Context Dispatch

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a unilateral ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza, despite pressure from the United States. Netanyahu said a ceasefire would leave Israel vulnerable to threats from the militant group Hezbollah, which has threatened to expand its attacks. The US has intensified its criticism of recent bombings in Beirut and is advocating for increased humanitarian aid to Palestine.

The House Committee on Appropriations has confirmed its decision to cut the 2025 budget for the Office of the Vice President to P733 million, which is significantly lower than the P2.1 billion requested by Vice President Sara Duterte. AKO Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co, the committee chairman, said that the P1.3 billion reduction will be redirected to the Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is set to file charges against Chinese nationals allegedly involved in illegal mining operations in Camarines Norte. DENR Secretary Ma. Antonia Yulo-Loyzaga said that local officials appeared to have issued mining permits for small-scale operations in Paracale. The DENR is investigating violations, including the presence of foreign workers and operations conducted outside mining claims.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said the International Criminal Court could leverage the televised hearings of the House of Representatives’ Quad Committee in its investigation into former President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity. He noted that testimonies from witnesses linking Duterte to state-sanctioned killings are akin to extrajudicial confessions, which are admissible in international trials. Carpio suggested that it would be beneficial if the House officially submitted the transcripts and videos of these hearings to the ICC.