In a video posted on social media, Marcos Jr. said he continues to attend official engagements despite doctors advising him to take things slowly. 

He shared that he is still on medication and antibiotics but is already back to regular work, with more meetings scheduled.

The President also revealed he has been cleared to eat solid food after days on a liquid diet, joking about craving steak and saying he recently ate a hamburger. 

He thanked the public for their concern and well-wishes, saying he received the best medical care and is ready to continue working.

“Maraming salamat sa lahat ng tao who have been concerned about my health. At maraming nagpadala ng mga mensahe na gumaling ka na agad.”IMT

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In an immediately executory resolution, the SC said no further pleadings will be entertained. 

The ruling reinforced the Constitution’s one-year bar, finding that the fourth impeachment complaint sent to the Senate on February 5, 2025 was prohibited because the impeachment process had already been initiated earlier within the same year.

The Court clarified that a “session day” means any calendar day the House holds session, not a legislative session day. It ruled that the one-year ban was triggered when earlier verified complaints were not timely placed in the Order of Business or were referred to the Committee on Justice.

The SC also explained the two modes of initiating impeachment and stressed that House rules must comply with constitutional safeguards, including due process. 

It emphasized that endorsing members must have full access to the complaint and evidence.

The Court rejected the use of the operative fact doctrine and reiterated that fairness and non-arbitrariness apply to impeachment proceedings.

Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa took no part, while Associate Justice Maria Filomena Singh was on leave.IMT

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At a Senate health hearing, Tulfo told FDA chief Paolo Teston that issuing advisories is not enough, stressing that online platforms make dangerous products “one click away.”

He cited test-buys by his staff showing prescription drugs like clobetasol propionate and co-amoxiclav being sold on Shopee without prescriptions, and the rampant online sale of Tirzepatide, despite only Mounjaro being FDA-approved in the Philippines.

The senator also flagged continued sales of Hokkaido Slimming Pills containing amphetamine, despite an FDA advisory issued in 2013, and counterfeit medicines such as Biogesic, Decolgen Forte, and Neozep sold in stores, sometimes at higher prices but posing serious health risks.

“In public health, advisories are not enough. Action is the real measure of credibility,” said Tulfo, as he presented samples of fake and unregistered products during the hearing.IMT

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Lacson said he disagrees with Rep. Leandro Leviste’s allegation, noting that if Martial Law-like conditions existed, critics would already be facing libel cases.

“Of course not. Malayo. I do not agree,” he said, adding that while he respects Leviste’s courage and principles, he does not share his view this time.

The senator stressed that anyone with nothing to hide should not fear investigations, recalling his own experience of facing baseless accusations for nine years during the Arroyo administration.

“If their charges against you have no basis, no matter how they investigate you, they’ll come up empty-handed. I’ve been there, done that. For nine long years I was subjected to such baseless accusations,” said Lacson, adding he remains “still here, still standing.”IMT

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Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the latest SWS survey found hunger incidence dropped to 20.1 percent in November 2025, from 22 percent in the third quarter, amid the rollout of the DSWD-led WGP.

Castro said the decline shows the positive impact of government social protection programs. 

On the President’s order, she added that the DSWD will further strengthen the WGP and expand its coverage to 300,000 beneficiaries this year.

The Palace official also cited the Tugon ng Masa OCTA Research survey conducted in December 2025, which showed self-rated poverty falling sharply to 37 percent from 54 percent in the previous quarter—the biggest three-month drop on record. Food poverty likewise declined to 30 percent from 49 percent.

Despite the gains, Castro said the government will continue efforts to fight poverty and address hunger nationwide.IMT

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The resolution, led by Senator Francis Pangilinan and co-authored by 14 other senators, affirms that Philippine officials have the sovereign right and duty to speak on national interest matters in the performance of their official functions.

It said the language used by a Chinese Embassy official against members of Congress lacked diplomatic restraint and violated principles of mutual respect and non-interference.

The measure cited earlier statements by the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines rejecting attempts to intimidate or malign Philippine defense institutions.

Invoking the UN Charter and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the resolution stressed that the peaceful assertion of sovereign rights is neither aggression nor provocation, and urged the Department of Foreign Affairs to take appropriate diplomatic action, including elevating the issue to international fora if necessary.IMT

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Escudero said DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon told him LGUs prioritized under the deal must show strong project implementation capacity and maintain peace and order.

“The national government should focus on LGUs that have shown they can plan well, execute well, and maintain order,” he said, adding that capable LGUs make national-local partnerships faster and more effective.

The senator encouraged LGUs to meet the requirements to access more support and deliver programs quicker.

Escudero welcomed news that Sorsogon qualifies under the model, citing its infrastructure projects, road rehabilitation during the pandemic, and peace-and-order efforts under the Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict from 2019 to 2022.

He said the tripartite model can be applied nationwide and may serve as a template for future partnerships in infrastructure, education, and agriculture.

“This is exactly how the Local Government Code envisioned development — strong national support matched with capable, empowered LGUs delivering results on the ground,” said Escudero.IMT

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Tulfo reacted to remarks by Chinese Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Guo Wei, who said free speech should not be used to “smear” other countries’ leaders. 

Guo cited a social media post by Philippine Coast Guard WPS spokesperson Comm. Jay Tarriela showing AI-generated images of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“You have no right to censure our officials  for their statements about you taking away our territory—territory that has been proven to be ours,” Tulfo said. 

He added that if Chinese officials dislike how democracy works in the Philippines, “they can leave anytime.”

“Our house, our rules. Freedom of speech is in our Constitution,” the senator stressed, noting that critics in China are jailed and media is controlled.

Tulfo ended by telling Chinese officials to respect the Philippine Constitution, its officials, freedom of speech, and “the simple truth that this is not your country.”IMT

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In a message delivered by Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos at the Ilocos Norte Centennial Arena in Laoag City, Marcos Jr. said the program ensures inclusive access to degree and technical-vocational education aligned with the country’s most urgent needs.

Under BPMSP, the top five graduates of every senior high school nationwide and qualified TESDA National Certificate holders may pursue undergraduate or technical or vocational education training diploma programs in high-performing institutions. The program targets 20,000 scholars for School Year 2026-2027.

The scholarship is part of the PBBM-GABAY ng Bayan programs of CHED, DepEd, and TESDA. 

The President also highlighted Project Patuloy na Edukasyon, Patuloy na Pag-Ahon, a nationwide caravan informing 4Ps senior high graduates about government education aid, targeting about 490,000 students eligible for the Tertiary Education Subsidy.

He likewise praised CHED-TANAW, a new higher education data platform, and congratulated over 700 public school teachers promoted under DepEd’s Expanded Career Progression System, stressing that education reforms are impossible without teachers.IMT

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Palace press officer Claire Castro said the meeting tackled key provisions, including levels of prohibition, degrees of familial relationships, types of relationships covered, positions included at the local and national levels, and whether the ban would apply simultaneously or successively.

Castro said the proposed provisions are still being studied. 

Marcos Jr. has repeatedly urged Congress to pass the long-stalled measure, which is meant to implement the anti-dynasty provision of the 1987 Constitution. 

Critics, however, said a verbal appeal is not enough and have called on the President to certify the bill as urgent to ensure its passage.IMT

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