The week in photos: July 4-10, 2026

Upgrade to High-Speed Internet for only ₱1499/month!

Enjoy up to 100 Mbps fiber broadband, perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming.

Visit Suniway.ph to learn

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Rodante Marcoleta “surrendered” at the Sandiganbayan on July 6 due to his plunder case involving P75-million campaign donations he received when he was still congressman. Marcoleta personally appeared before the anti-graft court’s 3rd Division as his camp filed several motions, including a motion to quash the information charging him with plunder.

On July 8, the Sandiganbayan 4th Division issued a warrant of arrest and hold departure order against Marcoleta for alleged violation of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 46. Marcoleta remains under the custody of the Philippine National Police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Group amid ongoing medical examination.

Meanwhile, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte — the first Philippine public official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives — began on July 6. Senator Chiz Escudero presided over the trial after a majority of senators elected him as presiding officer.

Lawyers allied with the Dutertes went to the Supreme Court to challenge the election of Escudero. The legal counsels, led by Israelito Torreon, filed a very urgent manifestation on July 6, raising concerns over Escudero’s election.

On July 7, Vice President Sara Duterte appeared at the Senate ahead of the second day of her impeachment trial. She faced the media, but did not take any questions. Instead, she delivered a one-sentence statement linked to her earlier pronouncement about a “bloodbath-filled” impeachment.

After the impeachment court ended the presentation of National Bureau of Investigation officer John Mark Calilung on July 8, defense lawyer Mark Vinluan delivered a closing statement. He said that when Duterte allegedly threatened to assassinate the president, she was not a vice president, but a “wife, mother, daughter, and sister who only sought to protect her own and her family members’ lives.”

“She didn’t commit an impeachable offense. She drew the line in the sand and said, enough is enough. That is the meaning, and that is the context,” the defense lawyer added.

Catch more stories in these photos from the week that was:

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala dives for the ball during her third-round match against Poland’s Iga Swiatek in the 2026 Wimbledon Championships, at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, on July 4, 2026. PHOTO BY TOBY MELVILLE/REUTERS

A flag covers a woman’s face, during the Great American State Fair on the National Mall, marking the 250th anniversary of US Independence in Washington DC on July 4, 2026. PHOTO BY CHENEY ORR/REUTERS

Pope Leo stops at ‘Porta d’Europa’ memorial, with Italian Coast Guard vessels sailing in the background, as he visits the island of Lampedusa, a key entry point for migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea, during a pastoral trip, Italy, on July 4, 2026. PHOTO BY REMO CASILLI/REUTERS

An activist dressed as Jesus walks alongside PETA and AnimaNaturalis activists during a demonstration against bullfighting ahead of the San Fermin festival, Pamplona, Spain, on July 5, 2026. PHOTO BY VINCENT WEST/REUTERS

People swim in the River Seine at the Bras Marie public swimming site, open to swimmers for the second year in the capital’s historic waterway, in Paris, France, on July 5, 2026. PHOTO BY TOM NICHOLSON/REUTERS

Fisherfolk on their boats form the colors of the Philippine flag as they kick off the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Philippines’ landmark 2016 Arbitral Ruling, in Zambales on July 5, 2026. The activity also renewed calls for the government to declare July 12 as National West Philippine Sea Victory Day. PHOTO FROM ATIN ITO! COALITION

Senator Rodante Marcoleta undergoes the mandatory booking process at Camp Crame, following his ‘surrender’ to the plunder case involving P75-million campaign donations he received when he was still congressman, on July 6, 2026. PHOTO FROM PNP-CIDG

Members of progressive groups hold placards calling for the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte during a community watch party of her trial at University of the Philippines Cebu on July 6, 2026. PHOTO BY JACQUELINE HERNANDEZ/RAPPLER

Senator-judges watch a video playback showing Vice President Sara Duterte during her impeachment trial on July 7, 2026. PHOTO BY NOEL CELIS/POOL VIA REUTERS

Palestinians gather as they watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt, on a screen in Gaza City, on July 7, 2026. PHOTO BY DAWOUD ABU ALKAS/REUTERS

Atlanta Braves right fielder Mike Yastrzemski tumbles over the wall while chasing a foul ball during the second inning of the MLB match against Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on July 8, 2026. PHOTO BY CHARLES LECLAIRE/IMAGN IMAGES VIA REUTERS

Pro cyclists pedal as spectators cheer them on during Stage 5 (Lannemezan to Pau) of the Tour de France at Lannemezan, France, on July 8, 2026. PHOTO BY GONZALO FUENTES/REUTERS

French artist James Colomina’s unauthorized artwork titled ‘Nothing Serious’, depicting a child drifting on a life buoy with a teddy bear, floats on the Rio di San Felice in the Cannaregio district of Venice, Italy, on July 9, 2026. PHOTO BY MANUEL SILVESTRI/REUTERS

Schoolchildren observe the ‘clinamen’ exhibit by French artist Celeste Boursier-Mougenot at Park Avenue Armory in New York City, on July 9, 2026. PHOTO BY ADAM GRAY/REUTERS

UAAP President Mark Oliver Molina (left) reaches the hand of Ateneo de Manila President Rev. Fr. Roberto Yap, SJ to pay respect, during the Senate public hearing on anti-bullying measures and student-athlete protection, on July 9, 2026. PHOTO FROM THE SENATE SOCIAL MEDIA UNIT

Mourners carry a banner against US President Donald Trump as they gather on the day of the burial of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, July 9, 2026. PHOTO BY ALKIS KONSTANTINIDIS/REUTERS

The town of Die stands with flames from a wildfire that has been ravaging mountain vegetation for several days, rising in the background, during a heatwave affecting a large part of the country, at night in Die, Drome department, France, on July 9, 2026. PHOTO BY MANON CRUZ/REUTERS

A person applies tape to a glass wall on a pedestrian bridge to secure it as Typhoon Bavi approaches, in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, China on July 10, 2026. PHOTO BY GO NAKAMURA/REUTERS

Vehicles and pedestrians navigate a flooded portion of Taft Avenue after heavy rains from the southwest monsoon, intensified by Typhoon Inday, inundated low-lying areas resulting in slower traffic and delays during the afternoon rush hour, on July 10, 2026. PHOTO BY RAPPLER

People sit on debris in the rain, digging tunnels to find their loved ones beneath the rubble of a building that collapsed following the June 24 earthquakes, in La Guaira, Venezuela, on July 10, 2026. PHOTO BY GABY ORAA/REUTERS

– with reports from Reuters/Rappler.com