Michael Apacible Bulletin

October 27, 2018 – Senator Leila M. de Lima has released a commentary addressing the complexities surrounding President Rodrigo Duterte's withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). De Lima argues that the discussion should not center solely on Duterte's authority but rather on the rights and protection of the Filipino people. She emphasizes that the Philippines' membership in the ICC was a sovereign act meant to safeguard citizens against potential abuses of power when domestic systems fail. The senator criticizes the notion that the withdrawal is about sovereignty or colonialism, highlighting the Philippines' active role in the Rome Statute's creation and its historical contributions to international law. She contends that the move is driven by a fear of accountability, suggesting Duterte seeks to evade potential prosecution for alleged crimes against humanity related to his "War on Drugs." De Li...

  Ang Baho na iniwan ni Arnel Ignacio sa OWWA: i sang Sulyap sa 'Taták Duterte' ng Pamamahala! Isang nakakagulat na baho ng umano'y korapsyon ang sumisingaw ngayon mula sa Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), isang ahensyang inaasahang magiging kanlungan ng ating mga Bagong Bayani. Sa sentro ng kontrobersiya ay ang dating administrador nito na si Arnel Ignacio, isang taong itinalaga sa pwesto, at ang isang kaduda-dudang P1.4 bilyong transaksyon sa pagbili ng lupa. Ngunit higit pa sa isang opisyal, ang isyung ito ay tila isang salamin. Isang salamin na nagpapakita ng isang pattern, isang istilo ng pamamahala na naging tatak ng maraming tauhan mula sa nakaraang administrasyon ni Rodrigo Duterte. Ito ang istilo kung saan ang mga proseso ay nilalaktawan, ang mga check and balances ay binabalewala, at ang pondo ng bayan ay ginagamit sa paraang kahina-hinala. Para sa marami na tila nabubulagan pa sa ingay ng pulitika, ang mga katotohanang tulad nito ay dahan-dahang ...

  MANILA, Philippines – The hunt for former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag, who has been wanted for murder for two years, is intensifying. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III revealed in a DZMM interview that authorities now have promising leads regarding Bantag's whereabouts and that intelligence operations are ongoing to apprehend him. "We have leads regarding that matter, where he is hiding, and we are deploying resources to locate and arrest him," Torre stated, emphasizing the PNP's commitment to capturing the high-profile fugitive. Bantag is accused of being the mastermind behind the murder of journalist Percival Mabasa, widely known as Percy Lapid. Lapid was gunned down in Las Piñas after his commentaries exposed alleged corruption within the New Bilibid Prison under Bantag's leadership. Beyond Bantag, Torre affirmed the PNP's relentless pursuit of other prominent fugitives. These include former...

  Panelo Advises Roque to Return to Philippines, Dismisses Political Persecution Claim in POGO Hub Case MANILA, Philippines - Former Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo has publicly urged ex-presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to return to the Philippines and face the human trafficking charges filed against him, stemming from his alleged involvement with the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO) hub, Lucky South 99, in Porac, Pampanga. In an interview with One News, Panelo addressed the arrest order issued by a Pampanga court against Roque, expressing his belief that Roque appeared to have acted as a lawyer for the controversial POGO operation. Panelo dismissed Roque's claims of political persecution, asserting that such an argument would be difficult to substantiate given statements Roque made during past congressional hearings. "It would be hard to prove Roque's claim of political persecution because of the statements he made during the past congressional ...