TODAY’S TOP STORIES - Monday, 18 May 2026

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

18 May 2026, Monday, 5:00 p.m.

1.    VP SARA IMPEACHMENT TRIAL:

-Marcos won't intervene in Senate impeachment trial vs VP Sara — Palace

-Senators don robes as Duterte impeach court opens

-Impeachment court to issue summons to VP Sara; Duterte given 10 calendar days to answer

-PNP braces for protests as Senate starts Sara Duterte impeachment trial

-Protesters rally outside Senate before impeachment court convenes

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, MindaNews, Mindanao Times, Philstar, Sunstar]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/05/18/2528845/senators-don-robes-duterte-impeach-court-opens

2. SENATE SHOOTING INCIDENT:

-Palace: Senate was never under attack; Marcos disappointed over incident

-Senate receives Ombudsman suspension order vs. Aplasca, CCTV subpoena

-NBI driver linked to Senate shooting tests positive for gunpowder nitrates

-Erwin Tulfo reiterates push for Magna Carta for Media Workers after Senate shooting

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2230548/palace-contradicts-cayetano-senate-was-never-under-attack

3. SENATE SHAKEUP:

-Cayetano retains Senate presidency as Zubiri, Ejercito join minority bloc

-Senators elect Jose Luis Montales as new Senate Secretary

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2230649/cayetano-retains-senate-presidency-as-zubiri-ejercito-join-minority-bloc

4. OSG labels Dela Rosa a ‘fugitive from justice,’ urges high court to deny bid to block ICC arrest

[BusinessMirror, Daily Tribune, DZRH, Inquirer, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, Philstar]

https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/05/18/news/dela-rosa-tagged-a-fugitive-sc-asked-to-ok-his-arrest/2345747

5. Marcos still trusts Remulla despite alleged gaffes—Palace

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/18/marcos-still-trusts-remulla-despite-alleged-gaffes-palace-1216

6. Marcos names Kim Robert de Leon as new Budget chief, youngest in DBM history

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Philstar, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://mb.com.ph/2026/05/18/marcos-names-kim-de-leon-new-dbm-chief-youngest-budget-secretary-in-history

7. Marcos: Government ‘not sleeping or on vacation’ amid aid push

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Mindanao Times, News5PH, Sunstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2230496/marcos-government-not-sleeping-or-on-vacation-amid-aid-push

8. Voter registration ends today, no extension—Comelec

[ABS-CBN News, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Standard, Mindanao Times, News5PH, Panay News, Philstar, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://manilastandard.net/news/politics/314740969/voter-registration-ends-today-no-extension-comelec.html

9. NGCP puts Visayas grid under yellow alert again

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, DZBB, DZRH, Inquirer, GMA News, Malaya, News5PH, Panay News, Philstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://malaya.com.ph/business/business-news/visayas-grid-placed-under-yellow-alert-2/

10. DOH coordinates with WHO amid Ebola outbreak in Africa

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, Philstar, Rappler]

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/05/18/doh-coordinates-with-who-amid-ebola-outbreak-in-africa

© Philippine Information Agency Monitoring Unit