Sa tila walang puknat na bangayan sa pagitan ng dalawang higante sa pulitikang pambansa, nakatanaw pa rin ng “magandang pag-asa” ang mga residente ng Laguna nang makadaupang-palad nila si Senadora Risa Hontiveros nitong Sabado, Nobyembre 30.
Bukod sa Chairperson ng Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, personal ding naihatid ang “tama at pinagkaisahang mensahe” sa panahon ng malalang away-pulitika ng mga nakatataas nang mapakinggan sina Akbayan party-list lead nominee Chel Diokno, Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Partylist First Nominee Leila De Lima, dating senador Kiko Pangilinan, at ang kinatawan ng dating senador Bam Aquino.
Mensahe ng bolunterismo ang hatid nina Hontiveros, Diokno, De Lima, Pangilinan, at Aquino, ngunit sinamantala rin ang pagkakataong makausap ang mga kinatawan ng iba’t ibang sektor sa San Pablo City, kabilang ang mga pinuno ng local government unit (LGU).
Sa paglulunsad ng People’s Volunteer Movement, sinang-ayunan ng mga panauhing tumatakbo sa halalan 2025 at ilang lider ng mga karatig-LGU na panahon na umanong ipamalas ang tunay at makabuluhang pagkakaisa sa paglilingkod sa bansa.
Ayon sa isa sa mga mamamayang mainit na tumanggap sa kanila sa San Pablo Central School gym, siya man din ay nakaramdam ng kabutihang-loob sa pinagkaisang mensaheng itaguyod ang volunteerism na may pag-agapay ng mga tapat maglingkod-bayan. Kung hindi, aniya, babalik lamang sa “more of the same” ang sitwasyon sa Pilipinas sa halip na maramdaman ng mga mahihirap ang sinasabing paglago ng ekonomiya.
Tinanggap ni San Pablo City Mayor Vicente B. Amante ang grupo ni Hontiveros. Nakiisa rin sa pulong sina San Pablo City Councilor Chad Pavico at FPJ partylist lead-nominee Gel Adriano.
Sa paglulunsad ng People’s Volunteer Movement, sinang-ayunan ng mga panauhing tumatakbo sa halalan 2025 at ilang lider ng mga karatig-LGU na panahon na umanong ipamalas ang tunay at makabuluhang pagkakaisa sa paglilingkod sa bansa.
BUSAN, South Korea. As the world grapples with an escalating plastic pollution crisis, nations have convened in Busan, South Korea, to finalize negotiations for a legally binding global treaty aimed at addressing the issue. The discussions, which conclude Sunday or early Monday, have drawn environmental organizations and activists pushing for decisive action on plastic production and its toxic impacts.
A Crisis in Numbers
According to the United Nations, over 400 million tons of new plastic are produced annually, with daily plastic waste equivalent to 2,000 garbage trucks dumped into oceans, rivers, and lakes. Without significant policy changes, global plastic production is projected to surge by 70% by 2040, reaching 736 million tons annually, warns the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
“There’s just too much plastic,” said Juan Carlos Monterrey, head of Panama’s delegation, which leads efforts to address the exponential growth of plastic production. “If production is not included in this treaty, it may as well be called the greenwashing recycling treaty, not the plastics treaty,” he told reporters.
Activist Pressure
Greenpeace escalated its advocacy on Saturday by boarding a tanker in Daesan, South Korea, carrying chemicals used in plastic production. Graham Forbes, head of Greenpeace’s delegation in Busan, emphasized the urgency of the treaty, stating, “World leaders have a clear choice: deliver a treaty that protects people and the planet, or side with industry and sacrifice the health of every living person and future generations.”
The Major Players
China, the United States, and Germany dominate the global plastics industry, collectively accounting for 33% of the trade, according to the Plastics Industry Association. The U.S. delegation has expressed support for addressing plastic supply within the treaty framework.
