
Imee seeks ban on transfer of Pinoys to foreign jurisdiction sans local warrant
In the explanatory note of Senate Bill No. 557, also known as the President Rodrigo R. Duterte Act, Marcos called the arrest and turn over of the former president to the International Criminal Court 'abuses by the authorities' which may also happen to others.
'What took place on that fateful day was an extraordinary rendition—the transfer without due process of a detainee to the custody of a foreign jurisdiction,' Marcos said.
'Thus, it is necessary to make it exceedingly clear—if it is not yet clear already—that arresting an individual for the purpose of turning him or her over to a foreign jurisdiction without an order and a warrant of arrest issued by a Philippine court is against the Constitution and punishable under the law,' she added.
The prohibited acts under the proposed bill include the transferring or causing the transfer of any person found within the territory of the Philippines to an international court, tribunal, organization, or State whose jurisdiction or authority to investigate, prosecute, detain, imprison, or execute such person is not expressly and unequivocally recognized by the Philippines through a treaty or international agreement from which the Philippines has not withdrawn at the time of such transfer; or without the written and voluntary consent of the person transferred or an order issued by a competent Philippine court allowing such transfer.
The bill also seeks to ban the arresting or detaining or causing the arrest or detention of any person in the Philippines for the purpose of transferring him or her to any international court, tribunal, organization, or State without an arrest warrant issued by a competent Philippine court.
Investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting any local on behalf of, in favor of, or upon the orders of any international court or the like; or without a permit issued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will also be prohibited.
The proposed measure also provides that all transactions in all property and interests in property of any person who is formally charged in the proper Philippine court with any of the offenses penalized under the Act are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in, if such property and interests in property are in the country or are within the possession or control of a Filipino citizen or resident, unless the court determines specific circumstances.
It will also allow any person to file an ex parte petition in the proper Philippine court to deny the issuance of or cancel any visa of an alien, if there is substantial evidence that such alien visited or will visit the country to conduct any investigation, inquiry, arrest, detention, or transfer persons on behalf of any foreign court or State whose jurisdiction is not recognized by the Philippines through a treaty.
As a recourse, the bill will also grant all persons who have been subjected to extraordinary rendition, whether prior to or after the enactment of the Act, shall be entitled to the appropriate remedies in the Philippine court.
'The Department of Foreign Affairs shall exhaust every diplomatic channel to ensure that Filipino citizens who are victims of extraordinary rendition will be repatriated to the Philippines as soon as possible and that judgments of the Philippine court will be given effect,' the measure read.
Duterte was arrested in the Philippines by local authorities on March 11, based on a warrant of arrest issued by the ICC.
He is currently detained in the Scheveningen Prison in The Hague for charges of crimes against humanity for the extrajudicial killings during the drug war. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
31 minutes ago
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SC urged anew to junk Sara Duterte bid to dismiss impeach raps
Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña on Friday asked the Supreme Court to junk Vice President Sara Duterte's bid to dismiss the impeachment case against her, saying questions on the matter can only be legally settled before the Senate impeachment court. In his motion to intervene, Cendaña said the Vice President's petition is legally infirm because only one impeachment complaint was initiated against her—a submission which he said is compliant with the Charter. "The Vice President's petition is legally unsound. Ang reklamo nila, na-violate raw ang one-year ban on initiating impeachment complaints. Apat ang impeachment complaints na na-file, pero isa lang doon ang initiated, at 'yun ang verified complaint na ipinasa ng more than one-third ng House members," Ceñdana said in a statement. (The Vice President's petition is legally unsound. They argue that the one-year ban on initiating impeachment complaints was violated. Four impeachment complaints were filed, but only one was initiated, and that is the verified complaint that was passed by more than one-third of House members.) Cendaña cited the Supreme Court decision on the Francisco v. House of Representatives, wherein the High Court ruled that an impeachment complaint is initiated either by: (1) the act of filing a complaint and its referral or endorsement of the complaint to the House Committee on Justice, or (2) the filing