Day: June 17, 2025

Manila: The upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte is not merely a legal proceeding but a ‘national test of moral accountability,’ human rights lawyer and House of Representatives prosecution panel spokesperson Antonio Audie Bucoy said Tuesday. In his first press conference as the official voice of the House prosecutors, Bucoy underscored the gravity and historic nature of the charges pending before the Senate. According to Philippines News Agency, this is the first time in Philippine history that a sitting vice president has been charged with contracting an assassin to carry out threats against the President, the First

Quezon City: A special task force of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has identified persons of interest behind the killing of a 63-year-old official of the House of Representatives. PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III announced that the Special Investigation Task Force (SITG) has been established to investigate the case of the House employee, who was shot while attending his daughter’s birthday celebration in Commonwealth, Quezon City on Sunday. According to Philippines News Agency, Gen. Torre stated in a media interview on Tuesday, “May mga persons of interest tayo (We have already persons of interest). The investigation is still ongoing,

Jerusalem: Seventeen Filipino local government officials, including mayors, find themselves stranded in Israel due to the closure of airspace and airports following Iran’s retaliatory air raids. Israel’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Ilan Fluss, confirmed the situation on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, the stranded officials are part of a Philippine delegation on a study visit aimed at exchanging best practices in dairy farming. The 17 officials, along with five other Filipino visitors, are in Israel under the sponsorship of the Israeli government. Ambassador Fluss assured that the delegation is being well taken care of by the Israeli government, which

Makati City: United Nations agencies on Tuesday expressed their strong support for enhancing quality and inclusive education in the Philippines as the new school year commenced this week. In a press briefing held in Makati City, UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) education chief Akihiro Fushimi highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by millions of Filipino children, particularly those in vulnerable and remote areas, in accessing quality education and learning opportunities. According to Philippines News Agency, Fushimi emphasized the commitment of the UN to contribute to the Philippine government’s goal of achieving quality education for all. This support is part of a

Cebu: The Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied entry to a United States national previously convicted of a sex-related crime involving a minor. Matthew Stephen Gross, 36, was intercepted at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport on Monday upon his arrival from Taipei, the BI said in a news release on Tuesday. According to Philippines News Agency, BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado stated that the foreigner was immediately sent back to his port of origin under immigration exclusion proceedings. Viado emphasized that the exclusion is part of the BI’s intensified efforts to protect vulnerable sectors, particularly children, under its flagship Shield Kids campaign.