Jasha Gamao

The House prosecution panel is fully prepared and waiting for the Senate impeachment court to issue its crucial pre-trial order, exactly one week before the formal trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte begins. 

House trial spokesman Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur announced on June 29, that the upcoming order is essential because it will map out the precise procedures and timeline for the trial proper starting July 6.

“Well, handang-handa na po ang House prosecution panel. In fact, nag-aantay po tayo kung ano po ‘yung ... kailan po ilalabas ng korte yung pre-trial order nila.” Congressman Alonto Adiong said in an interview. 

He emphasized that the document serves a vital structural purpose for both sides, stating, “So inaantay po natin ‘yung magiging aksyon ng impeachment court doon po sa kanilang ire-release na pre-trial order kasi ‘yan po ang magiging guide kung anong magiging flow ng actual trial sa July 6.”

Beyond setting the trial's flow, the document will reveal how the court resolves several friction points encountered by the prosecution and defense teams during last week's pre-trial conference. 

These unresolved matters include a request to open a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue box containing the Vice President’s tax records, alongside a motion to use Filipino as the official language medium during the proceedings. 

Congressman Adiong reiterated that the release of this order will finally give the public and both legal teams clarity on which issues have been officially settled before the opening gavels fall.

‍

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian pressed the administration on June 29, to aggressively accelerate infrastructure spending in the second half of the year to jumpstart the country's slowing economy. 

The urgent appeal follows a staggering 51.7% year-on-year plunge in April public works outlays, which plummeted to PHP 41.5 billion from PHP 85.8 billion in the same period last year, according to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) data. 

The steep drop marks the fourth consecutive month of contraction, extending a public construction slump that has gripped the country since a major flood-control corruption scandal broke out in late 2025.

Warning that state-funded construction delays directly hurt Filipino families, Gatchalian emphasized that infrastructure holds the most powerful multiplier effect for national economic growth. 

“Kung nade-delay ang mga mahahalagang infrastructure projects ng bansa, nade-delay din ang pagkakataon nating makapagbigay ng trabaho sa ating mga kababayan at mapaunlad ang ating mga komunidad. Kailangan nating makabawi para mas gumanda ang paglago ng ekonomiya,” the Senate President stated.

While acknowledging that stringent budget oversight and anti-corruption safeguards remain vital in the wake of recent scandals, Gatchalian argued they should not completely paralyze vital state projects. 

He stressed that the government must strike a critical balance between transparency and execution to pull the country out of its recent financial stagnation. 

“Accelerating public works and capital outlays is especially urgent amid the economic slump in the first quarter of the year,” Senate President Gatchalian said.

‍

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) revealed on June 29, that former Ateneo de Manila University men’s basketball coach Tab Baldwin does not hold a valid Alien Employment Permit (AEP) or a certificate of exemption. 

During a motu proprio clarificatory conference led by DOLE Secretary Francis Tolentino, the agency confirmed that Baldwin has not completed any applications required for foreign nationals to work legally in the country. 

Standing firm on the agency's authority, Tolentino underscored the gravity of the violation stating, “If you don't have that (AEP), you're here illegally. Everything you have done since the start is absolutely illegal. It's important to follow the AEP because it's in the law.”

Baldwin’s legal team, represented by lawyers Janella Flordeliza and Daniel Darvin, countered the findings by arguing that his permanent residency visa status inherently exempted him from needing the work permit. 

“That’s their allegation. If you don't have that (AEP), you're here illegally. Everything you have done since the start is absolutely illegal. It's important to follow the AEP because it's in the law.” Tolentino told the media regarding the defense, noting that the agency’s official records still reflect zero filings under current labor guidelines. 

To evaluate the exact duration, scope, and earnings of the multi-titled coach's tenure, DOLE has formally requested Baldwin’s camp to submit copies of his previous employment contracts for a comprehensive review.

The regulatory crackdown is now expanding directly to the university that hired him. 

DOLE announced it will issue a subpoena against Ateneo de Manila University officials, ordering them to formally report to the department on July 9 to explain the school's hiring practices. 

Seeking accountability from the institution, Tolentino explained the next steps of the investigation, asserting, “That's why we have to call the employer. We will call the Ateneo officials to explain their position.”

‍

Senator Bam Aquino on Monday rejected a blanket ban on violent video games, arguing instead for the strict implementation of age restrictions rather than wiping out an entire medium. 

Aquino pointed out that numerous studies have found no correlation between video games and school shootings. 

Treating video games as both an art form and a legitimate entertainment medium, the senator firmly stated that they “do not cause violent behavior.”

Aquino slammed the habit of blaming the gaming industry for broader societal issues, calling it a lazy distraction from the real issues at hand. 

“Magpi-50 years na rin iyong mga video games, pero it's always a convenient scapegoat sa tuwing may nangyayaring insidente ng karahasan.” he said.

Instead of a total shutdown, Aquino urged the government and retailers to enforce stricter age limits on mature-rated games, mimicking the current regulatory systems used for films and television programs. 

“Dapat sa mga video game stores and online stores, medyo mas strikto rin yung ating rules pagdating sa mga bata at iyong pag-access nila sa mga mature video games. But banning video games in general or as a whole, I don't think that's a good solution to our problems.” Aquino emphasized.

‍

The Senate and the House of Representatives have officially approved the final version of the Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act during a bicameral conference committee meeting on June 25, 2026. 

Once signed into law, this landmark legislation will expand current tuition voucher assistance to cover students from Kindergarten all the way through Senior High School. 

This expansion grants millions of Filipino learners the financial opportunity to enroll in qualified private educational institutions nationwide.

The measure directly tackles the chronic issue of classroom overcrowding in public schools while offering families broader educational choices, particularly in areas facing severe school capacity shortages. 

To ensure equitable access, the bill explicitly prioritizes students from vulnerable sectors. Additionally, the legislation injects critical support into the private education sector by boosting welfare programs and assistance for teachers employed in participating private schools.

Lawmakers and education stakeholders expressed strong optimism for the bill, which was heavily championed by EDCOM 2 and the Department of Education alongside key legislators from both chambers. 

Senator Bam Aquino, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee and author of the Basic Education Voucher Assistance Act believed that education is the key to a better future for every Filipino student and law like this gives fair access to better quality education.

“Naniniwala tayo na ang edukasyon ang susi sa mas magandang kinabukasan ng bawat bata, ng kanyang pamilya, at ng buong komunidad. Mula basic education hanggang kolehiyo, ang bawat batang nabibigyan ng pagkakataong makapag-aral ay mas napapalapit sa pag-abot ng kanilang mga pangarap. Kaya patuloy nating isusulong ang mga repormang magpapalawak ng access sa dekalidad na edukasyon at magbibigay ng mas maraming oportunidad sa bawat batang Pilipino.” Senator Aquino said.

Proponents emphasized that securing quality education from basic schooling through college is the ultimate equalizer for Filipino families. 

With the bicameral hurdle cleared, the bill now moves forward for final enrollment and the President's signature to officially become the law of the land.

‍