by at least one-third of the members of the House of Representatives of a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment. "Minabuti nating mag-file ng motion to intervene dahil malapit nang magsimula ang session ng 20th Congress. Naniniwala tayong sa Senado ang tamang venue para litisin ang impeachment complaint ni VP Sara—hindi sa Supreme Court. Kung dinidinig ng mataas na korte ang petition ng VP, dapat mas dinggin nila ang sambayanan," Cendaña said. (We filed a motion to intervene because the 20th Congress is about to start. We believe that the Senate is the appropriate venue to try the impeachment case against the Vice President, not the Supreme Court. If the High Court is hearing out the Vice President, the more it should listen to the call of the people.) "The three impeachment complaints were not referred to the Committee on Justice and do not qualify as initiated complaints since they were archived by the House plenary after the fourth impeachment complaint was endorsed by more than one-third of the House members. Only the fourth complaint qualifies as such. Therefore, lahat ng ginawa sa House ay ayon Rules of Impeachment na nakabatay sa Saligang Batas," Cendaña added. (The House's actions on the impeachment complaints are all in accordance with the Constitution.) GMA News Online has requested comment from Duterte's legal team and the Office of the Vice President, but these have yet to respond as of posting time. Cendaña said the Supreme Court has the duty to ensure accountability of public officials. "Will the Supreme Court uphold the Constitution and its doctrines? Or will it save Sara and other government officials who abuse power? Nagbabantay ang taumbayan (The people are watching)," Cendaña said. Earlier, the House of Representatives also asked the Supreme Court to junk the Vice President's petition, arguing that questions about the impeachment are best discussed and resolved before the Senate impeachment court. The SC required the House to submit information regarding the status of the first three impeachment complaints filed against Duterte, the exact dates these were endorsed, and whether the House Secretary General possesses discretion on when to transmit these to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In a notice dated July 8, the SC en banc consolidated the petition filed by Duterte against the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint against her and the petition filed by lawyer Israelito Torreon and others seeking to declare the articles of impeachment null and void. — VDV, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
2 hours ago
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P20/kilo rice, farm to market roads remain work in progress
In his 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the hardships confronting the Filipinos due to the rising prices of food. "The hard lesson of this last year has made it very clear that whatever current data proudly bannering our country as among the best-performing in Asia, means nothing to a Filipino, who is confronted by the price of rice at 45 to 65 pesos per kilo," Marcos had said in his report to the nation last year. Back then, the price of rice per kilo was far from the P20 per kilo he had promised the Filipinos when he campaigned for the presidency in 2022. But the efforts of Marcos, who sat as Agriculture secretary from July 2022 to November 2023, could not be ignored to achieve his P20 per kilo rice goal. The government, through the Department of Agriculture (DA), has been consistently opening Kadiwa stores that sell rice at P20 per kilo. Marcos also vowed to prioritize enhancing local production to address the high food cost and build the necessary infrastructure to prop up agricultural productivity and assist farmers. He had said in his SONA that a total of 1,200 kilometers of farm-to-market roads all over the country will be completed. Further, Marcos said over 9,300 farm equipment would be distributed and more than 80,000 hectares of land would be irrigated. The projects remain in the works. In his visit to Balingasag, Misamis Oriental in April 2025, Marcos reported that in Region X (Northern Mindanao), the government was able to construct almost 70 kilometers of farm-to-market roads. "Sa buong bansa, umabot na sa 1,162 kilometro ang naitayo nating mga daan, at higit 865 linyang-metro naman ng tulay," he said. Since his presidency, Marcos said 36,000 pieces of machinery and agricultural equipment had been distributed to farmers' cooperatives and associations for post-harvest. While under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, 12,000 pieces of machinery and equipment had been provided from July 2022 up to March 2025. A month before Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address, the Economy and Development (ED) Council, formerly known as the NEDA (National Economic and Development Authority) Board, approved the P27.7-billion Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program of the Department of Agriculture. Under the program, the DA said it aims for the construction of 300 climate-resilient modular steel bridges across 52 provinces in 15 regions. 