Abbey M.

Students in some schools in Baguio City were sent home after a magnitude 4.5 earthquake was felt at around 2:33 PM today, Thursday, July 9.

At Baguio City High School, students were immediately brought outside as part of earthquake safety protocol.

Intensity V was recorded in Baguio City from the earthquake, whose epicenter was located 9 kilometers southwest of Tuba, Benguet.

The earthquake also caused heavier traffic flow in some parts of the city due to the simultaneous evacuation of people from buildings.

Some students at Baguio City High School experienced dizziness after the magnitude 4.5 earthquake.

Students were immediately brought out of their classrooms as part of earthquake safety protocol.

Students were also sent home after the tremor.

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Government agencies are now ready for the possible effects of Typhoon Inday.

According to Malacañang, the MMDA has already requested shopping malls to open their parking spaces for overnight parking starting today, in case the weather worsens.

Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna has also ordered the activation of all disaster response units in the regions and directed the monitoring of protected areas.

Meanwhile, the DICT continues its monitoring to ensure communication lines remain secure.

President Marcos, for his part, has a reminder for the public.

"Sa likod ng paghahanda ng pamahalaan nagpapaalala pa rin si Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa lahat ng ahensiya na huwag maging kampante at bantayan ang takbo ng Bagyong Inday." Palace Press Officer USec. Claire Castro said.

(Despite the government's preparations, President Marcos Jr. still reminds all agencies not to be complacent and to keep monitoring the movement of Typhoon Inday.

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Some malls in the National Capital Region will offer free overnight parking starting tonight.

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes, this is to allow vehicle owners to save their cars in case of flooding caused by bad weather.

The list of malls in different areas of Metro Manila that will offer free overnight parking can be found on the MMDA's social media page.

The official clarified that the free parking is for overnight only, and once the mall opens, parking fees will need to be paid again.

Chairman of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Atty. Romando Artes explained the coverage of the free parking offer and how it can benefit residents in flood-prone areas.

"So ang ililibre po nila ay 'yong kunyare nagsara sila ng 10 ng gabi hanggang 6 ng umaga, 'yon po libre. Pero yung starting 6 ng umaga siguro or ano may bayad na po. So, pero at least 'yong lalong na po doon sa ating mga kababayan na nasa lugar na binabaha, alam ninyo naman po 'yan kung malakas ang pag-ulan, lumalalim ang tubig sa inyo, maaring abutin ang mga sasakyan, mas safe na po na siguro especially 'yong mga valuables ninyo po na pwedeng mabasa sa tubig baha, ilagay sa kotse, mag-park na po sa ating mga malls."

(So what they'll make free is, for example, if they close at 10 in the evening until 6 in the morning, that's free. But starting maybe 6 in the morning or so, there will already be a fee. So, but at least this will help our fellow citizens in areas that get flooded — you know how it is, when the rain is strong, the water gets deep in your area, and it might reach your vehicles, so it's safer, especially for your valuables that could get wet in the floodwater, to put them in the car and park at our malls.)

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Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the chief of staff of Vice President Sara Duterte, arrived at the Senate today, July 9. 

This comes following the planned summons of the Senate Impeachment Court for her to give testimony in the pending case against the Vice President.

At the end of the first week of VP Duterte's impeachment trial, it was mentioned that Atty. Zuleika Lopez is among those who will be called to appear in the coming hearings.

Atty. Lopez is considered a hostile witness by the prosecution on Article 4, or the controversial assassination plot, grave threats, and inciting to sedition case.

Senate Impeachment Court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol said the presiding officer has granted the request for the issuance of a subpoena ad testificandum against Lopez.

"The request of issuance of subpoena ad testificandum of Atty. Zuleika Lopez, the presiding officer granted the same and will be issued today," Tongol said.

The alleged threat by the Vice President reportedly took place while Lopez was detained at the House of Representatives in November 2024, after she was cited for contempt during a hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability concerning the alleged misuse of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Meanwhile, on the matter of presenting witnesses, Tongol said the court has left it to the prosecution's discretion how they will proceed with presenting their witnesses and evidence.

This comes after the House Prosecution Panel postponed, yesterday, the presentation of their second witness, Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, regional director of the National Bureau of Investigation.

Asked about the deferral, Tongol explained that the decision on when to present witnesses ultimately rests with the prosecution, though the court still evaluates whether such deferrals are justified. 

"Nasa discretion po nila kung paano nila i-pipresinta ang ebidensya. Kaya sila rin po bahala mag-manage ng mga witnesses nila kailan nila iniisip na magandang i-presinta yung witness na yun. Baka meron silang timing, baka may strategy po sila. We cannot really comment on ano po yun. Hindi naman po nasayang yung oras ng korte kasi nga sabi ko nga po sa inyo, nangangapa pa po tayong lahat. Tinitingnan rin ng korte kung ito ba ay rasonable o hindi rasonable yung pagka-defer."

(It's within their discretion how they will present the evidence. So it's also up to them to manage their witnesses on when they think it's good to present that witness. Maybe they have their timing, maybe they have a strategy. We cannot really comment on that. The court's time was not wasted because, as I've said, we are all still feeling our way through this. The court is also looking at whether this deferral is reasonable or not.)

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The Senate Committee on Basic Education, chaired by Sen. Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV, opened hearings on Thursday, July 9, on the proposed School Safety Act, a measure meant to address violence, bullying, and other threats that put students at risk both inside and outside campuses.

The joint hearing, held with the committees on higher, technical, and vocational education, brought lawmakers together to examine whether existing laws and school policies are enough to keep students safe, or whether new legislation is needed to close the gaps.

Aquino said the bill started out as an anti-bullying measure but has since grown into a broader school safety framework. Among its key provisions are the wider use of CCTV and other security systems in schools, stronger emergency response protocols, expanded mental health and psychosocial support for students, and closer coordination between schools, local governments, and law enforcement.

"We are here because we believe that schools should be places of learning, not fear. It is essential for parents to have confidence that their children can return home safely after attending school," Aquino said.

The hearing comes weeks after two tragedies that renewed public pressure for stronger school safety measures. On June 8, Ateneo de Manila University student-athletes Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili drowned during a team-building activity for the school's men's basketball team in Dipaculao, Aurora. Two weeks later, on June 22, a shooting inside San Jose National High School in Tacloban City left three students dead and 20 others wounded, in an attack allegedly carried out by two minors, aged 14 and 15.

"We are here because we want to ensure that the incidents in Tacloban, Aurora, and other parts of the country do not happen again," Aquino said, referring to both incidents as the reason behind the urgency of the hearing.

The senator stressed that keeping schools safe is not a burden that falls on the Department of Education or school administrators alone. "It is a responsibility that belongs to the whole nation. It is the duty of the entire country. It is the responsibility of parents, the community, and above all, it is the responsibility of each one of us here," he said.

He added that lawmakers owe it to students, teachers, and parents alike to act. "Ultimately, we owe it to our youth to provide schools that are safe and offer hope. We owe it to our teachers to ensure a secure environment for teaching. And we owe it to every parent the assurance that we are doing everything possible to protect their children."

Aquino also offered his condolences to the families of the three students killed in the Tacloban shooting, and reiterated his commitment to pushing for the swift passage of the School Safety Act.

The Senator has separately pushed back against calls for a blanket ban on violent video games in the wake of the Tacloban shooting, after investigators noted one of the suspects had been an avid player of a game known for graphic violence. 

He argued that studies have not established a link between video game use and school shootings, and said game developers should instead be made responsible for monitoring and blocking predatory or harmful users on their platforms — a point he's raised as lawmakers look at the broader range of factors the bill should address.

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