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PBBM SUSPENDS RICE IMPORTS FOR 60 DAYS STARTING SEPT. 1 By Charles Dantes, Othel V. Campos, Maricel V. Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a 60-day suspension of all rice imports starting September 1, 2025 to protect local farmers struggling with plummeting palay prices during the current harvest season, Malacañang on Wednesday said. Basmati and other fancy rice varieties, however, are not covered by the
60-day import suspension, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, noting that temporary import ban applies only to regular milled and well-milled rice. Mr. Marcos added it was not yet time to start talks on revising tariffs on imported rice, Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez said. "We will still see if we need to resort to that," Gomez said. "Right now, the decision is to suspend all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 172 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025 •
Senate ‘archives’ impeach rap Won't hold trial of VP Sara until SC reverses earlier ruling By Ram Superable and Maricel V. Cruz
S
ENATORS did not dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte but instead had it “archived” – which means no trial will happen until the Supreme Court reverses its earlier ruling junking the Articles of Impeachment.
PRO AND ANTI. Scenes from yesterday's session at the Senate when Sen. Rodante Marcoleta,
top right, moved to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte on the basis of the Supreme Court ruling on the issue. Marcoleta's motion was subsequently challenged by minority leader, top left, Sen. Tito Sotto. Below left in a huddle are Senate President Chiz Escudero, Majority leader Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Senate PRIB
Majority of the members of the Upper Chamber voted to support the motion to archive of Senator Rodante Marcoleta, while four voted against (Senators Tito Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan) and one abstained (Senator Panfilo Lacson). Senator Alan Cayetano said archiving the complaint meant that while it is considered dead
for now, it can be revived should the High Court reverse its ruling amid pending motions for reconsideration. Marcoleta initially made a motion to dismiss the complaint against Duterte, noting that the High Court already ruled it was unconstitutional for violating the one-year ban on multiple impeachment proceedings against an official. Next page
Senate, House agree to open Where in the world is VP Sara? OVP mum budget hearings to the public By Katrina Manubay
By Ram Superable and Maricel V. Cruz BOTH chambers of Congress have adopted resolutions to open the national budget process to public scrutiny, according to Sen. Panfilo Lacson. "What we signed yesterday is a concurrent resolution, which means both Houses are finally united in making the
budget process transparent all the way through to the bicam," Lacson said. He cited House Resolution (HR) 94 which authorizes civil society organizations to sit as non-voting observers in budget deliberations at the House appropriations committee. Spearheaded by Speaker Martin Romualdez and Tingog party-list Reps. Yedda Marie Romualdez, Jude
THE Office of the Vice President (OVP) failed or refused to give categorical answers on the whereabouts of Vice President Sara Duterte, but added that she continues to discharge her functions, physically and otherwise.
In a press briefing, OVP spokesperson lawyer Ruth Castelo said they still had to verify the Vice President’s location, but did not give a clear-cut answer on the issue. Castelo asserted, however, that her boss’ involvement in government affairs “never diminished” since 2022.
“Hindi lang natin nakikita, pero ‘yung trabaho na kailangan niyang gawin (We just don’t see her, but the tasks she had to do) for the office are being done. Sometimes virtual, sometimes ghost.” Castelo explained. Meanwhile, Malacañang said it Next page
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Palace won’t release unverified lists of alleged corrupt contractors By Charles Dantes and Vito Barcelo MALACAÑANG defended President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approach to the ongoing investigation into alleged anomalies in flood control projects, saying he will not release unverified
lists or issue threats, unlike previous administrations. This came after Rep. Leila de Lima, in a privilege speech at the House of Representatives, called for a serious crackdown on alleged corruption in flood control spending. She urged the government to‘name names,’’ file Next page
IN TOUCH. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the suspension of all rice importation for 60 days beginning Sept. 1, 2025 after conferring with Cabinet members on the sidelines of his 5-day State Visit to India. PCO
India visit opens up more opportunities By Charles Dantes
MAGNA CARTAS. Tingog Partylist Representatives Yedda Romualdez
and Jude Acidre show copies of the proposed Magna Carta for Children and Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy after filing them at the Bills and Index Service at the House of Representatives. The Magna Carta for Children was enrolled as House Bill No. 3137 and the Magna Carta of Workers in the Informal Economy as House Bill No. 3138
PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday described his bilateral talks with Indian President Droupadi Murmu as one of the "most productive and constructive" visits he has ever undertaken, expressing optimism about stronger ties and deeper cooperation between the Philippines and India. Speaking after their meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Marcos thanked President Murmu for the
warm and elegant welcome extended to him and his delegation, calling it a testament to the two countries’ shared desire to strengthen relations. "Like my father before me, I will always cherish this state visit as living proof of our shared desire to draw closer to each other," President Marcos said. "I am very inspired by the meetings we held today and look forward to bringing home the gains from our engagements." Next page
Free tuition law threatens private colleges’‘viability’ THE Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) on Wednesday reported that the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (Republic Act 10931) has led to unintended consequences on private higher education institutions (HEIs) despite Next page