📰 News & Current Affairs

Cassandra Li Ong, the young woman being questioned by lawmakers over her ties to a raided Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) in Pampanga, would rather go to jail than appear in legislative probes as she does not want to “be shamed” in public anymore, her lawyers said on Saturday, September 7. Source: 'Jail is better than Congress,' says Guo business partner

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Thursday that Malaysia will not bow to demands by China to stop its oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea as the activities are within the country’s waters. Source: Malaysia says it won't bow to China's demands to halt oil exploration in the South China Sea

A female monk had offered Guo sanctuary at a house in Tangerang City, said the head of the Interpol in Indonesia, Inspector General Krisha Murti. He said Guo’s foreign "supporters" included 5 Chinese and an Indonesian. They handled all her needs, including her online transactions, he said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/6/guo-had-up-to-6-foreign-protectors-hid-at-monk-s-house-indonesian-official-1536

A Tarlac court has allowed dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo to attend Monday’s Senate hearing on îllégâl activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos), paving the way for her return to face the senators two months after she skipped their ongoing inquiry and fled the country. Source: Tarlac court lets Senate continue grilling Alice Guo

Judge Juan Merchan on Friday delayed the sentencing to 26 November, citing "the unique time frame this matter currently finds itself in" among his reasons. Lawyers for Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, have used several legal manoeuvres to delay the sentencing, which had been scheduled for 18 September. Source: Donald Trump criminal sentencing delayed until after election

Contrary to what was presumed, Guo was taken into custody by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and not the Senate. This, after Guo’s camp opted not to post bail in relation to the arrest order issued against her by Tarlac Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 109 for her alleged violation of Section 3 (e) and (h) of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Source: Hontiveros: Did DILG file ‘watered down’ case to gain Alice Guo custody?

Guo’s lawyer, Atty. Stephen David, said they are not inclined to pay the bail since Guo would not be freed anyway because of the pending arrest warrant issued by the Senate after it cited her for contempt for repeatedly skipping hearings. Source: Alice Guo camp won't pay bail -- lawyer

No cellphone, no AirPods, no special treatment. This is how the Philippine National Police is treating dismissed Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo following her arrest in Indonesia and return to the Philippines early Friday. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/5/no-cellphone-no-aircon-no-special-treatment-for-alice-guo-inside-crame-pnp-517

“May relasyon ba si Mayor Calugay at Alice? Magkasosyo ba sila sa business?” asked Hontiveros. “Ang alam ko po, magkaibigan sila,” said Shiela. Source: Who was Alice Guo's partner? Was it a Pangasinan mayor who helped her flee?

“He also wants to surrender,” David said in Filipino, in an interview with the media, when asked about his discussion with Wesley. The lawyer explained that Wesley could have been “discouraged” after his purported sisters were arrested by Indonesian authorities. Source: Alice Guo's brother wants to surrender — lawyer

Yet, while much of Southeast Asia gets lost in Washington’s focus on competition with China, some of the countries that were part of Harris’s portfolio, namely the Philippines, have assumed roles as some of the most critical foreign policy issues for the United States. The Philippines has become a poster child for pushing back against Beijing’s aggression, and Washington has supported its treaty ally to improve its defense capabilities. Source: What Would a Harris Presidency Mean for the Philippines?

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities from the island of Taiwan again intends to misinterpret the UN Resolution 2758 and challenge the one-China principle in an attempt to push for the island's îllégâl inclusion at the UN. Source: DPP's attempt to misinterpret UN Resolution 2758 'is playing with fire' - Global Times

“Mongolia would be defying its international obligations as an ICC member if it allows Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit without arresting him,” said Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch. Source: Mongolia: Arrest Putin

Jonathan Meijer, 43, announced on a late-night chat show Tuesday that he was taking legal action against the documentary that he said slandered him and the families he helped to create. He said the number of children the documentary said he could have fathered -- up to 3,000 -- was incorrect. "Five hundred and fifty, that's the number I know for sure. Anything above that is just speculation," he said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/9/5/beauty-gonzalez-marks-10th-year-since-meeting-husband-norman-crisologo-919

China's state security agency on Wednesday warned students with access to sensitive information against falling for "handsome men" or "beautiful women" that might entice them to spy for foreign powers. Source: China to students: Beware of 'beautiful' foreign spies

The Indonesian government is requesting an exchange of prisoners in the case of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday. Source: DOJ: Indonesia asking for prisoner-swap with Alice Guo, drug suspect

The document accused Malaysia of encroaching on areas covered by the 10-dash line, Beijing's controversial map showing its claims to sovereignty in the South China Sea. It also E×ρréššed Beijing's displeasure over Malaysia's oil and gas exploration activities near the Luconia Shoals, also known as Luconia Reefs. Source: China warns Malaysia to immediately cease activities in oil-rich waters off Sarawak, says report | MalaysiaNow

A pizza chain in Dubai asked ᑕᕼᗩTGᑭT to create a topping combination based on the city’s tastebuds and it has turned out to be a huge success. Source: Would you eat a pizza designed by ᑕᕼᗩTGᑭT? Pizza chain’s AI recipe proves to be a huge hit

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday dismissed as "fake news" reports that he had a medical emergency. Source: Marcos: Do I look sick?

