Context Dispatch

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. led an inspection on Monday of one-and-a-half dozen container vans suspected of being loaded with hundreds of tons of frozen fish, but was declared by importers as processed plant-based commodities. A earlier spot check conducted by the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Plant Industry and the Bureau of Customs on two of the 19 40-foot container vans revealed boxes of frozen mackerels locally known as tamban, and frozen round scad-locally known as galunggong rather than the frozen fried taro sticks, sweet potato balls, and assorted food products from China, as declared in the shipping manifest.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has informed owners or claimants of imported goods, including recently seized luxury cars, that they can opt to settle the correct duties and taxes through voluntary payment. BOC Commissioner Bien Rubio said that the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) allows claimants a 15-day window from the implementation of the Letter of Authority (LOA) to make such payments.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized an estimated P900 million worth of high-end luxury cars in Taguig City, highlighting the ongoing battle against smuggling and its tax implications for both the government and businesses. The seizure on Wednesday, the BOC’s third operation this year, took place at a warehouse in Brgy. Ususan along Levi Mariano Ave.

In a dramatic finals game where every stone counted, the newly-formed Philippine men's curling team outsmarted South Korea to claim gold at the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. With just one point separating the two teams heading into the final set, the Filipinos sent a perfectly placed stone into the center of the House—a move backed by an impenetrable defensive wall—that sealed the victory at 5-3. This historic win marks the first-ever medal finish for the Philippines, which started to participate in the AWG in 1990. In these edition of the quadrennial event, the Philippines sent 19 athletes, sparking hopes that a tropical nation could soon make waves in the Olympics with a non-traditional sport. To reach the gold medal match, the team triumphed over Asian powerhouse Japan and the host nation, China. The squad, which includes brothers Marc and Enrico Pfister, Benjo Delarmente, Christian Haller, and Alan Frei, represents Curling Pilipinas, the national curling federation established in 2023. They sent 10 curlers to compete in all three events: mixed doubles, men’s, and women’s teams.

Senate President Francis Escudero said Monday that a new Senate, convening on July 21, will decide on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, which the House of Representatives transmitted last week with the support of 215 congressmen—more than double the required 102. Escudero said that unlike proposed legislations, impeachment proceedings will continue even with the election of new senators after the May vote, similar to cases in regular courts or electoral tribunals. Drawing from the trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, he expects the trial to conclude within 2-3 months. Draft impeachment rules will be approved when senators reconvene in June.