Abbey M.

Makabayan lawmakers are appealing to the Office of the Ombudsman and Congress to investigate evidence related to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s alleged direct involvement in serious corruption in government infrastructure projects.

This comes after House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio revealed on the House plenary floor that he allegedly possesses records of communication between former Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin and PBBM regarding the delivery of kickbacks from budget insertions. Bersamin allegedly served as the President's runner and bagman.

PBBM is safe from impeachment for one year after the House completely dismissed impeachment complaints against him. 

Meanwhile, the President is also immune from suit, meaning he cannot be charged with any case while in office.

"Those officials should be investigated, there should be accountability. We challenge the Office of the Ombudsman as well as this chamber—there's the Good Government and Public Accountability Committee, there's also the Blue Ribbon Committee. These new developments are serious and should not be ignored. They should be investigated and there should be accountability," said Gabriela Partylist Rep. Sarah Elago.

(Dapat imbestigahan ang mga officials na yan, dapat magkaroon ng pananagutan, hinahamon ang office of the ombudsman gayundin ang kapulungan na ito, nandiyan yung good government and public accountability, andiyan din ang blue ribbon committee, itong bagong developments na ito seryoso at hindi dapat ipagsawalang-bahala dapat imbestigahan at magkaroon ng pananagutan.)

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No one benefits from Filipinos arguing over the West Philippine Sea issue more than China.

According to the Philippine Navy spokesperson for WPS issues, this is part of a tactic used by China to pit Filipinos against each other to divert attention from who the real enemy is and what the real issue is.

"We have to understand what is the objective of the Chinese Communist Party. The objective of foreign malign influence and intervention is to divide Philippine society, to divide Philippine leaders, to cause us to debate among ourselves. And to forget that the bigger issue," said Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Philippine Navy Spokesperson for the WPS.

While the public is busy arguing and the country's leaders are quarreling over territorial boundaries in the West Philippine Sea, the real issue is being obscured: China's illegal presence in the Philippines' Exclusive Economic Zone, the bullying of Philippine vessels and our fishermen, and the spreading of false narratives.

For Trinidad, this is only part of China's broader plan to turn Filipinos against each other.

"Para makalimutan natin ang totoong issue. Pag-away-awayin tayo. It's very important to understand how they think, how they operate para hindi po tayo maligaw sa totoong hinaharap natin na kalaban sa West Philippine Sea," Trinidad said. 

(So we forget the real issue. They're turning us against each other. It's very important to understand how they think, how they operate so we don't lose sight of the real enemy we're facing in the West Philippine Sea.)

The AFP also responded to a senator's statement suggesting the country should just give up the Kalayaan Group of Islands, claiming they are not within our EEZ.

According to Trinidad, while Pag-asa Island is beyond the country's EEZ, the Constitution clearly states these islands are considered a regime of islands.

The AFP added that these islands have their own territorial sea and are part of the territory of the Republic of the Philippines, making it part of the AFP's mandate to protect the Kalayaan Island Group and any part of the country.

"Pag-asa group of islands, Pag-asa Island or the Kalayaan Island Group is beyond the EEZ. But it's very clear in the constitution, these islands are treated as a regime of islands. They are high tide elevations. They generate a territorial sea. Kasama po sa territoryo ng Republika ng Pilipinas. Likewise, kasama rin po dyan yung ating presidential decree 1596 that established the municipality of Kalayaan. It is a local government unit," Trinidad said. 

(They are part of the territory of the Republic of the Philippines. Likewise, that also includes our presidential decree 1596 that established the municipality of Kalayaan.)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines emphasized that the military's mandate to defend the country's territory is clear and unchanging, regardless of events in the country.

The morale of soldiers is also not affected by political issues, as they have sufficient resolve and a clear mission—to secure and defend Philippine territory.

