LATEST COMMENTARY
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW
ABOUT PROTECTING YOUR GAMER CHILD FROM GROOMING INTO VIOLENCE
Warning signs, conversations, and practical steps for parents whose children play online games.
ABOUT THE RIGHT AGAINST SELF-INCRIMINATION
What a witness can refuse to answer, and why invoking the right is not a confession.
ABOUT THE CHINA COAST GUARD COLLISION WITH A PHILIPPINE FISHERIES VESSEL
A Philippine fisheries vessel was damaged in a collision off Palawan. Manila and Beijing disagree about how it happened, while fishermen still need fuel.
ABOUT HARRY ROQUE’S DISPUTED ASYLUM STATUS
Remulla announced a denial, then said he was still confirming it. Without an official Austrian decision, Roque’s asylum status remains disputed.
ABOUT THE DOJ SUBPOENA TO ROBIN PADILLA OVER BATO DELA ROSA’S DEPARTURE
A DOJ subpoena requires the senator to answer an obstruction complaint. It is not an arrest warrant, a criminal charge in court or a conviction.
ABOUT CONGRESS’ PLAN TO MOVE THE BARANGAY AND SK ELECTIONS TO 2028
Both chambers have backed longer terms, but the November 2026 election remains the law until Congress completes one final bill and the President acts on it.
ABOUT THE OCTOBER WATER-RATE INCREASES
Metro Manila households served by Maynilad and Manila Water will see slightly higher water charges beginning October 1. The announced increases are small for many residential customers, but the figures vary by concessionaire and consumption level. That makes it easy to misunderstand a notice expressed only in centavos per cubic meter.
ABOUT UNEXPLAINED WEALTH AT TODAY'S IMPEACHMENT HEARING
Retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang explained the legal framework for Article II. Her testimony laid out the test; it did not prove the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte.
ABOUT THE MANHUNT FOR BATO DELA ROSA
Authorities say they know where he is. An arrest has yet to be confirmed.
ABOUT WHY MARCOLETA AND ESTRADA CANNOT SIMPLY VOTE FROM DETENTION
Why holding a Senate seat does not cancel court custody, preventive suspension, or the need for judicial permission to join an impeachment vote.
ABOUT WHETHER THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE THRESHOLD CAN CHANGE
Why the Constitution points to 16 votes, why the current absences created a real dispute, and why the Senate must settle the counting rule before judgment.
ABOUT SARA DUTERTE'S SECURITY DETAIL
The reported 400 personnel, her complaints about safety, and what the military has actually said.
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.
ABOUT AMICI CURIAE IN SARA DUTERTE’S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL
An amicus curiae is someone who helps a court understand a legal question. The phrase means “friend of the court.” When more than one person takes that role, they are called amici curiae. They give advice. The court still makes the decision.
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.
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.
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.
ABOUT DOUBLE JEOPARDY AND SARA DUTERTE’S CASES
The alleged threats appear in both her impeachment case and a criminal case. Does that mean she is being tried twice for the same offense?
ABOUT RECEIVING A BIR AUDIT NOTICE
The authority, records and questions to check under the consolidated audit rules.
ABOUT SARA DUTERTE’S ARREST WARRANT
What the charges require prosecutors to prove, how bail works, and why impeachment is a separate proceeding.
ABOUT THE EXPANDED FREE TERTIARY EDUCATION LAW
What Republic Act No. 12325 changes for subsidies, costly training, and qualified disadvantaged students.
ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES' ₱19.39-TRILLION NATIONAL DEBT
What the record figure includes, why the peso matters, and how debt service affects future public spending.
ABOUT ZERO BALANCE BILLING
What the new ₱10.377-billion funding covers, where the program applies, and why patients should still confirm the rules before admission.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED FREE FREIGHT SERVICE FOR RELIEF GOODS
What the proposed service would cover, who could qualify, which costs may be waived, and why the program is not available yet.
