Modest consumer price increases forecast

 

Government Economist Irina Fan (center), presents the First Quarter Economic Report 2026 alongside Principal Economist Eric Lee and Asst Commissioner for Census and Statistics Edith Chan

Prices of consumer-bought products are expected to rise modestly during the next three quarters of the year as Hong Kong’s economy is expected to continue its robust growth, according to the government’s First Quarter Economic Report 2026.

 “Overall inflation in Hong Kong is expected to remain relatively well anchored, reflecting the city's low energy intensity as a predominantly service-oriented economy, with stable energy supplies from the Mainland helping to mitigate external shocks,” according to the report, presented by the Government Economist, Irina Fan.

Based on the previous quarter’s inflation situation, it estimated the consumer prices inching by 2.5% to 2.6%, up from estimates of 1.7% and 1.8% as announced in the government’s 2026 Budget.

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In the first quarter of 2026, consumer price inflation stayed modest though it picked up somewhat in March, mainly driven by fuel-related components amid higher international oil prices.

“Price pressures in other components were largely contained. The underlying Composite Consumer Price Index (Composite CPI) rose by 1.4% in the first quarter over a year earlier, following the 1.1% increase in the preceding quarter,” the report said.

“Including the effects of the Government's one-off relief measures, the headline Composite CPI increased by 1.6% year-on-year in the first quarter,” it added.

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In the past two months, the Government has introduced short-term, targeted measures to provide timely relief to sectors with relatively high fuel cost.

“The Government remains vigilant to the risks of further escalation of the conflict (in the Middle East), will closely monitor the developments, and will respond further as appropriate to safeguard price stability,” the report said.

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Other main points of the report:

＊ The Hong Kong economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, driven by the sustained strong performance in external trade and pick-up in domestic demand. Real GDP grew by 5.9% over a year earlier in the first quarter, accelerating from the 4.0% growth in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, real GDP rose notably by 2.9%.

＊ Total exports of goods grew markedly by 23.7% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter, underpinned by sustained global demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related electronic products and buoyant regional trade flows in Asia. Exports of services continued to expand solidly by 3.5% in real terms over a year earlier, with broad-based growth across all major service groups.

＊ Domestic demand strengthened across both consumption and investment. Private consumption expenditure saw accelerated growth of 4.9% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter, reflecting the more entrenched recovery in households' spending. Overall investment expenditure continued to expand at a double-digit rate of 17.7% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter, alongside the robust economic growth.

＊ The labour market showed modest improvement in the first quarter. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down further by 0.1 percentage point from the preceding quarter to 3.7% in the first quarter. The underemployment rate also decreased by 0.1 percentage point to 1.6%. Average employment earnings continued to record year-on-year growth in the first quarter.

Phl peso now down to 61.72 to USD

The peso has been dropping to historic lows since the latest Mideast row began at end of February

 The Philippine has again dropped to a new all-time low of 61.721 to the US dollar at the end of trading on Friday, May 15.

This came just a day after the peso plunged to a record low of 61.64 on Thursday.

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Malacanang said this showed that the greenback is strong, and not that the peso is weak.

The Palace also said that the global spike in oil prices amid continuing tensions in the Middle East was another big factor. Combined with the country’s dependence on imports, the local demand for dollars surged, further weakening the peso.

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Before the combined US and Israel attack on Iran at the end of February, the peso was gaining ground, strengthening to 57.665 on Feb 27, the last day of trading before the Middle East conflict.

Since then, it has dropped from one historic low to another.

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While the weaker peso has superficially boosted the spending capacity of OFWs, inflation has made it difficult for their families back in the Philippines to live on their former budget.

Recent data from the government showed inflation had hit 7.2 percent in April amid the continuing tension in the Middle East, and the consequent oil price increases.

PCG warns against Cora Wealths investment scheme

 

Cora Wealth investments are in USD (Facebook photo)

Filipinos in Hong Kong are being warned against putting money in an apparent pyramid-type investment scam called “Cora Wealths” which is purportedly based in the United States and promises a return of 10% per month on investments of at least US$1000.

