Jasha Gamao

The Senate has officially lifted its "No Visitation" policy weeks after a heightened alert status locked down the complex due to security threats. 

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian announced on June 29, that the public can now access the building through the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms' (OSAA) new Visitor Management System. 

The restriction was originally put in place on June 9 as a temporary protective measure.

Gatchalian emphasized that the return to accessibility will not come at the expense of protection. 

Moving forward, the chamber will enforce continuous entry-point inspections, mandatory identification checks, and constant monitoring of the premises. 

"Bilang inyong Senate President, tungkulin kong mapanatili ang katatagan ng institusyon at matiyak ang kaligtasan ng lahat." Senate President Gatchalian said, adding that the Senate will keep working closely with state security agencies to protect lawmakers, staff, media, and guests.

The policy shift aims to restore open democratic access while adapting to modern security needs. Gatchalian invited the public to participate in refining these new protocols as they roll out. 

"Kasabay nito, bukas ang aking tanggapan sa anumang mungkahi. Makikinig tayo at sisikaping matugunan ang mga ito, habang tinitiyak ang tamang balanse sa pagitan ng seguridad at accessibility." The Senate leader said.

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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.

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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.

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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.”

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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.

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