Latest news with #20thCongress
Filipino Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
VP Sara still expected at SONA, House ready to welcome her if she attends
Vice President Sara Duterte is still expected to attend President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA), according to House spokesperson Princess Abante, despite Duterte's earlier announcement that she would skip the event. Abante emphasized that attending the SONA is part of the vice president's responsibilities. If Duterte changes her mind, the House of Representatives is ready to welcome her to the event, which will be held in the Batasang Pambansa complex. Preparations for the SONA are already 90 to 95 percent complete, according to Abante, with around 1,500 attendees expected—similar to last year. Despite recent rains, she noted that preparations continued smoothly. No security threats have been reported, and all inter-agency coordination meetings have been concluded. The House Secretary-General confirmed that invitations have been sent out and that most seats in the plenary and viewing areas are already taken. The House will go on lockdown from July 23 to 27 to ensure security, allowing only essential personnel to enter. The 20th Congress will also open its regular session in the morning ahead of the SONA.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
LOOK: Senate unveils 20th Congress ‘Legacy Wall'
The Senate on Monday unveiled the new 'Legacy Wall' featuring senators of the 20th Congress. Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero led the unveiling ceremony, noting that the portraits of the senators were arranged in alphabetical order. 'Ito ang kumakatawan sa ika-20 Kongreso, kasama 'yung mga bagong papasok na kongresista sa parte ng Senado,' Escudero said. (This represents the 20th Congress, including the new, incoming senators.) 'Kagaya ng sinabi ko, alphabetical naming in-arrange, so walang partikular na ayos 'to pagdating sa seniority or posisyon sa Senado. Alphabetical ang sinunod namin, hindi katulad ng nagdaan na sinunod ang mga opisyal ng Senado,' he added. (We arranged this alphabetically, so there is no particular order when it comes to seniority or position in the Senate. We put it in alphabetical order, unlike in the past, where the order was based on the senators' positions.) LOOK: The Senate unveils the new 'Legacy Wall' featuring senators of the 20th Congress. @gmanews — Giselle Ombay (@giselleombay_) July 21, 2025 The mural is currently installed at the second floor of the Senate Building in Pasay City. Escudero said that the Senate allocated a budget of around P800,000 for the legacy wall, which includes the photography of each senator. 'Almost the same as the one last year,' he said when asked if the amount was reasonable. The 20th Congress is set to begin its first regular session on July 28, before President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). —VAL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec: Yedda Romualdez to serve as Tingog partylist rep after 3rd nominee exit
Yedda Romualdez, wife of Speaker Martin Romualdez, will replace third nominee Marie Josephine Calatrava, who resigned from Tingog citing 'personal circumstances'. Former Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez will return to the House of Representatives (HOR) in the 20th Congress as she is set to take the third seat of Tingog Partylist following the exit of three of its nominees, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday. Romualdez, wife of Speaker Martin Romualdez, will replace third nominee Marie Josephine Calatrava, who resigned from Tingog citing 'personal circumstances'. Fourth nominee Alexis Yu and fifth nominee Paul Muncada likewise resigned as nominees following their election as party executive vice-president, and vice-president for internal affairs, respectively. According to Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia, the substitution is allowed under the Party-list System Act as Yedda is included in the list of nominees the party submitted to the poll body. 'Halimbawa, nag-resign si 1, papalit si number 2. Namatay si number 3, papalit si number 4. So long as di pa nauubos ang sinubmit satin,' he said. (If the first nominee resigned, the second will replace him. If the third nominee dies, the fourth nominee will replace him. As long as the replacing nominee is included in the names they submitted to us.) Tingog Partylist ranked third in Eleksyon 2025, securing three seats for the incoming 20th Congress. Yeddah is its sixth nominee while her son, Andrew Julian Romualdez, was named first nominee. 'Dapat si number 6 ang ipapalit and we have no discretion on that. Ito ay duly-submitted ng naturang partylist at duly-published by the commission,' said Garcia. (The sixth nominee will replace the third and we have no discretion on that. She is part of the duly-submitted names of the partylist.) 'Walang natanggap na disqualification or opposition or petition for disqualification sa sampu na yan therefore, intact ang listahan. Kahit hindi kami mag-issue ng certificate of proclamation, pwede na tanggapin ng HOR sapagkat na-proclaim na ang naturang party-list,' he added. (We did not receive any disqualification or opposition or petition for disqualification on the ten names and therefore, the list is intact. The HOR can proclaim her even without or certification as the partylist was already proclaimed.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Risa joining veterans' bloc? Tito Sotto says, ‘The more, the merrier'
'The more the merrier! She is more than welcome. Her integrity and reputation will always be an asset to the Senate,' Sotto said in a Viber message to reporters. Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III on Wednesday welcomed the pronouncement of Senator Risa Hontiveros that she was open to the possibility of joining the five-man "veterans bloc" at the Senate. 'The more the merrier! She is more than welcome. Her integrity and reputation will always be an asset to the Senate,' Sotto said in a Viber message to reporters. The so-called veterans bloc of the upper chamber is composed of Sotto and Senators Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, and Lito Lapid. They are pushing for the reinstatement of Sotto as Senate president, replacing Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero. Despite considering herself a veteran lawmaker, Hontiveros emphasized that her final decision on which bloc to join will be revealed on July 28, when the 20th Congress begins its first regular session. "I have to be open to all possibilities na consistent doon sa gusto kong pagpapalakas ng oposisyon para sa 2028 and beyond," she said. (I have to be open to all possibilities that are consistent with my goal to strengthen the opposition for 2028 and beyond.) The lady senator previously said that she is considering forming or joining an independent bloc in the next Congress, explaining that it is 'more realistic' to do so, considering the numbers. Zubiri had floated the possibility of the veterans bloc forming the Senate minority bloc in the 20th Congress. Legarda, meanwhile, said the bloc has yet to decide whether it will be in the minority. –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
