Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—The Senate of the Philippines delivered a decisive legislative move on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, passing the P6.793-trillion proposed national budget for 2026 on third and final reading. House Bill No. 4058, sponsored by Senator Win Gatchalian, secured a unanimous vote of 17-0-0. 

This swift approval sends the measure to a bicameral conference committee with the House of Representatives to reconcile differences and finalize the spending plan for the coming fiscal year. 

Senator Gatchalian notably described the budget as "more transparent, more disciplined, and more accountable" is set to prioritize key sectors, with a significant P1.37 trillion allocated to the education sector.

In addition to the General Appropriations Bill, the Senate also approved two major cultural measures sponsored by Senator Loren Legarda—Senate Bill No. 1425, or the Aklan Piña Conservation and Innovation Act, passed on final reading to establish a center in Kalibo, Aklan, dedicated to safeguarding, promoting, and advancing the region's centuries-old tradition of piña handloom weaving. 

Simultaneously, the chamber green light the Senate Bill No. 1507, which aims to institutionalize the Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) by amending the National Cultural Heritage Act of 2009. 

This measure elevates the community-based learning program where cultural masters transmit Indigenous knowledge and crafts into a national program under the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, ensuring stable, long-term support for the preservation of the nation's diverse intangible heritage.

Team Philippines made a powerful statement at the opening ceremonies of the SEA Games Thailand 2025 last night December 9, 2025, marching onto the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok with a clear intent for domination. 

The impressive 1,600-strong delegation was led by the dynamic duo of tennis star Alex Eala and volleyball standout Bryan Bagunas. 

With fire in their spirit and their country's flag lifted high, the athletes declared their fierce pursuit for a major breakthrough. This showing of national pride and surging energy sets the stage for what the Philippines hopes will be a historic and successful campaign in the biennial meet.

As the competition officially begins, the athletes carry the hopes of the nation, focused on translating this strong show of unity and pride into medals and achieving the country's collective aspiration for regional sporting supremacy.

PASAY CITY—Senate Committee on Health and Demography begins its hearing on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 regarding the country's most pressing health crises including the fight against HIV, tuberculosis, and challenges in autism care are being fundamentally driven by deep-seated inequality. 

Committee Chairperson and Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros spearheaded the session and delivered a stark message directly stressing that the Universal Health Care (UHC) law faces failure unless systemic reforms are immediately implemented. 

“The fight against HIV and TB and all health conditions is a fight for the rights to health, dignity and social justice. HIV and TB reveal the same truth, disease thrives where inequality persists.” Senator Hontiveros in her opening speech.

Senator Hontiveros pushed a clear agenda: overhaul the current approach by directly addressing the disparities that prevent vulnerable communities from accessing essential medical services and diagnostics.

To combat this, the committee focused on strengthening grassroots health systems by reviewing and enhancing the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers (BHWs). Hontiveros emphatically warned that these community-level workers—the literal first line of defense in impoverished and remote areas—must be both empowered, protected, and fairly compensated to succeed. 

“This is why we’re revisiting the Magna Carta of Barangay Health Workers, it isn’t just a labor bill, it is the backbone of Universal Health Care. Without empowered, protected and fairly compensated  BHWs, our reforms remain words on paper.”

The Deputy Majority Leader stated that without a strong, supported, and professional BHW system, the ambitious promise of UHC cannot possibly be delivered, leaving the nation's most vulnerable populations exposed to its deadliest diseases.

Impeachment is the constitutional mechanism that Congress uses to remove the highest government officials for grave abuses of power. This proceeding is sui generis—a class of its own, meaning it is political in nature, not criminal, civil, or administrative. 

The process is reserved exclusively for the President, Vice President, Members of the Supreme Court, Members of Constitutional Commissions (COMELEC, COA, CSC), and the Ombudsman. It is a rigorous, two-stage system designed to ensure that no official, regardless of their position, is above the law, while simultaneously protecting them from frivolous or politically motivated harassment.  

