NewsWatch Plus PH

News and narratives that matter.

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The Adamson University Soaring Falcons finally stopped their skid at the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles' expense with a 62-55 win in the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.  https://t.co/oAKl4TSZw5

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FOUR WITNESSES REMAIN FOR FIRST WEEK OF IMPEACHMENT TRIAL RESUMPTION

WATCH: Defense counsel and spokesperson Michael Poa confirms in a briefing that four witnesses are left for the first week of the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

These are bank officials and a city prosecutor, as Poa announced before Wednesday’s trial, Nov. 11, adjourned.

He declined to give the number of witnesses the defense team will present next week. Poa said the removal of some witnesses from their roster may shorten the trial timeline. | Mikaella Veraces

🎥 Office of the Vice President/YouTube

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ESCUDERO: DIDN’T IT RAISE A BIG QUESTION MARK ON YOUR PART?

WATCH: Presiding Officer Francis Escudero questions the situation where Vice President Sara Duterte received money from corporations previously affiliated with fast food branches owned by GenCorp Industries, Inc. when such entities did not own the franchises nor leases.

GenCorp’s Suzette Balucanag-Punay initially said Duterte was not a shareholder of the companies but has an investment stemming from Davao Bounty Times Foods Corporation carried over to three subsequent companies—Great Jolly Times Foods Corporation, Times Square B Foods Corporation, then GenCorp.

Escudero then asked her about Duterte’s basis for including the companies in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALN), to which she answered she is only aware of the investments Duterte made in the form of contributions.

“Ano po ‘yung binili, binayaran ng Great Jolly Times… kung meron man, ng Times Square? Ano po ‘yung binabayaran hanggang nung 2025, at least ng GenCorp?” he asked. “Didn’t it raise a big question mark on your part?”

“It did, your honor,” Punay said. #VPonTrial | Mikaella Veraces

🎥 Senate of the Philippines/YouTube

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Pag-IBIG Fund members who avail of a multi-purpose loan (MPL) now have more chances to win cash prizes as the agency launches two raffle promotions that also recognize employer representatives who help workers access their benefits. https://t.co/QPI27SDdpP

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UPDATE: The defense panel is dispensing with the testimonies of subpoenaed bank representatives in the impeachment trial, save for a representative from the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), defense spokesperson Michael Poa told the Impeachment Court on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

BPI representative Paul Roderick Ysmael will testify on Thursday, Nov. 12, followed by lawyers Anel Antero and Chadrin Parian, and Quezon City prosecutor Vimar Barcellano, Poa said. #VPonTrial | @SophiaSSioco

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'TRULY A NATIONAL TREASURE!' 🎤✨

WATCH: Award-winning singer and actress Lea Salonga sings “Reflection” from animated film “Mulan” in the ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the always pitch-perfect,” interior designer Nix Alañon captioned his post of a snippet of the performance.

Salonga was interviewed during one of the event’s segment titled, “In unison: Amplifying every voice in ASEAN.”

📹 Nix Alañon/Instagram

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IMPEACHMENT COURT ORDERS SUBPOENA FOR GENCORP PAYMENT RECORDS TO VP

UPDATE: Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero orders the issuance of a subpoena requiring GenCorp Industries Inc. to produce encashed checks corresponding to the ₱2.14 million in payments Vice President Sara Duterte received from the company between 2022 and 2025, as well as records explaining how these payments were recorded in its books.

The subpoena follows questions over the discrepancy between Duterte's documented ₱46,875 paid-up capital in Davao Bounty Foods Corp. which was eventually carried over to Gencorp.

Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo requested supporting documents, including canceled checks and payment vouchers. #VPonTrial | @SophiaSSioco

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that bus lanes on EDSA will be open next week for ASEAN Summit delegates.

Read: https://t.co/7Txiy2Ev1B

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The University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tigers kept their playoffs bid alive after blowing out the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors, 97-70, in their second round clash in the UAAP Season 89 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. https://t.co/htPHiVQ0gl

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ASEAN, CHINA STILL SEEK SOUTH CHINA SEA CODE DEAL THIS YEAR

UPDATE: Negotiations on the South China Sea Code of Conduct are continuing, with the parties still working to conclude an agreement by year-end, a diplomatic source told NewsWatch Plus.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairman’s statement is expected to reflect summit discussions and any agreements reached by the parties. It will be finalized and released as the 49th ASEAN Summit concludes in Manila on Nov. 18, the source said.

The summit is scheduled for Nov. 16 to 18.

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The government will enforce strict traffic and security measures in relation to the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits next week.

Read: https://t.co/7PXwfD5HHX

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CHINESE PREMIER LI QIANG TO ATTEND ASEAN SUMMIT IN PH

UPDATE: Chinese Premier Li Qiang will attend the 29th China-ASEAN Summit in Manila from Nov. 15 to 16, China’s Foreign Ministry says.

