With the annual Congress holiday break just around the corner, it seems that several individuals who were cited in contempt during previous hearings could remain in detention at the Senate during Christmas and the New Year--perhaps even longer. This was according to Senate President Vicente "Tito"...
Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada withdrew as a member of the bicameral conference committee on the proposed 2026 national budget. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri announced this after the Senate approved a resolution adjusting Congress’ legislative calendar to accommodate the...
The Senate on Tuesday, December 9 said it will be extending its sessions until December 23 for the passage of the P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. It was Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri who announced the adjustment in the Upper Chamber’s legislative calendar, saying...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said the Senate is keen on passing the proposed Independent People’s Commission (IPC) by January next year. Sotto, in an interview on Tuesday, December 9, said they hope to finish deliberations on the bill before the Christmas break. The Senate...
With 17 affirmative votes, no negative votes and zero abstention, the Senate on Tuesday, December 9 approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 4058, which contains the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance...
The Senate approved on Thursday, December 4 the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026 on second reading. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri moved to close the period of amendments for House Bill No. 4058 under Committee Report No. 18. Senate President Pro Tempore...
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Thursday, Dec. 4, that the Senate is working to resolve the remaining issues with proposed amendments to the 2026 national budget, to keep the timetable on track. In a chance interview, Sotto responded to questions on whether disagreements have...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson clarified that more than P79-billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones. Lacson said that the initial figure of P180-B was an “extrapolation.” Lacson said this was based on...
Former Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, Dec. 3 addressed the recommendation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to refer her for further investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman, asserting that the move confirms the allegations against her are unfounded. “The ICI’s...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Wednesday, Dec. 3, that more than P180 billion has likely been lost to ghost flood control projects dating back to 2016, not counting substandard ones. Lacson said he and Senate finance committee chairman Sherwin Gatchalian arrived at this...
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, December 2 called on the government to assure Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa of his rights and due process amid reports of his impending arrest by the International Criminal Court (ICC). “It is very important that our justice system in the...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson proposed on Tuesday, Dec. 2, a provision in the 2026 budget barring any political involvement in cash aid distribution to prevent politicians from abusing the ayuda (cash aid) distribution. During the period of amendments for the 2026 budget bill,...
