Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Commission on Audit (COA) auditor Xylene del Campo took the witness stand on August 11, 2026 to deliver key testimony on Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds. 

Prosecution counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan led the direct examination, focusing squarely on the first article of impeachment as the House prosecution panel builds its case surrounding the handling of millions in public funds.  

Establishing her credibility before the impeachment court, Del Campo detailed nearly 12 years of public service with COA since joining the agency on August 26, 2014. 

She highlighted her extensive background in state oversight, having conducted post-audits for more than 20 national government agencies, over 50 local government units, and five to 10 government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).  

Crucial to her testimony was her direct role in reviewing the financial responses submitted by the Office of the Vice President (OVP). 

Del Campo evaluated the OVP’s submission regarding the Notice of Suspension for the period covering December 21 to 31, 2022, as well as its responses to Audit Observation Memoranda (AOM) spanning the first three quarters of 2023.

Del Campo also scrutinized the Department of Education's (DepEd) compliance under Duterte's tenure. 

She confirmed evaluating DepEd's formal responses to two separate AOMs covering the first to third quarters of 2023, placing her audit findings at the center of the ongoing impeachment proceedings.

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PASAY CITY—A brief moment of lighthearted banter broke the tension on Day 14 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial after prosecution counsel Atty. Lorna Kapunan complained that the defense team stood them up on pre-trial document comparisons. 

Raising a formal manifestation before the court, Kapunan expressed frustration over the defense panel's failure to coordinate, candidly declaring, "Na-indian po kami."

Kapunan explained that the defense did not respond to their text messages proposing to meet last Thursday or Friday to compare documents and marked evidence. 

According to Kapunan, the defense only replied at 5:38 p.m. on Thursday to say they were available on August 14—the very day of the trial. 

"Napakalinaw naman sa directive ng presiding officer na mag-agree on a date on Thursday or Friday of last week. August 14 what good will that do us? The hearing is today," Kapunan stressed. 

She described the defense’s claim that the court only instructed them to agree on a date generally as "more disturbing," calling out the move directly by stating, "That is bad faith."

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero quickly stepped in, redefining the prosecution’s grievance with modern slang that drew smiles in the courtroom. 

Correcting Kapunan’s modern vocabulary, Escudero playfully countered: "Hindi ka in-Indian, baka ghinost ka, kasi di ka sinagot. Pero di ka inindan, wala namang napag-usapang date pa eh."

Kapunan immediately offered a quick rebuttal, asking, "In-ignore?" but Escudero humorously held his ground, insisting that the prosecution had simply been ghosted. 

Shifting back to official proceedings, Escudero stepped in to resolve the deadlock directly by ordering the counsels for the respondent to furnish the impeachment court with their copies of the marked pre-trial evidence. 

He explained that the document comparison could be handled by the court itself or by the senator-judges, bypassing the need for further panel-to-panel coordination.

Defense lawyer Atty. Kristine Ferrer promptly confirmed that the defense panel will comply with the court's directive. 

Kapunan noted that the defense's reluctance was "not new," pointing out similar friction during the pre-trial conference when they refused to stipulate over document cover pages. 

Despite the underlying dispute over trial preparations, Escudero’s quick wit provided a memorable, lighter interlude in the ongoing legal battle.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate approved two important resolutions on August 5, 2026 to give financial aid and show deep sympathy to families who lost their loved ones in recent tragedies. 

Senate President Win Gatchalian ordered the Senate secretariat to send money directly to the families of Ateneo basketball player Rene Baterbonia and three students killed in a Tacloban school shooting. 

Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri pushed the chamber to give immediate support to help ease the financial burden on the grieving relatives.

Resolution No. 57 pays tribute to Rene "Bobet" Baterbonia, an Ateneo Blue Eagles player who passed away recently. 

Senators Camille Villar and Risa Hontiveros honored Baterbonia as an amazing athlete, son, and friend who inspired young people across the country. 

Hontiveros shared her hope that the Senate’s tribute would bring peace to the player's family, reassuring them that the nation will never forget his dedication and talent.

Resolution No. 58 sends sincere condolences to the families of Joyancee Separa, Ayessa Nicole Dazo, and Chris Lorenz Fabian, three high school students who died in a Tacloban shooting last June. 

Senator Robinhood Padilla sponsored the measure and urged lawmakers to quickly pass laws that make schools safer for all children. He emphasized that the government must act fast to prevent violent acts inside school grounds.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go supported both resolutions and called for better mental health programs in schools. 

He stressed the urgent need to fully implement Republic Act No. 12080, also known as the Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act, to protect students' mental health. Go pointed out that strong mental health support can help spot warning signs early and keep students safe from violence.

The Senate’s active response shows its focus on supporting grieving families while tackling the main causes of these tragic events. 

By offering money, honoring young lives, and pushing for better safety and mental health laws, lawmakers aim to protect Filipino youth and build safer schools across the nation.

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Alex Eala’s sensational Canadian hard-court campaign came to an honorable close on Monday, Aug. 10, following a valiant 6-4, 0-6 battle against former champion Belinda Bencic in the fourth round of the National Bank Open. 

The 25th-seeded Filipina star went toe-to-toe with the world-class Swiss veteran early on, showcasing the elite power and resilience that have captivated tennis fans around the globe.

Although fatigue caught up with Eala following an exhausting string of matches, her performance in Toronto proved she can stand on the biggest stages against Grand Slam-level talent. 

Bencic, who won the Toronto title in 2015, had to bring her absolute best tennis to break open a gritty first set where Eala traded heavy blows and held her ground through a 4-4 deadlock.

The fourth-round finish puts the cap on an incredible chapter for Eala, capping off a career-defining seven-match winning streak that saw her lift her historic breakthrough WTA Tour trophy at the Mubadala DC Open just last week. 

Leaving Canada with newfound confidence, high-profile victories, and a rapidly climbing world ranking, the rising Filipina prodigy now looks ahead with massive momentum for the remainder of the season.

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Alas Pilipinas rewrote Philippine volleyball history by capturing its first-ever silver medal in the SEA V League, delivering a gritty victory over regional rival Indonesia. 

The national squad put on a statement performance to lock up the podium finish, overcoming tough resistance to prevail in a four-set battle: 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 33-31.

The Filipina spikers set an aggressive tone early, overpowering Indonesia with a commanding 25-13 opening set. 

Though Indonesia bounced back to steal a razor-thin second frame, the Philippines quickly regrouped to assert dominance in the third. 

The match escalated into an absolute dogfight in the fourth set, where both squads traded relentless attacks until Alas Pilipinas showed incredible composure to close out a heart-pounding 33-31 marathon finish.

This breakthrough silver marks a milestone moment for the national team program, establishing the Philippines as a formidable threat on the regional stage. 

By converting intense crunch-time pressure into a legendary triumph, Alas Pilipinas has raised the standard for Philippine volleyball and ignited pride across the nation.

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