Abbey M.

The cooperation of all senators is needed to restore the good image of the Senate, according to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.

His statement comes amid renewed talk of a possible change in Senate leadership.

Gatchalian admitted that restoring the reputation and integrity of the Senate as an institution is a major challenge. The senator made the statement when asked about the possible trials facing whoever may be installed as the next Senate President, should there be another change in the chamber's leadership.

According to Gatchalian, the actions of a few are not enough — the cooperation and support of every senator, whether from the minority or majority, are crucial in repairing the Senate's image.

One way to begin, he said, is to conduct a thorough investigation into the commotion and shooting that took place inside the Senate compound. He said anyone found guilty must be held accountable, and accountability must be ensured for all those involved in the incident.

Gatchalian also raised the issue of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

According to him, this poses a heavy challenge for the next Senate President, as that official will serve as the presiding officer based on the Constitution. For the lawmaker, however, the Senate's most important duty at this point is to remain impartial amid the political tension.

He added that the articles of impeachment must be carefully studied and that all evidence from the House prosecution panel and defense team must be presented to the public to ensure a fair analysis of the situation.

Amid talk of another change in leadership, the Senate Minority Bloc has expressed strong support for the installation of Gatchalian as the new Senate President.

According to Senate Minority Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, he wants to clarify misconceptions that he has remained silent on the issue. Sotto clarified that he himself was the first to suggest the idea of making Gatchalian the leader of the Senate.

Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson also expressed support for the proposal, describing the lawmaker as "eminently qualified" to be Senate President.

Lacson emphasized that it is not only Gatchalian's competence that stands out, but also his exceptional diligence and consistent readiness during committee hearings and other important duties within the institution.

The Embassy of Malaysia in Manila is monitoring the situation following the collapse of a building in Angeles City, Pampanga, as rescue operations continue at the site.

According to the embassy, it is still determining the status of two Malaysian nationals believed to have been affected by the incident.

The embassy confirmed that one of the two Malaysian nationals is safe, while it continues to coordinate with local authorities to verify the condition of the other.

It was earlier reported that the remains of a Malaysian national had been recovered from beneath the collapsed building amid the ongoing rescue operation.

The government of Malaysia has also expressed its condolences to the victims of the building collapse.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the collapsed structure in Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, as responders work against the clock to recover victims trapped beneath the debris.

Rescuers are intensifying their use of thermal scanning and proper sectoring across the entire operation to organize the deployment of responders and quickly identify critical areas. 

Other rescue management units remain on standby to provide immediate first aid, while ambulances have been deployed to rush recovered victims to nearby hospitals.

Based on initial investigation, most of the victims trapped under the rubble were construction workers who had been sleeping in barracks located beneath the building under construction. Their wives and children were also with them at the time of the collapse.

The tragedy occurred at around 2 AM on Sunday, May 24. Last night, several bodies were recovered from the collapsed building, and rescuers attempted to revive them. A Malaysian national was also among those recovered yesterday.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Search and Rescue Team (MMDA SAR) joined the search for victims trapped under the nine-story hotel under construction in Pampanga. 

MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Nicolas Torre III was among those who went to the site, using a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) to call the attention of possible survivors beneath the rubble.

The rescue team also used advanced equipment such as a vibraphone and life locator to determine the exact location of victims under the debris. K-9 units were also dispatched to speed up rescue operations and help ensure the safety of those trapped.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will assign a technical team to assist in the investigation of the collapse. 

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon was among those who immediately went to the site yesterday to personally assess the situation and order the deployment of agency equipment. The DPWH sent boom trucks and a Tadano crane to support search and rescue operations at the site.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office Region 3 (DSWD FO3) also attended to the families affected by the collapse on May 24. 

Some families are temporarily staying at a shelter while their other needs are being addressed, and have been given family food packs and other relief items. 

The DSWD has also begun distributing an initial cash assistance of P10,000 to help affected families cover expenses related to the incident.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) presented the results of its investigation into the May 13 Senate shooting incident, showing the media new CCTV footage and a detailed timeline of events. The agency concluded that no attack on the Senate took place.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the evidence points to a different scenario than initially reported.

"Unang-una po, for the record, all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate," Remulla said.

(First and foremost, for the record, all evidence points that there was no attack on the Senate.)

According to the PNP, 29 NBI agents arrived at the GSIS Main Building with GSIS security at 6:17 PM on May 13, responding to a request from GSIS General Manager Wick Veloso to secure the area.

At 6:51 PM, the NBI agents began inspecting portions of the GSIS office, including the canteen near the site of the shooting. They also surveyed the Level 2 medical hallway.

NBI personnel reached the canteen veranda at 6:52 PM, and by 7:02 PM, two NBI agents were posted at the door leading to the Senate premises, where the gunfire later occurred.

A drilling sound was heard at 7:39 PM PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the noise came from the reinforcement of a steel door at the GSIS ground floor.

"because at GSIS premises particularly at the ground floor may pinto po doon na steel door na pinortify [fortify] ng ating maintenance o security ng GSIS," Nartatez said.

