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Metro Manila, Philippines – Minority senators walked out of the plenary session on Tuesday evening, May 26, in protest of what they described as the railroading of an amendment to the rules to allow senators to participate remotely in plenary sessions. ”Let’s go, let’s go,” Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri was heard urging allies as they exited the Senate session hall while Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano was still speaking on the floor.  The tension escalated when Senator Erwin Tulfo questioned the majority’s urgency in tackling and voting on the controversial motion. “Is it because, Madam Chair, they’re in a hurry because of news reports that probably two of our colleagues might land in jail this weekend?” Tulfo said.  He added: “Is that the reason why they have to have this inserted, this Section 41C, para makaboto po kung sino man ‘yung makukulong dahil sa announcement ng ombudsman na may…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) is set to file obstruction of justice complaints against Senator Robinhood Padilla and several others for allegedly helping Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa evade authorities earlier this month. In a statement released Wednesday, the CIDG said its investigation revealed that dela Rosa’s departure from the Senate premises at dawn on May 14 was not a simple ride with Padilla, but part of what investigators described as a carefully planned operation intended to avoid detection. “When individuals actively interfere in an arrest or assist in the evasion of criminal offenders to avoid prosecution, it undermines the justice system and compromises public order,” the CIDG said. The complaint will be referred to the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice for an alleged violation of Presidential Decree No. 1829, the law penalizing obstruction of justice.

Pampanga, Philippines – Families of the victims of the building collapse at Angeles, Pampanga cried for justice and demanded accountability, as more than a dozen remain missing two days after the tragedy . Authorities shifted to retrieval operations on Tuesday, May 26 after two days of rescue efforts, with at least 16 people feared dead from the rubble. In an interview, Novy Batar, wife of a construction worker who has yet to be recovered from the site, said the engineer of the nine-story building should be held liable. Jay Pelayo, city information officer of Angeles, Pampanga, earlier told NewsWatch Plus the site engineer coordinated with authorities to provide a list of workers in the area. Batar said it has only been three weeks since her husband, Emmanuel Marcos, began working on the project because of the foreman’s recommendation. “Marami siyang taong pinatay, dapat managot sya. Sana mabigyan ng hustisya ang…

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s net satisfaction rating dipped to a personal record-low “poor” -15 in March 2026, dropping 12 points from -3 in November 2025, according to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. The figure surpassed his previous low of -12 in March 2025, marking the worst score of his presidency so far, SWS said. The survey, conducted from March 24 to 31, found that 33 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the president’s performance, 18 percent were undecided, and 49 percent were dissatisfied. SWS classifies a net satisfaction rating of -10 to -29 as “poor.” The decline was across all geographic areas, with the lowest in Mindanao at -40 and Metro Manila at -31. Balance Luzon posted the highest rating at +2, while the Visayas registered -15. The president’s ratings also fell in rural and urban areas, as well as among men and women.…

Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he will raise concerns over the West Philippine Sea and the Middle East during his state visit to Japan, highlighting security issues amid rising global tensions. In a pre-departure speech on Tuesday, May 26, the president said discussions with Japanese leaders will center on key regional and international challenges affecting peace and stability. “I will be advancing Philippine priorities and we will discuss where future synergies and complementary interests converge with those of Japan in the West Philippine Sea, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” he said. The president highlighted the importance of his visit to the regional ally. “This state visit is essential amid an increasingly challenging and evolving global environment,” Marcos said. He added that strengthening alliances is part of the strategy to respond to these developments. “It forms part of a broader foreign policy agenda to forge…