Pia Cayetano gets Blue Ribbon Committee, Marcoleta leads Justice, Padilla takes Pangilinan's post

[0:00] Members of the new majority in the Philippine Senate are given key committee chairmanships. [0:05] The Senate President's sister, Senator Pia Cayetano, [0:08] replaces Senator Panfilo Laxan as the chair of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, [0:13] which is probing the flood control scandal. [0:15] Senator Rodante Marcoleta replaces Senator Francis Pangilinan as chair of the Committee on Justice and Human Rights. [0:22] Senator Aimee Marcos retakes the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from Senator Irwin Tulfo. [0:26] While Senator Robin Padilla regains the chairmanship of the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. [0:32] Senator Mark Villar took the Committee on Finance, which is in charge of the national budget. [0:37] Former Senate Finance Committee Chair Sherwin Gachalian is urging Senator Villar to continue the reforms that he started. [0:46] The Office of the Philippine Vice President receives the summons from the Senate Impeachment Court. [0:51] Vice President Sara Duterte has until June 1st to submit a formal answer to the impeachment complaints against her. [0:57] Vivian Gullia has more. [1:00] The Office of Vice President Sara Duterte received on Wednesday morning at 10.40am [1:06] the summons issued by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. [1:09] The House of Representatives was copy-furnished. [1:12] A copy of the document shared to the media by House impeachment prosecutor Representative Terry Redon [1:16] states that the documents served to the OVP include the articles of impeachment and annexes. [1:22] And so, yung pong usapin ng unexplained wealth, threats to the President, bribery, at confidential funds misuse, [1:31] formally, tinatanong na po ng Senate Impeachment Court, no, kung ano po yung position ng pangalang Pangulo dito po sa mga charges po na ito. [1:41] He hopes this time around, the Vice President will directly and substantially answer the allegations raised in the articles of impeachment. [1:49] Our expectation now is, they will still be raising jurisdictional and constitutional questions, which they actually did the last time. [1:57] But also, they will have to, they will probably answer point per point, no, yung pong articles of impeachment already. [2:06] Duterte's camp has a non-extendable period of 10 calendar days to reply to the articles of impeachment. [2:12] Redon hopes the impeachment trial could begin around June, even when Congress is on break. [2:17] Magkahiwalay po itong proseso doon sa atin pong legislative calendar. [2:21] So, the Senate Impeachment Court can basically determine their own schedule on the trial proper itself. [2:30] On Wednesday, the House Prosecution Team met in preparation for the impeachment trial. [2:34] Redon said they plan to present the fourth article on alleged grave threats first, [2:39] followed by the second article on alleged unexplained wealth, [2:42] then the first article on alleged confidential fund misuse, [2:46] and finally, the third article on alleged bribery. [2:49] He cited this as basis. [2:51] You only need to secure one conviction on one article to basically remove the Vice President from office. [3:00] Pero, I think as we speak today, we are ready to present all of the grounds when we get the trial proper. [3:06] Should there be moves to allow the online participation and voting of senator judges, [3:11] Redon said the prosecution might object. [3:13] At the moment, wala pong ganyang rule, no? [3:17] Both in the Senate rules and in the Senate Impeachment Court, no? [3:21] So, I think that is a matter that will have to be decided on by the senator judges when they convene again. [3:28] Pero, I think we will object as a part of the prosecution panel. [3:32] If Duterte resigns, can her impeachment trial still proceed? [3:36] And I think emerging academic consensus na hindi po magtatapos yung trial pa nagsimula na. [3:42] Hindi mo pwede iwasan yung consequence ng disqualification just by resigning. [3:46] Otherwise, na ano yung accountability, na circumvent your accountability. [3:50] Pag ito ay siya po ay na-convict ng Impeachment Court, [3:54] and these violations would render her unfit to serve not only as Vice President. [4:01] But even though a position that is higher than the Vice President. [4:04] Redon said Attorney Lorna Capunan is among the private