Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner., This news data comes from:http://ifulean.052298.com

READ: 15 drug war victims cleared to join Duterte's ICC case

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has cleared 15 drug war victims to join the proceedings against former president Rodrigo Duterte, who is detained at The Hague awaiting trial for crimes against humanity in connection with his bloody campaign against illegal drugs. The ICC Registry, which conducts non-judicial activities, such as security, interpretation, outreach, and support for the court, submitted 25 applications for victim participation, classifying 15 as Group A, indicating that the applicants clearly qualified as victims within the scope of the case. The 10 other applications were classified as Group B, meaning they fall outside the temporal or material scope of the alleged crimes. The Registry’s submission was filed ahead of the confirmation of charges hearing scheduled for Sept. 23. The Victims Participation and Reparations Section (VPRS) had registered a total of 322 applications, excluding duplicates and withdrawn requests, resulting in 304 applications assessed for participation. Of these, the 15 Group A applications represent 29 persons who demonstrated verified identity, proof of harm, and a direct connection to alleged crimes committed during Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which killed at least 6,000 people between Nov. 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. An additional 18 applicants had applied solely for reparations and were not considered at this stage. The confidential annex accompanying the Registry’s filing explains why Group B applications did not meet the criteria. Group C applications, for which the Registry could not make a clear determination, were transmitted separately on Aug. 20. Meanwhile, the Office of Public Counsel for Victims (OPCV) opposed a Registry proposal that would allow it to monitor lawyers representing victims.

HEADLINES: 15 drug war victims cleared to join Duterte's ICC case | Sept. 7, 2025

READ: New law lets foreigner investors lease land for 99 years

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed into law a measure allowing foreign investors to lease private lands in the Philippines for up to 99 years, Malacañang announced Saturday. Republic Act (RA) 12252 or the Act Liberalizing the Lease of Private Lands by Foreign Investors amends RA 7652 or the Investors Lease Act, which seeks to boost foreign investments and provide a “stable environment for foreign investments.” Under RA 12252, signed on Sept. 3, foreign investors with duly registered projects may now enter into lease agreements for private lands for a maximum of 99 years, but the president may shorten this period for investors under “vital services or industries considered as critical infrastructure” for reasons of national security. The leased land must be used exclusively for the approved investment project and be proportionate to the project’s requirements. Contracts must be registered with the Registry of Deeds and annotated on the land’s title to be binding against third parties. Registered contracts cannot be altered or canceled except through direct legal proceedings, a provision meant to strengthen investor confidence and ensure predictability.

READ: Palace slams Discaya couple's denial in Film Heritage Building debacle

MALACAÑANG on Saturday slammed contractor couple Cezarah “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya after they denied involvement in the second phase of the Philippine Film Heritage Building (PFHB) construction project. In a statement, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro dismissed the claim of the couple’s lawyer, Cornelio Samaniego, that Great Pacific Builders only handled Phase 1 of the PFHB project, which was completed in December 2024. Castro said Great Pacific Builders also entered into a contract with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for Phase 2, signed on Jan. 2, 2025, for a total of 107.98 million pesos.

READ: Habagat downpour brings flood across Metro Manila

FLOODING hit several areas in Metro Manila on Saturday due to heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, or habagat, according to the Metro Manila Council-Metro Manila Command Flood Control Information Center. In Mandaluyong, the EDSA-Shaw tunnel northbound, floodwater was gutter-deep but remained passable to all types of vehicles. In Parañaque, flooding was half-tire deep on Dr. A. Santos Avenue, near 4th Estate in Barangay San Antonio, and its northbound lane was not passable to light vehicles. Gutter-deep floods were also reported on Dr.A. Santos Avenue near Parañaque National High School and at the corner of Canaynay Avenue in Barangay San Dionisio due to the overflow of Villanueva Creek, but both lanes were passable to all types of vehicles. In Muntinlupa, flooding on the national road in front of the city hall reached gutter-deep, but was passable to all types of vehicles. In Manila, Roxas Boulevard corner Pedro Gil Street floodwater was gutter-deep, and passable to all vehicles. In Pasay, flooding was reported at the Roxas-EDSA intersection northbound, gutter-deep and passable to all vehicles. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority urged motorists to exercise caution and monitor updates on road conditions.

READ: Eala ousts Day, enters Guadalajara Open final

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala entered the final of a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour event for the second time in her career. Eala ousted American Kayla Day, 6-2, 6-3, in the Guadalajara Open semifinal at the Centro Panamericano de Tenis in Mexico early Saturday (Manila time) to enter the championship round.

SPORTS: No Duplantis at Makati Pole Vault

UNFORTUNATELY, Filipino fans won’t get to see the record-breaking and world no. 1 Armand ‘Mondo’ Duplantis in the Atletang Ayala World Pole Vault Challenge at the Ayala Triangle in Makati City on Sept. 20 and 21. Duplantis, the reigning Olympic and World champion, wasn’t included in the final list of participants released by the organizers on Friday.

BUSINESS: Taguig RTC orders immediate release of FNI chairman Joseph Sy

HEADLINES: 15 drug war victims cleared to join Duterte's ICC case | Sept. 7, 2025

THE Taguig City Regional Trial Court has ordered the immediate release of Global Ferronickel Holdings Inc. Chairman Joseph Sy, ruling that his detention by the Bureau of Immigration (BI) was illegal. In a 35-page decision dated September 4, Taguig RTC Branch 271 Presiding Judge Paz Esperanza Cortes granted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus and directed BI officials “to discharge the body and person of Mr. Joseph Cue Sy, illegally detained at Bureau of Immigration Warden Facility, immediately upon receipt hereof.” Sy’s lawyers Carla E. SantamariaSeña and Dennis P. Manalo said the ruling affirmed his Filipino citizenship, citing earlier recognitions by the BI, the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of the President, and the Supreme Court. The court granted Sy’s habeas corpus petition and said deportation powers apply only to aliens, they added.

READ: Opinion and editorial

Marlen Ronquillo is today’s front page columnist, claiming the country is afflicted by “billionaire worship”.

Today’s editorial calls to fix the “broken” party-list system. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.

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