A stone’s throw from the House of Representatives’ sprawling complex in Quezon City is a congested public elementary school literally crawling with thousands of students, including a great number struggling with their ABC. When he took over as principal at the President Corazon C. Aquino Elementary School in 2024, Gerry Isip made a startling discovery:...
Author: TJ Burgonio
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Senate impeachment court convened, votes to remand complaint to House
Convened as an impeachment court Tuesday night, the Senate voted to toss back the complaint against impeached Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives for it to certify that it’s not constitutionally infirm. The senator-judges voted 18–5 to approve Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano’s motion to remand the complaint to the House so the...
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Senators are taking ‘baby steps’ toward trying the Vice President–De Lima
Senate President Francis Escudero took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court on Monday night, in what Representative-elect Leila de Lima called “baby steps” toward finally hearing the complaint against impeached Vice President Sara Duterte. On Sen. Joel Villanueva’s motions, Escudero was sworn in by Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., and the senators...
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Bato’s draft resolution seeking junking of impeachment case is ‘unconstitutional, absurd, ridiculous’
Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s draft resolution urging his colleagues to junk the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte is unconstitutional and will be challenged in the Supreme Court if it is passed. “It’s unconstitutional, if not absurd and ridiculous,” former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, a prosecutor in the 2012 impeachment trial of...
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If Escudero does not convene the Senate into an impeachment court, the high court can make him–Drilon
The Supreme Court can compel Senate President Francis Escudero to convene the chamber into an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte if he refuses to do so, former senator Franklin Drilon said on Tuesday. Escudero’s postponement of the June 2 presentation of the articles of impeachment to June 11 has triggered speculation that...
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How the Bam-Kiko win alters the landscape of the Senate
All eyes will be on Senators-elect Benigno “Bam” Aquino III and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan when the Senate tries impeached Vice President Sara Duterte over a string of charges arising from her alleged misuse of government funds. The re-entry of Aquino and Pangilinan will alter the dynamics in the 24-member chamber that will need the votes...
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Atin Ito Coalition announces ‘jamming’ for peace and solidarity in West Philippine Sea
Filipino musicians and foreign artists will be “jamming” in a May 25 concert organized by the Atin Ito Coalition for its third civilian mission to the West Philippine Sea, convenors announced on Monday. “This May 25 we will sail again, carrying the message of peace and solidarity with the powerful use of music. And through...
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‘We have seen the last of Duterte,’ says Trillanes
After the chartered Lear jet carrying Rodrigo Duterte finally took off from Manila late Tuesday night for The Hague in the Netherlands, a former senator and a human rights lawyer predicted that his departure would be for good. In The Hague, the 79-year-old former president will face charges of crimes against humanity before the International...
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Rodrigo Duterte arrested after arriving in Manila from Hong Kong
Former president Rodrigo Duterte was arrested and is now in police custody soon after he arrived in Manila from Hong Kong on Tuesday morning in connection with an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and served by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol). Duterte is charged with crimes against humanity at the...
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The Coast Guard’s Tarriela explains how the Philippines can win over China in the battle of narratives
Of all the disinformation thrown Commodore Jay Tarriela’s way, nothing has annoyed him more than this: that he’s a CIA agent. That insidious jab—thrown by a troll on social media soon after the Philippine Coast Guard officer completed his fellowship in Washington, D.C. in 2023—still stings to this day. “For me personally, I think the...