China accused Japan on Thursday, March 10, of interfering in the South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) dispute after Manila said it would lease 5 Japanese military planes for patrol. President Benigno Aquino III said the day before the lease of the 5 TC-90 training aircraft from Japan would help the Philippine navy “patrol our territory”. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing was “firmly opposed” to challenges to its sovereignty and security and would “remain on high alert.” He said Japan is “not a party directly concerned in the South China Sea dispute.”

Read more about China’s reaction to Japan’s involvement on Rappler.

Former Senate president Jovito Salonga died at the age of 95 on Thursday, March 10. Among the country’s most esteemed statesmen, Salonga first ventured into politics in 1961 when he was elected representative of Rizal province. Four years later, he topped the senatorial polls. After the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution, he was tapped by then president Corazon Aquino to head the Presidential Commission on Good Government that was tasked to go after the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses. The country mourned his death, with Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda saying of Salonga, “He joins the ranks of those who have made the position of senator of the Republic an honorable, and respectable, thing.”

Read more about the Filipino statesman on Rappler.

Read more about the reactions to Salonga’s death also on Rappler.

The highlights of his life are on this Rappler timeline.

President Benigno Aquino III told the Philippine National Police Academy’s (PNPA) Class of 2016 to shun temptation and put country above self especially in the coming May elections. “For those in the uniformed service, it will be a time for different forms of temptation…If you’re asked to choose: country or self, what will you put first?” Aquino said in Filipino. In his last speech as chief executive before the PNPA, he directed the new graduates:“Siguruhing ligtas, mapayapa, at tunay na sasalamin sa pasya ng ating mga Boss ang ating eleksyon.” (Ensure safe, peaceful, and honest elections that would truly reflect the choice of our bosses.)

Read more about Aquino’s message to the new cops on Rappler.

Commission on Elections Chairman Andres Bautista said Thursday, March 10, the poll body failed to defend itself before the Supreme Court (SC) in a case involving vote-counting machines because they were too busy. The Comelec failed to meet the SC’s “non-extendible deadline” to submit a comment on a ruling that requires the poll body to issue voting receipts. Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said the Comelec should not take the Court’s orders lightly.

Read more about the Comelec’s defense on Rappler.

Former Central Bank (CB) governor Jaime Laya, one of the Marcoses’ trusted officials, executed an affidavit before the anti-graft court, confirming he had seen at least 4 of the more than 100 artworks that the Philippine government is now trying to locate. In his 7-page judicial affidavit submitted to the Sandiganbayan March 4, Laya said he recalls seeing Francisco de Zurbaran’s David and Goliath, Francisco Goya’s Marquesa de Santa Cruz, Peter Paul Rubens’ Madonna and Child, and a winter scene by Dutch artist Hendrick Avercamp in the Marcoses’ Manhattan home. As CB governor then, he got invited to parties in the 6-floor townhouse on 66^th East Street in Manhattan, New York.

Read more about the Marcos paintings on Rappler.

69-year-old Htin Kyaw, a university teacher, school friend of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, and son of a legendary Myanmar poet was nominated as a candidate to be the country’s next president. Myanmar’s constitution bans Suu Kyi from the presidency but she has pledged to rule “above” her appointee. The nomination of Htin Kyaw by her National League for Democracy shows her faith in his loyalty to act as her proxy.

Read more about Suu Kyi’s choice on Rappler.

The authenticity of thousands of documents said to be leaked by the Islamic State (ISIS) is doubtful, analysts said, pointing to mistakes and uncharacteristic language. The documents were handed over to Britain’s Sky News by a disillusioned former ISIS member. For instance, files documenting the deaths of ISIS militants used the words “date of killing” over the jihadist term “martyrdom”. The documents contain names, addresses, phone numbers and family members of supposed ISIS jihadists.

Read more about what analysts have to say on Rappler.

Political uncertainty and global economic volatility are shaking up rankings of the world’s most expensive cities, according to a cost of living index compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Of the 133 surveyed cities, only 8 have retained her ranking position in the last 12 months. Singapore retained the top spot, followed by Zurich and Hong Kong at second place, with Geneva next in line.

Read more about the costliest cities on Rappler.

Facebook Lite has reached 100 million monthly active users only 9 months after its global rollout on Android smartphones. Facebook said the Philippines is one of the top 5 countries that use the app, along with Brazil, India, Indonesia, and Mexico. Facebook Lite is meant for users who don’t have the best connections but want to stay connected on social media.

Read more about Facebook Lite on Rappler.

A brand-new trailer for Captain America: Civil War shows Spider-Man in action as Captain America and Iron Man are pitted against each other in the film. The Avengers are split because of disagreement over a so-called Superhuman Registration Act. In the film, Spidey wears a suit that’s a throwback to the 1967 cartoon series. There’s mayhem in the footage previewed in the new trailer that shows Spidey taking Cap’s shield with his web.

Watch the trailer on Rappler.