By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency

The Senate Impeachment Court’s new voting formula changes which senators will be counted in determining the verdict in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, but does not alter the constitutional requirement of a two-thirds vote, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian and Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros said Wednesday.

Senator-judge Gatchalian, who voted to overturn the court’s earlier fixed 16-vote interpretation, said the issue before the senator-judges was the voting base when some members are unable to participate, not whether the Constitution’s two-thirds requirement should be lowered.

“The constitutional requirement of two-thirds remains. The question before the Court was which senators are counted in the base when some are unable to participate,” Sen. Gatchalian said.

The Impeachment Court earlier adopted a new controlling rule under which only senator-judges who remain legally and factually capable of participating at the time of the verdict will form the denominator for computing the required two-thirds vote.

Sen. Gatchalian said the change does not determine Vice President Duterte’s fate and applies equally whether the votes being counted favor conviction or acquittal.

“Ang aking boto ay batay sa prinsipyo, hindi sa sinumang senador o sa nasasakdal,” he said.

Senator-judge Hontiveros, meanwhile, said the institution should not be rendered powerless simply because some senator-judges cannot take part in the final vote.

“The absence of a number of senators in an impeachment trial should not paralyze and render helpless the entire institution, and the Filipino people we represent,” she said in explaining her position on the threshold.

“Beyond discussions about denominators, fractions, and rounding up and down, ang dapat malaman: Sino ba ang nandito sa korte, at may kakayahang gumanap sa ating tungkulin?” she said.

Sen. Hontiveros also warned against treating absence as a way to avoid taking a position on the case.

“Hindi din po pwede na sadyaing ‘wag sumipot sa araw ng botohan. Wala pong abstain by absence,” she said.

She noted that the impeachment rules require each senator, when called, to answer either “guilty” or “not guilty.”

“Voting is a duty, not an option,” Sen. Hontiveros said.

Both senators also cited the views presented by the impeachment court’s amici curiae, or friends of the court, in arriving at their positions on how the constitutional phrase “two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate” should operate when some members cannot participate.

Sen. Gatchalian said the amici helped the court look beyond the constitutional text and consider the purpose of the impeachment process and fairness to all parties.

Sen. Hontiveros said the ultimate objective should be to preserve the Senate’s ability to discharge its constitutional accountability function without allowing unavoidable absences — or deliberate non-participation—to derail a verdict.

“Let us choose to empower, and breathe life into the Constitution,” she said.

Under the new court ruling, the remaining eligible senators will form the denominator for computing the two-thirds requirement, with any fractional result rounded up to the next whole vote. The rule applies only to Duterte’s impeachment trial and will not bind future impeachment courts.

The post Senators assure new VP impeachment vote rule keeps 2/3 bar intact appeared first on PTV News.

By Wilnard Bacelonia | Philippine News Agency

The Senate Impeachment Court on Wednesday overturned its earlier ruling requiring 16 votes to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, adopting instead a formula that will count only senators who are legally and factually capable of participating when judgment is rendered.

By a 13-1 vote, with six senator-judges not participating, the court granted Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo’s appeal challenging Presiding Officer Francis Escudero’s July 6 interpretation that the constitutional requirement of two-thirds of “all the Members of the Senate” meant 16 votes based on a 24-member chamber.

Senator-judge Tulfo raised the issue on Sept. 8 amid questions over whether senators unable to participate should remain part of the voting base.

Under the new controlling ruling, the denominator will exclude senators who are detained or suspended or otherwise legally restrained from performing their functions; sought by authorities with unknown whereabouts; physically or medically incapacitated; beyond the Senate’s coercive processes; or similarly situated.

“The phrase ‘all members of the Senate’ shall refer to those members who, at the time of the vote, remain legally and factually capable of participating in the proceedings,” Sen. Escudero said in restating the ruling adopted by the court.

Senator-judges Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, Camille Villar, and Robin Padilla did not participate in the threshold vote.

Sen. Escudero cast the lone negative vote.

Although he disagreed with the majority, Sen. Escudero said he would implement the ruling in succeeding proceedings.

“The presiding officer, after all, is not the court. He is merely the custodian of the process, not the proprietor of its outcome,” he said.

