BREAKING: The Office of the Ombudsman files 14 counts of graft against "Congtractor" USWAG Ilonggo Representative James Ang Jr. with the Sandiganbayan on Saturday, July 25,

"While sitting in Congress, Rep. Ang holds a stake in a construction firm that won ₱214 million in DPWH contracts — and was paid nearly ₱199 million for them.

The Constitution is clear: no lawmaker may be financially interested in a government contract during his term," the Ombudsman says.

"Conflict of interest is not a gray area. It does not require proof that a deal was rigged or that cash changed hands — only that a public official profited, or stood to profit, from a government contract while in office. Here, and in many cases, the clear and thick constitutional line is constantly and blatantly being crossed," it adds.

BREAKING: The Office of the Ombudsman announces that Senator Loren Legarda, her son and Representative Leandro Leviste are facing complaints plunder and graft over billions worth of solar projects.

The complaints will now be endorsed to the preliminary investigation or one step before becoming actual cases.

BREAKING: The Sandiganbayan 3rd Division grants the bail request of former senator Bong Revilla for his malversation case that stemmed from the flood control mess.

Revilla will be released from detention temporarily since his other case, graft, is bailable.

Here's how the justices voted:

Chair Karl Miranda – deny all petitions for bail
Associate Justice Ronald Moreno – Grant Revilla, deny everyone else's
Associate Justice Fritz Bryn Anthony delos Santos – Grant Revilla, deny everyone else's

The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology says Revilla is on his way to post bail in Sandiganbayan.

OMBUDSMAN: EVIDENCE SUPPORTS EX-BODYGUARDS’ CLAIMS AGAINST ROMUALDEZ

The Office of the Ombudsman said its investigators have found evidence supporting the claims of the 18 former bodyguards of former Ako Bicol representative Elizaldy Co regarding alleged cash deliveries to former House speaker Martin Romualdez.

The statement on Friday, July 31, came after Romualdez criticized the Ombudsman for relying on witnesses who he said "have already been publicly discredited" by the Department of Justice. 

"When they executed the individual affidavits, our investigators determined that the details were clear and consistent insofar as the cash deliveries of Zaldy to Martin are concerned," the Ombudsman said.

On Thursday, July 30, the DOJ announced it had approved the filing of multiple criminal cases against the bodyguards and lawyer Levi Baligod following complaints filed by former senator Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV in March.

The Ombudsman had earlier identified Romualdez as a "central figure" in the alleged corruption scheme. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla also said his office is "very close" to filing plunder charges against the former House speaker.

On Friday, the Office of the Ombudsman said "the parties are expected to submit their counter-affidavits very soon."

"The panel of prosecutors evaluating the case is now entrusted with the task of reconciling the allegations with the defense to determine whether the case should be filed in court," the body said.

NEWS UPDATE: Almost a year after it was first announced, the Department of Foreign Affairs confirms on August 6, that it has received the United States government’s request to extradite doomsday preacher Apollo Quiboloy.

“The DFA has endorsed the request to the Department of Justice,” the agency says.

JUST IN. The Senate confirms that Senator Loren Legarda has filed a medical leave from August 3 to 5, 2026.

"Last Aug 3, the COS of the Office of Sen Legarda sent a letter informing the Office of the Secretary that “Senator Loren Legarda will be on medical leave from 3 to 5 August 2026," Senate secretary Rey Bantug tells Rappler.

Legarda and son Leandro Leviste face plunder, graft complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman over solar projects.

JUST IN. Senator Loren Legarda and Cong. Leandro Leviste left the country on August 2, the Bureau of Immigration confirms.

"The office confirms the departure of Sen. Loren Legarda and Rep. Leandro Leviste in separate flights last August 2. Both had no derogatory records at the time of departure," BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval tells Rappler.

BREAKING: Department of Justice prosecutors file a grave threats case against Vice President Sara Duterte over her alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and family.

"We confirm that the complaint for Grave Threats against Vice President Sara Duterte was filed today, August 11, 2026, at around 1:30 p.m. with the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court," DOJ spokesperson Raphael Martinez tells reporters.

This is the same probe handled by the National Bureau of Investigation and the same grave threats allegations in Duterte's impeachment.

NEWS UPDATE: The Supreme Court junks the petition that sought to mandate the Senate blue ribbon committee to disclose the initial draft report on the irregularities in flood control projects.

"The SC explained that mandamus may be used only to compel a public official or body to perform a ministerial duty clearly required by law that involves no discretion.

In this case, the SC found no constitutional or legal obligation for the Committee to release an unfinished draft report," the SC states.

"It clarified that a draft report is a preliminary document and only becomes part of the official Senate record once it is finalized, approved by the Committee, and submitted to the Senate plenary following the Senate’s internal rules," it adds.