ABOUT THE HAZE AFFECTING PARTS OF THE PHILIPPINES
What unhealthy air readings mean, who faces greater risk, and how to reduce exposure while authorities verify the haze’s source.
ABOUT GILAS’ WORLD CUP QUALIFYING POSITION AFTER BEATING IRAN
The 68-56 win revived the Philippines’ campaign, but Gilas remains fifth in Group E and still has work to do.
ABOUT THE DAVAO REGION MINIMUM-WAGE TRANCHE TAKING EFFECT SEPTEMBER 1
The increase was divided between March and September, so workers and payroll staff who remember only the first adjustment may apply the wrong rate after September 1.
ABOUT THE 2027 DOST-SEI UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP
Five checks graduating students and their families should make before the September 17 application deadline.
ABOUT THE NEW GSIS EMERGENCY LOANS
Five checks government workers and pensioners should make before applying, from covered areas and deadlines to net proceeds and repayment.
ABOUT NEW ZEALAND JOB SCAMS
Five checks Filipino applicants can use to verify a recruiter, employer, fees, visa route, and written job offer before paying or travelling.
ABOUT LEPTOSPIROSIS AFTER FLOOD EXPOSURE
Cases rose after weeks of flooding. Here is how exposure happens, which symptoms to watch, and when to seek care.
ABOUT THE FIRST BANGSAMORO PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION
More than two million BARMM voters are scheduled to choose the first regular 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament on September 14.
ABOUT DEPED'S CANCELLED SCHOOL SAFETY DRILL
DepEd cancelled the nationwide active-attack drill after mental-health specialists raised concerns. The need for safer school planning remains.
ABOUT THE EV CHARGING RULE FOR PARKING LOTS
The five-percent EV parking rule is already law. The detailed charging rules for older and new properties are still being finalized.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL LAND USE ACT AND FLOODING
Flood control is not only about pumps, canals and drainage. It also depends on where communities build, which lands remain open, and whether development decisions follow the same hazard information.
ABOUT ORLY GUTEZA'S RECANTATION
Orly Guteza has withdrawn his earlier accusation. Here is what a recantation changes, what it does not prove, and what the Ombudsman still needs to examine.
ABOUT PRIVATE-SECTOR WORK DURING DANGEROUS WEATHER
What private workers need to know about attendance, discipline and pay when severe weather makes travel unsafe.
ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES–US DISASTER-RESPONSE TRAINING PARTNERSHIP
The program has trained senior officers since 2016. It is a disaster-planning course, not a newly announced ten-year military pact.
ABOUT THE ENHANCED ANTI-HOSPITAL DETENTION BILL
The Senate has approved stronger protections for patients who cannot immediately pay, but hospital debt does not disappear and the proposal is not yet law.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED ₱58.32-BILLION LOCAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FUND
The fund can pay for useful local projects, but it is separate from the automatic tax share of local governments and still depends on national budget decisions.
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.
ABOUT PAX SILICA AFTER THE SENATE HEARING
The Philippines has joined a technology partnership, but the proposed New Clark City hub still needs detailed agreements, investors, utilities, and safeguards.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED KALINGA ACT
The proposal promises faster help when fuel and energy costs rise, but it would also give the President temporary additional powers.
ABOUT TEACHING THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA IN SCHOOLS
Two Senate proposals would make lessons about the West Philippine Sea a permanent part of school education.
ABOUT THE CADENA ACT AND WHETHER IT CAN HELP PEOPLE TRACK GOVERNMENT SPENDING
CADENA could connect budgets, contracts, payments, and reported results in one public trail. The technology still cannot determine whether the information entered is true.
ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES’ €200-MILLION FRENCH BLUE-ECONOMY LOAN
The French financing belongs to a nearly US$970-million package and supports the national budget after policy reforms, rather than a list of local marine projects.
ABOUT THE DOJ CASE AGAINST SARA DUTERTE
What prosecutors filed, what they must prove, how Duterte’s conditional wording may affect the charge, and the unresolved question of whether the case can proceed while she remains vice president.