“This is the essence of democracy—that disagreement be preserved without obstruction and that lawful result be obeyed without resentment,” he added.

The ruling does not automatically set a new numerical threshold.

Sen. Escudero said the impeachment court must first determine, based on “competent and sufficient evidence,” whether any senator falls within the five categories for exclusion.

The remaining qualified members will then form the denominator from which the two-thirds requirement will be calculated.

The court also settled a separate mathematical question raised during Wednesday’s oral arguments: any fractional result will be rounded up to the next whole vote, even when the fraction is below 0.5.

Sen. Escudero cited as an example a 20-member denominator, where two-thirds is 13.33. Since 13 votes would fall below the constitutional requirement, 14 votes would be needed to convict.

The presiding officer also limited the ruling to Vice President Duterte’s trial, declaring it pro hac vice, or “for this occasion” only.

“This is a ruling, not an amendment of the rules,” Sen. Escudero said, adding that it would have no binding effect on future impeachment courts and could only serve as “persuasive guidance.”

The Sept. 23 vote followed a two-week review that included the opinions of amici curiae and oral arguments from the prosecution and defense on how the constitutional phrase “all the Members of the Senate” should be applied.

The new formula will govern the eventual conviction vote on the articles of impeachment against VP Duterte unless subsequently altered through judicial or other lawful proceedings.

The post Senate court drops fixed 16-vote threshold in VP trial appeared first on PTV News.

By the Commission on Higher Education

Artificial intelligence is already transforming how we learn, teach, research, and work. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is setting a national direction to help Philippine higher education adopt it responsibly and harness its potential to improve learning, strengthen research, and make institutional processes more efficient. 

Through CHED Memorandum Order No. 21, series of 2026, the Commission has established a national framework to guide 2,366 higher education institutions (HEIs) and 188,261 faculty members in the responsible use of AI for the benefit of more than 5.8 million students. 

This supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s push to strengthen AI skills and promote the responsible use of emerging technologies as the country prepares Filipinos for future jobs and a more technology-driven economy. 

The policy enables the use of AI in teaching, learning, research, and institutional operations while setting safeguards for academic integrity, human judgment, data privacy, and student welfare. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all approach, it gives HEIs and faculty the flexibility to determine how AI can best support learning and institutional needs within their own contexts.

At its heart is a principle that should guide every learner in the AI era: AI should strengthen, not replace, human thinking. “Students must learn how to think before they learn how to prompt.”

The guidelines also require transparency in students’ use of AI and stronger human oversight when AI is used in consequential areas such as grading, admissions, scholarships, student progression, and faculty evaluation.

For CHED, the direction is clear: embrace AI where it can improve learning, research, and institutional efficiency, while ensuring that human judgement, academic integrity, and accountability remains at the center of higher education. (PR)

The post CHED sets national direction for responsible AI use across PH higher education appeared first on PTV News.

By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday welcomed the Senate’s unanimous concurrence in the Philippines’ accession to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR Convention), 1979.

Seventeen senators voted in favor of the country’s accession after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed the Instrument of Accession on June 25, 2026.

On Tuesday, PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan said the move advances one of the President’s key objectives for the Philippines to be in sync with the rest of the maritime world, an essential step as the country assumes a leading role in ASEAN this year.

Gavan described the President’s signing of the Instrument of Accession and the Senate’s unanimous concurrence as acts of bold leadership and statesmanship that enabled the Philippines to take the historic step 47 years after the Convention was adopted.

He said the accession strengthens the protection of Filipino seafarers navigating across the globe and maritime safety for the millions of Filipinos and foreign visitors who travel to the country’s island destinations.

“This historic act also earns the Philippines greater respect from the international community as an able, responsible, and willing member of the community of maritime nations,” he said in a news release.

PCG Spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said the accession translates into greater protection for people who depend on maritime transportation and livelihoods.

“For ordinary Filipinos, this is about saving lives. When a fisherman goes missing, or a passenger vessel encounters an emergency, we need a search and rescue system that can respond and coordinate effectively,” Cayabyab said.