'By improving physical connectivity in farming and fishing communities, the Farm-to-Market Bridges Development Program addresses persistent infrastructure gaps that limit market access, increase post-harvest losses, and hinder rural productivity," said ED Council vice chairperson and Economics Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. "It also aims to uplift rural incomes and improve food logistics, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,' Balisacan added. The Agriculture Department also reported that it had completed over 450 agri-infrastructure projects, including farm-to-market roads, fish ports, and food storage facilities. Further, agriculture insurance now protects more than 1.3 million farmers, livestock raisers, and fishers. 'Through the Masagana Rice Industry Development Program, aligned yields have improved from 3.3 to 4.2 metric pounds per hectare, with the first quarter yields again at 4.09 metric pounds. We are also expanding value-chain innovation,' said DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel in a speech, as delivered by Agriculture Director Karen Roscom in a summit in Manila. Benefits A number of farmers expressed relief with the administration's efforts, saying that farm-to-market roads are a long-awaited solution. 'Mahalaga para sana may madaanan kami at mayroon kaming mapagbiladan ng palay namin,' said Robert Lopez, a rice farmer in Mangaldan, Pangasinan, in a report by GMA Regional TV. (It is vital so that we can have paved roads for our goods and an area for drying palay.) Approved by the DA, the local government in Mangaldan and the barangay, a farm-to-market road is set to connect Barangays Guilig, Malabago, and Bari. Initial groundwork, such as soil filling, has already begun. Guilig Councilman Louie Prestoza said the project, which is estimated to reach P3 million, will make it more convenient for farmers to transport their goods and will serve as an alternate route for public and private vehicles in the area. 'Hindi lang kami dito ang mabebenepisyuhan. Marami, kahit na taga-ibang lugar,' Prestoza said. (It is not just us here who will benefit. Many more residents, even from other places.) P20 per kilo of rice Marcos' campaign promise of P20 per kilo of rice has been initially implemented in the Visayas region, and is set to be rolled out across the country in the coming months. The second phase of the program commenced this July in the Mindanao region. Marcos said it took time for him to fulfill his promise because the government needs to assist the local farmers first, including the provision of machinery. The P20 per kilo rice initiative under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program only allows members of vulnerable sectors—including indigents, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and solo parents to buy NFA rice at P20 per kilogram. Moreover, it can also be availed by minimum wage earners. Marcos expressed confidence that his administration could sustain its implementation. Increasing prices of goods With the price of some goods increasing, Marcos said the government is also monitoring "price gouging" in the consumer market. "Iyon lamang binabantayan natin ngayon 'yung price gouging. Dahil ang dami ko nang nakita nagtataas ng presyo, hindi naman tumaas ang presyo ng langis. So, iyon ang babantayan natin ngayon. That's what we are going to watch," he said. (We're monitoring the price gouging. Because I've seen a lot of price hikes even though fuel prices have not increased. So that's what we will monitor right now. That's what we are going to watch.) Farmers However, the progressive group Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said that farmers and fisherfolk remain waiting for the fulfilment of the President's SONA promises. KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos lamented that majority of the Filipino farmers do not own the land they till, and continue to lose it due to land conversion. He also said the people in other areas of the country await the affordable rice promised by Marcos. Ramos said they also continue to long for the day when the country would be rice self-sufficient and would no longer need to buy imported rice.—LDF/RSJ, GMA Integrated News


GMA Network
16 hours ago
- GMA Network
A look back at Maharlika Fund two years later
Once hailed as a key economic priority of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr., the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) was a key point in his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA), only to be noticeably missing in his 2024 speech, raising questions about its progress. The Philippines' first sovereign wealth fund was signed into law in July 2023 through Republic Act No. 11954, establishing the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC)—the state-run entity tasked with managing the fund and investing government assets to generate additional public revenue. 'For strategic financing, some of the nation's high-priority projects can now look to the newly established Maharlika Investment Fund, without the added debt burden,' Marcos said in his SONA in 2023. 