Context Dispatch

The latest Pulse Asia survey shows former President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest boosted allied senatorial bets, especially actor Philip Salvador, whose voter preference jumped 10.2...

Senate President Chiz Escudero on Friday urged Sen. Imee Marcos to avoid using the Senate for personal political aims, the Inquirer reported. Escudero said Marcos’ contempt and detention order against Special Envoy on Transnational Crimes Ambassador Markus Lacanilao—accused of lying during a committee hearing—was issued without his prior approval. Calling the move unauthorized, Escudero ordered Lacanilao’s release, citing both procedural grounds and compassion. “I directed his release, both as a matter of regularity and out of humanitarian consideration, as his grandfather is to be laid to rest today,” he said.

Philippine National Police Chief Rommel Marbil has ordered the relief of Anti-Kidnapping Group head Director General Elmer Ragay after the reported death of a Chinese businessman and his driver who were reportedly victims of abduction—one of several kidnapping cases that Filipino-Chinese business community had reported to have happened in recent months. PNP spokeswoman Brig. General Jean Fajardo told reporters that the PNP chief wasn’t satisfied with Ragay’s performance and named Col. David Poklay, a former deputy director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, as replacement.

The House of Representatives Tri Committee investigating fake news and misinformation has cited social media personalities Sass Rogando Sasot, Jeffrey Celiz, and Lorraine Badoy-Partosa in contempt for repeatedly failing to attend hearings. The TriCom ordered their arrest for continued absence without offering any legal excuse. Additionally, vlogger Mark Lopez was cited for contempt after posting a maligning remark about the panel following his appearance at the third hearing. Once arrested, the four will be detained at the House until the hearings are concluded. The four are known supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Kanloan Volcano in Negros Oriental erupted early Tuesday, emitting a thick gray plume that rose 4,000 meters above the vent before drifting west and southwest. Pyroclastic density currents descended the southern slopes toward La Castellana, as seen through visual and thermal camera monitoring. The eruption also ejected large ballistic fragments that ignited vegetation near the summit. Thin ashfall was reported in La Carlota City, Bago City, and La Castellana. Communities within the 6-kilometer danger zone have been evacuated since the eruption in December. Alert Level 3 remains hoisted, which means another explosive eruption that may even generate lava flow could happen in the coming weeks or months.