Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Alfredo Pascual resigns as trade secretary
Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual resigned from his post, the Palace said on Wednesday.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), Pascual resigned from his post to return to the private sector.
Trillanes sues Rep. Duterte, VP’s husband, ex-BOC head for drug smuggling
Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV filed a drug smuggling case before the Department of Justice on Wednesday against Davao City First District Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, Atty. Mans Carpio – the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, former Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon, and several other personalities allegedly involved in the P6.4 billion shabu shipment seized in 2017.
Also named respondents are Taiwanese businessman Charlie Tan, some Davao local officials, a Taiwanese businessman and a retired military official from Davao.
8 areas in Cavite under state of calamity due to oil spill
Eight areas in Cavite were placed under a state of calamity after the oil spill from the sunken MT Terra Nova reached the province’s coastline, Governor Jonvic Remulla announced on Wednesday.
“The oil spill reached the coastal areas of Cavite. Affected are the municipalities of Bacoor, Kawit, Noveleta, Rosario, Tanza, Naic, Maragondon, and Ternate. As of today, the province is declaring a STATE OF CALAMITY in these areas,” Remulla said in Filipino in a Facebook post.
Escudero on $500-M military aid from US: PH needs it
The United States’ provision of $500 million military aid to the Philippines shows they are “equal partners in maintaining peace, freedom of navigation, and a rules-based approach to differences,” Senate President Francis Escudero said on Wednesday.
In a message to reporters, Escudero also said the military aid is “unprecedented assistance and investment” that the Philippines “has been needing.”
Duterte’s order on offshore gaming ‘ill-advised’ – Enrile
Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s executive order allowing online gambling operators to make games available overseas was “ill-advised,” the Marcos administration’s Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Juan Ponce Enrile said on Wednesday.
Enrile attended the House of Representatives’ hearing on Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) to accompany his daughter, Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (Ceza) Administrator Katrina Ponce Enrile, who explained that there are no Pogos within their jurisdiction.
Villanueva bares reports linking more local execs to illegal Pogos
At least three or four more local chief executives from the National Capital Region, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon may be involved in the operations of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) in the country, according to “raw” information received by Sen. Joel Villanueva’s office.
Speaking at a Kapihan sa Senado forum on Wednesday, Villanueva emphasized that the complaints he received are still unverified.
Dela Rosa: ICC can do whatever it wants, I’m not bothered
The International Criminal Court (ICC) can do whatever it wants, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said on Wednesday.
Finally breaking his silence, the senator responded to Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra’s statement that the Philippine government could not stop the ICC’s prosecutor from interviewing suspects in the alleged crimes against humanity committed during the time of former President Rodrigo Duterte.