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Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s net satisfaction rating dipped to a personal record-low “poor” -15 in March 2026, dropping 12 points from -3 in November 2025, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The figure surpassed his previous low of -12 in March 2025, marking the worst score of his presidency so far, SWS said. The survey, conducted from March 24 to 31, found that 33 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the president’s performance, 18 percent were undecided, and 49 percent were dissatisfied. SWS classifies a net satisfaction rating of -10 to -29 as “poor.” The decline was across all geographic areas, with the lowest in Mindanao at -40 and Metro Manila at -31. Balance Luzon posted the highest rating at +2, while the Visayas registered -15. The president’s ratings also fell in rural and urban areas, as well as among men and women.…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will raise concerns over the West Philippine Sea and the Middle East during his state visit to Japan, highlighting security issues amid rising global tensions. In a pre-departure speech on Tuesday, May 26, the president said discussions with Japanese leaders will center on key regional and international challenges affecting peace and stability. “I will be advancing Philippine priorities and we will discuss where future synergies and complementary interests converge with those of Japan in the West Philippine Sea, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” he said. The president highlighted the importance of his visit to the regional ally. “This state visit is essential amid an increasingly challenging and evolving global environment,” Marcos said. He added that strengthening alliances is part of the strategy to respond to these developments. “It forms part of a broader foreign policy agenda to forge…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The International Criminal Court (ICC) will hold its first status conference on the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte on May 27, a key procedural step that will set the direction of the trial. The hearing will focus on organizing how the case will proceed rather than addressing the substance of the charges. Duterte will not attend the conference after waiving his right to be present and authorizing his legal team to represent him. The proceedings are expected to begin with preliminary matters, including updates on Duterte’s legal representation following recent changes in his defense team. Judges will then move to the core of the agenda by tackling the timeline of the case, including a possible start date of the trial and deadlines leading up to it. This will be followed by discussions on the prosecution’s evidence, including the estimated number of witnesses, documents, and other…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The government is preparing measures to mitigate the impact of a potentially severe El Niño, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Tuesday, May 26. In an interview at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City, Recto said the president convened a meeting on Monday, May 25, to coordinate the government’s response to a looming drought. “Pinag-aaralan na rin natin ‘yung response ng ating pamahalaan pagdating sa El Niño. Dahil, we might have a severe El Niño,” Recto said. [Translation:We are already studying the government’s response to El Niño because we might have a severe El Niño.] “So we looked at the past, what did government do, what worked. And nagpaplano na tayo diyan para maibsan ‘yung epekto ng El Niño sa ating lahat,” he added. [Translation: And we are now planning to lessen the effects of El Niño on everyone.] Recto said the government is reviewing previous responses…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Malacañang rejected claims that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is pushing for charter change or a term extension of elected officials, saying allegations of a no-election or “no-el” scenario are meant to distract from more pressing issues. The president gestured a smirk ahead of his trip to Japan on Tuesday, May 26, when asked about the statement  from his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, accusing him of pushing for term extension and no-el in 2028.  In a separate interview,  Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro described the accusation as a “diversionary tactic,” particularly with looming the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. “Sa ating tingin, sa ating pagkakaintindi rito, ito ay para matakpan, matabunan ang totoong issue. Nalalapit na po yung impeachment trial,” Castro said. [Translation: From our perspective and understanding, this is meant to cover up or overshadow the real issue. The impeachment trial is approaching.] She added…