Senate debate seen on extraordinary renditionIn co-sponsoring Senate Resolution No. MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano yesterday sponsored the minority bloc’s resolution seeking to protect Filipinos from extraordinary rendition or surrender to a foreign country, amid a likely issuance by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of arrest warrants for his allies Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go. In co-sponsoring Senate Resolution No. Cayetano said judicial participation is a constitutional requirement even in cases involving international arrest warrants. He cited countries like Canada, the United Kingdom and South Korea, which require domestic legal processes and court participation before granting request from a foreign court for any arrest or surrender.

DICT cybersecurity exec resignsMeanwhile, the DICT issued a statement yesterday to denounce a report published by online outlet Bilyonaryo News Channel and carried on its sister news platforms Bilyonaryo, Abante and Politiko regarding Gorospe’s resignation claiming that it was caused by irregularities in the department. MANILA, Philippines — Newly appointed Undersecretary for cybersecurity of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Julius Gorospe has resigned less than a month in the post. Before his appointment, Gorospe had been special assistant on cybersecurity to DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda. The DICT said the Bilyonaryo News Channel report contained significant factual inaccuracies. Gorospe has remained a trusted and valued member of the DICT leadership team,” the DICT said.

Lawyer Paul Schmidt, representing Meta, arrives at court on the day plaintiff Kaley G.M. takes the stand at a trial in a key test case accusing Meta and Google's YouTube of harming children's mental health through addictive social media platforms, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 25, 2026. REUTERS/Mike Blake

NUP chair: Party has no unified stand on Sara Duterte's impeachmentMANILA, Philippines — House Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, who chairs the National Unity Party (NUP), clarified that the party does not have a "uniform party stand" on whether or not they would support Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment. Puno also said the NUP, which holds the second-largest bloc in Congress, is unlikely to take a unified stance on Duterte's impeachment, adding that "there is just too much division" among its members. "So the tendency now or the direction now is that we probably will have a conscience vote that everybody will be allowed to vote the way he wants to vote," Puno said. Reporters also asked whether Duterte’s 2028 presidential bid had influenced the party’s stance on the impeachment. The NUP released its statement on February 25, less than a week before the House Justice Committee is set to hold hearings on Duterte’s impeachment complaints.

Police officers are seen next to the Oman's ambassador residency during new round of talks between the United States and Iran to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, in Geneva on February 26, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

New light show to replace ‘Symphony of Lights’ this year, boost tourism

'Neutralization' means arrest, not killing, says Duterte lawyerMANILA, Philippines — Rodrigo Duterte's lawyer Nicholas Kaufman told International Criminal Court judges that the term "neutralization" in police manuals refers to lawful arrest or restraint, not the killing of drug suspects. "This may include an arrest, capture, surrender or other acts to subdue the suspect," he said during the defense presentation before the ICC. Response to prosecutionKaufman's argument responded to prosecutors' claim that "neutralization" was used in law enforcement playbooks as a standard term tied to the targeting of alleged drug suspects. HRW has said the term may refer either to arrests or to the killing of suspects. The confirmation of charges hearing will determine whether there are substantial grounds to send Duterte to trial.

Kanlaon Volcano sends ash 2.5 km into skyA 2,500-meter ash plume rises above the crater of Kanlaon Volcano Thursday night, Feb. 26, 2026, with ashfall reported in nearby communities. MANILA, Philippines — Kanlaon Volcano erupted Thursday evening, February 26, sending a billowing plume of ash about 2,500 meters (1.5 miles) into the nighttime sky. Kanlaon Volcano, one of 24 active volcanoes in the archipelago nation, has had several major eruptions in the past century — including a 1996 blast that killed three hikers who were near the summit at the time. Incandescent ballistics were observed to have rained around the crater," the volcanology centre said in a statement released minutes later. John De Asis, a rescuer in the nearby town of La Castellana, told AFP that ash had begun to descend on local neighborhoods.

Coast Guard's Tarriela hits back at China over PCIJ funding claimIn this photo uploaded on Facebook on Jan. 14, 2026, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela speaks at De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde’s SDG Dialogue Series on the West Philippine Sea. Its statement followed a recent PCIJ news commentary video explaining how Filipinos can identify and spot pro-China propaganda online. “Uf the real aim was to discredit a foreign government rather than provide objective journalism, it would be illogical for the US to publicly disclose its funding to PCIJ,” Tarriela said. PCIJ's responseIn a statement, PCIJ said it regretted the embassy's allegation that it was being used as a propaganda tool of the United States. We are alarmed that the Chinese Embassy is attacking independent reporting by Filipinos.

NUP to 'most likely' vote against Sara Duterte's impeachmentVice President Sara Duterte conducts a press conference in Mandaluyong on Feb. 18, 2026, as she announces that she is entering the presidential race in the upcoming 2028 national elections. MANILA, Philippines — As some lawmakers have predicted, Vice President Sara Duterte's presidential bid has a high chance of swaying congressional votes on the renewed push to impeach her. The National Unity Party (NUP), which holds the second-largest bloc in the House of Representatives, said in a statement on Wednesday, February 25, that it will "most likely" vote against impeaching Duterte. "Unless compelling new evidence emerges during the course of these hearings that fundamentally alters the factual basis for the impeachment complaint, the NUP will most likely not vote in favor of this measure," the statement read. But unlike in 2025, no impeachment complaint sought to gather the endorsement of one-third of all House members to expedite proceedings to a trial.

PCG personnel sacked, demoted after MV Trisha Kerstin 3 tragedyMANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Thursday, February 26, said it has fired and demoted several personnel following the sinking of the MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which has resulted in the deaths of at least 65 people. The MV Trisha Kerstin 3 sank off the waters of Basilan in January. The PCG said that the Pre-Departure Inspection Team was sacked, namely PO1 Sabhal Turaini, PO3 Khalid Asmawil, PO3 Al-Yazar Muyong and ASW Mar-Iya Anawie. PO3 Jestoni Barretto, who was the duty office watch, had also been demoted one rank due to insufficient vigilance over his duties. The PCG said that it was not shielding its own personnel from accountability.

Homecrowd critical for GilasMANILA, Philippines — Gilas assistant coach Sean Chambers realizes New Zealand is a tough match-up but with the homecrowd as its sixth man, the national team has a chance to shock the Tall Blacks tonight and Australia on Sunday, both at the MOA Arena, in the second FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window. In the group stage of that competition, New Zealand beat Gilas, 94-86. With the homecrowd, we can shock both of them.”Chambers said because of coach Tim Cone’s motto of keeping the main Gilas pool intact, it was easy to get the players together. “Coach Tim is all about building relationships,” said Chambers. We want good people who understand this journey, playing for Gilas, for the country.

Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP. In this photo taken on February 4, 2026, a future Microsoft data centre is seen under construction in Karawang, West Java.

Lawyer admits error in naming De Lima in cash suitcase claimsFormer Sen. Leila de Lima attends the House quadcom's ninth hearing on the extrajudicial killings of the war on drugs as a resource person on Oct. 22, 2024. Aside from De Lima, those mentioned include former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Bongbong Marcos. "Pupwede error po 'yun on my part (It can be an error on my part)," he said in an interview on 105.9 True FM. He said his clients claimed to have seen De Lima visit a townhouse and leave with a paper bag containing cash. (Whether it’s in a suitcase, a paper bag, or anything else, it’s clear that this is just made up.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the Sydney Opera House during a National Day of Mourning for the victims of the December 14, 2025, mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Jeremy Piper/File Photo