Philippines

34 barangays - the smallest unit of territorial government - in Negros Island Region have been declared free from illegal drugs by the Drug Enforcement Agency; to be considered drug-free, a barangay must meet criteria set by the Dangerous Drugs Board

Government will convene a “conclave-style" gathering of stakeholders to develop a comprehensive policy on online gambling, as announced by President Marcos; The initiative signals a renewed effort to address concerns surrounding internet gaming regulation

The House of Representatives provided details on four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte as the Supreme Court required; It asserts the process was fully constitutional, reinforcing its stance ahead of a possible Senate trial

Security cooperation with Taiwan is discreetly deepening, citing growing Chinese maritime and cyber threats; Joint patrols, shared intelligence and military-planning links are advancing despite strong Chinese objections

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. would reportedly be open to discussing Philippines rejoining of the International Criminal Court; His administration will “study it carefully,” following UN calls to reverse the 2019 withdrawal amid human rights concerns

On 127th Independence Day, Marcos Jr. honored the 1898 heroes who freed the Philippines from Spanish rule; He called for accountability and unity, linking today’s struggles, corruption, fake news to the fight for freedom that shaped the nation’s identity

At the ASEAN-GCC-China Forum in Kuala Lumpur, President Marcos urged ASEAN and China to expedite a binding Code of Conduct for the South China Sea; he stressed its importance for maritime security, stability, and preventing conflict in disputed waters

The Kanlaon volcano erupted on May 13, spewing a 4,5 km-high ash plume and affecting nearby villages; Authorities raised alert level 3, enforced a 6 km radius evacuation zone, and warned of possible further eruptions though no casualties were reported

Families of drug war victims have faced online harassment following former President Duterte's by the ICC, being labeled liars and paid agitators: they urged authorities to investigate these coordinated attacks and pursue legal action

Transport and commuter advocacy groups appealed to President to overturn the fare increase for the Light Rail Transit Line 1 LRT-1 in Manila, which would affect around 370.000 commuters daily and should take effect today

Thousands of Davao residents gathered with candles at former President Duterte residence on his 80th birthday, to express their well-wishes; Duterte is currently detained by the ICC in the Netherlands, facing charges related to his anti-drug campaign

Former President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila on an International Criminal Court warrant for crimes against humanity linked to his deadly war on drugs, which left up to 30.000 dead; he has been transferred to The Hague for the upcoming trial

The Philippines and China are open to joint oil&gas exploration despite territorial tensions; talks focus on energy cooperation while ensuring Philippine sovereignty in a bid to overcome past failures over legal issue and seek a mutually beneficial deal