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Metro Manila, Philippines –  Senator Robin Padilla and Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela exchanged sharp words Friday, July 17,  over China Daily’s controversial depiction of Filipinos as monkeys, with the senator accusing the Coast Guard official of fueling “wartime propaganda.” Padilla criticized Tarriela’s condemnation of the Chinese state-run outlet, saying the coast guard transparency initiative had escalated tensions. “Mr. Tarriela, it was you who drew first blood. This escalation into wartime propaganda was your genius creation,” Padilla said. Addressing China’s controversial content, the senator said Filipinos, Chinese, and Japanese are all viewed as “monkeys of different colors” by white supremacists. “As for the Chinese media, aren’t we all monkeys of different colors in the eyes of white colonizers and white supremacists?” he said. Padilla further said responding to the issue in the same manner would mean abandoning the country’s Asian and Austronesian heritage.…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. on Friday, July 17,  visited the wake of slain motorcycle rider Fabio Norberte Jr. to personally convey President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.‘s condolences to the family. Abalos extended financial assistance and assured the family of continued government support as they cope with Norberte’s death. He also vowed to help bring those responsible for the killing to justice. “The perpetrators must be held accountable,” Abalos said. The cabinet secretary also pledged to personally assist Norberte’s child with autism, saying he would coordinate with the family to ensure the child receives continued support. Abalos said the government would work with relevant agencies to assist the family while pursuing justice. Norberte was fatally shot by his passenger in Caloocan City on July 14. 

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Senator Robin Padilla failed to respond to the ombudsman requiring him to answer a complaint for his alleged role in helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade arrest, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla said Friday, July 17. Remulla said Padilla did not file a counter-affidavit on the deadline set by the Office of the Ombudsman. “Surprisingly, one person has chosen to ignore the ombudsman’s order — Senator Robin Padilla,” Remulla told reporters in a press briefing.  “He has not said anything about the case and the summons given to him.” Remulla said the deadline for the respondents to answer the complaint had lapsed. “The deadline has passed. He chooses to ignore the ombudsman, then so be it,” he said. He added that the case would move forward without Padilla’s response. “The resolution will be done without his counter-affidavit. That’s his choice,” Remulla said. The ombudsman chief…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The missing link in the impeachment trial over Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged grave threats — the identity of the person she allegedly contacted to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. if she were killed — may finally be established when National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag takes the witness stand, House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said. Speaking to NewsWatch Plus on Friday, July 17, Luistro said even members of the prosecution panel are “very much interested” to hear Matibag’s testimony. “Kung maaalala niyo during the testimony of Atty. Lotoc, palagi siyang tinatanong, nakilala ba kung sino ang taong kinausap? Sino ba itong assassin? So that is why we’re anticipating na ano man ang testimonya ni NBI Director, malalaman natin kung nakilala ba o hindi itong taong kinausap ng bise presidente upang isagawa ang naging laman ng kanyang pagbabago or threat,” Luistro said.  [Translation: During Atty’s…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The Department of Foreign Affairs has lodged a diplomatic protest against China over what it described as the racist depiction of Filipinos in AI-generated videos and editorial cartoons published by state-run China Daily in connection with the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. In a statement issued Friday, July 17,  the DFA said it formally protested a series of opinion videos and editorial cartoons, particularly an AI-generated video posted on the outlet’s Facebook page on July 10. The department said it first raised its objections directly with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan at a July 16 meeting. Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim demanded the immediate removal of the materials. The DFA said Herrera-Lim stressed that the content was inconsistent with the mutual respect expected between states and did nothing to promote the sound and stable management of Philippine-China relations. The department later filed a formal diplomatic protest…