The Human and Environmental Toll
The recycling rate for plastics remains dismally low at under 10%, with most ending up in landfills, incinerators, or polluting the environment. Beyond environmental harm, experts highlight the health risks posed by chemicals leaching from plastics.
“Chemicals from plastics are making us sick,” said Sarah Dunlop, head of plastics and human health at the Minderoo Foundation.
Indigenous leaders have also voiced concerns about the impact of plastic pollution on their communities and the planet. “Five hundred years ago, we had clean water, clean air, and no plastics,” said Juan Mancias of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation in Texas. “What happened?”
A Focus on Packaging
Single-use plastics, such as packaging materials for food and beverages, account for 40% of global plastic production, according to the UN. These items frequently leak into the environment, underscoring the need for alternatives.
Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Program, urged negotiators to target these items specifically. “Are there specific plastic items that we can live without? Are there alternatives to these items? This is an issue we must agree on,” she said.
As the treaty negotiations draw to a close, the world watches closely to see whether decisive action will be taken to curb plastic pollution and its devastating effects on the planet.
The much-anticipated sequel to Disney’s Moana has finally arrived, sailing onto the big screen with Moana 2. Set three years after the events of the original, the film reintroduces audiences to the beloved Polynesian heroine in a story filled with earnest intentions but lacking the charm and musical brilliance that defined its predecessor.
A Visual Marvel with a Crowded Cast
Originally conceived as a streaming series, Moana 2 found its way to theaters under the direction of David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller. The result is a visually dazzling film that surpasses the 2016 original in animation quality. From lush ocean vistas to stormy seas filled with tornadoes, the movie’s breathtaking visuals are sure to captivate younger viewers.
However, despite its striking animation, the narrative struggles under the weight of its expanded cast. Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) now sails with a larger crew, including Moni (Hualālai Chung), an enthusiastic Maui fan; Loto (Rose Matefeo), an engineer; and Kele (David Fane), a grumpy older farmer. These characters, while intended to bring variety, come across as one-dimensional and detract from the iconic image of Moana as a solo adventurer braving the unknown seas.
A New Adventure, Familiar Themes
The film follows Moana on a quest to discover Motufetu, a legendary two-peaked island said to hold the key to reuniting the people of Oceania. Alongside returning characters like Maui (Dwayne Johnson), Heihei the rooster, and Pua the pig, Moana faces new challenges, including Matangai (voiced by Awhimai Fraser), a mysterious bat-clad villain who offers one of the film’s few highlights with the song “Get Lost.”
While the story attempts to evoke the spirit of Polynesian mythology, the absence of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s songwriting magic is deeply felt. The new songs, composed by Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear, fail to deliver the infectious energy and emotional resonance that made tracks like How Far I’ll Go so iconic.
Moments of Humor and Heart
The film occasionally captures the playful chemistry between Moana and Maui, with humorous exchanges that harken back to the original. In one memorable scene, Maui quips after mistakenly calling Moana a princess, “Well, a lot of people think you are.” These moments, however, are too few and far between.
A Brief Escape but a Missed Opportunity
At 100 minutes, Moana 2 benefits from a relatively brisk runtime compared to other recent blockbusters. Yet, the film feels like a placeholder rather than a fully realized continuation of Moana’s journey. While younger audiences may delight in the action-packed set pieces and colorful animation, fans of the original will likely find themselves longing for its humor, originality, and unforgettable music.
Moana 2 is rated PG for action and peril. It runs 100 minutes and receives two out of four stars. Though visually stunning, this sequel struggles to navigate the crosswinds of storytelling and studio expectations, ultimately falling short of its predecessor’s radiant charm.
CAIRO. At least 40 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli military strikes in Gaza overnight and into Friday, according to medics, as ceasefire negotiations gain momentum with Hamas officials set to hold talks in Cairo.
Medical teams reported recovering 19 bodies in northern Nuseirat, one of Gaza’s long-standing refugee camps, while another strike in Beit Lahiya killed at least 10 people in a single house. Additional casualties were reported across northern and southern Gaza, bringing the death toll from the past 24 hours to 70, as estimated by Hamas, the Palestinian Civil Emergency Service, and WAFA, the Palestinian official news agency.