16-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Leni Robredo: Bam, Kiko embracing more allies no betrayal of cause
Former vice president and incumbent Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo said the move of her allies Senators Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan to reach out for more allies is not betrayal but a way to strengthen the fight for reforms. In a podcast interview, Robredo said Aquino and Pangilinan won big in Eleksyon 2025 because they were not quick to dismiss people who share their belief of improving Filipinos' quality of life despite disagreements with other parties on some issues. "Sa atin lang, if we fight right, may chance tayo. Gaya ng ginawa nila Senator Bam (Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan), kung gusto natin manalo, kailangan mas lawakan natin iyong space natin para sa dissenting views. 'Yung support pa din ng base [ang nagdala]. Pero more than that, 'yung strategy din na in-employ nila," Robredo said. (If we fight right, we have a chance. Just like what Senators Bam and Kiko did. They allowed space for those with dissenting views. The base delivered for them, but on top of that, it was this strategy that they employed that delivered.) "Hindi sila naging purist, mas naging pragmatic na klaro sa isip na kailangan itong ipanalo. Maraming desisyon na ginagawa kami for Bam and Kiko. 'Yung feeling ng iba na parang naging traitor na agad for the cause, pero actually necessary siya para makatawid. Parang nag-pay off naman in the end. They did what needs to be done na without sacrificing their principles," Robredo said in a recent episode of The Linya Linya Show podcast. (They were not purists, they were pragmatic and had a clear mind that the victory was needed. A lot of decisions were made for them, and some felt it was a betrayal of the cause, but actually it was necessary and paid off in the end. They did what needs to be done without sacrificing their principles.) In the end, Robredo said Aquino and Pangilinan even got the backing of local officials during the 2025 elections even if these officials did not back here Eleksyon 2022 presidential bid. Aquino finished second in the 2025 senatorial race with more than 20 million votes, while Pangilinan placed fifth with more than 15 million votes even though they hardly made it to Top 12 in pre-election polls. Robredo's interview came amid the ongoing changes in the Senate under the 20th Congress and reports that Aquino and Pangilinan are set to join the administration or majority bloc in the Senate to advance their advocacies. Senator Risa Hontiveros, who supported Aquino and Pangilinan in their 2025 senatorial bids, has expressed openness to join the Senate "veterans bloc," but not the majority. Inclusivity vs. cancelling In the same interview, Robredo urged allies and supporters to embrace collaboration and inclusivity rather than "cancelling" out people based on a single issue. "Marami pa rin kasi tayong mga kasama na mas puso, mas puso yung pinapairal, mas emotion. Ako, kung gusto natin manalo, 'di puwede 'yun eh. Kung gusto nating manalo, kailangan mas malayo 'yung pagtingin natin at mas malawak," Robredo said. (We have a lot of allies who are more driven by emotions. If we want to win, we cannot do that. If we want to win, we need to long farther down the road with a broad view. "Ngayon, [just] one move ng isang kandidato na hindi sang ayon sa kanila, aawayin [na]. Hindi iyon nakakatulong eh. Parang masyadong defeatist. We should look for the consistency of their actions, rather than a single issue. Parang sa mag-asawa rin, hindi naman kayo perpekto. Pero dahil mahal niyo ang isa't isa, nagbibigay kayo ng espasyo," Robredo added. (If they disagree on one issue, they mob the person with criticism. It does not help. It's like a defeatist attitude. We should look for consistency of their actions, rather than a single issue. It's like a married couple, neither are perfect individuals but because you love each other, you give each other space.) Robredo said reforms can only be achieved when genuine public servants are elected into office, and that even allies have different moves to play so that competent ones are voted into office by the public. "Halimbawa, [kung] ang paniniwala ko dapat inaatake talaga natin lahat ng kalaban. Okay naman iyon, pero irespeto mo rin iyong paniniwala ng iba na ang tingin nila hindi 'yan ang way, ang tingin nila mas effective itong [ibang paraan]. We each have roles to play. Merong tumitira, merong nagdidiplomasya, some strategize, but we all work together," Robredo said. (If one believes that we should criticize on all enemies, then that is fine. But that person should also respect other allies who might think of a different approach. We each have roles to play. Some criticize, some use diplomacy, some strategize, but we all work together.) "'Yung nakita ko kasi sa iba nating kasama hindi gan'un e. Kung ako tumitira, gusto ko lahat tayo tumitira. Hindi naiintindihan [iyong roles eh]. Mahihirapan tayo na wala tayong espasyo para don sa mga hindi eksakto sa paniniwala natin," she added. (I've seen that some of our colleagues are not like this. For them, if I criticize, I want all of us to criticize. The individual roles are not understood. It will be very hard for us if we are not going to allow space for people who do not share our beliefs to the letter.) Kiko's promise In a separate statement, Pangilinan echoed Robredo that reaching out to more allies is betrayal of the cause. "I have not turned my back on my principles. I hope that those who support me will understand that I have a promise to keep: to bring down the prices of food and strengthen the agricultural sector. Tanging ito, at hindi ang pansariling interes, ang magiging basehan ng aking magiging pasya sa July 28 kung sa minorya ba o sa mayorya tayo lulugar," Pangilinan said. (This is my sole promise—not personal interest— which will be the basis of my upcoming decision on July 28 if I will side with the minority or majority.) "Many elected officials do not take their own campaign promises seriously and forget about them when elected. I am not that kind of elected official. My word is my honor. In the end, my final decision on the 28th will be guided by the above mentioned considerations. As I seek to understand those who disagree with me, I pray and humbly seek to be understood as well," Pangilinan added. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
