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Metro Manila, Philippines – The Taguig City prosecutor’s office has dismissed the perjury complaint filed by Vice President Sara Duterte against Ramil Madriaga, a self-confessed bagman, for “lack of prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty to conviction.” The resolution was signed on Sept. 2, but was only made available to the media on Thursday, Sept. 10 through Madriaga’s counsel, Raymund Palad.  Prosecutors said Duterte’s complaint had insufficient evidence. “In fine, while complainant has presented evidence disputing respondent’s assertions, the evidence presently on record does not establish prima facie, with reasonable certainty of conviction, that respondent knowingly and willfully made materially false statements under oath in violation of Article 183 of the Revised Penal Code,” the resolution read. Duterte’s complaint stemmed from Madriaga’s affidavit on Nov. 29, 2025, detailing his supposed ties with her, his participation in the presidential security group under former President Rodrigo Duterte and later on with the…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Authorities arrested five paralegals while 23 others were injured during a protest against an investment forum in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City on Thursday, Sept. 10. The rallyists were against the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum hosted by the country, the United States and Japan at the Grand Hyatt Hotel that gathered international investors, industry leaders, and senior government officials to accelerate commercial partnerships and mobilize private sector investment in key hubs in the island group.   Among those arrested were Kenneth Castor, chief of staff of the University of the Philippines Office of the Student Regent; UP Diliman student RC Placido; former AGHAM secretary general Jona Yan; Daya Juliano of Karapatan; and Mara Peralta,  said Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), an alliance of sectoral groups. BAYAN said the five were arrested in the performance of duty as paralegals and assisting protesters.  Protesters pushed against the LEC…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The prosecution has lined up an ex-Sandiganbayan justice, a director from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and an official from the Office of the Ombudsman as initial witnesses in the allegations of unexplained wealth against Vice President Sara Duterte at the impeachment trial. Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, the lead prosecutor in the wealth charge, disclosed the witness list in a press briefing on Thursday, Sept. 10. Ridon said the prosecution has asked the Impeachment Court to subpoena former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang, Karen Batu from the ombudsman central records division, and SEC company registration and monitoring department director Gerardo del Rosario on Sept. 14 to 15. Batu and Del Rosario are on the pre-trial order issued by the court, while Cabotaje-Tang is a new witness identified by the prosecution. Ridon said the former Sandiganbayan justice will discuss principles governing accountability, integrity in public…

Metro Manila, Philippines — Five casualties were initially reported following a fire onboard the MV June Aster in the waters off Coron, Palawan, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Wednesday night, Sept. 9. PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the five casualties had been brought to the Barangay Turda Covered Court in Coron as of 11:10 p.m. They will be turned over to the Coron Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office for proper disposition. The PCG said 42 individuals were also rescued from the vessel as search and rescue operations continued in the area. The fire broke out about 1.2 nautical miles northeast of Barangay Marcilla in Coron.

Metro Manila, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has left the country amid investigations into allegations against him, with the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and his Senate colleagues saying there was no legal impediment to his departure. In a statement on Thursday, Sept. 10, the BI confirmed that Cayetano and his sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, “are currently out of the country.” “Based on BI records, there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against the two senators, as of departure date, that would legally prevent them from leaving the country,” the bureau said.  It issued the statement after the Cayetanos were spotted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday, with reports saying they had flown to Singapore. The bureau did not disclose further details about their trip, citing the Data Privacy Act. The National Bureau of Investigation is looking into Alan Cayetano’s role in alleged irregularities…