FIVE THINGS TO KNOW…

Short explainers published throughout the day.

7:21 AM6-minute read

ABOUT THE NOTE HANDED TO GIBO TEODORO IN SEOUL

Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. was answering questions at the Seoul Defense Dialogue on September 8 when a man handed him a note. He read it aloud, challenged its rejection of the 2016 South China Sea ruling and objected to being interrupted that way.

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9:55 AM8-minute read

ABOUT EL NIÑO AND PREPARING FOR LESS RAIN

It can be raining outside while PAGASA warns about El Niño. That can sound confusing when the immediate problem is a wet road or a flooded field. The two warnings describe different periods: the weather happening now and the rainfall conditions that may develop over the coming months.

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5:30 AM8-minute read

ABOUT THE NEW ARREST WARRANTS AGAINST ZALDY CO, MARTIN ROMUALDEZ AND TWO OTHERS

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the arrest of Zaldy Co, Martin Romualdez and two other accused in the plunder case filed on September 7. By Monday evening, authorities had served Romualdez's warrant and carried out booking procedures at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan. His arrest is a confirmed development; it does not establish that his three co-accused are also in custody.

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3:15 PM8-minute read

ABOUT THE PLUNDER CASE AGAINST MARTIN ROMUALDEZ

The Office of the Ombudsman filed a plunder case against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez at the Sandiganbayan on September 7 over his alleged involvement in flood-control kickbacks. The accusations have now reached the court that will handle the criminal case. Romualdez denies wrongdoing and remains presumed innocent.

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1:18 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE NEW SWS POVERTY NUMBERS

Self-rated poverty and food poverty declined in June, but the figures also show how many Filipino families remain under pressure and why lower household budgets do not necessarily mean life became cheaper.

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2:02 PM11-minute read

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S SOCIAL MEDIA SAFETY ACT

House Bill No. 9965 would bar children below 13 from having social media accounts, require parental consent for users aged 13 to 17, regulate platform algorithms, and impose fines reaching P50 million. It is still being deliberated in the House.

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12:02 PM7-minute read

ABOUT THE SEALED BIR BOX

Marcos authorized the BIR to comply with the Senate subpoena. That did not open the records to the public or prove the unexplained-wealth allegation.

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MCT READER PULSE · MCT-PULSE-2026-008

MCT READER SURVEY

Senator-judges who are absent from the impeachment trial—including those on medical leave, in hiding, or detained—should still be allowed to cast a vote. Do you agree?Ang mga senator-judge na wala sa impeachment trial—kabilang ang naka-medical leave, nagtatago, o nakadetine—ay dapat payagan pa ring bumoto. Sang-ayon ka ba?

Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked the impeachment court to clarify who may validly vote and how absent members affect the constitutional two-thirds requirement. He cited one senator on medical leave abroad, one in hiding, and two in detention. The court had not resolved those questions when this survey opened. This survey asks for your view; it does not state what the Constitution or the impeachment rules require.

Background: Senate impeachment records, INQUIRER.net, and MindaNews.

This is an informal survey of verified MCT readers who choose to participate. It is not nationally representative.

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MCT DAILY BRIEF

No fake news. No noise. Just the facts you need.

AUGUST 13, 2026 | AFTERNOON

Good afternoon.

Today’s brief covers the first public hearing of an independent commission documenting drug-war killings, possible power interruptions in the Visayas and Mindanao, a new benefits-payment option for government contract workers, the growing impact of recent storms, and the police response to a fatal resort shooting in Cavite.

1

THE EJK TRUTH COMMISSION WILL HOLD ITS FIRST HEARING TOMORROW

The independent Truth Commission on Extrajudicial Killings will hold its first hearing on Friday, August 14, at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Manila.

The commission was organized by Catholic Church and civil society groups to document alleged killings connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. It is chaired by former International Criminal Court judge Raul Pangalangan.

This is not a government commission, a court, or part of the ICC. It cannot prosecute anyone or issue a judgment. Its work is to hear testimony, examine available records, preserve evidence, and produce a documented public account that may be submitted to Philippine authorities and international human rights organizations.

The first hearing is expected to include the case of Raymart Siapo, a 19-year-old Navotas resident killed in 2017 after he was allegedly accused of selling marijuana. Forensic findings from the examination of his remains are expected to be presented.

For families who have spent years trying to establish what happened to their relatives, the hearings provide a formal place where their accounts and supporting evidence can be recorded. Whether those records eventually lead to criminal cases will still depend on prosecutors, courts, and government investigators.

WHAT TO WATCH

Watch how the commission handles evidence, protects witnesses, and allows opposing accounts to be heard. Its credibility will depend on whether its findings can withstand scrutiny beyond the hearing room.

2

THE VISAYAS POWER GRID WAS PLACED UNDER RED ALERT

The National Grid Corporation of the Philippines placed the Visayas grid under yellow and red alerts on Thursday because several power plants were unavailable while electricity demand remained high.

