(UPDATE) FORMER president Rodrigo Duterte agreed with the recent remarks of his successor, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., that abuses were committed during his administration's war on illegal drugs but insisted that "those were never intended." But those were never intended, I am sure, by the law enforcement agency," he added. The bloody drug war of Duterte caught the attention not just of the foreign media and criticism from different organizations, but also the International Criminal Court (ICC). In January, the ICC authorized the resumption of its investigation into the drug war and the Davao Death Squad killings in the Philippines. Duterte, who initiated the drug war, pulled the Philippines out of the ICC in 2019, a year after The Hague-based tribunal began a preliminary investigation into the crackdown.

Meanwhile, the critical Senate agriculture committee that she heads has probably forgotten that it has an important job to carry out as the agriculture sector stares down at the abyss. This is the oversight function, the power to review overall agricultural performance — 99 percent failure — and check program goals and expenditures against accomplishments. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) has resorted to peddling hoaxes to cover up for its dismal failures. The oversight powers of the Senate Committee on Agriculture — it can easily put up a bicameral oversight — allows it to look into such matters as executive arrogance. It is about time to puncture that and that act of puncturing is the mandate of the Senate oversight committee on agriculture.

De Lima camp hopeful of release from detentionSenator Leila De Lima beams with joy following her acquittal in the second drug charge against her at the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court on May 12, 2023. In February 2021, De Lima was acquitted by the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 205 of charges of influence peddling and extortion of convicted drug lord and high-profile NBP inmate, Peter Co. The two legal victories had De Lima celebrating and Tacardon hopeful and optimistic that in their third case, the Muntinlupa RTC Branch 256 would rule favorably on their petition for bail which would be heard three weeks from now on June 5. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla has rejected calls for state prosecutors to drop the last remaining drug case against De Lima, despite rulings in her favor in two other similar cases. “This acquittal of former Philippines senator Leila de Lima on what were always bogus charges is long overdue.

Emperor confers Japan’s highest honor on RomuloFormer Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo receives the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun from Japan Emperor Naruhito during a ceremony at the state room of the Imperial Palace. MANILA, Philippines — The Emperor of Japan has conferred the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun on former foreign affairs secretary Alberto Romulo and six others during a ceremony at the Seiden-Matsu-no-Ma State Room of the Imperial Palace on May 9. Romulo received Japan’s highest decoration along with six Japanese honorees, including Takuya Okada, former president of major retailer Aeon Co., and Shigeru Iwasaki, a former chief of the Joint Staff. Romulo was cited for his role in and major contribution to the bilateral relation of the two countries, in particular the successful Japan-Philippine Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA). For the first time, Emperor Naruhito gave his address in English during the ceremony.

ROME, Italy — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Pope Francis Saturday during a trip to Rome, as Berlin unveiled a huge new weapons package ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive. Germany on Saturday announced a new weapons package worth 2.7 billion euros ($2.95 billion) for Ukraine, reportedly the biggest from Berlin since Russia’s invasion. In a joint press conference, Zelensky thanked Meloni “for helping to save lives” while detailing what he called fresh aggressions by Russia. But EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Saturday urged other European nations to provide long-range weapons for Ukraine, while accelerating arms deliveries overall. READ: Ukraine leader Zelensky urges Putin to meet in war-torn eastYour subscription could not be saved.

The Inquirer and forensics experts are investigating “anomalous activity” that prompted the company to take some computer systems offline, disrupting publication of the Sunday print newspaper, the company said Saturday night. As issues with print publication are addressed, “we continue to provide Philly and the region with the latest news at Inquirer.com, and on our e-Edition,” Inquirer Publisher and CEO Elizabeth H. Hughes said. “As our investigation is ongoing, we are unable to provide that information at this time,” a company spokesman said. In December 2018, the New York Times wrote about an unusual cyberattack disrupting the Los Angeles Times’ printing operations and those at newspapers in San Diego and Florida over a single weekend. That attack also affected Saturday distribution of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, which shared use of a large printing plant in Los Angeles for their West Coast editions, according to the New York Times.

