Rappler's latest stories on 17th congress
House commends Arroyo's leadership as 17th Congress ends
House Majority Leader Fredenil Castro describes Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as 'one of the most brilliant political and academic minds in recent Philippine history'
Outgoing Speaker GMA to House: Harvest seeds we planted during Duterte's term
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo trumpets lawmakers' achievements under her one-year term, lauding the 'truly working House' for pushing the President's pet bills
Until the end, Suarez maintains House minority 'constructive' in 17th Congress
'We have been called many names, but our accomplishments this 17th Congress show that our work speaks for itself,' says outgoing House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez
House approves bill protecting human rights defenders
The bill grants and protects a total of 17 freedoms of human rights defenders, including their freedom from intimidation on the grounds of their work
House passes bill creating OFW hospital
Under House Bill No. 9202, the Department of Health would be mandated to allocate funds for the OFW hospital under the annual national budget
LIVE: Congress joint session on martial law extension in Mindanao for 2019
Watch live on Rappler as the Senate and the House of Representatives convene in a joint session to decide on President Duterte's request to extend martial law
House OKs Legarda son's nationwide power franchise in 4 months
Leandro Leviste denies allegations he quickly got a 'mega franchise' because of his mother's help and influence
Arroyo wants House to focus on checking implementation of laws
Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo says this is what lawmakers should do in the remaining months of the 17th Congress, to help the executive branch 'strive for maximum results in the shortest possible time'
Senate inaction on China: No inquiry amid militarization
Experts tell Rappler it is the Senate's 'patriotic duty' to protect the Philippines' territorial integrity as China militarizes the South China Sea
Opposition senators seek probe into Calida firm's gov't contracts
It remains to be seen if administration senators will indeed allow opposition senator Antonio Trillanes IV to lead an investigation into the contracts worth P261.39 million
Senate honors soldiers for defending, maintaining peace in Marawi
'The supreme sacrifice of our fallen soldiers and police officers in order to fulfill their duty to defend and protect the country from terrorists should not be forgotten and deserves the highest commendation'
LIST: Tito Sotto's accomplishments, bills signed into law
New Senate President Vicente Sotto III is the most senior member of the chamber yet criticisms against him abound. What has he done in his two decades in the Senate?
Sotto vows to campaign 'vigorously' for reelectionist senators in 2019
'I’m not running in 2019. My term ends in 2022. I will be able to help those who we feel would be assets to the Senate,' Senate President Vicente Sotto III tells Rappler
Sotto says Senate 'cannot intervene' in SC decision on Sereno ouster
We should not interfere with [the] judiciary. I believe that because I don't want the judiciary to interfere with us,' Senate President Vicente Sotto III tells Rappler
PhilHealth OIC says she's out 'to protect people's money'
'Let me assure you that I am here in PhilHealth... to ensure that every peso translates to better healthcare of our people,' says PhilHealth OIC Celestina de la Serna, who has been criticized for spending over P600,000 for travels in just a year in office
Strengthened HIV-AIDS policy nears becoming a law
The Senate and House approve the bill seeking to strengthen government policy on the prevention and control of HIV-AIDS
No more 'Eat Bulaga!' for Senate President Tito Sotto for now
Sotto says he will take a break from the country's longest-running noontime television show, given his new role at the Senate
Tito Sotto elected as Senate president
(UPDATED) Vicente Sotto III, who takes over from Aquilino Pimentel III, says he is 'deeply humbled and sincerely grateful' for the opportunity to lead the Senate 'at this critical and challenging time'
Koko Pimentel resigns as Senate president
(3rd UPDATE) Aquilino Pimentel III nominates Vicente Sotto III as his successor, saying, 'This is an example of a peaceful and willing transfer of power in the Senate'
Sotto as Senate president? Reorganization looms ahead of Duterte's SONA
A draft resolution signed by 14 senators is leaked even as Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III denies there are efforts to replace him
Congress authorizes NHA to redistribute Bulacan housing units
The NHA can now award the empty housing units in Pandi, Bulacan to low-salaried government employees and poor families, including members of urban poor group Kadamay
Past, present senators honor Ed Angara and his contributions to PH
(UPDATED) Senators then and now recall the significant contributions of former Senate president Edgardo Angara to the country
Opposition seeks Senate's united stand on jurisdiction on Sereno
Minority Leader Franklin Drilon says the proposed resolution is meant 'to inform the Supreme Court of the sentiment of the Senate insofar as the legal issue is concerned'
Senate grieves ex-Senate president Edgardo Angara's death
(UPDATED) The Senate is set to hold a necrological service for its former leader on Wednesday, May 16
Senators want info drive amid public sentiments vs cha-cha, federalism
