News

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said a handwritten note from a late public works official indicated that Senator Rodante Marcoleta requested ₱500 million in infrastructure project allocations, prompting the minority lawmaker to question why he was singled out. “May sulat-kamay ni late Usec. Cabral, nag-allocate siya based sa request ng allocables, nakapag-allocate siya ng ₱500 million projects kay Sen. Marcoleta,” Lacson said in a radio interview on Wednesday, May 6, based on a transcript in a news release. [Translation: There is a handwritten note from the late Undersecretary Cabral showing she made allocations based on requests for allocables, and she was able to allocate P500 million worth of projects to Senator Marcoleta.] “Hindi kasama iyan sa hawak ng Ombudsman. So papadala namin yan. Galing mismo yan sa kampo ni Usec. Cabral,” he added.  [Translation: This is not included in the documents held by the…

Metro Manila, Philippines – At least 180 lawmakers back the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, more than enough to send the case for trial, two House leaders from major political parties said ahead of the scheduled May 11 plenary vote on the ouster bid. Assistant Majority Leader Zia Adiong and Deputy Speaker Ronnie Puno disclosed the voting preference on Wednesday, May 6, as the parties separately convened to discuss the outcome of the impeachment complaints. Adiong is a member and spokesman of the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), the biggest political party in the House of Representatives, while Puno chairs the second largest group, the National Unity Party (NUP). The Constitution requires one-third of the House – in this case 106 votes – to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate sitting as the Impeachment Court. In an interview with reporters, Adiong said over 60 of their 69 members…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Malacañang distanced President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. from arrested Peanut Gallery Media Network founder Franco Mabanta, instead pointing to Mabanta’s apparent links with allies of the Duterte camp. During a Palace press briefing in Cebu, Palace press officer Claire Castro dismissed claims that Mabanta played a role in online political campaigns supporting Marcos. “Hindi po siya kaibigan ng pangulo pero siguro mas nanaisin ko po kung ito po ang inyong itatanong dahil ito po ay mismong pinost ni Franco Mabanta — baka ito po ang itanong ninyo kung ano po ang relasyon niya sa mga Duterte. Nandiyan pa nga po si Harry Roque,” Castro said. [Translation: He is not a friend of the President, but perhaps you should ask instead about his relationship with the Dutertes because Franco Mabanta himself posted it. Harry Roque is even there.] When asked about Mabanta’s relationship with the Duterte family, Castro…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation arrested Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) founder Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta and four others in an alleged ₱300-million robbery-extortion scheme involving former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. In a statement, the NBI-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (OTCD) said the arrests on the digital media startup were carried out during an entrapment operation on Tuesday, May 5, in connection with alleged robbery-extortion and violations of the Cybercrime Prevention Act. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by Romualdez against Mabanta, who supposedly conspired with a number of people, including one of PGMN’s anchors identified as “CJ Hero.” The NBI said Mabanta supposedly threatened through an intermediary to release online content supposedly linking Romualdez to corruption in the House of Representatives. The bureau said Mabanta demanded ₱300 million in exchange for withholding the publication of the supposed exposé. The amount was to be…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippines is hosting the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu City from May 6 to 8, a gathering of Southeast Asian leaders for talks that are expected to focus on energy security, food security, and safety of member states amid an unstable global arena.  Beyond the formal meetings, what exactly happens at the summit and why did the Philippines take on the role of host for this major regional gathering? What is the ASEAN Summit The ASEAN Summit is an annual meeting of leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, where regional priorities and cooperation plans are proposed, discussed, and agreed upon.  For this year, the Philippines will host heads of states from 10 other Southeast Asian countries, with Timor-Leste as the newest member. Cebu will host leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The three-day event will be packed…