Abbey M.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Russian President Vladimir Putin have both expressed their desire to further strengthen the relations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Russia.

In their joint statement, the two leaders laid out the results of their bilateral dialogue. This came after both parties signed the Kazan Declaration 2026.

According to President Marcos, there is great potential for the ASEAN-Russia relationship to grow across various fields.

"We also discussed developments in the wider Eurasian region and welcomed opportunities for greater engagement between the ASEAN and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union. We noted the growing interaction between ASEAN and these organizations and recognized the potential for enhanced cooperation in areas of mutual interest including economic connectivity, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, tourism, and addressing transnational challenges," Marcos said.

President Putin, meanwhile, said Russia will continue to support ASEAN in its efforts to maintain peace in the region.

"I'd like to highlight as well that Russia would comprehensively continue to facilitate ASEAN states in their effort to maintain peace and stability in Southeast Asia and in a wider sense, in shaping around the Eurasian region of a robust, open and wholistic security system as well as a multifaceted cooperation to bring together different integrational processes on the continent and happening within such associations as ASEAN, Eurasian Economic Union and Shanghai Cooperation Organization," Putin said.

A coalition of doctors and lawyers believes that Executive Secretary Ralph Recto played a role in the controversial transfer of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) funds, which they say occurred when he was still serving as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The Coalition of Doctors and Lawyers returned to the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday to file a Motion for Reconsideration, asking the body to re-examine the controversial 60-billion-peso PhilHealth fund transfer to the National Treasury.

The petitioner-complainants are appealing the Ombudsman's earlier decision, which absolved Executive Secretary and former Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, as well as former PhilHealth President and CEO Emmanuel Ledesma Jr., of charges including plunder, graft, technical malversation, and grave misconduct.

The earlier Ombudsman resolution stated that there was insufficient evidence to establish the cases against Recto and Ledesma. However, the complainants are reiterating that Recto bears responsibility for the transfer of PhilHealth funds to the National Treasury, and that the Ombudsman erred in dismissing the charges against him.

In their Motion for Reconsideration, the complainants detailed Recto's alleged participation in the PhilHealth fund transfer, stating that he was involved in crafting the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) while serving as Deputy Speaker in the House of Representatives. They also claim he was a member of the Bicameral Conference Committee, where they believe a special provision was inserted that became the legal basis for the transfer of 89 billion pesos in PhilHealth funds.

Complainant Atty. Rodel Taton explained that Recto's alleged involvement spans his entire career progression from legislator to executive official.

"We start when he was a member of the house of representatives and from there he became a member of the panel in the bicameral conference in the GAA of 2024 and from there he was appointed as the finance department secretary and of course we also note that he became the executive secretary."

The complainants also noted a significant increase in unprogrammed appropriations for Lipa City in Batangas, which is Recto's congressional district. According to the group, the allocation rose from 50 million pesos in 2023 to 3.6 billion pesos in 2024, leading them to conclude that the fund transfer was deliberate.

Atty. Taton added that the facts surrounding the fund transfer point to benefits flowing toward Recto's district.

"Masusunduan natin na ang facts ay magli-lead doon sa benepisyo doon sa bayan niya at sa kanyang distrito and we are saying that this does not only prejudice the other members of the PhilHealth nation wide but the entire government of the republic of the Philippines."

("We will find that the facts will lead to the benefit of his town and his district, and we are saying that this does not only prejudice the other members of PhilHealth nationwide but the entire government of the Republic of the Philippines.")

The petitioners maintained that PhilHealth funds should not be casually moved, as they represent a statutory and constitutional commitment to universal healthcare.

Atty. Taton also stressed that the fund transfer itself was legally prohibited under existing health legislation.

"We have to note also that the PhilHealth law and the universal health care law prohibit the transfer of funds from the PhilHealth to any other appropriations."

Executive Secretary Recto has yet to issue a new statement on the matter, though he has previously said there was no malicious intent behind the PhilHealth fund transfer. A response from Malacañang is still being awaited.

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Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has dismissed as politically motivated the criticism raised by Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson over the reported P700 million spent by the Senate during Cayetano's 28-day tenure as Senate President.

Lacson had taken to social media to question the spending under Cayetano's leadership, expressing regret over the P700 million allegedly used during those 28 days. Cayetano, however, pushed back against the framing of the figures.

"Sabi ni Sen. Lacson. Sayang ang pera. Nung si Alan Cayetano ang Senate President, 700 million ang nagastos."

[Sen. Lacson said it was a waste of money — that 700 million was spent when Alan Cayetano was Senate President.]

Cayetano argued that the math used by Lacson simply reflected the Senate's regular daily operating cost and was not specific to his leadership. He pointed out that dividing the P700 million by 28 days yields P25 million per day, which he said aligned with what Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian had independently cited as the institution's standard daily budget.

"Multiply mo ang 25 million na sinabi ni Senator Win na gastos ng Senate a day, i-multiply mo yun sa 28 days... 700 divided by 28 days is 25 million."

[Multiply the 25 million that Senator Win cited as the Senate's daily expense by 28 days... 700 divided by 28 days is 25 million.]

Gatchalian, for his part, confirmed that the Senate's daily operating budget comes to approximately P24.24 million, noting that the institution employs around 2,000 people and maintains a large physical facility.