Adopted under the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the SAR Convention establishes an international system for receiving distress alerts, coordinating rescue operations, maintaining rescue coordination centers, and enabling countries to assist one another during maritime emergencies.

“With more than 7,000 islands and over 36,000 kilometers of coastline, our people rely heavily on maritime transportation. Stronger SAR coordination allows our responders to act with clearer procedures and stronger cooperation across our maritime areas, including the West Philippine Sea,” Cayabyab added.

She said the Philippines’ accession reaffirms its commitment to protecting all persons in distress at sea.

The post PCG welcomes Senate nod on PH accession to SAR Convention appeared first on PTV News.

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Reinforcing his message to fast-track the construction of major railway projects that would enhance connectivity and ease public transportation bottlenecks, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspected the MMSP’s progress at the Quezon Avenue Station site on Wednesday.

Accompanied by Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez, he embarked on a walkthrough of certain exhibits showcasing the specifications of the tunnel boring machine and a map showing the cross-section of the Quezon Avenue Station tunnel and the location of the station in conjunction with North Avenue and East Avenue sites.

As of press time, the tunnel boring machine has completed the excavation from the southbound section of North Avenue to the Quezon Avenue station, making this an important breakthrough in the progress of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP).

The section dug by the TBM, which forms part of Package CP-102, spans 1.13 kilometers in length and reaches a depth of 34 meters—equivalent to a four-storey building.

From this point, the TBM will continue to chew its way through rock and soil as it digs toward the East Avenue Station.

This is part of the 17 stations comprising the MMSP, which aims to provide faster and more reliable transportation from Valenzuela to Taguig, reducing travel time across several cities in Metro Manila from two hours to anywhere between 30 and 40 minutes.

Once completed, it is expected to benefit half a million commuters living and working in the National Capital Region (NCR) and the adjacent provinces of Bulacan in the north, and Cavite in the south.

The MMSP is a multinational and multi-conglomerate effort composed of Underground Infrastructure Technologies Corporation, Oriental Consultants Global Company Ltd., and Nishimatsu Construction Company Ltd., with the latter teaming up with D.M. Consunji Inc. (DMCI) to make the country’s first subway a reality.

These Japanese firms provide the equipment, technology, and know-how in the MMSP’s construction, backed by Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (with report from Clay Pardilla | PTV News)

jpv

The post PBBM hails TBM breakthrough at Quezon Ave. Station as work continues on MMSP appeared first on PTV News.

By Benjamin Pulta | Philippine News Agency

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) on Tuesday filed criminal complaints before the Department of Justice (DOJ) against officials and private individuals implicated in the importation of misdeclared agricultural products, including thousands of sacks of onions and carrots.

In a statement, the BOC said six criminal complaints have been filed against the owner and representatives of an importer, a licensed customs broker, BOC officials and personnel, and other individuals allegedly involved in six shipments declared as “chicken lollipops.”

The shipments, consigned to Berches Consumer Goods Trading and arrived in June 2025, were found during physical examinations to contain a total of 15,029 sacks of fresh white onions and 2,164 boxes of fresh carrots, in violation of Republic Act (RA) 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act.

The agricultural products were also not covered by the required Sanitary and Phytosanitary Import Clearance (SPSIC) from the Bureau of Plant Industry.

The complaints against the concerned BOC officials and personnel likewise cited RA 10863’s Section 1431 (c), (e), and (f) of the CMTA, which penalizes, among others, the willful neglect of duties enjoined by law, providing an opportunity for or failing to perform an act with the intent to enable another person to defraud the government of customs revenue, and negligently or designedly permitting another person to violate the law.

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service (CIIS) has endorsed the appropriate administrative charges against the concerned BOC officials and personnel to the Prosecution and Litigation Division (PLD) for hearings under the Revised Rules on Administrative Cases in the Civil Service (RACCS).

BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the BOC will relentlessly pursue not only smugglers and their accomplices, but also any Customs official or employee found to have participated in, facilitated, or benefited from illegal activities.

“Wala tayong pagtatakpan at hindi natin kukunsintihin ang anumang paglabag, lalo na kung may pagtatangkang abusuhin ang ating mga proseso. Ang pananagutan ay para sa lahat,” Comm. Nepomuceno said.

