Rep. Paolo Duterte (Davao City) has denied having transacted with former Customs intelligence officer Jimmy Guban, who recently namedropped him and two others as being the true owners of the multi-billion peso shabu smuggled into the country through magnetic lifters in 2018.
Source: 'All falsehoods': Paolo Duterte, Paul Gutierrez respond to ex-Customs exec’s drug smuggling claim
According to Guo, a mere electric bill cannot be enough to tag her in charge, as it was only a document for energy charges. “It does not state with certainty who is actually present at the property or if there are îllégâl activities taking place,” Guo said.
Source: Alice Guo to DOJ: Dismiss ‘baseless’ human trafficking complaints
“The provision requiring the mandatory drug testing of candidates is unconstitutional because it expanded the requirements of candidates under the Constitution, but it upheld the random drug testing of private and public officials,” said lawyer Sue Mae Ting, the SC spokesperson.
Source: Supreme Court says mandatory drug testing for bets ‘unconstitutional’ - Manila Standard
The Philippine Embassy in Lebanon on Friday night (PH time) issued an advisory to Filipino citizens for them to leave Lebanon immediately while the airport is still open amid tensions.
Source: Filipinos in Lebanon strongly urged to evacuate while airport is still open
The Ke Xue San Hao was sighted surveying the areas south and east of Escoda (Sabina) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea beginning July 25.
Sources: Another Chinese research ship monitored in Philippine EEZ
After Vice President Sara Duterte resigned as education secretary, more Filipinos than ever during her term were unsatisfied with her performance, a new Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey found.
Source: After quitting DepEd, Sara Duterte's satisfaction rating plunges to lowest – SWS
Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged Metro Manila local governments to help address leptospirosis cases by attending to poor waste management, which increases the population of rats—the vector of the disease.
Source: DOH: Garbage issues worsen leptospirosis
Paetongtarn Shinawatra has become Thailand’s youngest-ever prime minister after parliament confirmed her nomination by the ruling coalition of her Pheu Thai party.
Source: Paetongtarn Shinawatra becomes Thailand’s next PM, youngest ever
There are no new cases of mpox in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency for the second time in two years due to the infectious disease.
Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/8/15/no-new-case-of-mpox-in-ph-says-doh-1613
Scientists in Germany have found fungi that can eat plastic, which could help tackle the global problem of plastic pollution.
Source: German Scientists Discover Plastic-Eating Fungi for Waste Reduction - GKToday
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to acquire multi-role fighter jets following China’s recent air harassment in the West Philippine Sea.
Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/14/teodoro-reaffirms-commitment-to-acquire-fighter-jets-after-china-s-flare-use-1320
US lawmakers are calling for an investigation into routers manufactured by Chinese-owned TP-Link Technologies and sold in the US – over concerns the company’s WiFi devices can be used by China to launch state-sponsored häçking campaigns.
Source: https://cybernews.com/security/tp-link-chinese-routers-national-security-risk-us-lawmakers/
A Russian parliamentary deputy said on Friday that the Western-backed Ukrainian incursion has brought the world close to an all-out global war, Russia's RIA news agency reported.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-mp-says-ukrainian-incursion-could-lead-global-war-ria-reports-2024-08-16/
Former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo cannot seek reelection in the 2025 midterm elections if she fails to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals (CA), stopping the implementation of the dismissal order against her by the Office of the Ombudsman.
Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231170
US officials are assessing how the incursion might reshape the political and military dynamics of the war, as well as the implications for Washington’s long-shifting stance on how Ukraine can use American-supplied arms.
Source: Ukraine's surprise advance into Russia a dilemma for Biden
Duterte, who was appointed as KOJC administrator of properties, believes the CA order is wrong since the money comes from a church organization and no public funds are involved. He also believes the case will reach the Supreme Court. In a podcast episode yesterday, the former chief executive pointed out that there is neither an allegation of misuse nor a KOJC member saying he was defrauded of his contribution.
