General

Laguna: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents arrested two high-value individuals and seized more than PHP3.4 million worth of shabu in a sting operation in Laguna province. According to Philippines News Agency, the suspects, identified as alias Leovigildo, 38, and Allan, 45, both residents of Barangay Bi±an, Pagsanjan, were apprehended at the parking lot of a mall in Barangay Gatid, Sta. Cruz town at 5:05 p.m. Monday. The operation resulted in the confiscation of five pieces of knot-tied transparent plastic bags containing 500 grams of suspected shabu, valued at PHP3.4 million, along with buy-bust money. The seized items have been

Pasay City: Operatives of the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested three Chinese nationals for allegedly defrauding a compatriot of PHP7.5 million in Pasay City. In a report on Tuesday, CIDG-National Capital Region (NCR) chief Col. Marlon Quimno stated that the suspects, identified as Changao He, 36; Yong Pin Pang, 32; and Ming Wei Xiong, 33, were apprehended in an entrapment operation along Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, Barangay 76, shortly after 11 p.m. on Monday. According to Philippines News Agency, the operation was initiated following a complaint from Liang Xiao Hu, 34. Liang reported to the CIDG-NCR that

Legazpi City: The Bicol Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) has issued a warning to politicians and candidates in the upcoming elections, urging them not to comply with demands from rebel groups for a permit to win (PTW) and permit to campaign (PTC). According to Philippines News Agency, Director Ramir Frades highlighted during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum at the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-Bicol (NICA-5) office that any candidate or politician who pays or supports rebel groups may be violating Republic Act (RA) 10168, the Anti-Terror Financing Act, and Section 12 of RA 11479, the

Manila: ‘What a pathetic and ghastly irony.’ This was what Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile had to say on Tuesday, as he expressed dismay over supposed lawbreakers who are ‘now drowning and gasping for justice.’ According to Philippines News Agency, Enrile took an oblique swipe at the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte, saying there is no one to blame but themselves for their ‘lust, arrogance, hubris, and hunger for power and pelf.’ ‘What a pathetic and ghastly irony! Those who allegedly committed unwarranted and violent acts of injustice are now drowning and gasping for justice,’ Enrile said.

Malaca±ang: The Philippine government has refuted claims that former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque is facing political persecution amidst his plans to seek political asylum in the Netherlands. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro clarified the government’s stance during a briefing with Palace reporters. According to Philippines News Agency, Castro asserted that the evidence against Roque is substantial, dismissing any notion of political persecution. She stated, “[His asylum bid] won’t affect anything. First of all, he’s just filing a petition and it hasn’t been granted yet. Let’s remember, before it can be granted, he must show that