Rappler Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended the filing of plunder and graft cases against Senator Jinggoy Estrada and former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan over alleged flood control corruption. The Office of the Ombudsman, on Monday, May 18, confirmed that it has received the DOJ’s resolution recommending the filing of cases against the two. The recommended cases also include direct bribery and receiving gifts by public o

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Robin Padilla returned to the Senate on Monday, May 18, with his usual swagger and a conspicuous cup of coffee in hand. But he did not arrive with two things: Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who has an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant linked to his role in the Duterte administration’s bloody drug war, and a clear explanation on the circumstances surrounding his close ally’s departure from the Senate after last week’s shooting incident. Asked

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate convened into an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, amid the Senate leadership shake-up rumors that swirled over the weekend until Monday. The convening came after the Senate’s first session after the May 13 shooting incident and Senator Bato dela Rosa’s escape on May 14. Wearing their red robes, the senators took their oath as senator-judges, while Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano assumed the role as the court’s presider.

MANILA, Philippines – Pump prices for diesel and gasoline are set to increase this week while kerosene prices are expected to roll back, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Monday, May 18. Beginning Tuesday, May 19, diesel prices will be raised by around P2.82 per liter while gasoline prices will increase by P1.21 per liter. Meanwhile, kerosene pump rates will drop by at least P2.21 per liter. Image from Department of Energy Energy Secretary Sharon Garin reiterated that the

MANILA, Philippines – There were many questions up in the air ahead of the Senate plenary session on Monday, May 18, but the day ended with Alan Peter Cayetano still occupying the Senate presidency, and the impeachment court that will try Vice President Sara Duterte convened. Rappler’s Dwight de Leon, Jairo Bolledo, and Patrick Cruz break down what happened in the hours leading to the Monday afternoon session, and during the session itself in this Rappler Recap. – Rappler.com

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued Revenue Memorandum Circular (RMC) No. 10-2026 to clarify the tax treatment of purely cash donations, including filing and payment procedures, documentary requirements, deductibility rules, and the applicability of the electronic Certificate Authorizing Registration (eCAR). Below are the key clarifications taxpayers need to know: 1. Filing and payment procedures for donor’s tax on cash donations, including required documents  How is the donor’s

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate convenes as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, May 18 — the second time  in as many years. The House of Representatives submitted the articles of impeachment to the upper chamber just days earlier, on May 13. This means that the next step in the impeachment process, the convening of the impeachment court, takes place in less than a week as earlier set by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano. This is d

CEBU, Philippines – Residents in the village of Salamanca in Toboso, Negros Occidental, confirmed that six out of 19 alleged combatants who were killed during a clash between rebels and the army on April 19, were unarmed civilians. This was revealed on May 15 by a group of human rights advocates, church workers, lawmakers, and journalists, who initiated a fact-finding mission the day before at the identified clash sites in sitios Sinugmawan and Plaringding. According to the group, residen

MANILA, Philippines – The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) issued a strongly worded statement urging Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) interim chief minister Abdulraof Macacua to keep decisions in line after he requested the resignation of education minister Mohagher Iqbal. Macacua asked Iqbal for his resignation over the P2.2-billion procurement scandal that hounds the Iqbal-led Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education. The MILF said decisions on political

Sa pinakahuling balita, malaking palaisipan kung may majority pa si Alan Peter Cayetano sa Senado dahil nakaalpas na si Senador Bato dela Rosa. At best, mayroon siyang 12 na boto kasama ang person of interest ng National Bureau of Investigation na si Senador Robin Padilla. At may isa pang breaking news na may direktang tama kay Bato: sinabi ng Office of the Solicitor General sa Korte Suprema na dapat ibasura ang petisyon ng temporary restraining order ni Dela Rosa na gustong pigilan ang Inter

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The MPTC Tour of Luzon has concluded after 14 stages of racing across the island of Luzon. Thirteen teams competed across more than 1,800 kilometers, with Russian cyclist Nikita Shulchenko emerging as the overall winner. As the races come to an end, HOMESTRETCH host Pató Gregorio speaks with French cyclist Antoine Huby, who finished second in the individual general classification and won the King of the Mountain for after dominating the climbs. Gregorio also

US President Donald Trump said Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed Tehran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though China gave no indication it would weigh in. Flying back from Beijing on Friday, May 15, after two days of talks with Xi, Trump said he was considering whether to lift US sanctions on Chinese oil companies buying Iranian oil. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil. “I’m not asking for any favors because when you ask for favors, you have to do favors in return

BAGUIO CITY — For many Cordillera entrepreneurs, artisans, and tourism workers, the 17th Regional Travel Fair served as more than just a tourism showcase. It was an opportunity to bring local products, indigenous craftsmanship, and community-based enterprises to wider national markets. The three-day event at the Baguio Convention and Cultural Center gathered buyers, exhibitors, tourism stakeholders, and government agencies from across the Philippines. Organizers positioned the fair as a platf

After months of hiding from the International Criminal Court (ICC) amid reports of a warrant for his arrest, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa surfaced at the Senate, triggering a series of chaotic events that led to gunshots being fired within the chamber’s premises. Dela Rosa is now confirmed to be facing an arrest warrant for crimes against humanity charges in relation to the drug war of Rodrigo Duterte, whom he had served as Philippine police chief. The Department of Justi

The CCTV footage of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief and Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa tripping over his own feet as he tried to outrun the authorities out to arrest him is now a meme, a punchline, and a breaking news clip. Some Filipinos could not help but laugh at the spectacle that the former police chief had been reduced to. Some sneered. Some were outraged. The rest of the world was shocked to witness a public official caught between a bad action movie and a satire of his

MANILA, Philippines – The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to reject Senator Bato dela Rosa’s plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant. It argued that the senator’s actions are “consistent with those of a fugitive from justice.” “The essence of fugitive behavior is not limited to crossing national borders but extends to any deliberate effort to place oneself beyond the reach of lawful ju

My grandmother Leticia was not a technology-inclined person, but she was strong-willed and kind enough to teach you things if you were inclined to learn something from her and willing to ask. I remember one of the earliest things she taught me as a child was how to sew by hand. With enough thread and a needle, I learned I could repair a sock tear, or turn a bunch of unused socks into a makeshift rag. Socks-to-ragmaking is a simple skill I learned quickly in the short sessions I had with h

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate building was placed on lockdown on Wednesday evening, May 13, before gunshots later rang through the complex, leaving some senators, staff, and members of the media trapped inside. The chaos unfolded after Senator Ronald dela Rosa — facing an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity — appeared at the Senate on Monday, May 11, after months out of the public eye, later taking refuge inside the complex. Dela Rosa backed

Senator Bato dela Rosa makes a surprise appearance at the Senate, only to disappear again three days later. Alan Peter Cayetano secures the leadership, then insists the Senate is under attack. Senator Robin Padilla plays the ultimate wingman. Gunshots in the august halls send journalists in a panic. We try to make sense of it all in this special edition of Top 5 News This Week. The long of it: #5: Who fired the first shot? Senate standoff: 2 sides tell different stories + TIMELINE: Sen

Bato dela Rosa came to the Senate after months of hiding. Then chaos erupted.  In my three years at Rappler, I’ve witnessed firsthand three leadership shake-ups in Congress. I’m Patrick Cruz. I’m not a Congress reporter; I cover public finance, infrastructure, and transportation. Yet somehow, whenever Congress spirals into crisis, I end up there. Nothing, however, matches the Senate coup on Monday, May 11. On September 8, 2025, I saw Chiz Escudero lose the Senate presidency t