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Baste apologizes to Imee, senator says ‘fear’ triggered mayor’s rant DAVAO City Mayor Sebastian DuRelationship with VP Sara terte’s outburst against President Marexactly the same—Marcos cos was triggered by his fear that his father, former President Rodrigo DuNEWS / A2 terte, and his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, will be imprisoned, Senfusely to her after publicly daring Mr. ator Imee Marcos said Tuesday. She said the mayor apologized proNext page
VOL. XXXVII • NO. 350 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024
Palace stepping into ‘Cha-cha’ Marcos doubts ‘PI’ role, seeks ‘simpler solutions’ via bicam system By Charles Dantes and Vince Lopez
H
ANOI—President Ferdinand Marcos on Tuesday said the administration is looking to solve the standoff between the Senate and House of Representatives on the suggested revision of the 1987 Constitution.
WALKING IN THE CITADEL. President Marcos walks with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong during the public diplomacy at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday. PPA POOL
Trillanes, Gutierrez urge VP Sara to leave Cabinet over ‘delicadeza’ FORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday called on Vice President Sara Duterte to resign as Education Secretary and not to cling to her post amid the widening rift between her family and that of her principal, President Marcos. Barry Gutier Gutierrez, ex-spokes ex-spokesman of for former vice president L e n i R o bredo,
“It is the usual conflict between the House and the Senate, whether to vote together or separately. The best advice that we are getting, the best analysis and interpretation that we have, is that the legislature is of a bicameral nature,” President Marcos told reporters during the Kapihan with the President here. “Now, what we are trying to figure out is how it can be done so both houses’ role in this bicameral system is preserved,” he added. Asked about the people’s initiative as a mode for Charter change, Mr. Marcos said: “We don’t know yet. We have not made those decisions yet. I don’t know if that is still one of the options
• South China Sea ‘contention point’ • PH, Vietnam ink 5-year rice deal that remain for us.” The President said he already told the leaders of both houses to come up with simpler solutions and not stir up controversy. Next page
Speaker just ‘advisor, not orchestrator’ of initiative Senator Imee Marcos
By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Tuesday admitted that he had met with organizers of a people’s initiative to amend the Constitution, but said he was acting as an advisor, not an orchestrator of the cam campaign—and denied any involvement in the buying signatures. “Such practices are against my principles and the ethical stand stand-
added it was a matter of delicadeza for Duterte to leave the Marcos Cabinet. Their statements came after Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares said Monday it may no longer be tenable for Duterte to be part of the Cabinet as an alter-ego of the President. However, President Marcos said he was keeping the Vice President as Education Secretary, noting that his re-
ards of our government,” Romualdez said. The Speaker issued the statement after a Senate panel investigating the people’s initiative showed a photo of him meeting with members of the People’s Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action (PIRMA) at his townhouse in Forbes Park, Makati. “I acknowledge that representatives from the people’s initiative, including Mr. Noel Oñate, had approached me for a meeting. This encounter, held at my townhouse, was Next page
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Comelec shifts to voter listup for 2025 polls Taylor Swift
‘X’ BLOCKS PORN SEARCH FOR SWIFT SHOWBIZ / C3
PSA REVISES Q3 GDP MARK TO 6% BUSINESS / B4
By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz, and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE scheduled voter registration nationwide for the May 2025 midterm elections, which will start on Feb. 12, is expected to push through without any obstacles now that the signature drive to amend the Constitution has been suspended, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said Tuesday. Poll body spokesman Rex Laudiangco said that since the people’s initiative (PI) is already put on hold pending a review of Comelec Resolution No. 10650, all Comelec offices
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FACING THE PRESS. Majority Leader Manuel Jose Dalipe (second from left) answer questions from the media on the people’s initiative issue alongside (from left) Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman and Senior Deputy Speakers Aurelio Gonzales and David Suarez at the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Ver Noveno
No need for AFP loyalty check amid issues—Brawner By Vince Lopez
checks among its ranks amid the politi“The statement of AFP chief of staff cal fallout between President Ferdinand Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. is there is not THE Armed Forces of the Philippines Marcos Jr. and former President Rod- even a need for a loyalty check,” military Next page said there is no need to conduct loyalty rigo Duterte.