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President appoints Mercado as DICT officer-in-charge Concerns Paul Mercado as officer-incharge of the agency. Presidential Communications OfPRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has designated Department of Infor- fice Undersecretary and Palace Press mation and Communications Technol- Officer Claire Castro made the anogy (DICT) Undersecretary for Special Next page
By Charles Dantes
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 28 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025
ICC mum on arrest warrant
Tribunal protecting witnesses, victims of Rody’s drug war By Rachelle Tonelada and Charles Dantes
T
HE International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor refused to comment on reports that it had already issued a warrant of arrest against former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing the need for secrecy to protect victims and witnesses alike. “The ICC Office of the Prosecutor does not comment on ongoing investigations and has no comment on these reports,” the global tribunal said on Monday. “Confidentiality is a crucial part of our work and is essential to protect the integrity of investigations and to ensure the safety and security of victims, witnesses, and all those with whom the Office interacts,” it told GMA Integrated News. Meanwhile, Duterte’s camp said the former president is set to return to the Philippines today amid speculation that he has fled the country to evade imminent arrest by Interpol. According to former government official Lorraine Badoy, Duterte is scheduled to arrive in Manila at 4:35 PM via Cathay Pacific at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3. Similarly, ICC Assistant to Counsel lawyer Kristina Conti chose to be ambiguous on Next page
SOURCE CODE.
Commission on Election (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin Garcia receives from Jack Cobb. President and Laboratory Director of Pro V&V, the international certification of the source code that will be used in the National and Local Election. Danny Pata
Gov’t didn’t abandon VP—she chose to’distance herself dent (OVP), saying she had all the chances to gain the administration’s support had she been more MALACAÑANG on Monday rejected Vice Presi- transparent about her office’s spending. Specifically, Presidential Communications Ofdent Sara Duterte’s claim that the national governfice (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro took ment has abandoned the Office of the Vice Presi-
By Charles Dantes
exception to Duterte’s remarks during an event in Hong Kong, telling her supporters in Filipino, “Only you continue to support the OVP, the entire government has abandoned the OVP.” Next page
Marcos to DOTr: Investigate new ‘tanim-bala’ incident at NAIA By Charles Dantes and Joel Zurbano PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered an investigation into the alleged “tanim-bala” or bullet-planting extortion scheme at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) even as
three airport employees were sacked over the incident. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed that Mr. Marcos tasked the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to conduct a thorough probe into the Next page
EVIDENCE.
ALLY. United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs, Rt Hon David Lammy Member of parliament (MP) sits on the captain’s chair during his visit onboard BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) at Pier 13, Port Area, Manila. Lammy was briefed about the vessels’ operation for him to gain firsthand understanding of addressing maritime threats in the West Philippine Sea. PCG/CGPAS
Screengrab of bag being checked by DOTr personnel after it was allegedly flagged for having a slug. ABS-CBN
DFA dismisses China’s assertions on foreign handlers THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday dismissed Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s remarks that incidents in the South China Sea (SCS) are “staged under the direction of other countries.” China should recognize that the
Philippines is an independent and sovereign state whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and the interests and wellbeing of the Filipino people, the DFA said in a statement. China previously compared the SCS
OIL FIRMS LOWER FUEL PRICES—DOE NEWS / A3
SC OKAYS E-NOTARIAL NOTARIZATION RULES NEWS / A2
dispute with the Philippines to a “shadow play” and warned that “those acting as others’ chess pieces are bound to be discarded.” Wang said there is a screenplay written by external forces for every move of Next page
Impact of US aid freeze ‘less severe’ on PH By Rachelle Tonelada THE impact of US President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze foreign aid—leading to expected funding cuts for various global programs—is likely to be “less severe” in the Philippines, according to the United Nations (UN) Philippines. According to the UN Philippines, only around 8% of its funding in 2024 came from the US. Nonetheless, the organization assured its commitNext page
PBBM orders probe on escape of Korean fugitive from BI By Charles Dantes MALACAÑANG on Monday said President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. directed government agencies to swiftly investigate the escape of a South Korean fugitive who was later
on recaptured by agents of the Bureau of Immigration. “The President does not let anomalies like this slide. He has consistently directed agency heads to conduct prompt investigations and address Next page