A red alert was scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Available capacity was reported at 2,283 megawatts, below the projected peak demand of 2,360 megawatts. NGCP said 903.2 megawatts of generating capacity were unavailable because of plant outages and reduced operations.

A red alert means available electricity may be insufficient to meet demand and required operating reserves. Rotational power interruptions may be used to prevent a larger grid failure.

Mindanao was also placed under yellow alert during several periods. Its available capacity remained above projected demand, but its safety reserve was too small to meet the grid’s contingency requirement. A yellow alert does not automatically mean a blackout, but it leaves the system more vulnerable if another plant suddenly fails.

For households, businesses, hospitals, and local governments, the immediate concern is service interruption. People in affected areas should monitor announcements from their electric cooperatives and charge essential devices when power is available.

WHAT TO WATCH

Watch for updated NGCP advisories and announcements from local distribution utilities. The restoration of unavailable generating units will determine whether the alerts continue after Thursday.

3

GOVERNMENT CONTRACT WORKERS MAY VOLUNTARILY PAY BENEFITS THROUGH PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued Administrative Order No. 43 allowing government contract of service and job order workers to have their SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG contributions deducted voluntarily from their compensation.

The order covers national government departments, agencies, government-owned or controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges. Local governments are encouraged, but not required, to adopt the same arrangement.

A worker must first give consent. The government agency must then deduct the selected contributions and remit them to the proper institutions within the required period.

This could make regular payments easier for workers who previously had to handle their contributions themselves. It may help them maintain access to health coverage, loans, pensions, and other benefits tied to consistent contributions.

The order does not convert contract of service or job order workers into regular government employees. It also does not give them the full employment benefits received by permanent government personnel. It only creates a more convenient way to pay voluntary contributions.

WHAT TO WATCH

The DBM, Civil Service Commission, Commission on Audit, SSS, PhilHealth, and Pag-IBIG must still issue the detailed rules and accounting procedures. Those guidelines will show how workers can enroll, change their instructions, verify payments, and report deductions that were not remitted correctly.

4

MORE THAN 3.7 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NOW BEEN AFFECTED BY THE STORMS AND HABAGAT

The Office of Civil Defense reported Thursday morning that 3,733,883 people, representing more than one million families, had been affected by Tropical Cyclones Luis and Maymay and the enhanced southwest monsoon.

More than 53,000 people remained in 553 evacuation centers. OCD also reported 21 deaths, 14 injuries, and three missing persons.

The Philippine National Police earlier reported a higher death count of 26. The figures should not be added together. Different agencies may receive reports at different times and must validate whether each death was directly connected to the weather disturbance.

OCD estimated infrastructure damage at approximately ₱2.65 billion and agricultural losses at about ₱347 million. The government had provided around ₱458 million in assistance as of the report.

These numbers represent displaced families, interrupted livelihoods, damaged public facilities, and communities that may need assistance long after floodwaters recede. Agricultural losses may also reduce farmers’ income and affect the local supply of food.

WHAT TO WATCH

Watch for the OCD’s validated casualty count, updated damage assessments, and announcements on continued rainfall. The speed of assistance and the restoration of roads and other essential services will determine how quickly affected communities can recover.

5

A POLICE OFFICER FACES DISMISSAL PROCEEDINGS AFTER A FATAL CAVITE RESORT SHOOTING

The Philippine National Police ordered dismissal proceedings against an officer linked to a shooting at a resort in Maragondon, Cavite.

The incident reportedly occurred during a birthday celebration for the newly installed Maragondon police chief. One police officer and one civilian were killed, while another police officer was wounded. A police officer assigned to the Trece Martires Component City Police Station was arrested at the scene.

The Maragondon police chief was relieved and placed under administrative holding while the investigation continues.

The dismissal proceeding is an administrative process. It is separate from any criminal case that prosecutors may file. The order to begin proceedings is not yet a finding of guilt.

For the public, the case tests whether the PNP will impose accountability when its own personnel are involved. Announcing an investigation is only the beginning. The outcome will depend on the preservation of evidence, the filing of appropriate charges, and the transparent resolution of both the criminal and administrative cases.

WHAT TO WATCH

Watch for the results of the investigation, the criminal charges recommended by police and prosecutors, and the administrative decision involving the arrested officer and other personnel present at the gathering.

BOTTOM LINE

Today’s developments are about whether institutions can turn announcements into accountable action. The EJK commission must build a record strong enough to be taken seriously. Power authorities must restore lost generating capacity before reserve shortages become prolonged interruptions. Government agencies must make sure workers’ deductions reach the correct benefit institutions. Disaster officials must turn damage figures into timely assistance. The PNP must show that an investigation involving police officers will be handled with the same seriousness expected in any other fatal shooting.

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