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House approves anti-political dynasty bill on 2nd reading

Chim Cantos — Wed, 20 May 2026 10:41:33 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 20, approved on second reading the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, which seeks to prohibit close relatives from simultaneously running for or holding office in the same locality. The bill, principally authored by Speaker Bojie Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, was approved through voice vote.

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Cayetano: I don’t doubt Marcos, Senate gunfires not an attack from executive branch

NewsWatch Plus Staff — Wed, 20 May 2026 09:16:25 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano assured his colleagues that he believes President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s sincerity when he said the recent controversial standoff in the Senate grounds was not an attack from the executive branch. “I don’t doubt the sincerity of President Marcos when he called to check if we were

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Pia Cayetano is new blue ribbon panel chairperson

NewsWatch Plus Staff — Wed, 20 May 2026 08:21:03 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Sen. Pia Cayetano, sister of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, is the new chairperson for the powerful blue ribbon committee investigating controversial issues including the flood control probe. Cayetano was appointed chairperson of the committee on accountability of public officers and investigations during a session on Wednesday, May 20, replacing Sen.

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US Senate confirms Trump pick for ambassador to PH

Tristan Nodalo — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:07:11 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – The United States Senate has confirmed businessman Lee Lipton as the next US ambassador to the Philippines. According to the US Senate website, Lipton was confirmed on May 18 by a 46-43 vote. He will replace MaryKay Carlson. Lipton was nominated in January and went through confirmation hearings at the Senate

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Raps recommended vs. Aplasca, 2 Senate security personnel over standoff – CIDG

Chim Cantos — Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:30 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Suspended Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca was recommended for possible charges by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) over a gunfire scare inside the Senate building on May 13. CIDG chief Robert Alexander Morico II said investigators found that Aplasca and two Senate security personnel violated the Private Security Services Industry

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SC rejects Dela Rosa plea to block ICC arrest

NewsWatch Plus Staff — Wed, 20 May 2026 06:31:54 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Supreme Court has denied Sen. Bato dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in relation to the crimes against humanity of murder related to the Duterte administration’s drug war. In its resolution released on Wednesday, the court

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Senior citizen killed after vehicle rams DA rice queue

Chim Cantos — Wed, 20 May 2026 05:25:24 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – A senior citizen was killed while another was injured after a pickup truck hit them while waiting outside the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) office along Visayas Avenue in Quezon City early Wednesday for the opening of the government’s subsidized rice-selling program, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA). Initial police

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Remulla: ‘No attack’ on Senate during May 13 gunfire incident

Chim Cantos — Wed, 20 May 2026 02:55:39 +0000

Metro Manila, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said all evidence gathered by investigators showed that the Senate was not under attack during the May 13 gunfire incident inside the Senate, contradicting earlier assertions made by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. During a Palace briefing, Remulla said the findings came after six days

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5 Reasons Bees Matter More Than We Think

Michi Ancheta — Wed, 20 May 2026 01:52:47 +0000

Every May 20, countries around the world observe World Bee Day, a United Nations-recognized initiative dedicated to protecting bees and other pollinators. In the Philippines, though, the occasion still passes by pretty quietly. There are no major nationwide campaigns tied to it, and for many people, it barely registers on the calendar at all. But

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Russia is concerned by US, EU rare earth activity in Central Asia, media reports

Reuters — Wed, 20 May 2026 01:37:38 +0000

(Reuters) – Russia is concerned by U.S. and European Union efforts to secure access to rare earths and critical minerals in Central Asia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia newspaper. In an attempt to diversify from China, which dominates rare earths supply chains vital for technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence systems, the

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