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If you follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

If you follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

If you follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

If you follow the health protocols, the ability of people to move around will likely contribute better to growth.

The significance really is to bring back the interest of young people who work some arts like this.

You need to find a vehicle for young people really to catch their attention and be interested.

The digital payment space, there are so many players in the digital payment space at the market.

What I expect there is that there will be a shake-up.

FinTech is becoming a very, very vital component in the development of the financial system today.

Embedded finance, this is a particularly large growth area for FinTech.

Embedded finance will change the ability of your way to pay.

More and more of these services will be embedded into the way your purchasing decisions are made.

For more information, visit www.fintech.co.uk

www.fintech.co.uk

We're also consumers, so we are in a way supporting industries and businesses.

Some of us also get paid in dollars and other foreign currencies.

So I think in those ways, we are also contributing to nation BND.

So I think it will still continue to grow, especially here in the Philippines and in Asia in the years to come.

We have covered the journey of our young democracy.

In ANC, we were witnesses.

We were witnesses to the defining moments of Philippine history that influenced the world.

Sa pag-lilingkod sa bansa.

This is the Philippines.

And we are ANC.

The views and opinions expressed in the following program do not necessarily reflect the policies and position of this network.

Hello everyone, it's Wednesday, April 17 here in Manila.

I'm Karen Davila giving you the Head Start for the day.

Our guest for Hot Copy today, we have House Assistant Magelang.

Majority Leader and Zambales First District Representative, Jay Congun.

We will be discussing the alleged secret deal between the Duterte administration and China on the West Philippine Sea

and why the House is pushing for an investigation.

But first, the headlines.

Today's big stories, the jury in Donald Trump's historic criminal trial takes shape with seven New Yorkers selected.

The Philippine Justice Department orders a probe on the call of a House lawmaker for state forces to withdraw support for the President

and the United States and the European Union moving to expand sanctions on Iran after its unprecedented attack on Israel.

On Hot Copy this morning, China claims the Philippines broke not one but three agreements

concerning the Ayungin Shoal.

Zen Hernandez reports.

China's embassy in the Philippines claims the Philippines reneged on not just one but three promises.

The first was the alleged promise to tow away the BRP Shera Madre after it was grounded in Ayungin Shoal in 1999,

something that was already denied by the Philippine government.

Then there was Duterte's gentleman's agreement, which China also claims was still being observed,

during the first few months of the Marcos administration,

until it ceased in February 2023.

And finally, the embassy claimed that the Philippines agreed to a new model of managing the Ayungin Shoal situation,

which the Marcos administration again allegedly failed to comply with.

During a forum with the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines,

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he sees no reason for China,

to make up the supposed secret agreement entered into by his predecessor.

Why did you keep it secret?

Why is there not one single document that contains that agreement?

Why is there not one shred of evidence that can show that this agreement exists?

Why when we did the transition period between the previous administration to this administration,

did no one mention a secret agreement?

These are very simple questions, but I'm finding a great deal of difficulty finding answers for them.

Because I hear one thing and another thing and another thing and another thing.

It's all very...

Maraming palusot, in other words. I don't know how to translate that in English, but maraming palusot.

But when asked whether former President Duterte could be held legally liable

for entering into such negotiations,

the President doesn't think so.

I cannot see how there could possibly be a legal liability.

There is no evidence of any agreement.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives intends to find out more

about the allegedly secret and verbal status quo agreement

that former President Rodrigo Duterte entered into with China.

Definitely, we will give an invitation to former President Duterte.

Because he's the one who spoke about China.

Even the water and food, we saw in the recent events,

the water was vẫnCyberbombing.

The PCG is still going through water cannons.

China is really very strong in doing this

because of their secret agreement with Duterte.

The House of Representatives also plans to summon other former government officees

The House of Representatives also plans to summon other former government officees

to do so.

Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque says he will cooperate knowing that the Duterte administration simply tried to prevent a conflict.

Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio warns,

China wants a union shul to establish the 10-dash line as its national boundary.

