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LATEST COMMENTARY

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FIVE THINGS TO KNOW

6:10 PM4-minute read

ABOUT THE DISPUTE OVER CHANGING THE ORDER OF IMPEACHMENT WITNESSES

The argument at Thursday’s impeachment hearing was about which witness the prosecution could present next. It began with an absent lawyer and became a dispute over preparation and notice. Understanding the exchange helps explain why a courtroom can pause even when the parties, documents and another potential witness are already in the building.

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3:01 PM3-minute read

ABOUT MARK VILLAR’S MOVE TO THE SENATE MAJORITY

Senator Mark Villar has formally left the Senate minority and joined the majority. The October 8 move strengthens the bloc supporting the chamber’s leadership and gives Villar two significant positions. Its implications for Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, however, require more than counting political allies.

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9:56 AM4-minute read

ABOUT THE MANAGER’S CHECKS AND THE QUESTIONS OVER SARA DUTERTE’S SALN

A bank balance can fall even when the value represented by the money has not disappeared. That distinction sits behind the prosecution’s questions about manager’s checks in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. To understand the October 7 testimony, we need to follow the instrument, the person entitled to its value and the declaration of assets for the relevant year.

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9:08 PM3-minute read

ABOUT WHAT COA’S REJECTION OF THE OVP APPEAL MEANS

COA has rejected the request to reconsider the ₱73.287-million disallowance involving the Office of the Vice President’s December 2022 confidential expenses. The October 5 resolution became public on October 7. Its significance is easier to understand when the amount, the audit finding and the available legal remedies are kept separate.

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7:47 AM3-minute read

ABOUT WHAT BANK SECRECY PROTECTS IN AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

The arguments over bank records in Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial involve several protections. The privacy of a peso deposit, the protection of a foreign-currency deposit, and the confidentiality of a report sent to the AMLC come from different rules. Understanding those differences helps explain what the court has allowed and what remains in dispute.

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8:43 AM8-minute read

ABOUT THE AMLC RECORDS IN SARA DUTERTE’S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

₱4.4 billion is a figure that can dominate a conversation before anyone asks what it counts. AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura presented that approximate total in the Senate impeachment court on October 5, covering reported transactions involving Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio. He also explained that a bank correction had reduced the earlier figure of ₱6.7 billion.

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6:44 PM5-minute read

ABOUT THE COINS.PH CASH-IN RESTRICTION AND WHAT USERS SHOULD CHECK

If you use Coins.ph to receive money or pay bills, a failed cash-in can disrupt plans for the day. Coins.ph has announced that some incoming peso services are temporarily unavailable following a BSP directive to improve its internal controls. Its advisory also identifies services that existing customers can still use.

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12:00 PM5-minute read

ABOUT THE PROPOSED RULES ON SECONDHAND PHONES

A secondhand phone can put a useful device within reach of someone who cannot afford a new one. The problem comes when the buyer has no clear information about where it came from, what condition it is in, or who will fix it if it fails.

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8:35 PM6-minute read

ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION ON THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE THRESHOLD

The Supreme Court dismissed three petitions on September 30 challenging how the Senate impeachment court would count the votes needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. The dismissal leaves the Senate’s September 23 ruling in place, but it needs to be read carefully. A case can be dismissed because it does not meet the requirements for the Court to hear it, without settling whether the challenged action is constitutional.

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6:12 AM6-minute read

ABOUT WHAT BASTE DUTERTE SHOULD HAVE CHECKED AS MAYOR

Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte told the Senate impeachment court on September 29 that he had been unfamiliar with GenCorp Industries Inc. before it came up in the proceedings. He also said he did not know about Vice President Sara Duterte’s declared business interest in the company.

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10:45 PM7-minute read

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.

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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-2026-010

MCT READER SURVEY

If the Philippine presidential election were held today, who would you vote for as President and Vice President?

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August 25, 2026 · 10:30 AM5-minute read

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.

Rubber boots beside a neighborhood clinic entrance as floodwater recedes from a Philippine street.

The Department of Health recorded 4,285 leptospirosis cases nationwide as of August 22. That total was lower than the number reported during the same period last year, but the more recent trend moved in the wrong direction: 495 cases were recorded from July 26 to August 8, up from 383 during the previous two weeks.

After widespread flooding, many people worry that stepping into floodwater guarantees illness. It does not. People who were exposed need to know how infection happens, what symptoms to watch for, and when to seek care.

