📰 News & Current Affairs

The US will not get Greenland, its new prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, has said in response to Donald Trump’s latest statements that he wants to take control of the vast Arctic country. “President Trump says that the United States is getting Greenland. Let me be clear: the United States won’t get that. We do not belong to anyone else. We determine our own future,” Nielsen said. Source: Greenland’s new PM rejects Trump’s latest threat: ‘We do not belong to anyone else’

FBI agents assigned in Southeast Asian countries, including in the Philippines, engaged in sexual encounters with prostitutes ρáíd for by local law enforcers, a U.S. Department of Justice watchdog revealed. The report, released on March 27 and cited by the New York Times, details incidents of FBI employees paying for or accepting sexual services during social events with local police in several Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. These activities reportedly occurred between 2009 and 2018. Source: FBI agents in Manila accepted prostitutes ρáíd for by local police – report

British-Israeli lawyer Kaufman, 56, said the Philippines' withdrawal from the court had become effective well before an investigation was authorized. "Coming back to the jurisdictional point, obviously you don't need to be the dean of a law faculty to realize that that's going to be a huge issue at pre-trial," he said. Source: Duterte lawyer: 'Compelling' grounds to throw case out

BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) has declared the day a regular non-working holiday. Sultan Kudarat has declared March 31 a special non-working holiday, with classes at all levels in public and private schools also suspended for the day. The University of Santo Tomas' General Santos City campus has suspended work and classes for the day. Source: March 31, 2025 a non-working holiday in some areas for Eid’l Fitr

“I cried. I was sobbing,” Roque said in Filipino, recalling the moment his application was formally received at Ter Apel, the IND center where all asylum seekers begin their process. Roque emphasized that the formal acknowledgment of his application would ensure his protection under the principle of non-refoulement, which stipulates that no individual should be returned to a country where they face threats of persecution. Source: Harry Roque gets first asylum interview as opposition mounts

Findings: 1. No warrant was issued by a Philippine court. 2. No court order was issued mandating that the former president be taken out of the Philippines against his will. 3. The Philippines had no legal obligation to arrest Duterte and turn him over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) given the admission that the Philippine government only received a diffusion notice and not a red notice from the International Criminal Police Organization or the Interpol. 4. Duterte was deprived of the right to be visited or have conferences with immediate members when CIDG Chief Nicolas Torre III did not allow Vice President Sara Duterte to visit her father while in Villarmor Airbase. 5. Duterte was denied the right to be brought to judicial...

“Clearly there were actions taken by the administration which run counter to my ideals and principles," Imee said. "Thus, I cannot stand on the same campaign platform as the rest of the Alyansa. As I have stated from the outset of the election period, I will continue to maintain my independence,” she said. “Over and above political advantage, the sovereignty of the country and the interest of true justice for every Filipino must remain paramount,” Imee said. Source: Imee ditches brother Bongbong’s admin slate, cites Duterte’s ICC arrest

China has issued a warning to the Philippines ahead of United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's scheduled visit to Manila this week, urging the Philippine government to "stop serving as other countries' mouthpiece" and to avoid being used as "chess pieces" in regional power plays. Source: China tells Philippines: Stop serving as other countries’ mouthpiece

Former president Rodrigo Duterte's partner, Honeylet Avanceña, and their daughter Kitty arrived in The Netherlands on Wednesday, where they went straight to the detention center of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Avanceña and Kitty arrived in the Netherlands in time for the elder Duterte's birthday on March 28. Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/25/duterte-camp-insists-to-sc-former-president-abducted-1247

Han Duck-soo took over as acting leader from President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was himself impeached over his short-lived declaration of martial law in December. Han was impeached on Dec. 27 after clashing with the opposition-led parliament by refusing to appoint three more justices to the Constitutional Court. The justices on the court ruled seven to one to strike down the impeachment on Monday. Five of the eight justices said the impeachment motion was valid, but there were not enough grounds to impeach Han as he did not violate the constitution or the law, according to a court statement. Source: South Korea's constitutional court reinstates impeached prime minister as acting president

"Sana po ay malaman po nila na ang gobyerno ay tumutupad lamang sa ating batas,” Castro said. "Kung hindi po sila magkakaroon at hindi sila magri-remit ng kanilang mga maaaring ipadala sa mga pamilya nila, hindi lamang po gobyerno ang maaapektuhan, pati ang kanilang mga pamilya" she said. Source: 'Remittance stoppage' won‘t just affect gov’t, Palace warns | Philippine News Agency

