Comebacking Senator Kiko takes oath before SC Justice Leonen
In a statement, Pangilinan said he was thankful for his hard fought poll victory which is also a reminder for him to continue to always stand for the benefit of Filipinos.
'Lubos ang pasasalamat natin sa Diyos, sa taumbayan, at sa lahat ng tumaya at kumilos para sa tagumpay ng kampanyang ito. Ang panunumpang ito ay hindi lamang simbolo ng tagumpay. Isa itong paalala ng tungkuling dapat gampanan: makinig, maglingkod, at manindigan para sa bawat Pilipinong nangangarap ng mas maayos na bukas,' Pangilinan, a lawyer, said.
(I am thankful to the Lord, my countrymen and to those who took part in this victorious campaign. This oath not only symbolizes victory. This serves as a reminder of the tasks ahead — listen, serve and stand firm for every Filipino who is dreaming of a better tomorrow.)
'Hindi madali ang landas patungo rito, pero sa awa ng Diyos at sa lakas ng taumbayan, ang imposible ay naging posible. Maraming salamat sa tiwala. Para sa pagkain, para sa pagkakaisa, para sa Pilipino,' he added.
(The road going here was not easy, but with the grace of God and the strength of our countrymen, the impossible became possible. Thank you for the trust. For food, for unity for the Filipino.)
Pangilinan, who was barely at the tailend of the top 12 winning circle in preelection surveys, ultimately zoomed to fifth place by garnering over 15.2 million votes. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
VP Sara's bank records, SALN can be legally disclosed during trial —solon
The bank records and the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of Vice President Sara Duterte can be legally disclosed during her impeachment trial, Bicol Saro party-list Representative Terry Ridon said. Ridon said the disclosure is relevant to the fourth article of impeachment relating to the culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust, particularly the allegations of amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties and interests in properties in her SALN. "The bank records will be examined to determine whether there exists a direct correspondence between her family's typical income and her bank deposits and other investments. It should be noted that former Chief Justice Renato Corona had been convicted on the basis of non-disclosure of several assets in his SALN," he explained. The lawmaker said such disclosure is provided under the 2006 Supreme Court decision in the Ejercito v. Sandiganbayan case wherein the High Court ruled that the bank records of then President Joseph Ejercito can be disclosed during his Sandiganbayan plunder trial because of two exemptions provided under the Bank Secrecy Law. These exemptions are that the examination of bank accounts is upon the order of a competent court in cases of bribery or dereliction of duty of public officials, and that the money deposited or invested is the subject matter of the litigation. 'That [Ejercito v. Sandiganbayan] is the right jurisprudence. Lahat po yan pwedeng buksan kapag nasa impeachment trial na po. The prosecution can request the SALN from the Ombudsman, the Vice President, and even the bank can be asked from the banks,' Ridon said in a news forum. 'In fact, we can also ask the Anti-Money Laundering Council para sa record ng pagpasok at paglabas na pera,' he added. However, the disclosure of these bank deposits and the SALN ultimately rests on the Senate impeachment court, which will vote once a motion for disclosure is put forward by the prosecutors. 'To be very clear, the motions will be subject to a vote by the Senate, so we'd like to manage expectations. The Senate can approve or deny requests for further information on bank accounts,' Ridon said. Asked if the Senate would risk getting the ire of the public in the event it denies such requests for further information, Ridon said it is too early to say. 'We can't preempt how the public would react. But as an impeachment court, it is really the Senate that has the authority on that,' he added. The Vice President's spokesperson, Ruth Castelo, earlier said that her boss is "ready" if the impeachment proceeds. 'The Vice President is ready, she's been saying that. And she's eager to be able to present her case or her evidence in the impeachment court so that once and for all, all doubts cast on her will go away. And that's what she wants,' Castelo said. The impeachment case put forward by the House accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly due to alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and for threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza, and his cousin, Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 hours ago
- GMA Network
Imee Marcos eyes new Omnibus Election Code
Voters fill out their ballots at Silang Central Elementary School in Silang, Cavite on Monday, May 12, 2025, for the midterm national and local elections. SANDRA AGUINALDO/ GMA Integrated News Senator Imee Marcos has filed a measure seeking to revise and recodify all the election statutes, paving the way for the New Omnibus Election Code of 2025. In the explanatory note of Senate Bill 425, Marcos, chairman of the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people's participation, said certain provisions of the 1985 Omnibus Election Code are "outrightly ill-suited for modern times." "The [OEC] is well more than three decades old. Since the inception of the OEC, there have been many significant changes in the manner by which elections are conducted," the senator said. "Likewise, regulations and limitations under the OEC have since been proven inadequate to realistically ensure a more level-playing field for candidates," she added. In 2023, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) finished a 964-page draft of proposed amendments to the Omnibus Election Code, according to poll chairman George Garcia. He said the proposed revisions include provisions on the overhaul of the party-list system and changes in campaign finance. The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission, which sent a delegation to monitor Eleksyon 2025, said in its report that nearly half of the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, including those for campaign finance and election offenses, are already "outdated." Those provisions, the report said, were already superseded by the 1987 Constitution and by numerous subsequent laws and regulations. BSKE term of office Under Marcos' bill, the Comelec shall have exclusive charge of enforcement and administration of all laws and regulations to the conduct of