Upper-Middle-Income Push: Senator Loren Legarda filed a Senate inquiry after the World Bank reclassified the Philippines as an upper-middle-income country, warning that higher income on paper must translate into real social gains for Filipinos. West Philippine Sea & Batanes Claims: Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and the NHCP rejected Chinese academics’ assertions that Batanes is part of China via Taiwan, with officials stressing the claims lack basis under international law and the Constitution. Impeachment Clash: Malacañang hit back at VP Sara Duterte’s call to stop “politicking,” while House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin said impeachment is a constitutional duty tied to accountability, not politics. Power Bills Dispute: Sen. Risa Hontiveros urged a “disconnection freeze” for consumers contesting Meralco bills over alleged meter-reading errors, saying ERC’s pay-first rule unfairly burdens households. Typhoon Bavi Fallout: Typhoon Bavi neared the region, triggering deadly landslides in Mindanao and evacuations in Taiwan, with authorities warning of violent winds and flooding. Local Governance & Economy: Two state agencies tied to the Clark freeport remitted about P3 billion in dividends to the national treasury, highlighting continued fiscal discipline. Public Safety & Rights: The Bureau of Immigration vowed to intensify intelligence-driven crackdowns on illegal foreign workers after arresting 14 Koreans in an alleged back-office operation.