Here鈥檚 a quick roundup of today鈥檚 top stories:
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has been ordered arrested and detained at the Senate following his continued refusal to face the chamber鈥檚 investigation of his alleged crimes.
罢丑别听Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality聽led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros issued the order, which was signed by SenatePresident Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday, March 19.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken gave assurance to the Philippines that his country will adhere to its 鈥渋ronclad鈥� commitment to defending the archipelagic country amid heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
In a joint press briefing with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo in Pasay City, Blinken stressed that the Philippines and the US have a 鈥渟hared concern鈥� about China鈥檚 actions in the disputed waters. He also said that Beijing鈥檚 behavior threatens the 鈥渧ision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.鈥�
The Commission on Appointments (CA) on Tuesday bypassed Ranulfo Sevilla鈥檚 promotion as brigadier general of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) following the聽opposition filed by his wife聽Tessa Luz Reyes-Sevilla.
鈥淗e was bypassed. Sen. Risa Hontiveros really didn鈥檛 want it [his confirmation]. It鈥檚 not enough for her that Sevilla has promised to provide for his family. I think what they want is to put everything in writing or contract,鈥� Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino in an ambush interview on Tuesday.
Dismissed Police Maj. Allan De Castro was ordered detained in the Senate 鈥渇or lying鈥� about his alleged romantic relationship with the missing beauty pageant candidate Catherine Camilon.
On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Public Order cited De Castro for contempt after he repeatedly denied his relationship with Camilon.
The four 鈥減ersons of interest鈥� in the killing of a Japanese national and her Filipina mother in Tayabas City are now suspects after authorities found new evidence related to the case, police said on Tuesday.
Quezon Police Provincial Office (PPO) said that on Monday night, the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) 鈥淢otegi鈥� implemented a search warrant at a suspect鈥檚 house where the crime was allegedly committed based on the witnesses鈥� statements.