NBI witness to Impeachment Court: Duterte committed grave threats, inciting to sedition
Metro Manila, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director and witness Jeremy Lotoc told the Impeachment Court on Monday, July 13, that Vice President Sara Duterte committed grave threats and inciting sedition. On the fourth day of the impeachment trial, the prosecution panel summoned Lotoc, former NBI Cybercrime division chief, as the second witness on Impeachment Article IV centered on the allegations that Duterte threatened to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and his family members. Counsel for the prosecution Virgil Ligutan asked if the agency had considered Duterte’s statement that her alleged threats were an expression of her freedom of speech. Lotoc rejected Duterte’s defense, citing three elements. First, he said the NBI failed to see freedom of speech when the second-highest official in the land publicly claimed that she hired a gunman to kill the president, the highest official. He also said that if statements like Duterte’s were…
Duterte treated arbitral award as ‘piece of paper’ – Palace
Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approach to the West Philippine Sea, saying former President Rodrigo Duterte treated the landmark 2016 arbitral ruling as nothing more than “a piece of paper” and failed to build on the Philippines’ legal victory against China. The remarks came after former Philippine lead counsel Paul Reichler said in an exclusive interview with NewsWatch Plus that the Duterte administration abandoned efforts to build international support for the arbitral award, costing the Philippines nearly a decade of diplomatic momentum. Responding to Reichler’s assessment, Palace press officer Claire Castro said the observation echoed previous remarks made by former Vice President Leni Robredo. “Actually, hindi lang po siya ang nakapuna niyan. Nadinig na rin po natin kay dating Bise Presidente Leni Robredo na maraming nasayang na panahon,” Castro said on Monday, July 13. [Translation: Actually, he is not the only one who noticed that.…
Marcos to visit Singapore for talks on trade, ASEAN cooperation
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will be in Singapore from July 14 to 16 for a working visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation with a key partner in Southeast Asia. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said Monday, July 13, the visit comes as Singapore prepares to assume the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, making coordination increasingly important. “Bahagi ito sa pagsulong ng pamahalaan sa mas matatag na bilateral relations ng Pilipinas at Singapore na magsisilbing susunod na chair ng Association of Southeast Asian Nations sa susunod na taon,” she said. [Translation: The visit is part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between the Philippines and Singapore, which will serve as the next chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations next year.] Marcos will pay a courtesy call on Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The two leaders…
NBI recommends criminal charges vs. Tab Baldwin, coaching staff, resort managers
Metro Manila, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) recommended on Monday, July 13, criminal charges against ex-Ateneo basketball coach Tab Baldwin, other coaching staff members, and the management of the resort where student athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned on June 8. The NBI recommended reckless imprudence resulting in two counts of homicide for the following who, it said, planned and conducted the “water-resistance run”: -Baldwin -Caesar Vincent Elumba, strength and conditioning coach -Grant Dearns, strength and conditioning coach -Reynaldo Jacinto, Jr., assistant coach -Dean Castaño, assistant coach -Sandro Soriano, assistant coach -Herman Domingo, assistant coach -John Eric Rueca, physical therapist The agency also recommended simple negligence resulting in two counts of homicide for: -Emmanuel Fernandez, University Athletics Office athletic director -Francisco Zubia III, Hermanos Resort operating manager -Frederick Zubia, Hermanos Resort co-manager -Yedda Mary Rubio, Hermanos Resort co-manager The NBI said these people did not have…
Marcos to welcome Alex Eala after historic Wimbledon run
Metro Manila, Philippines – A homecoming reception awaits Filipino tennis star Alex Eala on Monday night after her historic Wimbledon campaign, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. set to personally welcome the 21-year-old athlete, Malacañang announced. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the reception will honor Eala for becoming the first Filipino to reach the Round of 16 in the Wimbledon singles tournament. “Matapos ang produktibong araw ng Pangulo sa Camiguin, mamayang gabi naman ay isang homecoming reception ang inihanda para kay tennis star Alex Eala na nagbigay-karangalan sa bansa bilang kauna-unahang Pinoy na nakapasok sa Round of 16 sa Wimbledon,” Castro said. (Translation: After the President’s productive day in Camiguin, a homecoming reception has been prepared tonight for tennis star Alex Eala, who brought honor to the country by becoming the first Filipino to reach the Round of 16 at Wimbledon.) Castro congratulated Eala on behalf of the Palace. The…
