Dev Flores

The House Prosecution team will ask the Senate impeachment court to allow the use of the Filipino language during the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Lead Public Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Gerville Luistro

“I wish to formalize as well, on this upcoming pre-trial conference, the possibility of us, the prosecutors, and even the defense to use Filipino language,” she said

The team will also request to provide translations in various dialects during the live trial so that more Filipinos can easily understand the proceedings.

“Sana habang nagtra-trial meron tayong translation to as many dialects as possible in order to make sure that the entire Filipino nation is on the same page. After all this is a constitutional process,” Luistro said

House Impeachment Trial Spokeperson and Lanao Del Sur 1st District Zia Alonto Adiong agrees with Luistro.

Adiong stated that the intention of the request to the Senate impeachment court is to keep the public fully informed.

“Ang intention po talaga natin dito is mabigyang serbisyo ang ating mga kababayan na maintindihan nila ang pinag-uusapan sa impeachment trial dahil matagal na po itong pinag-uusapan at deserve po nilang malaman ang katotohanan,” he said

With reports from Rosalie Coz

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong warns to implement strict sanitation standards for food establishments. This follows the viral incident in a local restaurant where a rat was found in the food served to a customer.

Mayor Magalong confirms that inspections on food establishments will continue to ensure compliance with sanitation standards. Because of the incident, he called on everyone to treat the viral incident as a lesson.

“I hope this will serve as a lesson to all the other establishment that caters to food,” he said

The Mayor also stated the possible closure of a food establishment if continuous violations are proven.

“Usually may undertaking yan at in the next one week, aayusin nila, o 2 weeks. Kung hindi nila nagawa yun at in-inspect uli sila, then they will be sanctioned and that would lead to closure at hindi na namin sila bibigyan ng business permit,” he said

Mayor Magalong also apologized to the customers affected by the incident.

With reports from Grace Doctolero

Lead Public Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd district Gerville Luistro reveals that the number of witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has exceeded 30.

“The witnesses is not only 25, it's not only 30, it's even more,” she said

According to Luistro, they have already included reserved witnesses in their list. She explained that it was necessary to declare these witnesses before the actual trial.

“Sa ilalim po ng ating rules, kapag ang testigo, hindi mo naisama ang pangalan doon sa pre-trial. Generally speaking, hindi po siya papayagang tumestigo during the trial,” she said

“And that is why, as a matter of rule, lahat ng testigong isasalang mo dapat yung pangalan isumite mo during the pre-trial conference, and their names must be included in the pre-trial brief,” according to Luistro

House prosecution panel member and San Juan City Representative Bel Zamora clarified that the team is allowed to list reserved witnesses.

“We are also allowed to make a reservation of witnesses, as long as we are able to give a description of the witness and the purpose for which they will be presented,” she said

Meanwhile, the Senate is scheduled to attend a special session called by President Bongbong Marcos Jr. on June 17, 2026.

In line with this, House prosecutors expressed hope that the upper chamber would use the opportunity to resolve their conflicts.

“But we anticipate that they should take that opportunity to finally settle the issue on leadership,” Rep. Adiong said

“Sana ma-address na 'yun para wala ng apprehension ng house about another possible constitutional issue to be raised in the Supreme Court,” according to Luistro

With reports from Rosalie Coz

Kamanggagawa Party-list Representative Eli San Fernando visited the Department of Labor and Employment office to submit several labor-related proposals.

Among the submitted proposals are a wage hike, the abolition of the provincial wage rate system, strengthening the security of tenure, and other measures aimed at expanding employee protection.

San Fernando welcomed the commitment of Labor Chief Francis Tolentino to establish Labor Attorney’s Office.

“Ang isa sa kinomit ni Secretary Tolentino ay yung pagbubuo ng Labor Attorney’s Office, parang counterpart siya ng PAO. We are excited dito at yung pakikipag-partner ni Secretary Tolentino sa other stakeholders para mapalakas yung assistance sa mga manggagawa. Kasi alam naman natin na sa sobrang daming kaso na kinakaharap ng mga manggagawa, walang kapasidad ang mga manggagawa na mag-hire o mag-avail ng mga lawyers,” he said

According to DOLE, they can utilize the existing partnerships with the Public Attorney’s Office and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in addressing labor-related concerns.

“The DOLE chief also highlighted the Department’s existing partnerships, including its collaboration with the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) to establish the Labor Attorney’s Office and its recent partnership with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) to engage students in labor inspection initiatives,” according to the agency

San Fernando added that they understand DOLE needs to carefully review the submitted documents before any formal approvals.

“Naintindihan namin yung prosesong kailangang pagdaanan na kailangang aralin ng Department of Labor and Employment. That is why we are giving that space for the secretary to study the papers that we have submitted and later on ay makapag-feedback sa amin sa concrete na stance ng Department of Labor and Employment under his administration,” he said

In response, Secretary Tolentino assured that the agency would maintain transparency not only with workers but also with the employers.

“Gagawin natin ‘to na ano mas transparent, mas maganda yung ugnayan. Hindi lang sa manggagawa kung hindi sa employers sector, sa management.” he said

With reports from Mia Alonzo

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) expects water levels in dams across the country to recover amidst the impact of El Niño.

“Marami po sa atin sa mga monitor dams ay nasa mababa pa pong kalagayan but they are showing na pataas po yung kanilang trend with this coming flood season” according to PAGASA Hydro-Meteorology Division Chief Rosalie Pagulayan

According to PAGASA, one of the impacts of El Niño is to intensify the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat), which can bring heavy rains to the western sections of the country.

PAGASA also explains that if the western section experiences heavy rainfall, the primary beneficiaries will be Ambuklao and San Roque Reservoir.

The water level in Angat Dam is also anticipated to bounce back, as PAGASA stated that the habagat plays an important role in replenishing the dam even in the absence of tropical cyclones.

“Historically talaga ay mas napupuno siya, mas nakikita namin yung kanyang pagpuno during the Northeast Monsoon,” Pagulayan said

With reports from Evan Alvarez