Justice and Crime ⚖️
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Hi everyone! August 27 marks 10 years since members of the Iglesia ni Cristo flocked to EDSA in 2015 to protest what they said was government meddling in their church’s internal affairs. For five days, the busy highway became the stage of a massive demonstration that grabbed national attention and sparked heated debates about religion, politics, and power. Rappler (led by our investigative editor @Chay Hofileña - Rappler) dug into the controversies, alleged abuses, and the calls for accountability that surfaced during the crisis. Ten years later, our stories remain a window into how those events shook one of the country’s most powerful churches. Revisit our coverage from 2015 and see how we captured that turning point in INC history! P.S Don’t forget to join Rappler+ to read these stories below from our archives. https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/inc-protest-controversy-reports-anniversary-2025/
BREAKING: Drug war whistleblower and former police colonel Royina Garma has arrived from the Philippines from California, United States, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced on Saturday, September 6.
Garma has no warrants yet in the country, so she will not be detained by local authorities. But, the former Duterte ally is facing murder and frustrated murder complaints over the five-year-old killing case of her fellow retired police officer and PCSO official Wesley Barayuga.
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Welcome back, Madam—ingat lang po. 😟
UPDATE: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla confirms to reporters that drug war whistleblower Royina Garma is in Malaysia to meet with representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to be a witness in the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. The justice secretary said that it was for the best that the ICC kept Garma away from the Philippines due to the possibility that her life could be in danger. According to the Bureau of Immigration, Garma returned to the country on Saturday, September 6, and then left for Malaysia on Sunday, September 7.
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DUTERTE PRE-TRIAL HEARING POSTPONED. The ICC pre-trial chamber has postponed what would have been the September 23 confirmation of charges hearing of former president Rodrigo Duterte, granting the request of the defense team which argued that Duterte "is not fit to stand trial." Story soon on rappler.com
DUTERTE PRE-TRIAL HEARING POSTPONED. The ICC pre-trial chamber has postponed what would have been the September 23 confirmation of charges hearing of former president Rodrigo Duterte, granting the request of the defense team which argued that Duterte "is not fit to stand trial." Story soon on rappler.com
A delaying tactic. How was the defense team able to convince the ICC?
Duterte’s medical situation is “progressively deteriorating,” says his lead defense lawyer Nicholas Kaufman. STATEMENT OF NICHOLAS KAUFMAN SEPTEMBER 9, 2025 “The hearing on the confirmation of charges has been postponed and the reason for this has been disclosed by the judges. Ever since his precipitous and traumatic rendition, the Defence has been struggling with the former President’s progressively deteriorating medical situation which has affected his ability to assimilate the evidence and to give his lawyers proper instructions. Out of respect for the former President’s legacy, the Defence would not raise such a plea were it not supported by leading medical experts including one not selected by the Defence. All litigants - Prosecution, Defence and the Office of the Public Counsel for Victims agree that the matter requires judicial determination and for anyone to suggest otherwise would be a malicious insult to all those involved and affected. While the former President remains in good spirits, his age and the conditions of detention have taken their toll on him. The Defence sincerely hopes that the current administration which sought fit to outsource its obligation to afford the former President a fair trial in the country of his birth will now let him return home, with dignity, for the purpose of interim release until the end of all legal proceedings”.
Read the full story here: https://www.rappler.com/philippines/duterte-icc-hearing-postponed-lawyer-says-not-fit-trial/
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Dear Friends, Sharing with you the iDEFEND statement regarding the postponement of Duterte's confirmation of charges hearing at the ICC. FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D15PLexQD/?mibextid=wwXIfr X: https://x.com/idefendhr/status/1965339728540303786?s=46&t=iO_4G2m-2muTfBGL6n6IQA
#iDEFENDreacts Please SHARE ABS-CBN News: Defense team seeks Duterte's interim release in PH amid 'deteriorating' health Published September 09, 2025 #DutertePanagutin #EndImpunity
I hope this tactic will not fool PBBM. He should NOT allow FPRRD to return home. If he does, then he will be causing his own downfall. Do not ever trust those DDS! 😡
Acting lang 'yan. 😡
The latest development on Duterte and the ICC in this report by @Lian Buan - Rappler . If the defense asks that Duterte be returned to the Philippines, how would Marcos react? Will he make peace with his VP Sara Duterte? Or will he play hardball and deny the request? What would be better for him politically, especially given all the corruption that has been unearthed recently? https://www.rappler.com/philippines/duterte-cognitive-condition-icc-what-happens-next/ laste @Eriberto T. I see you have an early opinion already on this issue :)
Good morning! The Sandiganbayan’s Special Third Division was supposed to hand down its verdict on Juan Ponce Enrile and Gigi Reyes’ graft case today, September 12.
After over an hour, the Sandiganbayan Division announced that it had deferred the release of the verdict to October 24, 2025.
The anti-graft court said one justice has submitted a reflection and the division needs to ponder on this opinion before releasing the decision.
JUST IN. Ombudsman clears DOJ chief Boying Remulla in cases filed by Imee Marcos
The Office of the Ombudsman has dropped the cases filed by Senator Imee Marcos against DOJ Secretary Boying Remulla, the justice secretary confirmed to Rappler on Friday, September 12.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla – who’s also among the respondents – also confirmed to Rappler their cases’ dismissal.
This decision was crucial because Boying is applying to be the next Ombudsman, but Marcos' cases initially hindered him as rules say that Ombudsman applicants may be disqualified if they have pending cases.
The latest development on Duterte and the ICC in this report by @Lian Buan - Rappler . If the defense asks that Duterte be returned to the Philippines, how would Marcos react? Will he make peace with his VP Sara Duterte? Or will he play hardball and deny the request? What would be better for him politically, especially given all the corruption that has been unearthed recently? https://www.rappler.com/philippines/duterte-cognitive-condition-icc-what-happens-next/ laste @Eriberto T. I see you have an early opinion already on this issue :)
Sorry, Madam. I do not trust FPRRD because he lied so many times in the past. 😡