The Israeli military had no immediate comment on Friday but previously stated it was continuing to “strike terror targets as part of the operational activity in the Gaza Strip.” On Thursday, tanks entered northern and western parts of Nuseirat but later withdrew from the northern areas, leaving behind widespread destruction. Residents returned to assess the damage, many encountering tragic scenes.
In one instance, a grief-stricken man was heard sobbing beside his wife’s body, covered on a stretcher. “Forgive me, my wife, forgive me, my Ibtissam, forgive me, my dear,” he cried.
Among the victims was Dr. Ahmed Al-Kahlout, head of the Intensive Care Unit at Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya, who was killed by an Israeli drone strike, according to medics. Reuters informed us that the Israeli military was unaware of an incident that matched that description.
Kamal Adwan Hospital and other northern Gaza medical facilities are barely operational due to severe shortages of medicine, fuel, and food. Health officials reported that much of the staff had been detained or expelled by the Israeli military.
Meanwhile, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and accused Israel of using “the weapon of starvation against the people in northern Gaza to displace them from their land and homes.”
Renewed Ceasefire Talks in Cairo
Late Friday, two Hamas officials confirmed that a delegation would travel to Cairo on Saturday for discussions with Egyptian mediators. The talks coincide with renewed U.S. diplomatic efforts involving Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to revive stalled negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire.
The conflict, which began 13 months ago following a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and captured over 250 hostages, has left Gaza in ruins. Local officials estimate nearly 44,300 fatalities, with nearly the entire population displaced at least once.
U.S. President Joe Biden recently announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, urging all parties to build on the momentum to halt hostilities in Gaza. “We must seize this moment for peace,” Biden said earlier this week.
As violence rages on, hopes for a ceasefire remain tenuous, with Gaza residents continuing to bear the brunt of the devastating conflict.
Sinabi na niyang pekeng VP si Leni, pero naglabas pa rin ang Korte Suprema ng unanimous na desisyon na talagang tinalo niya sa bilangan at muling bilangan ng boto ang katunggali noong halalan 2016.
Sinabi na ni Sara na totoo naman daw iyon, pero pinagsabihan pa rin siya ng nanay niya na maging magalang sa duly elected VP. Alam siguro ng nanay niyang hindi abogado na ang kapasyahan sa electoral protest ang masusunod; hindi porke’t merong protestang hinain ang eventual UniTeam partner eh paniniwalaan na ang protesta.
Maagang nagnunumero uno sa presidential survey si Sara bago mag-2022 elections, pero ewan kung bakit (sadya o hindi sinasadyang huwag makinig sa ama) bigla na lang nakita ang sarili na sa halip magpresidente eh nag-VP ng kakamping katunggali o katunggaling kakampi (kung nakalilito, ang tatay niya ang asahan nating makapagpapaliwanag). Kung pera na naging bato pa, ayan tuloy naging “confidential na, naisasapubliko pa” (bagama’t marami pa ring katanungan at lehitimong pag-uusisa ang pilit na iniiwasan kasi nama’y pera ng taumbayan yun at hindi confidential fund na pambili lang ng abot-kayang hamburger kundi pambayad kina Mary Grace Piattos at Yoyoy Villame este Kokoy Villamin). Iyan tayo, kaya tayo itinuturing na napakasayang lahi. Nganga nga lang sa mga inaasahang plataporma ng mga pulitiko, kahit ang pinakamadaling plataporma ng “unity” (kung bakit pinayagang gawing plataporma sa halip na ilatag sa mga iniwasang presidential and vice-presidential debates), hindi rin natupad.
