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10 Mayo, 2026 Linggo

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ASEAN calls ME conflict restraint

By Nidz Godino

“We urged all parties involved to maintain conducive conditions for full and effective implementation of ceasefire, by exercising utmost restraint, ceasing all hostilities and avoiding any acts that may aggravate situation,” leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations urged parties involved in Middle East conflict to fully implement ceasefire and uphold peace, stability and prosperity worldwide.

In statement issued after summit, ASEAN leaders expressed “serious concern” over rapidly evolving situation in Middle East, warning that it poses “grave threat” to lives and safety of civilians and to regional and global peace and stability.

“We underscore importance of maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity, upholding international law and promoting genuine dialogue and diplomacy in addressing conflicts and tensions, including need for complete and immediate cessation of hostilities across all fronts in Middle East,” they added.

Leaders likewise called for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure in armed conflicts and safety of United Nations peacekeepers and humanitarian personnel.

“We stressed need to preserve unimpeded flow of energy and essential goods, including food, agricultural inputs, pharmaceutical products and transport fuels, in order to safeguard economic stability and strengthen resilience across ASEAN,” they added.

At press conference President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.said ASEAN leaders united to call for peace and issued document urging all parties to cease hostilities, reopen Strait of Hormuz and pursue lasting peace.

“Peace is something…fundamental to any discussion about war in Middle East… first step, because we will achieve absolutely nothing until there is peace,we, now, are in this limbo situation where we don’t know how long it’s going to last. ..we don’t know when the next encounter is going to be…is ceasefire on… is it not on... it’s very difficult situation…until fighting ends, until bombings end, then it’s very difficult to put together any kind of solution,”FMJ said.

Apart from discussions on Middle East, ASEAN leaders likewise tackled political crisis in Myanmar, with Marcos acknowledging frustration among member-states over lack of progress in efforts to normalize situation there.

“I believe many of members aired their frustration about lack of progress in the process of normalizing situation in Myanmar and trying to find way forward, trying to find some kind of agreement amongst member states,” the President told reporters after summit.

“We have to do something because Myanmar is not merely trade partner… Myanmar is not merely friend to ASEAN… Myanmar is part of ASEAN family and it is tragedy when family member is left out of family for whatever reason... we need to find other ways to move the process forward…what those other ways are is something that we now will have to go away and think about.”

Myanmar was supposed to chair this year’s ASEAN Summit, but it was replaced by Philippines because of political crisis stemmed from 2021 coup ousted democratically elected government.

Min Aung Hlaing, leader of military junta launched coup, won Myanmar presidency during election held last month.

ASEAN has yet to reach consensus on whether to recognize results of election.

As summit came to close, Marcos thanked fellow ASEAN leaders and partners for their cooperation and emphasized importance of unity amid global uncertainty.

“As we close 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos and I extend our deepest gratitude to our fellow ASEAN leaders and partners for trust, friendship and meaningful discussions we shared over past few days, at time when world faces uncertainty, ASEAN once again showed that we move forward best when we listen to one another, work together and keep our peoples at the center of every decision,” the Chief Executive said in separate Facebook post.

Under Philippines’ chairship, ASEAN leaders adopted several key documents aimed at strengthening regional cooperation on climate action, disaster response and maritime concerns.

Among those were ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Maritime Cooperation; ASEAN Declaration on Empowerment of Youth in Climate Action and Disaster Resilience, recognizes role of young people in climate-risk reduction and disaster preparedness, and ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on ASEAN Convergence on Disaster Response.

10 Mayo, 2026 Linggo

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Police-led EJKs probe, Bato as 'tip of the spear'

By J.Lo

"I repeat, this is not arrest warrant but subpoena for the senator and former chief of the PNP," Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said at Camp Crame government is opening broader accountability investigation into extrajudicial killings, beginning with Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa because he was the "tip of the spear" in drug war.

At press conference at Philippine National Police headquarters, Remulla said Criminal Investigation and Detection Group will issue subpoena on Monday requiring Dela Rosa to appear personally before investigators, but stressed that order is not arrest warrant.