Source: CA erred on freeze order on KOJC assets – Duterte
The Supreme Court has ordered the government to comment on a petition questioning the constitutionality of a provision on unprogrammed appropriations (UA) in the 2024 national budget, tapping PHP89.9 billion in unutilized funds of the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231275
National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año said Wednesday the New People’s Army’s (NPA) force continues to dwindle, with its weakened guerrilla fronts now down to five.
Source: Security exec: NPA force down to 5 weakened guerrilla fronts
The Commission on Audit (COA) should not be satisfied with just auditing the confidential funds (CF) under the previous Office of the Vice President (OVP) budgets, as it should check all secret allocations, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas said.
Source: Brosas urges COA: Don’t stop at OVP, audit all secret funds
Authorities in Russia’s Kursk region have decided to evacuate the population of its Glushkov district, acting governor Alexei Smirnov said late on Wednesday, August 14, amid the continued advance of Ukrainian forces into the border region.
Source: Russia to evacuate thousands more from Kursk region attacked by Ukraine
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has ordered the non-working holiday in observance of Ninoy Aquino Day from Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, to Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
Source: Marcos moves Ninoy Aquino holiday to Aug. 23, 2024
Thailand’s parliament said it will meet Friday to choose a new prime minister after the Constitutional Court removed Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday over an ethics violation.
Source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1231250
The world population is expected to start shrinking within this century after hitting a peak in the mid-2080s due to lower fertility levels, particularly in China, according to the latest projection by the United Nations.
Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/8/13/world-population-to-shrink-in-21st-century-amid-birthrate-fall-u-n-1420
Senator Imee Marcos has opposed the proposed revival of e-sa̾bong, or online cockfighting, in the country and the plan to spare 12 Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogo) from the ban.
Source: Marcos opposes revival of e-******, plan to spare 12 Pogos from ban
Schultz admits being guilty to charges of conspiring to obtain and disclose national defense information, exporting technical data related to defense articles without a license, conspiracy to export defense articles without a license, and bribery of a public official, the Department of Justice said in a statement.
Source: US soldier sold defense info to China, including on PH drills
Ukraine is pushing farther into Russia’s Kursk region after claiming hundreds of square miles of territory. CNN has uncovered online job vacancies for trench diggers in Russia’s Kursk region, as satellite imagery shows a new trench system has been dug in the region. CNN’s Erin Burnett reports.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/14/world/video/russia-ukraine-advances-war-ebof-digvid
David said that as he observed during their video call, Guo lost weight, looked stressed and was in a somber mood. The lawyer said he is now preparing Guo’s motion for reconsideration on her dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman. “The MR is a prerequisite so that we can elevate the case before the Court of Appeals through a petition for review,” David said.
Source: Alice Guo still in the Philippines, preparing motion — lawyer
The World Health Organization said mpox is spreading so rapidly in parts of Africa that it constitutes a global health emergency. There are several important differences between the type of mpox that was spreading globally (including around the U.S.) in 2022 and the type of mpox that prompted the WHO’s new declaration.
Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4828204-mpox-is-a-global-emergency-who-says-is-it-spreading-the-us/
An official of the National Nutrition Council (NNC) on Wednesday said P20 per meal per person was insufficient for maintaining a healthy diet.
Source: NNC: P20 per meal not enough
“I think the day of reckoning is coming closer, because what I’m hearing is that a warrant of arrest will be issued by the ICC sometime in September,” Carpio said in an interview on the vlog of political analyst and Inquirer columnist Richard Heydarian.
Source: Carpio: ICC warrant may be out by September
In a privilege speech, Dela Rosa urged his colleagues in the Senate to consider approving a measure similar to the US Service-Members Protection Act, which E×ρréššly prohibits US courts, agencies or entities of any state or local government, including any court, from cooperating with the ICC.
Source: https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/12/bato-suggests-law-banning-cooperation-with-icc-1825
Timbang, the only councilor left in the municipal council, is also the sole councilor who had a “difference of opinion” about the granting of permit to the Pogo in the town, according to Abalos.
Source: Alice Guo replaced by councilor as Tarlac town mayor