INQToday: Chiz Escudero is new Senate president; Miguel Zubiri out

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Chiz Escudero is new Senate President; Miguel Zubiri out

Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is the new Senate president, replacing Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri.

No one objected on the Senate floor on Monday when Senator Alan Peter Cayetano nominated Escudero to be the next Senate president.

Senators cite ex-PDEA agent Morales for contempt, order his detention

Senators cited former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agent Jonathan Morales for contempt and ordered his detention for “continuously lying” before the chamber.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada made the motion on Monday after he supposedly caught Morales in a web of lies.

Tarriela: Chinese poachers harvesting giant clams during Duterte’s time

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Monday revealed Chinese fishermen’s illegal activities in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, revealed that Chinese fishermen, who are suspected members of Chinese maritime militia, were suspected to be involved in poaching and harvesting of giant claims since 2016.

Gentleman’s agreement: Castro wants to get info straight from Duterte

Former President Rodrigo Duterte should be invited to the congressional probe on the gentleman’s agreement supposedly brokered to maintain the status quo over Ayungin Shoal, as current government officials are unaware of such a deal.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro said this on Monday during the House of Representatives committee hearing on national defense and security and the West Philippine Sea committee, noting that Duterte participated in crafting the gentleman’s agreement.

DILG chief orders Napolcom to strip Bamban mayor of deputization power

Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Monday that he has already instructed the National Police Commission (Napolcom) to revoke the deputization of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo within her jurisdiction.

Under the Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 99-010, elected governors and mayors “are automatically deputized as representatives of the Commission” in their respective areas. As Napolcom deputies, the memorandum circular stated that mayors are given the power to supervise and control police units in cities or provinces they handle and directly employ and deploy units or PNP elements, among others.