With the filing of the six complaints, the BOC has now filed 96 criminal cases with 288 respondents, leading to the confiscation of PHP13.7 billion worth of illegally imported items from 2025 through 2026.

In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to intensify the government’s campaign against agricultural smuggling, the BOC continues to strengthen border protection and internal accountability through the Bureau’s Integrity, Accountability, and Modernization (IAM) Movement.

The post BOC files raps vs execs over misdeclared agri goods importation appeared first on PTV News.

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

As the Philippine maritime industry navigates treacherous global waters laced with the omnipresent threat of geopolitical conflicts, the government continues to express its support for the men and women who brave the high seas.

It was in this vein that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. graced the Philippine Maritime Convention (PhilMarCon) 2026 on Wednesday, which brought together industry leaders, labor, academe, and international maritime organizations to advance policies prioritizing the welfare of maritime workers.

In the kick-off for the two-day event, he honored the sacrifices of Filipino seafarers who continue to fulfill their duties amid the various risks associated with manning vessels that transport cargo and people between destinations separated by oceans.

“Wherever there is a ship that needs a skilled hand, a steady mind, and a strong sense of responsibility, more often than not, there is a Filipino on board. Our seafarers remain in the band because of their competence, adaptability, and their character.”

The President, moreover, shared that the Philippines accounts for nearly 1 in every 5 deployed seafarers worldwide, making the Southeast Asian nation the top supplier of seafarers in the world.

He even reminisced about the passage of Republic Act No. 12021 two years ago, noting how PhilMarCon 2026 coincided with the 2nd anniversary of the enactment of Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers into law.

Sailing towards a better nautical future

Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. underscored the importance of keeping up with the times as the maritime sector undergoes a period of significant change and challenges.

He took a brief moment to express his oneness with the kin of Filipino seafarers who sustained injuries or lost their lives while carrying out their duties in open water.

Acknowledging the challenges brought by armed conflict, security incidents, and the advent of rapid digitalization, the President shared some reforms being undertaken by the government to sustain this agenda.

“We continue to strengthen the implementation of the standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers convention and code—keeping our maritime education, training, assessment, and certification systems aligned with evolving international standards so that Filipino seafarers remain globally competent and globally competitive.”

Among other measures with Filipino seafarers and their families in mind are the following:

• 2026 DMW Sea-based Rules
• Updated Standard Employment Contracts for Overseas Filipino Seafarers
• Dedicated seafarers’ welfare center
• Heightened safeguards for seafarers
• Heightened capacity for emergency repatriation
• Full-cycle National Reintegration Program for repatriated seafarers
• Improved certification and licensing processes for manning firms
• Regulatory relief for domestic shipping firms

The Chief Executive concluded by acknowledging the important role of every participant at PhilMarCon 2026 in ensuring that Filipino seafarers can look forward to sailing towards a better future for themselves and their families at home.

jpv

The post PBBM honors legacy of Filipino seafarers in making PH a respected maritime nation appeared first on PTV News.

By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday welcomed the substantial conclusion of negotiations between the Philippines and the European Union on a free trade agreement, saying the deal would create more opportunities for trade and investment.

He spoke with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen by phone to discuss the progress of the FTA negotiations.

In a statement, President Marcos Jr. said he looks forward to the formal conclusion and eventual signing of the landmark agreement.

The President said, “This is an important milestone in our strong partnership with the European Union and our shared commitment to open and fair trade. The agreement will bring more opportunities for business and investment, create more jobs and support stronger and more diversified supply chains.”

He added, “We will work to ensure that these opportunities reach our Filipino farmers, manufacturers, consumers and MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises), while opening new possibilities for the Philippines in AI (artificial intelligence), digital technologies and other important sectors.”

During the phone call, the Chief Executive and von der Leyen emphasized that the FTA signifies a strong partnership between the Philippines and the EU, according to the Presidential Communications Office’s (PCO) statement.

The PCO said President Marcos Jr. is optimistic that the FTA will benefit not only the MSMEs but also the Filipino farmers, manufacturers, and consumers.

