Jasha Gamao

PASAY CITY—Atty. Michael Poa offered a public apology to former Vice President Jejomar Binay on August 4 after raising the issue of 2014 confidential funds on the twelfth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The former Office of the Vice President (OVP) spokesperson clarified that he had no intention of attacking the former official when he brought up the past budget allocations. 

“I have to apologize if I offended anyone from VP Binay’s camp. I didn’t want to drag his name into this,” Atty. Poa stated directly in a press conference after the court proceedings.

Poa explained that his statement was meant to show that confidential funds are not exclusive to current Vice President Sara Duterte's term. 

He stressed that he initially tried to avoid naming Binay directly while presenting the OVP's historical spending background. 

“In fact, if you notice, kanina pinipilit kong hindi sabihin talaga kung sino ‘yung vice president. Sinabi ko lang na may pondo sa OVP noong 2014,” he added to clarify his intent.

The court heightened scrutiny over the handling and history of confidential and intelligence funds across government offices. 

Poa reiterated that his reference to the 2014 budget was purely factual context rather than a deliberate effort to implicate the former leader. 

Binay’s camp has yet to issue a formal response regarding the trial statement or the apology.

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PASAY CITY—The Senate rallied behind Alex Eala on August 4, celebrating her historic victory at the 2026 WTA Mubadala DC Open. 

Eala became the first Filipina to capture a WTA singles crown, a landmark triumph in Washington D.C. that propelled her to a career-high World No. 20. 

The plenary hall echoed with praise as lawmakers cheered her hard-fought win and called for stronger, sustained investment in local sports development to build on this global success.

Senate President Win Gatchalian lauded Eala for giving the nation its first international tennis championship, noting how millions of Filipinos stayed up late to watch her match. 

He emphasized that the late-night sacrifice paid off, bringing much-needed hope and inspiration to the country.

“At si Alex ay nagbigay ho sa atin ng inspirasyon na kung tayo po ay magbubuklod‑buklod, magpupursigi, wala ho tayong mga hamon na hindi po malalampasan. Kaya congratulations, Alex! At maraming salamat sa pagbibigay sa atin ng inspirasyon,” SP Gatchalian said.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo joined the congratulations during Tuesday’s plenary session, hailing Eala’s accomplishment as a monumental milestone for the entire nation. 

In his manifestation, Tulfo highlighted how her grit proves that grit and discipline can overcome any obstacle on the world stage.

“Alex's triumph is a reminder that excellence knows no boundaries. One's nationality, size, or resources need not define one's destiny. What matters is the courage to dream, the discipline to prepare, and the resilience to persevere,” Senator Tulfo said.

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PASAY CITY—Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian welcomed a Pakistani parliamentary delegation to the Senate Ceremonial Hall in Manila on August 3 to boost ties between the two nations. 

Misbah Khar, Advisor to the Chairman of the Pakistan Senate, led the visiting group alongside Pakistani Ambassador Asima Rabbani. 

The delegation was in town for the UNITE Parliamentarians Network Global Health Summit. 

During the meeting, Khar extended an invitation for Filipino lawmakers to visit Pakistan and highlighted the newly created Inter-Parliamentary Speaker’s Conference aimed at building peace and cooperation across regions.  

In response, Gatchalian agreed to revitalize direct exchanges between the two parliaments and tasked Senator Robin Padilla to lead a dedicated friendship association with Pakistani lawmakers. 

Senator Pia Cayetano focused on expanding cooperation through sports diplomacy, while Padilla noted that direct ties between citizens are essential for strong relations. 

Gatchalian also praised Pakistan’s active role as a mediator during current security tensions in the Middle East.

Economic collaboration took center stage as Ambassador Rabbani pointed to progress from the Joint Economic Commission held earlier this year. 

Both sides agreed that similar income levels and growth goals make partnership easy in areas like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. 

Moving forward, lawmakers from both countries plan to explore shared opportunities in education, tourism, vaccine research, and sending health workers, especially nurses, to areas of need.

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PASAY CITY—House private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan ended her direct examination on the twelfth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on August 4 by sharply dismissing the presented prima facie evidence in an ongoing trial. 

Her strong declaration came during a tense exchange over the alleged misuse of public funds, drawing an immediate objection from the defense.

The argument built up as Kapunan questioned COA auditor Roderick Wamil regarding the administrative and penal sanctions of a joint circular. 

She argued that failing to follow liquidation rules creates a strong legal presumption that funds were taken for personal gain.

Kapunan then ended her questioning with a direct attack on the evidence presented. "Your Honor, please, ang tawag ko lang du'n hindi prima facie evidence, kung ako ang tatanungin. Scam ito!" she said during the end of her direct examination.

Defense attorney Michael Poa immediately moved to remove the remark, stating, "Move to strike, Your Honor." 

Atty. Kapunan then quickly stated, "No further questions, Your Honor.”

Atty. Poa repeated his objection, saying, "Move to strike, Your Honor. That is out of order." 

Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero granted the motion and closed the questioning, declaring, "So is stricken from the record. No further questions. Direct examination is completed."

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PASAY CITY—Senators are pushing back hard against a court order stopping the ₱85 minimum wage increase in Metro Manila. 

Lawmakers from different political parties joined forces on August 3 to demand the immediate release of the extra pay. 

They warned that blocking the wage increase hurts workers and weakens the power of regional wage boards.

To break the delay, the Senate is adopting a resolution asking the Judiciary to review and overturn the lower court's temporary restraining order. 

Senate President Win Gatchalian and fellow senators stressed that local families urgently need living wages to survive rising prices. 

They pointed out that conflict in the Middle East is driving up the cost of everyday goods, making the higher pay essential.

Senators Christopher "Bong" Go, Risa Hontiveros, and Robin Padilla all stood together in support of the immediate pay raise. 

Senator Hontiveros called the ₱85 boost a vital first step toward securing better pay for everyday workers. 

She added that while the immediate focus is on Metro Manila, workers across all regions in the country deserve the exact same relief.

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