New Blue Ribbon Chair Tulfo moves flood control hearing to Monday; Cayetano sticks with Thursday

[0:00] Another possible showdown looms at the Philippine Senate. [0:03] Embattled Senate President Aylan Quintano insists this Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on the flood control mess [0:08] will continue on Thursday, prompting Senator Panfilo Laxon to issue a warning. [0:14] Victoria Tulad reports. [0:18] The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will no longer hold its ninth hearing on Thursday, June 4, [0:23] after the Senate changed its Senate President pro tempore and committee chairmanships. [0:27] This according to the new Blue Ribbon chairperson, Senator Irwin Tulfo, on Wednesday. [0:33] He said instructions have been given to the Senate staff to cancel the invitation on Thursday [0:37] and not allow Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and the old majority to hold their hearing. [0:44] That's illegal na po, yung kanyang one tomorrow. [0:48] We have already instructed the Senate DeUSA, the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, the Senate Secretary. [0:54] The ninth hearing will be on Monday, June 8, according to Tulfo. [1:07] He said they will discuss who will be invited. [1:10] At past 12 noon Wednesday, Cayetano and Senator Rodante Marcoleta had a Facebook live [1:15] and said there are people blocking the hearing they want to hold. [1:19] Talagang lahat ay ginagawa para hindi matuloy ang sunod-sunod ng mga hearing [1:23] kung saan ay ang katotohanan at buong katotohanan ay lalabas. [1:28] Ang balak talaga ay agawin ang mga committees, [1:32] kaya kung sila ay nag-walk out, kami naman ay gumamit din ang parliamentary tool [1:37] na hindi magkaroon ng quorum para nga maprotektahan ang katotohanan. [1:41] Baka ito na po ang pinakahuling pagkakataon na ang katotohanan, ang katwiran ay mananayig. [1:49] Kagaya po na sinabi ni SP Alan, lahat po ay gagawin nila [1:55] para patuloy na pagtakpan ang isang issue na kayong lahat ay may kinalaman [2:01] sapagkat pera po ninyo ang ninakaw nila. [2:05] Kaya sinabi ko po, huwag kayong kukurap. [2:07] Ang gagawin namin bukas will define the direction of this country kung saan tayo papunta. [2:13] Tulfo denied the allegation and said the old majority committed several violations [2:18] in scheduling the June 4 hearing. [2:21] Subcommittee, dapat i-constitute ang subcommittee upon the instruction of the chairman of the committee. [2:27] Sino ba yung chairman noon? Si Senator Pia Cayetano. [2:31] Number two, yung mga invitations, hindi man lang dumaan kahit naman lang sa minority leader. [2:36] Ang minority leader is the ex-officio of the Blue Ribbon. [2:40] Well, hindi siya binigyan ng copy. [2:42] Mabuti pa ang media meron. [2:43] So, that's another violation of the rules of the Senate. [2:47] Dapat bagay yung mga resource persons, [2:49] ang bigyan mo, yung mga member ng committee para mapag-aralan nila, [2:53] para we can formulate questions, anong itatanong ko dito. [2:58] Tulfo said all senators will be members of the Blue Ribbon Committee [3:01] so as to avoid allegations of irregularity. [3:04] Cayetano, however, insisted that they will still hold the June 4 hearing. [3:10] But tomorrow, tuloy ang hearing ng Blue Ribbon Committee. [3:14] I am still the legitimate, legal, moral Senate President of the Republic of the Philippines. [3:23] There is still functioning committees. [3:25] We have to hear the testimonies. [3:28] Invited po, pati po, yung mga gumawa ng iligal ngayon. [3:31] You can try to stop us, but you will be stopping the Filipino people. [3:36] Included in the list of resource persons invited by the Blue Ribbon under Senator Pia Cayetano [3:41] are former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, [3:44] the alleged 18 Marines who supposedly delivered suitcases containing cash [3:48] to Romualdez and former House Appropriations Chairman Zaldico, [3:52] and COS employees. [3:53] Also invited are former DPWH Assistant District Engineer Bryce Hernandez [3:59] and secretaries or representatives of the Department of Public Works and Highways, [4:04] Department of Justice, Department of Budget and Management, [4:07] and the Office of the Ombudsman. [4:09] At past seven in the evening, Cayetano issued a memo to the Senate Secretariat [4:13] and the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms saying the hearing will push through. [4:18] Senator Panfilo Laxon, who is part of the new