But Remulla framed subpoena as start of wider domestic investigation into alleged drug war killings, not merely response to weekend speculation over possible International Criminal Court warrant against absentee senator.

"There will be other investigations to follow and other subpoenas to follow regarding this…we have to put a stop to all of this chatter….we have to make it clear that EJK is no longer policy of PNP… we have to make it clear that all officers involve must be held accountable and just to be clear he was the tip of the spear in EJK drive so we will start with him and investigate down further," Remulla said.

Remulla said Dela Rosa would be first to be summoned because he had "never been personally investigated" over allegations.

Asked who else would be investigated, Remulla said authorities would announce that "down the road."

"He will be first one but ones listed in previous complaints andami na complaints dito eh, over a hundred cases, we will issue succeeding subpoenas in the coming days," he said.

Investigation, Remulla said, would cover more than 100 alleged EJK cases during Dela Rosa's time as Davao City police director and regional police director.

"It's all related to 100 plus of EJKs occurred during his term as city director and regional director of Davao," Remulla said.

Dela Rosa later became first Philippine National Police chief of former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose anti-drug campaign is the subject of crimes against humanity case before ICC. ICC prosecutor has named Dela Rosa among alleged co-perpetrators in drug war killings, along with other former and incumbent officials.

Remulla also confirmed that investigation could lead to review of past police operations, including those previously flagged by internal accountability mechanisms.

Asked whether DILG order meant "all-out review" of police operations, including those flagged by Internal Affairs Service, Remulla answered: "Yes."

Earlier accountability efforts had often centered on selected cases already reviewed by police or justice officials.

Asked if all operations would be covered, he again said: "Yes. We cannot move forward as a country until there is reconciliation of truth of what happened."

10 Mayo, 2026 Linggo

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Perks for Hse vote vs VP Sara denied

By Nidz Godino

“I can speak for myself only and I deny pronouncement of Senator Imee with all due respect to her… I have not encountered anything like that,” Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said during Saturday News Forum dismissing circulating claims as baseless and diversionary, House leaders denied allegations that lawmakers were being offered incentives or threatened with budget cuts to secure votes in favor of impeaching Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Luistro and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre reacted to remarks by Sen. Imee Marcos, claimed massive incentive package for lawmakers who would vote “yes” on Duterte’s impeachment.

According to Marcos, alleged package included cash, additional monthly maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) allocations and projects for lawmakers supporting the complaint.

She also claimed those who would vote “no” could face zero budget and possible charges.

Luistro, chairperson of the House committee on justice, never encountered any such offer or threat since start of impeachment proceedings.

“I deny that as well as far as I am concerned, we have not heard of or encountered anything like that…as matter of fact, no one has spoken to me regarding this impeachment process since Day 1 of our proceedings in justice committee,” she added.

Luistro also brushed aside insinuations that impeachment vote was being driven by incentives, noting that House justice panel spent two months deliberating on complaint.

“Task of defending committee report before plenary is really tough… so instead of focusing on baseless statements of people around, I would rather focus on how I am going to deliver my report to plenary,as a matter of fact, we spent two months in justice committee… no one talked to me, offered me anything or threatened me… I deny statement of the Vice President.”

For his part, Acidre accused Marcos of resorting to “diversionary tactics,” saying her allegations were “grave, reckless and impossible to take seriously without evidence.”

He said claims appeared intended to divert public attention from evidence presented during impeachment proceedings.

“If Senator Imee has evidence, she should present receipts…she should name those who allegedly received money, name those who offered it and file cases…if she has none, she should stop diversionary tactics and attacks against entire House,” Acidre said.

He also said sitting senator should exercise restraint and respect toward co-equal chamber of Congress instead of making allegations without proof.

Meanwhile, Sen. Erwin Tulfo challenged those supposedly behind alleged offers to instead donate money to poor Filipinos.

When asked about alleged bribery, Tulfo expressed disbelief over amount of money supposedly involved.

