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ICC UPHOLDS JURISDICTION OVER RODY, CLEARS WAY FOR LIKELY TRIAL By Pot Chavez INTERNATIONAL Criminal Court judges Wednesday threw out a challenge against the court’s jurisdiction by former President Rodrigo Duterte, which means he could still stand trial for crimes against humanity over his war on drugs. The court “has rejected all four grounds of appeal,” said presiding judge Luz del Carmen Ibanez Carranza. “Having rejected the entire appeal, the appeal chamber considers that the defense request for the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Duterte is moot,” she added. The 81-year-old Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity at the international court based in The Hague over murders allegedly committed as part of his crackdown on drug users and pushers.
VOL. XL • NO. 68 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2026
AMLC flags P6.7b linked to VP, hubby Romualdez not barred from Next page
DENIED. Presiding Judge Luz del
Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, center, reads the judgment of the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court denying the appeal of former president Rodrigo Duterte challenging its jurisdiction on his case on Apr. 22, 2026. ICC/YouTube
Suspicious transactions from 2006-2025
leaving since no HDO—BI
By Maricel V. Cruz and Rex Espiritu
By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz
T
HE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said it has repeatedly flagged bank accounts tied to Vice President Sara Duterte • ‘Dutertes got checks and her tied to alleged drug lord’ husband, • SALNs show ‘no cash lawyer on hand’ for 5 years Manases Carpio, for suspicious and covered transactions from 2006 to 2025 worth a total of P6.77 billion.
Vice President Sara Duterte was granted travel authority to the Netherlands, Republic of Korea, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, and Northern Ireland from April 23 to May 15, 2026, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said. The foreign trips will be at no cost to the government. During yesterday’s impeachment hearing of the House Committee on Justice, lawmakers also flagged missing liquid assets, transfer or diminution of liabilities, rising net worth, growing business interests, and a Next page
Trump extends truce until Iran presents peace plan PRESIDENT Donald Trump extended the US ceasefire with Iran to allow more time for peace talks, with Tehran silent on the decision early Wednesday. Trump indefinitely pushed back the end of the two week truce, crediting a request from mediator Pakistan and stressing the need to give Iran’s “fractured” leadership time to form a proposal. But he said the US blockade of Iran’s ports -- a sticking point for Tehran -- would continue. In a Truth social post Tuesday the US presNext page
THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday clarified that former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez has not been barred from leaving the country, adding that only a court-issued Hold Departure Order (HDO) can impose a direct prohibition on travel.
Meanwhile, the Ombudsman’s application for a precautionary hold departure order (PHDO) against Romualdez has been submitted for resolution, the Sandiganbayan said. In a related development, Romualdez’s camp said it has yet to receive any official complaint from the Ombudsman, as it firmly denied allegations of wrongdoing. Next page
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH. Ombudsman Boying Remulla and former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, inset, take the oath at the start of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment hearing at the House of Representatives. Ver Noveno
Labor renews push for P200 daily wage increase amid crisis By Vito Barcelo VARIOUS labor groups have renewed calls for a ₱200 daily wage increase as inflation pressures intensify due to escalating tensions in the Middle East, which have driven up global oil and com-
modity prices. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) is advocating a legislated ₱200 wage hike for private-sector workers, citing rising living costs and worsening poverty levels. In a statement, the group said the demand has
become more urgent following renewed volatility in fuel prices after attacks on Iran in late February, raising the risk of inflation exceeding 7 percent in some regions. TUCP officials pointed to recent surveys showNext page
PAGASA ISSUES EL NIÑO ALERT
AIRLINES TO HIKE FARES THRU APRIL 30
NEWS / A2
BUSINESS / B1
SC asks Palace to answer petition on PBBM’s health CENTENNIAL CROWN. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise
Araneta-Marcos, along with thousands of devotees, witness the presentation of the Centennial Crown offered to the Apostolic Nuncio on behalf of the Holy Father at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag in Pangasinan. The President led the recitation of the Centennial Prayer as part of the Pontifical Mass celebrating the 100th anniversary of the canonical coronation of Nuestra Señora del Rosario de Manaoag. PCO
By Pot Chavez THE Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday announced that it directed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to comment
on the petition seeking disclosure of his medical results. The SC directed the President and co-respondent Executive Secretary Ralph Recto to comment within a
non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice. In its 12-page petition, former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez et al. seek Next page