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Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the government is stepping up efforts to create more jobs as workers grapple with rising prices of fuel, electricity and basic goods. Speaking at the Labor Day celebration in General Santos City, Marcos said the administration is trying to ease the impact of higher costs while expanding employment opportunities. “We are not stopping in finding ways to create more jobs and opportunities,” he said. He pointed to nearly P2 trillion in approved investments last year, which are expected to generate about 150,000 jobs. The government has also continued holding job fairs nationwide, with more than 250,000 applicants hired on the spot since 2022, according to official data. More than 150,000 vacancies are being offered in Labor Day job fairs across 94 locations, he added. Still, Marcos acknowledged the strain on workers from rising fuel and power costs, saying the government has…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation arrested pro-Duterte personality Jay Sonza over cybercrime charges linked to the alleged spread of false medical information about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.. In a statement Thursday, April 30, the agency said Sonza was arrested by operatives of its Organized Crime Division, in coordination with the Cybercrime Division and Technical Intelligence Division, by virtue of a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 118 Pasay City. Court records show Sonza is facing charges for violation of Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code, or unlawful use of means of publication and unlawful utterances. The case stemmed from a January 2026 cyber-surveillance operation by the NBI, which identified Sonza among individuals allegedly responsible for circulating unverified and misleading claims about the president’s health. These included a purported CT scan report and statements alleging a deterioration in Marcos’ condition that later spread across…

Metro Manila, Philippines – France is aware that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co is facing accountability in the Philippines, Malacañang said Thursday, April 30,  as Manila continues efforts to bring him home. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. raised Co’s status during his meeting with French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel on Wednesday. “Sinabi po niya na ang bungad po ng Pangulo ay patungkol sa estado ni Zaldy Co na isang fugitive na dapat na mayroong panagutan sa ating bansa kung siya man po ay masasabing guilty,” Castro said. [Translation: The president opened the discussion by referring to Zaldy Co’s status as a fugitive who must face accountability in our country if he is found guilty.] Castro said Fontanel understood Co’s situation. “Naintindihan po ni French Ambassador at sabi po niya na naiintindihan niya at alam niya na pugante, a fugitive itong si Mr. Zaldy Co…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III assured that if the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte are transmitted to the Senate, it will convene as an impeachment court “the following day.” “That’s one thing for sure. Once we receive it, we will convene the following day as an impeachment court. If we do receive it ha,” Sotto told reporters in a chance interview on Thursday, April 30.  “Sa akin ang ‘forthwith,’ the following day,” he added.  The Supreme Court earlier ruled that “forthwith” in impeachment cases means “within a reasonable time,” not necessarily immediately, as the Constitution does not set a strict deadline for the Senate to begin trial. The timing is left to its discretion depending on the circumstances. Asked about this, Sotto said the high court was ruling on a specific case. The Supreme Court had dismissed a petition seeking to compel…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The counsel for Vice President Sara Duterte hit the presentation of evidence in saying she committed sedition and grave threats, claiming that spliced materials were used during the impeachment hearing. “Evidence is curated, even spliced. Context is ignored. Opinion is substituted for facts. Guesswork is presented as investigation results,” Paul Lim, Duterte’s lawyer, said in a statement on Thursday, April 30.  In 2025, the National Bureau of Investigation recommended the filing of charges against Duterte for inciting to sedition and grave threats over her remarks in November 2024 that she hired someone to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife, and his cousin former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, if she herself gets killed. At the impeachment raps, an NBI agent confirmed that based on their investigation, the video of Duterte issuing the remark was not edited and not generated by artificial intelligence. Lim said the presentation…