Rappler

A computer expert facing US hacking charges previously held a senior position at Moscow-based antivirus firm Kaspersky Lab, according to a person familiar with the matter and records reviewed by Reuters. Denis Obrezko, who last week pleaded not guilty to computer crimes at a hearing in Boston, worked as a senior specialist for Kaspersky between 2017 and 2019, according to leaked salary documents and a former colleague.

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) en banc unanimously dismissed the petition of Duterte-allied lawyers that sought to punish certain public officials and a private citizen over their remarks against the High Court. In a decision made public on Thursday, July 16, the High Court junked the indirect contempt petition filed by lawyers Mark Tolentino and Rolex Suplico against Akbayan Representative Perci Cendaña and political analyst Richard Heydarian.

MANILA, Philippines – The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is inching closer to its first parliamentary polls as the election period and gun ban officially started Thursday, July 16. Comelec Chairman George Garcia said on Wednesday night, July 15, that checkpoints will be set up in 105 municipalities and three cities to implement the gun ban.

MANILA, Philippines – The anti-graft court Sandiganbayan on Wednesday, July 15, convicted four individuals, including former Philippine Forest Corporation (PhilForest) executives, over the alleged misuse of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocations for non-existent agroforestry projects and the submission of fabricated liquidation documents.

Tehran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports, saying it was engaged in an “existential war” with America as the US struck Iran’s coastal defenses and missile sites on Wednesday, July 15, after reimposing a naval blockade of its ports. The latest escalation comes days after a fragile truce collapsed, raising the specter of a return to full-scale war, though analysts generally see that as less likely.

CAVITE, Philippines – Nenita Reyes, 62, has been a seashell farmer along Bacoor Bay since the 1960s, selling her harvests of tahong (mussels) and talaba (oysters) at the nearby talipapa (makeshift wet market) stall in Barangay Sinbanali. Bacoor is Cavite’s top producer of mussels, harvesting an average of  over 6,000 metric tons per year. In 2021, its 6,669 metric tons represented the province’s entire catch. That livelihood for the residents and economic advantage for the city are now threatened.

MANILA, Philippines – Thousands of students at Manila Science High School joined the first active shooter drill of the Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday, July 15, as part of efforts to beef up school safety and thwart campus violence. During the drill, over 1,700 students from Grades 7 to 12 and teachers observed the “run-hide-fight” protocol as an individual pretending to be an active shooter “infiltrated” campus premises.

Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world: Prosecution drops sheriff punched by Sara Duterte, 5 more witnesses in impeachment trial The prosecution of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial drops more witnesses for the article of impeachment on grave threats, including the sheriff punched by Duterte.

MANILA, Philippines – The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte continued to insist that the disclosure of her bank, tax, and other financial records would violate laws and her constitutional rights. During the oral arguments before the impeachment court on Wednesday, July 15, defense spokesperson and counsel Michael Poa argued that impeachment is indeed about accountability but should not be used to violate a person’s rights. “The prosecution has repeatedly invoked accountability….

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine thrift banks support the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) decision to allow salary loans with repayment periods of up to seven years but want the longest terms limited to certain expenses to prevent borrowers from accumulating overlapping debts. Manuel Santiago Jr., a trustee of the Chamber of Thrift Banks, said six- and seven-year terms should not automatically be available for all salary loans, particularly those used for recurring expenses.