According to a Facebook post by the Philippine Consulate General, people behind the “potentially fraudulent investment platform are targeting overseas Filipino workers and investors based in the Philippines.

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“To lure investors, Cora Wealths has engaged several OFWs as recruiting agents and team leaders who are promising commissions based on the number of people enticed to join the investment,” said the PCG.

Documents shown to the PCG by complainants indicated that Cora Wealths appears to operate as a pyramiding scheme where the payouts to earlier investors is derived from the money put in by succeeding investors or victims.

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Cora Wealths reportedly claims to engage in real estate investment but has no valid registration to sell securities in the Philippines or in Hong Kong, said the PCG.

Filipinos are reminded that the sale and trading of securities in Hong Kong require a license from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong.

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To check the list of corporations and individuals licensed to trade in securities, please click on this link: https://www.sfc.hk/en/Regulatory-functions/Intermediaries/Licensing/Register-of-licensed-persons-and-registered-institutions

In the Philippines the sale and trade of securities is regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and would need either a secondary licence for corporations or registration as individual broker or dealer. To check if a broker is licensed, click here: https://checkwithsec.sec.gov.ph/check-with-sec/index

The PCG reiterated the warning that investments that promise a very high yield of return in just a short time is highly likely to be fraudulent.

To view the PCG’s Facebook post with this warning, please go to: https://web.facebook.com/share/p/18wayUAmHW/ 

35 ex-DHs with failed non-refoulement claims sent home

 

Immigration officers escort ex-DHs in boarding flights at airport 

Thirty-five former foreign domestic helpers, among them a number of Filipinos, have been repatriated to their places of origin after failing to prove their non-refoulement claims and subsequent appeals in the High Court.

A number of those repatriated from May 13 to May 15 included those who had committed criminal offences, sent to jail and had completed their sentences.

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 “The ImmD is very concerned about the abuse of the non-refoulement claim mechanism and is aware that a number of claimants were former foreign domestic helpers,” it said in a press statement. “The ImmD has been co-operating with the relevant consulates-general in Hong Kong and will continue such co-operation to step up publicity and education for newly arriving foreign domestic helpers to help them understand that they should not abuse the non-refoulement claim mechanism.”

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Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court to speed up the process.

“The ImmD will continue to explore different feasible solutions to expedite the repatriation of unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants, and will actively co-ordinate with relevant authorities to optimize repatriation routes and the operation process,” it said.

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“The ImmD will actively maintain close liaison with governments of major source countries of non-refoulement claimants, airline companies and other government departments to repatriate unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong as soon as practicable through all appropriate measures,” it added.

General holidays for 2027 published

The following list of general holidays for 2027 is gazetted today (May 15) for public information:

• Every Sunday
• The first day of January: January 1, Friday
• Lunar New Year's Day: February 6, Saturday
• The third day of Lunar New Year: February 8, Monday
• The fourth day of Lunar New Year: February 9, Tuesday

• Good Friday: March 26, Friday
• The day following Good Friday: March 27, Saturday
• Easter Monday: March 29, Monday
• Ching Ming Festival: April 5, Monday
• Labour Day: May 1, Saturday
• The Birthday of the Buddha: May 13, Thursday

• Tuen Ng Festival: June 9, Wednesday
• Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day: July 1, Thursday
• The day following the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival: September 16, Thursday
• National Day: October 1, Friday
• Chung Yeung Festival: October 8, Friday
• Christmas Day: December 25, Saturday
• The first weekday after Christmas Day: December 27, Monday

A Government spokesman said, "As the second day of Lunar New Year in 2027 falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of Lunar New Year will be designated as a general holiday in substitution."

16 arrested in anti-illegal worker raids

 

Immigration officers escort one of those arrested

The Immigration Department (ImmD) arrested 16 persons in a series of territory-wide anti-illegal worker operations on May 8 to 14.

Ten suspected illegal workers and six suspected employers were arrested in the anti-illegal worker operations codenamed "Twilight". 

The arrested workers comprised eight men and two women, aged 30 to 65. Among them, a man was holding a recognizance form which prohibits him from taking any employment.