ABOUT THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE THE BARANGAY AND SK ELECTIONS TO 2028
The election is still scheduled for November 2, 2026. A newly filed Senate bill would move it by two years, keep current officials in office longer, and change who can run for the Sangguniang Kabataan.
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.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED NATIONAL AI GOVERNANCE ACT
The proposal would add rights over automated decisions, six months’ notice for major workplace AI changes, deepfake rules, and environmental disclosure for AI infrastructure. It is not law yet.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED ₱2,000 MONTHLY PWD ALLOWANCE
The proposed benefit is not available yet. Congress still has to settle who qualifies, how claims will be verified, and how the program will be funded.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED ₱7.2-TRILLION 2027 NATIONAL BUDGET
The record nominal spending plan is not yet law, will require deficit financing, and could change substantially in Congress.
ABOUT JAPAN’S ₱11.54-BILLION UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE LOAN
Why the financing is tied to health-system reforms, what it is meant to improve, and why the loan alone cannot guarantee better care.
ABOUT THE PHILIPPINES’ DEFENSE PACTS WITH CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND
What the visiting-forces agreements regulate, why the Senate must concur, and what they do not require the three countries to do.
ABOUT THE 6.2 PERCENT INFLATION RATE AND WHY PRICES STILL FEEL HIGH
What the 6.2 percent national rate measures, why lower-income households recorded 8.2 percent inflation, and what the figures mean for an ordinary family budget.
ABOUT THE COA TESTIMONY ON SARA DUTERTE’S CONFIDENTIAL FUNDS
What the auditor found in the OVP’s confidential-fund submissions, what those findings mean, and what prosecutors still have to connect to Sara Duterte personally.
ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF LAUNCHING ROCKETS FROM THE PHILIPPINES
A 2027 sounding-rocket test could build skills and research capacity, but it is still far from placing satellites into orbit.
ABOUT LITHUANIA’S OFFER TO HELP FIGHT DISINFORMATION
Lithuania is offering technology, training, and experience in tracking organized propaganda campaigns, but no detailed Philippine program has been announced.
ABOUT THE PROPOSED BANK-SECRECY CHANGES
The House and Senate approved different proposals for opening bank records, and the final safeguards have not yet been settled.
ABOUT THE FIGHT OVER THE FLOOD-CONTROL HEARINGS
Tulfo says the minority is blocking the probe, but the documented delay was the committee’s unfinished formal organization.
ABOUT THE REJECTED PLAN TO CHANGE SARA DUTERTE’S TRIAL ORDER
The impeachment court kept the prosecution-first format after Duterte’s defense rejected an article-by-article presentation.
ABOUT THE OMBUDSMAN ORDER AGAINST MARTIN ROMUALDEZ
Romualdez has been ordered to answer serious flood-control allegations under oath, but no court has ruled on the accusations.
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.
ABOUT THE SYSTEM-LOSS CHARGE
If consumers stop paying for system loss, who will shoulder the cost instead?
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Higher fuel costs greet motorists this Tuesday, while the impeachment court returns to corporate records. In the Visayas, a power-plant outage strained electricity reserves yesterday. Manila's Martial Law anniversary protests also renewed demands for accountability over corruption.
WHAT GASOLINE COSTS AFTER TODAY'S INCREASE
Shell and Petron announced increases of ₱4.80 per liter for gasoline, ₱7.80 for diesel, and ₱6.40 for kerosene effective 6 a.m. today. Their diesel adjustment is staggered: another ₱1 per liter follows on September 23.
For a gasoline price guide, the latest DOE Metro Manila monitoring for September 15 to 21 listed common prices of ₱83.10 per liter for RON 91 and ₱91.40 for RON 95. Adding today's announced ₱4.80 increase gives estimated benchmarks of ₱87.90 per liter for RON 91 and ₱96.20 for RON 95.
