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Metro Manila Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a precautionary hold departure order against Sen. Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu amid the flood control investigation.  A high ranking official from the Sandiganbayan confirmed to NewsWatch Plus that the application has been raffled to the court’s sixth division.  Escudero and Ngu are facing investigation for alleged plunder, graft, and bribery. The graft court earlier barred former House Speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country through the same order pending a probe on his possible involvement in the flood control scandal. The Sandiganbayan may issue a PHDO to “prevent any attempt by a person suspected of a crime to depart from the Philippines,” which may be filed by the Ombudsman upon a “preliminary determination of probable cause based on the complaints and attachments.” The filing comes after Ombudsman Boying Remulla warned that his office is preparing a case…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The government sourced 21,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States to boost fuel security over uncertainties from the Middle East conflict. In a statement on Saturday, the DOE said the supply will be delivered to Batangas from May 20 to 31. The department said this “will boost the country’s LPG inventory and strengthen supply buffers for households and businesses.” Consumers saw another rollback in LPG prices earlier this week. Supplier Solane previously cut rates by ₱3.36 per kilogram, inclusive of VAT, starting April 21, 2026 at 6 a.m. According to the LPG Marketers Association, this translates to a ₱33 decrease for every 11-kilogram LPG cylinder.

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The International Criminal Court said criticisms and attacks against the tribunal will not affect its handling of the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is set to stand trial for crimes against humanity. In an interview on The Newsmaker, ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet said the court remains committed to its mandate despite political pressure. “I can assure you that attacks against the ICC do not affect the court’s commitment, our determination to fulfill the mandate of the ICC under the Rome Statute,” Maillet said. She emphasized that the court continues to operate based on international law and due process. “The ICC operates in strict accordance with the Rome Statute and the principles of fairness and due process,” she said. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber on April 23 confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte, including murder and attempted murder, in connection with his administration’s…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte before the International Criminal Court could begin in the coming months, depending on case developments, with court officials assuring that proceedings will be fair and impartial. In an interview on The Newsmaker, ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet said the timeline for trial proceedings would depend on several factors, including the complexity of the case and the number of witnesses. “The duration of the trial really depends on the circumstances of the case, the complexity of the case, the number of witnesses that will be appearing,” Maillet said. She added that the schedule would ultimately be determined by the judges, noting that hearings may not be continuous. “The calendar will be set by the judges. So sometimes you will have weeks where there is recess,” she said. Maillet noted that cases handled by the ICC typically involve large-scale crimes requiring extensive…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives could vote on whether to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte as early as the second week of May, based on a timeline eyed by justice committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky” Luistro.  The committee is set to hold its next hearing on Wednesday, April 29, focusing on Duterte’s alleged online threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and members of his family. Luistro said panel members could decide by then whether to vote on determining probable cause, though they may also opt to extend deliberations or hold another hearing. “I haven’t heard from the members of the Justice Committee since the last hearing and I need to know their thoughts on this, kung ready na ba silang bumoto on the probable cause by the end of our hearing on April 29,” Luistro told NewsWatch Plus on Friday, April 29.  Asked about the timeline, Luistro said…