ICC spokesperson Dr. Fadi El Abdallah told GMA Integrated News in an exclusive interview that Duterte’s bid for interim release needs to be discussed before the judges. “As a matter of general principle, all these conditions and questions need to be discussed before the judges,” Abdallah said in a report of Mariz Umali on Unang Balita Wednesday. “The technical measures and conditions have to be decided on a case-by-case basis by the judges and have to be accepted by a certain state for it to be ordered by the judges,” he added. Source: ICC on Duterte's bid for interim release: PH should accept conditions

“Sa totoo lang wala talaga akong nararamdaman. Hindi ako galit, hindi ako disappointed. Nothing at all. Kasi pointless naman na… magharbor ako ng feelings about what happened. Hindi na siya maibabalik. Hindi na mababalik si Pangulong Duterte sa Pilipinas. So what we should do as a country is move on from what happened. What will we do as our ways forward as a country and as a people from what happened?” Duterte said in Filipino during a press conference yesterday streamed on the OVP’s Facebook account. Source: Sara: Duterte can no longer return to Philippines

Ayon kay Escudero sumulat sa kanya at kay Sen. Imee Marcos si Executive Sec. Lucas Bersamin at ipinaalam na maaring igiit ng mga miyembro ng gabinete na haharap sa pagdinig ang kanilang “executive privilege.” Sa “executive privilege” mananatiling confidential ang mga pakikipag-usap ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., sa mga miyembro ng kanyang gabinete ukol sa pagsisilbi ng arrest warrant ng International Criminal Court kay Duterte. Source: https://bandera.inquirer.net/410785/executive-privilege-sa-senate-hearing-ipinaalam-kina-escudero-at-imee

A report by US-based Defense News said the US Army's 3rd Multidomain Task Force unit is "standing up its long-range fires battalion over the next year, including readying its Typhon battery for deployment in the Pacific theater." This marks the Army's second such missile system to enter the region. Source: https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/25/afp-welcomes-possible-deployment-of-second-typhon-missile-to-ph-1301

Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa confirmed on Tuesday that his security detail was withdrawn by the Philippine National Police (PNP), days after the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte by the International Criminal Court (ICC). He revealed that he was informed about the recall only upon his arrival in Davao on March 24. Source: Dela Rosa says security detail withdrawn

Mohagher Iqbal, chief of the MILF peace implementing panel, said the government’s appointment of the new chief minister and other personalities not endorsed by the MILF violated the spirit of the peace deal and put in question the sincerity of the government, even if newly appointed Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua came from the MILF. “What we are invoking is the agreement and what was provided in the law passed by Congress,” Iqbal said. “We do not question the authority of the President to appoint anyone, but on the basis of the CAB and the BOL, there are provisions that [were] violated.” Source: MILF to question BARMM chief’s appointment

It is produced by TheNerve, a data forensics company that enables changemakers to navigate real-world trends and issues through narrative & network investigations. Source: [DECODED] YouTubers posting lies, propaganda on Duterte-ICC issue can earn up to P20,000 daily

"China has never received any so-called application from former president Duterte and his family to seek asylum from the Chinese government,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters on Monday. “Regarding some so-called informed sources that are made out of nothing or have ulterior motives, I hope that media friends will carefully identify and not believe them easily.” Source: China ‘never received’ asylum application from former Philippine leader Duterte

A day after making no mention of Sen. Imee Marcos during a campaign rally in Cavite, President Marcos again omitted her name in his remarks on stage, this time during a sortie in Sta. Rosa, Laguna. There was no mention of his reelectionist sister who, like in the last two provincial programs, was again absent. Toward the end of his speech, Marcos referred to the Alyansa slate as being composed of “11 candidates”—not 12. Source: Marcos again skips mention of sis Imee in Alyansa sortie

In a Facebook post, Alexa Ticketing announced a Global Tribute Rally for Duterte on March 28, 2025, at the Tagum New City Hall. The event will begin at 2 p.m., starting from Tagum City Rotary Park before proceeding to the city hall’s open arena. Meanwhile, Lakbay Mandaya has called for volunteers for the 24-hour Global Peaceful Prayer Rally for Duterte in Caraga, Davao Oriental. According to the post, the event aims to promote peace and unity while offering prayers for Duterte’s safety, security, justice, and well-being. It will kick off with a Run for Peace and Unity at 5 p.m., followed by a short program at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Park in Poblacion, Caraga. Duterte supporters in Lupon, Davao Oriental, have also organized a prayer...

