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Marcos hasn’t brought up VP’s impeachment; stance unchanged MALACAÑANG said that President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has not brought up the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte and that the chief executive’s position that it is Congress which
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should call for a special session on the matter remains unchanged. “I have run into the President on several occasions but he never talked about it [impeachment]. Whenever Next page
Ex-soldiers staged kidnap PAOCC: Chinese mob’s ‘muscle group’ grabbed student
R
ETIRED soldiers working as enforcers of Chinese mobsters linked to illegal online gaming operations carried out the recent kidnapping for ransom of a Chinese student of a foreign school, the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) said on Sunday. In a radio interview, PAOCC executive director Gilbert Cruz disclosed that the ex-soldiers are on the Chinese underworld’s payroll to do their dirty work, including kidnap-for-ransom, extortion, and even murders. “We are looking into this ‘muscle group’… we are investigating them. Of course, we are still in the process of verifying who is involved,” he said in Filipino. Next page
As campaign heats up, PBBM cautions public on fake news PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. cautioned the public yesterday about the spread of fake news and disinformation as the campaign season heats up. In his vlog, Marcos urged Filipinos to be extra vigilant when Next page
VENICE CARNIVAL DEBUT. Thirty six dancers from three Philippine dance troupes performed for the first time at the Carnevale di Venezia last Saturday
at Piazza San Marco in the center of Venice.The London-based Lahing Kayumanggi Dance Company performed a mosaic of dances from various parts of the Philippines while the Filipino Community of Vicenza presented the Sinulog and the Filipino Community in Venezia, the Bulaklakin. The Carnevale traces its origins to the year 1162 when Venetians gathered and danced at St. Mark’s Square to celebrate a military victory. It has become one of the more popular carnivals in the world, drawing as many as 3 million tourists to Venice every year.
PBBM warned on Trump dealings; WPS youth summit held in La Union PRESIDENT Marcos should be more circumspect in dealing with the United States under President Donald Trump, noting how America appears to have abandoned embattled Ukraine and pivoted towards Russia, a Filipino academic and a former Supreme
Court justice said yesterday. “We have to be careful with how we deal with the US government given that it is likely that the US government will become more unpredictable with its commitments,” said Arjan Aguirre, a
political science professor at the Ateneo de Manila University, who is currently based in the US. “President Marcos should be careful, should deal with the US government with [circumspection],” he said.
Aguirre’s warning was echoed by former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio who said that the Philippines “must prepare for the worst by strengthening its self-defense capabilities at all Next page
Most Pinoys trust, satisfied with military—OCTA By Rex Espiritu THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) achieved a net trust rating of +73% and a net satisfaction rating of +74%, according to the OCTA Research
Tugon ng Masa (TNM) nationwide survey for the fourth quarter of 2024. Approximately 75% of adult Filipinos trust the AFP with only 2% expressing distrust, positioning it as one of the most trusted and top-performing
government organizations in 2024, OCTA said in its report. In terms of overall performance, 76% of adult Filipinos expressed satisfaction with the military’s accomplishments, Next page
Speaker lauds women’s role in PH history By Rio N. Araja
IN PRAYER. A Muslim prays by his lonesome during the first day of Ramadan yesterday at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo. Inset shows another devotee reading the Quran after prayers. Ramadan (also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan) is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. It is a time when Muslims worldwide focus on prayer, fasting, giving to charity, and religious devotion. Danny Pata
HOUSE Speaker Martin Romualdez yesterday underscored the significant contributions of Filipino women in shaping the country’s history and development as the nation celebrates Women’s Month. “From homes to the fields of economy, education, politics, and public service, they (women) provide strength and compassion. Their intelligence, hard work, and determination are the foundations of our continuous progress,” Romualdez said in a statement. The seasoned legislator emphasized the need for continued efforts to eliminate discrimination, protect women’s rights, and promote their leadership. He assured support for women in the House of Representatives under his leadership. “This celebration goes beyond recognition—it is a call to action. We must continue breaking barriers, ensuring equal opportunities, and empowering Next page
IN HIS LIKENESS. Mexican artist, Roberto Marquez from Guadalajara, shows his
painting of Pope Francis near the statue of John Paul II at the Gemelli University Hospital where Pope Francis has been hospitalized with pneumonia since March 1, 2025. AFP
Pope stable, spends ‘calm night’ POPE Francis, who has been in hospital for more than two weeks with double pneumonia, spent a “calm night,” the Vatican said on Sunday, after reporting he was in a stable condition. “The pope is still resting,” the Holy See said in its latest health update on the
88-year-old head of the Catholic Church. On Saturday evening, it had said the pope’s condition was “stable”, adding that he was still receiving oxygen, had no fever, had been eating, was alert and praying. Next page