Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Former Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr., who faces charges for being the alleged mastermind behind the killing of a political rival in 2023, was arrested in Timor-Leste on Thursday afternoon.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest, saying the expelled lawmaker and “designated terrorist” was playing golf in the capital Dili when captured, and that he was placed in the custody of the East Timorese police pending extradition to the Philippines.
The US Department of State confirmed that three senior diplomats from the Philippines, Japan, and the United States (US) met in Tokyo ahead of the trilateral leaders’ summit on April 11.
In a readout, US Department of State Matthew Miller said Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Okano Masataka and Philippine Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday.
The revised rules on the 5-percent special discount on basic goods and prime commodities for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) were signed on Thursday, effectively raising the cap for their weekly grocery discount from P65 to P125 starting next week.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), one of the three agencies that will oversee the implementation of the revised rules, led the signing of a new joint administrative order that will be published on Monday, March 25.