Latest news with #20thCongress
Filipino Times
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Briones admits to watching e-sabong video during house session but denies gambling
AGAP Party-list Representative Nicanor Briones admitted that he was the lawmaker seen watching an e-sabong video on his phone during the opening of the 20th Congress on July 28. In a press conference, Briones apologized for the incident but clarified that he was not participating in online gambling. He said the video was sent to him via Facebook Messenger and he only opened it briefly. 'Sa totoo lang, may nag message sa'kin sa Messenger. So, tinignan ko lang naman. Hindi ko naman akalain na meron palang magkukuha ng aking mga private messages. Nagulat na lang ako, dahil alam ko naman merong hindi dapat tinitignan. Pero okay lang 'yon, dahil malinis naman konsensya ko, 'di ako nagsasabong. 'Di mo ako makikita sa sabungan,' he said. He also denied allegations that he transferred money online, calling the claims 'fake news.' Briones said he does not use e-wallets or online payment platforms, describing himself as 'old school.' The lawmaker said he has forgiven the person who took the video and spread the footage, but warned them not to repeat the act. Briones expressed embarrassment over the controversy and apologized to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, saying the incident may have cast a negative image on the House of Representatives. Earlier this week, Briones drew criticism after being caught on video watching an online cockfighting match while voting for the next House Speaker. His identity was initially unclear, as the footage only showed his back, but a closer shot revealed details of an e-sabong match with the text '1st Fight Left Side' and '2nd Fight Right Side.'
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Chiz: Minority senators will have committee chairmanships
Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Esucero said Wednesday that all the four other members of the Senate minority bloc, except Senate Minority Leader Senator Vicente 'Tito' Sotto III, will be given respective committees to lead in the 20th Congress. Escudero explained that usually, only the Senate President, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, and Senate President Pro Tempore do not have committee chairmanships because they are officers of the Senate. This means that all the 41 permanent committees of the upper chamber will be distributed to the 20 other senators, including those from the minority bloc. 'Lahat sila magkakaroon ng komite… Inuuna lamang mag-organize ang majority, kapag natapos mag-organize ang majority, ang minority naman ang io-organize,' Escudero said in a Balitanghali interview. (All of them will be given a committee. The majority just has to organize first, and then the minority will organize after.) 'Itong Senadong 'to, nagdaang Senado man, merong komite 'yung mga miyembro ng minority except for the minority leader dahil by tradition, 'yung apat na officers ng Senado us usually walang komite, maliban na lamang kung may gusto sila,' he added. (In this Senate, even the previous one, the members of the minority were given a committee except for the minority leader because by tradition, the four officers of the Senate usually do not have a committee, unless they want something to lead.) The five-man Senate minority bloc is composed of Senators Risa Hontiveros, Juan Miguel 'Migz' Zubiri, Loren Legarda, Panfilo "Ping" Lacson. The group is led by Sotto. On Tuesday's Senate plenary session, 32 of the 41 committee chairmanships were filled, including the significant ones like the blue ribbon committee that will be led by first-termer Senator Rodante Marcoleta; Committee on Finance by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian; and Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes by Senator Robin Padilla. Other senators were also given two or more committees to chair this 20th Congress, such as Senators Alan Peter Cayetano (Accounts; Science and Technology; Higher, Technical and Vocational Education; and Justice and Human Rights), Imee Marcos (Labor, Employment & Human Resource Development; Cooperatives; and Foreign Relations); Pia Cayetano (Energy; Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking; and Ways and Means); and Bong Go (Health and Demography; Sports; and Youth). Lacson committee Meanwhile, Lacson said that the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation had been offered to him. In a statement, Lacson said he accepted the chairmanship, stressing that he will push for the passage of the Anti-Political Dynasty Act which is included in his priority bills in the 20th Congress. 'I will schedule as soon as possible my Anti-Political Dynasty bill and another bill also referred to that committee,' Lacson said. Escudero pointed out that the distribution of committee chairmanships does not depend on the seniority or length of service of a senator. 'Walang kinalaman 'yan. Lahat kami ay pare-parehong senador—matanda man o bata, matagal nang nanilbihan o bago lang. Hindi sinusukat ang kakayahan ng isang senador base sa haba ng oras o ikli ng oras ng kanyang paninilbihan dahil pare-pareho lamang naman kaming binoto ng sambayanan at pare-pareho kaming tigi-tigisa lamang ang boto sa Senado,' the Senate president said. (That has nothing to do with the chairmanship. We are all senators—old or young, whether serving for long or not. The ability of a senator is not measured based on the length of his/her service because we were all voted by the people and each of us has a vote in the Senate.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Marcoleta to lead Blue Ribbon Committee; Kiko gets agri, Bam on basic ed
