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IGLESIA NI CRISTO ENDS PROTEST ACTION AT LIWASANG BONIFACIO By Pot Chavez, Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez and Itchie Cabayan THE Iglesia ni Cristo ended its rally at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila Thursday evening, INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said. “I hoped that we leave as peacefully as we arrived here,” Zabala said. The three-day rally began at the People Power Monument on Tuesday before moving to Manila yesterday. The religious sect mounted the pro-

test action following the announcement of the possible filing of a plunder case against Senator Rodante Marcoleta, a member of INC. Zabala’s statement contradicted that of Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, who claimed yesterday that INC protesters are ready to camp out at the Liwasang Bonifacio “for as long as it takes.” Leviste added the rally “won’t end in the next few days.” For his part, President Ferdinand

VOL. XL • NO. 139 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2026

AHEAD OF IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

Clergy pray: Vote for the truth Urge prosecutors to carry out task with great courage

FOR THE WIN. The country’s tennis star Alexandra Eala returns the ball to Australia’s Maya Joint, inset, during their women’s singles second round tennis match on the fourth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London. AFP

By Maricel Cruz and Katrina Manubay

HE Catholic clergy prayed for the House prosecution panel to have the courage to ferret out the truth in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, and for the senator-judges to “vote for the truth.”

Eala downs Joint, keeps historic Wimby run alive

“The whole Filipino people are looking up to you. Carry out your task with great courage—not a courage that springs merely from the depths of your own hearts, but a courage that flows from the heart of our Lord,” Monsignor Mel David of Parañaque said dur-

By Jeremiah Sevilla

FILIPINA tennis sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala hacked out a vengeful 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 victory against Australia’s Maya Joint to book a historic spot in the third round of the Wimbledon Championships 2026 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Thursday night (Philippine time). Next page

‘No evidence to link ex-Speaker to flood control anomalies’ By Maricel Cruz, Rex Espiritu LEYTE Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has not been linked by any evidence to alleged anomalous flood control projects, his spokesperson said Thursday, arguing that the accusations are

inconsistent with how the national budget process operates. In a statement, lawyer Elaine Atienza said that despite Senate and House inquiries and other official investigations, no former or incumbent official of the Department of Public

‘Upper middle income status a boost for PH’ By Charles Dantes

Works and Highways (DPWH) has identified Romualdez as having participated in the planning, procurement, implementation, inspection, payment, or release of funds for any alleged ghost flood control project.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the Philippines’ elevation to upper middle-income country status marks international recognition of the country’s economic progress and will pave the way for more investments, jobs and opportunities for Filipino families.

DOJ backs legislation against ‘nihilistic violent extremism’ By Pot Chavez and Vince Lopez THE Department of Justice (DOJ) expressed full support for the 20th Congress amid ongoing efforts to pass legislation aimed at addressing possible cases of so-called nihilistic violent extremism (NVE). Meanwhile, the DOJ will conduct a preliminary investigation in relation to

the 15-year-old child involved in the Tacloban school shooting. As this developed, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is intensifying its monitoring of online platforms and transnational online groups as part of efforts to protect minors from violent extremism. In a press briefing on Thursday, Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty Next page

DEEPENING COOPERATION. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Marcos greet their welcomers upon their arrival yesterday in Canada for a two-day official visit. PCO

PAGASA warns of possible supertyphoon ‘Inday’ SWIFT, KELCE WEDDING IN NY THIS WEEK SHOWBIZ / D2

By Rio N. Araja A TROPICAL storm outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is expected to intensify into a super typhoon next week, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical

and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). Weather specialist Leanne Loreto said the storm is likely to enter the PAR by Wednesday or Thursday. “We see this tropical storm intensifying further in the coming days, and

it is possible that it will enter our area of responsibility by the middle of next week,” she said, adding that forecast models show it could strengthen into a typhoon or even a super typhoon as it approaches the country. Next page