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MARCOLETA, DEFENSOR IN JAIL AFTER SANDIGAN ORDERS ARREST By Vince Lopez, Joel Zurbano, Jimbo Gulle SENATOR Rodante Marcoleta was arrested Monday after the Sandigan-
bayan Third Division ordered his arrest in connection with a non-bailable plunder case over the alleged nondisclosure of P75 million in campaign donations he received for his 2025 senatorial bid.
The anti-graft court also ordered the arrest of former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Michael Defensor and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and AristotNext page
VOL. XL • NO. 143 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2026
Mike Defensor
Sen. Rodante Marcoleta
Chiz presides over VP trial
Says 16 votes needed to convict, but issue may be raised before SC VP Sara, Palace • Court orders return of BIR box • Issues subpoena for 2 NBI execs exchange barbs over ‘no show’ By Maricel V. Cruz, Joel E. Zurbano, Katrina Manubay and Pot Chavez
S
ENATOR Francis Escudero was elected presiding judge of the impeachment court as the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began yesterday.
By Joel E. Zurbano and Charles Dantes VICE President Sara Duterte was a no-show on the first day of her impeachment trial at the Senate. Meanwhile, Malacañang urged the Vice President to present her defense before the Senate impeachment court instead of issuing public statements attacking President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a press conference, lawyer Michael Poa repeated what the Vice President said in a recent statement: choosing to appear before the impeachment court only through counsel “does not diminish accountability or imply a lack of transparency.” “In accordance with the impeachment rules, it is her right to appear through counsel,” Poa said.
Senator-judges engaged in an hour-long heated floor clash over the election of a presiding officer, with the Cayetano siblings questioning the move. But according to impeachment court spokesman
Reginald Tongol, Escudero’s election was valid and has a legal basis. He said the arrangement will allow Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who still sits beside Escudero during the trial, to focus on his legislative duties. “When it comes to the impeach-
ment trial, they are equals. There is only a division of labor. We do not want to degrade the Office of the Senate President. Similar to what happened during the impeachment trial of (former President Joseph) Estrada, the presiding officer, who was the Chief Justice, was seated next to the Senate President. They are co-equal on the matter,” Tongol said. He said the arrangement will hasten the process, given the technical proceedings of the impeachment court. Next page
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IN SESSION. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Sen. Francis Escudero share the rostrum after the Senate
Impeachment Court yesterday voted 12-8 to elect Escudero as presiding officer of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Members of the prosecution and defense panels exchange pleasantries before the start of the proceedings. Lead counsels of both panels, Rep. Gerville Luistro, left, and Atty. Sheila Sison, right, took turns in making their opening statements. Lino Santos.
Lawyer hits move to use Bonoan vs. ex-Speaker A LAWYER has questioned efforts to link former Speaker Martin Romualdez to anomalous flood control projects, saying there was no evidence to link him to questionable government infrastructure. Abdiel Dan Fajardo, Romualdez’s lawyer, cited the Ombudsman’s announcement that former Public Works
Secretary Manuel Bonoan will serve as witness against the former Speaker. He said Romualdez is “far removed” from the process of fund allocation, bidding, and disbursement of flood control projects executed by the Department of Public Works and Highways, which is at the center of the allegations.
“This has sprouted like a mushroom with Secretary Bonoan under hospital arrest because of his pending cases for plunder before the Sandiganbayan (anti-graft court). Then we hear that the Ombudsman is using him as a state witness against the former Speaker,” Fajardo said. Next page
PBBM ramps up entire gov’t vs. supertyphoon By Charles Dantes and Rio N. Araja PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a whole-of-government response ahead of the expected entry of Super Typhoon “Bavi,” to be named “Inday” once it enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), directing national and regional disaster agencies to activate preparedness measures to minimize risks to lives and property. Next page
‘Worst is over’ for oil prices, Dubai crude falls below $80/b By Alena Mae S. Flores THE Department of Energy (DOE) said Monday that “the worst is over” for the oil industry as it announced a mixed movement in pump prices this week. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said gasoline prices are projected to either decrease by P1.75 per liter or increase by P0.25 per liter. Garin added that diesel prices are expected to increase by P1.57 to P3.57 per liter, while kerosene may go up by P1.70 to P3.70 per liter. “The good news is that, as of last week, the average Dubai crude price had al-
ready fallen below $80 per barrel,” Garin said. “The industry is calming down, and I think it’s a matter of adjustment before we reach pre-war price levels.” “But it will take time,” she added. “It won’t happen in just one or two weeks. It may take a few weeks or even a few months. But I think the worst is over, and hopefully prices will continue adjusting toward pre-war levels.” DOE Undersecretary Alessandro Sales said world oil prices have been easing, noting that Dubai crude fell below the agency’s $80-per-barrel benchmark to around $76 per barrel last week. Next page
Curtain falls on Alex Eala’s magical Wimbledon run By Jeremiah Sevilla ON TO THE NEXT. The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala (right) congratulates Italy’s Jasmine
Paolini after winning their women’s singles round of 16 tennis match on the eighth day of the 2026 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 6, 2026. AFP
ALEXANDRA “Alex” Eala’s magical Wimbledon run came to an end as she faltered against the much-experienced Jasmine Paolini of Italy, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, in
the fourth round at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Monday night (Philippine time). Eala fought valiantly from a set down to force a deciding set but fell short to the Next page