Abbey M.

A low-pressure area being monitored by PAGASA outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility has a high chance of developing into a full-blown storm. 

The agency said it is expected to form into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours. Should it enter the PAR, it will be named Tropical Storm Caloy.

Meanwhile, another weather disturbance closer to the country has also been spotted, though it is not expected to develop into a storm. Both weather disturbances were detected in the eastern portion of Northeastern Mindanao.

Unusual snowfall was recorded in Hokkaido Prefecture in Japan this Monday, May 4 continuing through the night. 

According to the Japan Weather Agency, temperatures dropped steadily overnight, causing ice buildup on roads, particularly in Asahikawa City. 

Experts noted that such an occurrence has not been recorded in the month of May in the past 21 years. 

Authorities have warned motorists to exercise extra caution due to slippery road conditions.

Malacañang has once again responded to a statement made by Presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos regarding her relationship with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., saying the President appeared to be disappointed by his sister's latest remarks.

Senator Imee Marcos recently described her relationship with the President as non-existent, revealing that the two have not seen each other in over a year.

"Non-existent, at this point mahal ko siya kapatid ko siya pero hindi kami nagkikita for over a year now."

["Non-existent. At this point, I love him, he is my brother, but we have not seen each other for over a year now."]

The senator also expressed sadness, saying she feels her younger brother is not being properly looked after.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said that based on a statement from the President himself, Senator Imee has long been absent from Marcos family gatherings. Castro said she personally approached the President to ask about the senator's comments.

"I approached the President and asked about this comment or statement of his sister Senator Imee Marcos and he said 'yes, they haven't spoken for almost a year, she has not been attending family gatherings, family events,' so iyon po ang sagot ng Pangulo."

Castro further noted that the President's reaction suggested he was not pleased with his sister's public remarks.

"Sa aking paningin sa kanyang body language ay disappointed siya sa kanyang nadidinig na mga salita mula sa kanyang kapatid."

["In my observation of his body language, he was disappointed by the words he was hearing from his sister."]

The Senate and House of Representatives have begun early preparations for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), scheduled in July. Both chambers want to ensure the smooth flow of the program.

Although nearly three months remain before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth SONA, officials from the Senate and House of Representatives met on Tuesday, May 5, to begin preparations. 

Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza said that while they usually begin preparations in late May for the annual event set on the fourth Monday of July, they are aiming for earlier coordination this time, ahead of the expected sine die adjournment of Congress.

Mendoza, however, firmly clarified that the early preparations are not connected to the possible transmittal of articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte or the anticipated start of an impeachment trial.

The Senate secretary also said that the leadership of both the Senate and the House has given clear instructions to keep the occasion simple.

"Because of what's happening right now, di ba medyo baka magalit ang tao, mag-react. Medyo tame down lang ng konti, yun lang naman. Okay, so parehong bilin sir ni Speaker and Senate President na simple. Simple lang."

["Because of what's happening right now, people might get angry or react. Just tone it down a little, that's all. Okay, so the instruction from both the Speaker and the Senate President is to keep it simple. Just simple.”]

Mendoza added that discussions between the two chambers regarding the upcoming SONA are still in the initial stage. House officials are set to meet again, this time joined by the executive department and security agencies.

"Siguro ano lang, yung setup lang. More on sa setup siguro. Mas simple lang siguro gagawin namin. Initial pa lang naman to. First meeting pa lang naman. Kumbaga nagexchange lang ng views kung ano yung mga possible na pwede naming gawin namin."

["Maybe just the setup. More on the setup, I think. We'll probably make it simpler. This is still initial. Just the first meeting. We basically just exchanged views on what we could possibly do.”]

The fifth SONA of President Marcos Jr. is set on July 27, 2026.

Authorities have arrested more than 5,000 high-value drug targets (HVTs) and confiscated close to PHP32 billion worth of illegal narcotics since the Marcos administration launched its anti-drug campaign in mid-2022, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced.

In its latest report, PDEA said 5,366 HVTs were arrested between July 1, 2022 and January 31, 2024. These individuals are part of the broader 79,841 drug suspects apprehended across 58,496 operations during the same period.

Seized illegal drugs during the crackdown totaled PHP31.98 billion in estimated value. The haul included 4,317.46 kilograms of shabu, 50.47 kilograms of cocaine, 54,013 ecstasy tablets, and 3,197.19 kilograms of marijuana.

On the barangay level, 28,247 out of the country's 42,000 villages have been declared drug-cleared, while 7,264 remain under active clearing operations. A barangay receives drug-cleared status upon certification issued by members of the oversight committee overseeing the barangay drug-clearing program.

Authorities also dismantled 856 drug dens and one clandestine shabu laboratory within the covered period.