Von der Leyen stressed the importance of having stable and predictable trade partners such as the Philippines.

The Philippines and the EU first launched negotiations for an FTA in 2015.

However, FTA talks were put on hold in 2017 following the EU’s concerns over alleged human rights abuses under the Duterte administration.

Negotiations for the free trade deal were relaunched following von der Leyen’s visit to Manila in 2023.

According to the latest data from the European Commission, bilateral trade between the EU and the Philippines has significant potential to grow beyond current levels, with trade totaling 17.6 billion euros in goods in 2025 and 10.3 billion euros in services in 2024.

In 2025, the EU was the Philippines’ fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for 8.3% of the country’s total trade in goods.

The post PBBM optimistic on PH-EU FTA, eyes more trade, investment appeared first on PTV News.

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

Echoing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s sentiments on the recent Banga National High School shooting incident, Malacañang reiterated the various efforts of the government in addressing the spate of incidents involving minors.

This, in response to backlash from certain groups and individuals who claim that the administration is not doing enough to resolve these worrying developments.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro enumerated some of the interventions undertaken by concerned agencies:

• Proposed memorandum of agreement between DILG and DepEd on deploying barangay police officers in campuses
• DSWD-led Parent Effectiveness Service (PES) to aid parents and parent-substitutes in childhood care and learning development
• Trauma-informed care to guide teachers and school personnel in monitoring students’ welfare

Usec. Castro, moreover, underscored the unique nuances behind the recent shooting incidents, “Sa nangyayari po kasi ngayon, lalong lalo na po kung sino ang mga nag-iimpluwensiya sa batang ito, hindi po natin nakikita eh. Meron silang ibang grupo, kachat na hindi nakikita ng mga magulang, hindi nakikita ng mga guro.”

She also shared that President Marcos Jr. found the information contained in the incident reports ‘very disturbing’ and concerning, especially with how online harm pushes minors to perform violent acts.

Usec. Castro went on to encourage Filipinos to also do their part in protecting the youth from vile influences on social media, warning against normalization of violence and foul language that poisons the minds and hearts of students.

She likewise emphasized the importance of strengthening family relationships as effective deterrents to heinous acts committed by minors, noting that home is the place where young people are given a chance to thrive in a healthy environment.

The Malacañang official concluded with an advice to owners of firearms, “Sa mga nagmamay-ari po ng baril, ingatan niyo na po yan at huwag na po sanang kayo ang maging daan para magkaroon pa ng ganitong muling pangyayari.”

av

The post Malacañang urges citizenry participation, champions proactive approach to address school shooting incidents appeared first on PTV News.

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet

The DILG expressed great concern over successive school shooting incidents that took place on June 22 (San Jose National High School, Tacloban City, Leyte), August 18 (Ateneo de Zamboanga University, Zamboanga City) and September 18 (Banga National High School, South Cotabato).

In a press conference, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla shared some initial findings in the ongoing probe on the most recent incident, noting that the perpetrator joined the group where he was groomed to commit crimes back in April.

Secretary Remulla likened the Banga NHS shooting spree to influences of nihilistic violent extremism and Satanism, “Yung bata, hinubog yung utak niya…Parang sinapian na siya ng demonyo at hindi na matanggal yung pinasok na pag-iisip sa kanyang pagkatao.”

He also said that the agency is hard at work to ensure that sites responsible for grooming minors to commit heinous crimes will no longer be accessible nationwide.

As of press time, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has already blocked two such websites in the country.

PNP Acting Chief PIO PCol. Allen Rae Co expounded, “These websites espouses real-world violence, yung sinasabing nago-groom na sila and binibigyan ng parang tasking, starting from yung mga low-level hanggang mapupunta na doon sa active shooter, pamamaril at pananakit na po sa tunay na buhay.”

Apart from blocking access to websites involved in poisoning the minds and hearts of Filipino youth, the DILG official also called for further interventions such as regulation of social media usage for users aged 16 and below, as well as tighter regulations on legal firearms and an enhanced crackdown on loose firearms. (with report from Ryan Lesigues | PTV News)

jpv

The post DILG urges stronger interventions after consecutive school shooting incidents appeared first on PTV News.