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IN MET R MANILAO
VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 331 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES JANUARY 12, 2025
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INC TO RALLY FOR PEACE, POLITICAL UNITY—SOLON MARCOLETA: GOV’T LEADERS MUST WORK TOGETHER
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HE Iglesia Ni Cristo will not take sides between President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte, a lawmaker and prominent INC member said as the group readies for its national rally for peace tomorrow (Monday, January 13, 2025). “The INC does not take sides. That is a categorical answer there. The INC would like to see people like the Vice President and the President work together. That is the essence of good government,” Sagip party-list Rodante Marcoleta said in an interview with the Bilyonaryo News Channel. The rally at the Quirino Grandstand is expected to draw about 1 million participants, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. “It’s a rally for peace, that’s all. I think the INC wants to send a message across the nation that peace is a factor in achieving development and progress in this country. The INC believes that peace can only be
achieved by uniting our people, and this unity can be best demonstrated by our leaders,” Marcoleta said. Three impeachment complaints have been filed against Duterte before the House of Representatives based on multiple grounds, including culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes. Mr. Marcos earlier said he does not support calls for Duterte’s impeachment as it would not help the Filipino people. Earlier, an anchor from INC’s official broadcast arm also sought to debunk “fake news” claiming that the religious organization’s rally on Monday was intended to defend the Vice President. “What will take place... is a rally for peace. It is not for VP Sara. It will take no [political] sides,” Net25 news anchor Ali Sotto said in Filipino. “Let’s be objective. Let’s be factual. The rally is for peace -- kapayapaan,” she added. Sotto’s statement appeared to counter the claims of lawyer Harry Roque, who earlier suggested that the rally would block efforts to impeach the Vice President. “First of all, this [rally] opposes the impeachment of Inday Sara Duterte. Second, they want peace in the government,”
Roque earlier told Bombo Radyo. Roque, reportedly abroad but whose exact whereabouts are unknown, has also been promoting the rally on his Facebook account, inviting the public to join. Malacañang has suspended government work and classes in the cities of Manila and Pasay on Monday to ensure the smooth conduct of the event. The MMDA will also deploy 1,300 personnel to manage traffic and ensure public safety during the rally. Nine roads around the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta, Manila will be closed to traffic on January 13. In a traffic advisory, the City of Manila said roads to be closed from 4 a.m. onwards on Monday are: • Katigbak Drive and South Drive • Independence Road • North- and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to UN Avenue • Nor th- and southbound lanes of Bonifacio Drive from Katigbak Drive to Anda Circle • P. Burgos Avenue from Victoria Street to Roxas Boulevard • Ma. Orosa Street from P. Burgos Avenue to UN Avenue • Finance Road from P. Burgos Avenue to Taft Avenue • Gen. Luna Roundtable • Kalaw Avenue from Taft Avenue to Roxas Boulevard
FOR PEACE. Workers are seen preparing the stage at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Saturday ahead of theIglesia ni Cristo’s national rally for peace on January 13, 2025.
NEW YEAR TOAST. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Papal Nuncio to the Philippines Archbishop Charles Brown lead the toast during the vin d’honneur at the Palace on Saturday, January 11, 2025. PPA Pool
MARCOS HAILS PH’S DIPLOMATIC, ECONOMIC STRIDES By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Saturday celebrated the start of 2025 with a hopeful message, lauding the country’s diplomatic achievements and economic resilience. “Early in my presidency, I vowed to reintroduce the Philippines to the world and to forge meaningful, concrete, and mutually beneficial partnerships that will drive growth in the 21st-century economy,. A great deal has transpired in the last two and a half years,” he said during the vin d’ honneur at the Palace. Mr. Marcos detailed his administration’s efforts to expand diplomatic ties, citing the opening of four embassies in Europe and Latin America in 2024. He also announced plans to establish four more foreign service posts in North America, Asia, and the Pacific this year, bringing the country’s total to 102 by the end of 2025. “We welcome the opening of new embassies in Manila, such as those from Bahrain and Slovenia, and are eager to see missions from Central Asia in the coming years,” he said. The President likewise reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to an independent foreign policy that promotes peace, cooperation, and adherence to international law. He also underscored the country’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2027-2028, calling for the support of the international community. “Our candidature stands on our rich experience in building peace and forging consensus,” he said.
