Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Vice President Sara Duterte officially launched her legal defense on Monday, June 1, 2026, submitting her formal answer to the articles of impeachment filed against her. 

Senate Secretary and concurrent Impeachment Court Clerk of Court Jose Luis Montales received the documents at approximately 4:35 p.m. 

This critical submission officially sets the stage for the upcoming Senate trial, marking a pivotal moment in the country's brewing political showdown.

Duterte’s legal team, spearheaded by Atty. Michael Poa, personally delivered the physical documents to the Senate alongside a USB drive containing electronic copies of her defense. 

With the paperwork now logged, the Senate Impeachment Court will review her responses to the specific allegations before determining the next procedural steps. 

The swift filing underscores the Vice President's strategy to directly confront the charges as the legislative body prepares to transition into a full impeachment court.

PASAY CITY—Philippine lawmakers from both chambers officially signed the reconciled version of Senate Bill No. 1894 and House Bill No. 8476 on Monday, June 1, launching a major upgrade to the country’s free college education system. 

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda led the upper house contingent alongside Senators Bam Aquino and Mark Villar during the bicameral conference committee meeting at the Senate. 

This critical signing successfully merges the legislative efforts to overhaul and strengthen Republic Act No. 10931, the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.

The newly amended measure directly tackles student equity by prioritizing the country’s most financially vulnerable youth for the government's Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). 

To ensure these critical funds actually reach the poorest learners, the law introduces aggressive tracking and accountability safeguards within the TES framework. 

By closing implementation loopholes and focusing resources on those who need them most, the legislation aims to make quality higher education a reliable reality for marginalized Filipino students.

The Office of the Ombudsman officially charged Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan with plunder and graft charges before the Sandiganbayan on May 28. 

Several other high-ranking DPWH officials face identical indictments for their alleged involvement in a massive flood control scandal. 

Senator Estrada immediately fired back, announcing that his legal team is already preparing to exhaust all legal remedies to contest the case. 

The lawmaker strongly asserted his innocence, highlighting a crucial Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) letter. 

According to the Senator, this official document proves he made no budget insertions in the 2025 national budget a vital piece of evidence he claims investigators conveniently ignored.

“Kabilang dito ang Senate Legislative Budget Research and Monitoring Office (LBRMO) letter na nagsasaad na walang anumang record na ako ay nagpasok ng anumang insertion sa 2025 national budget. Isa itong mahalagang ebidensya na tahasang pinapabulaanan ang lahat ng alegasyon laban sa akin, subalit sadyang isinantabi.” Senator Estrada highlighted.

Estrada further slammed the agencies for violating his right to due process, claiming he was denied a fair opportunity to review the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Ombudsman resolutions before the charges were rushed to court. 

“Bukod dito, hindi ako nabigyan ng  pagkakataong makita at mapag-aralan nang maayos ang mga resolusyon ng Department of Justice (DOJ) at Ombudsman upang makapaghain ng kaukulang paliwanag o Motion for Reconsideration bago isinampa ang kaso sa Sandiganbayan. Ang ganitong labis at hindi makatuwirang proseso ay may seryosong implikasyon sa aking right to due process.” The senator added.

He questioned the "railroaded" process, pointing out that the Ombudsman filed the case barely a week after the DOJ issued its resolution, altogether skipping its own independent fact-finding investigation despite earlier promises of a thorough review.

“Barely a week after the DOJ issued its Resolution in my case, agad nagsampa ng kaso ang Ombudsman nang hindi nagsasagawa ng sarili nitong masusi at independent fact-finding investigation. Sa ilalim ng umiiral na proseso, mahalagang bahagi ang fact-finding investigation bago magsampa ng kaso sa Sandiganbayan. Ito ay sa kabila ng naunang pahayag ng Ombudsman na magkakaroon ng “independent review and resolution on the merits of the case.” Batay sa mga pangyayari, malinaw na kailangang suriin kung naisakatuparan nga ang pahayag na ito.” Senator Estrada argued.