If this happens, the Philippines will lose 80% of its exclusive economic zone while having an even bigger and closer threat to its very territory.

Remember, mischief reef is a dagger pointed at our heart.

We have to have a blocking force and the blocking force will be in a union shul.

And we cannot afford China to get a union shul kasi palapit ng palapit yan sa Palawan.

Carpio is also calling on the Philippine government to be united in its position and not to give in to intimidation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also asserted the Philippines has sovereign rights and jurisdiction in a union shul which is within the exclusive economic zone of the country.

Zen Hernandez, ABS-CBN News.

Singapore's top diplomat also expressing concerns on the maritime row between Manila and Beijing.

He insists all parties involved must adhere to international law.

Singapore has been watching recent developments in the South China Sea with concern.

We hope that all parties will maintain open channels of communication, will preserve regional peace,

and stability, and ensure adherence to international law, including especially 1982 UNCLOS, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The Code of Conduct will not resolve issues of sovereignty or issues of maritime entitlement,

but it is important nevertheless because we believe it is one way to reduce tension.

Thank you.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, meanwhile, refutes Beijing's claims Manila has been violating its commitments in the West Philippine Sea.

We've always said that the Philippines in our dispute or in our approach to the issues in the West Philippine Sea has always, always adhered to the rule of law.

And in this, in particular, the UNCLOS and the Arbitral Award of 2016.

So I'm, it's, in fact, I think it's China which refuses to.

To adhere to the Arbitral Award.

So I'm not very clear what they mean by saying that we're not adhering to commitments.

All right.

Joining us now on Hot Copy, we have with us House Assistant Majority Leader and Zambales First District Representative Jay Congon.

Good morning to you, Representative Jay.

Good morning, Ms. Karen.

Good morning po sa lahat ng nakikinig at nanonood sa ating agency.

All right.

Now, why is that?

Why is the House pushing for an investigation into the so-called gentleman's agreement between former President Duterte and the Chinese leader?

Unang-una, Ms. Karen, trabaho talaga ng Kongreso para tignan kung ano yung ginagawa ng ating executive branch.

Ito yung kanilang tinatawag nating oversight functions upang siguraduhin na walang nilalabag na batas ng ating eksekutibo.

Pangalawa, syempre, kailangan natin ang mayroon tayong transparency.

The public has the right to know the details of the agreement made by their government, particularly those involving sa ating sovereignty and ating mga territorial disputes, lalong meron na pag mga sensitive matters.

At pangatlo, kailangan din natin proteksyonan yung ating national interest.

Congress has the duty to safeguard the Philippines' national interest, including our national territorial integrity and economic well-being.

Pangapat, syempre, kailangan din natin siguraduhin na yung public confidence sa pumamagitan ng pagkakondak ng inquiry,

dinidemonstrate natin na ating gobyerno ay may commitment sa accountability at transparency.

Napaka-importante na namimaintain natin yung public trust.

Panglima, Ms. Karen, yung ating policy implications.

Syempre, sa mga ganitong inquiry, nakikita natin yung future policy.

Decisions regarding sa international relations, territorial disputes, and diplomatic engagement natin.

Base, syempre, sa ating pagkakaindindi ng kanilang implications.

Okay. Now, Representative Jay, does this mean then that Congress will be calling on former President Duterte?

Because the gentleman's agreement, frankly, if it did happen, it was just between him and the leader.

President Xi Jinping.

So, that means you'd have to call him.

Specifically, only him.

May possibility rin yan, Ma'am Ms. Karen.

Actually, pag-uusapan, syempre, ng liderato ng house yan.

Pero, syempre, hindi lang naman siya.

Kasi marami din naman na naandun sa meeting na yon.

Nakakapagtaka nga, yung mga tao na naandun sa meeting na yon, itahimik.

Sinabi nga ng ating Pangulo.

But who was in the meeting?

Because Atty. Harry Roque told me,

he was not in that meeting.

