The Philippine Senate's tourism and public services panels will hold an inquiry on June 21 into numerous passenger complaints against Cebu Pacific, including overbooking and booking glitches. The probe follows a resolution by Senator Nancy Binay, who highlighted issues such as passengers being offloaded without cause, multiple charges during a sale, and lack of immediate assistance from the airline. Government regulations permit overbooking but require compensation for affected passengers. The situation has led to travel in the Philippines becoming a frustrating experience.

Leila de Lima's co-defendants in her last illegal drugs case have requested the presiding judge, Romeo Buenaventura, to recuse himself due to a conflict of interest, as he is the brother of a lawyer who assisted in the preparation of an affidavit by De Lima's aide, Ronnie Dayan, which was later recanted. The defendants argue that Buenaventura's failure to disclose this relationship violates their right to due process. The judge recently denied bail for De Lima and her co-defendants, ruling the evidence of guilt was strong. De Lima remains in detention and her lawyers plan to appeal the bail decision. The former senator has won two of her previous cases, with one being dismissed due to insufficient evidence and the other due to reasonable doubt after a key witness recanted his testimony.

A Social Weather Stations survey commissioned by Arnel Ty places Vice President Sara Duterte as the leading candidate to succeed President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. in the 2028 presidential elections, with 28% of respondents favoring her. The survey, which has a margin of error of ±3%, also lists Sen. Raffy Tulfo and former Vice President Leni Robredo among the top contenders. Historical trends suggest early surveys are not always predictive of election outcomes, as demonstrated in the 2010, 2016, and 2022 Philippine presidential elections.

Former Senate presidents Aquilino Pimentel III, Franklin Drilon, and Tito Sotto have called for the recall of the Maharlika Investment Fund bill's approval by Congress to correct errors, specifically differing prescriptive periods for offenses under the proposed law. They argue that legislative staff lack the authority to make such corrections, which could lead to legal consequences. Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva contends that the Senate secretariat can correct errors as the bill is not yet enrolled. Senator Mark Villar, who sponsored the bill, has requested the Senate Secretary to ensure the enrolled bill reflects what was approved in plenary, although he has not signed any letter to Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri as of Tuesday.

Super typhoon Mawar, after briefly weakening over Guam, has reintensified and is expected to bring moderate to intense rains to Cagayan Valley and extreme northern Luzon from the weekend until Monday. Currently outside the Philippine area of responsibility, it is forecast to enter by Friday evening or early Saturday, with PAGASA considering signal warnings. Mawar may enhance the southwest monsoon, causing heavy rains in southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Although not expected to make landfall, it could affect the eastern seaboard with huge waves and strengthen the monsoon over the next week.

The Supreme Court of the Philippines reaffirmed that the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act covers women in lesbian relationships. This decision reiterates a 2013 ruling stating that the law's gender-neutral language includes lesbian relationships. The court dismissed the petitioner's argument that the previous ruling was non-binding, emphasizing that it resolved the issue raised. The court also noted that the petitioner should have sought a trial at the Regional Trial Court before approaching the high court.

The Philippine government is considering taking back control of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) if deemed necessary. This follows concerns raised by Senator Raffy Tulfo about NGCP's partial Chinese ownership during a meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The Department of Energy has proposed amendments to prohibit foreign government ownership in transmission operations. Tulfo suggested returning the grid's operation to the state-owned TransCo, while NGCP would maintain it. The NGCP is currently 40% owned by China's SGCC and 60% by Filipino businessmen. The re-nationalization move is supported by some senators, though Senator Francis Escudero cautioned it could deter foreign investors.

Senator Raffy Tulfo proposed to President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. that the Philippine government should take back the operations of the country's power grid, currently operated by the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), which is partly owned by the State Grid Corporation of China. Tulfo cited national security threats due to the Chinese stake in the NGCP amidst tensions over the West Philippine Sea. He claimed China could sabotage the grid and that NGCP has violated its franchise contract. Other senators support the re-nationalization, while Senator Francis Escudero cautioned against it, fearing it might deter foreign investors.