About a million INC members are expected to attend the gathering, which has led to the cancellation of government work and classes in Manila and Pasay cities. Norman Cruz
COMELEC: ELECTION CHECKPOINTS, GUN BAN BEGIN TODAY By Vito Barcelo and Joel Zurbano THE Commission on Elections urged the public to cooperate with the police and military manning checkpoint inspections in relation to the upcoming May 2025 midterm polls as the election period starts today (Sunday, January 12, 2025). The National Capital Region Police Office also vowed to strictly
enforce the election gun ban that will last until June 11, 2025. “We would implement the plain view doctrine during checkpoint inspections,” Comelec chairman George Garcia said. “This prevents security officers from conducting more stringent inspections unless there is clearly visible evidence or reasonable grounds to justify it. Checkpoint inspections should be conducted in well-lit areas with proper signages
and markings,” he said. Security officers are not allowed to conduct body searches or require drivers to open their trunk or glove compartment for inspections unless there is reasonable ground the person inside the car has committed, is committing, or will commit a crime, Garcia said. As for the gun ban, only on-duty personnel from law enforcement agencies in full uniform will be allowed to carry firearms. Civilians
who wish to carry firearms must secure special permits from the Comelec for exemption. NCRPO Director Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin assured the public the Philippine National Police, as one of the agencies deputized by Comelec, will carry out election-related duties and enforce laws without bias. He also encouraged the public to report any rude or abusive police personnel to the nearest police station.
GOV’T TO EXPAND ‘WALANG GUTOM’TO HIGH POVERTY RATE PROVINCES By Charles Dantes THE Department of Social Welfare and Development will expand its “Walang Gutom Kitchen” initiative to provincial areas this year, focusing on regions with high poverty rates. DSWD Undersecretary Eduardo Punay said the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Leyte, Samar, and the Bicol region will be the primary focus. “We’re scaling up in provincial are-
as identified and targeted based on poverty incidence, following the instructions of Secretary Rex Gatchalian,” Punay said during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City. The “Walang Gutom Kitchen,” launched in Pasay City in December, operates as a food bank and soup kitchen that primarily serves families and individuals experiencing involuntary hunger, including those living on the streets. The initiative has drawn support from private sector partners,
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encouraging businesses to donate food to combat hunger and reduce food wastage. The Walang Gutom Kitchen is a collaborative effort between the government and private entities, including “Kain Tayo Pilipinas,” a consortium of businesses with foodrelated corporate social responsibility initiatives. “Anyone experiencing hunger can walk in. The kitchen is open to everyone in need,” Punay said, emphasizing the inclusive nature of the
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initiative. As this developed, Punay said some 300,000 Filipinos benefited from the “Walang Gutom Food Stamp Program” in 2024. Introduced in 2023, the program provides food-poor families with monthly food credits worth P3,000. “Last year, we onboarded 300,000 beneficiaries out of our one-million target. This year, we’re scaling up to serve another 300,000, with the remaining 400,000 to be covered in 2026,” Punay said.
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PNP RESHUFFLES 10 HIGH-RANKING OFFICERS TEN ranking officials of the Philippine National Police were given new assignments in the latest leadership reshuffle ordered by PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil. In a directive dated Jan. 10 and made public Saturday, Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan was appointed director of Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas). PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo succeeded Maranan as director of PRO 3 (Central Luzon). Fajardo will be replaced by Col. Randolf Tuaño as acting PNP spokesperson and Information Office chief. Brig. Gen. Roel Rodolfo was named director of PRO 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula). Rodolfo, who assumed leadership of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group on Jan. 8, will be replaced by Col. Elmer Ragay. Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta is now officer-in-charge of the Highway Patrol Group, with Col. Rolando Cuya Jr. replacing him as head of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group. Rex Espiritu
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