The veteran senator also raised political eyebrows by linking the sudden swiftness of the case to recent shifts in the local political landscape. 

“Kapanasin-pansin din na, mula nang magpalit ng liderato sa Senado, naging mabilis ang pag-usad ng mga kasong kinasasangkutan ng ilang miyembro ng majority bloc.” Senator Estrada pointed out.

He concluded by stating that if facing these charges is the price he must pay for standing by his principles, he is fully prepared to clear his name in the proper legal forum.

“As I have said before, if this is the price that I have to pay for standing by my principles and for what I believe in, then so be it. Ipagpapatuloy ko ang paghahanap ng katotohanan at ang pagtatanggol sa aking pangalan sa tamang forum at alinsunod sa batas.” The Senator concluded.

QUEZON CITY—The Philippine National Police (PNP) on May 28 ordered investigators to build an airtight criminal case against the network of individuals who helped Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa escape the Senate to evade an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. 

The directive follows findings from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), which tracked the events of May 14 when Dela Rosa reportedly slipped out of protective custody during a chaotic shooting incident on the Senate premises. 

Police are now actively scrutinizing the vehicles and support units used in the operation, coordinating with transport agencies to trace ownership records and vehicle movements.

While public attention initially zeroed in on Senator Robinhood Padilla who claimed Dela Rosa merely hitched a ride in his vehicle, PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez revealed that investigators have uncovered a highly organized operation. 

“We are looking at several individuals including the drivers, security escorts, and owners of the backup vehicles involved in trailing them who actively participated in this incident,” General Nartatez said.

The police are targeting a specific circle of accomplices, including drivers, security escorts, and the owners of backup vehicles that trailed the senators during the getaway.

Nartatez issued a stern warning to anyone shielding the former top cop from international justice, emphasizing that status will not grant immunity from prosecution. 

"Let this be a clear warning: there will always be legal consequences when you choose to interfere with law enforcement and assist a person in evading arrest, regardless of your status."

Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III rallied barangays across the country on Thursday to spearhead the frontline battle against illiteracy, framing education as the ultimate weapon to conquer poverty. 

Speaking via a video message to the Liga ng mga Barangay under this year's theme, “Zero Illiteracy — One Barangay at a Time,” Speaker Dy mobilized local leaders to ensure every Filipino secures access to learning, economic mobility, and a dignified life. 

He warned that illiteracy acts as a heavy anchor, dragging down communities by shutting out citizens from critical jobs and blocking them from participating in national economic growth.

“Napakalalim po ng mensaheng dala ng temang ito dahil ang laban kontra illiteracy ay hindi lamang kampanya para sa edukasyon. It is a campaign to provide opportunities, livelihood, and dignity. It is a fight for the future of our nation,” Speaker Dy said.

The House leader from Isabela hammered home that literacy equals empowerment, functioning as the key master key for personal and societal advancement. 

“Kaya mahalagang maintindihan natin: literacy is empowerment. Ito ang susi upang mabigyan ng kakayahan ang mamamayan na mas mapabuti ang kanilang buhay.” The House Speaker added.

Dy explained that the campaign transcends standard schooling, operating instead as a direct pipeline to better livelihoods and stronger community development. 

By boosting basic literacy skills nationwide, the country can simultaneously build a more robust, competitive workforce and unlock fresh business and employment opportunities for millions of struggling families.

Because local officials sit closest to the people, Dy stressed that the true battle begins at the grassroots level rather than inside national government offices. 

He called on barangay leaders to actively scout their neighborhoods to identify out-of-school children, guide at-risk youth, and lift up families needing educational interventions. 

“Kayo ang unang nakakakita kung sinong bata ang hindi nakakapasok sa paaralan, kung sinong kabataan ang kailangang gabayan, at kung aling pamilya ang nangangailangan ng tulong upang mabigyan ng pagkakataong matuto at umasenso.” Speaker Dy appealed.

By taking immediate ownership of their communities, local leaders can dismantle learning barriers directly at the source and pave the way for a more progressive nation.