News

Metro Manila, Philippines –  The Philippines is open to negotiating a future visiting forces agreement (VFA) with Germany in a bid to expand defense partnerships in response to an increasingly volatile security environment, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday, June 16.  Speaking at a joint press conference with visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Malacañang, Marcos said a VFA remains a possibility as military, defense, and security cooperation between the two countries continues to deepen. “Why not?” Marcos said when asked about a possible military deal. “We probably, in reality, we’re still a long way off of that. But we are actually increasing our engagements, especially in the military and in the defense and the security areas,” he said. The president said the Philippines would be receptive to such an arrangement if both sides determine the timing is right. “If we came to an agreement and we feel that it…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Flood control-related complaints in the fact-finding stage have nearly doubled this year, Ombudsman Boying Remulla said, while four cases were filed in court almost a year since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a probe on the multibillion-peso corruption scam. In his recorded message aired at the Southeast Asian Ombudsman Forum on Tuesday, June 16, Remulla said a total of 209 complaints are under fact-finding, a stage where investigators examine if there is enough basis to file a formal case. It is higher than the 124 complaints that reached the fact-finding stage in 2025. Remulla said 36 complaints advanced to preliminary investigation last year, while four cases were filed with the court.  The high-profile cases include the non-bailable plunder charges against Sen. Jinggoy Estrada and former Sen. Bong Revilla, both in detention pending trial. Remulla, who assumed the position in October 2025, told fellow ombudsmen from Southeast…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan second division has preventively suspended Jinggoy Estrada as senator for 90 days, in connection with his graft case in the multibillion-peso flood control scandal. “This court hereby orders the suspension pendente lite of accused Senator Jose Jinggoy P. Ejercito Estrada from his present position as Senator of the Republic of the Philippines, and from any other public office which he may now or hereafter be holding for a period of ninety days from receipt of this resolution,” a portion of the resolution dated June 16 read. In a statement, Estrada said he is open to avail of legal remedies. He pointed out that ahead of the suspension order, he already told the Senate secretary to hold his salary as a matter of principle. “Even prior to the issuance of the Sandiganbayan’s order today, I have already taken clear and deliberate steps to demonstrate that…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  Nine senators led by Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, June 16, filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking to declare null and void the June 3 Senate session that installed Win Gatchalian as acting Senate president and reorganized the leadership posts and committee chairmanships. The petitioners are Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Robin Padilla, Camille Villar, and former Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales. They asked the court to recognize Cayetano as Senate president and Legarda as Senate president pro tempore. Cayetano clarified that his group’s petition was not about the leadership as it is about preserving the institutional independence of the Senate. Senators Joel Villanueva and Mark Villar were not in the list of petitioners. They have been identified with the Gatchalian bloc.  In a Facebook livestream on Tuesday, Cayetano hinted that the Gatchalian bloc may have…

Metro Manila, Philippines – A former lawmaker facilitated a media briefing on Tuesday, June 16, that presented more so-called witnesses to the flood control project kickback deliveries to beneficiaries, including two new names of officials. Former Rep. Mike Defensor insisted on calling the presentation a “blue ribbon committee hearing” supposedly announced by the bloc of Sen. Alan Cayetano, but there were no senators present.  He said there may have been a “misunderstanding” with some lawmakers, though Sen. Imee Marcos was earlier seen attempting to enter the venue, while Sen. Robin Padilla visited the venue on Monday for an ocular.  Meanwhile, lawyer Levi Baligod brought with him 22 witnesses who claimed to be former bodyguards of expelled Rep. Zaldy Co. Earlier reports mentioned 18 of the bagmen; four new witnesses were introduced at the event.  He said they came at the invitation of Senators Pia Cayetano and Rodante Marcoleta, former chairperson…