Inquirer News
July 2026
Marcos makes final preparations for his 2026 Sona
What proof do they need that the government is working on these cases? Imagine, in less than a year, the government has made these developments,
Some groups just want to criticize the administration. But if they have evidence, go ahead and file the cases against these big personalities,
Diokno on Pia Cayetano’s video clip: We’re not fishing for evidence
When you say the prosecution is accusing without evidence, it is difficult to argue that such a claim does not touch on the merits of a case still being heard by the impeachment court,
Probable cause was established in Anti‑Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records showing billions that passed through the accounts of the vice president and her spouse. We sought the bank records to verify whether they match the AMLC reports,
A senator‑judge must first listen to the entire case and weigh all the evidence before reaching any conclusion,
Marcos’ 5th Sona should go beyond promises — Villanueva
Villanueva made the pronouncement as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his fifth Sona on Monday, July 27
This year’s Sona must answer the questions that matter most to ordinary Filipinos: Where are the jobs? How will families put food on the table? How will we reduce poverty? How do we give our children a better future through education
Real challenges call for real action. The nation’s biggest problems can’t wait,
The best anti-poverty program is a decent job. The best way to fight hunger is to ensure that every Filipino who wants to work has access to job opportunities,
Marcos signs Gida Schools Act to fund remote public schools
The enactment of this law is an important step toward ensuring that no obstacle will prevent any Filipino child from getting an education, no matter where they are in the Philippines,
Such standards shall ensure that all school facilities remain safe, durable, accessible, climate and disaster-resilient, and suitable to the geographic, cultural and environmental conditions of the communities they serve,
Distance, poverty and the lack of infrastructure should never stand in the way of every Filipino child’s right to quality education. This law shows that they are not alone and that their dreams matter,
Manila sets road closures, rerouting for Marcos’ 5th Sona
Yellow rainfall warning up on parts of Zambales, Bataan Friday afternoon
Ridon asks: Was OVP dragging Senate into procurement issue over meals?
As these arrangements are required solely in connection with these proceedings, the OVP respectfully requests that the Senate shoulder the reasonable costs of food and beverage and catering services for the defense team, support staff, and witnesses,
The way I look at it, it seems that the OVP is basically opening up the Senate for a procurement case,
Provided, that the Procuring Entity cannot delegate the issuance of the notice of award and the award of contract to the procurement agent and there shall be no transfer of funds to the procurement agent, except for the payment of service fee, if applicable,
Because they want to hire their own caterer, but the one who would pay it is a different entity. So I think it’s the Senate who should decide on what would be their decision regarding this matter,
So the defense, the OVP has its general budget, the House has its own general for the impeachment proceedings. So I cannot understand why — it looked like a demand from the OVP, from the Vice President herself — they are asking the Senate to actually pay for the food expenses of the defense panel,
The request is very interesting, because it is true that the Senate Impeachment Court has no obligation to pay the food of anyone, whether it is the prosecution or the defense. The truth is that these sides have their own offices, the defense and the prosecution,
Padilla explains why he opposed issuance of subpoenas
Because if this is the case, as if we are being watched and observed, it is not good for the people. Let us remember that we are equal before God and the law,
If this is the standard we are setting, then let us all open up our bank records, let us all open them, to show the public that we are not playing favorites here,
We could have considered starting at 2022, and if there’s more kung doon pa lang it already shows that unexplained from 22 to 2026, there may be no reason to go back and at least respect that part of the records,
And I ask you to put on record my objection to this ruling,
That’s our way of showing respect for the persons who are brought here to trial,
Prosecution: We won’t meddle in Matibag’s issues with senator-judges
We will leave it to the Presiding Officer to determine what questions that may be posed by the senator-judges would be considered to be appropriate and relevant to the matter at hand,
What we would expect (from) Director Matibag to respond to the question by both panels, we would expect him to inform the court, or appraise the court, based on the knowledge that he has surrounding the preliminary investigation,
Ombudsman: Romualdez keeps trying to leave PH as we prepare plunder rap
State prosecutors have yet to file a case against Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan
Our investigation identifies former Speaker Romualdez as the central figure in a scheme built on the diversion of public funds meant for flood control projects — funds that were supposed to shield Filipino communities from the very floods that, year after year, take their homes, their livelihoods, and too often, their lives,
We are not done collecting evidence. We are not done filing cases,
Despite a precautionary hold departure order issued by the Sandiganbayan, this office has received credible intelligence reports that former Speaker Martin Romualdez has not ceased attempting to leave the country,
In an apparent attempt to cover up the extraordinary wealth, the money was exchanged, co-mingled and laundered through an elaborate scheme.”
