Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Photo courtesy of the Senate of the Philippines. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero tightened the rules on conduct in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, warning prosecutors, defense lawyers, witnesses and senator-judges against actions that could undermine the fairness and credibility of the proceedings. In a series of rulings Wednesday,…
Photo courtesy of PNP Police arrested seven men and seized more than Php 16 million worth of heavy equipment and materials in an operation against alleged illegal quarrying in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental. The operation was conducted along the Binalbagan River on Aug. 25 by the Regional Special Operations Group of the Police Regional Office-Negros…
Photo courtesy of Ping Lacson/Facebook. Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson questioned what he described as “copy-paste” entries in the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) regular programs and confidential and intelligence fund plans, saying nearly identical descriptions raised questions about how the funds were programmed and documented. During Wednesday’s impeachment proceedings, Lacson compared appropriations under the 2022…
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. Photo courtesy of Senate of the Philippines. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday urged government agencies to show empirical evidence that extending the terms of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials from four to five years would actually improve governance and public services. His call came as lawmakers considered proposals to lengthen…
Senator Bam Aquino- Photo courtesy of Bam Aquino/Facebook. Senator Bam Aquino is seeking to expand the government’s social pension program by granting Php 1,000 monthly assistance to more senior citizens who receive little or no pension. Under Senate Bill No. 269, senior citizens who do not receive a social pension or whose existing pension does…
Photo courtesy of PNP Police and customs authorities intercepted a boat carrying nearly Php 3.5 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes during a maritime patrol off Zamboanga City, the Philippine National Police said. The operation took place on Aug. 24 in waters near Zone 5, Barangay Ayala, where personnel spotted and stopped a gray-and-orange motorized…
Photo courtesy of PNP Police intercepted 447 master cases of suspected smuggled cigarettes worth about Php 26.6 million during an intelligence-driven operation in Escalante City, Negros Occidental, on Tuesday evening. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said the shipment was seized in Barangay Alimango, where authorities also took a 29-year-old man into custody after he was…
Senator-judge Bam Aquino speaks during the 19th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. Aquino clarified that his uncle, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., used the alias “Marcial Bonifacio” but was not involved in the confidential fund acknowledgment receipts under scrutiny. Senator-judge Bam Aquino pushed…
Presiding Officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero delivers his ruling on the enforcement of Rule 18 during the 19th day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial at the Senate on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The court adopted a two-strike system for violations of the rule governing public statements related to the merits of the case….
Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio testifies before the Senate Impeachment Court on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after being declared a hostile witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Office of the Vice President Assistant Secretary Lemuel Ortonio described as “usual” the reported practice of releasing…