Justice and Crime ⚖️
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On this rare occasion, Supreme Court Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh sits down with Rappler justice reporter Jairo Bolledo to talk about her personal battles, as well as her push for legal reforms and gender equality in the government. Watch @here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mssybGJNiaI
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JUST IN. Ex-speaker Martin Romualdez is now barred from leaving the Philippines after the Sandiganbayan 7th Division grants the precautionary hold departure order request of the Office of the Ombudsman.
Romualdez faces plunder, graft, money laundering, and direct and indirect bribery complaints over alleged involvement in the flood control mess.
A PHDO has the power to block a person’s travel even though the legal action against him/her is at the complaint level only.
BREAKING: Duterte is going to trial. The ICC pre-trial chamber has just confirmed all charges.
Read: The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber's ruling that confirms all charges against Duterte.
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Read the full story here: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/icc-appeals-chamber-confirms-duterte-charges-april-2026/
Ombudsman asks for travel ban vs Escudero over plunder, graft complaints
The Office of the Ombudsman asks for a precautionary hold departure order against Senator Chiz Escudero over plunder, graft, and bribery complaints filed against him.
Ombudsman Boying Remulla tells Rappler that they filed the petition on Friday, April 24. If granted, the PHDO has the power to block Escudero from leaving the country amid the probe.
LOOK: The precautionary hold departure order against Senator Chiz Escudero and his business associate, Maynard Ngu, which bar them from traveling overseas.
They face plunder, graft, and bribery complaints over the flood control mess, according to Ombudsman Boying Remulla.
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The High Court on Tuesday, April 28, resumes oral arguments on the recognition of foreign divorce in the Philippines. Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/AFBLIgmeRVs?si=Da04fdVLAbAT68bt
Good afternoon! The Supreme Court on Tuesday, April 28, resumes oral arguments on the recognition of foreign divorce in the Philippines. Divorce is not allowed in the Philippines, but local laws allow Filipinos married to foreigners to obtain divorce abroad which can be locally recognized. This case aims to further clarify the local laws that recognize divorce obtained elsewhere.
I am covering the hearings today. Please tune in for appdates.
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You can watch the oral arguments here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFBLIgmeRVs
Congress must past law addressing divorce-related problems – SolGen
Solicitor General Darlene Marie Berberabe says there is a considerable amount of problems rooted from divorce that our Congress must address. She says a law should be passed to answer these problems and straighten out the concerns on divorce.
Berberabe, in the earlier oral arguments, had explained that there is no divorce locally not because of statutory prohibition, but rather because policies do not provide a mechanism to avail oneself of absolute divorce.
Expert: Recognition of foreign divorce not public policy violation
University of the Philippines law professor Elizabeth Aguilingan Pangalangan, an expert on laws on persons and family relations, reiterates that the recognition of foreign divorce in the country is not a violation of public policy. She reiterates that our laws – Family Code in particular – already recognizes divorce with a foreigner obtained abroad.
Pangalangan is an amicus curiae (friend of the court) or a sitting expert in the foreign divorce petition.
Local youth groups in Dumaguete City
called for justice and government response to the killing of nine civilians involved in the recent military encounter at Toboso, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday, April 28.
Kabataan Partylist Deputy Chief of Staff Hayme Alegre said that he hopes the death of Toboso 19 would encourage more youth to immerse in far-flung communities who need their help.
“Ang mga kabataan na ito ay nagpapatuloy sa pananaliksik at ipanapataas ang kamulatan ng mga tao dito sa Negros,” Alegre said.
Students and other members of the community also offered their messages and lit candles during a prayer vigil. via Kean Bagaipo/Mover
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SC denies petition compelling Senate to act on VP Sara’s 2025 impeachment ‘forthwith’
The Supreme Court (SC) en banc unanimously dismisses the petition seeking to compel the Senate to immediately act on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment in 2025.
“Contrary to the petitioner’s claim, the SC found that the Senate acted on the impeachment complaint in a timely manner,” the SC says.
“The SC clarified that the term ‘forthwith’ in Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution means within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each case. This allows the Senate to make the necessary preparations to convene as an impeachment court,” the SC adds.
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SC denies petition compelling Senate to act on VP Sara’s 2025 impeachment ‘forthwith’
The Supreme Court (SC) en banc unanimously dismisses the petition seeking to compel the Senate to immediately act on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment in 2025.
“Contrary to the petitioner’s claim, the SC found that the Senate acted on the impeachment complaint in a timely manner,” the SC says.
“The SC clarified that the term ‘forthwith’ in Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution means within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each case. This allows the Senate to make the necessary preparations to convene as an impeachment court,” the SC adds.
Ex-broadcaster Jay Sonza arrested over cyber libel
Duterte supporter and former broadcaster Jay Sonza is arrested over cyber libel on Thursday, April 30 in Quezon City, National Bureau of Investigation chief Melvin Matibag confirms to Rappler.
Matibag confirms the case is related to alleged defamatory remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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Photo by NBI
SC voids ex-Overall Deputy Ombudsman Art Carandang’s Duterte-time dismissal Two points: 1. The President – in this case, Duterte – has no administrative or disciplinary powers over a Deputy Ombudsman. "Allowing the President to unilaterally discipline officials charged with investigating potential wrongdoing within the administration invites retaliation, coercion, and the suppression of oversight, conditions fundamentally at odds with transparency and accountability," the SC says. 2. Carandang did not commit graft when he mentioned in a media interview details about allegedly anomalous bank transaction records related to the former president.
LOOK: On World Press Freedom Day, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) lead a "Walk For Freedom and Justice" at the UP Diliman Academic Oval today, May 3.
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