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Metro Manila, Philippines – A House justice committee member said a one-third vote to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte is “within reach.” At a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday, May 2, panel member Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon noted that the justice panel alone already gathered 53 votes to find probable cause to unanimously move the impeachment.  Out of more than 300 House members, Ridon said reaching the constitutional one-third vote threshold is “well within reach.” “Tingin ko naman (I do think so), that is a number that will not be difficult to surmount,” he said. Ridon said the Justice panel is set to approve on Monday its committee report containing the final consolidated Articles of Impeachment, as well as the corresponding resolution. He said the first order of business is to secure approval at the plenary before any move to constitute the prosecution panel. “As soon as…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Supreme Court has scrapped the order that dismissed Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang from office right after his probe on then President Rodrigo Duterte’s wealth.  In the decision made accessible to the public on Saturday, May 2, the SC Third Division affirmed the Court of Appeals decision that also dismissed Carandang’s removal for “lack of jurisdiction.” The court nullified the Office of the President’s decision in 2018. The order stated that Carandang was sacked from office as he was administratively liable for graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust The decision also overturned the June 14, 2019 order of Ombudsman Samuel Martires that commanded Carandang to cease and desist from performing powers and functions of his post as it was declared vacant from his removal. “Carandang is entitled to all retirement benefits effective upon the expiration of his term. He is likewise entitled…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Lava flow from Mayon Volcano in Albay has reached nearly four kilometers down one gully in the past 24 hours, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Saturday, May 2.. In its bulletin, the agency said there were 39 volcanic earthquakes. It said the volcano also emitted intermittent bursts of lava early Friday morning. Phivolcs said Mayon spewed more than 2,000 tons of sulfur, while moderate plumes rose to 200 meters above the crater. Mayon Volcano remains active under Alert Level 3, defined as intensified unrest/magmatic unrest).  Under this status, Phivolcs said entry into the six-kilometer radius permanent danger zone and flying aircraft close to the volcano is prohibited.

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine government has told France that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co is not a victim of political persecution, as Manila pushes for his return amid his reported bid for asylum. Philippine Ambassador to France Eduardo De Vega  told NewsWatch Plus that authorities have relayed Co’s legal situation to French officials, stressing that the charges he faces stem from corruption allegations tied to the flood control scandal. De Vega said the Philippines recognizes France’s sovereignty and legal processes, including its handling of asylum applications — a process that limits what Philippine authorities can do on the ground. “Dahil sa soberanya ng France, hindi puwedeng basta-basta mahuli ng mga opisyal ng Pilipinas doon,” De Vega said. [Translation: Because of France’s sovereignty, Philippine officials cannot simply arrest him there.] He added that even with an arrest warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan, enforcement cannot extend beyond Philippine jurisdiction. “The…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The United States Embassy in Manila has issued a security alert for its citizens in the country after reports that two Americans were among the 19 that died in the recent reported clash in Toboso, Negros Occidental. In the security alert released on Friday, May 1, the US embassy flagged parts of Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Samar as “areas of heightened concern.”  The embassy warned of “recent intensified operations by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the New People’s Army (NPA),” identifying them as “designated foreign terrorist organization by the US and Philippine governments.” “We advise Americans in the Philippines and around the world to abide by local laws and to avoid situations with elevated security risk,” its alert read. “Anyone in proximity of NPA elements is at grave risk of arrest, injury, or death. Foreign terrorist organizations actively recruit Americans to participate directly…