Abbey M.

_{21 Filipinos who had been detained in Russia for nine months have returned to the Philippines.}

_{Their release came as a result of talks between President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit last week.}

_{One of the returning Filipinos described the moment they learned they were going home.}

_{"Noong nalaman namin na dumating si President Bongbong Marcos sa Kazan, sabi ko dun sa room namin, 'Lord, ihulog mo miracle ngayong nandito President namin sa Russia.' Kinaumagahan, nandiyan na yung balita na nagsabi, 'Pack all your things, you go home,' sabi ng security sa detention. So grabe ang saya namin, for joy, nag-iiyakan. Natugunan na po yung matagal pong panalangin na makauwi na kami."} 

_{("When we learned that President Bongbong Marcos had arrived in Kazan, I said to my roommates, 'Lord, drop a miracle now that our President is here in Russia.' The next morning, the news came with security at the detention facility telling us, 'Pack all your things, you go home.' We were overjoyed, crying tears of happiness. Our long-held prayer of finally coming home has been answered.")}

_{The Filipinos detained in Irkutsk, Russia had not expected to be released so soon after nine months in detention. Their return followed the meeting between President Marcos and President Putin in Kazan, Russia on June 19, where the President personally raised the case of the detained Filipinos with his Russian counterpart.}

_{Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro explained how the release came about.}

<sub>"Kaya sila napalabas, bigla-bigla. Ito yung request ni Pangulong Marcos. Nandun siya sa Kazan, sa Russian Federation. Lahat sila babae, I think dalawa lang lalake."

("The reason they were suddenly released is that this was President Marcos' request. He was there in Kazan, in the Russian Federation. All of them are women, I think only two are men.")</sub>

_{Secretary Lazaro also remarked on the significance of the repatriation.}

_{"I think this is testimonial of the kind of relations that we have started, probably developing, evolving."}

_{The 21 Filipinos arrived in the country in two batches. The first group of six was welcomed by DFA Secretary Lazaro, while the remaining 18 were received by Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.}

_{Secretary Cacdac said President Marcos had directed the government to extend full assistance to the returning Filipinos, from their journey back to their home provinces to help with their livelihood.}

_{"Ipinagutos rin ng Pangulo na bigyan ng pantawid tulong pinansyal. So merong binigay sa kanila. Direktiba: tulungan sila pangkalahatan. So merong empleyo, livelihood assistance na pwedeng ibigay sa kanila for the next few days, at yung TESDA training, kailangan magsanay sila."} 

_{("The President also directed that financial bridging assistance be given to them. There was something provided for them. The directive is to help them in every way. There is employment and livelihood assistance that can be given to them in the next few days, and TESDA training — they need to undergo skills training.")}

_{The Filipinos had allegedly entered Russia through an illegal recruiter. After reviewing the case, Russian authorities confirmed that no charges had been filed against them and immediately arranged for their deportation.}

_‍

The Department of Energy is anticipating a significant rollback in petroleum product prices this week, following developments between the United States and Iran.

According to the Department of Energy, diesel prices are expected to be reduced by approximately ₱8 to ₱10 per liter.

Gasoline prices, meanwhile, are expected to drop by ₱4 to ₱5 per liter, while kerosene is expected to see a rollback of ₱9 to ₱11 per liter.

The Department of Energy is expected to announce the final oil price adjustment later, which will take effect tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. kicked off his provincial engagements with the inauguration of a key irrigation project in Bohol before heading to Cebu to visit several ongoing government programs.

The President first attended the inauguration of the Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Mabini, Bohol, where he underscored the importance of such infrastructure for farmers facing the threat of El Niño.

According to the President, around 700 farmers from the Mabini-Cayacay Irrigators Association are expected to benefit from the project.

In his remarks, Marcos said that through the project, irrigation would be supported across 530 hectares of farmland spanning five barangays in Mabini and Alicia in Bohol.

"Sa pamamagitan ng proyektong ito, masusuportahan ang irigasyon sa 530 ektaryang sakahan sa limang barangay sa Mabini at Alicia dito sa Bohol. Dahil sa sapat na suplay ng tubig, inaasahan nating tataas ang ani, lalo na ng palay at mga high-value vegetable crop. Dagdag pa diyan, mula sa dalawang beses sa isang taon na pagtatanim."

("Through this project, irrigation will be supported across 530 hectares of farmland in five barangays in Mabini and Alicia here in Bohol. With an adequate water supply, we expect harvests to increase, especially for rice and high-value vegetable crops. On top of that, from twice a year in planting.")

Following the Bohol stop, the President was scheduled to visit a number of sites in Cebu, including the ongoing Metro Cebu Expressway Segment 3A Project in the City of Naga, the rehabilitation of the Mananga River in Talisay City, and the government's Walang Gutom Kitchen program.

Filipino tennis sensation Alexandra Eala delivered one of the biggest upsets of her career on Thursday, June 18, defeating world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the 2026 Berlin Open.

Playing on the Steffi Graf Stadion, the Filipina wildcard overturned an early deficit to upset the Kazakh in straight sets at the WTA 500 grass-court tournament. 

