Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero ordered the immediate return of a sealed box containing Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax records today, ruling their presence in the Senate legally unauthorized. 

Although the House of Representatives bundled the tax files with the transmitted Articles of Impeachment, Escudero clarified that the Senate never issued a formal subpoena or lawful order to compel the BIR to surrender the highly sensitive documents.

Because the prosecution panel has not yet formally marked or offered the tax records as evidence, the presiding officer emphasized that the chamber cannot legally hold onto them. 

Escudero quickly drew a hard boundary to protect procedural integrity, ensuring that the trial follows strict judicial protocols rather than relying on unauthorized document transfers.

"The chair orders that the BIR box closed sealed as it is received and be sent back to the BIR without prejudice to any action that the court may take if a motion will be filed by either party for the issuance of a subpoena and we shall await action if any by the BIR commissioner should that time come," Escudero said.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate impeachment court on July 6, junked a high-stakes motion by House prosecutors to compel the immediate, in-person arraignment of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Lead House Prosecutor Representative Gerville Luistro took the floor to anchor the motion, citing Rules 7, 9, and 21 of the Impeachment Rules of Procedure to demand a formal reading of the charges. 

“The prosecution respectfully moves for the reading of the four articles of impeachment and the entry of corresponding answer or plea for each article of impeachment… This is consistent to the Senate rules on impeachment particularly rule 7,” Luistro argued, asserting that a plea of not guilty should be entered into the record immediately.

Duterte’s defense counsel, Atty. Sheila Sison, methodically dismantled the prosecution's argument by countering that the Vice President's submitted written answer and appearance via legal counsel were already legally sufficient under the Senate's own framework. 

Sison emphasized the explicit language of the guidelines, stating, “In rule 7, it very clearly states that if the person impeached after service shall fail to appear either in person or by counsel on the day so fixed or appearing shall fail to file answer to such articles of impeachment, the trial shall proceed nevertheless as a part of plea of not guilty.” 

The defense maintained that because Duterte had already engaged with the process through her submitted documents, forcing a physical arraignment lacked merit.

Finding no direct legal basis for the prosecution's demands, the Senate impeachment court officially denied the motion and clarified the proper roadmap for the trial. 

The court ruled that the articles of impeachment were already spread into the records during the initial summons, and a forced plea is only necessary if a defendant fails to respond entirely. 

Explaining the definitive rejection, the court announced: “In this case she has filed an answer and in fact appeared through counsel. In so far, the reading of the articles of impeachment is concerned, it will be done at the final resolution of this case when this put to a vote by the senator-judges where each articles of impeachment will be read before a vote shall be taken there on. For those reasons, the motion is denied.” Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero said.

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PASAY CITY—Senate President Win Gatchalian energized the Senate workforce during the flag ceremony on July 6, by issuing a powerful call to uphold unity, professional excellence, and institutional integrity. 

Drawing from his 25 years of public service as a mayor, congressman, and senator, Gatchalian outlined a clear vision for the institution, challenging employees to anchor their daily duties in unwavering service to the Filipino people.

The Senate leader laid out four non-negotiable principles of public service to guide the chamber's personnel: integrity, professionalism, dedication, and leadership by example. 

He emphasized that true professionalism means ensuring "every cent" of their salary is earned through excellent service and genuine compassion.

Under his framework, dedication transforms a routine job into a passionate calling, while leading by example ensures that upright conduct flows from top management down to every rank-and-file employee.

Acknowledging the current political climate, Gatchalian closed by expressing deep gratitude to the staff for keeping the legislative machinery running smoothly despite external pressures. 

“Kaya po nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong lahat dahil kahit may ganitong kaganapan sa ating institusyon, tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang pagbibigay ninyo ng magandang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” the Senate President said, praising their resilience and uninterrupted commitment to the public.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate of the Philippines formally organized itself into an Impeachment Court on July 6, electing Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero as its presiding officer for the historic trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Escudero secured the leadership post in a tight 12-8 vote, moving the high-stakes proceedings forward amid intense political maneuvering. 

Immediately upon taking the podium, Escudero laid out the high legal bar required for the vice president's removal, emphasizing that the body will strictly adhere to constitutional mandates. 

"This is the prevailing law today and whether we agree or not, we must abide by it," Escudero said, clarifying that it takes a two-thirds majority or exactly 16 affirmative votes out of the 24-member chamber to convict.

The election of Escudero was not without friction, sparking an immediate floor debate that threatened to stall the opening day of the trial. 

Senator-Judge Alan Peter Cayetano raised a sharp point of order, mounting a vigorous objection to the voting process itself. 

Cayetano argued that the Constitution and its framers intended the sitting Senate President to automatically preside over impeachment cases, unless the President of the Philippines is the one on trial.

Warning his colleagues of long-term legal ramifications, Cayetano cautioned that proceeding under what he described as a constitutionally defective process could invite a swift judicial challenge before the Supreme Court and permanently cast doubt on the ultimate validity of the trial. 

Despite the warning, the chamber opted to maintain Escudero's election, solidifying the leadership structure as the Senate prepares to hear the formal articles of impeachment against Vice President Duterte in the coming days.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality sounded a massive alarm on July 1, revealing that a violent extremist group is actively radicalizing Filipino youth through popular gaming platforms like Roblox, Minecraft, and Gorebox. 

Senators launched the intense inquiry following the June 22, 2026 shooting at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, where two Grade 9 students tragically killed three classmates and injured several others. 

Investigators uncovered digital trails directly linking the shooters to "764," a nihilistic, Texas-originated extremist group designated as a terrorist organization in Canada and flagged as a national security threat by the FBI.

Committee chairperson Sen. Risa Hontiveros exposed how these predatory networks meticulously target minors by offering a false sense of belonging. 

Once hooked, children are ruthlessly pushed into escalating acts of cruelty, including animal abuse, producing graphic pornography, and committing suicide or mass violence. 

The Senate panel is currently scrutinizing these highly organized online grooming pipelines to craft urgent legislative reforms, aiming to dismantle the networks before they can claim more young lives.

Defending the broader gaming community, Hontiveros clarified that the investigation targets the hidden predators exploiting these digital spaces, not the platforms themselves.

"Let me be clear. I am not calling for a total ban on online games. Wala akong sinasabi na ang naglalaro ng games ay gagawa ng karahasan in real life. Fake news po iyon. Maraming kabataan ang naglalaro para magpahinga, makipagkaibigan, matuto at maglibang. Malinaw po sa achi hindi ang game o gaming community ang kalaban. Tungkol ito sa mga panganib na pwedeng kaharapin ng mga bata habang naglalaro at nakikipag-usap online," Senator Risa Hontiveros stressed.

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