The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague has begun a four-day hearing against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte on charges of crimes against humanity. The proceedings, which started on Monday, aim to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to initiate a full trial over alleged extrajudicial killings carried out during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. The 80-year-old former leader faces three cases linked to at least 76 killings.

Prosecutors allege that the crimes occurred between 2013 and 2018, when Duterte served as mayor of Davao City and later as president of the Philippines. Independent estimates suggest that up to 30,000 people may have been killed during his six-year anti-drug drive. Although ICC judges declared Duterte physically fit, they granted his lawyers’ request to excuse him from appearing in person.

Despite the Philippines’ withdrawal from the ICC in 2019, the court ruled it retains full jurisdiction over crimes committed between 2011 and 2019. Judges have 60 days after the hearing to decide whether to proceed with a formal trial.

Philippine Vice President and newly declared presidential candidate Sara Duterte has been hit with a fourth impeachment complaint, according to documents obtained by AFP on Thursday. The complaint, filed Wednesday just hours after she announced her 2028 presidential bid, accuses Duterte of misusing public funds and improperly handling undeclared assets. Duterte, daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, was impeached by the House of Representatives last year, but the Supreme Court dismissed that case due to procedural errors.

Under the Philippine constitution, if the impeachment is accepted, the Senate will begin a trial. A conviction would disqualify Duterte from politics and end her presidential ambitions. Lawmaker Paolo Ortega of La Union province, one of two supporters of the complaint, said the issue concerns constitutional accountability and undisclosed wealth. Another supporter, Leila de Lima, described the new filing as an improved version of the case dismissed last year.

Analysts cited in the report said Duterte’s 2028 candidacy aims to unify her allies and strengthen her faction’s chances of returning to power.

At least 12 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been affected after Tropical Storm Basyang, the Philippines’ second-strongest storm of 2026, struck Mindanao Island. The country’s Civil Defense Office reported that continuous heavy rainfall and landslides caused widespread destruction. According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, abnormal rainfall levels were recorded in Northern Mindanao and nearby Negros Island, directly impacting about 232,000 people. Floodwaters submerged numerous villages, forcing around 64,000 families to leave their homes.

The Philippine weather bureau said Northern Mindanao experienced its heaviest rainfall in a century, causing rivers to overflow and three major bridges to collapse in Iligan City and surrounding areas. Drainage systems were damaged, leading to severe flooding. Around 16,000 families have been relocated to government shelters, while at least 82 seaports in Mimaropa and Caraga regions were temporarily closed, stranding over 4,000 passengers and several cargo vessels.

Although the storm weakened into a low-pressure area early on February 7, authorities remain on alert as heavy rain and landslides continue to threaten affected communities.

At least eight people have died and more than 64,000 have been displaced after severe flooding and landslides struck the Cagayan region in northern Philippines. The disaster occurred under the influence of Tropical Cyclone Basyang, also known as Penha, according to local media reports on Saturday. Four members of one family were killed in a landslide in Cagayan de Oro City, while four others died in Iligan and Agusan del Norte.

The storm caused widespread flooding across Western Visayas, Negros Island, Central Visayas, and Caraga regions. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported that 16,528 families had been moved to 480 evacuation centers, while others sought refuge with relatives. The Philippine weather bureau said Basyang weakened into a low-pressure area early Saturday after making landfall five times across Mindanao and Visayas.

Authorities also reported that 32 flights were canceled since Thursday due to the storm, leaving 7,737 passengers stranded at airports across the country.

At least 18 people were killed and 24 remain missing after a ferry carrying more than 350 passengers sank early Monday off the southern coast of the Philippines. The vessel, named MV Trisha Kerstin-3, sent a distress signal at 1:50 a.m. local time, about four hours after departing from Zamboanga City on Mindanao Island. The three-deck ferry went down roughly five kilometers east of Baluk-Baluk Island in Basilan province. The Philippine Coast Guard reported rescuing at least 317 people, while search and rescue operations continue.