Kawawa si Sara kasi matagal daw siyang nagtititimpi samantalang ang mga netizen ay hindi nakaliligtaan ang panununtok niya sa sheriff, ang kawalan ng matinong paliwanag sa 19 days na paggasta ng tanggapan niya (actually naging dalawa pa nga ang tanggapan niya kasi mukhang napakahusay niya bilang kaibigan at manunulat ng mamahaling aklat na may paksang pangkaibigan). Teka ginasta ng 19 na araw, o 11 lang? O isang araw lang, noong Disyembre 20, 2022 via LandBank check under the name of OVP’s Gina F. Acosta to the tune of P125,000,000.00. Ilang 25-peso hamburger ang maipamamahagi sa mga gutom kung saka-sakali mula rito sa limpak limpak na salaping pambayan? Teka. Hindi natin pwedeng malaman kung saan talaga makararating iyon dahil confidential daw iyon kahit hindi galing sa sariling bulsa nila iyon. Ibig sabihin alam lang natin ang gastusin ng mga mahihirap, alam lang natin kung ano ang maitatawid ng ayuda, pero hindi natin alam, wala tayong kaalaman at karunungan sa kung paano maayos na magagamit ang milyon-milyon at bilyon-bilyong CIFs o confidential and intelligence funds ng mga ahensya ng ating mga pinasusuweldong lingkod-bayan. Hindi kaya ganito: Paglingkuran muna natin ang mga nakaupo, bago tayo makaupo mula sa pamumulubi sa pila ng ayuda?
May pila o wala, pinababalik ng Commission on Audit (COA) ang baha-bahagi ng mga ginasta umanong pondo sa maayos. Sentido kumon; susundan iyan ng tanong ng mga tao, “Oo nga ano, bakit nga ba pagkalaki-laki ng pondo “laban sa mga kaaway” ng DepEd at Tanggapan ni VP Sara.
Kawawa siya. Ginagalingan na nila sa drama, wa-epek pa rin sa madla. “Saan mo ginamit ang pondo?” huwag daw magkalimutan sa lehitimong tanong.
Kung nasisilip ng COA at/o nagpapasauli ito, confidential pa rin ba ang Q&A ukol rito? Kawawa siya. Mahirap iyon. Uusisain hanggang sa magkaalamanan ng truth and nothing but the truth.
Kawawa siya. Siya lang ang naiipit. Ha? Iyon lang ang akala niya o palabas niya.
Naka ilang meltdown na siya, ayaw pa rin siyang tantanan ng panghihingi ng kanyang paliwanag. Wawa. Huhuhu. Pero grabe naman yung mga pahayag na pugot-ulo, hukay-buto at itsa sa West Philippine Sea. (Uy, may nasabi rin siya sa wakas ukol sa WPS, sabi sa inyo hindi siya maka-China. Oo, iyon na yun.)
Walang kagatol-gatol ang mga pahayag na kung makakaringgan ng mga may murang kaisipan, hindi lang sila malilito at matatakot, mapapatanong pa kung iniisip pa ba natin ang kinabukasan ng susunod na henerasyon? Away dito, away doon. Nakaw dito, nakaw doon. Huwag makialam sa awayan ng nakawan. Ang hirap noon, ano po? Sa away-pulitika, ipinaglalaban pa ba ang magandang bukas ng mga kabataan?
Usap pa? Sara na. Kawawa. Mapapatay daw siya. Nag-hire tuloy ng papatay sa papatay sa kanya at oo raw ang sagot sa kanya ng naatasang mamamatay-tao. MMK o mukhang marahas kailanpaman. Sino pa ang kawawa? Meron naman tayong Diyos na maawain, kaso meron din tayong mga diyos-diyosang pulitiko at inaasahan natin ang pamumudmod nila ng pera.
PISI AT PAHABAAN
Nagtitiis si Sara at ang Die-hard Duterte Supporters. Pero meron ding hindi na makatiis. Kapit, Chief of Staff. Pero sa mga kabataang nakatutok, piliing maging Leila sa isang milyong Zuleika.
