Creamline, PLDT clash in explosive tiffThe Cool Smashers will come in with their first complete lineup in years, including returning setter Jia de Guzman and power spiker Bernadeth Pons from national team duty. MANILA, Philippines — Creamline kicks off its bid to reclaim the PVL All-Filipino Conference title it last won two years ago while PLDT begins its quest for a first as they face off today at the Filoil Arena. The Cool Smashers will come in with their first complete lineup in years, including returning setter Jia de Guzman and power spiker Bernadeth Pons from national team duty. “We’re excited we’re complete again,” said Creamline captain Alyssa Valdez as they battle at 6:30 p.m. the High Speed Hitters, who have kept the core that won them the PVL on Tour and Invitational titles last year. Valdez herself is back in full strength after battling various injuries the last couple of seasons.

House OKs energy storage systems billHouse Bill 6676, or the Energy Storage Systems Act, establishes a national policy framework for the development, utilization and commercialization of ESSs. MANILA, Philippines — Voting 192-3-0, the House of Representatives yesterday approved on third and final reading a bill that would ensure continuous power supply in the Philippines through the use of energy storage systems or ESSs. House Bill 6676, or the Energy Storage Systems Act, establishes a national policy framework for the development, utilization and commercialization of ESSs. House Majority Leader Sandro Marcos, who shepherded the bill’s approval, said HB 6676 is designed to provide stable and sufficient electricity supply by establishing energy storage facilities. The bill is encouraging investors to go into more renewable projects to lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy.

Barzaga’s suspension extended by 60 daysMANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved yesterday the recommendation of the committee on ethics and privileges, imposing another 60-day suspension on Rep. Francisco Barzaga, whose two-month suspension ended on Feb. 2. In a single-page letter dated Feb. 4 and addressed to Dy, Reps. Paolo Duterte (Davao City 1st district), Omar Vincent Duterte (Davao City 2nd district) and Harold James Duterte (Puwersa ng Pilipinong Pandagat) protested Barzaga’s extended suspension. “We express our strong opposition to the reported extension of suspension being pushed against Rep. Barzaga,” they stated in their “explanation of negative vote” following the closed-door hearing held on Feb. 3. “If any party feels legally wronged or defamed, the courts of law are the proper venue, not the House ethics committee acting as arbiter of acceptable opinion,” they added. “If this committee decision is brought to the plenary for approval, we strongly object and register a no vote.

‘Leaked’ Blue Ribbon report hitSenate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson, chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, leads the launch of the probe into extortion and other abuses at the Bureau of Internal Revenue on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025. MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday criticized the leakage of a “draft and unofficial” report of the Blue Ribbon committee on the flood control investigation, even as he confirmed the names of lawmakers recommended to be charged for corruption. Lacson said it was natural for the anti-graft panel to recommend charges against the lawmakers after former DPWH engineers accused them during the Blue Ribbon hearings of receiving kickbacks from flood control projects. Lacson said the “draft and unofficial report” still does not have enough signatures from the 20 members of the Blue Ribbon, including the three ex-officio members. “But SP (Sotto) is all behind the Blue Ribbon,” he said.

Another alleged ‘cong-tractor’ quits HouseMANILA, Philippines — After resigned Ako Bicol party-list lawmaker Zaldy Co, another congressman has quit. ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Edvic Yap, who is also implicated in the flood control anomaly, has filed his resignation as a member of the House of Representatives. Speaker, in view of the resignation of Rep. Edvic Yap, may we request that the Sec. Gen. drop ACT-CIS Rep. Edvic Yap from the roll of the House of Representatives,” she said. Lanao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Yasser Alonto Balindong, who presided over yesterday’s plenary session, ordered the House secretary general to drop Yap from the roll of the members of the House.

Persons behind Marcos’s Jr. fake medical bulletin identifiedPresident Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. laughs in a conversation with Palace Press Officer Claire Castro about his health on Wednesday night, Jan. 28, 2026. MANILA, Philippines — Cybercrime investigators have identified the people who posted on their social media accounts a fraudulent medical bulletin supposedly detailing President Marcos’ health condition. Gen. Wilson Asueta said they have identified the people who uploaded the fake document on their social media platforms, but declined to identify them or give details on their identities. Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. earlier ordered the ACG to unmask the people behind the spread on social media of the fake medical bulletin supposedly coming from St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC). The hospital has denied issuing a medical bulletin and called the document fake.

