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Metro Manila, Philippines –  The country has expressed cautious optimism on the peace efforts between the United States and Iran, hoping that negotiations will lead to a lasting resolution of the conflict that has disrupted global markets and threatened regional stability. In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Manila welcomes the announcement of the US-Iran peace talks, which are expected to be facilitated by Pakistan. “We hope that the negotiations will lead to the permanent end of the conflict and lasting peace,” the DFA said. It said the conflict has caused significant loss of lives and damage to civilian and economic infrastructure, while disrupting the global economy. The peace track follows a truce between the US and Iran, aimed at easing tensions and opening a window for diplomacy after weeks of escalation involving missile exchanges and military strikes. The ceasefire has raised hopes of stabilizing key global…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte followed the Constitutional limit that prohibits multiple proceedings against one official within a year, House justice committee chairperson Jinky Luistro said.  Luistro issued the remark on Thursday, April 9, in response to Duterte’s petition before the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the impeachment proceedings at the House of Representatives over supposed constitutional flaws. Duterte said the proceedings are void from the beginning for violating the one-year bar rule, after the first two complaints were set aside and withdrawn, respectively. Four complaints were originally filed against Duterte in February, but only two advanced to the formal hearings. “The committee is fully compliant with the one-year bar rule as interpreted by the Supreme Court. We see no violation of any constitutional limitation,” Luistro said.  In January, the SC affirmed its 2025 ruling that declared the previous attempt to oust Duterte…

Metro Manila. Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, saying the Philippines will “take full advantage” of the window to secure fuel supply and support Filipino seafarers affected by the conflict. He said the truce, resulting in the reopening of the vital Strait of Hormuz, would allow stalled shipments and vessels to resume movement after weeks of disruption in one of the world’s most critical oil routes. “We will take full advantage of the two weeks to increase our supply as much as possible,” the president said on Wednesday, noting that Philippine-flagged vessels and oil shipments are expected to pass through the strait under existing arrangements with Iran. The ceasefire comes after weeks of attacks that severely disrupted traffic in the strait — a chokepoint where a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes — triggering supply concerns and price spikes…

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured the public that he is in good health, dismissing online speculation about his condition and saying there is “nothing to worry about.” “Don’t take it too seriously. Social media is a joke… Wala tayong problema,” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro quoted the president as telling her after a meeting with the Private Sector Advisory Council.  [Translation: We don’t have a problem.] He said he has returned to his routine and has been maintaining his health following a previous medical condition. “I’m back to my regular exercise. I’ve been back to my regular routine for the last three months. I’m doing my usual, watching my health, making sure that I’m always ready to do the work,” he said. Marcos said he is no longer under dietary restrictions and continues to monitor his condition as part of his daily routine. “I don’t have any…

Dubai, United Arab Emirates/Tel Aviv, Israel/Beirut, Lebanon/Budapest, Hungary – Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people and drawing a threat of retaliation from Iran, which suggested it would be “unreasonable” to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the United States.  The warning from Iran’s lead negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bager Qalibaf, laid bare the continued volatility in the region following Tuesday’s ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump. The two sides have laid out sharply contrasting agendas for peace talks set to start on Saturday, but it was unclear whether the two-week ceasefire would hold until then. Qalibaf said Israel had already violated several conditions of that ceasefire by ramping up its parallel war against the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah, while the U.S had violated the agreement by insisting that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions. “In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations were unreasonable,” he said…