Remulla: ‘No attack’ on Senate during May 13 gunfire incident
Metro Manila, Philippines – Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday said all evidence gathered by investigators showed that the Senate was not under attack during the May 13 gunfire incident inside the Senate, contradicting earlier assertions made by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. During a Palace briefing, Remulla said the findings came after six days of investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which included the review of videos, interviews, and affidavits related to the incident. “For the record, all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate,” said Remulla. Based on the CIDG timeline, at 7:45 p.m., gunshots were reported inside the Senate premises. Remulla said that no National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents entered the Senate building itself, saying the agents were stationed at the nearby GSIS compound. Remulla’s statement directly contradicted Cayetano’s earlier remarks on May 14, insisting that the Senate was…
Russia is concerned by US, EU rare earth activity in Central Asia, media reports
(Reuters) – Russia is concerned by U.S. and European Union efforts to secure access to rare earths and critical minerals in Central Asia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Izvestia newspaper. In an attempt to diversify from China, which dominates rare earths supply chains vital for technologies such as electric vehicles, renewable energy and defence systems, the G7 nations, including the U.S. and EU, have been exploring alternative markets and support tools to reduce their dependence on Beijing. Russia considers the resource-rich Central Asian nations – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – its sphere of interest at a time when China has also been increasingly turning its attention to the region. “We are concerned by the intensity with which Washington is pushing agreements on critical minerals and rare earth metals,” Galuzin told Izvestia in an interview published on Wednesday.
House bares prosecutor assignments in Duterte impeach trial
Metro Manila, Philippines – House justice committee chairperson Jinky Luistro will lead the 11-member panel of prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, while others will present the four Articles of Impeachment. In a press briefing on Tuesday, May 19, Luistro announced the assignments of the prosecutors per case. Article I: Misuse of confidential funds Lead: Jinky Luistro Members Joel Chua Lorenz Defensor Rodge Gutierrez Lordan Suan Keith Flores Chel Diokno Terry RidonLeila de Lima Article 2: Unexplained wealth Lead: Terry Ridon Members Chel Diokno Kaka Bag-Ao Rodge Gutierrez Jinky Luistro Joel Chua Leila de Lima Lordan Suan Keith Flores Article 3: Bribery of procurement officials Lead: Joel Chua Members Rodge Gutierrez Kaka Bag-Ao Bel Zamora Article 4: Threats to president, destabilization Lead: Lorenz Defensor Members Leila de Lima Jinky Luistro Bel Zamora READ: Breaking down the proposed Articles of Impeachment vs. Duterte Luistro said more prosecutors…
Paolo Duterte defends Davao infrastructure projects amid Tinio Ombudsman complaint
Metro Manila, Philippines – Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte on Tuesday slammed ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio over the latter’s complaint before the Ombudsman regarding alleged irregularities in flood control projects in Davao City. In a statement, Duterte accused Tinio of being “selectively blind” for focusing on Davao projects while allegedly ignoring controversies involving the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. “Flooding is a national problem requiring serious engineering, long-term planning, and cooperation among agencies — not grandstanding before cameras and carrying stacks of folders to create headlines,” said Duterte. Duterte also defended infrastructure spending in Davao City, saying the Department of Public Works and Highways Region XI recorded around P49.84 billion worth of completed and “above-standard” infrastructure projects from 2020 to 2022, including roads, drainage systems, and bridges. Earlier Tuesday, Tinio filed a complaint before the Ombudsman after conducting an independent…
PH maintains one-China policy, not interfering in Taiwan – Marcos
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine government upholds its long-standing One China policy and is not interfering on issues involving Taiwan, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said amid growing regional tensions in the Indo-Pacific. In an interview with Japanese media organizations in Malacanang on Monday, May 18, Marcos reiterated Manila’s position while stressing the importance of maintaining peace and avoiding conflict in the region. “The Philippines has, from the very start, always held a One-China policy,” Marcos said, “…and we will continue to do that.” The president said the Philippines does not interfere in what it considers an internal matter between China and Taiwan, which the mainland considers a renegade province. However, Marcos said the Philippines remains deeply concerned over tensions surrounding Taiwan because of its proximity to northern Luzon and the presence of nearly 200,000 Filipinos living and working in Taiwan. “We certainly do not want to be part of…
