Dev Flores

PASAY CITY — Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson has revealed the potential appointment of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as a presiding officer for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6, 2026.

“As per our consensus as of this morning, we will elect Senator Chiz Escudero if we convene again,” he said

Lacson noted that the senators had already agreed on the matter, and Senate President Win Gatchalian also supports the possible appointment.

“Lawyer eh at saka may experience na rin siya sa impeachment. 'Yun ang consensus namin as of this morning, puwedeng magbago, and si Senator Win mismo, Senate President Win, ang nag-suggest din,” he said

[“He’s a lawyer, and he already has experience when it comes to impeachment. That is our consensus as of this morning, though it could still change, and Senate President Win himself actually is the one who suggested it.”]

He also stated that Escudero’s extensive legal background and mastery of impeachment procedures would be an asset. 

“Kasi alam niyo pag ikaw nagp-preside, kailangan talaga meron kang hindi basic knowledge sa law. Yung rules of court, evidence. Kasi once na merong magmosyon  from either from the prosecution or defense, merong pagkakataon na kailangan mag-rule ka immediately 'di ba?”

[“Because you see, when you are the one presiding, you need more than just a basic knowledge of law, the rules of court, the evidence. Once there’s a motion filed by either the prosecution or the defese, there will be instances where you need to rule immediately.”]

Senator Escudero has not yet responded to the matter.

With reports from Jed Nerecina

PASAY CITY — The Senate officially selected its duly elected Senate President during a special session on June 17, 2026. This time, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is a fully-fledged Senate President.

Following the election of Senate President Gatchalian, the institution has also designated a new lineup of chairpersons for its various committees.

The list of new committee chairmanships is as follows:

Erwin Tulfo

• Accountability of Public Officers and Investigations (Blue Ribbon)
  
  • Vice Chairperson: Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, Sen. Ping Lacson
• Committee on Justice
• Committee on Energy

Joseph Victor "JV" Ejercito

• Committee on Finance
• Committee on Local Government

Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan

• Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform
• Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes
• Committee on Justice and Human Rights

Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri

• Committee on Rules
• Committee on Foreign Relations

Bam Aquino

• Committee on Trade
• Committee on Basic Education

Vicente "Tito" Sotto

• Committee on National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation
• Committee on Ethics and Privileges

Risa Hontiveros

• Committee on Health and Demography
• Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality

Joel Villanueva

• Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education
• Committee on Labor, Employment, and Human Resources Development

Panfilo "Ping" Lacson

• Committee on Ways and Means

Lito Lapid

• Committee on Games and Amusement
  
  • Vice Chairperson: Sen. Erwin Tulfo

Raffy Tulfo

• Committee on Public Services
• Committee on Migrant Workers

Meanwhile, Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri was designated Majority Leader, while Senator Joel Villanueva was named as Deputy Majority Leader.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has officially placed ex-Ateneo basketball head coach Thomas Anthony Baldwin and 4 others under Immigration Lookout Bulletin.

“I have signed today an ILBO, an immigration lookout bulletin against the following individuals,” according to DOJ Secretary Fredderick Vida

The following individuals under ILBO include:

• Thomas Anthony Baldwin - Former head coach of the Ateneo Men's basketball team
• Mr. Christopher Quimpo - Former team manager 
• Mr. Reynaldo Jacinto Jr. - Assistant coach 
• Mr. Dean Castaño - Assistant coach
• Mr. Sandro Soriano -  Assistant coach

According to Vida, ILBO is a monitoring mechanism that intends to alert the authority.

“The investigation remains ongoing, and the department stands ready to undertake its mandate once a complaint is formally filed. We ask the public to allow our law enforcement agencies to do their work and to refrain from a speculation while the evidence is being gathered and assessed,” the Secretary added

Fuel prices will not immediately return to pre-war levels despite the presence of U.S.-Iran peace deal.

According to the statement read by Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro, it will take months for oil prices to drop back to pre-war levels because oil-producing countries is also affected by the war.  

“We are gathering info for our assessment. The indications are that given the destruction of logistics, damaged infrastructure, and the depletion of inventories, it may take months before global prices fall to pre-war levels,” she said

PASAY CITY — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will proceed, according to Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Jr. 

Atty. Bantug assured that the Senate impeachment court is working to its plotted timeline and confirmed that the trial will begin on July 6, 2026.

“We're still working on the calendar that was approved by the senators before. So we're still looking at July 6 as the start of the impeachment trial for on schedule,” he said

Meanwhile, the pre-trial brief from both parties, the House prosecution team and the defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte, has already been submitted to the Senate impeachment court.

This follows the Senate’s issuance of a notice of pre-trial conference, which required both sides to submit their respective briefs ahead of the conference on June 18, 2026.

Atty. Bantug personally received the documents from House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil on behalf of the House prosecution team, and from Atty. Michael Poa, the representative for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team.

With reports from Jed Nerecina