Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Mary Jane Veloso clemency by Marcos? Indonesia open to that – DFA
The Indonesian government is open to the possibility of allowing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to grant drug convict Mary Jane Veloso clemency, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega said.
Veloso, who is on death row, is anticipated to return to the Philippines although her legal custody would remain under Indonesia.
House probe: OVP, DepEd CFs received by same man, different signatures
Offices under Vice President Sara Duterte are facing another issue as the same person received two different acknowledgment receipts (ARs) for confidential fund expenditures, but showed different handwriting and signature styles.
At the sixth hearing of the House of Representatives committee on good government and public accountability held on Wednesday, Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong showed two confidential fund (CF) ARs — one for the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and one for the Department of Education (DepEd) — which were both received by a certain Kokoy Villamin.
OVP exec warned: Interfering with House hearings merits contempt order
An Office of the Vice President (OVP) official has been warned that interfering with House of Representatives hearings would eventually merit a contempt citation, as officials ordered to show up at the congressional probe were given travel orders.
During the House of Representatives’ committee hearing on good government and public accountability on Wednesday, Abang Lingkod party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen Paduano claimed that it seems the OVP is hiding its personnel needed for the panel’s probe into alleged fund misuse.
Austin reveals existence of ‘US Task Force Ayungin’
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III revealed the existence of a “U.S. Task Force Ayungin” as Washington continuously vows to prop-up Manila in its West Philippine Sea disputes with Beijing.
Austin said he met with US service members who are members of this task force as he visited the Command and Control Fusion Center in Palawan province on Tuesday.
PNP chief says anti-drug campaign to be ‘recalibrated, rights-based’
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil said they were “recalibrating” their anti-drug campaign to “ensure a humane and rights-based approach.”
On Wednesday, Marbil told the media, “The mission is clear: to conduct intensified operations, ensure successful prosecution, and foster public awareness on the harmful effects of drugs in close partnership with our communities.”