Liam Demafelix
Reporting from the TSR newsroom.
How the DOJ under the Marcos Jr. administration is overhauling the PH corrections system
For years, the Philippine corrections system was synonymous with overcrowding, poor food, paper records that went missing, and persons deprived of liberty who waited far too long for releases they were legally entitled to, a system that punished people not just with imprisonment but with…
DOJ’s war on online child sexual exploitation surges nearly ten-fold under Marcos Jr. administration
The Department of Justice (DOJ) conducted nearly ten times more operations against online sexual abuse or exploitation of children or OSAEC under the Marcos Jr. administration than in the three years prior, rescuing almost 1,000 victim-survivors and filing hundreds of cases in court as part of its…
Alice Guo’s conviction is DOJ’s most high-profile anti-trafficking win
The Department of Justice (DOJ) cited the conviction of former Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo on qualified human trafficking charges as its most high-profile anti-trafficking victory under the Marcos Jr. administration, saying the case sends an unmistakable message that public office offers no…
Plea bargaining surges as DOJ’s tougher evidence standard leaves accused with fewer options
The number of accused entering plea bargains with Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors is rising, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Saturday, a direct consequence of the DOJ’s tougher evidentiary standard that has made it significantly harder for the defense to fight cases once they reach…
DOJ brings free legal help to the regions through regional ‘Katarungan Offices’
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has established eight Regional Katarungan Offices across the country offering free legal assistance, referrals, mediation, and coordination with prosecutors, bringing the agency’s services within reach of ordinary Filipinos who previously saw the DOJ as distant…
DOJ becomes a top career destination for Filipino lawyers
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has become one of the most sought-after employers among Filipino lawyers, with applications to the National Prosecution Service (NPS) surging to levels that Secretary Fredderick Vida described Saturday as a “happy problem.” Justice Secretary Vida and Undersecretary…
Stronger justice from the ground up: How the DOJ is building the prosecution service the Philippines has needed for decades
For years, the Philippine justice system operated with too few prosecutors, too little training, and offices that barely reached beyond Manila, a combination that left millions of Filipinos, especially those in the provinces, waiting years for cases to move and justice to arrive. Under the Marcos…
DOJ ends decades-old practice that weaponized the justice system against ordinary Filipinos
For decades, a destructive practice haunted Philippine courtrooms and police precincts: cases were filed first, and evidence was gathered later, a pattern that allowed the powerful to harass the powerless, pile up cases that would never succeed, and turn the justice system into a tool of…
Western Europe records hottest June on record, EU scientists say
Western Europe just experienced its warmest June on record, EU scientists confirmed on Thursday, after an extreme heatwave at the end of the month smashed temperature records, disrupted power supplies and shut schools. Last month was also the second-warmest June globally, and the planet…
‘Pabata na nang pabata’: DOST study finds kids as young as 10 may experience hypertension
Filipino children as young as 10 years old may experience hypertension, a study by the Department of Science and Technology – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (DOST-FNRI) has found. Patricia Isabel Amita, Science Research Specialist II at DOST-FNRI, said unhealthy lifestyles—particularly…
BSP: Photocopying of peso bills is prohibited
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has reiterated that photocopying or reproducing banknotes is strictly prohibited. The reminder comes after images of photocopied currency circulated online, following a viral statement by private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan that “photocopy is now an…
Eating dark chocolate can improve focus, brain function in mentally challenging tasks — study
A study published in the journal Heliyon suggests that dark chocolate may do more than satisfy cravings—it could also help improve mental focus. Researchers found that consuming dark chocolate rich in cacao polyphenols may enhance cognitive performance, particularly during mentally demanding…
Oil prices climb as US strikes on Iran fuel fears truce is unravelling
TOKYO, July 8 (Reuters) – Oil prices climbed nearly 2% on Wednesday after the U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iran and reimposed crude sales sanctions, raising fears their fragile truce was unravelling and Middle East supplies could be disrupted again. The U.S. airstrikes were in…
South Korean law targeting false online information takes effect
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea began enforcing Tuesday a revised law targeting false information posted online, toughening penalties for repeat offenders despite concerns over the impact on free speech. The law, which requires major platforms to set up new response systems, comes as concern…
More areas under Signal No. 1 as super typhoon ‘Inday’ enters PAR: PAGASA
WEATHER ALERT: Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 has been raised over more areas in Northern Luzon after Super Typhoon “Inday” entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), state weather bureau PAGASA said. In its 5 a.m. bulletin, PAGASA said the following areas are under Signal No. 1: The…