Former Secretary Salpanelo said,

he asked former President Duterte,

he said there was no gentleman's agreement.

I'm curious lang, who was in the meeting?

Sinabi rin naman ni Pangulong Duterte,

dun sa kanyang mga nakaraang statement,

na naandun si Secretary Año,

na naandun si National Security Advisor Esperon,

at yung matataas na opisyalis ng Department of Defense.

Dahil yun yung kanyang mga hinihingian ng advisors niya.

So, marami naman tayong papwedeng tanongin regarding doon sa pagpupulong na yon.

Dahil sinabi nga ni former President Duterte na marami siyang kasama sa pagpupulong na yon.

Nakakapagtaka na hindi nagsasalita ngayon.

Kahit na mismong si Presidente Marcos na nagtatunong,

e talagang malabo pa rin yung sagot sa kanya.

So, kailangan talaga natin magkaroon ng...

ng Congressional Inquiry regarding that matter.

Okay. Now, I wanted to ask you,

has Congress historically ever called a former President to a hearing?

Has that ever happened?

Whether it be former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo,

former President Erap Estrada,

nangyari na po ba yun, Sir?

Hindi ko alamin sa history ng Congress kung nakapagpatawag na tayo ng dating Presidente, no?

Pero sabi ko nga kanina,

nasa ang desisyon ng pagpapatawag sa ating Presidente,

sa ating dating Presidente, ay nasa leadership ng House, no?

Kung nakikita ng leadership ng House na kailangan talaga siyang ipatawag

para umatend ng meeting para magbigay ng linaw sa usaping ito,

para mas maging mas bukas ito sa publiko,

eh nasa desisyon pa rin ng leadership ng House.

Pero siyempre, mas maganda kung dumating tayo sa punto na...

na kailangan ni Presidente Duterte na...

na former Presidente Duterte magpaliwanag,

siyempre mas maganda kung may papaliwanag niya ng maayos

kung magka... kung sasalang nga siya sa Congressional Inquiry.

Okay. What if the former President declines?

Again, ano, nasa actions ng House at ng committee

na hahawak ng pangbinig na ito.

So, ayaw natin pangunahan.

Oo. Because ang tanong ko, will the lower House or even if the Senate in the future,

decides to call on former Presidente Duterte to explain this gentleman's agreement,

the bigger question is if, let's say he decides not to accept the invitation,

can the House cite him in contempt?

Will the House issue an arrest warrant?

Will it be fair and objective?

And can it actually act in the same manner that it does to other individuals who do not attend hearings?

Miss Karen, we will cross the bridge pag naando na tayo.

Napakahirap pang i-speculate ngayon.

Ang isa lang yung sinasabi ko na ito nga ay desisyon ng kabuuan ng mayorya ng Kongreso.

Nasa leadership ng House, nasa miyembro ng mababang kapulungan

kung i-compel nga ang dating Pangulong Duterte na umaten ng meeting.

Okay.

Now, I also interviewed, I believe it was Professor Romel Banlawi,

and he did say that it was time to just move forward.

Oh, also solicitor, former solicitor, General Francis Ardeleza.

He said, more than investigating this so-called gentleman's agreement,

it's more important to move forward as a country and speak with one voice when it comes to China.

Yes, Anoto.

Totoo naman yun na kailangan iisang boses lang tayo, lalong-lalo na sa pakikipag-usap sa China.

Pero tandaan din natin, kailangan makita natin kung ano ba talaga na pag-usapan

dahil ito merong mga implication, lalong-lalo na sa ating mga territorial disputes,

sa economic cooperation na region, sa regional dynamics ng ASEAN, sa domestic policies ng ating pamahalaan,

at syempre sa international law.

Kailangan siguraduhin natin na meron tayong kredibilidad sa pakikipag-usap sa ibang bansa.

Baka naman mamaya hindi na tayo paniwalaan dahil iba ang sinasabi ng China, iba ang sinasabi ng ating dating Pangulo.

