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EALA BARGES INTO QUARTERS, FACES SWIATEK
DUTERTES CRY ABDUCTION IN SC RESPONSE
House asks Senate: Compel VP Sara to answer complaint
SPORTS / A8
NEWS / A3
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By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives panel of prosecutors yesterday filed a motion asking the Senate to compel Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte to respond to the Articles of Impeachment filed Next page against her.
No discussions yet about rejoining ICC, says Palace By Charles Dantes
fied reports that the tribunal would seek Manila’s assistance in freezing MALACANANG said yesterday that Duterte’s assets. “As we speak, we have not yet disthe government has not discussed any plan to rejoin the International cussed any plan of rejoining the ICC,” Criminal Court (ICC) amid unveriNext page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 43 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2025
‘Leave AFP alone’—Palace Palace backs Chiz’s position on Dutertes enflaming AFP By Charles Dantes
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ALACAÑANG backed Senate President Chiz Escudero’s stand that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other uniformed personnel should adhere to their professional mandate despite fervent appeals from the Duterte camp, which some interpret as encouraging soldiers to defy authority. “That’s correct. Public servants should be apolitical and not be dragged into personal issues, especially those involving the Dutertes,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing yesterday. Castro echoed Escudero’s concerns, stating that it is inappropriate to call on the military or police to address the personal requests of individuals or families. “The military, our armed forces, and our police are for the country— not solely for the Duterte family,” she said. The Palace reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the neutrality of the country’s security forces, empha-
BOOSTING AGRICULTURE. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. yesterday at Malacañan Palace to discuss the department’s new projects. Among the projects presented during the meeting were the Department of Agriculture’s plan for a cold storage expansion project and the establishment of food hubs in strategic locations nationwide.
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AFP welcomes additional Typhon battery deployment Palace asks OFWs to remain calm amid ‘zero remittance’ call By Rex Espiritu
By Charles Dantes MALACAÑANG on Tuesday urged overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to exercise sobriety in the face of a supposed “zero remittance week” campaign being spearheaded by supporters of former President Rodrigo Duterte to coerce authorities into letting him come home. The initiative, organized by the group Maisug Croatia in Europe, is set to run from March 28 to April 4 as a form of protest. Participants intend to halt their remittances to the Philippines, a move intended to derail the national economy, as OFW remittances contribute significantly to the country’s economy. However, the number of Maisug
Croatia’s membership remains unclear, and whether there are enough of them to significantly affect the country’s remittance flow. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro acknowledged the concerns behind the campaign but emphasized the importance of upholding the law. “Of course, we prefer that every Filipino remains calm on issues like this. The government is simply adhering to our laws,” Castro said. She pointed out that complaints were formally filed against Duterte and urged the public to consider both sides fairly. “There are also Filipinos who have filed complaints against former President Duterte. We hope people will be Next page
THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday welcomed reports that the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US INDOPACOM) plans
to deploy an additional battery of the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Typhon missile system to the country. “This is a welcome development for the AFP. We could say the more, the merrier. The more assets we have, the
more also that we are able to train our personnel,” AFP Spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters in a press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Next page
MOTION TO COMPEL VP SARA. The House
of Representatives panel of prosecutors files an “Entry with Motion to Issue Summons” asking the Senate to compel Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte to respond to the Articles of Impeachment filed against her. Minority Leader and House prosecution member Marcelino Libanan was joined by 1-RIDER partylist Representative and prosecution panel member Rodge Gutierrez, Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega V and Assistant Majority Leader Jay Khonghun. House of Representatives
China warns PH not to entertain ‘predators’ By Rachelle Tonelada
LOVE BUS REVIVAL. Malacañang employees take a spin yesterday around Malacanang Palace during a test run of a new and better version of the iconic LOVE BUS (electric bus). Revoli Cortez
CHINA has warned the Philippines against welcoming “predators” in the region, responding to the upcoming visit of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on March 28. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun reiterated Beijing’s stance on US-Philip-
pines military cooperation, emphasizing that it should not “target any third party or harm their interest, still less threaten regional peace or escalate tensions in the region.” “Facts have repeatedly proven that nothing good could come out of opening the door to a predator. Those who willingly serve as Next page