manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net •09173382170 / 85646229
Win pushes 16-under social media ban anew; review of policies urged By Ram Superable, Joel E. Zurbano, Maricel V. Cruz and Vito Barcelo VOL. XL • NO. 131 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2026 •
SENATE President Sherwin Gatchalian on Wednesday renewed his call for a social media ban for minors aged 16 years old and below following the
PNP refers murder raps vs. 15-year-old suspect Remulla says parents of suspects may also face criminal raps By Vince Lopez and Rio Araja
T
HE Philippine National Police has referred criminal charges against the 15-yearold minor suspect in the deadly June 22 school shooting spree in Tacloban City. PNP chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the charges for three counts of murder, frustrated murder, and multiple counts of serious physical injuries have been referred to the local prosecutor’s office against alias Rod. Alias Rod and another minor suspect, 14-year-old alias Nash, have already been turned over to the Tacloban City Social Welfare and Development Office. The two ninth graders opened fire inside the San Jose National High School, killing three students and wounding 20 others. The Department of the Interior and Local Government said it was looking into the possible liability of the parents and guardian of the two minors. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the shooting spree appeared to be a case of "bullying gone wrong" combined with their exposure to violent video games. “We are looking at the culpability of the aunt and the parents because they (suspects) got the guns from those who are older than them," Remulla said. "One of the guns was not registered and had a fake serial number. But the mere fact that the students had access to the guns, the culpability rests on the owner of the guns," he added. Next page
tragic school shooting incident in Tacloban City. Meanwhile, lawmakers and education stakeholders called for a broad review of school safety policies, youth protection measures, social media regulation, mental health interventions, and juvenile justice laws.
Next page
Prosecutors to Impeach court: Open VP Sara’s BIR records By Maricel V. Cruz HOUSE prosecutors have asked the Senate impeachment court to authorize the opening, inventory, and pre-marking of a sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records box transmitted to the Senate as part of the records presentation against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte. The request was contained in a Manifestation with Proposal on Certain Additional Pre-Trial Matters filed by the prosecution panel as part of ongoing preparations for the impeachment trial set to begin on July 6. In the pleading, the prosecutors clarified that they are not asking the Court to automatically admit any document inside the box as eviNext page dence.
PBBM to highlight P1.32T funding for LGUs at SONA By Katrina Manubay
CONDOLENCES. Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, top photo, confers with the doctor attending to the injured and offers condolences to the families of the victims of the shooting rampage at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City. Also sharing the grief of those affected are Vice President Sara Duterte and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Contributed photo, DSWD, Inday Sara FB
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to highlight the record P1.32-trillion National Tax Allotment (NTA) for local government units in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA), underscoring the administration’s support for local governance and grassroots development. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, in a statement, said that the 2027 allocation is P129.32 billion higher than the previous year and will probably be one of the “biggest ticket” items in the proposed national budget. “As a former local executive official himself, the President sees and honors these as people’s entitlements. These are guaranteed plowbacks that will go from big cities to the remotest barangays,“ Recto said. Next page
Palace thankful for Mayor Leni’s positive remarks By Ma. Katrina Mikaela Manubay MALACAÑANG on Tuesday welcomed Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo’s recognition of the Marcos administration’s efforts to improve the lives of Filipinos, particularly through housing, infrastructure, and flood control projects. In a press briefing, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said that Robredo’s comments reflected appreciation for government efforts despite her being the rival of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the 2022 elections.
“She values and appreciates the actions of President Marcos Jr.’s administration. She does not hide from Filipinos the truth about the aggressive implementation of the promised housing projects for beneficiaries,” Castro said. “She also shared that the national government had not been seen before as this aggressive in implementing projects for the people and that the housing budget is being utilized fully and properly,” she added. This statement comes after Robredo thanked President Marcos for signing Proclamation No. 1267 in May, Next page
CIDG summons ADMU prexy, MVP to Aurora inquiry By Vince Lopez
FAREWELL JOURNEY. A runner carrying a Philippine flag escorts the funeral car carrying the remains of Rene Clert ‘Bobet’ N. Baterbonia on its way to Barangay Labnig Memorial Cemetery in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. Provincial Government of Agusan Del Sur
DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Wednesday said that Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) President Fr. Roberto Yap and business tycoon Manny Pangilinan were expected to appear before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at Camp Crame today, June 25, regarding the ongoing police investigation into the untimely deaths of basketball players Rene Baterbonia and Divine Adili.
Next page
CALL TO ACTION. A priest
blesses a tree wrapped with a yellow ribbon during the ’Save the Trees Walk‘ — a prayerful and peaceful action a day before Arbor Day which aims to raise awareness about the continued cutting of trees along Quirino Avenue, Manila. The event highlighted concerns over environmental degradation and its impact on local communities while calling for the preservation of the remaining trees in the area. Norman Cruz
Trump orders probe of gas prices DONALD Trump said on Wednesday he ordered an investigation into major oil companies over high gasoline prices as the US leader faces criticism over the impact of the Mideast war. The US Senate, meanwhile, passed a largely symbolic resolu-
tion Tuesday calling for an end to President Donald Trump's war with Iran, delivering a fresh rebuke to the White House as it tries to negotiate a lasting settlement with Tehran. Next page