1

FLOODWATER CAN CARRY THE BACTERIA THROUGH ANIMAL URINE

Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria that can be shed in the urine of infected animals. People can become infected when contaminated water or soil reaches broken skin or the moist surfaces of the eyes, nose, or mouth. Flooding increases the chance that water, mud, sewage, and animal waste will mix.

A visible rat is not required for exposure. Dogs, livestock, and other animals can also carry the bacteria, and contaminated water may look no different from ordinary floodwater. Risk rises when a person wades for a long time, has cuts or abrasions, handles flood-soaked waste, or works in drains, farms, or other wet environments.

Contact does not mean automatic infection. It means the exposure should be remembered and mentioned if symptoms appear. That detail can help a health worker decide what evaluation and treatment are needed.

WHAT TO WATCH

Remember when and where the exposure happened, whether you had cuts or skin problems, and whether floodwater reached your eyes, nose, or mouth.

2

SYMPTOMS MAY APPEAR DAYS AFTER THE WATER HAS RECEDED

The DOH says the usual incubation period is about five to 15 days. A person may feel well after wading through a flood and only develop symptoms later, when the street is already dry and the exposure is easy to forget.

Possible symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, red eyes, vomiting, or weakness. More serious illness can affect the kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, or brain. These symptoms can resemble dengue, influenza, or other infections, so a social-media checklist cannot establish the diagnosis.

Recent exposure followed by illness is the relevant combination. Tell the doctor or health worker about the floodwater even if the consultation happens several days later.

WHAT TO WATCH

Fever, severe headache, calf or lower-back pain, red eyes, vomiting, yellowing of the skin or eyes, reduced urination, breathing difficulty, or unusual weakness after flood exposure.

3

SEEK CARE EARLY INSTEAD OF DIAGNOSING YOURSELF

The DOH advises people who develop symptoms after flood exposure to seek consultation promptly. Waiting for severe signs can make treatment more difficult because leptospirosis may progress quickly in some patients.

Do not take leftover antibiotics or copy another person's prescription. A clinician must consider the timing and type of exposure, symptoms, medical history, possible laboratory tests, and other illnesses that can look similar. Preventive antibiotics may be considered in particular situations, but that decision also belongs with a qualified health professional.

The DOH has activated 33 leptospirosis fast lanes and is managing referrals and bed capacity in affected areas. A barangay health center, local clinic, or hospital can direct a patient to the appropriate facility.

WHAT TO WATCH

If symptoms begin, contact a health facility as soon as possible and clearly say that there was recent exposure to floodwater or mud.

4

PROTECTION STARTS WITH AVOIDING CONTACT WHEN POSSIBLE

The safest choice is not to enter floodwater unless it is necessary. Floods can hide open drains, sharp objects, live electrical hazards, chemicals, and strong currents in addition to infection risks.

If contact cannot be avoided, wear rubber boots and waterproof gloves, cover cuts with waterproof dressings, and wash exposed skin and wounds with clean water and soap afterward. Do not use floodwater to prepare food, brush teeth, or wash dishes. Food that touched floodwater should be discarded.

Protection is harder for people whose homes, work, or routes require them to enter flooded areas. Local governments and employers still have duties to provide safe routes, protective equipment, sanitation, and clear health advice. Prevention cannot be placed entirely on individuals.

WHAT TO WATCH

Whether evacuation sites, cleanup crews, waste workers, and residents in repeatedly flooded communities receive boots, gloves, clean water, and access to early consultation.

5

THE NATIONAL TOTAL IS LOWER, WHILE RECENT CASES HAVE RISEN

The 4,285 cases reported by August 22 were 37 percent lower than the 6,839 cases recorded during the same period in 2025. That comparison is encouraging, but it does not erase the 29 percent increase between the two most recent reporting periods.

The DOH identified the National Capital Region, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon as areas with the highest concentrations of cases. Recent flooding and the delay between exposure and symptoms mean health facilities must remain ready even after rain weakens.

PhilHealth issued a 2026 benefit package for moderate to severe leptospirosis, while the DOH said admitted indigent patients in its hospitals are covered by the Zero Balance Billing policy. Patients or families should still ask the hospital or PhilHealth desk what applies to their case and facility.

WHAT TO WATCH

The next DOH surveillance update, local case clusters, hospital capacity, and whether people in flood-affected areas can obtain timely diagnosis and treatment without being deterred by cost.

BOTTOM LINE

Leptospirosis is not an automatic consequence of touching floodwater, but exposure should not be forgotten. Avoid contact when possible, use protective gear when it is unavoidable, clean exposed skin and wounds, and seek medical advice promptly if fever or other symptoms appear in the following days. The most important information to give the health worker is simple: I was exposed to floodwater.

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