The Senate does not implement a “no work, no pay” rule for its members, according to Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Other senators have confirmed that Dela Rosa failed to submit any formal excuse for missing work.

Dela Rosa was scheduled to defend the defense department’s budget — a key responsibility assigned to him — but skipped the hearings. According to Senator Win Gatchalian, he received only a text message from Dela Rosa’s staff asking him to take over the task.

Sotto expressed disappointment but admitted that the chamber has no mechanism to sanction absentee senators.

An ICC legal assistant, Kristina Conti, criticized Dela Rosa for “hiding” instead of fulfilling his duties, saying he was elected to serve the public, not to shield the former president.

Philippine officials have issued conflicting statements about the supposed ICC warrant. While the justice chief has insisted he has a copy, his own agency says it has not received one. The ICC itself has not confirmed the warrant’s existence.

Dela Rosa, a former national police chief, is considered a central figure in Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which is under ICC investigation for thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings.

While Dela Rosa remains absent from the Senate, he continues to post on social media.

The remark spread rapidly online and was met with widespread anger.

For many Sabahans, the comment reinforced perceptions that West Malaysian politicians view East Malaysians as unsophisticated and easily drawn in by handouts.

While travellers frequently carry Gardenia loaves home from Kuala Lumpur, viewing the brand as superior to local bread, many say the issue now goes far beyond food.

What began as a throwaway line about bread has become a symbol of calls for respect.

The episode has also sparked conversation about long-standing grievances on autonomy, resource control and federal oversight dating back to Sabah’s entry into Malaysia in 1963.

Sabah Barisan Nasional chief Bung Moktar Radin condemned the remark as insulting and divisive, calling on voters to reject parties that “cause inter-state racial disunity”. 

He described the episode as “deeply embarrassing” and “unforgivable”.

Mansor has apologised, but the backlash threatens to undermine Perikatan Nasional’s campaign. The coalition is contesting 42 of the state’s 73 seats, with six of these being contested by PAS.

Somalia’s Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama has underscored the critical role of communities in tackling climate change and improving disaster preparedness. Speaking at the Second Somali Disaster Resilience Conference in Mogadishu , Jama emphasised that local participation is essential to reducing vulnerability to floods, droughts, and other natural disasters that have devastated livelihoods across the country. The conference brought together policymakers, humanitarian agencies, and climate experts to develop sustainable frameworks for resilience-building. The deputy prime minister urged all stakeholders to “empower communities to take ownership of the solutions,” adding that resilience cannot be built solely through top-down approaches.

Militants in Bakool region operation

The Somali National Army (SNA) carried out a major offensive near Hudur, in the Bakool region, killing at least ten al-Shabaab militants and seizing a cache of weapons. Military officials described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle insurgent networks and secure liberated territories. The Ministry of Defence said the army’s campaign will continue until “every terrorist base is eliminated” in Bakool and neighbouring regions.

Lawmakers absenteeism

Somalia’s Lower House of Parliament has warned lawmakers against absenteeism after several legislative sessions were cancelled due to a lack of quorum. The leadership expressed frustration that critical national issues, including bills on security and economic reform, could not be discussed because many MPs failed to attend sittings.In a statement , the Speaker reminded members of their constitutional duty to represent their constituencies effectively. Lawmakers have been warned that persistent absenteeism could lead to disciplinary measures. The development has sparked public debate about parliamentary accountability and efficiency in governance.

Three brothers killed in clan-related attack

Authorities in the Lower Shabelle region are investigating a deadly clan-related attack that left three brothers dead and several others injured. The victims were reportedly ambushed by rival clans amid growing tensions over grazing land and water resources, long-standing triggers of local conflict in rural Somalia. Community elders have called for calm and urged the government to intervene to prevent retaliatory violence. Security officials say additional patrols have been deployed to the area as reconciliation efforts begin.

Bilateral cooperation

Somalia’s Police Chief has held talks with Iraq’s Interior Minister to strengthen bilateral cooperation on security, intelligence sharing, and counterterrorism. The meeting , which took place in Baghdad, explored ways to improve police training, equipment, and strategic collaboration against transnational crime. Both sides agreed to establish a framework for information exchange and capacity building. The visit reflects Somalia’s broader diplomatic efforts to enhance its security institutions through international partnerships.