“Was it mentioned who has been going around offering these…that person seems to have lot of money, they should just give it to those in need, there is fuel crisis. I would be happier if money were given there instead…that seems unfair,” Tulfo said.

Marcos earlier noted that alleged financial offers were only being made in lower chamber.

Tulfo said no such lobbying efforts had reached Senate.

10 Mayo, 2026 Linggo

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Headlines

Duterte replaced defense team ahead of ICC trial

By Nidz Godino

“This Request is submitted at request of Lead Counsel who has informed me that Mr. Duterte has expressed interest in reorganizing his defense team for trial phase,” former president Rodrigo Duterte has tapped new defense lawyer as part of move to reorganize his defense team ahead of his crimes against humanity trial at International Criminal Court (ICC).

Both of his primary defense lawyers lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman and associate counsel Dov Jacobs have filed their respective requests to withdraw as counsel before ICC Trial Chamber III, filings released on Friday night showed.

Jacobs, French lawyer, was first to submit his request on Thursday.

“My withdrawal will not affect continuity of Mr. Duterte’s representation, which remains assured through Lead Counsel and existing defense team,” he added.

Trial chamber approved Jacobs’ request on Friday.

On the same day, Kaufman, British-Israeli, filed similar request, saying he was originally engaged to represent Duterte only for period of one year.

“This engagement terminated on 31 March 2026,” he told judges.

Kaufman said former president expressed his desire to hire replacement counsel, whose identity was redacted in three-page filing.

“Counsel has spoken to REDACTED who has indeed confirmed that he is ready, willing and able to assume immediate representation and that his terms of engagement have been agreed…counsel informed REDACTED of pending deadlines and REDACTED assured him that he will be able to attend status conference set for 27 May 2026,” read defense lawyer’s filing.

“I am convinced that continuity and efficacy of Mr. Duterte’s representation will remain assured through REDACTED, who has wealth of experience at International Criminal Court, and existing defense team…counsel thanks REDACTED for his extremely graceful, supportive and collegial approach,” he added.

Trial Chamber III has yet to act on Kaufman’s request. No filing has been made public regarding new counsel for Duterte.

Kaufman, in message to reporters, said he was sad to leave the former president.

“It has been privilege for me to represent the former president… I thank both him and the many thousands of supporters who have shown their appreciation for my efforts on his behalf,if my withdrawal is approved, I am convinced that I will be leaving Tatay Digong in safe hands…may God bless the former president, Duterte family and Filipino nation. Daghang salamat,” added Kaufman.

Kristina Conti, represents some of the drug war victims, will take Kaufman’s commitment that there will be no delay in trial despite changes in defense team.

“Accused Rodrigo Duterte does have the right to counsel of choice…but victims want to be assured that change will not result in any delay… new lawyer does not automatically reset time or give rise to new remedies available to the accused,victims will course their views and concerns, as before, through common legal representatives who will stand for them in court on May 27th… general sentiment here is that victims prefer trial begin soonest possible,” Conti added.

For Panagutin Network in Netherlands, Kaufman’s withdrawal indicates case against Duterte is practically indefensible.

“Kaufman’s tactics to file several appeals questioning ICC’s jurisdiction and, most recently, his critique of various technicalities involved in handling of case have all fallen flat following unanimous decision of ICC judges to set aside his arguments, demonstrates that all of legal maneuvers of Duterte’s defense team thus far have all been mere delay tactics, and that there is no real defense to argue,” it said.

NICHOLAS KAUFMAN

10 Mayo, 2026 Linggo

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'Hagupit' nears Ph' vicinity, Caloy when in PAR

By J.Lo

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said tropical storm, with international name "Hagupit," may enter Philippine area of responsibility this weekend once inside country's monitoring area.

PAGASA's advisory on Friday, May 8 placed Hagupit at 1,615 kilometers east of northeastern Mindanao as of 3 in the morning.

Between 11 in the evening Thursday and early Friday, storm gained power and speed. It was recorded with maximum winds of 75 kph and gusts of up to 90 kph near center. It was moving westward at 20 kph.

