Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:
Joblessness in the Philippines worsens in April
Joblessness in the Philippines registered at 4.1 percent in April, the worst in three months.
There were 2.06 million unemployed Filipinos in April, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Friday. This was more than the 1.93 million jobless recorded in March.
PH-Japan reciprocal access agreement gets House of Councillors’ OK
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, a historic defense pact aiming to boost both countries’ military cooperation, has been approved by the House of Councillors of Japan.
The RAA is a pact that would serve as the legal basis for both countries’ troops entering each other’s territory for joint military exercises.
Prosecution to present impeachment articles no matter what – solon
A member of the House of Representatives’ prosecution team has made it clear that they will present the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte regardless of the any developments in the Senate.
San Juan Lone District Rep. Ysabel Zamora, in an online interview on Friday, also disclosed that Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro has been practicing in anticipation of the scheduled June 11 presentation.
Holding Duterte trial isn’t a choice, it’s our constitutional duty – Gatchalian
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian reminded his colleagues in the Senate on Friday that proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is not a matter of choice, but a constitutional mandate of the Senate.
“This is no longer our decision. It’s not up to us whether to proceed or not — this is our constitutional duty,” he said in an interview over DZMM.
BH party-list proclaimed after dismissal of disqualification case
The National Board of Canvassers has proclaimed the Bagong Henerasyon (BH) party-list as one of the winners in the 2025 midterm elections after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) en banc junked the petition seeking to disqualify the group.
A certificate of proclamation was shared to the media on Friday which states that BH party-list obtained the required percentage of votes under the party-list system of representation to entitle its qualified nominee — Roberto Gerard Nazal Jr. — to sit as a member of the House of Representatives.