By Isabella Magno

Cases vs de Lima

On Tuesday, August 9, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a ruling rejecting the complaint-affidavit that the Special Team of Investigators – Office of the Ombudsman had filed in 2018 against the former Department of Justice Secretary and Senator Leila De Lima and her ex-bodyguard Ronnie P. Dayan.

The complaint about De Lima’s alleged extortion of money in exchange for self-proclaimed druglord Rolan “Kerwin” Espinosa’s protection was dismissed due to “a lack of probable cause,” the Ombudsman stated in the resolution. 

Currently, De Lima still has remaining drug accusations that have not yet been resolved, and according to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, they would be decided at the discretion of the Muntinlupa Court.

Senate Lockdown

In a senate session on August 10, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri announced that the Senate will be implementing a three-week lockdown for guests after Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Imee Marcos, and Cynthia Villar tested positive for COVID-19. 

Following the circumstances, the Upper Chamber made the Senate’s health and safety protocols more stringent.

No visitors are permitted to physically attend sessions for three weeks, with the exception of resource personnel who provide a negative RT-PCR test result with QR code taken within 24 hours, or a negative antigen test result done within 12 hours.

“[The resource persons] will be limited to three per agency/organization. The others could participate remotely,” Zubiri said.

Passing of Lydia de Vega

At the age of 57, sprint legend Lydia de Vega passed away on the evening of August 10 after a battle with breast cancer, her daughter, volleyball player Stephanie Mercado announced in a Facebook post. 

De Vega won nine gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games, clinched the Asian Athletics Championship in 1983 and 1987, and championed in the  Asian Games in 1982 and 1986. In 1994, she retired from her active competitive career. 

Robin Padilla

Senator Robinhood “Robin” Padilla is one of the names that stood out in this week’s top news as he shared two notable propositions with the public: (1) submitting a bill allowing same-sex civil unions; and (2) suggesting that cable cars be built to help with traffic issues.

With the aim to institutionalize the civil unions of same-sex couples in the country, Senator Padilla filed Senate Bill No. 449 or the Civil Unions Act.

In the bill’s explanatory note, he said, “It is high time that the Philippines provides equal rights and recognition for couples of the same sex with no prejudice as to sexual relationships are protected and recognized and given access to basic social protection and security.”

Despite the public’s support for this idea, the senator lost momentum when he proposed the use of cable cars to ease traffic congestion.

Many individuals expressed their displeasure online, even labeling his concept as “just being over his head.”

Veteran writer Philip Lustre refuted his claim and asserted that cable cars are not meant for public transit but rather for tourists.

However, Department of Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista sided with Padilla, claiming that the possibility of mass transit using cable cars had already been investigated and was not unlikely.

Bill for Martial Law Victims

To give recognition and reparation to the martial law victims during former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.’s term, solons from the Makabayan bloc filed a new bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, August 11.

If passed into law, House Bill No. 3505 will require the government to put up a Php 10 billion fund from the remitted Marcos’ illegally acquired fortune to provide the relatives of victims of human rights violations with monetary and/or non-monetary reparation.

Taal Volcano

In its latest report on August 12, Friday, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) said that the Taal Volcano experienced five volcanic tremors and low-level background tremors for 24 hours.

The report also contains PHIVOLCS’s prohibitions which include: entering the volcano island, especially the Main Crater and Daang Kastila fissures; occupying and boating on Taal Lake; and flying any aircraft close to the volcano. 

Taal Volcano is still at Alert Level 1 (low-level unrest), which implies that areas within Taal’s permanent danger zone could be threatened by unexpected steam-driven or phreatic explosions, volcanic earthquakes, small ash falls, and expulsions of volcanic gas.

Thumbnail from Philippine News Agency