PAGASA said Hagupit is forecast to move west-northwestward for most of the forecast period and may enter PAR between Saturday evening, May 9, and Sunday morning, May 10,2026.

Once inside PAR, storm will be given local name "Caloy."

"In the next 24 hours, HAGUPIT will further intensify and may reach its peak intensity as tropical storm," PAGASA said in its tropical cyclone advisory.

PAGASA said easterlies are still prevailing weather system and Hagupit is less likely to directly affect the country within next three days.

However, PAGASA advised public and disaster risk reduction and management offices to continue monitoring updates.

Hagupit may begin weakening after reaching peak tropical storm intensity due to unfavorable environmental conditions, PAGASA said.

It may be downgraded to tropical depression by Monday evening, May 11,2026 while over Philippine Sea.

10 Mayo, 2026 Linggo

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Headlines

ICC warrant vs Bato dela Rosa still ‘hearsay’; 10k-task force readied

By J.Lo

“None yet to my information…as far as I am concerned, until I see the official copy, it is hearsay,” Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has no confirmed information on reports that International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.

He said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is preparing contingency measures, including formation of 10,000-person task force for possible dragnet operations should warrant be issued.

Meanwhile, Philippine National Police would only act on lawful orders issued by competent authorities amid reports on possible enforcement of ICC warrant.

"PNP emphasizes it acts only upon lawful orders issued by competent authorities and in accordance with existing laws, rules, and procedures, any appropriate police action, if and when necessary, shall be undertaken with full adherence to due process, rule of law, and respect for human rights," PNP said in statement.


Police organization is coordinating with DILG and other government agencies to ensure that any action taken remains within legal and operational protocols.

It urged public to "exercise discernment and to refrain from spreading unverified information circulating online."

Reports about supposed ICC arrest warrant against Dela Rosa have circulated in recent months, but Philippine authorities have yet to confirm their authenticity. Department of Justice earlier was verifying such information.

In February this year, ICC listed Dela Rosa as among alleged co-perpetrators in the case involving former president Rodrigo Duterte, in connection with alleged crimes against humanity of murder tied to war on drugs.

Dela Rosa, served as Philippine National Police chief during Duterte administration, has not been attending Senate sessions since November last year.

ICC has been investigating killings linked to anti-drug operations during Duterte administration, human rights groups estimate may have reached as high as 30,000, while government records place the number at over 6,000.

09 Mayo, 2026 Sabado

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E-bike loan to ease transport costs

By J.Lo

“This program will give our members practical option to manage their daily transportation expenses,” Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president and general manager Wick Veloso said.GSIS y rolled out loan facility, aims to help GSIS members reduce daily transportation costs and fuel expenses.

GSIS launched GBEL or “Ginhawa Bike and E-Mobility Loan” in line with President Ferdinand Marcos’Jr.whole-of-government approach to make daily life better for Filipinos.

Program is also part of Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport or UPLIFT.

Under GBEL, qualified GSIS members may borrow up to 100 percent of cost of e-bike, or maximum of P300,000, payable over 36 months.

Loan carries interest rate of five percent per annum, with no service fee to be charged upon granting.

Veloso said program is designed to provide immediate support to members.

Applications are processed online through GSIS Touch mobile app.

GBEL covers brand new bicycles and electric mobility devices, such as e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds, cargo e-bikes, folding e-bikes and other similar electric-powered transport units.

Earlier, GSIS introduced Ginhawa Solar Energy Loan to help members reduce household electricity expenses.

09 Mayo, 2026 Sabado

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Headlines

CHED's proposed GE overhaul hit

By J.Lo

"We who will be teaching and we who can provide you with content ,we have not been invited to discuss this matter with you," University of Santo Tomas philosophy professor Paolo Bolaños said at hearing "ethics is reduced to, what, response to fake news and tool for managing data…that's what ethics is in the proposed General Education.

