Armed civilian national police force of the Philippines, HQ Camp Crame, 191,000 personnel
Police have charged eight men in connection with a long-running investigation into group-based child sexual exploitation in south Wales. The defendants, aged 54 to 73, face multiple rape and associated offences dating from 1985 to 1996. They are due before Newport Magistrates’ Court on July 24.
The MV June Aster has caught fire near Coron, Palawan, with more than 130 people aboard. Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities work to identify victims, recover bodies, and determine the cause of the blaze. Survivors report rapid fire spread and a chaotic escape; a formal investigation is underway coordinating with MARINA and coast guard authorities.
Gunfire erupts at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, Mindanao. The incident has left multiple students dead and wounded; authorities are investigating and reviewing gun ownership safety amid rising school violence in the Philippines.
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.
Authorities in the Philippines are analyzing a trove of alleged child sexual abuse images found at Thomas Markle Sr.’s Cebu home. A formal forensic review is expected within a week, with officials saying findings will define any charges. Markle Sr. denies the accusations as his son and Meghan’s half-brother raise concerns.