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Investigators raided multiple target locations, including restaurants, flats under renovation and grocery stores, arresting three men and three women, aged 28 to 61, suspected of employing the illegal workers.

An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

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“Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are victims of trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labor,” the spokesman said.

“Identified TIP and/or forced labor victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services,” the spokesman added.

Bato flees Senate amid ICC arrest warrant

Senator dela Rosa left the Senate without anyone trying to stop him  

Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa left the Senate building early on Thursday following a mysterious commotion that involved the firing of guns. His departure was confirmed by both Malacanang and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Senator dela Rosa’s abrupt departure came hours after the International Criminal Court confirmed it had issued a warrant for his arrest as early as November last year on charges of carrying out a bloody war on drugs along with former President Rodrigo Duterte who has been detained at The Hague for more than a year. 

According to Cayetano, dela Rosa left at about 2:30am along with  Sen. Robinhood Padilla “for everyone’s safety.”

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 “Long story short, the sergeant-at-arms confirmed that he’s no longer in the building. I’m waiting for the complete incident report, on what time he left,” Cayetano told reporters in a briefing.

He insisted dela Rosa was within his rights to leave although by doing so he gave up the “protective custody” of the Senate.

Earlier, Palace Press Secretary Claire Castro said dela Rosa had left the Senate premises before dawn Thursday.

She also said that Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca was the first to fire a warning shot at a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent, who was in the adjacent premises of the Government Service System. The NBI agent fired back in retaliation.

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The exchange of gunfire sent reporters and other people inside the Senate premises at the time, scurrying for cover.

The senator who had gone into hiding for six months after reports of the ICC warrant had come out, reappeared at the Senate on Monday, to cast a crucial vote that resulted in former Senate President Tito Sotto being cast out, and Cayetano taking over.

On his way in, he claimed he had wrestled with NBI agents who tried to arrest him on the strength of the ICC warrant.

The NBI denied the claim, saying they were not in the Senate premises at that time, but were in the adjacent GSIS building they were asked to protect.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said they were told to “stand down” after the Supreme Court ordered the government to respond to dela Rosa’s urgent application to stop the enforcement of the ICC warrant without a corresponding order from a local court.

“When the Senate declared that Senator Bato was under their protective custody, we chose to respect that decision because we respect the authority of the Senate as a co-equal branch of government,” Matibag said.

The NBI is requesting the Senate for a copy of the video showing how dela Rosa managed to leave their premises without anyone stopping him.

 

Theft case involving nearly $1M goes to DC

 

The neighborhood where alleged theft took place (Google Maps photo)

The theft case against a Filipina domestic helper has been endorsed to the District Court after the total amount she allegedly stole, which was nearly $1 million, was deemed to have exceeded the authority of the West Kowloon Court.

Principal Magistrate Don So returned Analyn Doregios, 44 years old, to jail last Tuesday (May 12) to await the resumption of her case in DC on May 28 for violation of section 9 of the Theft Ordinance.

Doregios is accused of stealing 42 pieces of gold ornaments (including 19 bracelets, two necklaces, 18 pendants and three rings), 300 British pounds in cash, 10,000 Euros in cash and 3,000 Swiss francs in cash, total value about HK$940,000, the property of Wong Cheuk Kiu.

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The theft allegedly took place between June 13 and Nov. 5, 2025, at her employer’s flat in Belvedere Garden Phase 3, on Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan.

Also remanded in jail in a separate case of theft on Wednesday (May 13) was Lea Fuentes, 48 years old, who was accused in a police complaint of stealing 15 pieces of jewelry, total valued $261,150, the property of female Sun Sze-lui Lucia.

Magistrate Eric Yao adjourned the case to June 30.

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Fuentes, also a domestic helper, allegedly committed the theft between May 11, 2025 and April 26, 2026 at her employer’s flat at Wings At Sea, I Lohas Park Road, Tseung Kwan O, New Territories.

Marcos says government not behind shooting incident at Senate

 

Marcos says on video that the government was not involved in the melee at the Senate

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has issued a video statement saying the government was not behind the gunshots fired inside the Senate building Wednesday afternoon that prompted people inside to run for cover.