"Kinompute namin ang budget ng Senado per day is about 24 point 24 million no? Almost 25 million no just to operate the Senate."

[We computed the Senate's budget per day and it's about 24.24 million — almost 25 million just to operate the Senate.]

Cayetano went further, accusing certain colleagues of orchestrating a coordinated effort to discredit him, naming Senators Rafi Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, and Lacson as part of what he described as a tag-team smear campaign.

"Nireveal niya, parang pang-intriga, di ba? Kasi magaling naman talaga silang mang-intriga. Nagt-take turns lang naman po."

[What he revealed was like political intrigue, right? Because they are truly skilled at it. They just take turns.]

He alleged the intent behind these moves was to divert attention from what he called the "whole truth about corruption in our country."

As of posting, none of the senators named by Cayetano had issued a response to his statements.

Meanwhile, Senate President Gatchalian signaled that the chamber was ready to move past the leadership drama, saying the "Senateflix" era was over and that it was time to get back to work.

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The legal team of Vice President Sara Duterte has pushed back against claims that its lawyers were unprepared for the first day of the pre-trial conference related to her impeachment trial in the Senate.

Defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael T. Poa said they were aware of statements circulating on social media suggesting otherwise, but firmly denied the allegations, saying the team had been preparing for the impeachment proceedings long before the pre-trial conference began.

"The defense takes exception to that, because definitely, dumating kami rito nang handa. Naghanda kami ng napakatagal na panahon. Dumating kaming handa. The records will speak for itself."

[The defense takes exception to that, because definitely, we came here prepared. We prepared for a very long time. We came prepared. The records will speak for itself.]

Poa said the defense respects differing opinions but maintained there was no basis for such allegations.

He also explained that the pre-trial conference was not completed on its first day due to the sheer volume of documents that both the defense and prosecution needed to review and mark as evidence.

"Talagang di ganon kabilis ang marking. There are instances na kailangang mag-compare ng documents, lalo na at photocopy kailangan i-compare sa original. So natural po yan, normal po yan na hindi ganon kabilis ang marking."

[The marking really isn't that fast. There are instances where documents need to be compared, especially since photocopies need to be checked against originals. So that's natural, that's normal — the marking isn't that quick.]

According to the defense, out of the four articles of impeachment, only one has been completed in terms of marking of evidence. One more article is expected to be finished by Monday, while the remaining two — which involve the most documents — could extend the process until Tuesday.

Poa clarified, however, that these dates are estimates and that there is no certainty yet as to when the pre-trial conference will be fully concluded. What remains clear, he said, is that the trial proper is set to proceed on July 6.

"Syempre ang gusto namin sa side ng defense — I think sa prosecution din — basta matapos kami ng mas maaga mas maganda para sa amin para makapagprepare o focus sa preparation ng trial."

[Of course, what we want on the defense side — I think on the prosecution side as well — is to finish earlier, as that would be better for us so we can prepare and focus on the trial.]

The defense also confirmed that it remains in communication with Vice President Duterte and will promptly brief her on the developments from the first day of the pre-trial conference. 

There is still no confirmation on whether the Vice President will personally attend the impeachment trial, though her lawyer indicated she is prepared to do so if needed.

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MANILA — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday gave up his claim to the Senate presidency, conceding defeat ahead of the upper chamber's convening for a special session. 

Cayetano acknowledged that the opposing camp had secured enough votes to elect a new Senate president. 

"The arithmetic has changed. The Constitution has not. And now, after speaking with Sen. Joel Villanueva, it appears our colleagues on the other side will soon have the numbers to elect a new Senate President," he said in a Facebook post. 

While conceding the position, Cayetano struck a somber tone about the state of Philippine governance. 

He said it was not the loss of a position that saddened him, but watching the country "slip toward darkness — to see our people suffer, and to hear some begin to say there is no hope." 

"I am sad that so many in our government are willing to look away from corruption when looking away is convenient — to trade the people's right to the truth for a season of political advantage. That is the real loss. Not a gavel, but a conscience," Cayetano said. 

In his statement, Cayetano also addressed his fellow senators directly. "May the public's judgment of you be a kind one. We are not enemies — only colleagues, brothers caught in a moment larger than us all," he said. 

"And so I will end with a message to the public — it has been the honor of my life to serve as your Senate President. Offices are temporary, titles are temporary, even majorities are temporary — but your right to the truth is not. I promise you, we will get to the bottom of this," he added. 

The development marks the end of a weeks-long Senate leadership dispute. On June 3, Cayetano was removed as Senate president in a leadership shakeup that resulted in a new Senate leadership recognized by Malacañang and the House of Representatives. The reorganization was triggered when Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero — who had been part of Cayetano's bloc — broke a stalemate caused by the Cayetano bloc's absences, leading the other faction to declare all Senate positions vacant and install Senator Sherwin Gatchalian as acting Senate president pro tempore. 

Until the morning of the special session, Cayetano had continued to insist that he remained the Senate's "legitimate" and "moral" president, arguing that the takeover lacked a quorum. The Gatchalian bloc rejected the claim, citing a Supreme Court ruling on how quorum is determined in legislative bodies. 

Cayetano had been elected Senate president on May 11, 2026, succeeding Senator Tito Sotto in the post.

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