Context Dispatch
Bong Go still leads in SWS poll
Private pollster Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported Monday that nine of the 12 senatorial candidates endorsed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remain within the “Magic 12,” with his sister, re-electionist Senator Imee Marcos, still outside the winners' circle.
Nora Aunor, 71, takes her final bow
Nora Aunor, the iconic voice that rose from the countryside to reign as the Philippines’ one and only “Superstar,” took her final bow on...
Duterte arrest boosts allies Senate bid
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...
SP Escudero nixes Sen. Marcos contempt order vs ambassador
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.
PNP Anti-Kidnapping head relieved
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.
