Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano issued a powerful call to action on May 25 plenary session, urging both majority and minority senators to transcend factional politics and restore the chamber's dignity as democracy’s "last line of defense." 

Pushing back against critics who claim the institution's integrity has eroded under his leadership, Cayetano championed an independent Senate that acts as a robust check and balance to the executive branch. 

He emphasized that the Senate must anchor its work on a sacred oath of impartiality, shifting the public discourse away from political infighting and toward critical national crises.

Instead of engaging in partisan confrontation, Cayetano proposed a collaborative yet independent relationship with the executive branch to rebuild public trust. 

“Why can't we bind together - minority and majority - and be an independent senate? Not to confront the executive but to collaborate and also as checks and balances?" The Senate President said.

He pressed his colleagues to refocus their legislative energy on pressing economic issues directly impacting Filipinos, including skyrocketing inflation, agricultural smuggling, and ongoing controversies surrounding flood control funds. 

Maintaining strict discipline inside the session hall, he argued, is essential to safeguarding the chamber's autonomy and effectively addressing the country's urgent priorities.

However, the session also highlighted deep ideological rifts within the chamber as Senator Imee Marcos took to the floor to launch a fierce defense of the current system. 

Delivering a passionate privilege speech, Marcos expressed her staunch opposition to proposed amendments to the 1987 Constitution. 

Invoking her family's political legacy, she declared it her duty as a public servant and the daughter of the late President Ferdinand Marcos to stand firm and protect the nation's foundational law, drawing a clear battle line over the future of the country's constitution.

“At bilang Pilipino, bilang isang lingkod bayan, bilang isang kaisa-isang anak ni Ferdinand Marcos na may lakas ng loob na tumindig para sa ating bansa, dapat protektahan natin ang saligang batas ng Pilipinas,” the lady Senator said.

The 66th Palarong Pambansa officially exploded into action at the Datu Lipus Makapandong DO Plaza Sports Complex, marking the first time the Provincial Government of Agusan del Sur is hosting the prestigious national games. 

Running from May 24–31, 2026, the multi-sport tournament welcomes a massive delegation of 13,000 student-athletes from 18 regions, alongside National Academy of Sports (NAS) and Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) competitors. 

Led by Governor Santiago Cane Jr., Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara, and DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma, this historic edition expands inclusive play by introducing new sports and Para Games exhibition matches across seven host municipalities and cities.

To fuel the competitive fire, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) officially turned over a ₱10-million cash incentive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reward this year's top performers. 

Gold medalists will pocket ₱5,000, while silver and bronze achievers will take home ₱3,000 and ₱2,000 respectively, highlighting a major push to boost Philippine grassroots sports development. 

Adding star power to the opening festivities, Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz took charge of the Weightlifting discipline and spearheaded the solemn oath-taking of technical officials, setting a high standard of national pride and sportsmanship for the week-long battle ahead.

PASAY CITY—The Senate Committee on Migrant Workers launched a sweeping inquiry on Monday to address escalating threats facing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and maritime crews. 

Led by Senator Raffy Tulfo, lawmakers pressed for the strict implementation of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers and stronger safety protocols in volatile waters like the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf. 

Tulfo demanded immediate status updates on seven injured Filipino sailors and urgent welfare checks for 3,000 others currently stranded or deployed in high-risk Middle Eastern maritime zones.

Beyond high-seas dangers, the panel sounded the alarm on a sophisticated surge in illegal online recruitment targeting hopeful migrants. 

Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito revealed that human trafficking syndicates have largely abandoned mainstream apps like Meta and TikTok following a massive government crackdown that deleted 200,000 fraudulent posts and migrated to encrypted platforms like Telegram. 

These criminals actively evade prosecution by wiping chat histories, creating massive evidence gaps that stymie local law enforcement.

Determined to protect the country's 600,000 seafarers and broader migrant community, senators vowed to introduce aggressive legislative reforms and tighten enforcement loops. 

The committee ordered closer cooperation between employment agencies and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to track and disable international cyber-syndicates. 

Moving forward, lawmakers plan to enshrine a seafarer's absolute right to refuse deployment into combat zones while deploying advanced technical solutions to intercept fake job postings at the source.

MANILA—The DENR Lawin Patrollers unleashed a dominant performance to pull off a 95-79 upset victory against the GSIS Furies in the UNTV Cup Season 12 elimination round on May 24, at the Paco Arena. 

Right from the opening tip-off, the Lawin Patrollers dictated the tempo and consistently frustrated the Furies' offense. 

This crucial victory marks DENR's second win of the season, while the struggling GSIS Furies slide further down the standings, enduring their fourth consecutive loss without a single win.

Ralph Lansang took center stage for the Lawin Patrollers, maximizing his minutes on the court to dismantle the GSIS defense and anchor his team's relentless attack. 

Lansang earned Best Player of the Game honors after delivering an efficient and well-rounded stat line, exploding for 14 points, pulling down 6 rebounds, and dishing out 2 assists. 

His defensive presence and offensive execution kept the Furies at bay every time they attempted to mount a comeback.

Following the masterful win, Lansang credited their rigorous preparation and tactical discipline for the blowout result. 

"Yung mga training talaga pinatutok sa amin kung ano yung game plan para mapahirapan yung kabilang team," Lansang stated, highlighting how their focused strategy successfully neutralized the GSIS offensive threats. 

With momentum now on their side, the Lawin Patrollers look to build on this commanding performance as the tournament intensifies.

MANILA—The COMELEC Vanguards pulled off a stunning last-minute recovery to overturn the game and capture a hard-fought 76-71 victory over the PhilHealth Health Insurers in the UNTV Cup Season 12 eliminations on May 24, at the Paco Arena.

Facing a relentless PhilHealth squad, COMELEC shifted into high gear during the final minutes to erase the deficit and escape with a critical win.

Rookie standout Marios Ryan Martinez proved to be the ultimate catalyst for the Vanguards, anchoring the team's late-game surge with an assertive double-digit scoring performance. 

Martinez claimed Best Player of the Game honors after filling the stat sheet with an impressive 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. 

His offensive aggressiveness inside the paint completely unlocked the PhilHealth defense when it mattered most, fueling the game-winning run.

Despite struggling with their outside shots for most of the match, the Vanguards anchored their comeback on pure defensive grit and relentless hustle. 

"Nag-focus lang talaga kami sa depensa kahit walang-wala kami sa shooting, tinrabaho namin yung depensa hanggang fourth hindi kami nag-give up," Martinez said after the game. 

This lockdown mentality allowed COMELEC to shut down the Health Insurers in transition and successfully secure their third victory this season.