So, importante na meron tayong kredibilidad, lalong-lalo na sa pakikipag-usap sa ating mga kapitbahay sa ibang bansa.

Okay.

At mo nga na posibleng iba ang sinasabi ng China, iba ang sinasabi ni dating Pangulo Duterte.

And you're right because former President Duterte came out with a statement and he said,

there was no gentleman's agreement but they agreed on the status quo.

That's what he claims.

But China came out with a statement and let me read it.

The spokesperson from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, said the Philippines has violated three promises.

And let me read to you and pwede mo sabihin kung labag ba ito sa konstitusyon kung totoong ipinangako ito ni dating Pangulong Duterte.

China claims, number one, right, that the Philippines made a serious promise to tow away, to tow away BRP Sierra Madre.

But 25 years on, the Philippine vessel is still there.

So, clearly, if this alleged promise is not fulfilled, it will not be fulfilled.

If this alleged promise is true, this is way before the time of former President Duterte, correct?

Yes, yes. Tama.

Oo. So, Wang did not mention which president actually made this serious promise to tow away BRP Sierra Madre. That's one.

If any president made such a promise to tow away BRP Sierra Madre,

is that against the Constitution?

Does that violate the Constitution?

Una sa lahat, Ms. Karen, ano? Una sa lahat, gusto ko nang sabihin, Ms. Karen, na hindi tayo abogado, pero siyempre nakikita natin yung implications ito sa kahigipaglaban natin sa ating teritoryo.

Inilagay nga yung BRP Sierra Madre doon para maging simbolik na ibig sabihin na talagang meron tayong paghangkin, no?

Meron tayong karapatan sa ating exclusive interests.

Meron tayong exclusive economic zone, no?

Tapos, para magkaroon tayo ng presensya sa lugar at para maipakita na atin yung teritoryo, tapos bigla natin tatanggalin, no?

Parang hindi magandang tignan, lalong-lalo na sa confidence ng ating mga kababayan na nandun.

Lalong-lalo na sa distrito ko, Ms. Karen, ano? Kami yung nawawater kanon, mga fishermen sa distrito natin yung nawawater kanon.

Mga kababayan natin yung may mga namamatay kami, mga kababayan na nagpupunta doon, no?

Talagang nakakalungkot kung magkakaroon ng ganong klaseng simbolik na pag-aalis ng Sierra Madre sa lugar na yon, no?

Dahil talaga namang atin yung lugar ng Ayungin.

Oo. I think it's important just to clarify for the viewers.

Ayungin Shoal is within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, right?

Yes, yes.

So it's within 200 nautical miles.

However, China has called the area, China calls the area Ren'ai Zhao.

Because they believe that with a 10-dash line today, everything within that area is the South China Sea is theirs.

So this is where the problem lies.

The second one.

China claims that the Philippines promised it will not reinforce the grounded warship and will inform, may inform, will inform China when it comes to advance resupply plans.

And China claims out of humanitarian considerations, China made special provisional arrangements for Philippine vessels sending living necessities to the warship already a few times.

So matindi ang mga aligasyon ng China, ha, na allegedly ipinangako ng mga leader natin.

What are your thoughts on that?

Isipin nyo, number one, the alleged promise to tow away BRP Sierra Madre.

Number two, the alleged promise it will not reinforce the BRP Sierra Madre.

Ibig sabihin, huwag ayusin. Hayaan lang masira.

Pangatlo, to inform China.

To inform China pag may resupply mission.

Yun nga yung masakit, Ms. Karen, na lalagay sa alanganin yung ating integridad at lalang-lalang na yung ating pag-aangkin sa teritoryo na Ayungin Shoal.

Ayon naman sa UNCLOS, talagang tayo merong exclusive economic rights sa lugar dahil atin yun.

At bilang isang malayang bansa.

Bakit natin kailangan unang magpaalam sa China dahil ate naman yun.

Pangalawa, hindi naman natin po pwedeng pabayaan na mabulok na lang yung BRP Sierra Madre doon.

