Could ICC warrants against Duterte allies alter Philippine Senate’s balance of power?

By Raissa Robles A former spokesman for Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the International Criminal Court is preparing to arrest two of the ex-Philippine leader’s closest allies over his administration’s bloody war on drugs. Harry Roque told This Week in Asia that President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr intended to use such arrests to “destroy the [political] […]

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Fugitive ex-Philippine official accuses Marcos of ordering bogus flood control projects

By Raissa Robles A fugitive former Philippine lawmaker has accused President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr of directing him to add 100 billion pesos (US$1.7 billion) worth of dubious public works projects to the national budget, a claim that throws new fuel on the corruption scandal that has dogged his administration for months. Analysts say the explosive […]

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Marcos vows to jail dozens of flood graft-linked politicians by Christmas

MANILA: Many powerful politicians linked to corruption in Philippine flood control projects will be in jail by Christmas, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday, after dozens of officials were named as suspects in a multibillion-dollar graft scandal. Public outrage has grown since August in the Philippines, after an audit ordered by Marcos revealed that […]

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ICC arrest imminent for Duterte’s Philippine drugs war ally Dela Rosa: ombudsman

Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa takes a selfie with Rodrigo Duterte’s supporters in Davao City on March 28. Photo: Reuters The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Philippine Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who oversaw then-president Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, according to the nation’s ombudsman, although the ICC denied the assertion. Duterte, […]

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How Alice Guo saga exposed gaps in Philippine institutional safeguards: ‘prone to abuse’

By Sam Beltran Alice Guo, the controversial former mayor linked to a raided scam hub and accused of faking her Philippine citizenship, is facing 70 new criminal complaints along with her relatives, including document fraud and violations of laws barring foreigners from owning property or running businesses. Analysts say the case highlights how foreign syndicates have […]

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Unrest in Philippine military? Ire of old guard could spell trouble for Marcos

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (right) rides beside military chief General Romeo Brawner Jnr as he reviews troops during the 89th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at military headquarters Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on December 20, 2024. Photo: AP Raissa Robles Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr is facing growing unrest from […]

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Philippine protests: finger-pointing over violence, as hackers, political rivals blamed

By Sam Beltran The finger-pointing over violence purportedly initiated by a black-clad group during Sunday’s protests in the Philippines has led to critics accusing officials of trying to divert attention from mounting outrage at corruption-ridden flood control projects. During demonstrations that stretched from Luneta Park in Manila to the EDSA People Power Monument in Quezon […]

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Crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine President Duterte detailed by court

THE HAGUE: The crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte allege his involvement in the killings of at least 76 people while he was president and earlier a southern mayor, the International Criminal Court has revealed. The first charge cites 19 victims killed while Duterte was mayor of Davao City between 2013 […]

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Philippine protest arrests leave parents seeking answers

MANILA: Anxious Filipino parents braved the rain outside Manila’s police headquarters Monday, after more than 200 people – including dozens of children – were arrested in clashes that erupted during weekend anti-corruption demonstrations. At least 88 minors were among those taken into custody as police deployed water cannon and deafening sirens against crowds of mostly […]

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Philippine military on ‘red alert’ as coup rumours swirl before anti-corruption protests

By Raissa Robles Coup rumours swirled in the Philippine capital over the weekend, with the military placed on “red alert” and all leave for its personnel cancelled, ahead of planned protests against corruption in state-funded flood control projects. Sources close to and within the military confirmed to This Week in Asia that certain private individuals, […]

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