MAY 2 - 8, 2026
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Volume 37 - No. 18 • 14 Pages
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Senate prepares for possible Sara Duterte DATELINE USA Supreme Court ruling impeachment trial as House set for plenary vote FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
narrows Voting Rights Act in redistricting cases Decision sets new limits on use of race in drawing congressional districts, reshaping legal standard for vote dilution claims
With Congress back in session this May, the House is expected to take up the case in plenary, while Duterte’s camp says it will participate if the proceedings reach the Senate. by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine Senate has begun internal preparations for a possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, as the House of Rep-
resentatives moves toward a plenary vote this May that will determine whether the case proceeds to the upper chamber. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III convened an all-senator caucus on April 30 to review procedures, logistics and operational requirements
Zaldy Co believed in Paris as asylum bid complicates Philippine return effort
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on April 29 issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, finding that Louisiana’s congressional map creating a second majority-Black district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, narrowing how the Voting Rights Act applies in redistricting cases nationwide. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the state’s use of race did not meet constitutional standards under the Equal Protection Clause. The Court held that the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district and therefore did not justify race as a predominant factor in drawing the map. The ruling affirms a lower court decision that blocked the map. Louisiana must now proceed under a different congressional conu PAGE 3
Republicans revisit capital gains tax cut as inflation debate sharpens in Washington WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to consider lowering taxes on investment gains by adjusting capital gains for inflation, reviving a longstanding policy debate centered on tax fairness, federal revenue and income distribution. The proposal, commonly referred to as indexing capital gains, would allow taxpayers to increase the original purchase price, or cost basis, of an asset to reflect inflation before calculating taxable profit. Taxes would then apply to inflation-adjusted gains rather than nominal increases in value. Under current federal law, capital gains are generally taxed when an asset is sold. Shortterm gains are taxed as ordinary income, while long-term gains are subject to preferential rates, typically 0 percent, 15 percent or 20 percent depending on taxable income. Some u PAGE 3
Philippine officials say the former Ako Bicol lawmaker is seeking asylum in France after his release from Czech custody, raising legal and diplomatic hurdles for Manila’s efforts to bring him home. by AJPress
DON’T OPEN. The House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, votes Wednesday, April 29, 2026 not to open the sealed box submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue containing the income tax returns of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio. Thirty-eight voted to keep it sealed, as against six in favor of opening, citing a National Internal Revenue Code provision which requires that tax documents requested for congressional inquiry be examined in executive session and in aid of legislation. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Philstar.com
MANILA, — Despite President Marcos’ personally requesting them for information about flood control scam suspect Zaldy Co, the Czech and French diplomats he met last Wednesday, April 29, chose to remain tight-lipped, explaining their lack of authority to speak on the matter as well as the need to follow asylum-related laws. Czech Republic Chargé d’Affaires Eva Tenzin confirmed Marcos’ announcement last April 16 that Co was detained in Prague because of invalid travel documents, according to Undersecretary Claire Castro.
MANILA — Philippine authorities are working to verify reports that former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co is in Paris, where he is believed to be seeking political asylum following his release from Czech custody, according to senior government officials. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said information from a “highly regarded” diplomatic source indicated Co’s presence in the French capital, but stressed that the government has yet to conu PAGE 4
Peso nears 62 per dollar as global pressures intensify Entalula Beach in the Philippines Economic managers led by Arsenio Balisacan link the named No. 1 in World’s 50 Best peso’s slide toward 62 per dollar to global dollar strength, Beaches 2026 ranking rising oil import costs, and risk-off sentiment, while underscoring stable domestic fundamentals. by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine peso has come under renewed downward pressure, approaching the 62-to-$1 level as global economic conditions continue to favor the U.S.
dollar, while government officials maintain that the movement reflects external forces rather than domestic fragility. The currency’s decline mirrors broader trends across emerging markets, where capital has shifted toward dollar-denominated u PAGE 4
Palace: French, Czech envoys Congress restores most DHS tight-lipped on Zaldy funding, ending 75-day shutdown by Alexis Romero
should the House transmit Articles of Impeachment. Senate officials underscored that the chamber’s role remains preparatory unless the constitutional process in the House is completed. The move followed the House Committee on Jusu PAGE 2
In his meeting with the diplomats, the President asked for additional information about Co, who is facing an arrest warrant for alleged malversation of public funds and graft over a questionable road dike project. “But the President was not granted his request because the Czech Republic is following international law, European and national laws,” Castro said yesterday in Filipino. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, who traveled to the Czech Republic to process Co’s return to the Philippines, was also not given additional information, according to Castro. “But their only response was u PAGE 2
President Donald Trump signs bipartisan measure reopening core Homeland Security operations, while immigration enforcement funding is deferred to separate negotiations. by AJPress WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Congress on Thursday, April 30, approved legislation restoring funding for most operations of the Department of Homeland Security, bringing to a close a 75-day partial shutdown that disrupted agency functions and delayed compensation for federal personnel. President Donald Trump signed the measure into law the same day after it cleared both chambers of Congress, allowing several core security and emergency-response agencies to resume normal operations through the remainder of the fiscal year. u PAGE 3
A remote stretch of Palawan now leads the world’s best beaches, as the Philippines captures global attention with untouched coastlines and striking natural formations. by AJPress
MANILA / LOS ANGELES — Entalula Beach in El Nido, Palawan has been named the No. 1 beach in the world in the World’s 50 Best Beaches 2026 ranking, placing the Philippines at the top of a global list shaped by environmental quality, limited access and consistency of natural conditions. The 2026 list identifies Entalula Beach as the top-ranked destination, followed by Fteri Beach in Greece and Wharton Beach in Australia, according to the official ranking published by the World’s 50 Best Beaches organization. A second Philippine site, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte, placed No. 25, giving the country two entries in the global top 50. In its official citation, the ranking described Entalula as “Palawan’s overlooked slice of heaven,” highlighting the beach’s
defining features and relative seclusion. According to the listing, Entalula is distinguished by towering limestone cliffs rising behind a stretch of soft white sand, creating what evaluators described as one of the most visually striking coastal settings in the region and globally. Compared to nearby beaches in El Nido, it receives fewer visitors, a factor that is immediately evident upon arrival. The organization noted that the water is exceptionally clear with typically calm conditions, allowing for easy swimming and uninterrupted views of the surrounding seascape. Access is limited to boat travel, which helps maintain lower visitor density and preserves the beach’s natural character. It added that the contrast between dramatic cliff formations, u PAGE 3