A 47-year-old security guard turned himself in about nine hours after his botched attempt to rob a jewelry store in Kwun Tong as he was unable to smash through the glass display case with a hammer. According to security camera footage, the would-be robber repeatedly smashed in vain at the glass display with a hammer. The incident occurred at around 1.38 pm at the jewelry store on Mut Wah Street. Police soon identified the would-be robber as his ID documents were in the backpack left behind at the crime scene. Also read: Would-be robber flees empty-handed after botched smash-and-grab at Kwun Tong jewelry store

One of three men fishing in mainland waters drowned on Saturday morning. His body was soon retrieved by the other two and was rushed to a beach in Sai Kung. They immediately sought help from the lifeguard at the beach, who attempted to resuscitate the drowning man and filed a police report. The drowning man was sent to Tseung Kwan O Hospital but was eventually pronounced dead, while the other two mainland men were taken away by police for investigation. According to the lifeguard, the drowning man was in a diving suit at the time.

SAN FRANCISCO: Elon Musk has chosen top ad executive Linda Yaccarino to take the day-to-day reins of Twitter as he fights to reverse the tide at the struggling platform he bought for $44 billion last year. As a leading member of the US media establishment, Yaccarino's hiring blindsided that audience, with her senior role at the World Economic Forum especially singled out for vitriol. 'Hands full'According to NBCUniversal's website, Yaccarino led a team of 2,000 people there and "reengineered the advertising business for the 21st century." With Yaccarino's hiring, he is belatedly fulfilling the promise he made to honor the results of a Twitter poll he posted in December. Wall Street had grown frustrated that Twitter was luring Musk away from his other businesses, and share prices in Tesla rose on news he had found a CEO.

A woman was arrested for animal abuse after her white cat fell from height and hit a Benz before it rebounded onto the ground. The incident occurred around 9.53 am today (Sat) when the Mercedes Benz was passing by Hennessy Road in Wan Chai. Cops were later called to the scene and covered the white cat’s body in a cardboard box and a black plastic bag. I hope the cat wasn’t thrown off the building from above because of an argument,” he said. He also added that the owner is responsible for taking care of the cat and ensuring it can’t just jump out of the window.

Abundant watersStrike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink. As the people camped in the dusty, barren desert, we read this alarming line: “There was no water for the people to drink” (Exodus 17:1). Their God provided abundant water. Whatever your need, whatever your lack, may you find hope and refreshment in His abundant waters. How can you look for and trust in God’s abundant waters?

A 33-year-old man was hospitalized after he was stung by a bee in Tai Wai on Friday afternoon, marking the second bee sting incident seen by the city in one day. The incident occurred at about 2 pm as the worker named Chan was doing maintenance work at a slope site near the Fu Shan Public Mortuary. Chan fell unconscious after the bee stung him on the left hand. This second incident involving bees came as a 64-year-old staffer from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department died after he was stung by a bee. Also read: AFCD staffer dies after bee sting while on duty at Chi Ma Wan Country Trail

Kwai Tsing police officers issued 845 fixed penalty tickets and 23 court summons in a two-day operation targeting traffic offenses that ended on Thursday. According to the force, jaywalkers or those who commit other serious pedestrian offenses could see themselves issued court summons. Violations in the crosshairs include crossing the road during a red light, crossing the road within 15 meters of a pedestrian crossing but not using it, as well as climbing over curbside fences or traversing through median strips. Police said during the operation to combat traffic violations, officers handed out a total of 845 fixed penalty tickets, along with issuing 23 court summons to jaywalkers. Under the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations, pedestrians who cross a road without regard to the traffic light signal is liable to a fine of HK$2,000.

While leaders of Russia’s military and the paramilitary units carry out their public squabbling, Ukraine has been preparing for a major counteroffensive. They spent the winter digging trenches and building tank traps to defend against a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Kiev has been tight-lipped about when it might launch a counteroffensive against an exhausted Russia force. Prigozhin says the counteroffensive has begun, with sharply conceived attacks meant to “shape” the battlefield. Ukrainian leader Zelensky says the counteroffensive might have to wait for better ground conditions to minimize losses among his forces.

On ‘glorious day’ of acquittal in 2nd drug case, De Lima says freedom within reachFormer Sen. Leila de Lima inside the Muntinlupa Hall of Justice as she attends the promulgation on one of two remaining drug cases against her on May 12, 2023. “I am, of course, happy that with this second acquittal in the three cases filed against me, my release from more than six years of persecution draws nearer,” De Lima said. Three drug cases were filed against De Lima during the Duterte administration and two of these have resulted in her acquittal. Lawyers for her have applied for bail in the last drug case in the hopes that she could be released from detention. Still, she said the court’s decision today on De Lima’s case sends a message.