Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world: - Martin Romualdez formally resigns, Isabela’s Bojie Dy is new House speaker - Comelec suspends BARMM election preparations after SC order - PH says personnel injured after China’s water cannon use in Scarborough Shoal - DOJ indicts Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto for sex trafficking - Alas Pilipinas shocks world No. 21 Egypt for historic FIVB worlds win
00:08House Speaker Martin Romualdez resigns and is replaced by Isabella Representative Bojie D.
00:19Comelec suspends preparations for the parliamentary polls of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
00:25One Filipino personnel was injured after the China Coast Guard used water cannons on a Philippine vessel.
00:31The Department of Justice indicts Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto for sex trafficking.
00:36And a historic first, Alas Pilipinas claims a victory on the world stage after defeating World No. 21, Egypt.
00:45House Speaker Martin Romualdez announces his resignation as Speaker Wednesday, September 17.
00:50The issues surrounding certain infrastructure projects have raised questions that weigh not only upon me, but upon this institution we all serve.
01:03The longer I stay, the heavier that burden grows on me, on this House, and on the President I've always sought to support.
01:14Romualdez and his close ally, former Appropriations Chairperson Zaldi Co, were criticized for their alleged involvement in the highly criticized 2025 General Appropriations Act.
01:25Budget advocates say it was mangled and among the most corrupt spending bills ever passed.
01:30Isabella 6th District Representative Faustino Bojie D. III replaces Romualdez as Speaker of the House.
01:36D. was Isabella Governor from 2010 to 2019 and Vice Governor from 2019 to 2025.
01:42He is a member of Partido Federal ng Pilipinas, the party of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
01:49The Commission on Election suspends preparations for the parliamentary polls of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARM.
01:56This after the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order against redistricting in the region.
02:01In a resolution, the Comalic says there is no clear automatic revival of the Bangsamoro Autonomy Act or BAA 58,
02:07the law that created the original division of parliamentary seats in the Bangsamoro.
02:11BA 77, which is the subject of a TRO, redistricted the region to reallocate the seven seats originally given to Sulu,
02:19which has been excluded from the BARM.
02:21In effect, all of the districting provisions in both BAA 58 and 77 were effectively repealed.
02:28Because of a TRO, the Comalic says there is,
02:30The Philippine Coast Guard says one personnel of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or DAB-FAR was injured
02:46after the China Coast Guard used water cannons against a Philippine vessel close to Scarborough Shoal Tuesday, September 16.
02:52PCG spokesperson Commodore J. Tariella says,
02:56This aggressive action lasted for about 29 minutes, resulting in significant damage including shattered glass from the aft window of the bridge,
03:04damage to the captain's cabin partitions, and the short circuit affecting electrical outlets and five outdoor air conditioning units.
03:11The Datu Gumbay Piang was harassed by a Chinese maritime militia vessel through dangerous maneuvers
03:17and an attempted use of water cannons about 10.38 nautical miles from the shoal.
03:22The harassment continued as the ship moved to a safer area with two CCG vessels trying to block its path.
03:28The Department of Justice indicts Gawad Kalinga founder Tony Meloto for sex trafficking over the alleged abuse of two former beneficiaries.
03:37The DOJ says the 75-year-old held a position of power over the complainants and he, quote,
03:43This comes nearly a year after the two complainants filed separate affidavits against Meloto, whom they had treated as a father figure.
03:53Meloto also founded and led GK's School for Experiential and Entrepreneurial Development, or SEED.
03:59Deputy State Prosecutor Olivia Larosa Torevilla says,
04:02Meloto sheltered and provided for the basic needs of economically disadvantaged SEED scholars, quote,
04:08in order to facilitate exploitation.
04:11He also used, quote,
04:12psychological coercion to control the complainants.
04:15Rappler has reached out to Meloto for comment but has received no response.
04:19Founded in 2003, GK has been acclaimed worldwide for building some 100,000 homes for poor Filipinos.
04:26Meloto resigned as GK chairman in 2017, after the organization investigated the sexual abuse allegations, which he denied.
04:33For the first time in FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship history, underdog Alas Pilipinas claimed a victory on the world stage,
04:44standing World No. 21 Egypt 29-27, 23-25, 25-21, 25-21 at the Mall of Asia Arena on Tuesday, September 16.
04:55Captain Brian Bagunas led the team with a game-high 25 points, while star setter Owa Retamar recorded 40 excellent sets.
05:02Young opposite spiker Leo Ordiales emerged as man of the match with 21 points to support Bagunas.
05:08Veterans Mark Espejo and Kim Malabunga also contributed, scoring 13 and 7 points respectively and combining for 5 of the team's 11 blocks.
05:17What I expected is to play this kind of volleyball.
05:21When you play this kind of volleyball, for all the opponents will be difficult to play against us.
05:26Now ranked World No. 77 after their historic win, Alas Pilipinas is defying the world rankings,
05:32as No. 14 Iran now cautiously prepares to face the host's team on Thursday, September 18.
05:37And that's today's wrap. I'm JC Gutinga.
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