Kailangan natin i-repair yun dahil pag hinayaan natin na hindi naman ma-re-repair yun, mabubulok yun.

At pag nabulok yun, wala na tayong base doon sa Ayungin Shoal.

At talagang may implication ito sa pag-aangkin natin sa lugar.

Baka mamaya sabihin nila hindi na natin inayos o hindi na natin...

inalagaan yung ating base doon sa Ayungin.

So baka mamaya tantamount yun ng pagsuko sa ating paghahabol sa lugar.

Pangatlo, yung pagpapaalam, katulad nga ng sinasabi ko,

bakit natin kailangan magpaalam sa isang bagay na pag-aari naman natin talaga.

Na talagang nanalo naman tayo sa desisyon ng international agreement.

Eh.

Courts, no?

Okay.

So President Marcos Jr. has been quite firm, he's been quite vocal, he's reiterated,

where is this agreement?

Asa ng dokumento?

Right?

Sinasabing asa ng dokumento.

Ang susunod kong tanong, but haven't presidents in the past,

haven't they had verbal agreements with leaders to forge goodwill in any way?

Iligal po ba yun?

Una, syempre.

Una, siyempre, Ms. Karen, kailangan malaman natin kung ano yung verbal agreement dahil meron itong symbolic significance.

Even though it's non-binding, the agreement can have a significant and symbolic international relation, lalo-lalo na in the realm of international relations.

Investigating such demonstrate our commitment to transparency and accountability.

Siyempre, meron itong potential implications. Kahit na ito'y non-binding, the agreement may have immediate legal consequences.

It has a far-reaching implications for our national interest, security, and foreign policy, lalo-lalo na sa public interest.

So, given the matter that, siyempre, nakataya dito ang ating national sovereignty, lalo-lalo na kailangan natin ng transparency and clarifications regarding sa kahit na anong klaseng agreement na ipinapasok ng ating pamahalaan.

At siyempre, meron din itong deterrent effect. Yung pag-iimbestiga natin, even though non-binding agreement sends a message that the commitment,

ang ating gobyerno ay may commitment sa mga pangakong binibitawan, lalo-lalo na kailangan maging accountable tayo sa actions natin, potentially in deterring future actions that may lead, lalo-lalo siyempre sa ating national interest.

Alright. On that note, I want to thank you so much. Is there, what is the timetable for this, for the hearing?

Ms. Karen?

Kasi sa ngayon, nasa ano pa kami, no? Nasa recess pa ang Congress, no? Magsisimula pa lang kami sa April 29, no? Magre-resume kami April 29.

So, doon namin pag-uusapan yung timeline at kung paano gagawin yung hearing.

Anyway, nagsalita naman na si Majority Leader Manis Delipe, ang chairman ng ating Committee ng Rules, no?

Na kinakailangan din, sumasangayon siya, na kinakailangan din magkaroon ng pandinig sa Kongreso.

So, doon natin pag-uusapan kung paano yung dynamics ng hearing at kung kailangan ko magsisimula.

At hopefully, no? Magkaroon ng clarity, no? Kalinawan, no? Sa nasabing pag-uusap.

Dahil talagang, katulad nga ng aking sinasabi, na yung implications nito, eh, napaka-ano, napaka-importante.

Dahil ito nga yung ginagamit ng China, lalo-lalo na sa pag-water cannon sa ating mga military, sa ating mga kababayan, ano?

So, napaka-importante na malaman natin ang totoo at kung meron bang, ano, no? Batas na linabag, no? Regarding sa pag-uusap nito.

Alright. On that note, I want to thank you so much, Congressman J. Congun, for joining me today. Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Ms. Karen, at maraming maraming salamat po sa ating mga taga-panood at taga-pakinig.

We're gonna take a quick break and start. We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

We'll be right back.

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We'll be right back.

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received a spot promotion from the DALG.

Diluna also received a P100,000 reward from the Matangas Provincial Government.

