Philippine Post

Impeachment prosecution team spokesman Benjamin Tolosa Jr. MANILA — The House prosecution panel on Wednesday said it still needs clarification on impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s ruling on the sub judice rule in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero MANILA — Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday finally set his foot down and set a clear guideline on the subjudice rule that prohibits senator-judges and lawyers from both the defense and prosecution teams from making statements related to the substance or merits of the case. His decision came after defense lead counsel Sheila Sison, on Aug.

MANILA — The prosecution and the defense panels in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will assess whether or not to to replace their respective spokespersons following Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis Escudero’s recent decision on the sub judice rule.

OVP assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio during Day 18 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Aug. 25, 2026. Ortonio was declared by the impeachment court as a hostile witness. MANILA — The House prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial said the testimony of Office of the Vice President (OVP) assistant chief of staff Lemuel Ortonio suggests that the office treated its confidential funds like petty cash.

Defense counsel Michael Poa MANILA — Resignation remains off the table for Vice President Sara Duterte as she faces the Senate impeachment court over allegations of misusing confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery and grave threats. This is according to defense spokesperson Michael Poa on Wednesday, when he was asked if Duterte and her lawyers have ever considered this move to ensure that she’ll be able to run in the 2028 elections. “No. I think I can answer that categorically.

MANILA  — The Senate committee on public information and mass media, headed by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, on Wednesday endorsed to the Senate floor a bill seeking to set 16 years old as the minimum age for social media use. Senate Bill No. 2424, or the proposed Child Online Safety and Protection Act, seeks to regulate children’s access to social media platforms and impose obligations on social media companies to protect minors from online risks.

A bird’s eye view of an urban area in Davao City. CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Davao City accounted for more than half of Southern Mindanao’s confidential fund allocations in 2023 and 2024, receiving P1.06 billion, or about 50% of the over P2 billion allocated to the governors and mayors of the region’s five provinces and six cities.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Malacañang Press Officer Claire Castro MANILA — Malacañang on Wednesday warned politicians allegedly receiving support from China to push propaganda undermining the Philippines’ claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) against selling out the country just to remain in office.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon MANILA — There is no “leadership fund” in the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as projects have to undergo strict compliance with the agency’s requirements, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon said on Wednesday.

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. MANILA — Some elected officials may be receiving support from China to spread propaganda undermining the country’s claims in the contested South China Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Tuesday. Authorities have reason to suspect that certain politicians may be bankrolled by Beijing although it may be hard to find evidence to prove this, he told lawmakers at a congressional budget briefing.