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November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Amid unconfirmed reports on his arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC), Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has turned to the Supreme Court for help to prevent it from being carried out.

In a 25-page “very urgent manifestation” filed before the SC yesterday, Dela Rosa, through his counsel Israelito Torreon, said the high tribunal must issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction to keep him from being “subjected to illegal arrest or surrender to a foreign court without due process.”

“Unless restrained, the respondents may again invoke ‘international cooperation’ or ‘comity’ to justify actions similar to the March 11, 2025 arrest and transfer of former President (Rodrigo) Duterte, which occurred without judicial order, without warrant of extradition, and in open defiance of constitutional boundaries,” Dela Rosa’s manifestation read.

“The petitioners therefore beseech this Honorable Court to assert its constitutional role as final arbiter of both judicial and constitutional propriety, and to prevent another constitutional breakdown that would erode the very notion of Philippine sovereignty,” it added.

Aside from Dela Rosa, named as petitioner in the manifestation was Duterte, who is currently detained at the ICC’s detention facility in The Hague following his arrest last March 11 for crimes against humanity in connection with the extrajudicial killings during his administration’s so-called war on drugs.

Dela Rosa, in his manifestation, also sought a TRO or preliminary injunction against any possible surrender request from the ICC as well as against the government’s extension of any form of logistical, financial, or protective assistance to ICC witnesses through the DOJ’s witness protection program.

“The Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program, as created under Republic Act No. 6981, is designed exclusively for witnesses in criminal cases within Philippine jurisdiction. It does not authorize the use of public funds or official resources to facilitate witness participation in proceedings before a foreign tribunal whose jurisdiction the Philippines no longer recognizes,” the manifestation read.

Dela Rosa said the TRO or injunction must also cover transmission of “any ICC-related communication or correspondence through diplomatic or law enforcement channels pending final resolution of this case.”

Duterte and Dela Rosa have a pending petition for certiorari before the SC questioning the legality of the former president’s arrest and the country’s continuous cooperation with the ICC.

The senator filed his manifestation following Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s pronouncement, in a radio program on dzRH last Nov. 8, that an arrest warrant has already been issued by the ICC.

No warrant copy yet

Concerned agencies like the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which has supervision over the Philippine National Police (PNP), said they have yet to receive a copy of the supposed arrest warrant from the ICC.

The DILG also said no Red Notice from the Interpol has yet been issued against Dela Rosa.

Remulla, at a press briefing last Tuesday, stood by his statement that an ICC arrest warrant had already been issued, but clarified that only an “unofficial copy” was obtained from a third-party source.

Dela Rosa, in his manifestation, also asked the SC to direct the DOJ and DFA to submit within 72 hours “written certifications, under oath, confirming or denying whether any ICC-related warrant, note verbale, or communication has been received, transmitted, or processed through official channel.”

In a separate “very urgent motion” also filed yesterday, Dela Rosa also requested the SC to order Remulla to submit a copy of the alleged ICC arrest warrant which the latter claimed to possess on his mobile phone.

Dela Rosa also asked the high tribunal to order Remulla to “file a sworn explanation stating how he obtained the alleged document (arrest warrant), from whom, when, and under what authority.”

“Remulla’s possession of an ‘unofficial but existing’ warrant creates public confusion, legal uncertainty, and a chilling effect on the constitutional rights of petitioners,” Dela Rosa’s motion read.

“As a respondent, Remulla owes candor, full disclosure, and fidelity to this Honorable Court,” Dela Rosa added.

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY , Philippines —  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) have been urged to turn over the management and operation of the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village to the city government of Cagayan de Oro amid reports of the site’s possible closure.

Established in 1991, the Malasag Eco-Tourism Village has been one of the city’s flagship attractions, known for its scenic views, cultural exhibits and nature-based amenities.

The site now faces uncertainty as TIEZA reportedly struggles to sustain rental charges imposed by the DENR, which owns the property.

