OpenPinas: Weekly Review

One week after the June 8 magnitude 7.8 Sarangani earthquake, the Office of Civil Defense reported 61 confirmed dead as of June 13—with bodies accounted for but names still being validated—plus 1,221 injured and 33 missing. Most fatalities came from landslides in Jose Abad Santos and Glan, Sarangani, and falling debris in General Santos. Rescue teams focused on Sarangani Island, Balut Island, and isolated Davao Occidental barangays. PHIVOLCS recorded more than 2,000 aftershocks by June 10. Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Mindanao power should normalize within the week; General Santos Airport remained closed to commercial flights. President Marcos pledged ₱50,000 aid per fatality family. Alabel, Glan, and GenSan were under states of calamity as responders pushed water, food, and shelter materials to zero-casualty targets in cut-off areas.

On June 10 Philippine authorities released surveillance photos of a 6×6-meter movable floating platform with an apparent antenna inside Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). PCG spokesperson for WPS Jay Tarriela said the structure was first monitored in late May, with Chinese research vessels nearby May 21–25 and six personnel observed on the platform May 30 amid reported aerial harassment. The platform reportedly moved deeper into the lagoon May 31. The DFA filed diplomatic protests demanding withdrawal, citing violations of Philippine sovereignty, UNCLOS, and the 2016 arbitral award. The AFP pledged continued patrols. Beijing had not publicly commented at release time, though Manila framed the object as an illegal installation that could precede permanent construction—escalating the May satellite-imagery story into documented on-site evidence.

Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian signed a notice on June 9 setting Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment pre-trial conference for June 18 at 9 a.m. in the Recto Room. Both defense and House prosecution must submit pre-trial briefs by June 15, listing witnesses, documentary evidence, and proposed stipulations; failure to appear or file may waive rights to introduce evidence. Lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro said June 18 would be the first time the prosecution sees what evidence the defense will present. The notice landed amid the unresolved Senate leadership fight: Cayetano still contested Gatchalian’s June 3 election while Malacañang and the House recognized Gatchalian as acting president. The July 6 trial proper still requires a functioning impeachment court—and a decision on who presides.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines said on June 5 the Senate’s June 3 session was “lawful and valid” under the Avelino doctrine, counting only 22 available senators with Jinggoy Estrada detained and Bato dela Rosa in hiding—making 12 a majority of those present. Former Senate presidents Franklin Drilon and Aquilino Pimentel III backed the reorganization. A high school teacher filed a Supreme Court petition June 5 to uphold the quorum; Cayetano insisted he remained the legitimate Senate president and that electing a leader requires 13 of 24 votes. The legal standoff kept the Cayetano bloc boycotting Gatchalian-led sessions while impeachment deadlines ticked forward—setting up a special-session showdown the following week.

Win Gatchalian moved from acting Senate president to impeachment court clerk—signing the June 18 pre-trial notice—while still needing a 13th vote to seal full chamber leadership.

Alan and Pia Cayetano kept contesting the June 3 coup and the June 4 Marines hearing legitimacy, betting the Supreme Court would restore pre-coup leadership before Sara Duterte’s trial calendar hardened.