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Today is May 25th.
Our top story:
The NBI may issue a summons to Senator Robin Padilla. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said Padilla is among the key persons who may be required to provide statements. Padilla may be in a position to help clarify critical details of the timeline, according to the NBI chief. Matibag said Padilla himself admitted that he was with Dela Rosa when they left the Senate last May 14 — hours after the shooting incident inside the Senate building. Padilla said he later dropped Dela Rosa off in Makati City. Another vehicle allegedly picked up the senator. Padilla has denied any wrongdoing. He said he did not know where Dela Rosa went, rejecting claims that he helped the senator evade authorities.
Read more: https://tmt.ph/2350907
The wife of fugitive Senator Bato Dela Rosa is appealing to the judiciary not to be an accessory to bringing her husband to The Hague. Grace Nancy Dela Rosa made the appeal in an open letter to the judiciary which she posted on Facebook. The senator is facing trial for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court. This is related to his alleged involvement in the war against drugs during the Duterte presidency. Grace Dela Rosa says every Filipino must be tried in his own country. She said that granting the people in power permission to voluntarily surrender another Filipino is an admission that the judiciary is weak and incapable of handling the case.
Read more: https://tmt.news/4udQlqV
A majority of Filipinos are willing to support the government in defending Philippine territory. That’s according to an OCTA survey commissioned by the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The survey shows that 76 percent of adult Filipinos support government efforts to assert sovereign rights. However, OCTA noted sharp regional divides on the issue. Respondents were asked if they agreed with the statement: “I love my country, and I am committed to support the government in defending its territory and asserting sovereign rights, including over the West Philippine Sea.” Some regions posted near-unanimous support, while others showed unusually high skepticism. Support was strongest in Metro Manila, where 83 percent agreed with the statement. MIMAROPA, home to Palawan which faces the disputed waters, recorded the highest regional support at 93 percent. In contrast, Central Visayas registered the lowest agreement rate nationwide at just 45 percent. The Davao Region registered the country’s highest disagreement rate at 34 percent — nearly five times the national average of 7 percent. The survey was conducted from March 19 to 25 with 1,200 respondents nationwide.
Former Senator Francis Tolentino is the new acting secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment. This was announced by Malacañang. Tolentino replaces Bienvenido Laguesma, who stepped down due to health reasons. In appointing Tolentino to the post, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro says President Marcos cited Tolentino’s ability and extensive experience in handling important government positions, local or national.
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That’s all for now on The Manila Times’ News Prime. Remember to stay safe, stay informed, and stay connected. I’m Michael Ang. Good night.