election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and recall for the purpose of ensuring free orderly and honest elections. The measure also provides for the conduct of a hybrid election system—a combination of the automated election system and the manual election system—to ensure transparency and credibility of the electoral processes. This hybrid election system shall be applicable to the May 2028 elections and all national, local, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) polls thereafter. The bill also stated that the term of office of all elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSKE) officials shall be four years. The BSKE elections will be held on the first Monday of November 2026 and every four years thereafter. No elective barangay official shall also serve for more than three consecutive terms in the same positions, while no elective SK official shall serve for more than one term in the same post. Party-list, substitution The bill also classified the party-list system into: a) political parties or coalition of political parties; and b) sectoral parties or organizations. Each of these classifications shall have 50% of the seats allocated for the party-list. Each registered party, organization, or coalition shall submit to the Comelec a list of names of not less than five nominees from which party-list representatives shall be chosen in case it obtains the required number of votes, together with the certificates of nomination and acceptance of all the nominees in such list. Substitution shall also be allowed for any nominee who dies, becomes physically incapacitated, or has been disqualified. "No substitution shall be allowed for nominees who withdrew their acceptance to the nomination. In the event the list of nominees of a party-list group is exhausted because of the withdrawal of all its nominees, such party, organization, or coalition shall be deemed to have withdrawn its manifestation of intent to participate in the elections," the bill noted. Only a person belonging to and nominated by the same political party may file a certificate of candidacy to replace any official candidate who died, became incapacitated, or was disqualified after the last day of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs). In all cases of substitution after the period for filing of COCs, the substitute candidate must have the same surname as the candidate being substituted for. Cha-cha The proposed measure also states that a petition for an initiative on the 1987 Constitution must have at least 12% of the total number of registered voters as signatories, of which every legislative district must be represented by at least 3% of the registered voters. Initiative on the Constitution may also be exercised only once every five years. So far in the 20th Congress, only Senator Robin Padilla has filed a resolution seeking to revise the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines through a constitutional convention. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- GMA Network
Senators question 'delayed' start of Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Majority of senator-judges vote on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in favor of returning the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. Courtesy: Joseph B. Vidal/OSP Several senators on Friday raised questions regarding the plan to begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on August 4, a week after the 20th Congress begins its first regular session. According to Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, such a proposition may need to be discussed in the plenary to determine the justification for the "delayed" reconvening of the impeachment court to August 4, then senators could vote on it. "Whatever the majorly of the 24 senators will decide, we should follow, but not without manifesting or explaining our votes, if some of us would choose to," Lacson said in a statement. "As a senator-judge, I want to hear or participate in the discussion of any major issue involved in the impeachment process before making a decision because it is a constitutional duty," he added. Meanwhile, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said that he would ask for a clarification regarding the proposed schedule. "In keeping with the Constitutional mandate, dapat walang delay sa [there should be no delay in the] trial proper. The earliest possible time we can convene the better because the Constitution is quite clear that upon receipt of the complaint trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed," he said. Article XI Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution states that: "In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed." Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, also called for the start of the impeachment trial "at the soonest possible time," believing that it has been delayed "considerably." Senator Bam Aquino, for his part, expressed readiness should the trial proper begin in August. "Handa na tayong gampanan ang tungkulin at responsibilidad bilang senator-judge," Aquino said. Sa prosesong ito, titiyakin nating mananaig ang ating mga batas at kapakanan ng ating mamamayan." (We are ready to fulfill our duty and responsibility as a senator-judge. In this process, we will ensure that our laws and the welfare of our people will prevail.) The returning senator also disclosed that he has already consulted with lawyers and experts as part of his preparation for the upcoming trial. "Bubusisiing mabuti ang mga ebidensyang ipepresenta, magiging mapanuri, at bukas ang mata at isip sa proseso. Sundin ang Konstitusyon — tuloy ang trial sa August 4," he added. (We will scrutinize the evidence presented, be critical, and be open-minded in the process. We will follow the Constitution—the trial will push through on August 4.) It was Senator Joel Villanueva who revealed that the Day 1 of Duterte's impeachment trial may be on August 4—a week after the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 28. The SONA will be delivered hours after the Senate and the House of Representatives open their first regular session. The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President is accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. The Senate impeachment court first convened on June 10, with the senator-judges under the 19th Congress voting to return the Articles of Impeachment without dismissing or terminating the case. Duterte had entered a "not guilty" plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called a mere "scrap of paper." — VDV, GMA Integrated News
