General

Negros Occidental: A prelate said Thursday the arrest of former president Rodrigo Duterte is a glimmer of hope for the victims of his bloody crackdown on illegal drugs and their families. In a statement, San Carlos, Negros Occidental Bishop Gerardo Alminaza said this development has given renewed vigor to advocates of peace and justice. According to Philippines News Agency, Bishop Alminaza expressed that the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against former President Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity stemming from his drug war policy represents a significant moment. He noted that this development brings

Apayao: A total of 175 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the province of Apayao have benefitted from the PHP3.3 million worth of farm machinery and equipment from the Department of Agrarian Reform. The machinery is expected to boost productivity and enhance the livelihood of farmers who are members of six agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBOs) across Apayao. According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) announced that the farm machinery and equipment (FME) provided are designed to empower farmers with modern technology. Gilbert Galut, chairman of the Cajoma Multipurpose Cooperative (CAJOMA MPC) in Pudtol, one of the

Manila: The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) announced that the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and UP Los Ba±os (UPLB) have been exempted from its certificate of program compliance (COPC) requirement. This exemption is attributed to their outstanding performance in implementing quality assurance systems. According to Philippines News Agency, a COPC is essential for higher education institutions (HEIs) to ensure that graduates meet the standards necessary for licensure examinations. This involves hiring qualified teachers, maintaining adequate laboratories, and updating curricula to prepare students for both national and international standards in the workplace. The exemption was granted shortly after CHED

Bicol: The 9th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA-9ID) on Thursday pledged its commitment to upholding the Constitution and that it will continue serving President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. According to Philippines News Agency, Major Frank Roldan, chief of the 9th ID public affairs office, stated that the armed forces remain professional and are bound to follow the chain of command. “Our soldiers have sworn to uphold the Constitution, which means that all our actions are anchored in the rule of law. We will follow whoever is the sitting president as mandated by law,” said Roldan. He dismissed rumors

Manila: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla reaffirmed that the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not have jurisdiction over the Philippines as a state, but rather only over individuals accused of crimes under international humanitarian law. During an inquiry by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Remulla explained that while the ICC’s jurisdiction spans globally, it is limited to prosecuting individuals and not states. According to Philippines News Agency, Remulla cited Republic Act No. 9851, the Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity, enacted in 2009. This legislation aligns the Philippines with international legal