Duterte’s family can’t visit until February 27MANILA, Philippines — Members of the Duterte family will not be allowed to visit the former president during confirmation of charges hearings at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. In a statement, the Duterte family yesterday said that while there are no approved in-person family visits to the detained former president, his Filipino legal team would be present during the court hearings on Feb. 23, 24, 26 and 27 to make sure that he would be properly represented. Telephone calls, however, will still be allowed. The family also extended its appreciation to the Filipino community in The Hague for ensuring a platform is available for every Filipino who wants to speak out. Duterte is facing charges of crimes against humanity for the deaths of thousands during his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

For Romero, age is just a numberMANILA, Philippines — At 52, most athletes are done with their careers and content at looking back, telling and re-telling past glories. But not for former Deputy Speaker and sports patron Mikee Romero, who is also active as a Philippine Air Force reservist. And the pursuit all began in the prestigious series Gauntlet of Polo in Wellington, Florida last year. “It is unheard of and unbelievable to become a world-class athlete at this late stage of my life,” said Romero. But Romero overcame barriers and became the first Filipino to break into the Top 25 of the World Polo Tour amateur rankings, and remains the highest-ranked Southeast Asian player on the list.

Can House muster votes to impeach Sara Duterte? Rep. Benny Abante Jr. (Manila 6th District), chair of the House Committee on Human Rights and an endorser of the latest complaint, said the numbers are there. Even so, a one-third vote of all members is still required to approve the articles and authorize transmittal to the Senate. “Our vice president, she did not take an oath. Maybe if she answered, it would be okay.”“But now is the time for the vice president to answer all the allegations.

Maroons rally to clip Blue EaglesMANILA, Philippines — University of the Philippines came from two sets down and completed the reverse sweep against the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 17-25, 19-25, 25-22, 25-23, 16-14, in their UAAP Season 88 women’s volleyball clash Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. UP had to claw one out to grab its second win of the season, while they kept the Blue Eagles winless. It is also the first win of the Fighting Maroons against Ateneo since UAAP Season 80. An Ali attack and a block by Ytang then iced the match. In men’s action, University of Santo Tomas broke through with a four-set win, 25-23, 25-22, 15-25, 25-19 over the La Salle Green Spikers, while the Blue Eagles drubbed UP, 21-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-18.

MV Trisha Kerstin 3 death toll rises to 65Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard retrieving a body from the MV Trisha Kerstin 3 in the waters of Basilan. MANILA, Philippines — The confirmed death toll in the sinking of MV Trisha Kerstin 3 rose to 65 after the recovery of another body, the Philippine Coast Guard said Sunday, February 22. Specialized divers continue to scour the wreckage and surrounding waters in search of the remaining passengers. MV Trisha Kerstin 3, a rolling cargo vessel, sank January 26 near Basilan province. The vessel was carrying 314 passengers and 27 crew members at the time of the incident.

LIVE Updates: ICC confirmation of charges hearing for Rodrigo DuterteMANILA, Philippines — The International Criminal Court (ICC) has set the confirmation of charges hearing for former President Rodrigo Duterte from February 23 to 27, moving the pre-trial proceedings forward after months of legal delays. The hearing, which is not a trial, will determine whether there is enough evidence to send Duterte’s case to a full trial over alleged crimes against humanity. Duterte, 80, will not attend the hearing in The Hague after the ICC granted his defense’s request to waive his right to appear, despite judges ruling that he is fit to participate. The case, formally titled “The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” stems from the ICC’s investigation into alleged crimes against humanity linked to thousands of killings during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. Stay updated on the latest developments in Duterte’s ICC pre-trial proceedings in The Hague.

PMA alumni told: True integrity tested in powerMANILA, Philippines — True integrity is measured not on the battlefield but in positions of power when nobody is watching, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson told fellow graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) in Baguio City yesterday. Speaking as guest of honor at the PMA Alumni Homecoming 2026, Lacson urged alumni to uphold the academy’s core trinity of courage, integrity and loyalty, stressing that one pillar stands above the rest in public service. “If the test of courage and loyalty transpires during times of danger, integrity is tested in positions of power and influence, especially when no one is looking,” Lacson said. A member of PMA Class 1971, Lacson said the academy’s values must endure despite the “great divide of time and technology” separating generations of cadets. “The strongest foundation of integrity is best initiated at home, and even better – by the power of genuine example displayed by our parents,” he said.

