KIG officials, residents offended by Marcoleta
12 reported dead due to ‘Basyang,’ some 455,640 displaced—OCD By Rex Espiritu THE Office of Civil Defense (OCD) on Saturday said that 12 people were reported dead due to the effects of Tropical Cyclone “Basyang” (international name: Penha). OCD deputy spokesperson Diego Agustin Mariano said the reported fatalities were recorded in several areas but are still subject to validation. These included four deaths in Cagayan de Oro City due to a landslide, four in Iligan City, one in an unspecified location in Region 9 that is still being verified, two in Surigao del Sur due to drowning, and one in Agusan del Norte due to drowning. The Police Regional Office 10 (Northern Mindanao) on Friday said four people were reported dead in a landslide at Zone-1 Sambulawan, Gabule Compound, Brgy. Agusan in Cagayan de Oro City amid the onslaught of “Basyang.”
Lacson: Relinquishing Kalayaan like surrendering entire PH
By Rex Espiritu and Joel E. Zurbano
L
OCAL officials and residents of the Kalayaan Island Group took offense at the statement by Senator Rodante Marcoleta that it will be easier to give up the islands than go to war against China for what he claimed to be “something that is not even within our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone).”
During a Commission on Appointments hearing on Wednesday, Marcoleta raised the KIG issue. “What exactly are we killing each other for? We will offer our lives and the lives of our children to die for it,
for something that is not even within our EEZ. What we should do to make it easier is to give up the KIG,” Marcoleta said.
Turn to A4
20 .00
IN METR
MANILAO
“We were offended. We take offense at what he has said because what is the use then of our municipality? What is the purpose of our honorable people who have given up greener pastures else-
Turn to A4 VOL. XXXIX • NO. 358 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES FEBRUARY 8, 2026
www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
HEARTS AFLUTTER.
A giant heart-shaped structure calls the attention of park goers inside the Quezon City Memorial Circle. Manny Palmero
where just to stay here for decades,” said Kalayaan Vice Mayor Murice Phillip Albayda. Albayada said the local government will meet on Tuesday to file a resolution requesting the Senate secretariat to strike out the comment made by Marcoleta. Kalayaan is the country’s only municipality located in the West Philippine Sea. Malacañang immediately rejected suggestions that the Philippines should give up the KIG, noting that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will not surrender any portion of the country’s territory in the West Philippine Sea. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said Mr. Marcos remains firm in defending the country’s maritime claims and will continue to assert sovereignty through diplomatic and legal means.
PH, US air forces conduct air patrol drills in Luzon, including over WPS THE Philippine Air Force said Filipino and American aircraft conducted a series of exercises from February 2 to 6 at various locations in Luzon, including over the West Philippine Sea, as part of efforts to enhance interoperability between the two air forces. “The bilateral engagement featured a series of coordinated air activities aimed at strengthening cooperation and interoperability between Philippine and US forces,” PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Christina Basco said in a statement on Saturday. Units of the PAF and the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) “conducted a bilateral bomber air patrol and live drop exercise” from multiple locations, including the Col. Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac City and over the WPS via the Luzon Strait. Support was also
AIR PATROL DRILLS.
The Philippine Air Force and the US Pacific Air Forces conducted a series of air patrol and live drop exercises from Feb. 2 to 6, 2026 at multiple locations in Luzon, including at the Colonel Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac City and over the West Philippine Sea via the Luzon Strait. PAF Facebook page
Galunggong prices Blue Ribbon draft report to go down in March won’t omit names—Lacson NEWS / A3
2 Pinoy skiers hit Winter Games slopes SPORTS / B3
THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee will not omit the names of sitting senators and other lawmakers implicated in allegedly anomalous flood control projects in its draft partial report, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ping Lacson said. In an interview with Bilyonaryo News Channel, Lacson said the draft report that recommends plunder and other possible criminal charges against Senators Francis Escudero, Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada as well as resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co was based on evidence that emerged during the hearings into the alleged multibillion-peso flood control scam. Turn to A4
manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
provided by the US Special Operations Command Pacific and Marine Corps Forces - Pacific. First among the air drills on Feb. 2 was a live drop exercise involving two PAF FA-50PH fighter aircraft and two US PACAF B-52 bomber aircraft. Basco said the exercise continued with an air defense scenario on Feb. 4, over the WPS, focusing on airspace coordination, commandand-control integration, and joint operational response. On Feb. 6, the activity culminated in a joint bomber air patrol over the WPS and the Luzon Strait. Basco said this highlighted combined mission planning, airspace coordination, and operational readiness among the PAF, PACAF, and supporting US forces. She said these activities enhanced bilateral interoperability, operational readiness, and strategic cooperation through joint planning, coordination, and execution in a realistic training environment. “Through these combined air activities and multi-domain support, the PAF continued to strengthen defense partnerships and reinforce its capability to safeguard national airspace and uphold sovereignty,” Basco said. Rex Espiritu
‘Madriaga ready to testify in VP impeach hearing’ By Charles Dantes and Maricel Cruz RAMIL Madriaga, who claims to be a former aide of Vice President Sara Duterte, is willing to testify against his ex-boss should he be called to appear in the impeachment hearing against her or by other investigating bodies, his lawyer on Saturday said. Madriaga’s allegation that drug dealers and POGO operations funded the Inday Sara Duterte is My President (ISIP) Pilipinas
@manilastandard
national campaign was included in the second impeachment complaint filed by Tindig Pilipinas. “Yes, he is willing. He will appear if he gets a subpoena,” said Madriaga’s counsel Raymund Palad, adding that his client might also be asked to testify by the Senate or the Ombudsman. Duterte, who has since denied knowing Madriaga personally, dismissed the complaint filed by Tindig Pilipinas that was endorsed by opposition-backed party Akbayan, calling it baseless, politically motivated, and an abuse of
@ManilaStandardYT
the constitutional impeachment process. In a statement, the Vice President said the complaint contained “no evidence” to support the allegations against her, arguing that it was part of a long-running effort by political opponents to remove her from office. “The impeachment complaint endorsed by Akbayan is a piece of paper with no accompanying evidence to prove the accusations stated in it,” Duterte said in mixed Filipino and English. Turn to A4
Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net •09173382170 / 85646229