It is corroborated by an independent evidentiary trail — from money exchange companies to bank transfers to shell companies — all using personalities tied to the former Speaker — Martin Romualdez,
Children discover, protect critically endangered endemic crocodile nest
The children’s decision to report the nest, rather than disturb it, allowed immediate protection measures to be put in place,
Their vigilance, together with the prompt response of the Bantay Santuwaryos, and continued technical guidance from the Mabuwaya Foundation, contributes to improving the breeding success of the Critically Endangered Philippine crocodile,
LTFRB summoned operator of jeepney involved in Bataan road crash
The operator has three days, after the receipt of the SCO, to respond on why its franchise should not be suspended or cancelled. The hearing of the case will be on July 28,
Kapunan regrets not examining Lopez, but says it’s not last chance
No, as a matter of fact, this is not to preempt, but in our pre-trial order, she is listed (Lopez) […] she is listed in some other articles,
Yes, I wished that I could examine her, I would just watch Netflix later because it seems… well, I had wanted to do it because I’ve never backed off from a challenge. And to me, it’s very important that the truth must (come) out, and I felt that with my years of experience I could do it,
And those of you who know me—and I see many familiar faces here—know that hindi ako umaatras (I don’t back down) at all. In fact, I kill a mosquito with an atomic bomb. This was not necessary here,
Teachers’ groups: Cavite pupil’s death exposes gaps in school system
There are not enough school nurses or other health personnel, forcing teachers to perform duties that fall outside the scope of their profession,
This unfortunate incident should serve as a wake-up call to reexamine the condition of our public schools,
No words can ease the pain brought about by this heartbreaking loss, and we deeply sympathize with the family’s grief during this difficult time,
Tulfo, witness to defense: Original ‘Romanov’ plan was threat vs Marcos
During the impeachment trial on Tuesday, defense panel member lawyer Mark Vinluan asked the prosecution’s witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, whether he had heard of Operation Romanov—named after the Romanovs of Russia, a royal clan that reigned during the 17th Century until their execution in 1917 during the February Revolution
Yes, insofar as our investigation is concerned, since it started with Mayor Baste and we were not able to validate another Romanov Operation that happened, because I think it started with them, with the brother of the Vice President,
I did mention that for me, Oplan Romanov started with Mayor Baste Duterte, during a Maisug rally in Davao. So my question now Mr. Witness, do you remember what Mayor Baste Duterte said about the Romanovs that night?”
That’s why Mr. Presiding officer I am confused why Princess Maui mentioned that in the online press conference of VP Sara, that Romanov threat for Sara Duterte when in fact it was Baste Duterte who mentioned these words as a warning to the first family. So which is which, Mr. Witness, where did this Romanov start, and who should avoid the threats?”
Well as I said, I heard the term ‘Romanov’ when it was mentioned by Mayor Baste (Duterte) during the Maisug rally. Other than that, we have no validated (information) about the Romanov Operation,
We validate first the information sir, and then once it is confirmed, we will start the case build-up,
The problem is that, as you mentioned earlier, she did not face the NBI. But as in any other case, if someone showed up and said she received a threat, what is the standard operating procedure of the NBI?”
In the video, it was Princess Maui who said Operation Romanov, all right? Will you agree with me that based on that question, there was also a threat against VP Sara and her family?”