President Bongbong Marcos had earlier expressed hope that Chinese President Xi Jinping would attend the Manila summit.

Marcos said he would invite Xi to the Philippines if ASEAN and China conclude a South China Sea Code of Conduct this year.

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LOOK: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the 12th Economy and Development Council meeting at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, Nov. 11, which, according to the Presidential Communications Office, focused on the review of government initiatives to “address the needs of Filipino households, strengthen communities, and expand economic opportunities.”

Members of the council and officials from concerned agencies were present at the discussion. | Jia Erikah Fajardo

📸 Presidential Communications Office

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KAPUNAN: THIS IS ALREADY MY TAME, KIND VOICE

WATCH: Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan pushes back after the defense accused her of badgering GenCorp Industries and Metro City Chow Foods lawyer Suzette Balucanag-Punay during the impeachment trial on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

"I have the right to badger a witness who does not want to answer,” Kapunan said as she defended her questioning of Punay on whether she knew of the constitutional restrictions on the vice president receiving other income or holding business interests.

Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero later reminded Kapunan that a counsel cannot badger a witness, even when frustrated by the answers. #VPonTrial | @SophiaSSioco

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CAYETANO LEADS 2028 SENATE POLL; VICO, BASTE, PULONG MAKE MAGIC 12

LOOK: Senator Alan Peter Cayetano leads voter preferences for the 2028 senatorial elections at 39 percent, followed by Senator Robin Padilla at 37 percent, according to the October WR National Poll by WR Numero Research.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto scored 32 percent, while Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte got 27 percent, and Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte 23 percent. All three are among the top 12 preferences.

The poll surveyed 1,225 people from Oct. 7 to 13, with a 2.6-percentage point margin of error.

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FIVE OR SIX BRANCHES?

WATCH: The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte challenges the House prosecution’s disclosure that GenCorp Industries, Inc. actually has six franchises of a fast food business, instead of five, during the impeachment trial on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

The prosecution earlier said that a sixth branch of under GenCorp is in Quezon City, Metro Manila. The company’s corporate counsel, Suzette Balucanag-Punay, said she was not aware of that branch and is only familiar with the Davao branches.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan then showed a document from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) certifying the sixth branch registered on Nov. 28, 2024 under GenCorp with address at Divino Building in Quezon City.

Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero intervened and said the amount of franchise will not matter on the subject of Impeachment Article II, or unexplained wealth, false Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth but may infringe on the accuracy of Punay’s answers. #VPonTrial | Mikaella Veraces

🎥 Senate of the Philippines/YouTube

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‘I PREFER NOT TO ANSWER, YOUR HONOR’

WATCH: Defense witness and corporate lawyer Suzette Balucanag-Punay says she does not know whether the Constitution prohibits the Vice President from receiving other income or having business interests while in office, after private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan raised the issue during Wednesday's (Nov. 11) impeachment trial.

The exchange followed questions about the ₱2.14 million in payments to Vice President Sara Duterte from GenCorp from 2022 to 2025, which Punay described as returns of capital. Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero earlier pointed out that the amount was about 45 times Duterte's documented ₱46,875 paid-up capital.

Punay initially said she preferred not to answer Kapunan's question before clarifying that she did not know. #VPonTrial | @SophiaSSioco

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Calandracas is a warm, hearty stew rich in ingredients and flavor. Discover why this traditional soup stands out as a favorite among Caviteños on this episode of Culinary Chronicles.

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ESCUDERO: AMOUNT GIVEN TO DUTERTE IS 45 TIMES HER INVESTMENT

WATCH: Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero points out that the ₱2.14 million Vice President Sara Duterte received from GenCorp from 2022 to 2025 was about 45 times her documented ₱46,875 capital contribution to Davao Bounty Foods Corporation.

Escudero distinguished between a return of investment, or the recovery of the original investment, and a return on investment, which refers to earnings from that investment.

Defense witness Suzette Balucanag-Punay admitted she could not explain why the payments reached ₱2.14 million or identify any other investment that could account for the amount. She later agreed with Kapunan that the payments constituted income, whether classified as returns of or on investment. #VPonTrial | @SophiaSSioco

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LOOK: Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon led an inspection of the construction of the Unified Grand Central Station in Quezon City on Wednesday, Nov. 11.

Dizon said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he expressed hope to see it completed by the end of his term in 2028.

The grand station aims to connect the Metro Rail Transit 3 (MRT-3), MRT-7, Light Rail Transit 1, and the Metro Manila Subway Project, providing convenience and a better commuting experience to passengers. | @nashvillena_

📸 DOTr