majority, [4:22] cautions the Cayetano bloc from pushing through with their hearing. [4:26] If ituloy ni Senator Marcoleta ang kanyang subcommittee hearing sa flood control, [4:34] what will happen? [4:36] Illegal. Yun ang illegal kasi hindi naman siya chairman. [4:39] At meron kaming sergeant-at-arms na siya mga angalaga ng orderliness [4:43] at saka ng decorum dito sa loob ng Senado. [4:46] So, bahala sila. Kung anong gusto nilang gawin, eh baka mapahiya sila. [4:51] Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan says he is relieved with a change in leadership. [4:55] How did you convince Senator Chispo? [5:00] Mahabang proseso, but thankfully he agreed. [5:05] Thank you, sir. How do you feel lang, sir? [5:08] Relieved for the Senate. [5:09] And we hope that this is a fresh time. [5:12] And when is most deserving, when most qualified. [5:16] Meantime, more charges stemming from the flood control mess [5:19] are set to be filed on Thursday at the Malolos-Bulacan Regional Trial Court. [5:24] According to Public Works Chief Vince Dizon, [5:27] a so-called big fish will be among those who will be charged. [5:31] Dizon says this is part of President Marcos' commitment [5:33] to hold accountable those involved in the corruption scandal. [5:38] Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News. [5:40] Meanwhile, Senator Alan Cayetano issues a memorandum [5:45] to all Senate officials and personnel [5:47] that the June 4 hearing of the Blue Ribbon Committee [5:50] will push through despite statements from the new majority [5:53] that this hearing is cancelled. [5:56] Cayetano instructed his Sergeant-at-Arms, Manuel Parlada, [5:58] to facilitate the entry of resource persons [6:01] invited by Blue Ribbon Chair, Senator Pia Cayetano, [6:04] to its 10 a.m. hearing. [6:06] He adds the directive applies to all committee hearings previously scheduled. [6:11] Cayetano insists he's still the Senate President. [6:15] An obstruction of justice complaint is filed [6:18] against Philippine Senate President Alan Cayetano, [6:21] Senator Robin Padilla, [6:22] and former Senate Security Chief Mau Aplaska [6:24] over the escape of fugitive Senator Ronald De La Rosa. [6:28] The civil society group Tindig, Filipinas, [6:30] lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman. [6:32] They said the respondents knowingly and willfully hindered [6:36] the arrest of De La Rosa, [6:38] who's wanted by the International Criminal Court [6:40] for his role in the Duterte drug war. [6:43] Cayetano has denied the allegations. [6:47] Kaya mahalagang hakbang po yung pag-file ng obstruction of justice [6:51] para magkaroon ng konsekwenses yung mga ginawa ng ating mga senador [6:55] at saka para magkaroon ng pananagutan para sa mga issue na ito [6:59] para manaig po yung rule of law. [7:00] Ilohilo City Representative Julian Baronda [7:05] files a cyber libel complaint [7:07] against 18 supposed former members of the Philippine Marines. [7:11] Included in the complaint filed with the Justice Department [7:14] is the lawyer of the ex-Marines Levito Baligod. [7:17] The 18 men earlier claimed Baronda [7:19] was among the recipients of payouts [7:21] in relation to the supposed investigation [7:24] of the International Criminal Court in Manila. [7:26] The Philippine Antigraf Court denies the appeal [7:31] of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez to lift the travel ban against him. [7:36] The Sandigan Bayan disagreed with Romualdez [7:38] that the precautionary hold departure violated his right to travel. [7:43] The Sandigan Bayan also rejected his medical justification [7:45] to seek treatment in Singapore, [7:48] citing his failure to submit medical records. [7:51] The late congressman has been tagged as the mastermind [7:55] behind the flood control scandal. [7:57] Philippine House lawmakers approve a bill [8:01] that seeks to ban political dynasties. [8:04] The Anti-Political Dynasty Act prohibits relatives [8:07] within the second degree of consanguinity [8:09] from running or holding office in the same locality. [8:13] The legislation is one of the priority measures [8:15] of the Marcos Jr. administration. [8:18] Speaker Bogi Di, one of the bill's principal authors, [8:21] says the measure aims to ensure public office [8:23] remains open to all Filipinos [8:24] and that leadership is not determined [8:27] by the concentration of power in a few clans. [8:32] Former Philippine Public Works Chief Manuel Bonoan [8:35] has