'In pooling a small fraction of the considerable but underutilized government funds, the Fund shall be used to make high-impact and profitable investments, such as the Build-Better-More program. The gains from the Fund shall be reinvested into the country's economic well-being,' he added. Under the law, the MIC was granted an authorized capital stock of P500 billion, with P375 billion in common shares available for subscription by the national government, its agencies or instrumentalities, government-owned and -controlled corporations (GOCCs), and government financial institutions (GFIs). In November 2023, Rafael Consing — former executive director of the Office of the Presidential Adviser for Investment and Economic Affairs — was appointed as MIC president and chief executive officer. First moves After being skipped in the 2024 SONA, the MIC has made a handful of developments. With just days before the President makes a report to the nation next Monday, July 28, GMA News Online looked at what the MIC has accomplished so far. In January 2025, the MIC made its first investment by acquiring a 20% stake in Synergy Grid and Development Philippines Inc. (SGP), gaining two board seats in the company and another two in the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). A month later the MIC signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group Co. Ltd. (CP Group) that would provide for the establishment of a private equity fund with a capital target of up to $1 billion. 'This partnership will lay the groundwork for a multi-sectoral investment initiative that will drive long-term economic growth while reinforcing the Philippines' position as a premier investment destination,' Consing said in February. Under the agreement, a steering committee would drive project selection, fund structuring, and investor engagement, with the first capital close expected within the next nine to 12 months. Key investment areas include agri-food modernization, digital and e-commerce expansion, and sustainable energy and infrastructure. That same month, the MIC inked another agreement — a $76.4-million bridge loan facility to Makilala Mining Company Inc. (MMCI), the Philippine affiliate of Australia-based Celsius Resources Limited that operates copper and gold projects in the country. 'Our investment decision reflects a shared commitment to the sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative development of the MCB Project,' Consing said. The loan is intended to finance early-stage development works for the Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog Copper-Gold Project (MCB) in Kalinga. This includes updating MMCI's front-end engineering design (FEED), constructing a main access road in collaboration with the Kalinga Provincial Government, and funding skills-based training for the indigenous community. Under the agreement, the facility will be split into two tranches — the first will be available nine months from signing, and the second subject to the completion of the FEED and an updated feasibility study, up to 24 months from signing. The loan carries a 12.5% fixed interest rate compounded quarterly, and gives MIC a right of first offer on any sale or transfer of MMCI's assets and/or shares. In May, the MIC then said it was in preliminary talks with Dubai Ports World to pursue logistics development projects in the Philippines, with an internal study underway to determine how much investments are needed for local port development. Most recently, this July, the MIC signed an MOU with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to invest in 'critical digital infrastructure projects' aimed at delivering long-term returns and supporting inclusive growth across geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs). 'By prioritizing digital infrastructure today, we are not only enabling inclusive growth and innovation but also securing opportunities for future generations of Filipinos. Maharlika is proud to play a key role in shaping a more connected, future-ready Philippines,' Consing said. While these developments mark a starting point for the MIC, the agency has yet to announce additional deals. Investment process According to the MIC, its due diligence process to evaluate and select investments includes economic assessment on the broader economic impact and alignment with strategic goals, along with financial assessment on the viability and potential returns of the investment. It also takes into account operational assessment of the feasibility and management capabilities of the investment, sustainability assessment on the environmental and social impact, and legal assessment on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. Investment proposals are initially reviewed by the Investment Committee, before being presented to the Board for final approval. At the helm of these decisions is the MIC Board, composed of representatives from both the government and the private sector. It is currently chaired by Finance Secretary Ralph Rector and vice-chaired by MIC president and CEO Consing. It counts as members Land Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Ma. Lynette Ortiz, Development Bank of the Philippines president and CEO Michael de Jesus, and independent directors Stephen Anthony CuUnjieng, German Lichauco II, and Roman Felipe Reyes. Moving forward, investors and stakeholders are awaiting whether it will reclaim a spot in Marcos' SONA on July 28, or continue to operate in the background.—BM/LDF/NB, GMA Integrated News