Videos released by the Basilan governor showed survivors being carried on stretchers and wrapped in blankets, while bodies were removed in body bags. Coast Guard spokesperson Noemi Cayabyab said the sea was extremely rough at the time of the accident. Local rescue officials reported manpower shortages as they treated the injured, with at least 18 people hospitalized. The Coast Guard has ordered a maritime investigation but said rescue efforts remain the top priority.

The ferry was owned by Aleson Shipping Lines, which also operated a vessel that caught fire on the same route in 2023, killing 31 people. The company said it is coordinating with authorities and expressed concern for all aboard.

A ferry carrying 332 passengers and 27 crew members sank early Monday, January 26, 2026, off the coast of Basilan province in the southern Philippines. According to reports cited by Al Jazeera, at least 15 bodies have been recovered while 43 people remain missing. Divers from the Philippine Coast Guard rescued 138 passengers alive, and 18 of them are currently receiving hospital treatment. The incident occurred shortly after the vessel, named Trisha Kerstin 3, departed from Zamboanga City en route to Jolo Island in Mindanao.

Local authorities, including Basilan Mayor Arsina Laja Kathing Nanoh and the provincial branch of the Coast Guard, confirmed the rescue operations. Disaster management spokesperson Ronalin Perez said the focus remains on saving passengers and ensuring their safety. Joint efforts are underway with the Mindanao provincial administration to accelerate the rescue mission.

The exact cause of the sinking has not yet been determined, and officials continue to investigate while prioritizing ongoing search and rescue operations.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Davao Occidental in the southern Philippines late Saturday night, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). The quake occurred at 10:58 p.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 315 kilometers southeast of Balut Island in Sarangani municipality, at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the surface. Authorities confirmed that despite the strength of the tremor, there was no tsunami threat to the Philippine archipelago.

Tremors were felt across several southern provinces, including Malungon and Kiamba in Sarangani, Tupi and Koronadal in South Cotabato, and Palimbang in Sultan Kudarat. Disaster officials are monitoring the affected areas for potential aftershocks and minor damage.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region known for frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to the movement of tectonic plates.

A powerful earthquake struck southern Philippines on Wednesday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake measured 6.7 on the Richter scale and occurred near the coastal region of Mindanao Island, about 27 kilometers east of Santiago city. The quake’s depth was recorded at approximately 58.5 kilometers below the surface. No tsunami warning was issued following the tremor.

Authorities reported that there were no immediate casualties or major damage from the earthquake. Local administration and emergency services are closely monitoring the situation to assess any potential aftereffects or structural impacts in the affected areas.

The absence of a tsunami alert and early reports of minimal damage suggest that the region may have avoided severe consequences, though monitoring continues to ensure public safety.

Tens of thousands of Filipinos continued demonstrations in Manila for a second consecutive day, demanding accountability for alleged corruption in government flood-mitigation projects. The protests, organized by the influential Iglesia Ni Cristo church, began Sunday and drew over 600,000 participants nationwide. Protesters voiced frustration at what they see as ineffective investigations into irregularities revealed by an internal audit ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in August. The audit uncovered serious anomalies in flood-control projects, implicating public works officials, lawmakers, and construction executives accused of profiting from substandard or non-existent infrastructure. The scandal has shaken investor confidence and contributed to slower economic growth. Marcos has established a commission to probe the allegations and pledged that those responsible will face jail before Christmas. Demonstrators, however, remain skeptical, citing delays and a lack of visible accountability nearly 100 days after the inquiry began.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has taken full responsibility for his administration’s controversial “war on drugs.” In a video message posted on Facebook, Duterte stated, “No matter what happened in the past, I stand by our law enforcement and military. I will protect you. I take full responsibility for everything.” His statement comes after he was arrested in Manila and extradited to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is accused of orchestrating the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug dealers and users during his presidency.