Lone House Prosecutor to Present Impeachment Articles vs. VP Sara Duterte in Senate

When the Senate resumes its session on June 2, a single representative from the House prosecution panel will be tasked with reading the articles of impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor, who is part of the 11-member prosecution team, confirmed the plan during a press briefing on Wednesday. While he did not disclose the name of the designated prosecutor, he stated that the panel has already reached a consensus on who will read the charges before the Senate.

“We held a meeting earlier this week to prepare for the June 2 session. The Senate has formally requested that the prosecution present the impeachment articles, and we have agreed that one prosecutor will deliver the presentation,” Defensor said.

According to Defensor, although he personally has not spoken with any of the senator-judges, the agreement between the House and Senate outlines that only one member of the prosecution team will read all seven articles of impeachment during the June 2 session.

This presentation is being conducted upon the invitation of Senate President Francis Escudero and will take place on the floor of the Senate when the 19th Congress reconvenes.

It is important to note that this act of reading the charges is a preliminary step and does not mark the official start of the impeachment trial. The Senate is expected to formally constitute itself as an impeachment court the following day, on June 3.

The impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte has been one of the most high-profile political developments this year, and all eyes will be on the Senate as proceedings unfold.

Arnolfo Teves Jr. Rearrested in Timor-Leste, DOJ Awaits Further Action

Former Negros Oriental Representative Arnolfo Teves Jr., who was previously expelled from Congress, has been reportedly rearrested in Timor-Leste.

His son, Axl Teves, shared via Facebook that his father was taken by authorities on the evening of May 27 (Manila time), claiming the incident was akin to abduction and alleged mistreatment.

According to Teves’ legal counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, the arrest was carried out by immigration officers. Topacio also stated that Teves was taken into custody alongside his Timorese lawyer, Joao Serra, and that both are currently being held at the Ministry of Interior’s premises. He added that no formal warrant was presented during the arrest.

The Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) has not yet verified the official basis for Teves' apprehension but acknowledged recent signals from Timor-Leste indicating their disinterest in allowing Teves to stay in their country.

DOJ spokesperson Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano said in a statement that the government is prepared to coordinate his transfer at the earliest opportunity. The DOJ is also waiting to see whether Teves will be deported due to undocumented status or extradited in response to the Philippines' official request.

Teves’ passport had previously been ordered canceled by the Manila Regional Trial Court in February 2024, following his designation as a terrorist by the Anti-Terrorism Council.

In a statement made during a press conference, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta emphasized that the country prioritizes its national interest and has no intention of harboring individuals facing serious criminal allegations. He stressed the importance of preventing East Timor from becoming a refuge for fugitives.

This development comes after two prior approvals for Teves' extradition were overturned by Timor-Leste’s Tribunal de Recursos, which sided with the lawmaker’s appeal to block the Philippine government’s request.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla had earlier warned that Timor-Leste’s aspirations to join ASEAN could be compromised if it failed to cooperate with extradition processes, noting the Philippines’ influential role as a founding ASEAN member.

Teves faces multiple legal charges in the Philippines, including:

• Alleged involvement in the March 2023 assassination of Governor Roel Degamo.

• Charges related to the financing of terrorism.

• A separate murder case linked to killings in Negros Oriental in 2019.

Since leaving the Philippines following Degamo’s death, Teves has remained abroad beyond the validity of his travel authorization.

Duterte Remains Most Trusted by Filipinos – Pulse Asia Survey

Despite facing international legal issues, former President Rodrigo Duterte continues to enjoy strong public trust among Filipinos, according to the latest Pulse Asia survey released on Monday.

The survey, conducted from May 6 to 9, 2025, shows that 63% of registered voters still trust Duterte, even as he remains detained at The Hague in connection with a case filed at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The former president is currently in ICC custody due to charges related to his administration’s controversial war on drugs, which allegedly involved crimes against humanity. Nevertheless, he recently won a mayoral race with over 662,000 votes, proving his enduring popularity among many Filipinos.

Interestingly, the same poll revealed that 58% of respondents disapprove of the decision by the Marcos administration to surrender Duterte to the ICC, suggesting a strong public pushback against the move.

Meanwhile, the ICC’s prosecution team is reportedly resisting efforts by Duterte’s camp to disqualify two judges from hearing his case.

In related findings, Vice President Sara Duterte — Duterte’s daughter — received a 50% trust rating from voters. However, public opinion about her remains mixed, with some voters unsure or distrustful. Around half of those surveyed also expressed disagreement with proposals to impeach her.