The Philippine Senate unanimously passed a bill to significantly increase the disability pension of veterans and their beneficiaries. Senate Bill No. 1480 will raise the monthly base rate from P1,000 to P4,500, with other rates also seeing substantial increases. The bill, authored by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, aims to update the pension rates which have been unchanged for 29 years. The increases will be funded through the pension and gratuity fund and subsequently the General Appropriations Act, affecting only eligible living veterans.

Former Sen. Leila de Lima was acquitted in one of her two remaining drug cases when the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court found reasonable doubt after the recantation of star witness Rafael Ragos. Ragos, a former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge, retracted his testimony that De Lima received P10 million from the drug trade inside the New Bilibid Prison. The court acknowledged the existence of a drug trade in Bilibid but could not establish De Lima and her aide Ronnie Dayan as direct participants due to the lack of positive and conclusive evidence.

On the anniversary of the 2022 Philippine elections, former Vice President Leni Robredo and her vice-presidential candidate Francis Pangilinan addressed supporters at a mini-concert at Angat Buhay NGO's headquarters. Robredo emphasized the continuation of their campaign for good governance and urged participation in upcoming elections, despite not winning the previous year. Pangilinan expressed optimism about the opposition's future. The event also marked the launch of a coffee table book, 'Tayo Ang Liwanag,' documenting Robredo's presidential campaign.

The Senate labor panel in the Philippines approved a proposal for a P150 daily minimum wage hike 'in principle' after a single public hearing. The proposal, led by Labor panel chairperson Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, will be reviewed by a technical working group, particularly to discuss a graduated wage increase scheme for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri anticipates the Committee Report in two weeks and aims to pass the bill before adjournment in June. While the Employers Confederation of the Philippines supports a minimum wage review, they prefer it to be conducted through regional wage boards. Zubiri, however, believes it is time for Congress to legislate a wage hike, the first since 1989.

Senator Cynthia Villar is considering legal action over a viral video showing her in a confrontation with guards at a subdivision in Las Piñas. The incident involved a dispute over the removal of a gate blocking a public composting facility. Villar denied having an outburst and defended her use of a homophobic slur. She suggested the altercation might have been orchestrated by the BF Resort Village Homeowners’ Association, with whom she has had previous issues regarding the Friendship Route, a public road that cuts through the subdivision. Villar has faced problems with the association since obtaining a court order to keep the route open. She is also contemplating additional charges against the association for various alleged acts, including blocking access to her composting facility and preventing the construction of an impounding facility.

The National Telecommunications Commission is assessing the legality and feasibility of the Department of Information and Communications Technology's proposal to restrict services for unregistered SIM users during the 90-day extension period granted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The SIM Registration Act does not specify the suspension of services during the extension, and Smart Communications Inc. has expressed difficulty in implementing a gradual deactivation due to time constraints. A resolution on the matter is expected soon.

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved a 90-day extension for SIM card registration, as announced by Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan Uy. The extension comes amid concerns that less than half of the country's active SIM cards have been registered ahead of the original April 26 deadline. The SIM Registration Act, aimed at curbing crimes via text messages, mandates registration within a set timeframe, with the possibility of service deactivation for non-compliance. Senators and telcos have called for more efforts to reach subscribers, especially in remote areas. The two largest telcos, Globe Telecom and Smart Communications, had requested the extension due to issues such as users' lack of government-issued IDs.

Philippine President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. expects the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, PGen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., to stabilize the police force amidst ongoing reforms and investigations into officers linked to the illegal drug trade. Marcos highlighted Acorda's steadiness and trustworthiness, emphasizing the need for a commander to oversee changes, including personnel replacements, housing, pension fixes, and drug syndicate probes. Senators, including Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, welcomed Acorda's appointment, citing his leadership and intelligence experience as beneficial for the PNP's internal cleansing. However, House Deputy Minority Leader Rep. France Castro raised concerns about potential regionalistic patronage in Acorda's selection.

