Dev Flores

Civil society group Tindig Pilipinas has filed an obstruction of justice complaint before the Ombudsman against Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator Robin Padilla, and suspended Chief of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms Mao Aplasca.

According to the complaint, the three high-profile personalities allegedly played a role in moving Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa out of the Senate premises following the shooting incident to prevent him from being served a warrant of arrest.

Tindig Pilipinas convenor Kiko Aquino Dee noted the alleged participation of the three: dela Rosa, placed under the Senate's protective custody upon SP Cayetano’s approval; Aplasca, who fired shots in the Senate building; and Padilla, who admitted to letting dela Rosa ride in his vehicle when he left the Senate premises.

Dee added that filing the complaint before the Ombudsman is a continuation of the public’s effort to voice their frustrations over recent events in the Senate.

“Tingin po namin ang akmang venue para sa pag-file nito ay sa Ombudsman, at tsaka ano po continuation lang po ito sa maraming boses mula sa taong bayan, mula sa civil society na nababahala, nalulungkot, nalilito, nagagalit dahil sa nagiging uh kalagayan ng ating Senado ngayon,” he said

[“We believed the appropriate venue to file this is the Ombudsman. Moreover, this is just a continuation of the many voices from the public and civil society, who are alarmed, saddened, confused, and angered by the current state of our Senate recently.”]

In light of this, the group called on the Ombudsman to conduct an impartial investigation to hold those responsible accountable. 

According to Dee, they also provided the International Criminal Court with a copy of the complaint that they had submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman.

This is a developing story.

With reports from Evan Alvarez

Lead Public Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro welcomes the support of the public for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“It only validates what we believe is the demand of the Filipino people now at nakikita naman natin yon in what is happening around, ang gusto talaga ng taong bayan ay magtuloy-tuloy itong impeachment trial,” Luistro said

[“It only validates what we believe is the demand of the Filipino people now and we see that in what is happening around, the public truly wants this impeachment trial proceed.”]

Based on the Tugon ng Masa survey conducted by OCTA Research from April 20 to 24, 2026, among 1200 respondents nationwide, 74% believe that VP Sara must face the impeachment trial in the Senate to answer the allegations against her. The recent data is higher than the 69% recorded in March. 

“Support for a Senate impeachment trial rose from 69% in March to 74% in April,” according to OCTA

Regarding VP Sara’s plans to run for President in 2028, Luistro emphasized that the impeachment trial will serve as a crucial guide for the Filipinos in deciding whether the VP deserves the public’s vote.

“That is why impeachment trial should happen because considering that she has pronounced already her intention to run for president in 2028, this impeachment trial will help  the sovereign Filipino decide whether or not she deserves the faith and confidence of the electorate.” she said

The House prosecution panel sees no direct answer to the allegation of offenses in the formal response submitted by the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte, regarding articles of impeachment.

This was stated by Lead Public Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro after receiving VP Sara’s defense team's response to the articles. 

“Wala pa rin tayong nakikitang direktang sagot sa mga allegation of offenses. The least I can say is hindi responsive ang answer sa allegations of offenses,” she said

[“We still do not see any direct answer to the allegations of offenses. The least I can say is not responsive to the allegations of offenses.”]

Luistro also emphasized that the answers are not directly responsive to the allegations of offenses.

“Sadly speaking, yung naging sagot ng Vice President sa articles of impeachment, again, hindi directly responsive sa allegations of offenses,” she said

[“Sadly speaking, the answer of the Vice President to the articles of impeachment, again, not directly responsive to the allegations of offenses.”]

According to VP Sara’s defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, the gist of their response to the articles of impeachment is about the infirmities that happened in the House Committee on Justice before being transmitted to the Senate. 

“Sa tingin namin, may mga infirmities yung proceedings bago pa umakyat sa Senado itong articles of impeachment. Ah but having said that na sabi ko nga eh maliban doon eh sumagot din kami on the substantive issues,” he said

[“For us, there were infirmities in the proceedings before these articles of impeachment reached the Senate. But having said that, I said, aside from that, we also answered on the substantive issues.”]

