Abbey M.

MANILA, Philippines — The House prosecution panel is preparing to call more witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with at least two OVP and Department of Education officials expected to be declared hostile witnesses.

The trial is set to resume after two consecutive hearing cancellations due to bad weather.

Prosecutors will first continue the direct examination of Gina Acosta, former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President’s confidential funds. Her testimony will be followed by cross-examination from the defense team and questions from senator-judges.

Once Acosta’s testimony is completed, the prosecution is expected to call Edward Fajarda, former special disbursing officer of DepEd confidential funds, and Lemuel Ortonio, assistant secretary and assistant chief of staff of the OVP.

Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the House prosecution team, said they intend to ask the impeachment court to classify OVP and DepEd personnel who worked under Duterte as hostile witnesses.

Ridon said such a designation would allow prosecutors to use a more direct line of questioning and help expedite the proceedings.

The impeachment court, however, has the authority to determine whether a witness may be treated as hostile based on evidence showing that the witness has interests adverse to the party that called them.

Acosta was the first prosecution witness to be declared hostile in the trial.

Her testimony became significant to the prosecution after she said Duterte instructed her to release P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, then chief security officer of the OVP.

Ridon described the testimony as one of the prosecution’s key pieces of evidence, saying it directly linked the Vice President to the release of the confidential funds.

Meanwhile, the House prosecution panel has expressed support for proposed changes to the impeachment trial schedule in an effort to speed up the proceedings.

Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said the prosecution favors moving the hearings back to the afternoon, stressing the need to avoid further delays.

Among the adjustments being considered by senators is holding the trial from 2:30 PM to 7:30 PM., instead of the current 10 AM start.

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‍MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) said its hospitals are prepared to provide immediate treatment for leptospirosis cases amid continued monitoring of hospital capacity.

The agency said it is closely monitoring the bed capacity of DOH hospitals and has activated its referral system to ensure patients are directed to facilities that can accommodate them.

The measure is aimed at preventing overcrowding and ensuring that patients receive timely medical care.

The DOH also reminded the public, especially those who have waded through floodwaters, to seek medical consultation at a YAKAP Clinic or the nearest DOH hospital.

The agency advised individuals exposed to floodwaters to consult a healthcare professional even if they are not experiencing symptoms, as early assessment may help reduce the risk of complications from leptospirosis.

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‍MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian called for stronger efforts to address the shortage of mental health professionals in the country following recent fatal shooting incidents in schools.

Gatchalian said the Philippines needs to produce more graduates who are qualified to provide mental health programs and services in schools and communities.

He also expressed support for the Department of Health’s plan to train and certify healthcare workers to provide initial mental health interventions, particularly in areas where access to specialists remains limited.

According to Gatchalian, mental health services should not be treated as a privilege and must be made accessible to students and communities nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education said it needs around 48,000 school counselor associates across the country to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support for students.

However, only 10,000 positions are covered under the 2026 national budget.

DepEd is aiming to assign at least one school counselor associate to every school as part of efforts to improve access to mental health services and provide students with timely psychosocial support.

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‍MANILA, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos said teachers should not be blamed for the recent shooting incident at a school in Zamboanga City, as she criticized remarks made by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro on teachers and morality.

In a video message, Marcos defended teachers and said responsibility for the incident should not be placed on them, especially since a teacher was reportedly among those targeted during the shooting.

"Ano ba naman sila, bakit naman sisisihin ang mga hamak na teacher, samantalang yung isang guro, siya pa nga ang pinupuntirya? Muntik-muntikan na nga, sinweretehan na lang. Ano naman ang malay ng mga teacher, pambihira naman," Senator Imee Marcos said. 

[“Why blame the teachers when one of them was even a target? What would the teachers know about it?”]

The senator said authorities and agencies responsible for monitoring and regulating matters related to public safety should instead be held accountable and scrutinized over how such incidents could be prevented.

Castro later responded to Marcos, saying the senator should have watched the entire Palace press briefing before commenting on her remarks.

According to Castro, her statements were taken out of context and were not intended to blame teachers for the shooting incident.

She also urged Marcos to exercise critical thinking, listen carefully and understand the full context of an issue before making public statements.

Castro further criticized the senator’s manner of speaking and challenged her to also call out the behavior of her political allies.

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is commemorating the 43rd death anniversary of former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. on Friday, August 21.

Ninoy Aquino Day is a special non-working holiday under Republic Act No. 9256. Government offices are generally closed, except agencies providing essential and emergency services.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority also suspended the number coding scheme in Metro Manila for the holiday, including Makati City.

The LRT-1 is operating on a shortened schedule. First trips from Dr. Santos and Fernando Poe Jr. stations begin at 5 a.m., while the last trains leave Dr. Santos at 9:30 p.m. and Fernando Poe Jr. at 9:45 p.m.

Aquino’s family also visited Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 on Thursday to pay tribute following the relocation of his memorial marker.

The marker was moved to a more visible area in front of Terminal 1, near the airport signage bearing Aquino’s name.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines is also scheduled to lead commemorative activities for Ninoy Aquino Day.

Aquino was assassinated on August 21, 1983, upon returning to the Philippines from exile. His death became a major turning point in the opposition to the Marcos dictatorship and helped fuel the movement that culminated in the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

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