Faculty members told Commission on Higher Education its proposed overhaul of college general education curriculum will gut humanities and leave several teachers at risk of losing their jobs with no government safety net in place.

Criticism came at CHED public hearing on its draft curriculum that would cut mandatory GE to just 18 units down from current 36 folding philosophy, ethics, literature and history into five broader skills-based courses.

Proposed overhaul is most sweeping change to college GE program since 2013, when CHED last restructured curriculum following introduction of senior high school under K to 12. Critics said reform already narrowed liberal education significantly and this new proposal would trim humanities classes even further.

CHED officials explained during hearing it is "reframing" GE program to avoid subjecting students to same classes they already took up in senior high school.

Under proposal, 18 units include 15 units of core,mandated GE and three units of institutional GE. Five core GE courses would be Professional Communication, Global Trends and Emerging Technologies, Data Evidence and Ethics in Knowledge Society, Rizal and Philippine Studies, and Labor Education.

Standalone courses in philosophy, ethics, literature, art appreciation and Philippine history classes in current curriculum do not appear as required subjects.

Faculty who shared their comments on draft curriculum said five core GE classes left no room for philosophy, ethics as discipline, literature or arts, and that folding those subjects into broader skills-based packages was tantamount to erasure.

Implementation of new GE curriculum is being targeted for academic year 2027-2028.

There's emphasis on market integration after graduation. But there seems to be this lack of understanding of importance of content in teaching general education courses.

Bolaños, who said he was speaking on behalf of " whole philosophical community in the Philippines," raised second concern: CHED had drafted curriculum without consulting people who would teach it. Philosophy technical panel, he said, was never invited for talks.

CHED Technical Panel for General Education co-chair Jonathan Macayan said outcomes-based education does not sideline content, and that content experts from relevant disciplines would be brought in to shape each course before curriculum is finalized.

"Content will always be there as fundamental, most basic, and it's in fact very important component," he said.

'Effect is indistinguishable from removal',

University of the Philippines Los Baños professor Antonio Contreras told hearing that CHED's insistence on word "reframing" did not hold up against what draft actually did. Requiring 16 of 18 mandatory GE units through core courses, he said, left universities only "token three-unit space for institutional identity."

"Call it reframing if you want," Contreras said…but when institutions can no longer teach arts and social sciences on their own terms, effect is indistinguishable from removal."

Silliman University College of Arts and Sciences dean Alana Leilani Narciso pressed related point: neither literature nor philosophy appeared as mandated subjects in the new framework, meaning universities could choose not to offer them at all.

She urged CHED to require at least one humanities course for all students rather than leave it to institutional discretion. CHED said suggestion would be taken up in further deliberations.

CHED Executive Director Cinderella Filipina Benitez-Jaro defended agency's authority to redesign GE curriculum, citing Supreme Court ruling GR No. 216930. High court, she said, had already upheld CHED's power to set GE distribution requirements when 2013 curriculum was challenged in court on similar grounds.

Victor Aguilan, convenor of Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines, told CHED draft had overlooked specific legal obligation.

Philippine Education Act of 1982 (Batas Pambansa 232) requires CHED to involve Department of Labor and Employment whenever curriculum changes affect teachers' employment.

This, Aguilan said, was absent from CHED's proposed GE overhaul.

"Issue is, how do you guarantee that no GE teachers would be displaced when this new reframing is fully implemented?" said Aguilan, Silliman University professor.

In private universities, teaching loads and by extension job security are tied directly to number of units subject carries.

CHED Technical Panel chair Edizon Fermin showed slide mapping current GE faculty qualifications against proposed new courses, saying all existing GE teachers, with possible exception of art appreciation instructors, could be absorbed into new framework with adequate retraining.

Aguilan appeared unsatisfied with this response, and said: "Please do not transfer burden to higher education institution. That is our experience in K-12."

Draft, he noted, contained no funding provision for retraining CHED was promising.

Aguilan also challenged steps CHED has taken toward this major GE overhaul. He pointed out that commission had already come up with full draft proposal while simultaneously describing process as pilot test.