Those migrants have been warned to leave the country before their permits and deportation shield are cancelled on 24 April, according to a notice posted by the federal government. The 530,000 migrants were brought into the US under a Biden-era sponsorship process known as CHNV that was designed to open legal migration pathways. Trump suspended the programme once he took office. Source: Trump revoking protections for 530,000 Cubans, Haitians and other migrants

In a statement aired on the church-run NET25 on Friday, March 21, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala also criticized the Marcos government for failing to heed their earlier call for “peace and unity.” “Any Filipino or citizen of our country who has committed a violation of our laws should be tried here in our country. Why? Because our justice system works,” Zabala said in Filipino. Source: Iglesia ni Cristo opposes Duterte arrest, hits Marcos government

Roque noted that China did not implement the 1951 Convention on the Rights of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. “It would be impossible for Tatay Digong to apply there because there is no machinery for the application of asylum in China and Hong Kong,” Roque said in a Facebook post in Filipino. There is no such thing as asylum in China. Source: Harry Roque says ex-Pres Duterte seeking asylum in China ‘impossible’

In a short interview following his visit to the former president, Kaufmann said he was “very confident about the strongest defense and I’m very confident [Duterte would] be acquitted indeed, even at the earliest stage.” Kaufman told GMA Integrated News that “there will be petitions obviously” when asked about filing petitions before the hearing of confirmation of charges against Duterte on September 23. “Once again, it’s not for me to comment on the defense strategy at this moment in time.” Source: British ICC lawyer Nicholas Kaufman confident of Duterte's acquittal

There are hundreds of PNP pesonnel from Regional Office XI are preparing to enter the KOJC compound in Buhangin District, Davao City. According to Brigadier General Nicolas Torre III, PNP Region XI director, they plan to use force their way into the compound on Saturday morning at 5 a.m. Source: Police troop to KOJC compound in Davao City to arrest Quiboloy

The order directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to "take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely." It mandates that any programs or activities receiving remaining Department of Education funds should not "advance DEI or gender ideology," according to the White House summary. Trump has repeatedly called for eliminating the department, calling it "a big con job." He proposed shuttering it in his first term as president, but Congress did not act. Source: Trump to sign order to shut down Department of Education, White House says

“The decision of the plenary of the Tribunal de Recursos of Timor Leste (TL), denying the request for extradition of Rep. Arnolfo Teves to the Philippines to face trumped up charges fabricated by the oppressive and dictatorial Marcos government, is a triumph of the rule of law, and an indictment of the kind of government we currently have: a government who ignores the Constitution and the laws of the Republic in the brazen desire to silence political dissent and destroy the legitimate political opposition,” Teves’ lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said in a statement sent to reporters. Source: Timor-Leste denies request to send Arnie Teves back to PH

“The case of Alice Guo is a very peculiar case because Malaysia refused to cooperate with us. Malaysia is supposed to give us information,” he said in a Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum. "They know what flight entered, what aircraft entered, what she was riding–but they refused to give it to us for reasons that were given–that were alluded to, about the cases of our brothers in the South…so it’s beyond the DOJ (Department of Justice) already,” he added. Source: Malaysia declined to share info on Alice Guo’s escape – Remulla

In a statement issued last Tuesday, the telecommunications regulator said it is considering the introduction of a “personal appearance requirement for [SIM] registration, similar to the requirements for driver’s licenses and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance applications.” Source: NTC looking into mandating physical appearance in SIM registration

The Palace official also said it does not matter if the request comes from the ICC because the Philippine government "must give what justice should be given." Castro also said that even without the request from the ICC, there is already a pending plunder case against Duterte, which might warrant the freezing of assets. Source: AMLC to handle any asset freeze request

Posted on January 28, the career opportunities were listed under the ICC Office of the Prosecutor Language Services Unit and were on an individual contractor and short-term basis.“A roster of freelance transcribers will be established as a result of this selection process,” the job posting read.“Once accredited, freelance transcribers may be offered contracts for the provision of remote transcription services in keeping with the operational needs of the Unit,” it noted. Source: ICC posts job openings for Tagalog and Cebuano transcribers