The Knight Publication

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | Bulacan RTC orders arrest of Sarah and Curlee Discaya, other involved personalities in flood control scandal

The Bulacan Regional Trial Court Branch 20 on Friday has ordered the arrest of contractor Curlee Discaya for malversation in relation to the flood control project controversies.

The court also ordered the arrest of Sarah Discaya, former DPWH engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, and St. Timothy Construction executive Roma Rimando.

The case against the aforementioned individuals is non-bailable.

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 | "BAKANTE NGAYON ANG POSISYON NG SENATE PRESIDENT" — SEN. LACSON

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday stressed that the seat of the Senate President is currently vacant, contrary to the response of Senator Alan Peter Cayetano following the shake up in today's session. Lacson likewise clarified that while the seat is vacant, the Senate cannot elect a new President yet as they do not have the required quorum to conduct the process.

Cayetano decried the election of Senator Gatchalian as Senate President Pro Tempore on his Facebook live, questioning the legitimacy of Gatchalian's victory. Furthermore, Cayetano issued a memorandum Wednesday evening, notifying all Senate officials and personnel that the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on June 4 will push through. The senator also insisted that he is still the Senate President.

This is a developing story.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | HOUSE APPROVES ANTI POLITICAL DYNASTY BILL ON THIRD AND FINAL READING

The House of Representatives on Wednesday has approved the House Bill 8389 or the Anti Political Dynasty Bill on its third and final reading.

271 House members voted in favor of the bill while 16 voted against and 7 abstained during the plenary session.

The bill seeks to bar political dynasties in local and national offices. Moreover, the bill prohibits spouses and relatives up to the second degree of consanguinity from holding or running for positions simultaneously within the same jurisdiction. The bill also requires sworn disclosure of family relations among political candidates.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | CAYETANO STAYS AS SENATE PRESIDENT, GATCHALIAN ELECTED AS SP PRO TEMPORE IN MAJOR SENATE SHAKE UP

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano will retain his seat following the Senate's failure to reach the 13-member quorum required for his ouster and the election of his supposed replacement, June 3.

Notably, today's session marked a significant shift in leadership as Senator Win Gatchalian officially replaced Sentor Loren Legarda as Senate Pro Tempore after a surprise attendance by Senator Chiz Escudero. With 12 Senators present, a quorum was declared to proceed with the session. In the absence of the Senate President, the SP Pro Tempore shall preside the session as the "Acting Senate President".

Meanwhile, Senator Migz Zubiri was elected as the chairperson on the Committee of Rules and Majority Leader, Rey Bantug Jr. was elected as Senate Secretary, and Police Major General Alfredo Sotto Corpuz was elected as Sergeant-at-Arms.

Moreover, the following were elected as committee chairpersons:

Sen. JV Ejercito - Finance
Sen. Tito Sotto - National Defense
Sen. Ping Lacson - Public Order and Accounts
Sen. Erwin Tulfo - Blue Ribbon and Social Justice
Sen. Raffy Tulfo - Public Services
Sen. Bam Aquino - Basic Education
Sen. Kiko Pangilinan - Agriculture
Sen. Risa Hontiveros - Health
Sen. Lito Lapid - Games and Amusements
Sen. Chiz Escudero - Urban Planning
Sen. Migz Zubiri - Foreign Relations

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗟𝗚𝗕𝗧𝗤+ 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲

Pride Month in the Philippines is rooted in resistance, not just celebration. This year marks 32 years since the first Pride March in the country (1994's Stonewall Manila, the first in the Asia-Pacific). Yet, basic protections remain stalled, it has now been 26 years since the first version of the SOGIESC Equality Bill was filed with no progress. This delay proves that the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community cannot be separated from the struggles of the broader Filipino people.

Our history debunks the conservative claim that being q***r is a "modern Western construct". In pre-colonial times, cis and trans women held immense spiritual power as babaylan, catalonan, and asog. When Spanish colonizers demonized and slaughtered them, these q***r ancestors fled to the mountains and became among the first to take up arms against foreign rule.

This history of resistance repeated itself during Martial Law, when state forces directed intense vitriol against the community. Countless q***r Filipinos went underground to fight the fascist regime, including Melanie Santos, a bisexual woman who co-founded the anti-imperialist Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP).