According to Malacanang, from July 2022 to December 2023,

authorities have conducted almost 37,000 drug operations,

resulting in the arrest of almost 50,000 drug suspects,

of which over 3,000 are considered high-value targets.

News overseas, Iran expected to release four Filipino crewmen soon

on a container ship it seized from the Strait of Hormuz.

This story from Victoria Tulad.

Two days after the Iranian Navy seized the container ship MSC Aris,

its four Filipino crew were able to talk with their families in the Philippines.

They gave good news, according to the Department of Migrant Workers, or DMW.

As of midnight last night,

they managed, the four families of the seafarers managed to directly communicate via video call

with their loved ones on board.

They also have been told by Iranians who came on board

that they will soon be released, not just exactly nowhere and not just know exactly when.

The DMW says the seafarers are being treated well.

We know that the seafarers, the four seafarers are safe and sound.

They're eating well.

They've taken to their normal duties on board the ship.

The DFA is also doing coordinative work in terms of the discussions with the Iranian government.

MSC Aris was seized on April 13, near the Strait of Hormuz,

which is between Iran and the United Arab Emirates.

The ship is currently anchored at the port of Iran.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, or DFA,

it is a Portuguese vessel which has ties with Israel.

Israel and Iran are in conflict.

Despite the situation, DFA remains optimistic since Iran released the 18 Filipino crew of MV San Nicolas,

an oil tanker that it also seized in January 2024.

The Philippine government promised financial assistance

for the family of the seafarers.

A manning agency assured support.

The licensed manning agency assured us of adequate payment,

fulfillment of the contract and so far salaries and compensation is concerned to the families.

The license manning agency assured us of adequate payment fulfillment of the contract and so far salaries and compensation is concerned to the family.

Because of this latest incident,

the Department of Migrant Workers will recommend the declaration of the Strait of Hormuz as a high risk area.

If this happens, a Filipino seafarer may refuse to be assigned in this area and instead be designated elsewhere.

But if he chooses to stay, he will have to do it for free.

If he chooses to still sail in a high-risk area, the pay, however, must be doubled.

The Gulf of Aden and parts of the Red Sea have also been recently declared as high-risk areas.

In November 2023, Yemen's Houthi rebels seized the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea, taking 17 Filipinos hostage.

Efforts continue to bring them home.

In March 2024, the bulk carrier MV True Confidence was struck by a Houthi missile in the Gulf of Aden.

Two Filipino seafarers died with their remains yet to be recovered.

Thirteen others were able to come back to the Philippines.

Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News.

Now in the United States, former U.S. President Donald Trump back in a Manhattan courtroom for the second day of his hush money trial.

The jury taking shape with seven people selected.

Before leaving the court, Trump again slammed the judge and blamed the Biden administration for his legal troubles.

He was under watch by the whole world and it's not looking very good.

So we think we have a very conflicted, highly conflicted judge who shouldn't be on the case.

And he's rushing this trial and he's doing as much as he can for the Democrats.

This is a Biden-inspired witch hunt and it should end and it should end very quickly.

The trial will resume on Thursday.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

To cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 elections.

Trump has not pleaded guilty and denies an encounter ever took place.

As Trump sits in the courtroom, U.S. President Joe Biden kicked off a multi-city tour of the battleground state of Pennsylvania.

It included a stop in his hometown of Scranton.

Where he pointed out...

A stark difference between him and Trump.

You know, people like Donald Trump learned very different lessons.

He learned the best way to get rich is inheritance.

Not a bad way.

He learned that paying taxes was something people who work for a living did, not him.

He learned that telling people you're fired was something to laugh about.

I guess that's how you look at the world when you're in Park Avenue or Mar-a-Lago.

If you grew up in a place like Scranton, nobody handed you anything.

You paid your taxes.

You made sure being told you're fired wasn't entertainment.

It was a nightmare that people worried about.

A criminal defense attorney weighs in on the merits of Trump's criminal charges.

Len Almadin Thornhill reports.

Len Almadin Thornhill reports.

Len Almadin Thornhill reports.

