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Metro Manila, Philippines – House prosecutor Terry Ridon criticized on Tuesday, Nov. 3, the defense’s blanket objection to all evidence submitted by the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying it could leave the Senate Impeachment Court with no evidence to consider. Ridon said the defense objected to every piece of evidence in the prosecution’s formal offer, including Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), bank records, insurance documents, Bureau of Internal Revenue records and Anti-Money Laundering Council documents. “Medyo nakakatawa na meron silang blanket objection sa lahat po ng pirasong ebidensya na isinumiti po ng prosecution,” Ridon said. He said the prosecution would leave it to the Senate Impeachment Court to determine whether the evidence should be admitted, noting that the documents and testimonies had already undergone cross-examination. Ridon also rejected the defense characterization of the proceedings as a fishing expedition, saying the…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The EDSA busway will be opened to private vehicles for around two weeks beginning Monday, Nov. 2, to give way for repair and rehabilitation and ease the volume of commuters entering Metro Manila at the end of the extended weekend for #Undas2026, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said. The areas are from Nepa Q-Mart bus station in Cubao, Quezon City to EDSA Shaw underpass in Mandaluyong City, then Boni Avenue until Guadalupe in Makati City. On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) began the second phase of the EDSA rehabilitation project from the Nepa Q-Mart bus station in Cubao, Quezon City to Guadalupe in Makati City. Dizon said private vehicles may use the busway from Nepa Q-Mart until Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City. “Habang hindi pa tayo mag-uurong ng mga barrier, at least madadaanan ng mga pribadong vehicles itong mga area na…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Animal welfare advocates have strongly condemned the discovery of the remains of more than 20 deceased dogs and cats dumped in a vacant lot in the City of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. The Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF) expressed alarm over the incident, citing a similar dumping case as early as May, when two dogs were identified. “The pattern is alarming. These animals were not simply abandoned; they were discarded, as if their lives meant nothing,” AKF said in a social media post. The group emphasized that beyond the heartbreaking lack of dignity, improper disposal of animal remains poses serious public health and sanitation risks. In a separate statement, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) said the Bacoor-based crematorium suspected of dumping the remains and deceiving pet owners could face charges of estafa (fraud). “The bond between a person and a companion animal does not end…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Men can be victims of sexual violence, the Supreme Court said in a recent ruling, noting that laws must be inclusive to protect those harmed. The ruling, penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, upheld the guilty verdict on a woman over acts of lasciviousness against her 11-year-old nephew with prison term of up to 16 years and ₱250,000 in civil indemnity and damages. A court statement recalled the crime that took place during the victim’s visit to his father’s relatives. The aunt woke the boy up and asked him to remove his clothes and lie on her bed.  She then engaged in sexual activity with the minor who did not protest out of curiosity, but “felt ashamed and considered ending his life” afterwards. The aunt said the victim consented. The court noted that the age of consent at the time of the crime was…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The substantial decline of the peso against the dollar impacts across sectors because of its effect on the rate by which prices of goods and services increase, an economist said.  In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, economist Emmanuel Leyco said families of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are among those benefiting from the depreciating peso as they get to exchange more pesos per dollar sent home. However, he cautioned that higher prices could easily offset the benefits. “When inflation kicks in, whatever advantage they experience in the beginning will be washed out,” he said.  For people reliant on remittances like Carlota Cabuhat, 52, a weaker peso no longer offers relief because the peso can only buy fewer items with the spiraling inflation. “Sabihin nating malaki nga ang palitan, lugi rin naman sa mahal ng bilihin ngayon,” she said. (Translation: Let’s say the exchange rate is high, we…