Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
* Comelec suspends proclamation of Duterte Youth, BH party-list groups - Busy months ahead for Duterte case as ICC copes with prosecutor’s leave - Sara Duterte on impeachment trial: I want a bloodbath - Joe Biden diagnosed with ‘aggressive’ prostate cancer - Pope Leo XIV urges unity for divided Church, vows not to be ‘autocrat’
00:08The Commission on Election suspends two party-less groups, including Duterte Youth.
00:19The International Criminal Court says Duterte's case will continue despite losing one prosecutor.
00:24Vice President Sara Duterte says she wants her impeachment trial to move forward because she wants a, quote, bloodbath.
00:32Former U.S. President Joe Biden is diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
00:37And Pope Leo XIV calls for unity, vows to preserve Catholic heritage, and promises not to rule like an autocrat.
00:44The Commission on Election suspends the proclamation of Duterte Youth and B.H. Bagong Generacion, two winning party-less groups in the 2025 elections.
00:55The COMELEC, sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, proclaims only 52 out of the 54 groups who won 63 seats in the 20th Congress.
01:04Duterte Youth won three seats, while B.H. secured one seat, but the two groups faced legal challenges.
01:09The National Board of Canvassers suspended the proclamation of the two groups due to pending cases.
01:15Considering the serious allegations raised in the above petition, which involved grave violation of election laws,
01:21the National Board of Canvassers resolves to suspend the proclamation of the 30th party-less and Bagong Generacion party-less.
01:28Garcia says the poll body's decision was not based on any motion or manifestation, but based on the poll body's own discretion.
01:35He also clarifies the suspension does not mean they lost the race.
01:38The COMELEC divisions are still in a position to resolve the cases before June 30, when the winners of the 2025 elections assume office.
01:48The International Criminal Court is short one key official, as Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan takes a temporary leave over sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.
01:58Khan announced Friday that he is taking a leave until the investigation of the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services is done.
02:05But the court's oversight body says the work, quote, continues normally and without interruptions.
02:11This means it's still business as usual for cases like the one against former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is facing crimes against humanity charges.
02:19A hearing to confirm these charges is set for September 23.
02:22Even without its chief, the office of the prosecutor still has 380 personnel.
02:27Khan also has two deputies who handle the court's 17 ongoing investigations, including the Philippines.
02:32ICC-accredited associate counsel Cristina Conti says it is Deputy May Manjaya Niang who is assigned to the Philippines.
02:40Niang appeared beside Karim Khan during Duterte's initial appearance at the ICC on March 14.
02:47Vice President Sara Duterte says she wants her impeachment to move forward because she wants a, quote, bloodbath.
02:54When asked about her legal team's trial preparations, she said, quote,
02:58Of course, as lawyers, they wouldn't want a trial.
03:00But I've already told them, I truly want a trial because I really want a bloodbath.
03:05Senate President G. Escudero scheduled the trial to begin on July 30 to include the newly elected senators.
03:11The new senators, along with the 12 incumbent senators, will serve as judges in the trial,
03:15which could lead to Duterte's removal from office and derail any 2028 presidential bid.
03:21Duterte said she has no expectations when it comes to the verdict as she has already, quote,
03:26accepted whatever the outcome would be.
03:28To remain in office, the vice president needs at least nine votes for acquittal.
03:34Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that spread to his bones.
03:41His office says in a statement, Biden was diagnosed on Friday, May 16.
03:45His office adds, quote,
03:47While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be more hormone-sensitive,
03:53which allows for effective management.
03:55Biden's health and mental acuity were questioned during his 2021-2025 presidency.
04:00He ended his re-election campaign last July, weeks after a poor debate performance with Donald Trump
04:06caused concern among fellow Democrats.
04:08Trump expressed sympathy on Sunday for Biden and his wife, Jill, in a post on his platform, Truth Social,
04:14wishing his predecessor a fast recovery.
04:17Kamala Harris also expressed her support, saying Biden is a fighter and will face this challenge with strength and optimism.
04:25Pope Leo XIV marked the start of his pontificate on Sunday, May 18,
04:30by reaching out to conservatives who felt orphaned by his predecessor, calling for unity,
04:35vowing to preserve the Catholic Church's heritage and not rule like an autocrat.
04:39After his first ride in the pokemobile through a crowd of up to 200,000 people in St. Peter's Square,
04:46Leo was officially installed as the 267th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church during an outdoor mass.
04:52In his sermon, Red Influent Italian, Leo said he would continue Francis' work on social issues,
04:58like fighting poverty and protecting the environment, as leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.
05:03He also vowed to face up to, quote,
05:06the questions, concerns, and challenges of today's world.
05:10As part of the ceremony, Leo received two symbolic items,
05:13a liturgical vestment known as a pallium,
05:16a sash of lamb's wool representing his role as a shepherd,
05:19and a fisherman's ring, recalling St. Peter, who was a fisherman.
05:23Pope Leo XIV is expected to live in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace,
05:28unlike the late Pope Francis, who chose to stay in a Vatican hotel instead.
05:32Meantime, Leo made his first Filipino appointment
05:35by choosing Fr. Dave Dean Capucao, a Bicolano priest,
05:39as the new bishop of the prelature of Infanta.
05:42Capucao will replace Bishop Bernardino Cortez,
05:44who turned 75 last year, the retirement age for bishops.
05:50And that's today's wrap. I'm Cara Oliver. Thank you for watching.
05:54Click the link below for the full story.
05:56Follow us on Rapplers YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
06:00link below for the full story.
06:05For the full story, please visit www.femma.com.
