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Don’t burn the house—David
CBCP head calls for sobriety, justice
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 289 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025
By Vito Barcelo, Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez, and Pot Chavez
T
HE head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) told participants in yesterday’s anti-corruption rallies that holding greedy officials accountable should not come at the expense of the country’s democratic institutions, even as groups representing virtually all colors in the political spectrum agreed that shameless government corruption must stop immediately.
• ‘No to military junta’ • 90k joined protests • Metro rallies peaceful
“Huwag mong sunugin ang buong bahay para alisin ang mga daga (Don’t burn down the whole house just to get rid of a few vermin),” was CBCP President Virgilio Cardinal David’s message Next page
Politicians, celebrities join peaceful rally By Ram Superable, Pot Chavez, Rex Espiritu, and Vince Lopez POLITICIANS and some celebrities joined the Trillion Peso March at the People Power Monument, expressing their support for the public’s clamor against rampant corruption in government, as demonstrated by anomalous flood control projects, which are said to have cost the public up to one trillion pesos. During the rally, Senators Bam Aquino and Francis Pangilinan renewed calls to penalize officials involved in the flood control scandal and to recover public funds lost to corruption. Aquino marched with students and members of Kaya Natin Youth as he urged the government to prosecute individuals accused of misusing taxpayer money. “We have long said that those involved in stealing taxpayers’ money must be punished and the funds they took must be recovered,” he said during the rally. “We stand with the call of the Church and the public that everyone involved in pocketing and abusing public funds must be held accountable and jailed,” Aquino added. The lawmaker argued that systemic reforms are necessary to prevent
Marcos: Honor Bonifacio’s selflessness By Charles Dantes and Katrina Manubay PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. encouraged Filipinos to embody the patriotism and selflessness of Andres Bonifacio as the nation commemorated the revolutionary hero’s 161st birth anniversary on Saturday.
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‘PBBM won’t be distracted by resign calls’
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CALL OF THE TIMES. The
common message in the two protest rallies at the EDSA People Power monument along EDSA and Rizal Park in Manila was to send those responsible for the plunder in the anomalous flood control projects to jail now. This was visually pronounced in the crocodile effigies dragged along by the protesters. At the end of the long day, there was time for a groupie, and a rainbow showed itself in the sky heralding what would be a peaceful end to a day of rage. Edd Castro, Norman Cruz, Rex Espiritu, Jason Valenzuela
By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not allow mounting calls for his resignation to distract him from pursuing those behind the flood control corruption scandal, Malacañang said Sunday. Presidential Communications Secretary Dave Gomez emphasized that the President remains focused on the anti-corruption campaign he initiated, despite intensifying protests Next page
E-TRIKE BAN MOVED TO JANUARY 2 NEWS / A2
Seven OFWs still missing, 84 others safe in Hong Kong blaze THE Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong confirmed yesterday the death of a Filipino overseas worker (OFW) following a Level 5 fire that engulfed a residential complex in Tai Po, New Territories, on November 26. In a statement, the consulate said
seven Filipinos remain unaccounted for, one OFW was injured, and 84 others have been reported safe. It extended condolences to the victim’s family, noting her sacrifices to provide a better life for her loved ones Next page
Flood control docs safe from Senate fire—Sotto By Katrina Manubay A FIRE broke out inside the Senate building in Pasay City yesterday but was put under control about one hour later, according to fire officials. In a statement, Senate President
Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said all Senate documents including those of the Blue Ribbon Committee investigating alleged anomalies in flood control projects remained secure despite the blaze. He said the Senate is coordinating
with the Bureau of Fire Protection to determine the cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage. “Rest assured that all pertinent Senate documents—including those of the Blue Ribbon Committee—reNext page