Context Dispatch
VP Duterte Faces Possible Plunder Raps
Batangas Rep. and lawyer Jinky Luistro told the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on Monday that Vice President Sara Duterte could face plunder charges for the misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which Duterte headed until July. “Dalawang Pasko ang lumipas na nilustay ang perang ito,” said Rep. Luistro. “Ito ay malinaw na halimbawa ng pandarambong—hindi lamang maling paggamit ng pondo, kundi sistematikong pagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan.” P50 million is the threshold for plunder, a capital offense.
Lawmaker notes missing birth records in fund inquiry
Rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, told Monday’s public hearing that over 400 recipients of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education under VP Sara Duterte lack birth records with the Philippine Statistics Authority, the repository of population data. This represents more than half of the 667 names submitted for verification, with over 200 having namesakes. Chua said the PSA report suggests illegal disbursement of P612 million in OVP and DepEd funds, an amount in excess of the P50 million threshold for a plunder case.
Japan-U.S.-Philippines trilateral exercise: Advancing regional security through the 5th MCA
The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) recently joined forces with the United States Navy (USN) and the Philippine Navy (PN) at the 5th Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA), further strengthening trilateral ties and advancing regional security efforts in the Indo-Pacific.
The exercise, which saw the participation of the JMSDF’s JS Samidare, included a series of tactical drills aimed at improving maritime capabilities, enhancing interoperability, and reinforcing security cooperation among the three nations. These drills serve as an essential platform for fostering greater collaboration in addressing shared maritime security challenges.
Marcos signs 2 new laws to boost economy
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed two new laws Monday designed to stimulate economic growth through agriculture and tourism. The first amends the Rice Tariffication...
Senator Gatchalian: P88B tax lost due to fake PWD IDs
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said fake PWD cards cost the government P88 billion tax revenues last year. The chair of the Senate Ways and Means...