The victory carried a layer of redemption for the 21-year-old. Rybakina had ended Eala's run at the Italian Open earlier this season with a 6-4, 6-3 win on the clay courts of Rome. This time, on grass, the tables turned.

Eala overturns 4-1 deficit to claim opening set

In the first set, Eala rallied from a 4-1 deficit to tie it at 4-4 before Rybakina briefly regained the lead at 5-4. Eala responded by winning three straight games, including a key break in the 11th game, to close out the opening set. 

After dropping the opening game of the second set, Eala surged to a 3-1 lead and continued to frustrate Rybakina's comeback bid even after the Kazakh star pulled within 5-4. With Rybakina threatening to level the set, the world No. 35 served out the match. 

A backhand error by Rybakina, also the reigning WTA Finals and Australian Open titlist, sealed the win, and Eala let out a huge roar in celebration. 

Eala credits bravery as key to upset win

"I'm really happy with today, of course," Eala said after the match. "It could have gone either way. I think there were really tight moments in both sets and she's an amazing player — she's the one to beat. So I'm happy to have been able to share the court with her again." 

On her returning game, which proved decisive throughout the match, Eala said: "I think for me, returning, and my game in general, a highlight word would be to be brave, and it makes a big difference when I'm able to do that." 

Filipina now 5-4 against top-10 players in 2026

The win raised Eala's record in matches against top-10 players to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in 2026, having also beaten then-No. 4 Coco Gauff at the Indian Wells Open and then-No. 8 Jasmine Paolini at the Dubai Tennis Open earlier this year. 

It was also her second win over a tournament's second seed, following her memorable upset of Iga Świątek in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Miami Open. 

Eala's grass-court form heading into Berlin had already been remarkable. After winning the biggest title of her career at the WTA 125 event in Birmingham, Eala is now 8-1 on grass in 2026, with wins over Rybakina, Queen's Club champion Donna Vekic, and fellow Berlin quarterfinalist Nikola Bartunkova. 

Eala to face Svitolina in quarterfinals; Wimbledon looms

Eala will next face No. 6 seed Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals, their first-ever meeting. Beyond Berlin, Eala continues to build momentum ahead of Wimbledon, where she is set to make just her second main draw appearance when the Championships begin on June 29.

‍

The House prosecution panel is yet to determine its course of action regarding the conviction threshold, the required number of votes to secure a conviction, in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

House Lead Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said the panel is currently focused on the pre-trial conference.

Luistro expressed preference for the conviction threshold issue to be resolved before the impeachment trial concludes, but noted that the prosecution team remains concentrated on the pre-trial conference and the forthcoming pre-trial order from the impeachment court, which will serve as a roadmap that cannot be violated during proceedings.

The lawmaker said the prosecution team will still discuss its next steps on the matter.

"Siguro after this pre-trial conference, we will focus discussing this one, no? At come up also with the position of the prosecution kung mayroon ba kaming dapat gawin, kung ito ba ay qualified na to become a subject matter of a petition in court, no? Of course, we recognize also the legal position of the other parties with respect to the threshold," Luistro said.

(Perhaps after this pre-trial conference, we will focus on discussing this, and also come up with the position of the prosecution on whether there is something we should do, whether this is qualified to become a subject matter of a petition in court. Of course, we recognize also the legal position of the other parties with respect to the threshold.)

Under the Constitution, no impeachable official may be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of the Senate.

There are currently 24 senators, though Senator Jinggoy Estrada remains detained on plunder and graft charges, while Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa is in hiding amid an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court.

The conviction threshold has become a contentious issue amid the legal situations facing several senators.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has maintained that 16 senator-judge votes are needed to convict VP Duterte. Luistro, however, holds a different view.

"The threshold must depend on the number of senators within the coercive means or power of the Senate. That is my personal opinion also. But I do recognize the position, contrary opinion of the others," Luistro said.

Meanwhile, House Impeachment Trial Spokesperson and Lanao Del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said the House prosecutors are in high spirits amid the pre-trial conference, attributing their confidence to the evidence against the Vice President.

"Our prosecution panel is in high spirits dahil unang-una yung ebidensya at saka yung mga articles at saka yung mga ipe-presenta na mga testimonya at saka mga witnesses ay solid, rock solid na madaling maintindihan ng korte, madaling maintindihan ng ating taumbayan," Adiong said.

(Our prosecution panel is in high spirits because first and foremost, the evidence, the articles, the testimonies to be presented, and the witnesses are solid, rock solid, and easy for the court to understand, easy for our people to understand.)

Luistro also expressed confidence that senator-judges will base their decision on the strength of the evidence.

"My position on that is kung malakas ang ebidensya, regardless of the fact that this is a political process, I think the Senator-Judges will be inclined to look into the evidence and not based purely on political affiliation. Nonetheless, we would like to express our utmost confidence sa lahat ng ating mga senator-judges," Luistro said.

(My position on that is if the evidence is strong, regardless of the fact that this is a political process, I think the Senator-Judges will be inclined to look into the evidence and not based purely on political affiliation. Nonetheless, we would like to express our utmost confidence in all our senator-judges.)

The pre-trial conference is set to continue on Monday, June 22, when both sides are expected to submit their comments on the stipulation process.

‍