Jasha Gamao

Alas Pilipinas is tempering expectations and locking in on pure preparation just weeks before they battle the region's elite in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Cup, scheduled for June 6 to 14 in Candon City, Ilocos Sur. 

Speaking at Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on May 26, interim head coach Shaq Delos Santos and veteran cornerstone Alyssa Valdez emphasized that the immediate mission is building roster chemistry rather than making bold predictions. 

“Ang goal muna is pano mapalakas ang team natin,” Coach Delos Santos said.

The Philippines finds itself in a challenging Pool A alongside powerhouse squads from South Korea, Chinese Taipei, Kyrgyzstan, Australia, and Uzbekistan, forcing the team to take a strict "one game at a time" mentality.

The current 20-player pool blends decorated international veterans with hungry collegiate standouts, though the final lineup remains a work in progress. 

“Right now, pool pa lang ang meron kami,” Coach Delos Santos added.

Headliner returnees like Alyssa Valdez, Jovelyn Gonzaga, and Ces Molina all stalwarts of the 2019 SEA Games squad are stepping up to anchor the national program during a tight transitional phase. 

Coach Delos Santos confirmed that while the final cuts have yet to be locked in from a pool that includes Premier Volleyball League (PVL) stars and UAAP standouts, the coaching staff will prioritize building the absolute strongest combination possible before the team heads to Candon City for intensive training next week.

Despite the steep hill ahead, the players expressed raw excitement and unwavering commitment to the flag. 

“We’re very, very humbled and excited to be part of the national team again and represent the country with pride,” Alyssa Valdez said.

“Ang sarap ng feeling na makabalik sa national team. Excited kami. Once the country calls for your service nandito kami. Ang hirap tanggihan ang national team,” Jovelyn Gonzaga said.

Gonzaga noted the undeniable pull of national duty, stating that it is impossible to say no when the country calls for service, even as they deliberately keep performance expectations to a minimum. 

Valdez echoed this grounded confidence, promising that fans can expect maximum effort on the court but noting that realistic preparation trumps premature guarantees. 

“But realistically, we cannot predict anything. All we can do now is to prepare well. Basta to represent the country with honor and pride,” added Valdez 

With reigning champion Vietnam anchoring a dangerous Pool B, the Filipina spikers are focusing entirely on controlling their own readiness to ensure they represent the nation with pride.

The House of Representatives expects Vice President Sara Duterte to directly address the impeachment charges against her rather than relying on legal maneuvers, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega of La Union announced on May 26. 

With the Senate impeachment court’s strict, non-extendible June 1 deadline fast approaching, lawmakers are actively pushing for a substantive response rather than a motion to dismiss. 

“We are hoping to receive an answer, not a motion to dismiss,” Representative Ortega said.

Once Duterte submits her answer, the House prosecution panel will have a similarly rigid five-day window to file its comments, keeping the high-stakes trial on a rapid schedule.

Ortega firmly warned that any attempt by Duterte’s defense team to file a motion to dismiss or to delay proceedings while waiting for pending Supreme Court decisions would be viewed as a clear dilatory tactic. 

Characterizing such moves as a waste of time, the House leader expressed confidence that the Senate impeachment court will maintain its swift momentum and reject any stalling mechanisms. 

“It will just be a waste of time. We do not think the Senate impeachment court, which has so far acted forthwith on the impeachment case, will allow it,” the Congressman stated.

The warning underscores the lower chamber's determination to prevent the trial from grinding to a halt over procedural technicalities.

Urging the Vice President to make good on her promise to defend herself, Ortega pressed Duterte to seize this moment to finally speak to the public. 

He noted that because she consistently refused to participate in the initial House impeachment proceedings, she has waited over a year for this trial to take place. 

“She consistently refused to show up in the House impeachment proceedings. She waited for more than a year since last year’s impeachment process for her trial to take place and to present her answer. She should seize this opportunity so the people can finally hear from her,” Congressman Ortega highlighted.

Lawmakers are now insisting that Duterte use the Senate stage to deliver the detailed answers the public has been waiting to hear.

QUEZON CITY—The Philippine National Police (PNP) officially acknowledged a Department of Justice (DOJ) subpoena on May 26, demanding critical firearms records linked to the May 13 shooting incident at the Senate of the Philippines.

PNP Spokesperson Col. Allen Rae Co confirmed during a press briefing that the Justice Department is targeting the inventory of all firearms registered under Senate ownership. 

“The subpoena covers the production of inventory of firearms registered under Senate ownership, as well as records related to the ownership of a firearm seen in the video, including relevant information and data in relation to the matter,” PNP spokesperson said.

Investigators are also gunning for specific registration data tied to a weapon spotted in a video capturing the violent event.

Moving swiftly to aid the investigation, Col. Co announced that the PNP will fully cooperate with all lawful processes and immediately surrender the required documents. 

“The PNP respects the ongoing investigation of the Department of Justice and assures its full cooperation with honorable processes, including the submission of documents and other relevant records as may require.” Colonel Co concluded.

The Office of the Ombudsman has escalated its anti-corruption drive, asking the Sandiganbayan to bar Senator Rodante Marcoleta, former Representative Michael Defensor, and businessmen Joseph Espiritu and Aristotle Viray from leaving the country. 

Prosecutors filed a verified ex parte application on May 25, demanding a Precautionary Hold Departure Order (PHDO) against the four individuals. 

The urgent move comes on the heels of severe criminal complaints charging them with plunder, indirect bribery, and violating Presidential Decree No. 46, a decree that prohibits giving gifts to public officials.  

The looming travel restrictions stem from a Commission on Elections investigation into 75 million Philippine pesos in campaign donations allegedly cornered by Marcoleta in January 2025, which he reportedly omitted from his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures. 

The Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division has scheduled the critical PHDO hearing today, May 26, to determine if the high-profile suspects pose a flight risk while the active investigation unfolds.

The Sporting Clays Association of the Philippines (SCAP) National Team delivered a masterclass performance at the Singapore Shooting Championships 2026, capturing ten medals during the week-long tournament held from May 18 to 24 at the National Shooting Center. 

Besting powerhouse contenders from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, and Thailand, the Filipino shooters dominated both the Compak and Flush categories. 

Carlo Baltonado anchored the historic run, securing individual gold in the Men’s Compak division and teaming up with Leyte 4th District Representative Richard Gomez and Jakey Ancheta for a spectacular Men's Team gold. 

Gomez also claimed an individual silver, while Eduardo Rivilla and Tet Lara chipped in bronze medals to cement the team's Compak supremacy.

The Philippines carried that blistering momentum into the Flush category, completely locking down the podium in the 50 Targets Flushing event. 

The duo of Baltonado and Jeffrey Dayrit secured gold, followed by Joaquin Miguel Ancheta and Rivilla taking silver, and Gomez and Diego Bañaga walking away with the bronze. 

The national squad put an exclamation point on their dominant campaign by clinching two additional gold medals, one in the 3-Man 75 Flushing Targets courtesy of Baltonado, Bañaga, and Gomez, and a final golden finish from Baltonado in the 3-Man Multi-Country 75 Targets Flushing.