Latest news with #SONA2025
GMA Network
14 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
SOJ Remulla: There is a new witness in missing sabungeros case
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Tuesday authorities will soon present a new witness in the case of the missing sabungeros that will bolster the credibility of whistleblower Julie 'Dondon' Patidongan alias Totoy. 'Napakahagala. It bolsters the credibility of Totoy,' Remulla said in an ambush interview. ((It's) Very important. It bolsters the credibility of Totoy.) 'Hindi lang ito testimonial evidence. May real evidence na involved dito. Meron dito totoong ebidensya na bukod sa kwento,' he later added. (This is not just testimonial evidence. There is real evidence involved here. There is actual proof aside from the story.) Patidongan, one of the accused in the case, previously told authorities that more than 100 sabungeros were abducted, killed, and then dumped at Taal Lake. According to Remulla, the new witness is a civilian whose name has yet to appear in media reports. Police officer relieved from post Meanwhile, Remulla also met with PNP chief Police General Nicolas Torre III at the Department of Justice main building. He said he extended his gratitude to Torre for agreeing to his request to relieve a service commander from the case. 'Nakiusap ako kay General Torre na i-relieve yung isang service commander at nangyari naman. Kaya ngayon malinaw na naman ang aming landas patungo sa paglutas ng problemang ito,' he said. (I asked General Torre to relieve a service commander and it happened. So now our path toward resolving this problem is once again clear.) The Justice secretary clarified that the service commander was not removed for supposed involvement in the disappearance of the sabungeros, but due to a lack of trust. 'Meron siyang kinilos na hindi ko gusto,' he said. (He did something that I didn't like,) 'Alam ninyo napakahalaga ng gantong tiwala sa prosesong ito. Tiwala ang pinakamahalagang ano dito, magkaroon. Kasi kapag wala kang tiwala, paano magsasalita ang mga tao. Hindi buo ang tiwala. 'Yun lang ang aking sinigurado,' he added. (You know, trust is very important in this process. Trust is the most important thing here, to have. Because if you don't have trust, how will people speak? The trust isn't whole. That's the only thing I made sure of.) He said the service commander is also not among the 12 cops who are accused of being involved in the case. The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) has found probable cause to file an administrative case against these cops. Remulla said he will compare notes with NAPOLCOM vice chairperson and executive officer Atty. Rafael Calinisan regarding the direction of the investigation. Aside from this, he said he will also talk to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week regarding the case. In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025), Marcos said the entire government is doing everything to solve the case of missing sabungeros, noting that even those with influence, who are allegedly involved in the crime, will never be above the law. Meanwhile, Remulla said that the search and retrieval operation at the Taal Lake has also resumed after it was temporarily suspended due to inclement weather. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Bersamin: PH friendly to China but Beijing must compensate
The Philippine government's stance in issues in the West Philippine Sea remains constant as President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. will still not welcome China's aggressions in the region. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin made the assurance after Marcos, in his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025), said the government would remain 'patient' when it comes to protecting the country's rights. 'No, our position in the West Philippine Sea has remained very constant. Hindi siya naghesitate, hindi siya nagbago (It did not become hesitant, it did not change),' Bersamin said. 'We are still friendly to China but China must also compensate. If China continues to be aggressive to many things there against our sovereignty, definitely the President will not welcome that,' he added. Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had "no legal basis." However, China has refused to recognize the ruling and continues its hostile actions in the region. Marcos has been consistent in saying that the Philippines would never give up a single inch of its territory to foreign aggressors. Aside from that, the Philippine President has always pushed for a rules-based order and the adoption of the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea to ease tensions in the region. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
19 hours ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
68 jailed Filipinos in UAE granted pardon — DFA
A total of 68 Filipinos who were jailed in the United Arab Emirates for various offenses were granted pardon by the UAE government last month, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday. The DFA called the UAE's decision to extend clemency to the Filipinos during the Eid al-adha festival last month a "generous and benevolent gesture." "(It) is a testament to the robust bilateral relations between the Philippines and the UAE and a lasting gift to the families of the pardoned Filipinos," the DFA said in a statement. In his State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025) on Monday, Marcos expressed gratitude to the UAE and other countries in the Middle East, such as Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait, for granting pardon to Filipinos detained in their countries. The Philippines is one of the world's top labor-exporting nations with more than 10 million skilled and unskilled workers scattered abroad, exposing them to abuses, unfair labor practices, and in some cases, civil strife and armed conflict. Remittances from Filipino migrant workers constitute a significant source of the country's foreign exchange as they send home at least $3 billion per year. — Michaela Del Callar/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
SONA 2025: Marcos eyes expanding 'Walang Gutom' program to reach 750K homes
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025) on Monday said that the government aims to help around 600,000 people in the government's Walang Gutom program. "Sa ikalawang taon ng ating Walang Gutom program, mabibigyan ng tulong ang anim na raang libong pinakanangangailangang kabahayan sa kanilang nutrisyon," said Marcos in his speech. (In the second year of our Walang Gutom program, six hundred thousand of the neediest households will be provided with nutritional assistance.) "At sa 2027, dadamihan pa natin sa pitong daan at limampung libong kabahayan ang maaabot ng feeding program natin," Marcos added. (And by 2027, we will increase the number of households reached by our feeding program to seven hundred and fifty thousand.) The President also said that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Education are also working to push the government's nutrition program in schools and day care centers. "Ipinagpapatuloy ng DSWD at ng DepEd ang feeding program nila para sa mga daycare center at pampublikong paaralan, na nakapagbigay ng masustansyang pagkain at gatas sa mahigit tatlo't kalahating milyong mag-aaral sa buong bansa," said Marcos. (DSWD and DepEd continue their feeding program for daycare centers and public schools, which has provided nutritious food and milk to more than three and a half million students nationwide.) "Kung papalawigin pa natin ang mga programang ito, sa susunod na taon, sa tulong ng karagdagang isang bilyong pisong pondo, pararamihin pa ng DSWD ang bilang ng mga batang mabibigyan ng masustansyang pagkain," added Marcos. (If we extend these programs next year, with the help of an additional one billion pesos in funding, the DSWD will further increase the number of children who will be provided with nutritious food," added Marcos.) —VAL, GMA Integrated
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
SONA 2025: Marcos orders inclusion of homeless in 4Ps
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in his State of the Nation Address (SONA 2025) on Monday directed the inclusion of homeless individuals in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and other programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). 'Batid nating lahat ang mga kababayan natin na namumuhay sa lansangan. Sila ang pinaka-nangangailangan ng tulong ng pamahalaan,' Marcos said during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). (We think of our fellow countrymen who are living in the streets. They are the ones in most need of help.) 'Sa ating mga LGU (local government units), hanapin ninyong lahat at ipasok silang lahat sa 4Ps at sa iba pang mga programa ng DSWD. Para naman maitaguyod natin sila at magsimula na ang kanilang paglakbay tungo sa pag-unlad ng kanilang buhay,' he added. (To our LGUs, look for them and include them in the 4Ps and other programs of the DSWD. So, we can help them back on their feet and they can start their journey in improving their lives.) He said that under his administration, more than 5 million families were beneficiaries of the conditional cash grant of the 4Ps. The 4Ps serves as a national poverty reduction strategy and a human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfers to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve the health, nutrition, and education of children aged 0 to 18. Meanwhile, he said that the lives of 500,000 families improved under the program. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