First-termer Sen. Rodante Marcoleta has been elected the chairman of the Senate committee on accountability of public officers and investigations, commonly known as the Blue Ribbon committee. This came after Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, during Tuesday's plenary session, moved to proceed with the organization of various standing committees of the Senate through the election of their respective chairpersons. The Senate blue ribbon committee is tasked to investigate all matters relating to malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance in office by officers and employees of the government, its branches, agencies, subdivisions and instrumentalities; implementation of the provision of the Constitution on nepotism; and investigation of any matter of public interest on its own initiative or brought to its attention by any member of the Senate. The panel was last chaired by Senator Pia Cayetano, replacing former Senator Francis Tolentino. Aside from Marcoleta, Villanueva moved to elect Senator Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan to lead the Senate committee on agriculture, food, and agrarian reform; while Senator Bam Aquino was elected to head the Senate committee on basic education. Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero approved the motions after no senator objected. The first batch of committee chairpersons to be elected in the 20th Congress included the following: Accounts: Alan Peter Cayetano Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes: Robin Padilla Cooperatives: Imee Marcos Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs: Robin Padilla Energy: Pia Cayetano Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change: Camille Villar Finance: Sherwin Gatchalian Foreign Relations: Imee Marcos Games and Amusement: Erwin Tulfo Health and Demography: Bong Go Higher, technical and vocational education: Alan Peter Cayetano Labor, Employment & Human Resource Development: Imee Marcos Justice and Human Rights: Alan Peter Cayetano Local Government: JV Ejercito Migrant Workers: Raffy Tulfo National Defense and Security, Peace, Unification and Reconciliation: Jinggoy Estrada Public Information and Mass Media: Robin Padilla Public Order and Dangerous Drugs: Ronald dela Rosa Public Services: Raffy Tulfo Public Works: Mark Villar Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development: Erwin Tulfo Sports: Bong Go Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation and Futures Thinking: Pia Cayetano Tourism: JV Ejercito Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship: Rodante Marcoleta Science and Technology: Alan Peter Cayetano Ways and Means: Pia Cayetano Youth: Bong Go –NB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Heart Evangelista, Chiz Escudero, children arrive at Batasang Pambansa
Heart Evangelista, Chiz Escudero, and the Senate President's children Chesi and Quino have arrived at the Batasang Pambansa for President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA). Heart donned a white Filipiniana with folded details and carried a gold clutch. Meanwhile, Chiz and Quino were in classic Barong Tagalog and black trousers, whereas Chesi was in a pink Filipiniana. Prior to arriving at Batasang Pambansa, Heart attended the Opening of the 20th Congress at the Senate of the Philippines in a Michael Leyva modernized barong top and woven Filipiniana skirt. President Marcos is set to give updates about the state of the Philippines in his fourth SONA happening this afternoon. There are no staged ceremonies or photo setups in the red carpet area amid the weather systems affecting the country. —Nika Roque/Jade Veronique Yap/MGP, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Romualdez reelected Speaker for 20th Congress
Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez was reelected as Speaker of the House of Representatives during the opening of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress Monday. Romualdez secured his second consecutive stint as top House leader with 269 votes after his nomination was supported by the following political parties: Party-list Coalition represented by TUCP party-list Rep. Raymond Democrito Mendoza Lakas-CMD represented by Quezon Rep. Jayjay Suarez Nationalist People's Coalition represented by Quezon Rep. Mark Enverga Nacionalista Party represented by Yevgeny Emano National Unity Party represented by Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno Partido Federal ng Pilipinas represented by Ilocos Norte Rep. Ferdinand Alexander Marcos "I rise today to nominate a man whose leadership has been tested, proven, and deeply felt across this chamber and beyond: the Honorable Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. In the 19th Congress, Speaker Romualdez steered this institution with both resolve and wisdom," Suarez said. "Under his stewardship, the House of Representatives became a true House of the People — responsive to the needs of the nation, attuned to the voice of the common Filipino, and anchored in the values of unity, service, and progress," he added. Suarez also said that Romualdez works hard not for the spotlight, but for results. "His leadership transcends titles; it is grounded in listening, guided by principle, and driven by an enduring faith in the Filipino people. Under his watch, he delivered one of the most productive and purposeful legislative terms in recent memory. We passed priority measures that advanced the goals of Bagong Pilipinas, empowered communities, and created pathways for inclusive and sustainable growth," he said. "Let us entrust the Speakership to a man who has already shown us what dignified, decisive, and compassionate leadership looks like," Suarez further said. No other lawmaker was nominated for the post. At least 291 members of the House earlier signed a manifesto supporting Romualdez's reelection, including Pampanga Rep. and former President Gloria Arroyo and 19th Congress House Minority Leader and 4Ps Party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan. All the House members who did not vote for Romualdez will elect their leader in a separate election. Libanan is expected to be reelected as minority leader. —AOL, GMA Integrated News