The lease agreement between the DENR and TIEZA will expire on Dec. 3 and if not renewed, 46 workers of the tourist site, mostly members of the Lumad indigenous peoples’ group, stand to lose their livelihood.

Councilor Girlie Balaba, chair of the city council committee on tourism, has expressed concern over the possible displacement of workers and the potential wastage of the site’s tourism potential.

Balaba appealed to the DENR to consider lowering the rental rates and to allow the city government under Mayor Rolando Uy to assume the management and operation of the tourism site.

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna , Philippines — Two people including a person with disability were killed in a fire that struck a residential area in Antipolo, Rizal on Wednesday night.

Firefighters recovered the remains of the fatalities, whose identities were not immediately available, in the toilet and bathroom of their house located in Barangay San Roque.

Report said the fire broke out at past 8 p.m. and quickly spread to nearby houses mostly made of light materials.

Firefighters declared the fire under control at around 10 p.m.

Arson probers have yet to determine the cause and origin of the fire and the amount of property destroyed in the blaze.     

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos should certify as urgent the Anti-Political Dynasty Bill if he is truly serious about fighting corruption, former Bayan Muna congressman and human rights lawyer Carlos Isagani Zarate said yesterday, calling it the definitive test of the administration’s proclaimed anti-corruption campaign.

Zarate specifically highlighted House Bill Nos. 209 and 4784, filed by the Makabayan bloc, which seek to finally implement the 1987 constitutional mandate prohibiting political dynasties.

He argued that the concentration and perpetuation of political power by the same families, like the Marcos and Duterte clans, remains the single greatest enabler of corruption and poor governance in the Philippines.

“The greatest enabler of corruption in our nation is the system of political dynasties, where a few families treat public office as a private heirloom,” Zarate said in a statement.

“If President Marcos Jr. is truly serious about fighting corruption, he must recognize that the root of the problem lies in the decades-long control of political power by a privileged few. Political dynasties breed impunity, erode checks and balances, and ensure that public service is treated as a birthright rather than a public trust,” he added.

Zarate pointed out that the Bayan Muna party-list and the broader Makabayan bloc have been consistently filing this measure since 2001, in the spirit of Article II, Section 26 of the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the State to “guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.”

Despite this constitutional command, Congress, often dominated by dynastic families, has repeatedly failed to enact the enabling law.

He said HB Nos. 209 and 4784 define and prohibit political dynasties by banning relatives within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity – such as parents, children, siblings and cousins – from simultaneously holding or running for national or local office, or from directly succeeding an incumbent relative.

“By certifying these bills as urgent, President Marcos Jr. can send a definitive signal that his administration is ready to dismantle the political structures that have hampered democratic development and fueled corruption for generations,” Zarate said.

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Taipan Lucio Tan’s MacroAsia Corp. is projected to grow larger over the next few quarters as it bagged fresh contracts from foreign airlines and is completing new food and water projects.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, MacroAsia said its profit rose by five percent to P1.02 billion in the nine months to September, from P975.9 million a year ago.

Revenue jumped by six percent to P7.41 billion, driven by the expansion in its in-flight catering, although this was partly mitigated by the 13-percent surge in expenses to P5.85 billion.

From the fourth quarter onward, MacroAsia expects the business to expand further, propelled by peak demand for air travel. The provider of aviation services bagged new contracts to supply in-flight meals to new carriers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

MacroAsia is also enhancing the capacity of its food commissary in Muntinlupa City, which will double its production volume before the end of 2026. The company will also generate additional revenues next year from its new water facilities in Bacolod, Olango Islands and Poro Point.

Aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul service provider Lufthansa Technik Philippines (LTP) also appears headed to renew its lease in NAIA, although MacroAsia said talks are still ongoing with concerned agencies.

LTP added close to 700 workers to its workforce in the third quarter, reporting 3,914 employees as of September, from 3,216 in June.