The defense team of VP Sara is also hoping to dismiss the articles of impeachment but if the request is not granted, they will show up.

“As I said, ultimately, dismissal po ng articles of impeachment at titingnan natin kung ano yung mangyari sa proceedings and we will participate and definitely we will abide by what is constitution permissible into constitutional processes later,” Poa said

Bicol Saro Partylist Representative Terry Ridon stated that the response of the defense team of VP Sara is rehash and offers nothing new.

“It’s the rehash of the non-answer in House Justice proceedings, so wala po itong inilatag na bago,” he said

[“It’s the rehash of the non-answer in House Justice proceedings, so they have laid down nothing new.”]

Also, the Kabataan Partylist led an impeachment forum held in Congress.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed a complaint to the Congress, recommending an investigation, filing an ethics complaint and disciplinary action against Cavite 4th District Representative Kiko Barzaga. This stemmed from the nine social media posts related to the shooting incident in the Senate on May 13, 2026.

NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag, when asked by a reporter, agreed that Barzaga must be expelled due to his improper behavior.

“Well, his behavior is I think it's not a proper behavior of the congressman,” Matibag said

The NBI is also studying the possibility of filing criminal complaints against Barzaga by next week.

Meanwhile, Barzaga, in his Facebook post, expressed that he has no regrets and hopes that justice will prevail against the corrupt system in the country.

“For Congress Expulsion today, I have no regrets. I will live for the Filipino People, I will die for the Filipino People! We will bring justice to this corrupt system!” he said 

Batangas 2nd district Gerville Luistro remained firm on the Senate rules on impeachment, which doesn’t contain any provision to allow the dismissal of the impeachment complaint, contrary to the call of the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte.

“Definitely, if there will be move or request towards the dismissal of the impeachment complaint, io-oppose namin yon. I said it earlier that the Senate rules on impeachment does not speak about dismissal,” she said

[“Definitely, if there will be move or request towards the dismissal of the impeachment complaint, we’ll oppose that. I said it earlier that the Senate rules on impeachment does not speak about dismissal.”]

According to VP Duterte’s defense team spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa, their team is hoping for the dismissal of the articles of impeachment. However, he noted that if the request is denied, they are fully prepared to show up.

“As I said, ultimately, dismissal po ng articles of impeachment at titingnan natin kung ano yung mangyari sa proceedings and we will participate and definitely we will abide by what is constitution permissible into constitutional processes later,” he said

Poa added that the gist of their response focuses on the infirmities in the House Committee on Justice proceedings before being transmitted to the Senate.

“Sa tingin namin, may mga infirmities yung proceedings bago pa umakyat sa Senado itong articles of impeachment. Ah but having said that na sabi ko nga eh maliban doon eh sumagot din kami on the substantive issues,” he said

[“For us, there were infirmities in the proceedings before these articles of impeachment reached the Senate. But having said that, I said, aside from that, we also answered on the substantive issues.”]

Meanwhile, Luistro explained that in the Senate impeachment rule, once the trial concludes, the decision could be either a conviction or an acquittal.

“The rules neither speak about remand nor about clarification. Ang sinasabi lamang po ng Senate rules on impeachment, trial. And after trial, the judgment is either conviction or acquittal,” she said

[“The rules neither speak about remand nor about clarification. What the Senate rules on impeachment says is trial. And after trial, the judgment is either conviction or acquittal.”]

Bicol Saro Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon observed that the Vice President’s response seemed to be a rehash or a repetition of the same previous response.

“It should be noted that the answer appears to be a rehash of the Vice President’s previous non-answer before the House Committee on Justice,” he said

He further noted that the defense didn’t address the Vice President’s threats against President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

“Based on the released Executive Summary, the answer also does not appear to directly address the Vice President’s threats against the President – and act made well within her term as Vice President and in full public view,” he added