Abbey M.

Malacañang has expressed concern that the ongoing power struggle in the Senate, particularly the majority bloc's absence from plenary sessions, could jeopardize the passage of the Marcos administration's priority bills.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace is willing to work with whoever leads the Senate, as long as the administration's legislative priorities are passed. However, she warned that the current situation in the chamber could make that difficult.

"Sa ngayon alam naman natin kung ano iyong mga priority bills, hindi lang dalawa hindi lang isa, hindi lang tatlo, marami po. Pero kung ganito po ang nangyayari sa senado, mahihirapan po talaga, hindi lamang ang Pangulo, kung hindi ang taumbayan." 

[We already know what the priority bills are — not just one, not just two, not just three, there are many. But if this is what is happening in the Senate, it will truly be difficult, not just for the President, but for the Filipino people.]

Castro said the majority bloc should not have abandoned their duties, noting that while accompanying Senator Jinggoy Estrada as a friend was understandable, it did not warrant setting aside their mandate.

"Hindi naman po kinakailangan na hindi magtrabaho kahapon, dahil maski na po ang paghatid at pagsama kay Senator Jinggoy Estrada, bilang kaibigan ay nararapat lamang, pero hindi po kinakailangan talikuran ang sariling mandato para lang sa ganitong klaseng isyu." 

[It was not necessary to skip work yesterday. While accompanying Senator Jinggoy Estrada as a friend was appropriate, it was not necessary to abandon one's own mandate for this kind of issue.]

The majority bloc failed to attend the plenary session on Tuesday following Estrada's arrest. The minority bloc characterized the absence as a boycott.

The Palace also firmly denied that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had interfered in the Senate's affairs, insisting there was nothing wrong with the service of the arrest warrant against Estrada.

"Saan ba nakialam ang Pangulo? Tama lamang po na i-serve ang valid warrant of arrest. Ang ibig po ba niyang sabihin, kapag nagsisilbi po ng valid warrant of arrest sa senado sa mga ganitong klaseng crimes, ay dapat hindi isilbi? So, iyon ang tanong. So papaano magkakaroon ng pagtutulungan, kooperasyon ang bawat sangay ng gobyerno kung mayroong magmamataas, mayroong hindi tutupad sa batas at mayroong maghahari-harian." 

[Where did the President interfere? It was only proper to serve a valid warrant of arrest. Does that mean that when a valid warrant of arrest is served in the Senate for these kinds of crimes, it should not be served? So that is the question. How can there be cooperation among the branches of government if someone acts superior, someone refuses to follow the law, and someone acts with impunity?]

Malacañang also backed the statement of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who said Estrada's surrender was not voluntary.

"So matatawag po itong pag-aresto dahil hindi po boluntaryong pumunta si Senator Jinggoy Estrada mismo sa mga law enforcers, hindi pumunta sa CIDG, sa PNP o sa korte sa Sandiganbayan. So, tama po ang pananaw ni Secretary Jonvic na hindi po ito voluntary surrender, kung hindi pag-aresto." 

[This can be called an arrest because Senator Jinggoy Estrada did not voluntarily go to law enforcers, did not go to the CIDG, the PNP, or the Sandiganbayan court. So Secretary Jonvic's view is correct — this was not a voluntary surrender, but an arrest.]

The Senate majority and minority blocs are now composed of 11 members each following the voluntary surrender of Senator Jinggoy Estrada to authorities and the continued absence of Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who remains at large in connection with a warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Senate majority bloc retains Senate President Allan Peter Cayetano, Senator Loren Legarda, Senator Pia Cayetano, Senator Rodante Marcoleta, Senator Imee Marcos, Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Chiz Escudero, Senators Mark and Camille Villar, Senator Robin Padilla, and Senator Bong Go.

The minority bloc is composed of Senator Tito Sotto III, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Risa Hontiveros, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, Senator Bam Aquino, Senators Erwin and Raffy Tulfo, Senator Lito Lapid, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senator JV Ejercito.

With both blocs at equal numbers, concerns have been raised over a possible legislative gridlock that could prevent the Senate from conducting official business.

Some members of the Senate majority have previously pushed for a measure that would allow senators to vote through teleconferencing as a potential remedy to the impasse.

Malacañang has commended Senator Jinggoy Estrada for voluntarily surrendering to authorities following the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him.

The Sandiganbayan 5th Division issued the warrant on Tuesday in connection with plunder and graft cases filed against Estrada and four co-accused. Despite a brief commotion, the senator held a short press conference before turning himself in to authorities.

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro praised the senator's decision, saying it spared law enforcement officers unnecessary difficulty.

"Maganda ang ginawa ni Senator Jinggoy na siya ay boluntaryong sumuko, hindi na nahirapan ang law enforcement officers, hindi tulad ng nangyayari kay Senator Bato." 

[It was commendable that Senator Jinggoy voluntarily surrendered — law enforcement officers were not put through difficulty, unlike what happened with Senator Bato.]

Castro added that voluntarily surrendering is simply what a person should do when they know a valid warrant of arrest exists against them.

The Palace official also moved to dispel claims that the arrest was linked to Estrada's alleged refusal to join the Senate minority bloc, stressing that Malacañang has no involvement in the senator's legal situation.

"Is it the other way around? Dahil ngayon ang bumubuo sa majority, sila yung may isyu — may mga kaso na nakaabang. Di umano, sabi nga natin, wala pang binubuo na majority sa pamumuno ni Senator Cayetano ay mayroon na silang mga issues na kinakaharap. Hindi ba baligtad? Baka sila namumolitika at hindi ang ehekutibo." 

[Is it actually the other way around? Because those now forming the majority are the ones with issues — with cases pending against them. We said it before: even before a majority under Senator Cayetano's leadership was formed, they were already facing these issues. Isn't it reversed? Perhaps they are the ones playing politics, not the executive.]

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had earlier denied allegations that his administration was targeting the Senate majority bloc through the filing of cases against its members in connection with flood control anomalies. 

The President noted that the investigation into the flood control issue had been initiated before the change in Senate leadership on May 11.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has confirmed that Senator Jinggoy Estrada and three co-accused are detained alongside the general prison population at the New Quezon City Jail.

In an official statement, the DILG said all individuals under the custody of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) are processed and treated in accordance with existing policies and detention protocols, regardless of their status or position in life.

Meanwhile, former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan was brought to a hospital due to hypertension following his voluntary surrender to authorities yesterday.

Tokyo, Japan - Tokyo's Shibuya Ward has begun enforcing on-the-spot fines of 2,000 yen against individuals caught littering in public areas.

The measure is part of a broader campaign by local authorities to address a worsening litter problem amid a surge in tourist arrivals in Japan.

Up to 50 officials will be deployed to patrol the area and impose fines on violators of anti-littering rules around the famous Shibuya Crossing.

The new regulations also include penalties for businesses that fail to provide sufficient waste bins for their customers.