The Wire

They Used the Embassy's Name to Scam Us — Here's How to Protect Yourself

Live coverage — House of Representatives — stream ended.

Live coverage — House of Representatives — stream ended.

Live coverage — Senate of the Philippinrd — stream ended.

The Catholic Church's social action arm has opposed the proposed Pax Silica Industrial Hub in Capas, Tarlac, saying the project is advancing without clear public answers on who will control it, where its energy and water will come from, or how much public money and land will be committed, according to Caritas Philippines president Bishop Gerardo Alminaza.

"It is being advanced without clear public answers on who will control it, where its enormous energy and water requirements will come from, how much public money and land will be committed, and which communities will bear its environmental and social costs," Alminaza said in a statement.

The 1,620-hectare hub is being built under Pax Silica, a 23-member U.S.-led coalition formed to secure semiconductor and AI supply chains. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. touted it on July 27 as a centerpiece of his economic agenda. Alminaza said the site is home to Aeta Indigenous families, farmers and rural communities whose rights "must come before corporate and geopolitical interests," and warned Pax Silica must not become a pretext for land conversion or displacement, Interaksyon reports.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines on Sunday criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for remarks made July 30, saying she denigrated news organizations and promoted social media as an alternative to mainstream journalism.

Duterte said Philippine news organizations fell short of international standards and accused them of prioritizing money over progress. "If we continue worshipping money, there won't be any real change happening in our country," she said, citing journalism and mainstream media among sectors affected.

The NUJP defended the integrity of Philippine media, highlighting its recognition for quality reporting and condemning what it called Duterte's attempt to control information and undermine independent journalism, Victor Barreiro Jr. reports for RAPPLER.

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The impeachment court convened on Senate Impeachment Trial as Presiding Officer Francis Escudero was sworn in to lead proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. The prosecution, led by counsel Lino Kapunan, moved immediately to present admissions both parties have stipulated: the Office of the Vice President received fixed quarterly amounts of 125 million pesos in the first, second and third quarters of 2023, and that Gina Acosta served as the OVP's Special Dispersing Officer during that period. The amounts were paid by the Philippine Treasury, prosecutors said. Escudero asked defence counsel to clarify the exact date of one encashment, noting it could not predate the check itself.

Live coverage — House of Representatives — stream ended.

The prosecution said it will call Commission on Audit representatives as its next witnesses to testify on the liquidation reports submitted by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, a spokesperson for the panel told reporters speaking on House of Representatives.

The spokesperson said the abnormal withdrawal pattern — single transactions of 125 million and 37.5 million pesos, against a normal baseline the Land Bank managers described as roughly 100,000 pesos — appeared to follow a quarterly calendar rather than any operational need.

"Bakit kailangan mag-widro ng minsanan? … Parang calendar based," the spokesperson said ["Why was it necessary to withdraw all at once? … It seemed calendar-based"].

The COA witnesses, the spokesperson said, will allow the court to see whether the confidential funds were actually used for the specific lawful purposes permitted under the relevant rules.

Speaking on House of Representatives, a prosecutor noted the contrast between VP Duterte naming a hitman abroad and the backlash former vice president Leni Robredo faced for criticising the drug war overseas.

"During the father of VP ,Sara Duterte,they called out statements issued by the former vice president, Sileny Robredo. In fact, they were angry," the prosecutor said, noting Robredo was accused of painting the Philippines in a bad light. "But what the vice-president was saying was based on data that she was holding onto. She had documents to show."

The prosecutor stressed that Robredo's claims about extrajudicial killings were supported by evidence, whereas the current accusations focus on Duterte's own statements naming a contracted hitman.

A prosecutor said on House of Representatives that Vice President Sara Duterte made unexpected statements during the impeachment trial that went beyond what the prosecution anticipated in its opening article.

The prosecutor, speaking in a media briefing, said Duterte disclosed she had threats against three unnamed high-ranking officials and that she had contracted individuals — admissions the prosecution did not expect at that stage of the trial.

"Nakakagulat" [shocking], the prosecutor said, adding the statements painted an unexpected picture of the Vice President's security situation and her relations with armed figures.

Live coverage — House of Representatives — stream ended.

Live coverage — House of Representatives — stream ended.

