Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The National Housing Authority (NHA) Home Masters delivered a massive statement in the UNTV Cup Season 12 elimination round, pulling off a commanding 89-79 victory against league leaders OP Bagong Pilipinas on June 7 at the Paco Arena. 

NHA heavily leaned on their veteran poise to dismantle their opponents, successfully frustrating the powerhouse offense of the Office of the President from the get-go. 

The critical victory throws a wrench into the top-tier tournament rankings and firmly solidifies the Home Masters as a dangerous, seasoned threat this season.

Marvin Mercado completely stole the spotlight, earning Best Player of the Game honors after spearheading NHA's offensive charge. 

Mercado put up stellar, well-rounded numbers, anchoring the interior with a dominant 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. 

His imposing presence inside the paint and consistent execution on both ends of the floor continuously disrupted OP's defensive schemes, ensuring the Home Masters maintained a comfortable cushion until the final buzzer.

The costly defeat dramatically reshapes the leaderboard for OP Bagong Pilipinas, heading into the matchup as the definitive number 1 squad, the devastating loss slips their record to 3 wins and 2 losses, tumbling them down to the 3rd spot in the team standings. 

Reflecting on their deep team chemistry after the game, Mercado highlighted how their shared history proved to be the ultimate equalizer:

"Naging malaking factor yung pagiging beterano namin tapos yung matagal na kami nagsasama, yung experience namin sa liga ng UNTV Cup, tumanda na kami dito halos tapos may nadagdag pero majority sa amin mga veteran dito sa UNTV Cup, so malaking bagay yun." Marvin Mercado said.

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PASAY CITY—Senator Rodante Marcoleta directly indicated that the recent developments in the June 4 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing implicated several members of the Senate's so-called 'Solid Bloc 11 to the alleged flood control scandal.

Marcoleta’s remarks stemmed from the testimonies made by the 18 former Marines, who accused multiple high-ranking lawmakers of pocketing public funds. 

“Nakita na po natin ngayon kung bakit ganun yung kanilang patakaran. Dahil sangkot pala ang marami sa kanila,” Marcoleta stated in the Blue Ribbon investigation.

The ex-Marines together with their lawyer, Atty. Levi Baligod appeared and testified before the Blue Ribbon Committee, accusing former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co of distributing luggage filled with cash from the national flood control budget to lawmakers and high-ranking government officials.

According to their sworn testimonies, the illicit payoffs reached the highest rank in government, explicitly naming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a recipient. 

Among the lawmakers explicitly named by the former military personnel are high-profile Senators Erwin Tulfo, Panfilo Lacson, and Vicente Sotto III.

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PASAY CITY—Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano declared his openness to engage in talks with any political faction, including the group known as the "11," to find common ground amid ongoing leadership discussions. 

However, the Senate leader firmly drew the line at compromising legal and moral standards, emphasizing that he will stoutly defend the rule of law alongside his current leadership post. 

"I am willing to talk to anyone including the 11 to find common ground, but I will fight for what is right as well as the Senate presidency," Cayetano stated, signaling that his collaborative stance does not equal political surrender.

Pushing back against behind the scenes maneuvering, Cayetano warned external forces against bending established laws to serve narrow political interests. 

He made it clear that while his administration values transparency, it will not yield to pressure that undermines institutional integrity. 

The Senate President noted that if an objective truth emerges from these dialogues, all parties must accept it, but reiterated that legal protocols must dictate the chamber's direction rather than partisan agendas.

Reaffirming his commitment to his mandate, Cayetano dismissed notions that he is desperately clinging to power, while simultaneously promising a fierce defense of his position. 

“We're not going to give up… Hindi tayo kapit-tuko. If we find the truth, then so be it,” Cayetano remarked

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MANILA—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is prepared to immediately call a special session of Congress to salvage a legislative agenda stalled by recent Senate leadership disputes, Malacañang announced on June 4. 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that the President will act the moment he receives an official request and valid grounds from the Senate leadership, now spearheaded by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. 

“As soon as the new leadership will send the official request for special session addressed to the President, then the President will act immediately on that,” Usec. Castro said in a briefing with Palace Press Corps.

Disruptions in the chamber have cost several crucial session days, sparking executive concern over delayed economic and administrative measures.

At the top of the President’s urgent legislative radar is a proposed anti-political dynasty law, which Castro explicitly identified as a flagship priority for the administration. 

Beyond political reforms, Marcos is pushing lawmakers to fast-track critical interventions aimed at cushioning the Philippine economy against the relentless bite of rising global oil prices. 

The executive branch fears that continued gridlock in the legislature will severely bottleneck policies designed to stabilize local consumer costs.

Time is also running out for key military appointments, giving the proposed special session an added layer of urgency. 

Acting Senate President Gatchalian revealed that senators are assessing the timeline to confirm five military generals whose promotions hang in the balance; failure to act before the upcoming legislative break could force these high-ranking officers into mandatory retirement without their hard-earned advancements. 

The Senate is currently reviewing its backlog to finalize the formal appeal to the President.

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MANILA—The PNP Lady Patrollers delivered a stunning knockout blow to the AFP Lady Gunnar in a thrilling four-set match, 25-18, 25-20, 23-25, 25-17, during the UNTV Volleyball League Season 4 quarterfinals on June 3, at the Paco Arena. 

The Lady Patrollers showed immense composure after dropping the third set, storming back in the fourth to secure their ticket to the next round. 

The hard-fought victory effectively shattered AFP’s dreams of a third title.

With this unexpected quarterfinal exit, the AFP Lady Gunnar will officially miss the UVL semifinals for the first time in four seasons. On the flip side, the door opens wide for the surging PNP squad. 

The Lady Patrollers now advance to the single round-robin semifinals, where they possess the golden opportunity to become only the second team in UVL history to win back-to-back championships.

Cess Oliveros earned the Best Player of the Game honors after putting on an absolute clinic on the court. 

Oliveros brought her A+ game to the high-stakes knockout match, anchoring the team's offense with a stellar performance of 18 points, 16 successful attacks, and 2 service aces. 

Her relentless energy and sharp execution consistently broke through the defending champions' front-line defense, proving to be the ultimate catalyst for PNP's victory.

Following the monumental win, Oliveros credited their strategic preparation and mental toughness to their coaching staff. 

“Sabi po ng coach namin, be composed. Wag mawala during the game tapos no pressure sa loob ng court,” Oliveros shared in an interview after the game.

By executing that game plan perfectly, the Lady Patrollers stayed cool under fire, successfully dethroning the league giants and keeping their own championship aspirations very much alive.

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