According to Attorney Jennifer Reyes, author of a book about constitutional law, “Under our 1987 Philippine Constitution, ang impeachment ay proseso ng kung saan ang mga impeachable official ay maaaring tanggalin sa pwesto kung sila ay nag violate ng konstitusyon, especially if it is a culpable violation.”

[“Under the 1987 Philippine Constitution, impeachment is the process by which impeachable officials may be removed from office if they violate the Constitution, especially if it is a culpable violation.”]

The Constitution strictly limits the grounds for removal. An impeachable official can only be removed for and convicted of culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. 

This specific and exclusive list prevents impeachment from being weaponized for ordinary policy disputes or minor errors. Furthermore, the essential one-year bar rule dictates that no impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year, a safeguard designed to prevent the official's work from being continuously obstructed by endless complaints.  

The impeachment process is formally initiated in the House of Representatives. A verified complaint, complete with supporting evidence, can be filed by any member of the House or by a private citizen if endorsed by at least one House member. 

Attorney Reyes added that, “Under the 1987 Constitution, ito ay pwedeng i-file through a verified complaint ng isang miyembro ng House of Representatives.”

[“Under the 1987 Constitution, this may be filed through a verified complaint by a member of the House of Representatives.”]

The complaint is then referred to the Committee on Justice, which determines if it is sufficient in form and substance. A parallel and faster mechanism allows a verified complaint or resolution filed by at least one-third (1/3) of all House Members to immediately constitute the Articles of Impeachment, bypassing the committee stage entirely and moving directly to the next phase.  

Once approved by the House, the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted to the Senate, which possesses the sole power to try and decide the case, effectively acting as an impeachment court. 

“If the articles of impeachment were already transmitted to the Senate, under our 1987 Constitution, trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” the lawyer emphasized.

The senators are required to take an oath of political neutrality before the trial begins. The trial is presided over by different officials depending on the accused: the Chief Justice presides if the President is on trial, while the Senate President presides over the trial of any other impeachable official. The House of Representatives selects a panel of its members to act as the prosecutors during the proceedings. 

To secure a conviction and removal from office, the Articles of Impeachment must be affirmed by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of all the Members of the Senate. This supermajority requirement underscores the gravity of removing a high official from a democratic mandate. 

The penalty is strictly limited to removal from office and disqualification from holding any public office in the Philippines. Crucially, a conviction in the Senate does not preclude subsequent criminal or civil charges against the removed official, which must be pursued separately in the regular courts. 

“If the impeachable official ay mako-convict at siya ay mare-remove as a public official, tandaan po natin na ang kaakibat lamang na penalty ng impeachment ay removal from office and perpetual disqualification to hold a public office under the Republic of the Philippines,” Attorney Reyes discussed.

["If the impeachable official is convicted and removed as a public official, we must remember that the only penalties associated with impeachment are removal from office and perpetual disqualification to hold any public office under the Republic of the Philippines."]

To learn more about the impeachment process and how it works in the Philippines, please watch this video EXPLAINED: Impeachment Process in the Philippines and make sure to subscribe to UNTV socials for more interesting videos

Tennis sensation Alex Eala and volleyball powerhouse Bryan Bagunas will lead the Philippines into the Rajamangala Stadium on December 9, 2025, carrying the national flag at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games opening ceremony. 

Eala, currently ranked world No. 50, and Bagunas, the captain of the Alas Pilipinas squad, were handpicked to front a record-breaking delegation of 1,600 athletes and officials. 

Their selection highlights a blend of global impact and leadership, setting an inspiring tone for a nation aiming to surpass its previous haul of 58 gold medals.

The "unleashed and unstoppable" Filipino contingent is ready to dominate across 50 sports in Thailand, marking the largest-ever representation from the Philippines in the biennial meet. 

With Eala returning to regional competition and Bagunas coming off a historic FIVB campaign, the duo represents a new era of sports excellence. As the Games formally unfold, all eyes are on these elite flag bearers to spark a golden run for the country.

Show your support to our athletes as they battle it out in Thailand and bring glory to our country.

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