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SC HOLDS ORAL ARGUMENTS ON PHILHEALTH FUNDS
FOOD VOUCHER PROGRAMS TO CONTINUE IN PH
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A4 VOL. XXXIX • NO. 15 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025
‘Senate must make first move’ Palace: ‘Awkward’ for PBBM to initiate VP’s impeachment By Pot Chavez and Ram Superable
M
ALACAÑANG said it would be “awkward” for President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. to “voluntarily” initiate Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, reiterating the chief executive will not call for a special session.
YELLOW CONFETTI RAIN. Local government officials, martial law survivors, civil society organizations, and political activists bask in a shower of confetti as they commemorate the 39th Anniversary of the EDSA Revolution at the EDSA People Power Monument along EDSA, in Quezon City.
“So, it is better for the Senate to request the President, considering that even the President made this pronouncement that if the Senate will ask him to call for a special session, he will do so,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro told reporters on Tuesday. However, the newly-minted Palace spokesperson said that lawmakers have not yet requested the President to call for a special congressional session to start the impeachment proceedings against Duterte. “If you will take a look at the Constitution, the President may call Next page
No intention to erase EDSA memories—Palace Escudero to turn down VP post if Sara is impeached
THE government has no intention to erase the memories of the EDSA People Power uprising by declaring February 25, 2025 only as a special working day. In a briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration would not hinder any organization or institution from commemorating the
39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, the historic non-violent civil protest in 1986 that ousted the father and namesake of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. “As of now, February 25 is declared a special working day and I think it is the prerogative of the President. And
when we say special working day, still there is encouragement to people to commemorate, to join any event”, said Castro. Authorities on Tuesday estimated about 6,000 people who flocked to the historic Epifanio de los Santos Avenue
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By Ram Superable
presidency, clarifying that the Constitution dictates a different process SENATE President Francis Escu- for filling the position in case an indero dismissed speculation about cumbent is impeached. Next page his possible assumption to the vice
Cabinet evaluation ongoing; DOTr revamp has just begun By Vince Lopez, Joel Zurbano and Darwin Amojelar PRESIDENT Marcos is still evaluating the performance of his Cabinet members, and no decision has yet been made on whether more officials need to be replaced, Malacañan Pal-
ace said Tuesday. “The President needs to evaluate every time if his secretaries, Cabinet members, are doing well for the government, for the people,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a Next page
MORE SUSPECTED SPIES. The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday arrested two Chinese nationals and three Filipinos suspected of violating the Espionage Act at the NBI headquarters in Pasay City. Also presented to the media were the equipment seized from the suspects.
Authorities arrest 2 Chinese suspected of spying By Pot Chavez
three Filipinos for spying, the latest The men allegedly paid a trio of in a series of arrests involving alleged Filipino accomplices to drive them THE National Bureau of Investigation, espionage as confrontations between through the capital Manila while using together with military intelligence, the countries increase in the disputed an “IMSI catcher,” a device capable of arrested two Chinese nationals and South China Sea. Next page
‘Slight improvement in Pope’s condition—Vatican
BLOSSOMS. SM City Baguio’s float showcases the bountiful harvests of the Cordilerra region.
A CRITICALLY ill Pope been praying for his recovery. Francis, battling pneumonia “The Pope rested well, all in both lungs, slept well, the night long,” said the Vatican Vatican said Tuesday after in a morning update on the reporting earlier a “slight 12th day of the pope’s hosimprovement” in the health pital stay. of the 88-year-old. The Holy See issued a The Argentine pontiff was more hopeful statement admitted to Rome’s Gemelli hospital on February 14 with Monday evening, saying that the pope’s “critical clinical breathing difficulties and bronchitis, but his condition has sub- conditions... demonstrate a slight improvement.” sequently worsened, and many faithful around the world have Next page