Rev. Jesse Jackson, champion of economic justice and civil rights, dies at 84
The longtime Baptist minister and founder of Operation PUSH and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition spent more than five decades pressing corporations and political institutions to expand economic opportunity alongside racial equality.
CHICAGO — The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a Baptist minister who spent more than five decades linking civil rights advocacy to economic empowerment, died Tuesday, February 17 at age 84, according to his family. Jackson died at his home in Chicago, his family said, describing his passing as peaceful and surrounded by loved ones.
While he first rose to prominence during the 1960s civil rights era working alongside
Major U.S. cities issue directives limiting ICE use of municipal property; prosecutors warn of state-level accountability
Several major U.S. cities have issued executive directives in recent weeks aimed at limiting how and where agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may operate within municipal boundaries, particularly with respect to city-owned property.
The actions — announced in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicago, Boston, Oakland and Seattle — focus on restricting the use of municipal facilities and directing local law enforcement to document certain federal immigration enforcement activities occurring within city limits.
Municipal directives
In Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass signed an executive directive prohibiting the use of city-owned or city-controlled property for federal immigration staging, processing or
Sara Duterte declares 2028 presidential bid
by AJPress
Metro Manila subway: Marcos cites 29-minute Valenzuela–BGC travel time as BGC stations break ground
by AJPress
TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Feb. 13, 2026 led the groundbreaking for two stations of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) in the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) corridor, highlighting government projections that a
NBI subpoenas vlogger in probe of fabricated Marcos medical report
Authorities say vlogger Jack Argota appeared before investigators and submitted a sworn statement, while Malacañang stresses that the case remains under investigation and no charges have been filed.
by AJPress
The National Bureau of Investigation has subpoenaed a social media personality as part of its investigation into the circulation of a fabricated medical document concerning President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., officials confirmed this week.
NBI Director Angelito “Lito” Magno identified the individual as vlogger Jack Argota, who appeared before investigators and submitted a sworn statement after receiving the subpoena. According to Magno, Argota told investigators that he reposted the document in order to generate online “engagement.” Authori-
full end-to-end trip from Valenzuela City to BGC could take about 29 minutes once the line becomes operational.
The travel-time estimate, presented during the ceremony attended by Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials and Japanese representatives, reflects a
by AJPress
MANILA — Philippine cash remittances climbed to a record $35.634 billion in 2025, up 3.3 percent from $34.493 billion in 2024, according to preliminary data released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). December inflows helped lift the annual total. Cash remittances coursed through banks reached $3.522 billion in December 2025, a 4.2 percent increase from $3.380 billion in December 2024 and higher than the $2.910 billionrecorded in November 2025.
Cash remittances refer to transfers sent through formal banking channels and represent a major component of the country’s external receipts.
The BSP also reported that personal remittances, which include cash transfers as well as compensation of employees and other current transfers, reached a record $36.619 billion in 2025. In December alone, personal remittances totaled $3.892 billion.
Under Article XI of the Constitution, any citizen may file an impeachment complaint with the endorsement of a House member. The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate imu PAGE 2
MANILA — House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Lorenz Defensor said that securing the endorsement of one-third of all House members to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte now appears unlikely, especially after she announced her 2028 presidential bid. “As of right now, as of today, I cannot see getting one-third of endorsement from the members of the House of Representatives,” he said in an ambush interview on Wednesday, February 18. “But I can tell you right now na aabot ito sa (this will reach the) Committee on Justice.” Duterte confirmed her 2028 presidential run at a press conference on Wednesday morning, delivering a speech asking for forgiveness from the public for helping President Bongbong Marcos win the 2022 elections.
Defensor added that House lawmakers who en-
On EDSA’s 40th year, coalition plans ‘3rd Trillion Peso March’
by AJPress
MANILA — A coalition of civil society organizations, churchlinked groups and political reform advocates plans to gather along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) on Feb. 25, marking the 40th anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution with what organizers have labeled the “3rd Trillion Peso March.”
Activities are expected to center near the People Power Monument and the EDSA Shrine, sites closely associated with the civilian-led uprising that led to a transfer of national leadership and the restoration of constitutional democratic governance.
A coalition platform
The Trillion Peso March operates as a coalition platform composed of civic groups, church-linked networks, political reform advocates and individual convenors coordinating under a shared banner rather than a formally registered organization.
Organizers have said the Feb. 25 rally will not call for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or Vice President Sara Duterte.
Among publicly identified convenors is Francis Joseph “Kiko” Aquino-Dee, a Filipino political
analyst and civicadvocate, and a grandson of former Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. and former President Corazon Aquino. He has been publicly identified as a co-convenor of reform coalitions associated with the march.
Political advocacy groups such as Akbayan have also been publicly linked to previous gatherings under the same banner. Participating organizations retain their independent legal identities while collaborating on messaging and program coordination.
Organizers have publicly framed the Feb. 25 gathering as reform-driven, emphasizing proposals such as legislation against political dynasties, revisions to the party-list system and broader governance accountability measures. These positions reflect the views of the organizing coalition and are not judicial findings unless validated by competent investigative or judicial authorities.
Security preparations
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has announced that Metro Manila will be placed on full alert beginning Feb. 21 in anticipation of anniversary-related gatherings.
by Dominique nicole Flores Philstar.com
