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Metro Manila, Philippines – The formal impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin on July 6, two senators said.  Minority lawmakers Vicente Sotto III and Erwin Tulfo shared the information, after the caucus among colleagues led by Senate President Alan Cayetano on Wednesday, May 20.  Sotto said on July 6, the trial will be scheduled at 2 p.m. from Mondays to Wednesdays. He added Thursdays will be reserved for motion days. Should the trial extend after the president’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, Sotto said proceedings will be held at 3 p.m. from Tuesdays to Thursdays. In an interview with reporters, Tulfo said the Senate will hold sessions on Monday morning and on Thursdays. In a statement on Thursday, May 21, House trial spokesperson Zia Adiong said the prosecution team has yet to receive a formal notice on the schedule. “Nevertheless, the 11-member prosecution…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Minority members Sen. Ping Lacson and Sen. Erwin Tulfo are unfazed by Sen. Pia Cayetano’s emotional breakdown in a recent session, questioning their colleague’s claims on what transpired during the controversial shoot out on Senate grounds.  Tulfo on Thursday denied Cayetano’s claim that minority bloc senators did not check on their colleagues during the shooting incident at the Senate last May 13. Tulfo said senators from both factions of the chamber sent messages of concern since all of them were in one group chat. “Meron po nagpadala po ng message. Nakita po doon si Senator Kiko, Senator Bam, Senator Sherwin, maging ako po, yung sa akin po, ipinadala ko po around 9:57. Tapos sumagot po yung si Senadora Camille, sabi niya, ‘Thank you, we’re all okay,’” he said. [Translation: We received a message. It showed Senator Kiko (Pangilinan), Senator Bam (Aquino), Senator Sherwin (Gatchalian), and even…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) affirmed that there are no legal blocks that prevent local authorities from serving the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. In a statement on Wednesday, May 20, the agency welcomed the Supreme Court’s denial of Dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and status quo ante order. “The court’s denial of the TRO affirms that there is no legal impediment to the enforcement of the ICC warrant,” it read.  The OSG added that Dela Rosa failed to prove any “urgent and irreparable injury” that would justify the Court’s intervention.  The government also took aim at the senator’s attempt to evade arrest and said that he has placed himself beyond the reach of law enforcement by going into hiding. In its resolution released, the high court rejected Dela Rosa’s…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida on Thursday said law enforcement agencies had been ordered to enforce the arrest warrant against Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.  Vida said the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) had been tasked to carry out the arrest of Dela Rosa. “Senator Bato is a fugitive from justice and he should be brought to the ICC to face the charges before him,” said Vida. The justice secretary also said that the agency had already received the complete report from the NBI, while the PNP was still collecting and transmitting additional documents regarding the May 13 shooting incident in the Senate complex.  Vida added that they had requested footage from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) related to Dela Rosa’s alleged escape from the Senate premises on May 14. “We also made the request to the MMDA for all footages…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 20, approved on second reading the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill, which seeks to prohibit close relatives from simultaneously running for or holding office in the same locality. The bill, principally authored by Speaker Bojie Dy and Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, was approved through voice vote. It prohibits spouses or relatives within the second degree of consanguinity or affinity from seeking or occupying elective posts in the same national, provincial, city, municipal or barangay government, including congressional seats within the same legislative district. “Kung tunay nating nais palakasin ang tiwala ng taumbayan sa ating institusyon, ipasa na natin ang Anti-Political Dynasty Bill,” Dy told lawmakers during the resumption of session earlier this month. [Translation: If we wish to strengthen public trust in our institution, let us pass the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill.] Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong, chairperson…