Today, this vulnerability to larger systems of oppression continues. We see it in the tragic 2014 murder of transgender woman Jennifer Laude by US Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton and the absolute pardon later granted to him, showing how q***r lives are compromised by foreign military relations.

Against a patriarchal society and modern-day imperialist pressures from global superpowers like the US and China, the Filipino LGBTQ+ community stands firm. Pride is a continuation of the militant struggle of the babaylan. True q***r liberation will only be achieved when the entire nation is free.

Writeup by Ashley Kasilag
Illustration by Don Aliv Lubuguin

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | Senator Jinggoy Estrada Surrenders at Senate Over Flood Control Plunder Warrant

Senator Jinggoy Estrada surrendered to the PNP-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at the Senate on Monday afternoon, June 1, 2026. His surrender followed a non-bailable plunder warrant issued by the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division over a multi-million peso flood control corruption scandal. The court also ordered the arrest of co-accused individuals, including former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

The Office of the Ombudsman accuses Estrada of amassing over 573 million pesos in kickbacks. Prosecutors allege he rigged budget allocations within the Department of Public Works and Highways, taking 25% to 30% commissions from contractors for anomalous flood control projects.

Before turning himself in, Estrada held a press briefing denying the charges, calling them baseless and politically motivated. He declined Senate protective custody and suspended his congressional salary. Police escorted Estrada from the building for booking before his turnover to the Sandiganbayan.

𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘 | PAGASA announces the start of Habagat season

PAGASA on Saturday officially announced the start of the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat in the Philippines.

The weather bureau reminds the public of possible occasional to frequent rains and thunderstorms as Habagat becomes the dominant weather system in the country.

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | FIVB suspends PNVF "with immediate effect"

The Board of Administration of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) on late Friday night announced the official suspension of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) "with immediate effect". FIVB is the international governing body for all forms of volleyball.

The announcement was made following reports of serious governance concerns and multiple purported violations of the FIVB Code of Ethics. The reports are now under investigation by the independent FIVB Ethics Panel.

"Despite continued diplomatic efforts by the FIVB to find a sustainable path forward for Philippine volleyball, the suspension was deemed necessary to safeguard the sport, ensure athletes are prioritised, and uphold the long-term development commitments made for volleyball in the Philippines." the FIVB wrote on their official webpage.

Meanwhile, an Ad Hoc committee has been appointed during the course of the suspension to temporarily oversee the affairs of the PNVF.

"The FIVB remains fully committed to protecting the integrity of Philippine volleyball at all levels and supporting its sustainable long-term growth." the international federation concluded, assuring Filipino volleyball athletes and fans of continued support and assistance.

𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | PSC Suspends Funding for PNVF, Cites Participation Issues and Contract Breach

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) on Friday has suspended the funding for the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and its related activities due to alleged non-compliance with its rules and agreements.

According to the memorandum from the PSC board meeting obtained by the media, the PNVF was flagged over "serious concerns" involving the federation's lapses in participation commitments of the national team, its failed compliance with the originally agreed branding and logo visibility, and operational misalignment. The board has also raised concerns over the lack of effective collaboration between the federation and the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC). Furthermore, the absence of legitimate national team participation in the AVC event despite receiving government funding for its NSA operations was questioned.

The federation through a response letter signed by PNVF president Anthony "Tonyboy" Liao has cited strict international templates as well as the compressed timeline as reasons for its limited branding flexibility. Liao added that the federation adheres to the approval process mandated by the Volleyball World regarding promotional collaterals, layout and on-site branding configurations— all of which are based on the pre-existing templates that apply to host cities of conferences.

The PSC clarified that financial support for the federation shall resume once all concerns are properly resolved.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | Arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada Ordered by Sandiganbayan

Sandiganbayan 2nd Division on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Senator Jinggoy Estrada for the graft case in relation to his alleged involvement in the flood control corruption scandal.

The flood control scandal which has caused widespread condemnation from the general public since last year has led to the firing of several public works officials, exposé of contractors and their families, and huge mass mobilizations calling for justice and accountability.