"It is a mandate to protect national sovereignty, to ensure the integrity of the national territory all the way up to our 200 nautical mile EEZ and the regime of islands covering KIG, which is beyond our EEZ and to look after the wealth of the Filipino people. Ito ay maliwanag sa bawat nyembro ng ating sandatahang lakas. We have been formed this mandate for many years. 

We have proven it time and again without fanfare, without questions asked. Our patriots, our comrades have laid down the ultimate sacrifice and this is the mandate that we have sworn to protect, to perform, we will keep performing it," Trinidad said. (This is clear to every member of our armed forces.)

The Philippine Navy added that they also support the Philippine Coast Guard's call encouraging government officials to visit the Kalayaan Island Group to see the situation in the area.

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Wanted businessman Atong Ang remains in the Philippines.

This was the confident response of Acting Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida when asked about the whereabouts of the alleged mastermind behind the disappearance of cockfight enthusiasts.

According to Vida, there are no reports from formal channels such as the Bureau of Immigration indicating that Ang has left the country.

However, he did not rule out the possibility that Ang found other means to leave the Philippines.

“We have partners. We have member countries that are cooperating with us. And we are exploring all avenues—the diplomatic community. We are exploring all our channels there. And our record, still here. As of this time of speaking wala sa BI of course those are the formal channels, Sa formal channel wala talaga, pero on some intel, yes, there is indication that he is still around.”

("We have partners. We have member countries that are cooperating with us. And we are exploring all avenues—the diplomatic community. We are exploring all our channels there. And our record, still here,") Vida said.

("As of this time of speaking, there's nothing from the BI—of course those are the formal channels. In the formal channel, there's really nothing, but based on some intelligence, yes, there is indication that he is still around,") he added.

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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved 21 priority bills from the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). Among the measures approved by the President are proposals to abolish the travel tax, create an Independent People's Commission, and combat fake news and digital disinformation.

"The President saw that this would ease the burden on our tourists and our countrymen who travel," said Undersecretary Claire Castro, Palace Press Officer.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has listened to the complaints of Filipino travelers regarding travel tax payments. During the LEDAC meeting held today, its abolition was included among the 21 priority bills approved by PBBM.

According to Malacañang, the LEDAC meeting discussed the potential impact of removing the travel tax. President Marcos reportedly saw the significant benefit this would bring to tourists and Filipino travelers.

Travelers pay between 1,620 pesos and 2,700 pesos in travel tax, depending on whether they choose economy or first-class seats when leaving the country.

Of the total tax collected, 50 percent goes to the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), 40 percent to the Commission on Higher Education for tourism-related educational programs, and 10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts.

According to Usec. Castro, programs that would be affected by the travel tax abolition will be funded under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

"When this is abolished and it's not just a fee deduction, this will be funded by the government, of course, through the GAA," Castro said.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco previously stated she would leave the travel tax issue to lawmakers, though she emphasized its significant contribution to the country's economy.

The President's son, Ilocos Norte First District Representative Sandro Marcos, is the principal author of the travel tax abolition bill.

Beyond travel tax abolition, PBBM has prioritized the passage before the June 2026 session break of measures to strengthen the fight against online sexual abuse or exploitation of children, fake news, and the creation of an Independent People's Commission.

President Marcos also emphasized the passage of an anti-political dynasty bill. According to Malacañang, Congress is currently conducting consultations for the version to be crafted. The President will await this to study what kind of anti-political dynasty bill the administration will support.

"For now, Congress is still conducting consultations. So, when they provide their version, that's when the President will know what is better and what he will support," Castro said.

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The House Justice Committee has approved a report declaring the impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. insufficient in substance. This means the dismissal of the impeachment complaints endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Partylist Rep. Jett Nisay and Makabayan Lawmakers.

The next step is to submit the report to the House plenary for adoption.

However, if one-third of House members vote against the House Justice Committee report, the decision could be overturned and the impeachment complaint would remain alive.

Meanwhile, a third impeachment complaint has been filed in the House against Vice President Sara Duterte.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates.