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Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte has filed her reply to the House justice committee on the two complaints seeking to oust her from office, insisting that the panel committed “double standards” in weighing the impeachment suits against her and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  In her consolidated answer ad cautelam filed on Monday, March 16, Duterte’s defense said the justice panel “failed to observe the basic tenets of fair play and due process,” drawing a comparison between the deliberations of her impeachment suits and the president’s. “In dismissing the impeachment complaints against the president, this committee went beyond the four corners of the complaints and relied on extraneous considerations that are irrelevant in determining the sufficiency of the factual allegations. On the contrary, the same parameters were not applied by this committee to the impeachment complaints against respondent,” the defense said. Duterte said the allegations of multi-billion peso…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Monday, March 16, has approved on final reading the measure authorizing the president to reduce or suspend fuel excise tax during national and global economic emergencies, in light of the Middle East crisis that fueled a historic surge in oil prices. Two hundred forty-seven lawmakers were in favor of House Bill 8418, three were against, while no one abstained.  The three-member Makabayan bloc cast the negative vote, saying that the proposal is just a “band aid” solution to rising fuel costs. “Sa ganitong kalagayan kahit pa magbawas ng buwis ang pamahalaan, walang guarantee na ang bawas ay mamamaramdaman ng mamimili,” Gabriela Rep. Sarah Elago said in explaining her vote.  [Translation: In this situation, even if the government reduces taxes, there is no guarantee that consumers will actually feel or benefit from the reduction.] The government earlier projected a ₱6 cut in…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The Philippines rejected what it described as China’s “erroneous and misleading” claims over Scarborough Shoal, reaffirming its sovereignty over the feature and stressing that diplomatic engagement with Beijing does not amount to a concession of territorial rights. In a press briefing on Monday,March 16, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesperson for Maritime Affairs Rogelio Villanueva said Philippine over Bajo de Masinloc, internationally known as Scarborough Shoal, and the Kalayaan Island Group remains “indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding.” “In response to the Chinese embassy’s erroneous and misleading statement issued on Saturday, 14 March 2026, the Department of Foreign Affairs firmly underscores the Philippines’ indivisible, incontrovertible and longstanding sovereignty over Bajo de Masinloc and the Kalayaan Island Group,” Villanueva said. The DFA said the historical and legal basis of Philippine sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal is clear, pointing to centuries of administration and documentation.. “The historical and legal foundations of…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Motorists are bracing for a record-high jump in fuel prices this week, with diesel expected to exceed ₱100 per liter in many areas as shaky global oil markets suffer from the Middle East conflict. The Department of Energy (DOE) announced Monday that oil companies will implement another round of double-digit price increases beginning March 17, pushing pump prices to some of the highest levels in the country. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said gasoline prices will rise between ₱12.90 and ₱16.60 per liter, diesel between ₱20.40 and ₱23.90, and kerosene between ₱6.90 and ₱8.90. Oil companies will implement the increases on a staggered basis, meaning the adjustments will be spread out in days before the full amount is reflected. “According to our calculation, diesel at the highest in Metro Manila would be at 114.90,” Garin said.[Translation: DOE calculations show diesel prices could reach about ₱114.90 per liter…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Unity Party (NUP), the second biggest group at the House of Representatives, is mulling bolting the majority bloc, its chairperson said, as the group has expressed dissatisfaction with House Speaker Bojie Dy. In a press briefing on Monday, March 16, House deputy speaker and NUP chairman Ronaldo Puno said his members will meet during the congressional break to discuss the next steps. NUP has 41 members.  “He is not doing what he is supposed to do,” Puno said, referring to Dy. “Kung wala rin kaming nagagawang matino dahil hindi namin alam ang direksyon at walang mga paglilinaw na ginagawa dito sa mga problemang hinaharap sa aming mga distrito eh, bakit pa kami nandiyan,” he added. [Translation: If we’re not able to do anything meaningful because we don’t know the direction and there are no clarifications being made here about the problems our districts are…