MAY 9 - 15, 2026
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Volume 37 - No. 19 • 14 Pages
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Cebu summit puts war’s economic toll at DATELINE USA US seizes 503 fake center of Southeast Asian agenda investment websites FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
in Southeast Asia scam crackdown
U.S. Department of Justice files charges against two Chinese nationals, disrupts scam infrastructure, and restrains more than $700 million in cryptocurrency allegedly tied to transnational fraud operations targeting American victims
ASEAN leaders confront energy, food and maritime pressures tied to the Middle East conflict as the Philippines hosts a crisis-focused regional summit by AJPress
LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — Southeast Asian leaders and senior representatives convened Friday in Cebu for a summit dominated by concerns over the eco-
nomic fallout from the Middle East conflict, as ASEAN moved to address growing pressure on energy supplies, food security and regional trade routes. The 48th ASEAN Summit, formally opened in Lapu-Lapu City, unfolded under conditions few in the
House expected to impeach Sara Duterte as Senate trial looms
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal authorities have launched a coordinated enforcement campaign targeting transnational scam networks operating out of Southeast Asia, announcing criminal charges, digital seizures, and financial disruption measures tied to schemes that U.S. officials say have defrauded American victims of billions of dollars. The actions, disclosed by the Justice Department, are part of the government’s Scam Center Strike Force, a multi-agency u PAGE 2
U.S. eases visa freeze for foreign doctors, highlighting limits of broader healthcare immigration policy A narrow federal adjustment allows continued processing for physician-related cases, offering relief for some foreign-trained doctors, including Filipinos, while leaving most healthcare workers under existing constraints. WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal immigration authorities have eased a visa-processing freeze affecting foreign-trained physicians, carving out a limited pathway for doctors as healthcare providers warn that staffing shortages remain acute in underserved parts of the United States. The adjustment is not a system-wide rollback of immigration restrictions. It applies primarily to physicians and is being implemented through agency-level guidance rather than a u PAGE 4
Lawmakers project more than 200 votes in favor of impeachment as the vice president’s allies continue challenging the renewed proceedings ahead of a possible Senate trial by AJPress
NAVIGATING THE FUTURE TOGETHER. Southeast Asian leaders do the ASEAN handshake during their official family photo at the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings at the Mactan Expo Center in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on Friday, May 8, 2026. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (center), as ASEAN chair, said this year’s theme, “Navigating Our Future Together,” is a principle they must continue to share and embrace amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
by AJPress
MANILA — The Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has confirmed the return of P60 billion from the National Treasury following a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the restoration of funds earlier transferred from the state health insurer under provisions later declared invalid by the high court. In a statement issued Thursday, May 7, 2026, PhilHealth said the return of the funds reflected the government’s support for the
Consulate expresses “grave concern” as advocacy groups question due process following CBP inspections aboard cruise vessels
SAN DIEGO — The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles confirmed that Filipino seafarers were among foreign cruise ship crew members detained and returned to their home countries following a federal enforcement operation conducted at the Port of San Diego. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), federal officers boarded eight cruise vessels between April 23 and April 27, 2026, as part of an investigation involving alleged child sexual
MANILA — The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Monday, May 11, on whether to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, with lawmakers involved in the proceedings saying support inside the chamber has grown well beyond the constitutional threshold required to elevate the case to the Senate. Several House members allied with the impeachment proceedings said this week that between 200 and 215 lawmakers were expected to support the articles of impeachment, significantly exceeding the minimum constitutional requirement of one-third of all House members. With 318 members in the chamber, at least 106 votes are necessary for impeachment to proceed to the u PAGE 5
PhilHealth receives P60 billion returned from Decentralized syndicates emerge as National Treasury following Supreme Court ruling focus of Senate flood control probe agency’s mandate to provide healthcare coverage and financial protection to Filipinos. The agency said the restored amount would help strengthen benefit delivery, improve internal systems and support the implementation of programs under the Universal Health Care Act. The legal dispute stemmed from provisions in the 2024 General Appropriations Act and a Department of Finance circular that authorized the transfer of what govu PAGE 2
26 Filipino seafarers deported after San Diego NBI case against PGMN founder federal operation tied to child exploitation probe Franco Mabanta expands as by AJPress
region anticipated when the Philippines assumed the ASEAN chairmanship at the start of the year. Disruptions linked to the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, including instability around the u PAGE 2
exploitation material, commonly referred to by law enforcement agencies as CSEM. Authorities said the operation involved interviews and inspections of electronic devices aboard several vessels, including the Disney Magic and Holland America Line’s Zaandam. CBP stated that 28 crew members were interviewed during the operation. Of those, 26 were Philippine nationals, while the remaining individuals were identified as citizens of Portugal and Indonesia. u PAGE 8
bail set, probe widens by AJPress
MANILA — The National Bureau of Investigation’s case against Peanut Gallery Media Network (PGMN) founder Roberto Ma. Franco Cruz Mabanta continued to develop Friday, May 8, as authorities confirmed bail recommendations for the respondents and expanded aspects of the ongoing investigation. Mabanta and four associates were arrested earlier this week following an alleged extortion complaint filed by former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdi-
nand Martin Romualdez. The NBI alleged that Mabanta and his group demanded money in exchange for withholding the release of online material purportedly linking Romualdez to corruption. Authorities said the alleged amount reached P300 million, payable in four installments of P75 million each. Mabanta is the founder and chairman of PGMN, a Philippine-based digital media and political commentary platform known for livestream discusu PAGE 2
by AJPress
MANILA — A Senate investigation into alleged irregularities involving billions of pesos in Philippine flood control projects is increasingly centering on what lawmakers describe as localized networks operating within regional and district public works offices rather than a single nationwide command structure. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday, May 6, that evidence presented before the panel so far suggests the alleged anomalies may have been carried out through separate clusters of influence embedded in specific Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) district engineering offices. Speaking during the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Lacson said investigators have not established evidence supporting the existence of one central “mastermind” overseeing all questioned flood mitigation projects nationwide. “I don’t think there’s an overall mastermind,” Lacson said. “There is a mastermind in Bulacan, there is a mastermind in Mindoro.” The Senate inquiry has been examining allegations involv-
ing flood control appropriations released between 2022 and 2025, including claims of unfinished or nonexistent projects, poor-quality construction, irregular contractor concentration, and possible coordination between contractors and local officials. Committee discussions have focused on whether certain district engineering offices became operational hubs for alleged project manipulation and procurement irregularities. Lacson described the alleged practices as “parasitic,” while emphasizing that the Senate inquiry remains a fact-finding and legislative process rather than a criminal proceeding. Under Philippine law, allegations and testimony raised during congressional hearings do not constitute proof of criminal liability unless validated through formal investigation and judicial proceedings. Among the matters discussed during recent hearings was a handwritten note attributed by Lacson to the late former DPWH Undersecretary Ma. Catalina Cabral. Lacson said the note appeared to reference P500 million in infrastructure “allocables” asu PAGE 2