Philippine VP's Husband's Plea to Halt Impeachment Proceedings Denied

A court in the Philippines rejected a petition from Vice President Sara Duterte's husband to stop impeachment proceedings. The Philippine economy slowed to 2.8% growth, and seven Filipino seafarers were injured in an Iranian drone attack.

Thu May 07 2026

Impeachment Proceedings Against Vice President's Husband to Continue

The Quezon City Court has dismissed a petition filed by Mans Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, seeking to halt impeachment proceedings against his wife. The court cited a lack of jurisdiction, stating that the case should have been filed with the Supreme Court instead. Carpio had challenged the House Justice Committee's power to issue subpoenas compelling the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to produce tax documents. This decision followed the BIR's submission of a sealed box containing the couple's tax records to the committee, which lawmakers opted not to open due to legal concerns. The court ruled that subpoena issuance is an 'inherent power of the committee, validly created by law.' The House is scheduled to conduct a plenary vote on Duterte's impeachment on May 11.

Philippine Economy Slows Amid Price Shocks and Corruption Concerns

The Philippine economy experienced a significant slowdown in the first quarter of 2026, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growing by only 2.8%. This marks a considerable drop from the 5.4% growth recorded in the first quarter of 2025 and represents the country's weakest economic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic. The figure also fell short of the government's target range of 5-6%. Price shocks stemming from the Middle East conflict, which pushed fuel and food prices higher, dampened household spending. These external pressures, alongside domestic corruption scandals, are identified as key factors dragging down the Philippine economy.

Filipino Seafarers Injured in Iranian Drone Attack; Vape Access for Minors Flagged

Seven Filipino seafarers were injured, three in serious condition, after an Iranian drone attack on their Malta-flagged ship. The container ship, CMA CGM San Antonio, was reportedly hit on May 5 while on night transit near Oman through the Strait of Hormuz. The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced that all injured Filipinos are receiving medical treatment and have been taken off the ship. Meanwhile, the Senate Health Committee has flagged loopholes in shopping apps that allow minors to access vapes. Reports from the Baguio City Health Office indicate that 22% of local students aged 13-15 have tried vaping, and 37% can easily purchase vapes, as per a 2023 Youth Tobacco Survey. Representatives from shopping platforms like Shopee, Lazada, Facebook, and TikTok stated they have age-verification systems, but admit sellers often bypass these by disguising vape products.

*Source: YouTube: Rappler (2026-05-07)*

Tags: #Philippines #Iran #Economy #Impeachment #Vaping