LTP, which is 49-percent owned by MacroAsia, concluded its 25-year lease in NAIA in September, although it has flexibility to renew the contract.

However, LTP is still negotiating the renewal in hopes of securing favorable rates. Lease prices in NAIA increased by 11 times to P710 per square meter after the airport was turned over to the private sector.

LTP is viewed as a prized investor not only in NAIA, but in the Philippines as a whole, generating thousands of jobs and improving the country’s position as an aviation hub. As of September, LTP has serviced 47 aircraft from carriers across the world for line maintenance.

Currently, LTP is looking at opportunities in Clark, Pampanga, in view of the projected increase in demand for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul.

In spite of risks and uncertainties, MacroAsia looks to end the year on a high note, relying on the strength of its core business and expanding capacity in non-aviation services.

The Philippine Star

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A consumer advocacy group has urged government to move beyond piecemeal recovery efforts and adopt a unified national framework that integrates power, transport and telecommunications resilience as a public service priority.

CitizenWatch said it is proposing the renovation of power, telecommunications and transportation infrastructure into an integrated network of protected underground conduits through “dig once, build together” public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Lead convenor Orlando Oxales said digital infrastructure should be classified as a  “lifeline utility,” aligning with global best practices. Such a measure, he said, would mandate minimum power and communications backup standards, infrastructure co-location, and investments in mobile cell units for emergency deployment.

“Building back better cannot just mean rebuilding the same vulnerable systems,” Oxales said. “Resilience means ensuring that when the next typhoon hits, communication lines remain open, relief flows unhampered, and power stays on.”

CitizenWatch cited the experiences of Japan, Taiwan and New Zealand as clear examples of how coordinated infrastructure systems can prevent the paralyzing blackouts and communication breakdowns that typically follow major disasters. After Japan’s 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, telecom operators NTT, KDDI and SoftBank implemented cross-network resource pooling and backup power sharing, restoring emergency communication lines within hours.

Taiwan, learning from repeated cable disruptions caused by typhoons, built a multi-layered network linking terrestrial, undersea, and satellite systems nationwide to maintain connectivity even when submarine cables are cut. New Zealand, following the Christchurch and Kaik?ura earthquakes, institutionalized joint planning between power utilities and telecom providers, reinforcing undersea cables and establishing joint repair corridors to minimize downtime.

“These countries show that resilience is not about rebuilding after every calamity — it’s about designing systems that never go completely dark,” said Oxales “When grid power and transport networks fail, the communications network becomes the bridge between life and recovery.”

CitizenWatch also encouraged the government to expand PPP models for integrated resilience clusters — linking telecom towers, power substations, and logistics hubs through pre-cleared emergency transport corridors.

“These investments are lifesaving assets,” Oxales said. “Every peso spent on resilience saves four pesos in recovery and avoids immeasurable human suffering.”

He added that the devastation caused by Typhoon Uwan should mark a turning point in how the Philippines plans and protects its lifelines.

“This is the moment to move from patchwork recovery to long-term resilience,” Oxales said. “If we align our energy, transport, and digital infrastructure under one resilience agenda, we don’t just survive the next typhoon—we ensure that every community stays connected, every rescue can be made, and every Filipino can count on a nation that works even in crisis.”

November 14, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Rep. Duke Frasco of the fifth district of Cebu clarified that his trip overseas when Typhoon Tino pummeled the province was approved by the House of Representatives.

In a social media post, he said that his London trip was an “authorized official mission” and that expenses were all out of his personal pocket, maintaining that no government funds were involved in his participation in the event.

Frasco said he was part of the Philippine delegation to the “World Travel Market” – a “platform in pursuing international partnerships, investments and economic opportunities for the country.”

“I arrived in London on Nov. 4, and upon learning of the severe flooding that struck parts of Cebu, I immediately made arrangements to return to the Philippines the next day,” he said, describing as “erroneous assumptions and misrepresentations of fact and law” all the allegations against him.