Office of the Vice President Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez declines to say what Vice President Sara Duterte and her office's position is on the Pax Silica plan.

She tells House Assistant Minority Leader Renee Co that they are not authorized to speak about it during the House appropriations deliberations on Duterte's proposed P785-million budget for 2027 on Wednesday, September 2.

Voting 15-0-0, the Senate approved on third and final reading proposed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1962 or an “An Act Disqualifying Relatives of Public Officials Within the Fourth Civil Degree of Consanguinity and Affinity From All Government Contracts and Providing Penalties Therefore”.

COA Commissioner Mario Lipana, allegedly linked to flood control corruption, on medical leave

Commission on Audit (COA) Commissioner Mario Lipana, who has been allegedly linked to the flood control corruption scandal, is on medical leave, says COA Chairperson Gamaliel Cordoba. @here

RELATED STORY: https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/in-depth/coa-commissioner-mario-lipana-wife-won-billions-dpwh-government-contracts/

SAN PEDRO, Laguna — Various sectors of the San Pedro community will join an Advocacy Walk on September 5, 2026, to oppose any further postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE), scheduled for November 2, 2026.

The walk will assemble at 4:00 PM at San Pedro Gateway Park/Gateway Plaza, proceed along A. Mabini Street through Barangays San Antonio and Poblacion, and conclude with an advocacy program at San Pedro City Plaza from 6:00 to 7:00 PM.

The peaceful activity forms part of the “Taumbayan Naman, Ituloy ang Halalan!” #YesToBSKE2026 national campaign led by various youth organizations and coalitions including KASAPI Coalition, Kaya Natin! Youth, Kilos Ko! Youth, Akbayan Youth, and Youth Against Kurakot.

House panel scrutinizes DepEd’s 2027 budget proposal

The House appropriations committee starts its deliberations on the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Education.

In the 2027 National Expenditure Program, the DepEd, along with its attached agencies, is requesting P976 billion. @here

Good morning! Vice President Sara Duterte issues a statement, saying she received information of alleged plans targeting her and her family in 2024.

Duterte also accused authorities of intimidating her minor children, which she described as “child abuse”.

Duterte: Ang paglapit o pagpunta sa lugar kung saan naroroon ang aking ina at mga anak, sa kabila ng pag-amin ng DILG Secretary at ng pulisya na alam nila kung nasaan ako dahil sa kanilang mga surveillance activities, ay isang seryosong usapin, lalo na kung nadadamay o naaapektuhan ang mga menor de edad. Ang mga bata ay hindi dapat ginagamit, tinatakot, o idinadamay sa panggigipit. Ito ay child abuse.

Mga kababayan, ang isang pamahalaang hindi gumagalang at nagpoprotekta sa mga kabataan ay nagpapakita ng kawalan ng malasakit sa kinabukasan ng ating bayan.

Senator Loren Legarda further extends medical leave, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirms.

Bantug said the senator filed for another medical leave for September 7 to September 9 and September 14 to September 16, 2026.

Voting 19-0, the Senate approves on third reading Senate Bill No. 2410, establishing the Presidential Merit Scholarship Program.

Senator Ping Lacson said the arrest of former Speaker Martin Romualdez should silence critics of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who have accused him of weak leadership and a lack of resolve in addressing the flood control mess.

Lacson said it is now time to let the legal process take its course and allow the evidence to speak for itself.

The House appropriations committee is tackling the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. @here

In the 2027 National Expenditure Program, the DSWD, including its attached agencies, has a proposed allocation of P241.28 billion for new appropriations. Including the automatic appropriations, the figure goes up to P241.6 billion. It remains lower than what the DSWD received in the 2026 budget. Here’s an overview:

https://www.rappler.com/philippines/department-social-welfare-development-budget-2027/

Manny Pacquiao takes oath as National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. swears in boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as National Anti-Poverty Commission lead convenor on September 8, 2026. Pacquiao ran for senator under the administration ticket in the 2025 elections but lost. The appointment ban on defeated 2025 candidates lapsed in May. @here

Good morning!

Vice President Sara Duterte appoints lawyer Paolo Panelo, son of former Duterte official Sal Panelo, as her spokesperson.

"In this capacity, Atty. Paolo will serve as the official point of communication, representing the views and positions of the Vice President and engaging with the media and public on relevant matters," says the Office of the Vice President.

The younger Panelo has handled some cases for the Vice President, including Duterte's perjury complaint against self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga recently.

The Bureau of Immigration confirms that senator-siblings Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano are out of the country but declines to disclose other details of the trip, in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.

“Based on BI records, there were no hold departure orders or derogatory records against the two senators, as of departure date, that would legally prevent them from leaving the country,” the BI says.

The Senate is now scrutinizing the proposed budget of the DILG for 2027.

JUST IN: Three retired Supreme Court (SC) justices will appear before the Senate impeachment court on September 16 to give their views on the 16-vote threshold for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte, impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol announced. @all

The three are:

1. Retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban;
2. Retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno; and
3. Retired Associate Justice Adolf S. Azcuna.

Retired Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr., who served as presiding officer during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, also committed to participate but will submit a legal memorandum instead of appearing in person.

Vice President Sara Duterte shows up at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 98 on Friday, September 11 for her arraignment in connection with her grave threats case.

WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/live/ixgo3fbbH3o

JUST IN: The DOJ has issued a subpoena against Senator Robinhood Padilla over the obstruction of justice complaints filed against him for his alleged role in the escape of Senator Bato dela Rosa.

Senator Robinhood Padilla will attend the Department of Justice hearing on the obstruction of justice complaint filed against him, in connection with the subpoena issued by the DOJ.

Padilla’s legal counsel, Atty. Henry Balteza, said they will file a counter-affidavit within the prescribed period. He also maintained that the senator’s acts were in “no way unlawful or illegal”.

Padilla: Ang kaso ko ay nagmula sa warrant of arrest ng ICC na isang dayuhan. Parang pakiramdam ko discriminated ako sa usapin ng — sana sa dalhin nyo na lang sa ICC ang kaso tutal sila ang sinasabi na dun ako nagkaroon ng pagkakamali. Para naman medyo mataas ang pride ko proud naman ako na talagang dayuhan ang kalaban ko kasi parangmasakit naman na ang nagrereklamo sa akin kapwa ko Pilipino. Masakit para sa akin ‘yun. Sana kung gusto nila akong gawing guilty ‘yung dayuhan ang mag-guilty sa akin wag kapwa ko Pilipino, masakit ‘yun.

JUST IN: Two of the co-accused of former Speaker Martin Romualdez in his plunder charges have already left the Philippines, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

In a statement, immigration authorities said former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co and Joselyn Serenio exited the country prior to the Sandiganbayan’s issuance of a hold departure order (HDO) against them.

Romaludez, and co-accused Felicito Cristobal Guevarra remain in the Philippines.