Senator Risa Hontiveros is urging a Senate investigation into the proposed merger of the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines by the Marcos Jr. administration. She highlights potential risks to the banking system, state bank employees, and coconut levy beneficiaries. The merger, which aims to create the country's largest bank, has been criticized for potentially violating collective bargaining agreements and for not consulting stakeholders. Hontiveros emphasizes the need for thorough study and resolution of legal and operational issues before proceeding with the merger, which was previously considered during the Aquino III administration but was shelved under Duterte's term.

The Philippine Senate is deliberating a bill to reinstate mandatory Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) with provisions for free uniforms and combat boots for cadets. Senate Bill No. 2034, backed by Senator Ronald dela Rosa, aims to alleviate parents' concerns over additional expenses. The bill, a priority for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is expected to cost the government P5 billion and will be implemented in phases. Dela Rosa is confident in the bill's passage within the year.

Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for the shutdown of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) following the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.'s (Pagcor) termination of its contract with Global ComRCI, the third-party auditor without a business permit and tax compliance. This action is in line with the strict application of Republic Act No. 11590, which requires POGOs to be monitored by a third-party auditor. Gatchalian, who has been vocal against POGOs, presented a draft committee report in the Senate recommending their immediate closure, which could potentially lead to the government losing approximately P65 billion in economic contributions.

Senate constitutional amendments panel chairperson Robinhood Padilla agreed with chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on removing the 'imminent danger' safeguard from the martial law provision in the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Enrile, who was the chief implementer of Martial Law during Ferdinand Marcos Sr.'s dictatorship, argued that the current provision puts the government at a disadvantage. The 'imminent danger' phrase was previously exploited by Marcos Sr. to justify martial law, leading to widespread human rights violations. The 1987 Constitution introduced safeguards to prevent such abuses. Padilla supports the amendment but clarified it won't be included in his current push for economic amendments. The Marcos dictatorship's human rights abuses have been recognized by local and international courts, and a reparations board was established under Republic Act 10368.

The PDP-Laban faction led by former President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to support Charter change (Cha-cha), although it is unclear if they are endorsing the House's constitutional convention or Sen. Robinhood Padilla's constituent assembly approach. The decision followed Padilla's threat to resign if the party did not back his proposal to amend economic provisions in the Constitution. PDP-Laban has historically advocated for political reforms to establish a federal government, a stance that has seen varying levels of support within the party.

The article recounts the experiences of volunteers and staff during the Paskuhan event at the University of Santo Tomas (UST). It highlights the dedication and hard work of individuals like Kim, a student volunteer, and Abby Rose Santiago, a security guard, who contributed to the festive atmosphere. The article also covers the challenges faced by the production team during the Paskuhan concert, including the decision to cut short a band's performance due to time constraints. Despite the stress, the team managed to maintain composure and ensure the event's success. The article concludes with the aftermath of the celebration, where workers from the City Service Corporation clean up the venue, and the University prepares for the next day's Simbang Gabi at the Plaza Mayor.

The article focuses on the 'Golden Gays,' a group of elderly gay men in Manila, Philippines, who were once housed in a hospice founded by LGBT advocate Justo Justo. After Justo's death in 2012 and the subsequent loss of their hospice, the group was left homeless, with some returning to relatives and others living on the streets. Ramon Busa, Justo's successor, has been working to reunite the group. Despite their homelessness, the Golden Gays continue to find joy in beauty pageants, an activity that energizes them and brings back memories of better times. They were recently guests at the Metro Manila Pride March, where they advocated for the establishment of an LGBT hospice for the elderly. The group remains hopeful for a permanent home and seeks support from the government and figures like Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, the first transwoman in Congress.