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Metro Manila, Philippines – After nearly two and a half hours of cross-examining the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent who investigated Vice President Sara Duterte’s online press conference in which she threatened President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the defense acknowledged that Duterte made the remarks out of fear for her own life and her family’s safety — but argued that they do not constitute an impeachable offense. “She and her family were threatened, and while her response was unconventional, it was justified,” Mark Vinluan, one of Duterte’s lawyers said during the third day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 8.  Vinluan was referring to Duterte’s November 2024 remarks that she had instructed someone to kill the president, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. The statement is the subject of the first article of impeachment, which accused Duterte of grave threats…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Palace press officer Claire Castro rejected the argument that Vice President Sara Duterte’s more than 32 million votes should weigh against her impeachment, saying a strong electoral mandate does not shield any public official from accountability. Castro responded to the defense panel’s opening argument that the impeachment trial seeks to overturn the will of more than 32 million voters who elected Duterte in 2022. She said accepting that reasoning would effectively place elected officials above the Constitution. “Kung iyon ang susundan natin na reason o argumento, ibig mong sabihin kahit na 100 percent ng mga Pilipino ang boboto sa isang public servant, pwede na siyang gumawa ng mga impeachable offenses dahil malaki naman iyong boto niya,” Castro said on Wednesday, July 8.  [Translation: If we follow that argument, it would mean that even if 100% of Filipinos voted for a public official, that person could commit…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed former Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. back to the government after administering his oath as new cabinet secretary. “I welcomed Secretary Benhur Abalos back to government service as he took his oath as Cabinet Secretary today,” Marcos said in a social media post on Wednesday, July 8.  The president said Abalos’ return would strengthen coordination across the executive branch. “His experience in public administration and his dedication to public service will be valuable as we continue to strengthen coordination across government and deliver on our commitments to the Filipino people,” Marcos said. Malacañang earlier announced Abalos’ appointment, saying he would serve as Cabinet secretary after leaving the Department of the Interior and Local Government to run unsuccessfully for the Senate in the 2025 midterm elections. As cabinet secretary, Abalos will help coordinate the work of the Cabinet, facilitate discussions on…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates  – President Donald Trump said an interim agreement to end the war with Iran was “over” and that the United States was likely to launch new strikes on Wednesday night following Iranian attacks on U.S. bases in the Gulf. In a flare-up of hostilities that pushed up oil prices, Iran said on Wednesday it had targeted U.S. military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait after U.S. forces struck Iranian targets in response to attacks on tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks further undermined a shaky ceasefire agreement and dented hopes of turning the memorandum of understanding signed on June 17 into a permanent peace deal to end the war, which began with U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. “If we make a deal with Iran I’m not sure that will stick,” Trump said, “because I found them to be very dishonourable people.” But Trump did not explicitly say Washington…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Impeachment Court subpoenaed on Wednesday, July 8, Zuleika Lopez, the Office of the Vice President chief of staff, as a witness in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.  On day three of the impeachment trial, the defense panel played excerpts of a two-hour long recording of a Zoom meeting in November 2024 wherein Lopez was distraught while under House detention. She was held in contempt by the House committee on good government and public accountability during a hearing on Duterte’s alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds.  It is in this same recording that Duterte uttered the alleged threats against the presidential family, which serves as the basis of Impeachment Article IV on grave threats. Lopez is expected to testify in this article.  Defense spokesperson Michael Poa said his panel was ready for the introduction of Lopez as a witness. He also shared…