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Metro Manila, Philippines –  Senator Ping Lacson bared at least two case studies of alleged flood control ghost projects in Taguig City – a political stronghold of the Cayetanos – in his word war with Senator Alan Cayetano.  “We have documented at least 2 case studies so far. Too many ₱100M slope protection and drainage projects totaling ₱2.085B out of the ₱6.79B insertions under the 2025 GAA [General Appropriations Act],” Lacson said in a post on X on Wednesday, July 22, referencing an investigation by his team.  Lacson was referring to the alleged ₱6.79 billion in budget insertions that Cayetano added to the 2025 GAA. He said that under this insertion, 68 out of 70 were implemented while the remaining two projects worth ₱75 million were unreleased or unobligated.  Ghost projects are classified as budget items that were fully paid but non-existent.  “There is no turning back!” Lacson said. Over…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan to Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21,  following the latest confrontation between Philippine and Chinese forces near Ayungin Shoal. The meeting came two days after the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said China Coast Guard personnel struck a Philippine Navy sailor in the head with a wooden baton and damaged a Navy rigid-hull inflatable boat during a routine resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) condemned the incident, calling any act of violence against Filipino personnel “unacceptable” and saying it would take “appropriate diplomatic action.” Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the discussion involved issues of national security and details are limited at the moment.  Before confirming the meeting, Castro said the president supported the statements issued by the Department of National Defense, the AFP and the DFA condemning the incident. “Kinukondena…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte is on an overseas trip in the middle of her impeachment trial, her office confirmed on Tuesday, July 21.  The vice president has yet to make a physical appearance before the Impeachment Court since trial began on July 6. Palace press officer Claire Castro said that Duterte received travel authority from July 16 to 31 for a visit to Qatar, Germany, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, and the Netherlands.  According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP), her itinerary included a stop in Qatar, participation in a forum and Filipino community event in the UK, and another visit to the Netherlands.  Defense panel spokesperson Michael Poa said in a pre-trial press briefing on Tuesday that the vice president is in The Hague, Netherlands.  Her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, is under International Criminal Court detention in The Hague for crimes against…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Malacañang on Tuesday, July 21, condemned the latest incident in Ayungin Shoal where a Philippine Navy sailor was injured after he was allegedly struck by a China Coast Guard personnel, saying the government will continue to address the issue through diplomatic channels. During a Palace press briefing, Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supports the statements issued by the Department of National Defense, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the Department of Foreign Affairs condemning the incident. “Hindi po din nina-nais ng pangulo ang ganito mga klaseng insidente… na siyang nagbibigay ng polisiya na dapat tayo tumugon sa mga ganitong klaseng insidente through a diplomatic manner,” said Castro. [Translation: The president does not want incidents like this to happen. His policy is that we should respond to these kinds of situations through diplomatic means.] She reiterated the DFA position, saying, “Any act of violence…

Metro Manila, Philippines – National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag bared at the Impeachment Court that his agency has established persons of interest in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged threat to kill the president and members of his family, but refused to name names to avoid compromising the investigation.   “Meron po tayong mga leads na atin pong sinusundan at katunayan, we already have established persons of interest na maaaring makapagturo o tumukoy dun sa taong kinausap ng ating Bise Presidente, o maaaring isa rito sa tinatawag nating persons of interest ang nakausap,” Matibag said on Tuesday, July 21, as witness of the prosecution panel. [Translation: We have leads that we are following and we already have established persons of interest who can point to the person that the vice president spoke to, or maybe one of these persons of interest are whom the vice president spoke…