Marcos on 2028 talks: We will get to that soon 20 .00
Says he and Leni to prioritize public service before politics
IN MET R MANILAO
ICC junks Rody’s bid to disqualify external lawyers of EJK victims By Pot Chavez THE International Criminal Court Pre-Trial Chamber I has rejected the request of the camp of former president Rodrigo Duterte to disqualify the external legal representatives for the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings during the past administration’s bloody war on drugs. Turn to A4
VOL. XL • NO. 12 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES FEBRUARY 22, 2026
By Charles Dantes
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RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he did not discuss the 2028 elections with former Vice President and Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo during their meeting yesterday, adding that they will eventually “get to that.”
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‘MEASLES, RUBELLA OUTBREAKS RISK IN MINDANAO HIGH’
“We did not discuss (politics). I think the mayor (Robredo) will agree with me, public service first before politics. There are so many things we need to do first,” Mr. Marcos said after they inspected the Oplan Kontra Baha project at Sagop Creek.
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The most political thing that we did today: I wore my pink socks in honor of Mayor Leni. —President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
TRUMP ORDERS RELEASE OF DATA ON UFOS, ALIENS WORLD / A4
“We will get to that. Aabot din tayo doon,” the President added. Pressed about a possible political alliance with Robredo, President Marcos declined to comment. “What we are here for is to try and find solutions to this very important problem of flooding, a very critical problem that we have not only here in Naga City but also in Camarines Sur and for that matter for the whole of Bicol,” Mr. Marcos said. “The most political thing that we did today: I wore my pink socks in honor of Mayor Leni.” For her part, Robredo said it was too early to discuss the 2028 national elections, saying her priority remains fulfilling her responsibilities as mayor. “I do not consider discussing politics this early. There is so much work to be done,” Robredo said.
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Trump imposes 10% global tariff after stinging court rebuke ALL SMILES. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Naga City Mayor Maria Leni Robredo on Saturday lead an inspection of the Jesse M. Robredo Coliseum (JMRC). Mr. Marcos turned over about P500 million for the renovation and retrofitting of the facility. PCO
PBBM on VP Sara’s early prexy bid: ‘That’s her choice’ By Charles Dantes and Maricel Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday declined to comment on Vice President Sara Duterte’s early declaration of plan to seek the presidency in the 2028 national polls. “Nothing really,” Mr. Marcos said when asked to comment on Duterte’s recent announcement during his trip to Naga City where
he met with Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo. “That’s her choice,” he added. He also refused to comment on the willingness of his sister, Senator Imee Marcos, to be the running mate of Duterte. “Again, this is all politics. I’m not going to…we’re not going to discuss politics now,” the President said. For Manila Rep. Benny Abante, who endorsed the fourth impeach-
ment complaint against Duterte, said her early political positioning for 2028 could turn out to be a“blessing in disguise” for whoever runs against her. He said it prematurely placed Duterte under intense public scrutiny at a time when voters are demanding transparency and accountability. “Many questions will be asked of her, particularly on the impeachment complaint,” he said.
“My only request to our Vice President is if she really has nothing to hide, if what she did was really above board, let her say it…Let her be transparent, let her be accountable,” Abante added. The fourth impeachment complaint accused Duterte of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high Turn to A4 crimes.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on imports into the United States after the Supreme Court struck down many of his sweeping and often arbitrary duties, delivering a stinging rebuke on his signature economic policy. Trump signed the tariff order in the Oval Office—saying on social media it was “effective almost immediately” — after spending the past year imposing various rates to cajole and punish countries, both friend and foe. The new duty is slated to take effect February 24 for 150 days, with exemptions remaining for sectors that are under separate probes, including pharma, and goods entering the US under the US-Mexico-Canada agreement, according to a White House factsheet. Malacañang, for its part, said the Philippines will sustain dialogue with Washington following the newly-imposed 10 percent global tariff, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said. Turn to A4
Sen. Tulfo, Chinese ambassador to meet Monday on WPS issues By Joel Zurbano and Charles Dantes
JAMMING AGAINST CORRUPTION. Performers and advocates gather at the Quezon Memorial Circle on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, for the ‘Awit at Aksyon Kontra Korapsyon’ concert marking the 40th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution. Edd Castro
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SENATOR Erwin Tulfo will meet with Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on Monday to discuss matters related to the West Philippine Sea following a series of heated public exchanges between Manila and Beijing officials. Tulfo, who serves as the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, indicated that the Department of Foreign Affairs facilitated the meeting. The senator previously voiced his support for diplomatic de-escalation given the rising tensions over the WPS issue. Tulfo highlighted the urgent need to ensure the safety of Filipino per-
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sonnel and fishermen operating in the West Philippine Sea. “What is important is that none of our personnel and fishermen are harmed,” he said. DFA maritime affairs spokesperson Rogelio Villanueva described the planned dialogue as “an opportunity for frank, cordial, and professional discussion — one that can candidly address divergent positions while also identifying areas of common understanding.” Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is also amenable to fostering a dialogue between the Upper Chamber and the Chinese Embassy. “We may have our disagreements Turn to A4
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