To recall, the victims alleged that their teacher wanted to see their abs; however, they refused the teacher’s request. Due to this, the teacher allegedly got angry and bit the 17-year-old victim’s back, while the 14-year-old victim was bitten on his right arm. Source: Teacher to face child abuse charges for allegedly biting students in Cebu City

"Such is an exercise in futility," Marcos said in a video message posted after authorities announced Guo's arrest in Indonesia. "The arm of the law is long and it will reach you." Marcos guaranteed that Guo would be entitled to all legal protections due her under Philippine laws of the country and pursuant to the government's commitment to the rule of law. Source: Marcos says Alice Guo's arrest a warning to those attempting to evade justice

“It is ludicrous and incredible knowing that the PNP has poured all its resources and high-tech equipment here just to look for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy… As a matter of fact, his declaration that Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy is “just walking around here” completely destroys any AND all legal cover for the continuous drilling and tunneling of the JMC Compound and the sequestration of the KOJC Cathedral as well as some rooms of JMC and other structures,” legal counsel Israelito Torreon said. Source: PNP operation at KOJC compound a 'mission failure,' says lawyer

“Ako, one guess kung nasaan si Pastor Quiboloy? Nasa ‘langit’,” nakangiti pang sagot ng bise presidente. Iminuwestra pa nito ang kanyang kamay at saka tumingin sa langit nang sumagot sa katanungan. Source: VP Sara: Quiboloy, nasa ‘langit’ na

“I would surmise that worship services were interrupted; some activities connected with religious belief might have been interrupted. These are serious violations of their political and civil rights. Maybe like marriages are being celebrated in that compound, baptism, probably, anything you might think, activities that are related to their faith. And today, that is still existing, I think they are still prevented from doing that,” Marcoleta said. Source: CHR urged: Promptly check possible rights violations in KJC raid

The police general leading operations to capture the elusive fugitive preacher Apollo Quiboloy at his sprawling Davao property said the manhunt would continue, even if it takes a year, to bring the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) leader to justice. Source: Davao Region police chief sets no deadline for Quiboloy manhunt at KOJC

The regulation of social media or online-generated content from streaming platforms such as Netflix and Vivamax is “humanly impossible” and not part of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board’s (MTRCB) mandate, according to its chairman, Lala Sotto-Antonio. Source: MTRCB says hands tied on Vivamax, other online-generated content

China justified the entry of its navy survey ship into Japan's territorial waters off its southwestern islands over the weekend, saying Monday that the passage was "completely legitimate" and that the vessel was simply exercising its right of transit. Source: China says ship passage through Japan territorial waters "legitimate"

The P5.69 billion School Based Feeding Program (SBFP) of the Department of Education (DepEd) was spoiled by the non-delivery of milk and the serving of stale, even pest-infested, bread in 2023. Source: DepEd’s P5.69-B feeding program: Undelivered milk, expired nutribuns in 2023

MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives lawmakers have called out the past Department of Education (DepEd) administration for its inability to deliver laptops in 2023 — resulting in a low utilization of its budget. Source: Solons blast low budget use, non-delivery of laptops of DepEd under Sara

The quad committee is looking into reports that 29 other Chinese drug convicts were also executed as part of the war on drugs waged during the Duterte administration. Source: EDITORIAL — Systematic killings?

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday joined members of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) as they celebrated the sect’s 39th anniversary while surrounded for a week now by police looking out for their fugitive leader Apollo Quiboloy. Source: Sara joins KJC anniversary rally amid police watch

Former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo wants to surrender but fears for her safety, according to her legal counsel, Atty. Stephen David. “Marami kasing threat, internal at saka external, we don't have to elaborate on that, 'yung mga talagang detailed na usapan bound kami ng lawyer-client privilege, pero basically gusto niyang sumuko,” David said. Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/1/alice-guo-ready-to-surrender-but-fears-for-her-safety-lawyer-2159