Good morning. Almost Friday. Here is your quick business-class debrief on what is happening:
Duterte ICC appearance begins
ASEAN adopts Manila Declaration
2027 budget deficit sparks alarm
A First in The Hague
Former President Rodrigo Duterte made his first physical appearance before the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. Standing in a black suit and white shirt, this marked the first time he was seen inside the courtroom since his detention over 18 months ago.
Presiding Judge Joanna Korner made it clear that while his presence is noted, he can leave the proceedings whenever he wants without asking for permission. Meanwhile, the prosecution is sitting on a mountain of evidence, roughly 15,000 items and 193 hours’ worth of witness testimony. The judge bluntly urged prosecutors to trim the fat so the trial can actually move forward. The court aims to run sessions straight through the holidays and into early next year.
Preparing Before the Storm
While courtroom drama unfolded in Europe, Southeast Asian ministers gathered in Pasay City for the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience. The big takeaway? The formal adoption of the Manila Declaration.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the event, emphasizing that the region needs to stop reacting to disasters after the fact and start acting beforehand. Instead of just sending relief bags when a typhoon hits, the plan relies on early warning systems linked directly to pre-arranged financing and local action.
The goal is simple: use real-time data and AI to trigger money and supplies before the disaster fully strikes. Think of it as operational risk management, but for extreme weather.
Floating the 2027 Budget Tab
Back in Congress, lawmakers are sharpening their knives over the proposed P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027.
ACT Teachers Representative Antonio Tinio raised massive red flags over the government’s reliance on deficit spending. According to Tinio, 24 percent of the 2027 budget (a whopping P1.69 trillion) will be funded by debt. For context, borrowed money made up just 13 percent of the budget back in 2016.
Tinio pointed out that while infrastructure spending skyrocketed in recent years, including P287 billion earmarked for flood control from 2023 to 2025, the return on investment for citizens remains questionable. He warned against bloated unprogrammed funds, cautioning that unchecked borrowing without strict guardrails risks turning public debt into a vehicle for political patronage rather than genuine development.
That’s it. See you on Friday.