Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- Team ‘Utang na Loob’ vs Team ‘Batas’? Palace dismisses Baste criticism on Duterte arrest
- Leyte congressman Richard Gomez faces disqualification case over ‘malicious, false’ news
- Israel attacks targets in Gaza as ceasefire deadlock breaks
- Prosecutors files cyber libel case vs Darryl Yap
- Brands ditch South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun over dating scandal
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/march-18-2025/
- Team ‘Utang na Loob’ vs Team ‘Batas’? Palace dismisses Baste criticism on Duterte arrest
- Leyte congressman Richard Gomez faces disqualification case over ‘malicious, false’ news
- Israel attacks targets in Gaza as ceasefire deadlock breaks
- Prosecutors files cyber libel case vs Darryl Yap
- Brands ditch South Korean actor Kim Soo-hyun over dating scandal
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/march-18-2025/
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NewsTranscript
00:00Malacanang dismisses Basté Duterte's criticism of President Marcos over the arrest of his
00:17father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
00:20Richard Gomez faces disqualification over the alleged spread of false election information.
00:25Israeli military launches strikes across Gaza as ceasefire deadlock ends.
00:30Puntinlupa prosecutors file a cyber-libel case against Daryl Yap.
00:34And, brands drop actor Kim So-hyun after his dating controversy with actress Kim Se-ron.
00:41Malacanang downplays Davao City Mayor Basté Duterte's criticism of Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
00:46on the arrest of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte.
00:50In a press briefing on Monday, March 17, Palace Undersecretary Claire Castro reacts to the
00:55Davao mayor's tirades.
00:57Basté had cursed the president for turning over his father to the Interpol, which was
01:01serving a warrant from the International Criminal Court.
01:04He also invoked utang na loob, or a debt of gratitude, to Duterte, who had allowed the
01:08hero's burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
01:12In response, Castro said, quote, The president also thanked former President Duterte in 2016,
01:17but gratitude should not be an excuse to derail or betray the enforcement of the law and justice.
01:22Based on what Mayor Basté Duterte said regarding the question of debt of gratitude,
01:26was this what former President Duterte used when he appointed a Chinese national,
01:32Michael Yang, as his economic advisor?
01:36Isn't this a trick?
01:38Because a Chinese national was appointed as an economic advisor.
01:43Is this also due to debt of gratitude?
01:45That's just a question.
01:47Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez faces a disqualification case over allegations of
01:53spreading, quote, malicious and false information about the upcoming election.
01:58Philippine News Agency reports the petition was filed by William Oñate, a mayoral candidate
02:02from Palumpon, Leyte, with the Commission on Elections.
02:05The petition says Gomez violated Section 261z11 of the Omnibus Election Code when he shared
02:11a video from the local radio show, Cruzada sa Radyo, on his verified Facebook page.
02:16The video, hosted by John Kevin Pilapil, allegedly made misleading accusations against the
02:21electoral board members in Palumpon.
02:23In the radio program, Pilapil accuses EB members of having ties to certain candidates for mayor,
02:28counselor, and other local positions.
02:31He also allegedly threatened an election officer and accused her of bribery.
02:35Gomez captions his post, quote,
02:37Palumpon is poised to do grave and massive election cheating this coming May.
02:41The petition also says Gomez not only shared the video, but it also boosted its reach by
02:46reposting it on his official campaign page, Richard Goma Gomez, with over 700,000 followers.
02:52Oñate also urges the Comelec to declare votes for Gomez as invalid.
02:57In response, Gomez welcomes the petition, according to a GMA News online report.
03:01He says disqualification cases are used to, quote,
03:04cause disruption during the election process.
03:09The Israeli military says on Tuesday, March 18, it carried out strikes across Gaza,
03:14ending a weeks-long deadlock over extending the ceasefire in January.
03:18Palestinian Health Ministry officials report at least 100 are dead.
03:22These attacks are much larger than the usual drone strikes,
03:25and follow failed attempts to extend the January 19 truce.
03:28Hamas says Israel broke the ceasefire agreement,
03:31leaving the fate of 59 hostages in Gaza uncertain.
03:34Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office accuses Hamas of, quote,
03:45In Washington, a White House spokesperson says Israel consulted with the U.S.
03:49before carrying out the strikes.
03:51But Hamas wanted to start talks for a permanent end to the war
03:55and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza,
03:57as outlined in the original ceasefire agreement.
04:02Controversial filmmaker Daryl Yap is indicted for cyber-libel
04:08by Muntinlupa prosecutors for the teaser of his upcoming film,
04:12The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma.
04:14The resolution by the Muntinlupa prosecutor's office, dated Monday, March 17,
04:18says he deliberately and maliciously intended to tarnish the reputation of Vic Soto,
04:23whose name was explicitly mentioned in the teaser.
04:25The prosecutor's office adds,
04:32where the character of Chirito Solis asks the character of Pepsi Paloma
04:36if it's true that Vic Soto raped her.
04:38Paloma's character said yes.
04:40Yap could face a penalty of up to six years in prison.
04:43On January 19, Soto filed 19 counts of violation
04:47of the Cybercrime Prevention Act against Yap.
04:49Yap's movie is based on real events in 1982
04:52when actress Pepsi Paloma accused comedians Vic Soto,
04:56Joey DeLeon, and Richie DeHorsey of rape,
04:58but later dropped the charges.
05:00Three years later, Paloma was found dead in an alleged suicide by hanging.
05:04She was 18.
05:08Different brands have cut ties with South Korean actor Kim So-hyun
05:11following controversy over his relationship with actress Kim Se-ron,
05:15who was found dead in February.
05:17Luxury fashion group Prada says it mutually decided to end its collaboration with Kim,
05:21though they did not provide further details.
05:24South Korean cosmetic brand Dinto also announces
05:27it was ending its advertising contract with the actor.
05:30The 37-year-old actor, known for roles in popular dramas like
05:33My Love From The Star, Queen of Tears, and It's Okay Not To Be Okay,
05:37was accused of dating Kim Se-ron when she was underage.
05:40Kim So-hyun's agency, Gold Medalist, denies the claims from a YouTube expose
05:45that he and the actress had a relationship when she was a minor,
05:48but admits the two indeed had a relationship.
05:50It had also denied that So-hyun was the reason for Se-ron's suicide.
05:55And that's today's wrap. I'm Cara Oliver. Thank you for watching.
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