INQToday: Shiela Guo ‘unreliable’ to be state witness vs Alice – Remulla

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Shiela Guo ‘unreliable’ to be state witness vs Alice – Remulla

Shiela Guo is “unreliable” to be a state witness against dismissed Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said on Wednesday.

In a press conference held after the Senate deliberated on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Justice (DOJ), Remulla told reporters that he does not believe Shiela.

DOJ-NPS recommends charges vs Shiela Guo, Cassandra Ong

The Department of Justice-National Prosecution Service (NPS) has recommended filing charges against Shiela Guo—earlier identified as the sister of dismissed Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo—and Cassandra Li Ong.

Based on a resolution issued on Tuesday, government prosecutors approved the filing of cases against Shiela for violations of Article 150 of the Revised Penal Code for Disobedience to Summons issued by the Senate and Section 22, paragraph (b)(2) of Republic Act (RA) No. 11983 for allegedly using a false Philippine passport.

Remulla: Protection order can’t prevail over arrest order vs. Quiboloy

The temporary protection order (TPO) granted to Apollo Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) “can’t prevail” over the warrant of arrest issued against him.

This statement comes from Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla when the issue was raised at a Senate budget hearing on Wednesday.

DILG to clarify Quiboloy court protection order, hunt continues

Motions to the court clarifying the validity of the Temporary Protection Order (TPO) granted to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) will be filed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos Jr. made the pronouncement Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 on Tuesday issued a TPO telling the police to stop any act that “threatens the life, liberty or security” of the religious group’s members.

Teodoro seeks wider scope of defense treaty with US

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Tuesday that the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between the Philippines and the United States needs to have a wider scope to serve as a better deterrent against what he described as a “cunning” adversary.

Teodoro made this remark about the treaty between Manila and Washington, which calls for each other’s defense in case of an armed attack, during a forum organized by the United States’ Indo-Pacific Command.

Espenido: Dela Rosa order for Albuera drug cleanup meant killing suspects

Police Col. Jovie Espenido, a central figure in the Duterte administration’s drug war, on Wednesday claimed that then-Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa’s order to rid Albuera, Leyte of illegal drugs meant “killing” people linked to the trade.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives quad-committee, Espenido said Dela Rosa called him up at the start of then-President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2016 to ask for his help in the drug war.

2 new mpox cases reported in PH; total rises to 14

Two more cases of mpox (formerly monkeypox) were reported in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

This figure brings the total number of mpox cases to 14 since July 2022.