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Metro Manila, Philippines –  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has canceled his scheduled morning public engagement as he monitors the situation on the southbound portion Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), Malacañang said on Tuesday, June 30. Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the president is getting updates, particularly on the impact on commuters and workers affected by the disruption. “Nagmomonitor po ang pangulo sa ngayon sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon. Patuloy na inaalam ang nangyayari sa mga kababayan natin na naantala sa paglalakbay at pagtatrabaho dahil sa nangyayari sa EDSA,” Castro said. [Translation: The president is currently monitoring the situation. He continues to receive updates on what is happening to our fellow Filipinos whose travel and work have been disrupted by the situation on EDSA.] She added that Marcos is monitoring the welfare of motorists and commuters caught in the traffic jam on the busy highway, as well as police operations to ensure public…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Labor Secretary Francis Tolentino on Tuesday, June 30, announced an ₱85 daily wage increase for workers in Metro Manila. According to Tolentino, the wage adjustment will be implemented in two tranches. The first hike of ₱60 will take effect on July 19, while the remaining ₱25 is scheduled to take effect in January 2027. Tolentino said the “historic” wage increase will benefit 1.1 million workers in Metro Manila. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) noted that this marks “the largest single wage adjustment ever granted in the National Capital Region.” The adjustment will elevate the daily minimum wage from ₱695 to ₱780 for workers in the non-agricultural sector. For employees in the agricultural sector, service and retail establishments with fewer than 15 workers, and manufacturing establishments with fewer than 10 workers, daily pay will increase from ₱658 to ₱743.

Metro Manila, Philippines – Thousands of protesters, many of them members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), gathered at the EDSA People Power Monument on Tuesday morning, June 30. This comes a day after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that his office would file plunder charges against Senator Rodante Marcoleta over ₱75 million in undisclosed contributions to his 2025 midterm election campaign. READ: Plunder charges vs. Sen. Marcoleta to be filed this week – ombudsman INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala issued a statement condemning the plunder case against Marcoleta, who is a member of the church and the first elected official officially affiliated with the religious group. “Kaya, nais naming iparinig sa mga kinauukulan na kahit ipakulong nila si Senator Marcoleta ay hindi kami titigil sa paghingi ng katarungan para sa kababayan natin na ninakawan,” Zabala said. [Translation: We want those in power to hear that even if they arrest Marcoleta,…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The prosecution and defense panels will have at least 17 common witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, including self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, former Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. The list is contained in the pre-trial order released to the parties on Monday, June 29, following five days of pre-trial proceedings last week.  NewsWatch Plus obtained copies of the 14-page order from two highly placed sources.  The order was signed by Senate President Win Gatchalian as presiding officer of the impeachment court. The prosecution still lists 57 witnesses, while the defense has 96. The witnesses common to both parties are: Self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga House legislative archives director Marivic Pareja National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag Carolyn Moldez-Pitoy (NBI) Marizza Grande (Philippine Statistics Authority) Gloria Camora (Commission on Audit) Former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman Ombudsman Jesus Crispin…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team has supposedly expressed openness in unsealing the box containing her tax records during a closed-door session – key evidence in allegations of unexplained wealth, the prosecution’s spokesperson said on Monday, June 29. In a press briefing, Jay Tolosa, private prosecutor and legal spokesperson, said the defense team made this remark in its reply to the manifestation of the prosecution, asking the Senate, sitting as an Impeachment Court, to open the box during the pre-trial stage. “They changed their stance and said they are open to having the box opened and that we could conduct an inventory of its content and we could mark the same but under specific conditions, which is that it would be done in an executive session and that it be made confidential from the public,” he said.  The defense team had said it will refrain from…