Lower house of the Philippines’ bicameral Congress
The Philippines is confronting renewed scrutiny as the anti-graft watchdog moves closer to filing cases against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, according to multiple outlets citing the State of the Nation Address. President Marcos has framed the drive against corruption as a defining mandate while pledging tax relief and subsidies to soften the economy amid oil-price volatility.
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.