been moved to a private Metro Manila hospital [8:37] to be treated for a possible heart condition. [8:40] The Philippine National Police says Bonoan, [8:42] who was initially detained at the PNP General Hospital, [8:45] was transferred Tuesday night on the advice of PNP doctors. [8:49] Police officials say their hospital lacks the equipment [8:52] for specialized cardiac tests and treatment needed by Bonoan. [8:57] He faces graft-and-plunder charges [8:59] in connection with the flood control corruption scandal. [9:03] Ukrainian drones hit an oil terminal [9:06] in Russia's northwestern city of St. Petersburg. [9:09] The attack took place as the city hosted [9:11] its annual International Economic Forum. [9:15] Russian officials confirmed a drone strike [9:18] on city infrastructure but did not provide detail. [9:21] China rejects U.S. allegations it uses forced labor [9:27] as it opposed proposed new tariffs [9:29] on imports from 60 economies. [9:31] The U.S. plans to impose additional duties [9:33] of 10 to 12.5 percent [9:35] over claims that China and other countries [9:38] have failed to stop trade in goods linked to forced labor. [9:41] China's foreign ministry insists [9:43] there is no forced labor in China. [9:44] It accused the U.S. of using the issue [9:47] for political purposes. [9:49] The move comes ahead of the July 24 expiry [9:51] of a temporary 10 percent tariff [9:54] introduced earlier this year. [9:58] Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawat [10:00] will soon walk free after he received a royal pardon. [10:04] Thailand's Justice Minister confirmed Thaksin [10:06] was among the prisoners granted clemency [10:08] to mark the birthday of Queen Suthida. [10:10] The 76-year-old former leader [10:12] has more than three months left [10:14] in his reduced one-year sentence [10:16] which was due to end in September. [10:18] A director of the Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission [10:27] is arrested for alleged extortion. [10:30] The unnamed suspect is accused of trying [10:32] to extort 250,000 pesos from a private corporation. [10:37] The suspect was caught during an entrapment operation [10:39] by the National Bureau of Investigation and the SEC. [10:43] The director has been placed under preventive suspension [10:45] while the investigation is ongoing. [10:48] The commission calls on the public [10:50] to report any irregularities or unethical practices [10:53] involving its officials and personnel. [10:58] Philippine shares continue to climb [11:00] as an AI-driven tech rally [11:02] sweeps across regional markets [11:03] and boosted investor confidence. [11:06] The details from Michelle Ong. [11:10] Global equities advanced to new highs Wednesday [11:12] as demand for artificial intelligence stocks intensified, [11:16] cementing the sector's role as the market's main driver [11:18] and helping investors look past more strikes [11:21] between the U.S. and Iran. [11:23] Hiratom Philippine shares are up for a third day [11:26] but failed to close above 6,000. [11:29] The recovery from the 5766 low last Friday [11:33] was really encouraging. [11:35] But again, until the early auction in the afternoon today, [11:38] the recovery seemed solid. [11:40] But the sell-off at the close [11:41] which brought the PSEI down by 1.4% [11:44] just from pre-close to run-off, [11:46] once again sort of reminded us [11:48] that we have to remain cautious [11:50] and prudent in positioning in this market. [11:53] If we look at the chart of the PSEI, [11:55] the index is actually still capped [11:57] by a downtrend overhead resistance [12:00] and still close today [12:01] below its 50-day average price. [12:03] So moving forward, [12:05] again, given new developments, [12:07] I'm not sure how the market will take this tomorrow. [12:10] But if the price rejection we saw [12:12] at the close of trading day-to-day continues, [12:15] I just hope last Friday's low [12:17] at around 5, 8 holds of support. [12:19] In corporate stories, [12:20] SM Prime Holdings is deferring [12:22] its 18 billion peso bond offering [12:24] as higher interest rates hit corporate fundraising. [12:27] The SEA-led developer says [12:28] it's postponing the fourth tranche [12:29] of fixed-rate bonds, [12:31] offering up to 12 billion [12:32] with an oversubscription option [12:33] of up to 6 billion, [12:35] citing current market conditions. [12:37] The planned issuance consisted of [12:38] Series AE bonds, due