What the prosecution is going to try to show during the trial is that Trump not only knew about the payments,

but that he intended for the payments to essentially help him win the election, to conceal it from the voting public.

And so what their case is really going to come down to is what evidence do they have to prove that.

Filipino-American Matthew Halandoni is a criminal attorney and a former Ohio State prosecutor.

Halandoni says not only do the prosecutors face a big hurdle in connecting the dots to prove their case to the jury, but also the credibility of their witnesses.

Michael Cohen, his former attorney, the attorney who made the quote-unquote hush payments, is going to be very prominently featured in this case.

And his credibility is going to be very prominent.

Does the jury believe him? Do they think that he is lying because Trump, you know, threw him under the bus or, you know, he's now himself a convicted felon? Can you trust him?

As a former state prosecutor, Halandoni knows how crucial it is to bring a solid case to trial.

Not only do you have to believe in your case, but you have to look at it objectively and say that I've had the evidence that I can win this case.

And not only win this case, but make sure that it stands up on appeal.

Even if he is convicted, many legal experts doubt that 77-year-old Trump will be sentenced to jail time.

Typically, for defendants in the position that Mr. Trump would be in if he's convicted, he's a first-time convicted offender.

This is a financial crime, not a crime of violence necessarily. It's the lowest level felony.

Typically.

Typically, if you look at that, that's going to generally result in probation rather than jail time.

But Halandoni notes that there's no guarantee the judge will order one way or the other.

Judges are going to consider a number of other factors like punishing a particular offender, whether someone accepts responsibility during the sentencing phase, protecting the public, and deterrence, right?

So they want to show the public that...

Essentially, this type of behavior won't be tolerated.

And the way that a judge might want to do that is by sentencing the defendant to jail.

Trump is required to attend the trial each day, which is expected to last through May.

Len Amadin, Thornhill, ABS-CBN News, Manhattan, New York.

Switching gears now, the Philippine Madrigal singers kick off their three-month-long tour.

In Canada, with a successful concert in Vancouver.

Take a look.

The Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver was packed on April 13 as the Philippine Madrigal singers took to the stage to perform.

The last time that the acclaimed choral group was in Canada was 13 years ago.

The two-time European Grand Prix choral singing winners captivated the audience with their repertoire of renaissance and classical music, international folk songs, and of course, Filipino songs.

They also debuted on stage the piece Awit 123 or Psalm 123 in Tagalog, done by Filipino composer...

It's amazing. Nakakatuwa na bumisita sila sa Canada and we're the first one to experience this amazing concert. I'm really, really happy to be here.

The range of their repertoire, their tuning, they're so tight. Their capacity to sing so many different genres.

The Madrigal's choir master, Mark Anthony Carpio, says they did not expect the warm welcome from the appreciative audience.

We were surprised, actually. There was a...

A lot of cheer, cheers going on and we were grateful for that welcome, the reception, the standing ovation.

Founded in 1963, the Philippine Madrigal Singers is celebrating this 2024, its 60th year Diamond Jubilee with their three-month Canadian tour.

The Madrigal Singers got their name from the Italian word madrigal, which referred to the kind of secular vocal music popular during the Renaissance.

Carpio notes, though, that this genre is dying fast, but with new singers waiting in the wings, they are able to keep the music alive.

We do have our pool of trainees who sing with us in our rehearsals and sometimes in some performances. But the recruitment is continuous.

Filipino Youth Choir Himig ng Kabataan and the Banduria Number and Saxophone Performance opened the Madrigal Concert.

The UP Alumni Association invited...

...and other organizers are very happy with the success of the tour kickoff in Vancouver.

We didn't expect it to be really successful, but I'm very happy that it really is a massive one, actually.

And this is, I think, attributed to everyone ramping up to be able to make this happen.

Bevilacqua is grateful to the families that hosted the 18 members of the MADS and to the community leaders like Cliff Belgica of the UFC ABC,

...and to the community leaders like Cliff Belgica of the UFC ABC,

...who gave them valuable support.