But results of pilot, he argued, should be what drives policy, not the other way around.

"If this policy is already implemented and later we discover there are harmful effects, especially displacement of teachers, then it would be too late," Aguilan said.

CHED had already convened inter-agency meetings with other education agencies and legislative offices on proposed changes, and committed to consulting all technical panels including those not previously invited to the process before curriculum is finalized.

Public hearing came days after several faculty members and groups expressed their opposition to the draft GE program.

Arts and Letters Faculty Association of University of Santo Tomas, in statement called draft threat to "soul of the university" and warned it would pursue legal action if CHED proceeded without addressing faculty concerns.

"Our universities should not merely serve as factories for compliance and productivity," group said.

Six Philippine Normal University (PNU) professors warned that framework would hurt most students from under-resourced schools, who rely on college GE classes to deepen learning that uneven senior high school instruction left incomplete.

Proposal, they argued, confused workforce preparation with education.

"A graduate who can use technology but cannot ask what technology does to human dignity remains poorly educated," professors Allen Espinosa, Levi Elipane, Heidi Macahilig, Nikolee Marie Serafico-Reyes, Arlyne Marasigan and Leah Amor Cortez wrote.

The six PNU professors acknowledged that GE classes in its current form had problems that some courses had become ceremonial, unevenly taught, or reduced to readings and compliance of students with course requirements.

But those gaps, they wrote, pointed in one direction only.

"Answer to poorly taught Ethics, Rizal, History, Filipino, Communication, or Art Appreciation is not to remove or compress them," they wrote. "Answer is to teach them better."

09 Mayo, 2026 Sabado

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P400k income tax exemption sought to raise take-home pay

By Nidz Godino

“Middle class has been lifeblood of local economy, driving domestic consumption and contributing significantly to government revenue,” Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian said in statement pushing for urgent passage of tax relief bill that seeks to raise workers’ take-home pay as middle-income Filipinos grapple with rising prices.

Proposed Granting Increase in Take-Home Pay for All Working Filipinos Act, or GINHAWA, seeks to amend National Internal Revenue Code by raising income tax exemption threshold from P250,000 to P400,000 a year.

Bill's goal is to provide “equitable relief to greater number of taxpayers and their families” by improving disposable income and increasing economic activity.

He said middle class has been “lifeblood” of local economy, driving consumption and contributing significantly to government revenue.

Gatchalian made call as government reported that national headline inflation accelerated to 7.2% in April, fastest rise in prices in the country since March 2023. Shock has been effect of oil supply disruptions after United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran.

Under the bill, individuals earning up to P400,000 a year would pay no income tax. Those earning above P400,000 would be taxed under revised graduated schedule.

Measure also seeks to raise tax-exempt cap for 13th month pay and other benefits to P150,000 from the current P90,000.

It would also exclude from gross income several forms of additional compensation required under Labor Code, including holiday pay, overtime pay, night shift differential, hazard pay and service charges.

Bill, however, specifies that overtime pay exceeding P100,000 would still be included in gross income.

For service workers, bill would remove taxes on service charges distributed to employees.

For poll workers, it would exempt honoraria, allowances, service credits and other election-related benefits granted by Commission on Elections.

Bill also proposes to shift fringe benefits for some employees away from current 35% final tax treatment and include them instead in employee’s gross income subject to graduated income tax rates.

It would exempt life, health and other non-life insurance premiums paid by employers from fringe benefits tax.

For small businesses, measure would allow micro taxpayers to claim additional 50% deduction on salaries, wages and other compensation paid to employees. It would also exempt micro taxpayers from withholding tax requirements.

Bill also seeks to raise VAT-exempt threshold for businesses from P3 million to P4 million in gross annual sales, with future adjustments tied to consumer price index beginning Jan. 1, 2029.

Gatchalian said measure is meant to give workers “financial space” as households absorb higher costs.

Bill’s explanatory note says working Filipinos are facing “rising prices of essential commodities” and market uncertainty, making it harder for families to adjust their finances.