As for current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the survey indicates a notable level of distrust, especially in Mindanao, where the Duterte family has a strong political base. A striking 81% of respondents in Mindanao said they don’t trust the president. Distrust was also the dominant sentiment among Class D voters (41%), and nearly evenly split in Metro Manila and the Visayas.

Among wealthier respondents (Class ABC), the president received equal levels of distrust and doubt (43% and 32%, respectively), according to Pulse Asia.

The only significant change observed between April and May 2025 was a 9-point decrease in distrust toward President Marcos among voters in areas outside Luzon.

— Daily Kwento

credit to source: Pilipino Star Ngayon

Heads Up, Metro Manila: MMDA to Try Out Odd-Even Scheme on EDSA Starting June 16

For commuters! Just a quick update that might affect your daily drive.

The MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) has announced that it will start a dry run of the new odd-even traffic scheme along EDSA beginning June 16, 2025. This move is part of the preparations for the major P8.7-billion EDSA rebuild project, which kicks off on June 13 and will run all the way through 2027.

Now before you panic—don’t worry—no tickets or fines will be given out during the dry run. It’s all part of an info campaign to help everyone adjust first. For the first month, violators will just receive a warning notice, not a penalty.

🚘 So, what’s the odd-even scheme?

Here’s the simple breakdown:

• Odd-numbered plates (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) → Not allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

• Even-numbered plates (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) → Not allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays

• Sundays? — No restrictions!

The MMDA also mentioned that the traffic rule might run 24/7 at first, but they’re still looking into possible window hours later on.

🚫 Who’s Exempt?

Not everyone will be affected by the rule. Here are the vehicles exempted:

• Electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids, hybrids (recognized by the DOE)

• Motorcycles and non-motorized vehicles

• Emergency vehicles (ambulances, police cars, fire trucks)

• Public utility vehicles (jeepneys, buses, taxis)

• Accredited ride-hailing cars (Grab, Joyride, etc.)

• Government vehicles used for official duties

• Vehicles just crossing EDSA through intersections

So if you’re someone who drives along EDSA regularly, it’s a good time to start planning your routes ahead. Let’s all stay patient and smart on the road—this is all part of a bigger goal to improve traffic flow (and road conditions) in the long run.

— Daily Kwento

Remembering Freddie Aguilar: OPM Legend Passes Away at 72

 It’s a truly sad day for the world of Filipino music. Iconic singer and songwriter Freddie Aguilar has passed away at the age of 72.

His passing was confirmed by Atty. George Briones, legal counsel of the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), where Freddie once served as national executive vice president. His wife, Jovie, had also been sharing occasional updates during his hospital stay at the Philippine Heart Center, expressing thanks to those who reached out with love and concern.

In a heartfelt post, Jovie said,

“Nakakatouch yung mga kinukumusta rin ako sa gitna ng kalagayan ni Freddie... Always finding courage in the face of fear.”

She also mentioned that detailed updates were being kept within close family and friends for now — a gentle reminder of how personal moments like these are.

Freddie Aguilar, known worldwide for the timeless hit “Anak”, touched generations of listeners not just in the Philippines but across the globe. That one song alone was translated into over 50 languages — a testament to its universal message and emotional power.

Aside from “Anak,” his other well-loved classics include “Bulag, Pipi at Bingi” and “Magdalena” — songs that blended music with strong social commentary and heartfelt storytelling.

He is survived by his wife Jovie, and his children Maegan, Jonan, Isabella, and Jeriko from a previous marriage.

Today, we say goodbye to a national treasure — someone whose music became the voice of the people, the voice of struggle, and the voice of love.

Rest in peace, Ka Freddie. Your music will never be forgotten.

— Daily Kwento

🇰🇷 Former South Korean Officials Banned from Leaving the Country Amid Martial Law Investigation

 Hey everyone,

There’s big news coming out of South Korea. Authorities there have just barred two top former officials — ex-Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok — from traveling abroad. This is all part of an ongoing investigation into their possible involvement in an attempted martial law last December.

According to local reports (Yonhap), the travel restrictions were put in place in mid-May, and just this week, both Han and Choi were called in for questioning by a special police unit. The probe is digging into whether they had any part in what’s being described as an insurrection attempt, reportedly tied to former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

You might remember — Yoon was impeached in December 2024 for allegedly abusing his power. During that time, he briefly declared martial law, which the parliament quickly revoked the same day. It caused a lot of chaos and confusion, with both Han and Choi stepping in as acting leaders while the crisis unfolded.

Now, with elections just around the corner on June 3, South Koreans are watching closely to see how this investigation plays out and what it could mean for the country’s leadership moving forward.

Let’s see how this story develops. I’ll keep you updated.

— Daily Kwento