Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
China Coast Guard’s ‘monster ship’ expected to return to Sabina Shoal
After leaving last week, China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” is likely to return to Escoda (Sabina) Shoal, a West Philippine Sea monitor said on Friday.
SeaLight director Ray Powell said the CCG vessel with bow number 5901 left the shoal as part of its “normal rotation.”
Guo wants DOJ to junk human trafficking rap vs her
The camp of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss the qualified human trafficking complaint against her.
According to Guo, the complainants failed to establish her connection to human trafficking in Bamban since the only evidence of her supposed involvement were “mere electric bills and documents” of Baofu Land Development, Inc.
Dela Rosa: Senate must stand independent on ICC ‘drug war’ probe
Sen. Bato dela Rosa is hoping that the Senate would “not bow down its head” to the Palace should it allow the entry of International Criminal Court (ICC) “drug war” investigators into the Philippines and grant the issuance of an arrest warrant against him.
As the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the height of the Duterte administration’s brutal campaign against illegal drugs, dela Rosa is one of the people accused in the crimes against humanity complaint filed with the ICC due to former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war.
Darwin Dormitorio slay case: 3 ex-PMA cadets guilty of murder, hazing
Three former Philippine Military Academy cadets were found guilty over the 2019 hazing and death of then-Cadet 4th Class Darwin Dormitorio, his brother confirmed on Friday.
In a Viber message sent to INQUIRER, Dormitorio’s brother Dexter said the Baguio Regional Trial Court Branch 5 found Shalimar Imperial and Felix Lumbag Jr. guilty of murder and hazing.
PSA: P13,873/month budget for basic needs enough for family
The Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA) said that a Filipino family of five members only needed nearly P14,000 per month to meet their minimum basic food and nonfood requirements last year.
In its 2023 official poverty statistics, the PSA noted that a five-member family can be considered “not poor” if their minimum basic food and nonfood expenses were not less than or below P13,873 per month.