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Metro Manila, Philippines – The House justice committee has ordered Ombudsman Boying Remulla to appear at its next hearing on the ongoing impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to submit records of her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).  Panel chair Rep. Jinky Luistro, issued a subpoena to Remulla dated March 31, asking him to present certified true copies of Duterte’s SALN from 2007-2013, 2016-2022, and 2022-2025 “to be apprised” of her records since she became vice mayor in Davao City up to her time as vice president. “You are likewise informed that you have the right to be accompanied by legal counsel during the proceedings, however, such counsel shall be limited to an advisory role and shall not be permitted to speak or otherwise participate in the proceedings,” the subpoena read. NewsWatch Plus has reached out to the Office for the Ombudsman for comment.  Assistant Ombudsman…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Seventy-three overseas Filipino workers and 14 accompanying relatives returned from Qatar on Sunday, April 5, under the Department of Migrant Workers’ ongoing repatriation program for nationals affected by the Middle East crisis. The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration provided financial assistance to the returning workers, while OWWA shouldered the cost of plane tickets for those traveling to their home provinces. Repatriated workers were also urged to coordinate with the appropriate agencies for skills training, livelihood assistance, and job placement support. The DMW said the repatriation effort is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the safe return and continued support of OFWs affected by the Middle East crisis. “Ang repatriation at tulong na ito ay alinsunod sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na tiyakin ang ligtas na pagbabalik at patuloy na suporta sa mga OFW na apektado ng krisis sa…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The first phase of the major makeover of the Epifanio  delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) was ‘practically’ completed two months ahead of schedule, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Monday, April 6.  Dizon shared the development after inspecting the main highway on Easter Monday, ahead of the expected traffic rush from returning travelers after the Holy Week break. All lanes have been rehabilitated, with remaining work focusing on sidewalk expansion. “Ang kailangan na lang nating gawin between now and hanggang mga June, July, ‘yung pagpapalapad natin ng sidewalk para sa ating mga pedestrians and bikers pero ‘yung mga dadaanan ng sasakyan, tapos na. Masaya tayo kasi ahead tayo ng halos dalawang buwan,” Dizon said.  [Translation: What we need to do between now and around June or July is to widen the sidewalks for our pedestrians and bikers, since the lanes for vehicles are already finished. We’re…

Tokyo, Japan – Oil prices climbed on Monday on continuing fears of supply losses because of shipping disruptions in the key Middle East producing region from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Brent crude futures LCOc1 rose $1.71, or 1.6%, to $110.74 a barrel by 0057 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 futures gained $0.71, or 0.6%, to trade at $112.25 per barrel. On Thursday, the last trading day before the Good Friday holiday break, WTI settled up more than 11% and Brent soared nearly 8% in volatile trading, recording their biggest absolute price increase since 2020, as U.S. President Donald Trump promised to continue attacks on Iran. O/R The Strait of Hormuz, which carries oil and petroleum products from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, remains largely closed by Iranian attacks on shipping after the war began on February 28. Because of the Middle East supply disruptions, refiners are seeking alternative sources for crude, particularly for physical cargoes in the U.S. and the UK North…

(Reuters) – The U.N. Security Council is now expected to vote next week on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, diplomats said on Friday, but veto-wielding China has made clear its opposition to authorizing any use of force. A meeting ofthe Council’s 15 members was initially set for Friday, then rescheduled for Saturday. Several diplomats said it had now been postponed until next week, with no new date yet announced. Bahrain’s U.N. mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reason for the delay. The resolution has faced resistance from China, Russia and others and has been toned down from its original form. Oil prices have surged since the U.S. and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, unleashing a conflict that has run for more than a month and largely closed the shipping artery. Bahrain, the current chair of the Security Council, finalized a draft on Thursday that would authorize “all defensive means necessary” to…