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
HAPPENING TOMORROW: CAN THE ICC TRY DUTERTE FOR THE KILLINGS?
The International Criminal Court’s appeals chamber will decide on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, if the court has jurisdiction over the case of killings in the Philippines.
The ruling will dictate the future of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s case. If the ICC upholds it has jurisdiction, that would remove the roadblock to a potential trial. If the appeals chamber favors Duterte, he may be allowed to go home.
The separate decision on whether there will be a trial is expected end of April.
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NEWS UPDATE: The Office of the Ombudsman requests for a precautionary hold departure order against former speaker Martin Romualdez over plunder, graft, direct and indirect bribery, and money laundering cases with the Sandiganbayan on Tuesday, April 21.
"The Office of the Ombudsman has officially asked the Sandiganbayan for a Precautionary Hold Departure Order on the former Speaker," the Office of the Ombudsman says. "While the cases are pending before the Office of the Ombudsman, the teams find it necessary to seek this remedy so as not to jeopardize the cases," it adds.
LOOK: The Ombudsman's request for a Precautionary Hold Departure Order against former speaker Martin Romualdez
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Zaldy Co still detained in Czech Republic
Fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co is still under the custody of Czech authorities, acting justice Secretary Fredderick Vida says on Tuesday, April 21.
"It’s a factual setting na nandoon sa kustodiya ng Czech authorities si [former] congressman Zaldy Co," Vida says.
When asked whether the government will either go through deportation or extradition, Vida says they are still determining the best option to bring Co home. He adds that there is information confirming that Co is a Portuguese passport holder.
I hope they will produce a photo of Zaldy Co in detention or at least a video of Czech government official confirming Zaldy Co is really in detention
DUTERTE CASE: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE ICC HEARING TODAY
The International Criminal Court’s appeals chamber will decide on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, if the court has jurisdiction over the case of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte.
Here are key dates to watch out for, and what Filipinos can expect.
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Romualdez still in the Philippines — immigration
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) tells Rappler on Wednesday, April 22, that it has no record of former speaker Martin Romualdez leaving the country.
“As of this time, Rep. Martin Romualdez has no recorded attempt to depart the country,” BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval says.
Romualdez is supposed to fly overseas for a medical treatment on April 20, but the Office of the Ombudsman has requested for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) on April 21.
Romualdez’s staff also tells Rappler on Wednesday that the former speaker is still in the country.
If the Sandiganbayan grants the request, there will be a basis to block Romualdez from leaving. But for now, there is no legal order that can stop the former speaker.
There are pending complaints for plunder, graft, money laundering, and direct and indirect bribery over the flood control mess. The complaints are still at the preliminary investigation level, which means a case has yet to be filed against the former speaker.
SC asks Malacañang to comment on petition asking BBM to disclose health status
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 22, says it is requiring the Malacañang to comment on the petition filed by former lawmaker Pantaleon Alvarez and others asking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to disclose health status.
Asking for a comment on a petition is part of the standard procedures in cases that reached the High Court.
However, it must be noted that the SC did not even ask the Duterte cabinet for a comment in 2020, when lawyer Dino de Leon filed a similar petition with the SC. De Leon had asked the High Court to require former president Rodrigo Duterte to disclose his health status amid health rumors.
The SC dismissed De Leon’s petition in 2020, without even asking the Malacañang for a comment.
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ICC appeals chamber so far denies 3 out of 4 grounds in former president Rodrigo Duterte's challenge on jurisdiction.
The five judges are unanimous in junking the arguments in the first ground, which covers interpretation of certain Rome Statute provisions.
On the second ground, however, the judges voted in majority because Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze of Georgia had dissented. He is the same judge who dissented in the jurisdiction issue in 2023.
The judges also rejected the Duterte's arguments on the third ground, which covers Article 127 of the Rome Statute.
The Appeals Chamber also denies the fourth ground.
No Duterte comeback: ICC Appeals Chamber upholds jurisdiction over Duterte's cases
The ICC Appeals Chamber on Wednesday, April 22, denies former president Rodrigo Duterte's challenge on the jurisdiction of his cases. This means the Pre-Trial Chamber (PTC), which handles Duterte's crimes against humanity cases, still has the authority to hear the said charges.
This also means that Duterte will remain detained at The Hague while the PTC has yet to confirm the charges against the former president.
Thats good news!
Please read @Lian Buan - Rappler's story:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/icc-appeals-chamber-clears-way-possible-duterte-trial-april-2026/
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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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