Meanwhile, Andrada says they opted to stage the concert in a more intimate venue like the Christ Church Cathedral so the audience can really enjoy the music.

Gusto lang natin yung sense of intimacy. It's really like bringing them back home. Just that feeling of being back home.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers Canadian Tour will see them performing in the cities of Toronto, Montreal, as well as in Ottawa and in Winnipeg...

...among others.

Proceeds from the tour will be used to build the Madrigal's Choral Institute in Antipolo, back in the Philippines.

Rowena Papasin, ABS-CBN News, Vancouver.

And before we go, award-winning filmmaker Ramona Diaz chronicles the Filipino people's fight for democracy during the 2022 polls in her documentary, And So It Begins. Watch this.

Tunginig ka!

Di na ako papayag!

Mawalakan muli!

In discussing And So It Begins, the documentary she stars in, 2021 Nobel Peace Prize awardee Maria Ressa laughingly recalls that she did not quite agree with one storytelling decision that award-winning filmmaker Ramona Diaz made for the film.

We've seen you brave and you do that here too.

But, you know, seeing your voice...

Vulnerability too.

Did you hesitate at all in putting that on screen?

Yes, a lot.

I got mad at Ramona.

I was like, stop showing me angry!

I spent my entire career learning to squash my anger, right?

And then she only shows me when I'm angry in this film.

That's not true.

Not only when you're angry.

That's not true.

Oh, and then getting surprised by the Nobel.

She zooms in only on these moments.

Like, all my calmness is gone in this film.

Our problem is that emotion is vulnerability.

That is vulnerability for a journalist.

That will be attacked.

The best part is it's not about Rappler or me.

Ressa has a good reason to be concerned.

As someone who advocates for truth in journalism, for many years, she endured being the target of hate by vicious online trolls focused on people who report on former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.

Among other things, and so it begins,

Ressa says that what the film provides in terms of information and insight is more important, especially in light of appalling efforts to dismantle press freedom and influence elections in countries like the Philippines.

What measures can be done to correct it?

I've spent most of the last two years working on policy really outside the Philippines.

You know, I no longer have an editorial role in Rappler.

In order to solve our problems in the Philippines, we have to go outside.

We have to make sure that these tech companies are not exploiting us.

And so it begins, continues the story started by Diaz in 2020's Peabody-winning documentary, A Thousand Cuts.

The film highlights the hope, heartbreak, bravery, and challenges faced by Filipinos during the 2022 presidential elections between Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Lenny Robredo.

What was it like capturing that on film?

It was overwhelming to capture it, and we captured a lot.

So even...

The putting it together was also overwhelming.

VP Lenny always says she didn't know, they didn't know whether it would be a lonely campaign.

They thought it would be a lonely campaign, and then people just started showing up in numbers.

And you can see this is the end to something or just the beginning.

And that's why we also called it, And So It Begins.

We wanted to lean in on the hope.

Did the Marcoses have any reaction to the making of this film?

Not yet.

But we...

We were...

I wasn't allowed to film any of the rallies, right?

I'd welcome their reaction.

And So It Begins premiered at Sundance earlier this year and will be one of the top-billed offerings at the 40th VC Film Fest.

The Los Angeles-based film festival highlights stories from diverse filmmakers and communities.

Apart from Filipinos resisting oppression and fighting for what they believe would be for the betterment of the Philippines,

Ressa and former Philippine Vice President,

Lenny Robredo,

are front and center in the movie.

The feature-length documentary was originally conceived as an episode for the award-winning PBS documentary series Frontline,

which also released a thousand cuts.

And So It Begins screens at the VC Film Fest in Los Angeles on May 2

as part of its Democracy series,

which shows urgent and substantial stories from different nations.

Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN News, here in Hong Kong.

Hollywood.

And that's Head Start today.

I'm Karen Davila.

Thank you for watching.

Stay informed and stay with AMC.

I'll see you next time.

Bye.

Bye.

Because we have relaxed some of our quarantine.