The Union of Peoples’ Lawyers in Mindanao on Friday welcomed the International Criminal Court Appeals Chamber’s decision to deny former President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release while he awaits the confirmation of charges hearing in The Hague.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday urged personnel of local government units (LGUs) and regional offices of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to uphold transparency and accountability in government projects.
Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque remained in The Hague on Tuesday after disembarking from a flight to Austria because doctors had not cleared him to travel.
The Department of Justice told the Eleventh Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in Panama City that the Philippines has comprehensive laws addressing tobacco-related harm. DOJ Senior State Counsel Charadee Caso-Noble said these laws regulate conventional and novel tobacco products, restrict sales to minors, mandate health warnings, and control advertising and public smoking. She said the Inter-Agency Committee on Tobacco coordinates enforcement and that Philippine regulations align with WHO FCTC obligations, undergo periodic review, and include penalties for violations.
Governors from across the Philippines reaffirmed their support for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during a meeting in Malacañang in Manila, where they discussed national programs, local development priorities, and coordination with the national government amid ongoing controversies surrounding the administration, according to the Presidential Communications Office. Malacañang officials said major business groups also maintain their backing for the government’s economic agenda and continue to coordinate with the Office of the President on investments and public-private partnerships. The article details the issues raised by governors, the responses from national agencies, and the follow-up actions that the government plans to undertake with local chief executives and private sector representatives.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has not yet received a court order to cancel the passport of resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co, who faces an arrest warrant. The DFA explained that it can only act on passport cancellations when courts or competent authorities issue formal directives. The agency said it will comply once it receives the required order and confirmed that it coordinates with law enforcement and judicial institutions in handling travel documents of individuals with pending criminal cases.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced on Friday, November 21, 2025, that authorities issued arrest warrants for resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co and 17 other individuals in connection with an undisclosed case. Marcos said law enforcement agencies briefed him on the development and will coordinate to locate and arrest all respondents. He added that the government will monitor the implementation of the warrants and leave case details to the courts and investigating bodies, while directing further questions to the appropriate authorities.
A Philippine court convicted former Bamban, Tarlac mayor Alice Guo under the “organizing trafficking in persons” provision of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, marking the first conviction under this specific section of the law. Prosecutors presented evidence on the alleged organization and management of trafficking activities in Bamban, Tarlac, which authorities investigated and brought to trial. The ruling interpreted and applied the organizing trafficking provision, imposed penalties under the statute, and added a new reference point for future human trafficking prosecutions in the Philippines.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said contractors Curlee and Sarah Discaya will likely be the next to face criminal charges in court over alleged widespread anomalies in flood control projects. He confirmed that the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman are preparing complaints against the couple as part of a broader probe into irregular infrastructure contracts. Authorities continue to review documents, project records, and testimonies and will release more details once prosecutors file the cases.
The Office of the Ombudsman filed graft and corruption charges against former lawmaker Zaldy Co and several Department of Public Works and Highways officials over alleged irregularities in flood control projects in Oriental Mindoro. Prosecutors brought the cases before the Sandiganbayan under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, citing alleged undue injury to the government and unwarranted benefits to contractors. The charge sheets detail questioned DPWH flood mitigation works, procurement procedures, and project implementation in the province. The Sandiganbayan will raffle the cases, issue notices for arraignment, and hear evidence from both the prosecution and the defense.