Longer impeach process vs VP Sara seenA photo uploaded on Dec. 14, 2025, on Facebook shows Vice President Sara Duterte joining her staff from central and satellite offices during the 2025 year-end celebration. MANILA, Philippines — Unlike in the case of President Marcos, the new impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte will undergo a lengthy process and eventually hurdle the House committee on justice, a member of the House minority believes. The committee on justice, he said, may hold several hearings wherein the allegations against the Vice President will be thoroughly discussed. In an interview with radio dzBB on Tuesday, lawyer Michael Poa reiterated that the Vice President does not know Madriaga. Tindig Pilipinas, led by its co-convenor Kiko Aquino Dee, filed the second impeachment complaint against Duterte on Monday.

‘Dismiss sedition raps vs youth leaders’“What is the gain of national security in the filing of cases against a campus journalist, a rapper and student council officers who covered and simply joined the protest against corruption?” Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Louise Co said. MANILA, Philippines — Party-list group Kabataan yesterday sought the dismissal of sedition charges filed by police against youth leaders in connection with the Sept. 21 anti-corruption protest in Manila last year. “People’s money was stolen and wasted in trumped-up charges against the youth,” Co added. Bayan president Renato Reyes has filed his counter-affidavit challenging the sedition complaint filed against him before the Department of Justice. Kristina Conti, lawyer for Reyes, said the complaint against her client and 35 others has been submitted for resolution.

9 hurt in bus accidentMANILA, Philippines — Nine motorists were injured after a passenger bus rammed into several vehicles on Tuesday along Taft Avenue in Ermita, Manila. The bus driver reportedly lost control of the brakes, hitting five motorcycles, three multi-purpose vehicles and a van before stopping at the intersection of Pedro Gil street, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office said. MDRRMO personnel treated the victims. Witnesses said the bus crashed into a column of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 on the center island before colliding with the vehicles.

Tetsuya Yamagami, suspected of killing former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe, is escorted by police officers as he is taken to prosecutors, at Nara-nishi police station in Nara, western Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo on Jul 10, 2022. (File photo: Kyodo via Reuters)

A staff member looks at Tesla's Model 3 sedan displayed next to Model X SUV at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, China September 2, 2023.

A Philippine house panel votes on the impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as lacking in substance, at the House of Representatives in Quezon City, Philippines, February 4, 2026. REUTERS/Lisa Marie David

Law enforcement stand guard while people protest outside the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, after the fatal shootings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., January 30, 2026.

Lacson confirms recommending charges vs Escudero, Estrada and VillanuevaMANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ping Lacson on Wednesday, February 4, confirmed that a draft report from the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) recommended charges against three sitting senators: Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Chiz Escudero. A draft of the BRC report was initially leaked to the public on Tuesday. For the document to become the actual BRC report, it needs to be signed and approved. “We are recommending them to undergo preliminary investigation, so why would we go against what is already happening?” Lacson told reporters. Other people that the BRC recommended charges against were:Former congressman Zaldy CoFormer congresswoman Mitch CajayonFormer senator Bong RevillaFormer House Speaker Martin Romualdez was recommended for further inquiry, Lacson said.

House suspends Kiko Barzaga for another 60 daysMANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has imposed another 60-day suspension on Rep. Kiko Barzaga (Cavite, 4th District) for continued disorderly behavior, adopting the recommendation of the ethics committee. After the ethics committee presented its findings on Wednesday, February 4, the plenary voted 238 in favor of the suspension, 10 against and nine abstained. The decision came after the ethics committee reviewed Barzaga's conduct and social media posts during his suspension, which began on Dec. 1, 2025. "While serving his suspension, however, the committee took note that Rep. Barzaga committed similar acts for which he was sanctioned," Ethics Committee Chair Rep. JC Abalos (4Ps Party-list) told the plenary. "The committee condemns Rep. Barzaga's brazen disrespect for its authority.