The chaos ensued after armed men reportedly tried to attempt to enter the Senate premises where Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been holed up since Monday after the International Criminal Court confirmed an arrest warrant against him.

(A video footage taken by the Associated Press of the melee inside the Senate is posted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGHgxh5bRwo).

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Marcos said there was no instruction for anyone to arrest Senator dela Rosa. After the Supreme Court deferred Dela Rosa’s urgent motion to stop his arrest, the president said he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to leave the Senate building, where the senator is under “protective custody.”

“Ang NBI ay sinabihan ko nung lumabas yung resolution nu’ng Supreme Court mga 4 yun kaninang hapon; sinabi ko ‘umalis na kayo diyan’ at nag-comply naman sila. Kaya nung kausap ko si Director [Melvin] Matibag sabi niya walang NBI dito [Senate]. Nandito lahat kami sa opisina,” said the President.

(I told the NBI when the Supreme Court resolution came out, around 4 this afternoon; I told them to leave that area, and they complied. So when I spoke with Director Matibag, he said there was no NBI here [at the Senate]. We are all here in the office.)

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“Walang pumasok na tigalabas na sundalo, na militar, na NBI sa Senado. Hindi po natin alam kung sino yung sumubok na pumasok at saka dahil doon ay nagkaputukan,” he said.

(No soldiers, military personnel or NBI entered the Senate from the outside. We do not know the identity of those who tried to enter and as a result gunshots were fired).

He assured the public that the Senate and the Philippine National Police (PNP) would conduct a thorough investigation.

He explained that only two types of uniformed personnel are stationed inside the Senate: officers of the PNP and members of the Marines.

Both PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. and NBI director Melvin Matibag have denied that their personnel were behind the gunshots.

Senator dela Rosa has been holed up at the Senate since Monday to evade arrest by the ICC

Following the incident, the PNP went on full alert status starting at 8:30pm on Wednesday. In a statement it said it has intensified security monitoring and police presence in the vicinity of the Senate.

The national police force said it had deployed about 1,500 personnel at the Senate and its vicinity as part of security measures.

Journalists who were at the scene said the gunshots were fired after men with rifles and protective gear went up the legislative building. They were spotted talking with Senate security staff earlier.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla later told the media that the first shots came from personnel of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA).

He said that at about 7:46 p.m., Senate security staff fired guns to stop the armed men from going up to the second floor of the building.

As the investigation into the incident got underway, rumors started to swirl about it being a set-up to try to get Senator dela Rosa out of the building.

The senator went into hiding six months ago after reports indicated the ICC had issued a warrant of arrest against him, and only resurfaced Monday to stage a coup with allied senators that resulted in Senate President Tito Sotto being replaced by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

Pinay asylum-seeker awaits sentence for drug tafficking

 

Pinay caught in upstairs apartment here (Google Maps photo)

An unemployed asylum seeker is now in jail awaiting her sentence after she pleaded guilty to two counts of drug trafficking at Eastern Court on Tuesday.

Magistrate Kestrel Lam adjourned the case of Filipina Joanne Miniano. 43 years old, to July 21 for sentencing for violating sections 4(1) (a) and (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance in both cases.

In the first case, Miniano was accused in a police complaint of trafficking, together with a person known as "Alex", in one cartridge containing 0.48 grams of a liquid containing. 0.42 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (a tetrahydro derivative of cannabinol) on Aug. 9 last year at the staircase of 8/F, Phoenix Apartments, 54-70. Lee Garden Road, Causeway Bay.