lawyers helping out the prosecution panel as a volunteer. [4:11] Meantime, Senators held a closed-door meeting to map out the potential calendar for the upcoming Duterte impeachment trial. [4:18] The Senators agreed to make the schedule public. [4:20] The Senate Secretariat is grafting the trial timeline based on historical precedents. [4:25] The impeachment trials of former President Joseph Estrada and former Chief Justice Renato Corona. [4:30] Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano says the deadline for the Vice President to submit a formal answer [4:36] falls on June 1, 2026, as the initial 10-day window lands on a weekend. [4:41] Under the applicable rules, respondent is given 10 calendar days from service of summons within which to file her answer [4:50] and counting 10 calendar days from 20 May, 2026. [4:55] The last day would ordinarily fall on Saturday, 30 May, 26. [5:00] However, since the last day falls on the Saturday, the period shall not run until the next working day. [5:05] Accordingly, the deadline for responding to file her answer is on Monday, 01, June, 2026. [5:12] Cayetano is also urging lawmakers to expedite the timeline to avoid paralyzing the legislative work. [5:18] The deadline for the reply shall be computed from the day the prosecution actually receives the answer. [5:24] I say this because we have to discuss the impeachment calendar and the staff is ready to brief us. [5:33] And if we can give this priority because we have to discuss it vis-a-vis the legislative calendar, [5:41] vis-a-vis the committees, committee hearings, and the session. [5:48] Vivian Guglia, ABS-CBN News. [5:50] The Philippine government defends its right to develop and improve the Pagasa and Lawak Islands. [5:57] Manila rejects China's recent statements claiming ownership of these features in the West Philippine Sea. [6:02] The Philippine Defense Department maintains the areas are part of the Kalayaan Island Group [6:07] and that they have been long administered by the Philippines under the Kalayaan town of Palawan. [6:14] Three complainants in the case of missing cockfight gamers bear alleged bribery attempts [6:19] by the camp of fugitive businessman Atong Ang in exchange for skipping hearings on the case. [6:24] Michael Deliso has the full story. [6:26] Some families of the missing cockfight enthusiasts have already been paid off [6:32] to abandon the charges against fugitive businessman Atong Ang. [6:37] According to the relatives of Zam victims, Ang's lawyer is facilitating the bribe, [6:41] offering cash ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 pesos. [6:46] At least three of the complainants claim they were offered to be paid 20,000 pesos twice a month [6:51] to skip the hearings. [6:52] Ang is facing multiple non-billable charges of kidnapping and homicide [6:56] after being tagged as the mastermind behind the disappearance and murder [7:00] of dozens of cockfight enthusiasts. [7:02] But siya under the table, sobre na niya pinabuksan, ang sabi, tabi ko na lang sabag ko. [7:12] Then nung buksan ko yung pagdating sa bahay, nakita ko, may lamang pera. [7:19] Ginukumbinsi po kami na yun nga, huwag nang umatin, bibigyan kami ng pangpasyal-pasyal. [7:26] Yun ang inaano niya sa amin yung offer. Katunayan po, ito po, binigay niya. [7:31] Parang ang gusto niya po kasing palabasin ay itigil na namin yung laban dito sa missing Sabongero. [7:41] They believe many of the victim's relatives have accepted the cash arrangement, [7:46] which is why only five out of the 31 complainants are still pursuing the case against Ang. [7:51] For example, at the court in Santa Cruz, Laguna, [7:54] only Santos, Japag, and Loyola are still attending the hearings. [7:58] Some of the relatives who are still pursuing the case are furious. [8:11] Meanwhile, an administrative case has been filed before the National Police Commission [8:15] against PNP Highway Patrol Group Spokesperson Adey Malang and Major Rinaldo Panyebe, [8:21] the warden of the custodial center in Camp Crame. [8:23] A victim's skin identified them as among those who allegedly coordinated a secret meeting [8:29] between the families and the detained police officers accused in the case. [8:34] The two police officers denied the allegations. [8:36] According to the PNP, it will look into the complaints and support the NAPLCOM's investigation. [8:40] It is safe to assume this would be grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, if