in 2032, [12:41] and Series AF bonds, due in 2036. [12:44] Michelle Long, ABS-CBN News. [12:48] The San Antonio Spurs [12:49] are going up against their old foe, [12:51] the New York Knicks, [12:52] in the 2026 NBA Finals. [12:55] TJ Manotto gives us a preview. [12:59] The New York Knicks are the hottest team [13:00] in this year's playoffs, [13:02] finishing off their last two opponents [13:03] via sweeps and riding high [13:05] on an 11-game winning streak. [13:07] But it was a year of quick growth for New York, [13:09] who brought in a new coach just last October. [13:11] Coach Mike Brown admits [13:13] that the adversity during the season [13:15] made them get here today. [13:17] First of all, there's always rocky moments [13:20] during the course of the season. [13:21] That's what the season's there for. [13:23] Getting to the finals is not easy. [13:27] And if you can navigate through [13:29] some of those adverse or tough times [13:31] throughout the course of the season, [13:33] you'll give yourself a chance [13:35] when it really matters, [13:36] which is in the postseason. [13:38] The Knicks arrive at the finals [13:39] with the leadership of star guard Jalen Brunson, [13:42] who attributes their grit and toughness [13:44] to the doubts of the critics [13:45] who thought they were not championship-ready. [13:47] Focus group. [13:48] I think we're a hard-working group. [13:51] I feel like we've been doubted a lot. [13:54] Now we are focused. [13:56] When it came to the games, [13:56] we kept getting better and better. [13:58] For the Spurs, they may be favored, [14:00] but also have the lesser-experienced squad. [14:02] They are the second-youngest team [14:04] to make the NBA Finals [14:05] with an average age of 25 years old. [14:08] Habits, consistency, execution, [14:11] fundamentals, attention to detail, [14:13] style of play, brand of basketball, [14:15] et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. [14:17] We've said all those words [14:17] probably a hundred times [14:20] more than the word experience. [14:21] For Spurs star Victor Wembenyama, [14:23] he knows who stands in front of him [14:25] and his dream of becoming an NBA champion. [14:28] It's a great team of experienced guys [14:29] who are not here by chance, [14:32] but by relentless effort over the years [14:34] and very different career paths [14:37] for all of them. [14:38] So they're right where they're supposed to be, [14:42] in my opinion. [14:43] And all of them are going to be [14:45] super hungry in their own way. [14:47] And for Filipino basketball fans [14:48] around the world, [14:49] history is already guaranteed. [14:51] For the first time ever, [14:52] two Filipino-Americans will face each other [14:54] in the NBA Finals, [14:56] ensuring that no matter who lifts [14:57] the Larry O'Brien trophy, [14:58] a piece of that championship journey [15:00] is coming home to the Philippines. [15:02] 12-year veteran and 2021 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, [15:05] Jordan Clarkson is set to clash [15:07] with the Spurs rookie, Dylan Harper. [15:08] Definitely inspiring to the Filipino-Americans [15:13] and Filipinos all around the country. [15:16] So it's definitely going to be fun to watch. [15:19] One of us two taking a championship back home [15:22] to the Philippines and representing that will. [15:26] We're going to do something really special, [15:28] represent our country, where we're from, [15:30] represent everything on the biggest stage of basketball. [15:34] Clarkson has admired how the younger Harper [15:35] has improved so quickly in his rookie year. [15:38] He's been really good throughout the whole year. [15:40] I've been watching him, [15:42] keeping up with him as well, [15:44] and him being so young, [15:46] having so much poise throughout this whole playoffs. [15:50] You know, it's a great sight to see [15:51] a young star coming in this league [15:53] and doing what he's doing. [15:55] One health paved the way, [15:56] the other now represents the next generation. [15:59] Jordan Clarkson and Dylan Harper [16:00] may be wearing different uniforms, [16:01] but together, they've created the historic moment [16:03] for Filipino basketball fans around the world. [16:06] Now, and while only one team will leave [16:08] as an NBA champion, [16:09] Filipino representation has already scored a victory [16:12] before the series even begins. [16:14] TJ Manotok, ABS-CBN News, San Antonio, Texas.