Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
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READ: 4 dead, 17 still missing in collapsed building in Angeles City
Rescuers using thermal scanners and sniffer dogs pursued a search for survivors on Monday, more than 30 hours after the collapse of a nine-story building under construction that has already claimed four lives, authorities said. More than a dozen people are believed to be still missing after rescuers failed to bring out alive two trapped construction workers who had been found buried beneath the rubble in Barangay Balibago, Angeles City on Sunday.
READ: Imee’s ‘horrible’ video struck off the record
THE Senate minority bloc won in its bid to strike off the record a video contained in the privilege speech of Sen. Imee Marcos that linked members of the group to an alleged Charter change (Cha-cha) campaign, denouncing it as untrue and a “propaganda tool” Except for Sen. Lito Lapid, the rest of the minority bloc stood up to support the motion of Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri to remove the “horrible” video from the Senate records, saying they never discussed Cha-cha in any of their meetings. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta opposed Zubiri’s motion, but Marcos later on relented and agreed to remove the video from her privilege speech. Zubiri, in turn, withdrew his motion. The video in question showed that Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III allegedly discussed Cha-cha with House Speaker Faustino Dy III, allegedly to push term extension, indicating a “no election” scenario in 2028. But Zubiri said the contents of the video sowed intrigue.
READ: Interpol Red Notice sought for dela Rosa
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that the Philippines is seeking an Interpol Red Notice against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, intensifying efforts to arrest the fugitive lawmaker on the basis of a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity during the Duterte administration’s bloody war on drugs. DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said the application for an Interpol Red Notice Forms part of the legal remedies available to authorities pursuing dela Rosa. An Interpol Red Notice is a request circulated among law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition or similar legal action. If issued, all 195 Interpol member countries may assist in locating and detaining the subject. The move came as law enforcers continued searching for dela Rosa, who has remained out of public view since May 14.
READ: DOJ to lead probe on Bato ‘escape’ from Senate
SEN. Robinhood Padilla could be among those summoned in the investigation of the Department of Justice (DOJ) into the disappearance of Sen. Ronald dela Rosa. National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said Monday the DOJ will set the direction of the investigation and decide the individuals who will be summoned. Matibag said Padilla is among the persons of interest who may be asked to shed light on the senator’s last known movements. Padilla admitted that he used his car in bringing dela Rosa out from the Senate and dropping him off on Ayala Avenue in Makati City, where dela Rosa’s own vehicle was waiting. Matibag said that Padilla has been singled out for questioning.
BUSINESS: Regulators flag risks to PH financial system
THE war in the Middle East and debt risks could threaten the Philippine financial system even as the banking sector remains resilient, regulators said. The ongoing conflict, corporate debt vulnerabilities and rising household borrowings were among the risks identified by the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC) during its quarterly meeting last week, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said on Monday. The FSCC is an interagency body composed of the heads of the BSP, Department of Finance, Securities and Exchange Commission, Insurance Commission, and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. The national treasurer is also a special member.
SPORTS: Region 8 bet strikes first gold at Palarong Pambansa
Chrishia Mae Tajarros delivered the first gold in Palarong Pambansa — again. Representing Region 8, Tajarros successfully defended her title in the secondary girls’ 3,000-meter run, outpacing her rivals in the 66th edition of the games at the Datu Lipus Makapandong-Governor Democrito O. Plaza Sports Complex Monday. The 14-year-old distance runner previously clocked 10 minutes and 18.6 seconds during the 2025 Palarong Pambansa in Ilocos Norte, and believes she came into this year’s race in even better form. The Leyte pride shared that she wants to make sure to make the most out of her stint in the multi-sport event with a vision to make it to the Olympics.
Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Orlando Mercado are today’s front page columnists, where they tackle the Senate as an impeachment court.
Today’s editorial welcomes positive developments in the Department of Education. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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