ever. [8:48] I-bestigan ito ng ating emis. [8:50] We welcome this significant development with regards to the reasons among others [8:59] why some of the complainants, the immediate families who acted that complainant [9:06] in this particular case in meeting Sabongeros, failed or intended not to attend court hearing. [9:13] The accused police officers have yet to respond to ABS-CBN News' request for comment. [9:19] Ang Scamp has also yet to comment on the bribery allegations. [9:22] Michael Delizzo, ABS-CBN News. [9:25] Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's ready to work with China [9:33] to build a more just and democratic order. [9:36] Putin hailed Russia's unprecedented ties with China during his two-day visit to Beijing. [9:40] The two sides have reportedly signed dozens of agreements spanning trade, energy, education and infrastructure. [9:47] Putin's visit comes on the heels of a historic meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump. [9:56] The World Health Organization raises concern over the scale and speed of an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo. [10:02] The WHO reports around 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths. [10:08] The numbers are expected to rise. [10:11] The WHO has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. [10:16] The newly sworn-in Philippine budget chief vows zero tolerance for the abuse of public funds. [10:27] Secretary Kim De Leon issued this commitment in his inaugural speech at the Budget Department's office Wednesday. [10:34] The 32-year-old secretary promised to restore people's trust in public spending [10:38] as the government grapples with a massive corruption scandal involving infrastructure projects. [10:43] We will not allow the budget to be abused again for another flood control scandal. [10:53] Let me be also very clear, with utmost respect to this noble institution, I intend to keep my name and record clean. [11:13] Philippine stocks extend losses into a fourth session, joining a global equity sell-off. [11:23] The details from Michelle Ong. [11:27] Global equities headed for their longest losing streak in more than two months as mounting inflation concerns [11:32] drove bond yields higher, pressuring stocks and prompting investors to rethink valuations. [11:37] After a record-breaking rally, MSCI's Asia-Pacific gauge dropping over 1%. [11:43] Here are Tome Philippine shares down for fourth day. [11:46] I guess it's something in the back of our minds, but it's really not affecting our decisions on whether to buy or sell at the moment. [11:56] You know, unless maybe things get really out of hand, traders like me just treat it as like noise at the moment. [12:06] But, of course, it's just another reason for investors or foreign investors not to pour more money in the PSE. [12:18] It's really a challenge right now to make money in this market, but we try our best. [12:25] From my end, what we do is we try to look for those that are going up. [12:30] In corporate stories, Global Fair and Nickel grew its Q1 net income attributable 2.7 times to P478 million as revenues hit P1.6 billion. [12:41] In Palawan, first-quarter mining revenues increased by 36% to P1.6 billion, driven by higher shipment volumes, up 9%, and improved nickel ore prices. [12:51] All shipments for both periods were sold exclusively to customers in China. [12:55] Meanwhile, Andretan's liquor conglomerate, Emperador, reporting single-digit growth in both top and bottom line for Q1 amid global economic and geopolitical uncertainties. [13:06] Net profit hitting 1.9 billion, up 5%, as revenues grew 6% to 13.3 billion. [13:12] And Megaworld announcing plans to open six new hotels in the next three years. [13:16] These hotels to be managed and operated by its hospitality arm, Megaworld Hotels and Resorts, will add close to 2,000 hotel room keys to Megaworld's portfolio. [13:26] Meanwhile, SM offices, the commercial leasing arm of SM Prime, achieves 100% occupancy rate across its more than 100,000-square-meter, 10-tower tech hub complex in Clark Special Economic Zone in Angeles City, Pampanga. [13:40] Most of its tenants are global ITBPM and multinational companies with long-term lease agreements. [13:45] Finally, ASUN Silverwolf enters into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic framework for the deployment of Ocean Sun's floating solar technology across selected Asian markets. [13:57] Michelle Long, ABS-CBN News. [13:59] A