Those are calculations from last week's monitored prices, not a fresh survey of today's pumps. Actual prices vary by station, brand, grade, and location. At a station applying the ₱4.80 increase, buying the same 20 liters of gasoline costs ₱96 more than before the adjustment.
WHAT TO WATCH
Check the posted price and fuel grade before filling up. Diesel users should also check whether their station is applying the increase in stages, with a further adjustment tomorrow.
THE SEC WITNESS RETURNS; BASTE'S APPEARANCE MOVES TO NEXT WEEK
Securities and Exchange Commission official Gerardo del Rosario is scheduled to return to the impeachment court today for further questions. The proceedings concern Article II and allegations involving Vice President Sara Duterte's wealth, disclosures, and business interests. Those allegations remain subject to the court's evaluation.
The court has reset the subpoena dates for Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, lawyer Gary Samonte, and Police Major Jerickson Sangalang to September 28 to 30. Oral arguments on the voting threshold are scheduled for September 23.
For readers following the records, the useful question today is what the witness can establish from documents, and what remains an inference or a disputed interpretation. A recorded company position and a conclusion about a constitutional violation require separate consideration.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch for the court's actual rulings, the questions answered by the SEC witness, and any change to the September 23 and September 28 to 30 schedules.
PLANT OUTAGE STRAINS VISAYAS POWER RESERVES
The Visayas grid was placed under yellow alert on Monday, September 21, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. after a generating unit tripped. NGCP reported available capacity of 2,500 megawatts against a peak demand of 2,426 megawatts in its afternoon advisory.
A yellow alert means electricity reserves are insufficient to meet the grid's contingency requirement. It does not automatically mean rotating power cuts. The narrow margin leaves less room to cope when another generating unit fails or demand rises.
For households and small businesses, any interruption notice from their electricity distributor will identify the affected areas and hours. Yesterday's alert covered a specific four-hour period; it was not an announcement of power cuts for today.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch for the return of unavailable generating units and any local notice of scheduled or emergency power interruptions, especially during the late-afternoon and evening hours covered by yesterday's alert.
MARTIAL LAW ANNIVERSARY RALLIES RENEW CALLS AGAINST CORRUPTION
Progressive groups rallied in Manila yesterday, September 21, marking the 54th anniversary of the declaration of Martial Law and renewing demands for accountability over corruption. Sanlakas linked the remembrance of Martial Law abuses to continuing anger over the flood-control scandal.
There was tension between police and some participants. News5 reported that two student protesters accused of spray-painting a center island were briefly held and released after talks with organizers. Police disputed describing the incident as an arrest, saying those involved were restrained and then immediately released.
NCRPO described the protest as generally peaceful. The incident should be understood alongside the demonstrators' stated demands: remembering abuses under Martial Law and holding those responsible for corruption accountable.
WHAT TO WATCH
Watch for any formal complaints arising from the police-protester encounter, and for concrete action on the corruption cases raised by demonstrators, including filed charges, court rulings, or recovered public funds.
PLAN FOR RAIN, THEN CHECK THE LOCAL ADVISORY
PAGASA's selected-cities outlook for Tuesday gives Metro Manila an 80 percent chance of rain, with temperatures of 25 to 33 degrees Celsius. Puerto Princesa has a 60 percent chance of rain and a temperature range of 26 to 31 degrees Celsius.
Those forecasts are useful for planning a trip or an outdoor errand. They do not say that rain will fall continuously, or that every neighborhood will receive the same amount. A city forecast also cannot replace a later, more specific thunderstorm or heavy-rainfall warning.
Bring rain protection and check conditions near your departure time, especially if your route includes roads that flood easily.
WHAT TO WATCH
Check the latest PAGASA rainfall and thunderstorm advisories for your actual location, along with any local road or class announcements. Use the advisory's issue time and affected areas.
BOTTOM LINE
The fuel increase adds to today's household and transport costs. Tight power reserves and possible rain also affect daily plans. Yesterday's rallies brought demands for accountability back into the streets; the next test is what happens in investigations, prosecutions, and the recovery of public money.
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