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The Senate broke a two-day leadership deadlock on Wednesday after former Senate President Francis Escudero joined the chamber’s session, paving the way for the election of Sherwin Gatchalian as the new Senate president and the reorganization of key committees. The leadership change is expected to face legal and procedural challenges from allies of former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who dispute the validity of the proceedings. Among the chamber’s first actions under the new leadership was the designation of a presiding officer for impeachment trials, except in cases involving the President, signaling efforts to restore the Senate’s legislative and constitutional functions after days of paralysis.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said Wednesday that one of its directors has been arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in an entrapment operation over the alleged extortion of a private corporation.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has found that the Philippines' failure to prohibit and effectively block imports of goods produced with forced labor may unfairly burden US commerce, exposing Philippine exports to potential new tariffs under a Section 301 investigation.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has approved the 2026 Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), a revamped roadmap that expands tax incentives for high-value industries ranging from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to electric vehicle infrastructure and critical minerals processing.

A rare coalition of labor unions and business groups has urged President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to step up efforts to protect workers’ freedom of association, arguing that stronger labor rights enforcement is crucial not only for constitutional compliance but also for economic stability and investor confidence.