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Vice President Sara Duterte visited Mati City a day after a powerful earthquake struck the region, leaving several casualties and widespread damage. In an interview with local reporters, Duterte expressed deep sympathy for the victims and emphasized the importance of disaster readiness. “We visited friends and families here in Mati and helped facilitate the transport…
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Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel “Babe” Romualdez revealed that the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. was recently the target of a sophisticated phone hacking incident involving fake messages sent from unregistered numbers—some impersonating him. In a strongly worded column published in The Philippine Star, Romualdez disclosed that fraudulent messages were allegedly sent…
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A coalition of Filipino-American leaders has called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to allocate part of a $250 million U.S. humanitarian aid package to support an estimated 50,000 Filipino Amerasians—children born to American military personnel and Filipino mothers during the era of U.S. bases in the Philippines. In an open letter dated October 10, the…
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In the wake of a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Davao Oriental on October 10, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered all frontline government agencies to launch round-the-clock rescue and relief operations to aid affected communities. Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez confirmed the directive, emphasizing that the President’s paramount concern is the…
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The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), through its Office of Public Diplomacy (OPD), held the second session of its Media and Information Literacy Program (MILP) titled “Talk with Impact: Strategies for Effective Media Engagement”, aimed at enhancing the communication skills of its personnel. The seminar, conducted in partnership with the Public Relations Society of the…
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Malacañang has thrown its full support behind a sweeping anti-corruption measure that would permanently bar contractors, suppliers, and project consultants found guilty of repeated violations in government infrastructure projects. In a press briefing on Thursday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro announced that the Palace is backing the lifetime disqualification of erring entities under Republic…
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As Western sanctions continue to isolate Russia from global financial systems, the Kremlin is turning to one of its most enduring assets: gold. With prices climbing steadily on the international market, Russia’s vast reserves are proving to be a strategic lifeline in an increasingly constrained economic landscape. According to a recent analysis published by Pravda,…
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In a fiery and emotionally charged statement, Davao City Rep. Paolo Z. Duterte denounced the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) recent decision to deny interim release for his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, calling it “a gross and disgraceful miscarriage of justice.” The ICC ruling, handed down on October 10, rejected the elder Duterte’s request for…
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Defense Undersecretary for Acquisitions and Resource Management Salvador Melchor B. Mison, Jr. welcomed Mr. Ben Merrick, Director of International Security of the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, during a courtesy call held today at Camp Aguinaldo. The meeting highlighted the growing defense partnership between the Philippines and the United Kingdom, with both officials expressing optimism…
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The International Criminal Court (ICC) has denied former Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s urgent and renewed requests for interim release, according to a newly published redacted decision dated September 26, 2025. The ruling, issued by the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber, comes as part of the ongoing case ICC-01/21-01/25 concerning alleged crimes committed during Duterte’s controversial anti-drug…
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The Bench Files 