News

Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is open to proposals lowering the age of criminal responsibility following the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City, Malacañang said Tuesday, June 23,  as authorities investigate how two minors carried out the attack. Palace press officer Claire Castro said the president is willing to consider amendments to the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act if Congress determines that changes are needed in response to the growing number of crimes involving minors. “Depende po iyan, kasi kung ano pong makikita na version ng pangulo, at kung ito naman ay magiging mas makakabuti sa ating mga kabataan at para sa pagpapatupad ng ating batas ay sasang-ayunan naman po ng Pangulo iyan,” Castro said. [Translation: That will depend on the version that reaches the president, and if it will benefit our youth and improve the implementation of the law, the president will support it.] The issue…

Metro Manila, Philippines – International Criminal Court (ICC) Trial Chamber III Presiding Judge Joanna Korner said former President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to personally attend the next status conference in September unless medical reasons prevent his appearance. During the second status conference on Tuesday, June 23, Korner said the chamber had excused Duterte from attending the latest hearing because it was expected to be brief.  However, she signaled that the court wants to see the former president at the next major proceeding. “I rather feel the one on the 7th of September, because by then we’ve had the reports, is likely to be an important one,” Korner said. “For that, certainly, Mr. Haynes, we would expect Mr. Duterte to be here unless there’s some medical issue,” she told Duterte’s counsel, Peter Haynes. Duterte was absent from the latest hearing after waiving his right to attend. The chamber earlier granted the…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang rejected Vice President Sara Duterte’s call for stronger intelligence gathering following the deadly shooting at a public high school in Tacloban City, saying students should not be treated as security threats and that such comments fail to address the root causes of the tragedy. In a statement, Duterte expressed concern over the shooting at San Jose National High School, which left several students dead and injured, and said the incident exposed shortcomings in the government’s ability to identify threats before lives are lost. “This tragedy also exposes the failure of the government to recognize the importance of intelligence gathering and identifying threats before lives are lost. We cannot continue reacting only after another child is hurt or killed,” she said. Duterte also said learners must be protected from “radical influences,” whether from outside schools, online platforms, or individuals who take advantage of vulnerable young people.…

Metro Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s legal team said it is withholding the names of some witnesses for her impeachment trial for security reasons and pushed back against claims that it copied prosecution witnesses. Michael Poa, one of Duterte’s lawyers, made the statement in a chance interview on the sidelines of Day 3 of the pre-trial conference on Tuesday, June 23. “Meron naman talaga mga reservations, magkabilang panig. Kami din sa defense, meron din kaming na-reserve na witnesses, hindi namin pinangalanan. Bakit? Para sa kanilang seguridad,” Poa said.  [Translation: There are reservations on both sides. We in the defense also have reserved witnesses that we have not named. Why? For their security.] Senate Secretary Rey Bantug, clerk of the impeachment court, earlier said both sides are allowed to have “surprise witnesses,” subject to a three-day notice before their appearance in court. Poa said the defense will comply with…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is determining how the suspects in the Tacloban school crime obtained weapons in the shooting spree. PNP Public Information Office chief Allen Rae Co said in a Tuesday, June 23, press briefing that a policewoman – the aunt of one of the suspects – is facing a pre-charge investigation and summary dismissal proceedings.  Her service weapon, a 9mm Glock pistol, was used in the shooting.  “Pamangkin po ng isang policewoman yung isa so at an early age he was taught, supposedly, ito po ay para maturuan siya ng responsible gun ownership,” Co revealed. [Translation: He is the nephew of the policewoman so at an early age he was taught responsible gun ownership.] Meanwhile, Co said the other weapon, a Cal.38 Armscor revolver, was registered to a Cebu City security agency. Investigators are determining how the suspect got hold of the firearm. …