Category: Politics

Philippines

Tolosa Defends His Aggressive Style in Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial — But the Court Has Already Drawn the Line

Private prosecutor Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. is defending his forceful courtroom style in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying his assertiveness is part of his responsibility to defend the public interest — not an attempt to intimidate witnesses. Tolosa made the clarification after his questioning of former Education Undersecretary Michael Poa triggered one of the more heated exchanges of the impeachment proceedings. The controversy has now turned the spotlight not only on w

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Philippines

Social Watch Warns of Cuts to Philippine Social Services in 2027 Budget — But Government Says There’s More to the Numbers

Social Watch Philippines Senior Budget Specialist Alce Quitalig said programs directly supporting poor and vulnerable Filipinos are among those facing significant reductions in the proposed 2027 spending plan. According to Quitalig, the government is allocating more resources to mandatory expenditures, leaving less fiscal space for programs that directly deliver services to ordinary Filipinos. Social Watch specifically raised concerns over education, health and social welfare, saying their sha

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Philippines

Ombudsman Presses Supreme Court: Why Has Complaint Against 7 CA Justices Remained Unresolved Since 2025?

MANILA, Philippines — Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla is pressing the Supreme Court to address an administrative complaint filed against seven Court of Appeals (CA) justices, saying there appears to be no public record showing that the case has been acted upon or resolved since it was filed in March 2025. Remulla raised the issue after the Supreme Court recently challenged the Ombudsman—or any concerned party—to formally substantiate allegations of partiality, misconduct and corruption involvin

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Politics

Thailand’s Administrative Court Warns NBTC Over Saran Case Coverage — What the Court Actually Ruled

BANGKOK — Thailand’s Administrative Court has warned the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) after finding that parts of an official NBTC news release about a court case involving its chairman, Dr. Saran Boonbaichaiyapruk, could give the public a misleading impression about what the court had actually decided. The dispute centers on a Supreme Administrative Court order that allowed Saran’s lawsuit to proceed over a selection committee decision concerning his qualifica

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Philippines

BIR Tightens the Net on ‘Ghost’ Tax Forms—New Printing Rules Could Expose Every Extra Copy

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has tightened its grip on the printing of sensitive tax forms, rolling out stricter controls designed to prevent unauthorized copies, missing documents and other irregularities that could potentially fuel fraud or corruption. Under Revenue Memorandum Order (RMO) No. 24-2026, the BIR now requires sensitive accountable forms to be produced exclusively in controlled areas within the premises of a recognized government printer. The new rul

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Philippines

House Panel Says Sara Duterte Confidential-Funds Case Is 70% Done — Then Comes the Evidence That Could Change Everything

Co said a large portion of the evidence and witnesses connected to Article I has already been presented before the Senate impeachment court. The prosecution plans to bring in additional people who allegedly have direct knowledge of how confidential funds were handled by offices under Duterte before closing its presentation. Among those already presented are two managers from government-owned banks, two Commission on Audit auditors, two military officials and two former executives who served un

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Philippines

Tinio Questions the Philippines’ Nuclear Power Push — But the Bigger Battle May Be About Foreign Control

The Philippines is moving closer to nuclear power, but a lawmaker is warning that the country’s emerging nuclear strategy could create a new form of dependence on foreign technology, financing and strategic interests. ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has questioned the Department of Energy’s nuclear power plans and linked the debate to the Philippines’ growing cooperation with the United States on civilian nuclear technology, as well as the proposed Pax Silica economic and technology

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Philippines

Romualdez Camp Demands Answers as Bonoan Could Become Key Witness in Flood Control Probe

MANILA, Philippines — The legal battle surrounding the multibillion-peso flood control controversy has entered a new phase after the camp of former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez asked the Office of the Ombudsman to disclose whether former Public Works Secretary Manuel “Manny” Bonoan has made any allegations against him. Romualdez’s lawyer, Ade Fajardo, said the lawmaker should be given sufficient time to respond to any new accusations that may emerge from Bonoan, parti

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Philippines

DILG Knew Where Sara Duterte Was Before Her Bail — Then Remulla Revealed Why Police Didn’t Force the Arrest

Remulla said the Philippine National Police knew where Duterte was located on the night after the arrest warrant was issued but decided not to forcibly implement it. He said the PNP had surveillance of the warrant's implementation and that police body-camera footage documented the process, including Duterte's eventual arrival at court to post bail. Remulla defended the police response, saying Duterte was accorded the respect due to her position as vice president. His comments came after Duter

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Philippines

Remulla Says Authorities Knew Where Sara Was — Now She Says His Own Words Support Her Surveillance Claims

MANILA — A statement from Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has become a new flashpoint in Vice President Sara Duterte’s escalating legal and political battle after he confirmed that authorities already knew her whereabouts before she appeared in court to post bail. Duterte is now citing that admission as support for her long-standing claim that she has been subjected to surveillance and harassment by government authorities. But there is an important distinction: Remulla’s statement confirms t

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