Bishop René Ramirez, a Filipino-born member of the Rogationist order, was installed Thursday to lead Australia's Diocese of Sandhurst, calling in his first homily for renewed evangelization and "courageous" leadership as the diocese confronts shrinking congregations and weakening ties to younger Catholics.

Ramirez, 57, who previously served as an auxiliary bishop in Melbourne, was installed during a Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo, Victoria. "Guided by the Spirit, we will give priority to evangelization," he said. "This is at the heart of the Church's mission, helping people rediscover and encounter Jesus Christ."

Ramirez acknowledged the diocese's challenges, saying some communities are becoming smaller and connections with younger generations have weakened. He pledged to make parishes "more invitational," with emphasis on supporting families and forming young disciples, and asked for patience as the diocese tries new approaches. "I will sometimes make mistakes, and I ask in advance for your patience and forgiveness," he said.

Ramirez was born in Gapan, Nueva Ecija, entered the Rogationist congregation in 1985, and was ordained a priest in 1998, Interaksyon reports.

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Rules, Carriers, and Coast Guards: The WPS Flashpoint Moment

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issued a new executive order to strengthen the electric vehicle sector, according to a Palace announcement on RTVM. The order will establish the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy Program, designed to encourage major companies to manufacture and sell EVs in the Philippines.

Under the scheme, companies that invest in local EV production will receive tax incentive certificates as inducements. The Palace said the program aims to create jobs across engineering, manufacturing, logistics and supply sectors, while reducing the country's dependence on imported vehicles and boosting domestic manufacturing capacity.

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Speaking on House of Representatives, the prosecution's spokesperson, Zia Alonto Adiong, responded to Vice President Sara Duterte's comments about hiring someone to kill a rival, saying the remarks reveal troubling intent.

"The last thing I think any person being investigated on threats to do would be to talk about threats," Adiong said. He added: "I think the Vice President has a violent mind."

Adiong noted that Duterte's remarks came shortly after the prosecution concluded Article Four of the impeachment charge, which concerns threats and violence. He framed her comments as evidence she understands the nature of street-level violence — and suggested she may have knowledge of extrajudicial killings.

Vice President Sara Duterte made a public statement yesterday claiming she has a husband with a mistress and could hire someone for 45,000 pesos to kill the woman, according to an account presented during the House of Representatives impeachment proceedings.

A prosecutor cited the alleged statement to challenge the defence's characterisation of complainants in the case as victims of the drug war. "How can you say that all your listed victims, all your listed complainants are supposed victims of the drug war," the prosecutor asked, noting the president's own public remarks on contract killing.

Vice President Duterte has not responded to this account on the broadcast.

Bank documents submitted to the Senate today will corroborate evidence already revealed in the Justice Committee hearings on the Anti-Money Laundering Council report, according to a spokesperson for the House prosecution panel.

The records will show actual cash flows into and out of accounts held by Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband between 2019 and 2024, and whether those flows were reflected in declared tax payments and financial statements, the prosecutor said speaking on House of Representatives.

"This will be confirmatory of what you can do from the AMLC," he said. "We will see in the next course of the proceedings how these funds were actually used."

Live coverage — House of Representatives — stream ended.

Standing on Law, Not Might: The Philippines’ Moment in the West Philippine Sea

Day 10 : Senate hears bank witness on cash withdrawals tied to Duterte impeachment

The Philippines on Wednesday presented its claim for seabed rights in the West Philippine Sea before the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, seeking recognition of its authority over the seafloor and subsoil beyond 200 nautical miles from its baselines but no farther than 350 nautical miles, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

The claim, formally deposited with the UN in June 2024, caps a 15-year effort by Manila. If approved, it would confer sovereign rights to oil, gas and minerals on and under the seafloor in the West Palawan Region, though it would not expand Philippine territory or grant additional fishing rights. Ambassador Enrique Manalo led the delegation, which included the Extended Continental Shelf Technical Working Group and academics from the University of the Philippines.

In its presentation, the Philippines asked the commission to factor in the 2016 arbitral award that voided China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea. The DFA said the submission reflects the country's commitment to the UN Charter and the rules-based order, describing it as part of efforts "to secure a peaceful South China Sea through the rule of law, Cristina Chi reports for philstar.com.