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REALPOLITIKBy Benjie Alejandro The Senate’s latest leadership shake-up is a spectacle that exposes the fragility of political institutions and the emptiness of rhetoric about “service to the nation.” What began as a dispute over quorum has spiraled into a full-blown power struggle, with both camps claiming legitimacy and neither offering the public any real benefit. As Atty. Edward Chico explained …

The regulator Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) has announced that its board of trustees had cleared the implementation of the foreign currency differential adjustment (FCDA) for the July to September period. This means customers of Maynilad Water Services Inc. will see a slight reduction in their water bills in the third quarter, while rates of Manila Water will remain …

A tense confrontation erupted at the Senate on Thursday involving Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Senators Robin Padilla and Pia Cayetano shortly before a hearing on flood control projects convened by a bloc of senators led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. The incident unfolded after Remulla arrived at the Senate following a request from Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian, …

House prosecutor and Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor expressed confidence on Tuesday that Vice President Sara Duterte could still be convicted in her upcoming impeachment trial if senator-judges focus on the evidence rather than political affiliations.   Speaking in a television interview, Defensor said the Senate’s final vote could shift once prosecutors begin presenting their case before the impeachment …

The standoff in the Senate escalated on Tuesday after members of the chamber’s majority bloc failed to appear for plenary proceedings for the second consecutive day, prompting sharp criticism from opposition senators who accused the leadership of paralyzing the institution. Only senators belonging to the minority bloc were present when the Senate was expected to convene at 3 p.m. According …

Non-bailable plunder and graft charges were filed on Thursday before the Sandiganbayan against Jinggoy Estrada and former Public Works secretary Manuel Bonoan in connection with the alleged multibillion-peso flood control scandal. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said the cases stemmed from “illicit” payouts amounting to ₱573 million allegedly tied to infrastructure projects. Also charged were three engineers from the Department of …

A Chinese steel manufacturer is set to begin operations next month in Sarangani as part of a multibillion-dollar investment expansion in the Philippines, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the Panhua Integrated Steel facility of Panhua Group in Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani will produce metal sheets and generate about 4,000 jobs for …

Leaders of the House of Representatives are moving closer to institutionalizing a proposed universal social pension program for senior citizens following the endorsement of the measure by House Speaker Faustino Dy III. Dy voiced support for House Bill 10423, which seeks to amend the Expanded Senior Citizens Act and provide broader financial assistance to elderly Filipinos regardless of income status. …

Japan has pledged to strengthen its defense cooperation with the Philippines through the transfer of military equipment and technology. The commitment was made following the summit meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Thursday. In a joint statement, the two leaders agreed to expand cooperation on the transfer of defense equipment. …

The Philippines and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to transform the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) into a “world-class economic hub” aimed at boosting regional growth and strengthening global supply chains. The commitment was made following the summit meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Thursday. In a joint statement, the two …