It’s like he is saying that it might happen to your family like what happened before in 1986, if my memory serves me right sir, that’s what Mayor Baste said,
Pagasa: Josie weakens into LPA; may dissipate over PH Sea
Due to unfavorable environmental conditions, JOSIE weakened into a low pressure area at 2:00 PM today. The remnant low will move generally north-northwestward over the Philippine Sea. However, as the remnant low moves over increasingly less favorable conditions, there is a likelihood that it may dissipate over the Philippine Sea,
Vinluan: VP’s statement ‘not threats in the first place’
Defense counsel Mark Vinluan made the characterization when Senator-judge Pia Cayetano asked all parties, including the prosecution’s witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, how they interpreted grave threats
There is another case—no less than the Supreme Court of the Philippines. It was said there, it is not necessary that the recipient himself felt fear or that the threat was serious.... All that needs to be proven is that they were intended by the accused to have that effect,
It is our position that the statements made by the vice president were not threats in the first place. That’s why we were categorizing it as a response, a mere response, to a Q&A (question and answer),
It was said there that there is no law that requires a private complainant… to execute an affidavit so that the accused can be found guilty of grave threat,
One of the things that was said in Garma versus People is that the recipient does not need to intimidate or to treat the threat seriously. It is sufficient to show that the intention of the offender is to intimidate and treat the utterances or threatening remarks he made seriously,
NBI exec: Evidence points to Sara Duterte’s kill plot against Marcos
We do believe that the Vice President had contracted [someone], but I don’t have personal knowledge if that is the personal knowledge you want to know about. But we do believe this based on the evidence that we’ve gathered and based on our investigation,
In the same way, you also don’t have personal knowledge that Vice President Sara contracted an assassin,
So you just admitted that the congressmen are all corrupt,
Marcos: World’s largest solar project MTerra to boost PH energy security
Such an energy mix leaves us more vulnerable to fluctuations in global fuel prices and developments in the international market, as we have experienced in the last few months,
What we inaugurated today will be the world’s largest integrated solar and battery storage facility located in a single site,
These capabilities will help strengthen the stability of our power system while expanding the role of clean energy in our power generation mix,
It underscores the importance of diversifying our energy sources, and how we must be committed to moving that mix in the direction to favor renewables,
And it rises not in Texas, not in the Gobi Desert, but right here in Gapan, Nueva Ecija. This inauguration today was made possible not only by Meralco but by many other hands, other minds, and many hearts,
This achievement comes at a time when the need to boost our energy sector has never been more apparent,
Vehicle in fatal hit-and-run not owned by a ‘member of the House’fil
The statement comes as the House extended its condolences to the victim’s family
Based on verification with Land Transportation Office records, the registered owner is not a member of the House,
The House of Representatives extends its deepest condolences to the family of the victim who perished in the tragic accident involving a Toyota Land Cruiser reportedly bearing a congressional sticker,
The House remains open and transparent on this matter and will release additional information once further important details are confirmed,
Rainy Sunday evening forecast in most of PH due to habagat
Matibag seeks earlier date to testify in Duterte’s trial due to a summit
This is because of a scheduling conflict with a summit on scams and transnational organized crime in Thailand
As Director of the Bureau, I will personally attend to represent the NBI at this summit of director and commissioner general-level law enforcement leaders across the Asia-Pacific, which will require my travel and attendance on those dates,
In view thereof, I respectfully request that I be scheduled to take the witness stand prior to my departure so that my participation in the summit will neither disrupt the proceedings nor delay the presentation of my testimony,
Water supply worsens in Metro Manila, Central Luzon
The reservoir stood at 156.09 meters above sea level (masl) at 6 a.m. before dipping further to 156.02 masl by 1 p.m., based on records from the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO)
It is almost the same because these are habagat rains, not rains coming from the mountains. The dam’s elevation will increase more easily if a typhoon directly hits the Sierra Madre,
Ex-IBP president: Conviction vote can be lowered
The [start of the trial] is where the foundation needs to be established. Now we will see other features of the house. I think the public’s interest will intensify next week and in the next few weeks,
These three are all alive and are not yet unseated by any of the constitutionally allowed modes of removal, so they are still senators,
I believe it may already be considered a justiciable controversy, although it is not for us to dictate that, but for the courts. Given that it is a ruling of the chair, not objected to nor appealed by any member of this court, it therefore stands,
What will happen now [is lawyer] Jeremy Lotoc, who is a seasoned NBI investigator and NBI lawyer, will explain why and how the evidence was assessed,
When you construe a law, the Constitution in this case, you try to harmonize everything or interpret it in such a way that the law becomes operative or effective, not inutile,
They know that when you declare two-thirds of the remaining [senators], there will be chaos, and the opening of trial would be delayed,
Looking at this wording, it is correct that two-thirds [of the current Senate] are 16 … but it looks like the intention is not an absolute number, it’s a relative number,