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In the second charge a few hours later, Miniano and Alex were caught at Room E, Flat J, 8/F of Phoenix Apartments, trafficking in the following dangerous drugs:

• 59 cartridges containing a total of 83.0 grams of a liquid containing 1.17 grams of butomidate (a compound structurally, derived from etomidate by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl by other alkoxycarbonyl group);
• 1 cartridge containing 1.43 grams of a liquid containing 0.01 grams of butomidate (a compound structurally derived from etomidate by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl by other alkoxycarbonyl group);

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• 61 cartridges containing a total of 81.8 grams of a liquid containing 1.76 grams of butomidate (a compound structurally derived from etomidate by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl by other alkoxycarbonyl group),
• 8 cartridges containing a total of 11.2 grams of a liquid containing 0.29 grams of butomidate (being a compound structurally derived from etomidate by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl by other alkoxycarbonyl group),
• 3 cartridges containing a total of 3.92 grams of a liquid containing 0.09. grams of butomidate (being a compound structurally derived from étomidate by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl by other alkoxycarbonyl group)/6 cartridges containing a total of 8.78 grams of a liquid containing 0.11 grams of butomidate (being a compound structurally derived from etomidate by replacement of the ethoxycarbonyl by other alkoxycarbonyl group)
• and 0.01 grams of deschloro-N-ethyl-ketamine (being a compound structurally derived from 2-amino-2-phenylcyclohexanone by substitution at the nitrogen atom with an alkyl group) 14 plastic bags -containing a total of 487 grams of a solid containing 1.49 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (being a tetrahydro. derivative of cannabinol); and 1 cartridge containing 0.41 grams of a liquid containing 0.37 grams of tetrahydrocannabinol (being a tetrahydro derivative of cannabinol).

DMW shuts down unlicensed recruiter for overseas jobs

 

USec Bernard Olalia led the closure of Polaris' Manila offices

An unlicensed company that was charging up to Php260,000 for supposed jobs in four overseas destinations was shut down by the Department of Migrant Workers on Monday, May 11 on charges of illegal recruitment.

Various posts on DMW social media sites named the company as Polaris Manpower and Documentation Services, which held office at 1653 Tecson Street, Sta Cruz, Manila.

The DMW said the operations manager of Polaris named as Yolanda M. Naag used to hold secret orientation seminars for job applicants, who were told that the company was a “partner agency” of the department.

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Applicants were offered jobs as hotel worker, production operator, production packer or cleaner in Taiwan, Canada, Finland and New Zealand, and promised salaries ranging from Php170,000 to Php210,000.

But to kickstart the application process each jobseeker was asked to pay Php260,000 as processing fee, which supposedly included payments for “documentation and visa expenses”

It was not clear whether there were jobseekers who were convinced to apply and pay the exorbitant fee.

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Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia, who led the raid on Polaris, warned applicants were being led  to possible financial exploitation and misuse of government hiring programs.

Olalia also noted that the group’s referral-based recruitment activities could further expand the number of potential victims.

He emphasized that legitimate government-to-government hiring programs do not require the participation of private agencies or third parties in the processing and deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

Separately, the DMW said that the most that a licensed agency could charge as placement fee for a Filipino worker posted abroad is the equivalent of a month’s salary promised the applicant.

However in many places such as New Zealand and Canada no placement fee should be charged the jobseekers.

The DMW said the people behind the operation of Polaris will be charged with illegal recruitment. They could also be included in the List of Persons and Entities with Derogatory Record.

Large-scale illegal recruitment carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of up to a million pesos.

Anyone who fell victim to Polaris' spurious job offer is encouraged to report to the nearest DMW office or send an email to airtipinfo@dmw.gov.ph to avail of free legal aid.

 

 

Senate coup: Cayetano takes over

 

Cayetano takes oath, witnessed by family members

Senators toppled Tito Sotto  on Monday, May 11, as Senate President and replaced him with Alan Peter Cayetano in a coup that finally succeeded after failing several times, as the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte.

Cayetano sought to allay concerns that the Senate reorganization was aimed at aborting the impeachment trial, assuring that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court “forthwith”. He did not elaborate on when the actual trial will begin.

In a statement, Duterte’s legal team said it is “fully prepared” to face the Senate trial as “the burden now rests on the accusers to substantiate their claims in accordance with the Constitution, the law, and rules on evidence.”

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This came after one of the 13 who supported Cayetano, Sen. Ronald Bato de la Rosa, broke his six-month absence from the Senate just to vote, which almost did not happen when he was blocked by agents of the National Bureau of Investigation on his way to the session hall.