Chinese national arrested for identity theft in ParañaqueThis undated photo shows the Bureau of Immigration main office in Intramuros, Manila. MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Immigration arrested a Chinese national for alleged identity theft and immigration violations during an operation in Parañaque City on February 16. Intelligence reports suggested that Fang was allegedly involved in illicit local activities and had been assuming the identity of another Chinese national to evade detection. Two others detainedDuring the same operation, authorities also arrested two other Chinese nationals. The third individual, 39-year-old Xu Yuxiang, was also confirmed to be overstaying after her last recorded visa extension expired in 2020.

Duterte family says no visitations approved during ICC trialSupporters of Duterte hold their smartphones as a lawyer speaks outside the International Criminal Court (ICC) ahead of the hearing of former Philippines' president Rodrigo Dutertein The Hague on March 14, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — No family visits have been approved during the trial of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte at the International Criminal Court (ICC), his family said Sunday, February 22. In a statement, the Duterte family said telephone calls would remain available to the former president during the proceedings. The family also said several Filipino lawyers would attend the confirmation of charges hearing scheduled from February 23 to 27. Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, an ICC-accredited lawyer and supporter of Duterte, was not included in the roster.

Knicks rally to down Rockets as Pistons, Spurs roll onNEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 21: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks shoots a basket during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on February 21, 2026 in New York City. The Knicks' victory was a rebound from a humbling loss to Detroit with a gutsy victory that put them back into a tie for third place in the East. Kevin Durant scored a game-high 30 points for the Rockets, but 20 Houston turnovers leading to 30 Knicks points proved too much to overcome. The Pistons shook off a sluggish start to roll to a 126-110 victory over the slumping Bulls in Chicago. Spurs' French superstar Victor Wembanyama scored 28 points and pulled down 15 rebounds.

Palace denies road harassment involving 'presidential son'First children Simon, Sandro and Vincent, as seen in a video greeting released by the office of their father, President Bongbong Marcos. MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang denied reports of an alleged road harassment incident involving a “presidential son” along the North Luzon Expressway on Saturday, February 21. In a message to reporters, Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez said there was no such incident involving any son of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr..“There is no such incident involving any presidential son,” Gomez said. The confrontation was said to have occurred after the presidential vehicle overtook cars that were allegedly spanning three lanes of the highway and blocking traffic. A purported show-cause order also circulated online, claiming that the vehicles involved in the alleged road rage incident were registered to the Provincial Government of Bulacan.

Frenchman offers to split lottery winnings with thieves who stole his card to buy winning ticket

BERLIN, Germany — "Yellow Letters," directed by German filmmaker Ilker Catak, won the Berlin Film Festival's Golden Bear for best film Saturday, at a ceremony reflecting the controversy over Gaza that has dogged this year's edition. The runner-up Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize went to "Salvation" by Emin Alper, who in his speech expressed solidarity with several high-profile opposition figures in prison in Turkey, including jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Tom Courtenay, 88, and 79-year-old Anna Calder-Marshall, who plays the ailing mother in the film, shared the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance. The film also picked up the Silver Bear Jury Prize, considered the third most prestigious award. Grant Gee picked up the Best Director award for "Everybody Digs Bill Evans" his black-and-white biopic of the legendary jazz pianist.

When AI Is your new co-workerA quiet shift is happening in workplaces everywhere. Artificial intelligence has entered the workplace not as a distant innovation, but as a new kind of co-worker. In much the same way, AI is not simply about replacing workers, but redefining what makes work valuable. Ironically, the rise of AI may be pushing workplaces to rediscover the importance of humanity itself. Even in an age of intelligent machines, the most meaningful work still requires something AI will never have — a human heart.

ICC rejects plea to disqualify EJK victims’ lawyersFather Flavie Villanueva joins hands with relatives of extrajudicial killings of former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war during inurnment rites at the ‘Dambana ng Paghilom’ in Caloocan on February 20, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Pre-trial judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have rejected the request of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman to disqualify the Filipino lawyers appointed as external legal representatives of extrajudicial killing victims in the proceedings. “The request argues the existence of a conflict of interest without pointing to any clear legal basis…. The court noted that Kaufman sought the disqualification of Butuyan, Andres and Arcaina, but then concluded his request with a plea to revoke the appointment of common legal representatives for the victims (CLRV). She clarified, however, that the confirmation of charges is not a “trial” as it is still part of pre-trial proceedings.