Sa nakamamatay na salita at nakamamatay na gawa, piliing huwag sabihin at huwag gawin ang mga ito. Paano? Isantabi ang kapangyarihan. Bagkus, kapangyarihan ng Diyos ang pahalagahan. Siya ang may awa. Alam Niya kung sino ang humihingi nito. Alam Niya rin kung sino ang mapagpanggap.
Sa mga matatanda, gamitin ang katandaan at yaman ng karanasan para sa makabuluhang pangangaral sa mga lulong sa gadget na kabataan. Gumamit ng mahabang pisi; ibig sabihi’y magtiis sa paliwanag. Huwag iasa sa PC. Kulang iyon. Maaabuso lang iyon. Dapat personalan, mata sa matang pagsabihan ang mga anak. Mahirap na. Kung lulong na, baka umabot na sa pag-demand ng kapangyarihan sa multiple realities na hatid ng mga gadget at pagkalulong sa mga ito. May Netflix pa pala sa kabila ng pinagdadaanang gutom, init, baha, karalitaan, pagkabaon sa utang, at ang di-madaling ipaliwanag na estado ng mga walang wala habang meron.
“I need power.” “I need more.” “I need P1 billion to solve this and that.” Pangaral ang kailangan nila. Iyan ang nararapat. May awa.
BEIRUT. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have flared once again as both sides accuse each other of violating a ceasefire intended to end over a year of intense fighting. On Thursday, the Israeli military reported that its air force had struck a Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon, which it claimed was used to store mid-range rockets. This strike came after both parties accused each other of breaching the ceasefire, which had just gone into effect on Wednesday.
Israel’s military claimed to have fired on several vehicles arriving in southern Lebanon, calling them “suspects” and alleging this movement violated the truce with the Iran-backed Hezbollah. “We detected suspicious activities that posed a threat and breached the conditions of the ceasefire agreement,” Israel’s Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi said in a statement, adding, “Any deviation from this agreement will be enforced with fire.”
Hezbollah, on the other hand, accused Israel of violating the ceasefire. In a statement, Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said, “The Israeli enemy is attacking those returning to the border villages.” Fadlallah went on to accuse Israel of “violations today, even in this form.”
The Lebanese army echoed these accusations, claiming Israel had violated the ceasefire multiple times on Wednesday and Thursday. The continuing exchange of accusations underscores the fragile nature of the truce, which the United States and France brokered in hopes of bringing a lasting halt to the fighting. The ceasefire is set to last for 60 days, aiming to achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Thursday’s Israeli airstrike marked the first military action since the ceasefire began on Wednesday morning. Lebanese security sources and Al Jadeed broadcaster reported that the airstrike targeted an area near Baysariyah, just north of the Litani River.
The ceasefire agreement stipulates the dismantling of unauthorized military facilities south of the Litani River but does not specifically address military facilities located north of the river. Meanwhile, earlier Israeli tank fire had struck five towns and agricultural fields in southern Lebanon, resulting in at least two injuries, according to Lebanese security sources and state media. These areas are within 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of the Blue Line, the border demarcation between Lebanon and Israel, which Israel has declared a no-go zone, even after the truce was announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized his country’s readiness to escalate the conflict if the ceasefire is breached. In an interview with Israel’s Channel 14, Netanyahu said, “We are enforcing powerfully. But if needed, I gave a directive to the IDF—be prepared in case there is a violation of the framework of the ceasefire, for an intense war.”
Meanwhile, families displaced by the conflict in southern Lebanon have been attempting to return to their homes and assess damage to their properties. However, Israeli troops remain stationed in towns along the border, and surveillance drones were heard flying over parts of southern Lebanon. In addition, Israel renewed a curfew for southern Lebanon residents south of the Litani River, restricting their movement between 5 p.m. and 7 a.m.
The volatile situation continues to challenge the fragile ceasefire, and it remains to be seen whether both parties can adhere to the terms in the coming days.
