Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY – Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown signaled increasing demand for Filipino professionals during a courtesy meeting with Senator Raffy Tulfo on February 18.

Highlighting the strong track record of the 400,000 Filipinos currently in Australia, the ambassador said the country is aggressively seeking more nurses and skilled workers to strengthen its healthcare and technical sectors. 

The partnership is also expanding into education, with new initiatives allowing Filipino post-graduate scholars to work and bring their families to Australia, while ensuring they return home with specialized skills in critical fields like agriculture.

Beyond labor cooperation, the meeting underscored a growing strategic alliance marked by defense and economic commitments. 

Ambassador Innes-Brown cited the expansion of Australian investments in Philippine infrastructure and renewable energy, a move projected to generate 45,000 local jobs. 

Senator Tulfo also expressed gratitude for Australia’s donation of drones to the Philippine Coast Guard, noting their role in enhancing maritime security and territorial monitoring in the West Philippine Sea. 

Both officials pledged to further strengthen ties, focusing on regional stability and shared economic growth.

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PASAY CITY – Senator Robin Padilla has expressed his willingness to run for Vice President in 2028 as the running mate of Vice President Sara Duterte, provided he receives a direct order from former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

“Kapag utos ni Digong. Walang pwedeng mag-utos sa akin kahit sino, si Digong lang,” Padilla told reporters.

“Only if it's an order from Digong. No one else can give me orders, only Digong," he added.

Padilla emphasized that while he personally lacks political ambition and has even faced opposition from family members regarding his political career, "Digong" remains the only person he would unfailingly obey. 

“Kasi ayaw ko talaga ng pulitika, alam naman lahat ng… nanay ko alam yan, mga kapatid ko, asawa ko. Basta sinabi ni Digong susunod ako,” he said.

“Because I really don't like politics – everyone knows that... my mother knows it, my siblings, my wife. But if Digong says so, I will obey" he added.

The senator clarified that his loyalty to the elder Duterte would be the deciding factor in any potential executive bid, effectively placing his political plans in the hands of the former chief executive.

Despite being relatively new to national politics, Padilla expressed confidence in his ability to assume the country’s second-highest post, downplaying the complexity of the role by describing it as a "spare tire." 

“Ipinanganak po tayong ready. Lalo na ‘yan, para sa akin… Vice President, hindi naman masyadong ano yan…puro advocacy lang ‘yan eh. Parang ikaw ang spare tire, ‘di ba? Kayang kaya ‘yan,” he said.

"I was born ready. Especially for that – to me, the Vice Presidency is mostly about advocacy. It's like you’re the spare tire, right? I can definitely handle that,” he added.

Padilla argued that the Vice Presidency is primarily focused on advocacy work, which he believes he can effectively manage alongside the presidency. 

He also acknowledged a "hierarchy" of more senior allies, including Senators Imee Marcos, Bong Go, and Bato Dela Rosa, who may be more seasoned for the post, but maintained that he is "born ready" to serve should the Duterte leadership call on him to step up.

PASAY CITY – The Senate of the Philippines greenlit several landmark measures on Wednesday, February 18, aimed at uplifting the country’s most vulnerable sectors. 

During Session No. 46, lawmakers passed Senate Bill No. 1624 on final reading, establishing the Congressional Commission on Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security (AGRICOM) to modernize and strengthen the country’s agricultural policies. 

The chamber also approved SBN-1629, which mandates the establishment of multi-faith prayer and quiet rooms in public spaces, and SBN-155, a reform measure aimed at reducing "red tape" for indigent Filipinos seeking emergency government financial assistance.

Beyond these approvals, the Senate resumed floor debates on two other priority bills. 

SBN-1508 seeks to empower the Department of Health (DOH) to directly manage hospital bed capacity to prevent overcrowding, while SBN-1822 aims to expand inclusive support systems for persons on the autism spectrum. 

These measures signal a proactive legislative push to ensure that essential government services, from food security and healthcare to social support, remain accessible and responsive to the needs of marginalized Filipinos.

MANILA – Malacañang issued a brief and pointed response after Vice President Sara Duterte officially announced on Wednesday that she will seek the presidency in the 2028 national elections. 

Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro confirmed during a briefing that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is fully aware of the Vice President’s declaration. 

Rather than offering an extended political commentary, the President’s reaction was distilled to a simple, two-word message: "Good luck."

''Nadinig niya po, at ang sabi niya po ay 'good luck.” the Palace official said.

The Palace’s concise statement comes as the political rift between the nation's top two leaders continues to widen. 

According to Castro, the President also took note of Duterte’s public expressions of regret and her requests for forgiveness regarding her past political alliances. 

“Yun lamang po at nadinig niya po ang mga sinabing pinagsisisihan at humihingi ng kapatawaran itong si Bise Presidente,” Castro added.

Despite the significance of the Vice President’s early bid for the country’s highest office, the administration appears to be keeping its distance, with Castro emphasizing that the President’s "good luck" remark was his full and formal response.

PASAY CITY – The Senate Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Bam Aquino, launched a critical inquiry on Wednesday, February 18, to safeguard the Philippines' ₱2-trillion IT-BPM industry from the disruptive impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and escalating cyber threats. 

With 1.9 million Filipino jobs potentially affected, the hearing on Senate Resolution No. 253 brought together industry leaders and policy experts to address a widening gap in digital safeguards. 

Lawmakers warned that despite the sector's record-breaking $40 billion revenue in 2025, the country’s global competitiveness remains hampered by uncoordinated cyber defense systems and the urgent need for an AI-ready workforce.

The high-stakes discussion focused on turning these technological challenges into growth opportunities by aligning national education and labor programs with emerging digital standards. 

Senator Aquino emphasized that the inquiry aims to craft "future-proof" legislation to ensure Filipino workers are not displaced by automation but are instead equipped to take on higher-value roles. 

By strengthening cybersecurity infrastructure and institutional capacity, the committee seeks to reinforce the Philippines' position as a premier global services hub and ensures the IT-BPM industry remains a resilient pillar of the national economy through 2026 and beyond.

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