Dela Rosa scuffled with the NBI agents and ran upstairs, pursued by the agents who were trying to serve on him the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, as a co-perpetrator of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his trial for crimes against humanity. Also tagged as co-perpetrator Duterte’s extrajudicial killings was Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.

Dela Rosa complained that he hurt a finger when he stumbled as he scrambled up the stairs. On his motion, the Senate voted to cite the nine agents in contempt but Cayetano released them later to NBI director Melvin Matibag, in return for NBI respecting the Senate’s protective custody over Dela Rosa.

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Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was also on hand to serve the warrant as challenged to do so by Dela Rosa in the past, but but they did not cross paths.

The other senators who cast their votes for Cayetano were Imee Marcos, Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go, Rodante Marcoleta, Robin Padilla, Joel Villanueva, Pia Cayetano, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, Loren Legarda, and Sotto, who extended traditional parliamentary courtesy to his rival.

The nine who supported Sotto were Bam Aquino, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Lito Lapid, Kiko Pangilinan, Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Ping Lacson and Cayetano, who similarly cast a courtesy vote.

Senators JV Ejercito and outgoing majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri abstained.

The Senate reorganization has also resulted in Legarda taking over as president pro-tempore, replacing Lacson, who may also be replaced as chairman of the powerful Blue Ribbon Committee.

VP Sara impeached for second time

 

VP Sara declared in February her plan to run as president in 2028

Vice President Sara Duterte has become the first Philippine official to be impeached twice.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved Monday, May 11, the justice committee report that found probable cause in three complaints filed against the Vice President.

Of the 316 House members, 257 signed the impeachment complaints on the grounds of alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and an assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

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This was more than the one-third, or 106 House members, that the Constitution requires for the articles of impeachment to be transmitted to the Senate for trial.

Twenty-five opposed the impeachment, including three members of her family who are incumbent House members. Nine abstained.

The “yes” votes exceeded the 215 cast by House members who approved the impeachment complaint against her last year. However, the Senate under the leadership of Senator Chiz Escudero did not immediately convene to try that indictment and the Supreme Court eventually ruled the impeachment complaint unconstitutional for violating the “one-year bar" rule.

House members vote overwhelmingly to impeach VP Sara (File)

Before the vote, ML Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima  who endorsed the impeachment complaint said, “These are patterns of bad behavior. These are habits of abuse of power… Impeachment is not political persecution. It is not a partisan activity. It is a constitutional accountability mechanism.”

But Cavite Rep.Kiko Barzaga who voted no to impeachment, described VP Sara as the nation’s “hope” for ostensibly fighting corruption, including the massive irregularities in flood control projects.

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Apart from Barzaga those who voted no were Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste, SAGIP Party List Representative Paolo Marcoleta and VP Sara’s kin in Congress, brother Paolo Duterte, nephew Omar Vincent Duterte and cousin Harold James Duterte.

The three Dutertes walked out of the plenary hall before the casting of votes, but later indicated to the House Secretary that they were voting no to the indictment.

Pinay fined $3k after cutting board falls from 8/F window

 

The Austin, where the cutting board fell

A Filipina found out today how strict the Hong Kong government is about things that fall from a height  when she was slapped a fine of $3,000 after she pleaded guilty at the Kwun Tong Court to the offense of allowing an object to fall.

Luckily for R. Guzman, 44 years old, no one was injured when a cutting board fell at 10:50 am on Oct 27 last year from her window in the eighth floor of The Austin on 8 Wui Cheung Road, Yau Ma Tei.

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The cutting board subsequently hit the ground at the tunnel entrance near the temporary bus stop at Austin MTR Station on Jordan Road, when people in the area were fewer.

Otherwise, Deputy Magistrate Hung Yuk-kwan would have imposed a stiffer penalty.

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Section 4B(1) of the Summary Offences Ordinance provides that:

“If anything is dropped or allowed to fall from any building to the danger or injury of any person in or near a public place, the person who drops that thing or allows it to fall commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and imprisonment for 6 months.”