MAYNILA. Magkakaroon ng halo-halong paggalaw ng presyo ng produktong petrolyo sa darating na linggo, ayon sa mga pinakahuling datos mula sa internasyonal na merkado.
Batay sa inaasahang pagsasaayos ng presyo:
Gasolina: Magkakaroon ng pagtaas na ₱0.55 hanggang ₱0.80 kada litro.
Diesel: Asahan ang rollback na ₱0.30 kada litro.
Kerosene: May rollback na ₱0.10 hanggang ₱0.30 kada litro.
Ang mga pagbabagong ito ay dulot ng ilang dahilan, kabilang ang patuloy na pagbawas sa produksyon ng OPEC+ at pagbaba ng imbentaryo ng krudo sa Estados Unidos. Bukod dito, nakaapekto rin ang kamakailang tigil-putukan sa Middle East na pinangunahan ng US, na nagdulot ng pagbaba sa presyo ng krudo sa pandaigdigang merkado.
Ang opisyal na anunsyo tungkol sa pagsasaayos ng presyo ay ilalabas sa Lunes at magiging epektibo sa Martes.
Sa kabila ng mga pagbabago, ang year-to-date na datos ay nagpapakita ng kabuuang pagtaas sa presyo ng gasolina at diesel na ₱10.45 at ₱9.75 kada litro, ayon sa pagkakasunod. Samantala, ang kerosene ay may netong pagbaba na ₱1.50 kada litro.
MAYNILA. Nagbabala ang Department of Health (DOH) na posibleng tumaas ang bilang ng mga kaso ng respiratory infections sa bansa ngayong malamig na panahon dulot ng Amihan. Kabilang sa mga sakit na ito ang ubo, sipon, at maging COVID-19.
Ayon kay DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa sa isang ambush interview kahapon, maaaring lumala ang mga sakit na ito at magdulot ng pneumonia, pagkaka-ospital, o pagkamatay kung mapapabayaan.
“So we take care of the high-risk people. Ganoon din ‘yung very small children, they can also have bronchopneumonia and be hospitalized,” pahayag ni Herbosa.
Dagdag pa niya, “It’s actually dahil kulob kasi ang isang room with one people coughing, hawa-hawa na kayo ng acute respiratory infection. Ubo, sipon, lagnat, pati COVID.”
Bukod sa COVID-19, inihayag din ni Herbosa na mahigpit nilang mino-monitor ang mga influenza-like illnesses (ILIs) at water-borne diseases ngayong Amihan season.
Bilang paalala, hinimok ni Herbosa ang publiko na:
Panatilihing malinis ang mga kamay.
Magsuot ng face mask sa mga pampublikong lugar.
Tiyaking regular na umiinom ng tubig upang manatiling hydrated.
Samantala, kinumpirma ng PAGASA na opisyal nang nagsimula ang Amihan season, na nagdadala ng unti-unting paglamig ng panahon sa bansa.
Patuloy ang paalala ng DOH na mag-ingat at protektahan ang kalusugan, lalo na ang mga bata at matatandang kabilang sa high-risk groups.
BEIRUT, Lebanon. A U.S.- and France-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has held firm as of Wednesday, bringing an end to 14 months of intense fighting along the Israeli-Lebanese border. The agreement marks a rare diplomatic breakthrough in a region frequently embroiled in conflict.
The ceasefire, which concluded one of the deadliest confrontations between Israel and Hezbollah in recent years, has allowed thousands of displaced individuals to begin returning to their homes. Despite the truce, tensions remain high as Israel continues its separate military campaign against Hamas in Gaza.
In Lebanon, vehicles loaded with mattresses, furniture, and personal belongings streamed through the bomb-scarred city of Tyre, heading toward southern villages. Approximately 1.4 million people are believed to have been displaced by the conflict.
In the village of Zibqin, Asya Atwi returned to her ruined home with her family. “The important thing is that we’re back, against Israel’s will and against the will of all the enemies,” Atwi declared. “We came back to our hometown, and we will sleep on the rubble.”
