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INC LOGIC VS. IMPEACH VP ‘VERY DETRIMENTAL PRECEDENT’—ENRILE THE country may face a “very detrimental precedent” if it follows the reasoning implied in the Iglesia Ni Cristo rally in support of the President’s opposition to impeachment moves against Vice President Sara Duterte, chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile on Thursday said. “There is a bigger question. Can the INC with all its members amend the Constitution or suspend any of its provisions? Are we prepared to discard or sacrifice the value of rule of law for a person

or a group of persons?” Enrile said in a Facebook post. “Are we prepared and ready to face the longterm consequences of that INC move?” he added. Enrile said the impeachment was “just a constitutional legal process” to remove a government official from office, if there is a ground and evidence to support it. He said an impeached official is “not going to jail by the mere fact of his impeachment.”

For his part, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said the President is open to the opinions of his Cabinet, including Enrile. Bersamin said Mr. Marcos is still not in favor of Duterte’s impeachment, but “seriously considers” Enrile’s stance. “The President has always nurtured a culture of open ventilation of ideas within the Cabinet. In this way, policymaking is enriched by diverse

Chief presidential legal counsel Juan Ponce Enrile

PH flags China ‘monster ship’ incursions during Xiamen meet By Rachelle Tonelada

VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 336 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 2025

West Philippine Sea while highlighting its commitment to diplomatic dialogue THE Philippines expressed “serious with China during the 10th Bilateral concern” over the incursions of China Consultation Mechanism (BCM) held Coast Guard vessels, including CCG- in Xiamen on Thursday. Next page 5901 known as “The Monster,” in the

DA backs food security emergency declaration Agri chief says move to bring down further rice prices By Charles Dantes, Joel Zurbano, Othel Campos and Maricel Cruz

GRICULTURE Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. is pushing for a “food security emergency” declaration before the end of the month to further lower prices of rice. This as the National Price Coordinating Council (NPCC) approved a resolution urging the DA to declare a “food security emergency for rice” as prices of the grain remained high despite declining global rice costs and tariff reductions ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “Once it comes to my table, the chances are we will declare (the emergency) so that we can release the stocks of NFA (National Food Authority),” Tiu Laurel said in an interview on Thursday. He said the declaration of a food security emergency will enable the NFA to sell rice stocks to local government units and other government agencies at a lower price of P36 per kilo by February, free up

NEWS / A2

MMDA seeks to adjust gov’t working hours to 7a.m. - 4p.m. By Joel Zurbano THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recommended adjusting the working hours of national government agencies (NGAs) to 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. -- one hour earlier than usual -- to ease traffic congestion. In a statement on Thursday, the agency said it will seek President Marcos’ approval for the work schedule adjustment, whose target implementation would be sometime in March, coinciding the start of EDSA’s rehabilitation. The agency said insights gleaned from a survey conducted on local government units that adopted the 7 Next page

STAPLE GRAIN MONITORING. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Trade Secretary Cristina Roque lead a joint market inspection at the Mutya ng Pasig Mega Market in Pasig City on Thursday, January16, 2025. Tiu Laurel said the P40/kilo rice under the DA’s Rice-For-All program will be reduced further to P38/kilo. Manny Palmero

Big-time oil price hike seen next week: P2.50/l for diesel amid volatile market By Alena Mae Flores MOTORISTS and other consumers must brace for a big-time oil price hike that may go as high as P2.50 per liter next week, as the world oil market’s volatility sets off the third consecutive increase in pump prices in as many weeks. Jetti Petroleum president Leo Bellas said early price movement indicators for week of January 20, which are based on the movements in the Mean of Platts Singapore (MOPS) benchmark and foreign exchange rates, showed a possible increase in diesel of P2.30 to P2.50 per liter and gasoline by P1.60

10 of 29 cops in bungled shabu haul in 2022 in CIDG custody THE Philippine National Police on Thursday said 10 out of 29 police officers charged over the alleged mishandling of the P6.7 billion drug haul in October 2022 are now in police custody. PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the officers – one lieutenant colonel, one police major, one police captain, one police lieutenant, one executive master sergeant, one senior master sergeant, and four patrolmen

ONLINE VOYEURS, CYBERLIBEL CASES ON THE RISE—PNP

are now in the custody of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. She said a manhunt is underway for 19 other respondents. Recommended bail was put at P200,000 for each of the accused. Included in the charges are Lt. Gen. Benjamin Santos Jr., former deputy chief for operations and Brig. Gen. Narciso Domingo, former Drug Enforcement Unit director. Next page

to P1.80 per liter. “Oil prices increased sharply on worries that the latest round of US sanctions against Russia could disrupt supply and distribution chains, potentially affecting Russian crude exports to top buyers China and India,” he said. Local oil firms traditionally announce the imminent price movement every Monday, which in turn, is implemented by gas stations at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. On Jan. 14, 2025, oil companies implemented an increase of P0.80 per liter for both gasoline and

PNP chief’s term may be extended INTERIOR Secretary Jonvic Remulla said there are indications that the term of Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil may be extended until June. Remulla said it may be ineffective if Marbil is replaced immediately, especially since the reshuffle of several senior PNP officials has just concluded and preparations for the upcoming national and local elections have already begun. “That’s the biggest reason I Next page

ELECTION PARTNERSHIP.

Commission on Elections chairman George Garcia (center); Rona Ann Caritos, executive director of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (left); and Ronaldo Gutierrez, executive director of Upholding Life and Nature, sign an agreement to assist the poll body in providing more information to voters regarding the midterm elections. Danny Pata