Opposition senators say the government should listen to Filipinos' voices and instead focus on solving gut issues
Alvarez says gov't must work harder to educate Filipinos on charter change
In response to a Pulse Asia survey, Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez calls for an intensified information campaign to sway Filipinos who are against amending the 1987 Constitution
'Walang bago': Makabayan lawmakers unimpressed with Duterte EO on endo
'Reiteration lang 'yan ng existing labor laws that [have] been proven [to be] anti-worker,' says Anakpawis Representative Ariel Casilao
'Til divorce do us part?' PH struggles to marry religion and reality
While there has been growing support for the passage of the divorce law, there is still no assurance from legislators that this would happen anytime soon
Lacson slams Gordon, likens mouth to 'incontinent anus'
'Somebody who has a mouth like an incontinent anus with a defective sphincter pylori can indiscriminately destroy reputations,' says Senator Panfilo Lacson
Koko Pimentel files bill on cheaper political ads
A similar bill was already passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives
Aquino hits 'Dick Gordon show,' draft report on Dengvaxia
'In legislative inquiries that I participated in, the process is [to] gather facts then arrive at a conclusion. The Dick Gordon show started with a conclusion and tried to produce facts to support it,' former president Benigno Aquino III tells Rappler
Alvarez wants House to impeach Sereno in May
But Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez also says the impeachment proceedings would become moot and academic if the Supreme Court approves the quo warranto petition against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
Makabayan bloc asks SC to allow intervention in petition vs Sereno
The House Makabayan bloc argues that the quo warranto petition seeking to void the Chief Justice's appointment would cause them to be 'deprived of their collective right' to bring the impeachment process to a 'logical conclusion'
Rappler Talk: Is the Philippines ready for federalism?
Is federalism fundamentally problematic for the Philippines, or is it simply not the right time?
I still do: Alvarez won't give up on divorce bill
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez says there are 'ongoing' talks to make sure the controversial divorce bill will see the light of day
13 senators sign panel report approving bill vs dynasties
The bill covers spouses, siblings, parents, and children; and the spouses of these second-degree relatives
19 senators call for protection of Senate speeches amid Trillanes case
'The Senate must thwart any attempt to diminish its members' constitutionally guaranteed right to parliamentary immunity,' 19 senators say in filing Senate Resolution No. 697
Senate reprimands Aguirre for private meeting with Jack Lam
The Senate says Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II was 'less than prudent' when he met with individuals who turned out to be allegedly involved in bribery
After 17 years, construction of Senate building moves forward
The Senate has agreed to pay a maximum of P90,000 per square meter for a 18,320-square meter lot in Fort Bonifacio
Landmark coco levy trust fund bill hurdles Congress
Senate Bill 1233 places the management of the fund under a reconstituted Philippine Coconut Authority – the agency that was responsible for the misuse of the funds in the 1970s
Lawmakers form group to push for human rights in House agenda
Consisting of lawmakers 'who have crossed party lines,' Mambabatas Para Sa Karapatang Pantao (Makatao) aims to speed up the legislative process for human rights measures in the Philippines
'Sequel to Corona': 7 articles of impeachment readied vs Sereno
The House justice committee will vote on the committee report on Monday, March 19
De Lima medical test shows 'benign' liver mass
Detained Senator Leila de Lima assures supporters there is 'nothing to worry about,' adding there is no need for an operation
Drilon praises Bong Go's basketball skills: 'Magaling talaga'
Senators Ralph Recto and Franklin Drilon joke that Special Assistant to the President Bong Go wants to run for the Senate so he could join the winning Senate Defenders basketball team
Senate honors Freddie Aguilar for 'lifetime contributions' to PH arts
Singer-composer Freddie Aguilar is a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte
Additional P44B to P72B needed for federalism shift – gov't think tank
The Philippine Institute for Development Studies' estimate is conservative, as it assumes that the existing bureaucracy will not require any additional costs
New charter should ban Duterte reelection 'to protect democracy'
A UP professor doubts President Rodrigo Duterte's vow not to extend his term, saying it is like his 'campaign promise to ride a jet ski to the Spratlys'
Senate: 'Physically impossible' to OK barangay polls postponement
Congress has only 5 session days left, as it is set to go on break from March 24 to May 13. The elections are scheduled on May 14.
Recto hit for 'excluding' coconut farmers from coco levy bill
'Pera na nga namin, maglo-lobby pa kami? Pera na nga namin, makikiusap pa kami?' says Ed Mora, lead convenor of the Kilusang Magniniyog, on the need for congressional approval before use of coco levy funds
Gordon orders release of Faeldon from detention
(UPDATED) Senate blue ribbon committee chair Richard Gordon orders the release of Nicanor Faeldon, who was earlier cited in contempt for disrespecting the Senate
