Filipino politician and former president, Manila-era mayor and PDP-Laban leader
The United States has requested the extradition of Apollo Carreon Quiboloy, the founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, to face charges including child sex trafficking and fraud. The request has been sent to the Philippine Department of Justice and requires the approval of two Philippine courts. Quiboloy has been jailed since 2024 amid investigations into abuse and trafficking.
Independent Truth Commission hearings have begun to examine extrajudicial killings tied to Duterte’s drug crackdown. Families of victims testify as the panel seeks information, with rights groups citing tens of thousands killed and the government contrasting figures.
A Quezon City court has issued an arrest warrant accusing Vice‑President Sara Duterte of three counts of grave threats tied to a 2024 online news conference. Bail was set at 120,000 pesos per count; her lawyers say she will post bail and contest the warrant. The charges sit alongside an ongoing Senate impeachment trial and could bar her from office if she is convicted.
Several countries have pulled out of the International Criminal Court in the past year, including Venezuela and Chad, with Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger previously departing. Washington’s pressure and leadership shifts fuel a broader realignment, as critics accuse the ICC of neocolonial bias while supporters warn against impunity for atrocities.
The International Criminal Court is confronting intensified pushback from the United States as multiple states weigh or enact withdrawals from the Rome Statute. ICC officials, led by interim prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, say sanctions are complicating operations but the court will pursue accountability with technical safeguards.
Rodrigo Duterte has attended a pretrial hearing at the International Criminal Court in The Hague where judges have discussed evidence disclosure, trial scheduling and his health. The 81‑year‑old denies charges that he created and armed death squads during his war on drugs; his lawyers have argued that memory loss prevents him from participating fully. The trial is due to open on November 30, 2026.
Saudi Arabia has declared Mecca a red line as Houthi strikes test a defence pact with Turkey and Pakistan amid a broader Iran-linked escalation. Attacks threaten Red Sea oil routes; Iran remains accused of backing Houthis. US involvement remains limited as allied efforts to bolster air defences unfold.
The ICC has deemed the 81-year-old former president fit to stand trial on charges of murder and attempted murder tied to the anti-drug crackdown. The trial opens on November 30, with Duterte denying the charges and asserting he acted in self-defence. Death-toll estimates in the crackdown range from over 6,000 to as high as 30,000, as prosecutors press for accountability.
The Philippine impeachment trial has dropped three charges against Vice President Sara Duterte, narrowing the case to one article over alleged unexplained wealth, while witnesses will no longer be called on several matters. Prosecutors say the move speeds the process as Duterte denies any wrongdoing.