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Metro Manila, Philippines – Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said there was nothing premature about President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announcing that former lawmaker Zaldy Co was under Czech jurisdiction, stressing that the government acted on verified information available at the time. Speaking from the Philippine Embassy in Prague, Vida pushed back against criticism that the announcement may have been made too early, saying he would not speculate on that claim. “I don’t want to speculate na baka premature,” Vida told reporters, adding that the government continues to validate the facts on Co’s situation on the ground. The justice chief said the announcement helped draw public attention to the case, which he described as a priority for the government. “Hindi na-jinx, hindi na-pasama. Nakita ninyo nung nag-announce si presidente, ang atensyon at focus ng sambayanang Pilipino nandoon,” Vida said. [Translation: It was not jinxed, it did not make things worse. You saw…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Justice Secretary Frederick Vida said it is “possible” that former lawmaker Zaldy Co may have left Czech jurisdiction, as Philippine officials try to verify his exact status and location. Vida, speaking from the Philippine Embassy in Prague, said the government’s latest information on Co came from immigration and police counterparts. But he said he still has no confirmed and validated information on where Co is now. “I have no specific answer yet as of now. I have no relevant and validated information as to that fact. So, I don’t want to speculate,” Vida said on Friday, April 24. Asked if there was a possibility that Co may have left Czech jurisdiction, Vida replied: “Possible.” “There’s no such guarantee. We need to respect their laws,” he said when asked what assurance the Philippines had that Czech authorities would keep Co within their jurisdiction. Vida said the information…

Metro Manila Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman has filed a precautionary hold departure order against Sen. Chiz Escudero and businessman Maynard Ngu amid the flood control investigation.  A high ranking official from the Sandiganbayan confirmed to NewsWatch Plus that the application has been raffled to the court’s sixth division.  Escudero and Ngu are facing investigation for alleged plunder, graft, and bribery. The graft court earlier barred former House Speaker Martin Romualdez from leaving the country through the same order pending a probe on his possible involvement in the flood control scandal. The Sandiganbayan may issue a PHDO to “prevent any attempt by a person suspected of a crime to depart from the Philippines,” which may be filed by the Ombudsman upon a “preliminary determination of probable cause based on the complaints and attachments.” The filing comes after Ombudsman Boying Remulla warned that his office is preparing a case…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The government sourced 21,000 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the United States to boost fuel security over uncertainties from the Middle East conflict. In a statement on Saturday, the DOE said the supply will be delivered to Batangas from May 20 to 31. The department said this “will boost the country’s LPG inventory and strengthen supply buffers for households and businesses.” Consumers saw another rollback in LPG prices earlier this week. Supplier Solane previously cut rates by ₱3.36 per kilogram, inclusive of VAT, starting April 21, 2026 at 6 a.m. According to the LPG Marketers Association, this translates to a ₱33 decrease for every 11-kilogram LPG cylinder.

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The International Criminal Court said criticisms and attacks against the tribunal will not affect its handling of the case against former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is set to stand trial for crimes against humanity. In an interview on The Newsmaker, ICC spokesperson Oriane Maillet said the court remains committed to its mandate despite political pressure. “I can assure you that attacks against the ICC do not affect the court’s commitment, our determination to fulfill the mandate of the ICC under the Rome Statute,” Maillet said. She emphasized that the court continues to operate based on international law and due process. “The ICC operates in strict accordance with the Rome Statute and the principles of fairness and due process,” she said. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber on April 23 confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity against Duterte, including murder and attempted murder, in connection with his administration’s…