Jasha Gamao

MANILA—The Ombudsman Graftbusters preserved their glorious record in the UNTV Cup Season 12, beating a resilient COMELEC Vanguards squad, 86-79, on June 7, at the Paco Arena in Manila. 

The hard-fought victory propelled the Graftbusters straight into the next round of the tournament with a pristine 4-0 standing. 

Despite falling short in the thrilling encounter, the Vanguards still successfully advanced to the next phase of the competition, carrying a respectable 3-2 win-loss card.

Former PBA player Bernzon Franco put on a masterclass performance, exhausting everything from his offensive arsenal to anchor Ombudsman's winning surge. 

Franco's dominant inside presence earned him the Best Player of the Game honors after delivering a staggering 24 points and 5 rebounds to anchor the team's offense. 

His veteran composure down the stretch ensured that the Graftbusters prevented any late-game comeback attempts by the Vanguards.

Reflecting on the grueling matchup, Franco acknowledged the immense pressure and the level of resistance put up by their opponents. 

"Binigay sa amin yung game pero hirap kami, napakahirap na laban pero naipanalo pa rin namin," Franco shared in an interview after the game. 

With the elimination hurdles cleared, both teams now shift their focus to the next round, where the competition is expected to intensify.

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MANILA—The National Housing Authority (NHA) Home Masters delivered a massive statement in the UNTV Cup Season 12 elimination round, pulling off a commanding 89-79 victory against league leaders OP Bagong Pilipinas on June 7 at the Paco Arena. 

NHA heavily leaned on their veteran poise to dismantle their opponents, successfully frustrating the powerhouse offense of the Office of the President from the get-go. 

The critical victory throws a wrench into the top-tier tournament rankings and firmly solidifies the Home Masters as a dangerous, seasoned threat this season.

Marvin Mercado completely stole the spotlight, earning Best Player of the Game honors after spearheading NHA's offensive charge. 

Mercado put up stellar, well-rounded numbers, anchoring the interior with a dominant 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists. 

His imposing presence inside the paint and consistent execution on both ends of the floor continuously disrupted OP's defensive schemes, ensuring the Home Masters maintained a comfortable cushion until the final buzzer.

The costly defeat dramatically reshapes the leaderboard for OP Bagong Pilipinas, heading into the matchup as the definitive number 1 squad, the devastating loss slips their record to 3 wins and 2 losses, tumbling them down to the 3rd spot in the team standings. 

Reflecting on their deep team chemistry after the game, Mercado highlighted how their shared history proved to be the ultimate equalizer:

"Naging malaking factor yung pagiging beterano namin tapos yung matagal na kami nagsasama, yung experience namin sa liga ng UNTV Cup, tumanda na kami dito halos tapos may nadagdag pero majority sa amin mga veteran dito sa UNTV Cup, so malaking bagay yun." Marvin Mercado said.

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PASAY CITY—Senator Rodante Marcoleta directly indicated that the recent developments in the June 4 Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing implicated several members of the Senate's so-called 'Solid Bloc 11 to the alleged flood control scandal.

Marcoleta’s remarks stemmed from the testimonies made by the 18 former Marines, who accused multiple high-ranking lawmakers of pocketing public funds. 

“Nakita na po natin ngayon kung bakit ganun yung kanilang patakaran. Dahil sangkot pala ang marami sa kanila,” Marcoleta stated in the Blue Ribbon investigation.

The ex-Marines together with their lawyer, Atty. Levi Baligod appeared and testified before the Blue Ribbon Committee, accusing former Ako Bicol Partylist Representative Zaldy Co of distributing luggage filled with cash from the national flood control budget to lawmakers and high-ranking government officials.

According to their sworn testimonies, the illicit payoffs reached the highest rank in government, explicitly naming President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as a recipient. 

Among the lawmakers explicitly named by the former military personnel are high-profile Senators Erwin Tulfo, Panfilo Lacson, and Vicente Sotto III.

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PASAY CITY—Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano declared his openness to engage in talks with any political faction, including the group known as the "11," to find common ground amid ongoing leadership discussions. 

However, the Senate leader firmly drew the line at compromising legal and moral standards, emphasizing that he will stoutly defend the rule of law alongside his current leadership post. 

"I am willing to talk to anyone including the 11 to find common ground, but I will fight for what is right as well as the Senate presidency," Cayetano stated, signaling that his collaborative stance does not equal political surrender.

Pushing back against behind the scenes maneuvering, Cayetano warned external forces against bending established laws to serve narrow political interests. 

He made it clear that while his administration values transparency, it will not yield to pressure that undermines institutional integrity. 

The Senate President noted that if an objective truth emerges from these dialogues, all parties must accept it, but reiterated that legal protocols must dictate the chamber's direction rather than partisan agendas.

Reaffirming his commitment to his mandate, Cayetano dismissed notions that he is desperately clinging to power, while simultaneously promising a fierce defense of his position. 

“We're not going to give up… Hindi tayo kapit-tuko. If we find the truth, then so be it,” Cayetano remarked

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MANILA—President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is prepared to immediately call a special session of Congress to salvage a legislative agenda stalled by recent Senate leadership disputes, Malacañang announced on June 4. 

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro confirmed that the President will act the moment he receives an official request and valid grounds from the Senate leadership, now spearheaded by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian. 

“As soon as the new leadership will send the official request for special session addressed to the President, then the President will act immediately on that,” Usec. Castro said in a briefing with Palace Press Corps.

Disruptions in the chamber have cost several crucial session days, sparking executive concern over delayed economic and administrative measures.

At the top of the President’s urgent legislative radar is a proposed anti-political dynasty law, which Castro explicitly identified as a flagship priority for the administration. 

Beyond political reforms, Marcos is pushing lawmakers to fast-track critical interventions aimed at cushioning the Philippine economy against the relentless bite of rising global oil prices. 

The executive branch fears that continued gridlock in the legislature will severely bottleneck policies designed to stabilize local consumer costs.

Time is also running out for key military appointments, giving the proposed special session an added layer of urgency. 

Acting Senate President Gatchalian revealed that senators are assessing the timeline to confirm five military generals whose promotions hang in the balance; failure to act before the upcoming legislative break could force these high-ranking officers into mandatory retirement without their hard-earned advancements. 

The Senate is currently reviewing its backlog to finalize the formal appeal to the President.

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