(Because at the GSIS premises, particularly at the ground floor, there is a steel door that was fortified by our maintenance or security of the GSIS.)

Remulla added that Senate maintenance had been informed about the drilling work in advance.

"They had duly informed the maintenance of the Senate that there was going to be drill work going on in all the doors of the GSIS connecting to the Senate," Remulla said.

At 7:44 PM, Marines security and the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA), led by Acting Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca, assembled. One minute later, Aplasca's group moved into the outdoor canteen of the GSIS office, where the two NBI agents were stationed.

The confrontation between the OSAA-led group and the NBI agents took place between 7:46 PM and 7:49 PM, resulting in the gunfire.

"According to testimony of General Aplasca himself, he opened the door and he asked 'sino ka'. The agent identified himself as NBI. Shortly thereafter, he fired three shots toward—shot three shots into the–not exactly the direction, but three shots towards the vicinity of the NBI agent. And you can see the muzzle fire there, the blast, ipakita mo, General, rewind please about 10 seconds. One, two, three firearms, then the agent withdrew behind the air conditioning dock units. And because he was being fired upon, he discharged a cover fire. Take note that the cover fire was because he was under the impression that he was under attack," Remulla said.

(According to the testimony of General Aplasca himself, he opened the door and he asked "who are you." The agent identified himself as NBI. Shortly thereafter, he fired three shots toward—shot three shots into the—not exactly the direction, but three shots towards the vicinity of the NBI agent. And you can see the muzzle fire there, the blast, show it, General, rewind please about 10 seconds. One, two, three firearms, then the agent withdrew behind the air conditioning dock units. And because he was being fired upon, he discharged a cover fire. Take note that the cover fire was because he was under the impression that he was under attack.)

CCTV footage showed Aplasca and OSAA personnel leaving the area of the incident at 7:50 p.m.

The investigation also showed that Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa was seen leaving the Senate at 2:30 AM on May 14.

"It shows the white Fortuner and personalities going out from the Senate particularly makita natin doon ang Senator Bato and Senator Padilla and going to the vehicle na Fortuner," Nartatez said.

(It shows the white Fortuner and personalities going out from the Senate, and we can see there Senator Bato and Senator Padilla going to the Fortuner vehicle.)

Remulla also explained why the NBI, instead of the PNP, was tasked to secure the GSIS Main Office.

"PNP was already guarding the front of the building. We had approximately one thousand plus. In this case, he thought it more prudent that the NBI secure the area according to their capacity," Remulla said.

Nartatez said coordination on GSIS security had begun on the morning of May 12 between GSIS security officials and the OSAA.

"umaga pa lang ng May 12 may nag-coordinate na po na… nagku-coordinate na ang GSIS security officials and the OSAA security officials with regards to the security on GSIS. That will show that there was really a meeting," Nartatez said.

(As early as the morning of May 12, there was already coordination… GSIS security officials and OSAA security officials were coordinating with regards to the security on GSIS. That will show that there was really a meeting.)

The PNP turned over the results of its investigation to Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Frederick Vida the day before. Vida said the DOJ will not accept the findings outright and will conduct further evaluation.

"in similar route, it will go to the panel and it will all be evaluated. Nakita ninyo naman mga kababayan ko 'no, compelling iyong facts that have been unearthed but we still need to verify and validate 'no. The DOJ will not take this as-is 'no, we will check on the timelines, we will check on the source of the videos and everything. Kasi sa dulo nito, kailangan iyong katotohanan lang," Vida said.

(In similar route, it will go to the panel and it will all be evaluated. You have seen, my fellow Filipinos, the facts that have been unearthed are compelling but we still need to verify and validate. The DOJ will not take this as-is, we will check on the timelines, we will check on the source of the videos and everything. Because in the end, what is needed is the truth.)

MANILA — The Philippine Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, 2026, to try Vice President Sara Duterte over charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

23 senators attended the plenary session wearing maroon robes as they took their oath as senator-judges days after receiving the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives. Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was absent from the proceedings. 

Senator Camille Villar, the youngest member of the chamber, administered the oath to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano as presiding officer of the impeachment court. Cayetano subsequently swore in the 22 other senators present as judges.

Unlike the previous year's transmittal of the impeachment articles, the convening proceeded without lengthy debates, as senators exchanged their legislative attire for judicial robes after acting Majority Leader Joel Villanueva moved to refer the complaint to the impeachment court. 

The impeachment court ordered the Vice President to file her response to the Articles of Impeachment within 10 calendar days from receipt of the summons.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 through a 257-25 vote, with the Articles of Impeachment transmitted to the Senate on May 13. The charges stem from allegations of unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential funds, and a public statement perceived as a threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Vice President has denied the accusations.

This marks the second time in two years that the Senate has convened as an impeachment court against the Vice President. The first impeachment proceedings in 2025, then under Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero, did not reach trial before the 19th Congress adjourned.

If convicted by a two-thirds vote of the Senate, Duterte will be removed from office and barred from holding public office for life. She announced her candidacy for the 2028 presidential election in February 2026.