Abbey M.

Personnel from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) have served a subpoena against Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa at his residence in Davao.

The move by the Philippine National Police (PNP) followed the order issued yesterday by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla to reopen the investigation into the extrajudicial killings that took place in Davao.

CIDG personnel were unable to locate Sen. Dela Rosa when they served the subpoena at his Davao home, as well as at his office at the Senate in Pasay City.

According to PNP Public Information Office Chief PBGen. Randulf Tuaño, only the caretaker of Bato's residence received the subpoena.

The subpoena, signed by CIDG Director PMGen. Robert Morico II, orders Sen. Dela Rosa to appear before the Major Crimes Investigation Unit (MCIU) of the CIDG at Camp Crame on Thursday, May 14, at 10 AM.

He is being required to submit a sworn affidavit and supporting documents, and to provide information related to the alleged extrajudicial killings that occurred while he was serving as City Director and Regional Director in Davao.

Should he fail to comply, Dela Rosa may face indirect contempt.

In May 10, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla directed the PNP to reopen the investigation into the war on drugs. He said around 100 cases of extrajudicial killings were recorded during Sen. Bato's assignment in the Davao Region.

The Secretary also clarified that the document be served is not an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court and that there are no plans to arrest Dela Rosa.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Paraguay President Santiago Peña Palacios are set to hold a meeting today, May 11, at Malacañang, with the goal of further strengthening relations between the Philippines and Paraguay at the center of the talks.

Particular focus will be given to cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Earlier, the Paraguayan President was given arrival honors at the Palace grounds. President Marcos personally welcomed President Palacios at Malacañang.

After the signing of the guest book, the two leaders immediately held a bilateral meeting.

Joining the meeting were Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque, Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, and Philippine Ambassador to Buenos Aires Grace Cruz-Fabella. Also present were their counterparts from Paraguay.

The public will have to wait for the results of the meeting later.

President Palacios is the first Paraguayan Chief Executive to visit the Philippines since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries on December 12, 1962.

The Commission on Audit (COA) has released its report on the salaries and allowances received by Cabinet officials in 2025, with Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. topping the list at ₱6.66 million.

The Report on Salaries and Allowances (ROSA) is now open to public scrutiny. The annual report is prepared by the COA to disclose and review the salaries, allowances, bonuses, and other benefits received by government officials and employees.

Coming in second is former Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary and now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, who received ₱5.976 million. Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma ranked third with ₱5.966 million, followed by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian at ₱5.494 million. Rounding out the top five is Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Jose Francisco Benitez with ₱5.378 million.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. placed sixth with ₱5.202 million, while Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa took home ₱5.163 million for the entire year of 2025. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Conrado Estrella III ranked eighth with ₱5.147 million, followed by Presidential Adviser for Maritime Concerns Andres Centino with ₱5 million. Closing out the top ten is National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, who received ₱4.97 million.

Aside from Cabinet secretaries, the COA audit also covers the salaries received by officials and board members of government-owned or controlled corporations (GOCCs), water districts, state universities and colleges, and other government agencies. The COA reports these figures to monitor the benefits received by high-ranking government officials holding key positions across various agencies.

With reports from Evan Alvarez

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A total of PHP60 billion in excess funds has been officially returned to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) from the Bureau of the Treasury, following a directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

For some PhilHealth members, the return of the funds is seen as an opportunity for the state insurer to deliver more accessible and convenient health services.

Among those hoping to feel its impact is Genesis Hernaez, a PhilHealth member currently processing her papers with the agency to help cover her medical bills. She is set to undergo a second operation next week after new lumps were discovered in her uterus.

"Dun sa inoperahan sa akin, meron ulit silang tatanggalin na may tumubo ulit. Habang ongoing yung pag-process ng laboratories, nilalakad ko po sa city hall, kumapit po ulit ako sa PhilHealth para maka-discount po ulit," Hernaez said.

(In the area where I was operated on, there's something that grew again that has to be removed. While the laboratory processing is ongoing, I've been going around the city hall, and I once again turned to PhilHealth to get a discount.)

She shared that during her first operation, PhilHealth covered 50% of her hospital expenses.

Hernaez, however, pointed out the difficulty of going through the process, especially for patients in delicate conditions.

"Medyo mahirap po yung pupunta ka ng city hall. Pipila ka dun, iinterviewhin. After ng interview, ang haba po e. Sana mas gawin po nilang mas madali, lalo na yung mga pasyente nila — di nila alam ang lagay, dinudugo, hindi sana pahirapang paglakbay na pagkakalayo," Hernaez said.

(It's quite difficult to go to the city hall. You line up there, get interviewed, and after the interview, the process is still very long. I hope they make it easier, especially for their patients — they don't know our condition, we're bleeding, and they shouldn't make the journey difficult given how far we have to travel.)

PhilHealth expressed gratitude to President Marcos for his directive to use the funds in improving health services and reaching more Filipinos.

The state insurer also acknowledged the Department of Finance for its role in the immediate remittance of the amount, as it reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard the trust given by the President and the public.

"Sisiguruhin ng Korporasyon na ang bawat pisong ito ay ilalaan sa pagpapahusay ng mga benepisyo, pagpapalakas ng mga sistema upang mapabilis ang mga proseso, at paghatid sa bawat Pilipino ng serbisyong mabilis, patas, at tunay na mapagkakatiwalaan," PhilHealth said.

(The Corporation will ensure that every peso will be allocated to enhancing benefits, strengthening systems to speed up processes, and delivering fast, fair, and truly reliable service to every Filipino.)

The returned funds are expected to bolster the state insurer's efforts in expanding benefit packages and streamlining administrative operations to better serve its members nationwide.

Marcos earlier said his decision to return the funds to PhilHealth, which he announced in September last year, was in line with his administration's priority of strengthening the country's healthcare system.

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has broadened the scope of the May 6 to 8 holiday declaration to include two more cities in Cebu, as part of preparations to ensure the smooth and orderly conduct of the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings in the province.

Under Proclamation 1239, signed by Executive Secretary Ralph Recto by authority of the President, Cebu City and Mandaue City have been added to the list of areas where May 6 to 8 are declared special non-working days in connection with the government's hosting preparations.

The new issuance amends Proclamation 1238, signed on May 4, which had earlier covered only Lapu-Lapu City and the municipality of Cordova.

According to the latest proclamation, Cebu and Mandaue were included after both were identified as primary operational hubs and transport corridors for arriving ASEAN delegates.

"In order to alleviate traffic and to allow the host country to secure the safety of participants in the said event, it is necessary to declare 06-08 May 2026 as special non-working days also in the City of Cebu and in the City of Mandaue," read Proclamation 1239, which was signed on May 5.

The expanded coverage is meant to ease traffic, reinforce security measures, and allow the seamless coordination of summit-related activities across the host areas.

The Philippines is hosting the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings under a recalibrated approach, with non-essential activities scaled down to manage costs in light of global supply pressures tied to tensions in the Middle East.

Malacañang earlier disclosed that around 650 ministerial and senior official meetings under the 48th and 49th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits will be conducted online instead of in person, as part of efforts to streamline preparations while keeping the substance of discussions intact.

Despite the adjustments, the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Cebu on May 8 to 9 will push through as scheduled, with the agenda expected to center on regional energy security, food security, and migrant workers' concerns.

The Philippines last hosted the ASEAN Summit in 2017.