprisoned,” he said in Filipino. Roque further noted that no case has been filed against him in the Supreme Court, unlike Cassandra Li Ong, the authorized representative of Lucky South 99, a POGO operator. Source: Harry Roque says he'll yield only to court as police fails to locate him

In an order sent to the media on Monday afternoon, the Valenzuela Regional Trial Court Branch 282 said Guo, otherwise known as Chinese national Guo Hua Ping, is allowed to appear for the hearing before the Senate committee on “September 17, 2024, at 9:00 o’clock in the morning upon the request of panel head Sen. Risa Hontiveros.” Source: Valenzuela court OKs Alice Guo’s Senate appearance on September 17

"We've already sent an invitation to the former president. Karapatan niyang tumanggi sa aming invitation. We will accord him the courtesy and respect," said Surigao Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, lead chairperson of the House Quad Committee. "Wala pong special treatment. Ito ay in deference to him being the former president. Sa aming palagay, karapatan niya yan at yan ay nirerespeto namin," he said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/14/house-will-not-cite-duterte-in-contempt-for-snubbing-quadcomm-probe-solon-1531

The Trump campaign posted about the new merch Thursday morning, calling on "Swifties for Trump" to buy the "Trump Era shirt." The shirt is printed with a black-and-white silhouetted photo of Trump in front of colored tiles containing other photos of him, including his mugshot taken while he was booked in Atlanta on charges that he tried to s†éál the election. Source: Trump campaign is selling Eras Tour-inspired shirts. Swifties call it his 'cease & desist era'.