Here are today's headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world: - Hontiveros files cyber libel complaint over viral video - Basilan governor, Kidapawan mayor ban names, faces on projects - SC issues writ of kalikasan on Samal Island-Davao City bridge project - BTS promises new album, world tour in 2026; Filipino JL Gaspar debuts with K-pop group AHOF - Alex Eala fails to sustain dream start, falls to Wimbledon champion
00:08Senator Rizonte Veros files a cyber libel complaint over a viral video of witness Michael Maurilio.
00:20The governor of Basilan and the mayor of Kidapawan City banned the use of names and photos on publicly funded projects.
00:25The Supreme Court issues a writ of kalikasan over the China-funded Samal Island Davao City Bridge Project.
00:32K-pop supergroup BTS promises a new album in early 2026 and a world tour.
00:37And Alex Ayala makes a historic debut at Wimbledon despite losing to defending champion Barbara Kerichikova.
00:45Senator Rizonte Veros files a cyber libel complaint with the National Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday, July 2,
00:51over a viral video involving Senate witness Michael Maurilio.
00:54In the June 2025 video, Maurilio claimed that Ontiveros paid him 1 million pesos to lie under oath during the Senate probe into preacher Apollo Kiboloi's alleged abuses.
01:04Ontiveros led the Senate investigation.
01:07Maurilio had testified in 2024 that a senior male leader of Kiboloi's Kingdom of Jesus Christ, or KOJC, sexually assaulted him and that Kiboloi knew about it.
01:16The senator denies bribing Maurilio and called his claims disinformation.
01:20She also asked the NBI to identify and charge those behind the video.
01:23Ontiveros says before the video came out, Maurilio contacted her team, saying he had been kidnapped and was being held at a KOJC property in Davao City.
01:32Two local leaders in Mindanao issued orders to limit political self-promotion and reinforce transparency in government.
01:40Basilan Governor Mujiv Hataman and Kidapawan City Mayor Jose Paulo Evangelista banned the use of their names and photos on publicly funded projects and materials.
01:49This amid the deeply rooted, personality-driven style of politics in the Philippines.
01:54Hataman issued the order as one of his first actions after taking office on June 30.
01:58He also signed Executive Order No. 1, creating Basilan's first Freedom of Information policy.
02:04He's said to move aims to rebuild public trust and move away from legacy-building politics.
02:09In the Soxarjen region, Evangelista brought back a similar policy as he starts his second term as mayor of Kidapawan City in Cotabato Province.
02:17Evangelista also ordered a strict no-gift policy in all city offices and barangays and said all bids and awards committee meetings must be live-streamed.
02:25The Supreme Court issued on Tuesday, July 1, a writ of calikasan for the China-funded Samal Island-Davao City Connector Bridge project.
02:35Environmental advocates had asked the court in April to stop the construction, saying it will harm coral reefs in Paradise Reef, Samal Island, and the Hezon Marine Protected Area.
02:44To be granted a writ of calikasan, petitioners must show, with scientific evidence, that the project violates people's constitutional right to a healthy environment.
02:53Environmental lawyer Tony Lavinia, the lead counsel for the petitioners, tells Rappler he welcomes this development.
03:00He says, quote,
03:00The Supreme Court issued the writ against the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Samal Island Protected Landscape and Seascape Protected Area Management Board, and China Road and Bridge Corporation.
03:19K-pop supergroup BTS promises a new album in early 2026 and a world tour.
03:27The seven members announced this during a live stream on Weverse Tuesday, July 1, the group's first since they reunited after completing South Korea's mandatory military enlistment.
03:38Group leader RM says the upcoming album will be produced in the United States and other countries.
03:43It will be their first full-length album since 2020.
03:45Meantime, Filipino idol JL Gaspar officially debuts with K-pop group Ahoff on Wednesday, July 1, with the six-track EP, Who We Are.
03:54The group also releases a music video for the track Rendezvous.
03:58Formerly from P-pop group Plus, JL now debuts in a K-pop group alongside Jung Woo, Wong Ki, Steven, Shuai Bo, Juwon, Han, Daisuke, and Chien.
04:09Ahoff, which stands for All-Time Hall of Famer, was formed through the K-pop survival show Universe League.
04:16Filipina tennis ace Alex Ayala makes her Wimbledon debut at the famed center court on Tuesday, July 1.
04:22Ayala squandered a first set win and dropped a painful three-setter to defending champion Barbara Kerechikova of the Czech Republic 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in the opening round of the Wimbledon championships.
04:35Kerechikova was quick to credit the 20-year-old Ayala.
04:38I would like to start with giving the credit to Alex.
04:43I mean, what the hell she played in the first set.
04:47Yeah, I mean, she was smashing the ball and she was cleaning the lines and all that, so, wow.
04:53Wow, she's gonna be really good in a couple of years.
04:55Still, it was a historic stint for Ayala, the first Filipino tennis player in the Open era, male or female, to play in the main draw of Grand Slam events.
05:04Ayala's campaign is not yet over, as she is set to see action in the doubles competition on Wednesday, July 2.
05:10Ayala was coming off seven matches the previous week, which ended with a finals heartbreaker just last Saturday, June 28, at the WTA 250 Eastburn Open.
05:20And that's today's wrap. I'm Kara Oliver. Thank you for watching.
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