Manila City, Philippines Latest Political updates Jan. 31, 2026

Описание: Manila, Philippines
Based on news reports from the last 48 hours (January 30-31, 2026), the top political updates concerning Manila, Philippines, which serves as the seat of the national government, are:

Key National Political Developments
Philippines-China Dialogue on West Philippine Sea: The Philippines and China resumed their bilateral political dialogue on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting to discuss and ease heightened tensions in the West Philippine Sea. Both sides described the discussions as candid and agreed to maintain communication through diplomatic channels.
Senate President Open to Charter Change (Cha-cha): Senate President Vicente Sotto III stated he would support moves in Congress to amend the Constitution (Cha-cha). His support was reportedly prompted by a recent Supreme Court ruling, which Sotto suggested constituted judicial "overreach."
Senate Committee Leadership Shift: Senate President Sotto III clarified the institutional norms behind the reassignment of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations from Senator Imee Marcos to Senator Erwin Tulfo.
Other Executive/Legislative Headlines: Reports highlighted various high-level political topics, including President Marcos Jr.'s reported rejection of a "persona non grata" designation for Chinese envoys, Vice President Sara Duterte's comments on a Supreme Court impeachment ruling, and mentions of impeachment complaints against President Marcos Jr.
Governance and Law Enforcement
Customs Officials Under Investigation for Smuggling: Several Bureau of Customs (BOC) officials are under investigation for their alleged involvement in the smuggling of approximately PHP1.2 billion worth of cigarettes that were seized in Batangas City. The investigation is being conducted in Manila by the Office of the Commissioner.