Highlights: Day 30 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 28, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Monday downplayed rumors of a Marcos administration-backed slate for the 2028 elections led by Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Secretary Manny Pacquiao. Palace press officer Claire Castro said she had received no information about Robredo and Pacquiao being courted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to run for president and vice

MANILA, Philippines — The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) on Monday sought a transition period before travel taxes are abolished, saying the levy funds the majority of tourism-related infrastructure. Tieza Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid made the request during the Department of Tourism’s budget hearing before the Senate finance subcommittee. “Regarding the issue

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may no longer be able to hold the Nov. 2 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections if the Supreme Court (SC) issues a temporary restraining order (TRO) order on the postponement of the electoral exercise, Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said Monday. Garcia made the remark during the

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar expressed his support on Monday for Senate Bill No. 1431, or the proposed Revised Cooperative Code of the Philippines, which aims to strengthen cooperatives as instruments of social justice, livelihood generation, and economic development. Cooperatives have been making significant contributions to the economy, Villar explained in a statement, citing

MANILA, Philippines — The Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) has admitted only 3,000 of more than 70,000 applicants for academic year 2026-2027, its president said Monday. Lawyer Domingo Reyes Jr., president of PLM, said during the flag-raising ceremony at Manila City Hall that while 43,000 applicants were able to take the entrance exam, only

COTABATO CITY  – Mayor Akmad “Mitra” Ampatuan Sr. of Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao del Sur, on Monday challenged his nephew to surrender and squarely face the charges in connection with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack in January this year. “My son, come out and surrender; face the cases against you… We will see you in court.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) signed an agreement on the first ever hospital-based learning continuity program in the country for children with long-term health conditions. The memorandum, signed on Monday, Sept. 28, is expected to help eligible patients continue their education while receiving medical care

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led on Monday the national recognition of all those behind the Philippines’ historic gains in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). These included educators, learners, parents, local government leaders, and public and private partners. Attending the thanksgiving gathering at President Corazon

MANILA, Philippines — The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) said it still needs to verify whether Cedric Lee and Deniece Cornejo can be released despite a Court of Appeals order directing their immediate discharge. Lee and Cornejo are serving sentences related to the serious illegal detention case involving actor and television host Vhong Navarro, which dates

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered an investigation into reports that some Filipino athletes, particularly members of the Alas Pilipinas men’s volleyball team, had to pay out of pocket for food during the ongoing Asian Games in Japan. Palace press officer Claire Castro said Marcos does not want Filipino athletes representing the country

MANILA, Philippines — Laguna Governor Sol Aragones became the subject of a graft complaint filed before the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday over alleged irregularities in a program which complainants said had a P11.5 million budget to provide free review center classes for civil service examination takers. According to Laguna Board Member Lorenzo Zuñiga

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s repeated attacks on the Senate Impeachment Court’s integrity pose a danger if she is not reprimanded for repeatedly violating the sub judice rule, private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said Monday. Tolosa said this during a press briefing after a break on Day 30 of Duterte’s impeachment trial, when