Similarly, in Beirut’s southern suburbs, 67-year-old Zahi Hijazi visited his heavily damaged apartment, lamenting, “Our lifetime’s savings … All this destruction.”
Hezbollah, weakened by casualties and the assassination of its leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah during the conflict, issued its first statement since the truce. While refraining from directly acknowledging the ceasefire, the group vowed continued resistance.
“Our fighters remain fully equipped to deal with the aspirations and assaults of the Israeli enemy,” said Hezbollah’s operations center. The group emphasized its readiness, stating it would monitor Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon “with their hands on the trigger.”
The conflict claimed at least 3,768 lives in Lebanon, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry, leaving widespread destruction in its wake. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the ceasefire as “the first ray of hope” in the ongoing Middle East turmoil.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi welcomed the truce, hoping for a permanent resolution.
The ceasefire signals a moment of relief but underscores the region’s fragile peace. As Lebanese families return to rebuild their lives, the international community watches closely to see whether this diplomatic success can pave the way for broader stability.
MANILA. Philippine police filed criminal complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte and her security staff on Wednesday, accusing them of assaulting authorities and disobeying orders during a recent altercation in Congress. The complaints, lodged by Quezon City police, come amid rising tensions between Duterte and the Marcos administration.
The criminal charges are separate from other legal actions related to Duterte’s controversial public statements. The vice president recently threatened to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife Liza, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez assassinated if she were killed in an alleged plot. Duterte has not provided details about the purported plot, but her remarks have sparked significant public attention.
In a related move, presidential adviser Larry Gadon filed a petition with the Supreme Court, seeking to disbar Duterte as a lawyer due to her assassination threats, which he described as “illegal, immoral, and condemnable.”
The criminal complaints filed against Duterte and her aides stem from a chaotic incident in the House of Representatives over the weekend. The altercation involved Zuleika Lopez, Duterte’s chief of staff, who was temporarily detained after being accused of obstructing a congressional inquiry into alleged misuse of confidential and intelligence funds by Duterte’s office. Lopez was being transferred to a women’s prison when tensions escalated, prompting Duterte and her staff to intervene. Lopez was later moved to a government hospital, where she remains confined.
National police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil emphasized the importance of the rule of law, stating, “No one, regardless of their position, should be above accountability.” He stressed that the police are committed to enforcing lawful orders and maintaining public order. “Resistance and disobedience to a person in authority not only violates the law but also undermines public trust,” Marbil added.
In a separate development, the Department of Justice is investigating potentially seditious remarks made by former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte’s father. In a recent press conference, he suggested that the civilian government would only listen to the military on corruption and irregularities, citing a fractured governance. While he denied urging the military to rise against President Marcos, justice officials have confirmed they will proceed with an investigation.
In response to the criminal complaints, Vice President Sara Duterte broadly denied the allegations, claiming that the government’s actions were part of a broader effort to remove her from office, freeze her assets, and prevent her from traveling abroad. Speaking to reporters, Duterte dismissed the accusations, calling them “oppression and harassment” based on remarks “taken out of logical context.”
Duterte also addressed the rift with President Marcos, stating that she no longer believed reconciliation was possible. “I really believe that we have reached a point of no return,” she said.
The situation has further strained the relationship between Duterte and Marcos, who were once political allies during the 2022 elections. Their falling out, which includes disagreements over policies related to China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea and the controversial anti-drug crackdown led by former President Duterte, has deepened since Sara Duterte resigned from the Marcos Cabinet in June.
In the meantime, the vice president’s office received a subpoena on Tuesday, inviting her to respond to investigators about the assassination threats she made. Duterte maintains that the threats were not intended as direct calls to action but as expressions of concern for her safety.
As the legal and political drama unfolds, President Marcos has vowed to uphold the rule of law, describing Duterte’s threats as part of a criminal plot. The ongoing tension between the two leaders highlights the deep political divisions within the Philippines.
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The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
