Duterte impeachment trial: Who is defense counsel Roberto Batungbacal?

Inquirer.net - Sep 22, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Among Vice President Sara Duterte’s lawyers before the Senate impeachment court is Roberto Narvasa Batungbacal. Batungbacal is a partner of Bodota & Batungbacal Law Offices, which he manages with fellow defense counsel, lawyer Ralph Bodota. He is also the grandson of the late former Chief Justice Andres Narvasa. WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment

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NCRPO debunks online post on 2 martial law rally deaths

Sep 22, 2026

NCRPO debunks online post on 2 martial law rally deaths

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has denied a post circulating on social media that two individual died during a rally coinciding with the 54th anniversary of the declaration of martial law on Monday. In a statement on Tuesday, the NCRPO said its real-time monitoring and reports from personnel on the ground

Banga lights candles for school shooting victims

Sep 22, 2026

Banga lights candles for school shooting victims

BANGA, South Cotabato — The sleepy town of Banga in South Cotabato continues to mourn the tragic deaths of three students in a campus shooting incident, with local officials and municipal employees lighting candles and offering prayers for the victims Mayor Albert Palencia led municipal officials and employees in the solemn rites held during the

Butuan gears up for clean energy with solar farms, e-trikes

Sep 22, 2026

Butuan gears up for clean energy with solar farms, e-trikes

SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Butuan City is gearing up for a cleaner energy future by developing large-scale solar projects and introducing electric tricycles as part of its long-term strategy to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. A 13-megawatt-peak solar project is expected to begin operations in the fourth quarter of 2026, while plans

Baste Duterte ‘unaware’ sister Sara holds interest in GenCorp Industries

Sep 22, 2026

Baste Duterte ‘unaware’ sister Sara holds interest in GenCorp Industries

MANILA, Philippines — Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte said he is unaware that her sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, holds interest in GenCorp Industries Inc. He also remarked that contracts between the corporation and the City of Davao are all “above board.” According to the mayor, while reports say that Davao has transactions with

Impeachment trial: Jaime Tan Cruz was ex-Pres Duterte’s envoy to China

Sep 22, 2026

Impeachment trial: Jaime Tan Cruz was ex-Pres Duterte’s envoy to China

MANILA, Philippines — Jaime Tan Cruz, who was identified as an incorporator of the same businesses in which Vice President Sara Duterte declared holding shares, previously served as special envoy to China for trade and investments under her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Prosecution lawyer Erwin Matib confirmed this on Monday, the 28th day

14-year-old Tacloban shooting suspect remains in rehab facility

Sep 22, 2026

14-year-old Tacloban shooting suspect remains in rehab facility

TACLOBAN CITY – The 14-year-old boy identified by authorities as one of the suspects in the June 22 shooting at San Jose National High School (SJNHS) here remains under the custody of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at a rehabilitation facility in Tanauan, Leyte, a regional official said. DSWD Eastern Visayas Regional Director Grace

BOC files raps vs own personnel, importer, over misdeclared shipment

Sep 22, 2026

BOC files raps vs own personnel, importer, over misdeclared shipment

MANILA, Philippines—The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday filed criminal complaints against some of its officers and personnel as well as a licensed customs broker over the illegal shipment of thousands of sacks of onions and carrots misdeclared as chicken lollipops BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno led the filing of six criminal complaints before the Department

Lee approves appointments of finance, defense, land minister nominees

Sep 22, 2026

Lee approves appointments of finance, defense, land minister nominees

President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday approved the appointments of the minister nominees for finance, defense and land, his office said. Finance Minister nominee Lee Hyoung-il, Defense Minister nominee Kang Shin-chul and Land Minister nominee Hong Jee-sun recently underwent confirmation hearings at the National Assembly, and their hearing reports were adopted by the respective parliamentary committees. Lee appears to have signed off on their appointments shortly after arriving in New York, where he is set to attend the U.N. General Assembly.

President Lee arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly

Sep 22, 2026

President Lee arrives in New York to attend UN General Assembly

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung arrived in New York on Monday to attend the United Nations General Assembly's High-Level Week and deliver a speech. During a speech on Tuesday to the U.N. session, Lee plans to propose ways to reform the U.N. to tackle global issues and outline South Korea's contributions, while also presenting his administration's vision of seeking peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. On the sidelines of the U.N. session, Lee will seek to engage with other heads of state, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and hold a meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to call for the world body's cooperation in efforts to ensure peace on the peninsula. On Wednesday, the president will attend an investment summit that will bring together economic and financial leaders from South Korea and the United States before departing for Mexico later that day for a state visit.

Confirmation hearing report adopted for SME minister nominee

Sep 22, 2026

Confirmation hearing report adopted for SME minister nominee

A parliamentary committee on Tuesday adopted a confirmation hearing report for the minister nominee for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), paving the way for her appointment. The report for SME Minister nominee Lee So-young was adopted by bipartisan consensus at a meeting of the parliamentary trade committee, though the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) noted concerns she may be unfit for the job due to unresolved suspicions surrounding her apartment purchase and apparent lack of expertise in SME policies. Still, the party said Lee had also led efforts to remove excessive business regulations and engaged in various parliamentary activities to promote sustainable growth. Lee, a two-term lawmaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, was tapped by President Lee Jae Myung as part of a Cabinet reshuffle in late August and is known for her career as a climate and environmental lawyer.

PM stresses importance of police roles under new law enforcement system

Sep 22, 2026

PM stresses importance of police roles under new law enforcement system

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Tuesday that a police reform committee will be established under her office to ensure a responsible and fair policing system as the law enforcement agency is set to take on greater roles according to the government's sweeping prosecution reform. Starting Oct. 2, the police will assume responsibility for all investigations, while the prosecution's role will be limited to indictment without the power to conduct investigations on its own. The reform has raised concerns negative effects could arise if police conduct all investigations as the prosecution has made up for shortfalls in police investigations. Such concerns have deepened in the wake of a series of police misconduct incidents in recent months, including shocking revelations that an officer closed two missing person cases without confirming their safety. The two were ultimately found dead. "Under the new system, the roles and responsibilities of police are of paramount importance," Han said during a Cabinet meeting held at the government complex in the central administrative city of Sejong. "The g

Celebrity guides, feng shui trails lead travelers off beaten path

Sep 22, 2026

Celebrity guides, feng shui trails lead travelers off beaten path

In a fresh effort to revitalize quiet country towns and rethink domestic travel, Korea is inviting vacationers to explore the countryside not by map, but by specific themes. Under a newly launched autumn initiative, travelers can trek up mist-shrouded peaks with a feng shui master, spot rare birds alongside a celebrity actor or cook seasonal feasts with a prominent chef. The program, dubbed "Five Passions, Five Journeys," is organized by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) as part of its broader Travel Autumn campaign. Applications are open through Sept. 30 for 700 coveted spots across 25 day-trip itineraries, each designed around niche interests rather than traditional sightseeing checklists. The campaign directly addresses a growing challenge in Korea: severe regional depopulation. As younger generations increasingly move to the greater Seoul metropolitan area for work and education, rural counties face shrinking populations and quiet main streets. Government tourism officials hope that connecting urbanites with their specialized hobbies will channel steady foot traffic into under-the

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