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No NUP party stand on VP Sara impeachment, says Puno By Maricel V. Cruz and Charles Dantes
VOL. XL • NO. 17 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2026
DEPUTY Speaker and Antipolo City Rep. Ronaldo Puno on Thursday clarified that the National Unity Party
(NUP) that he chairs is neutral on the impeachment call against Vice President Sara Duterte. Puno said the 40-strong NUP, the second largest political party in Congress, Next page
‘Defense aims for ICC mistrial’ Trillanes says Baligod claims to be invoked by Rody’s lawyer
By Ram Superable Katrina Manubay, Maricel V. Cruz, Rex Espiritu and Charles Dantes
T
HE allegations of a group of 18 former security personnel that $2 million exchanged hands to facilitate the investigation into the crimes against humanity case of former President Rodrigo Duterte aims to derail the ongoing hearing before the International Criminal Court, ex-senator Antonio Trillanes IV said.
“As for the allegation, its purpose is to tarnish the integrity of the ICC proceedings currently taking place in The Hague. The objective is to create doubt about the proceedings,” Trillanes said. Next page
‘No proven link between Rody’s speeches, killings’ By Pot Chavez and Charles Dantes THERE is no proven link between the “uniquely colorful and crusty” speeches of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte and the murders he is accused of, his defense lawyer told the International Criminal Court Thursday. On the third day of a hearing to decide whether Duterte should face trial on crimes against humanity charges over his war on drugs, lawyer Nicholas Kaufman said the prosecution
REBUTTAL. Lead defense counsel Nicholas Kaufman on Thursday presents his rebuttal of the crimes against humanity charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte during the confirmation of charges hearing at the International Criminal Court. ICC
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Gov’t sets up disaster food repacking centers in Cebu, Butuan By Charles Dantes and Minerva Newman PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. yesterday inspected the newly upgraded Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) here and declared that the facility enables the national government to directly provide food packs and other humanitarian aid, as well as strengthen disaster response and preparedness across the Visayas and Mindanao regions. “This is the first time that the national government is giving away food packs. Previously, we were getting it at random from various sources, but now we have streamlined the system,” the President said in Filipino Marcos later motored to Liloan town where he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive social protection, during the launch of the Pag-abot Processing Center (PPC) in Barangay Tayud. The President also cited the construction of a new disaster food repacking center in Butuan City to strengthen Next page
Senate to take up ethics case vs. Sen. Bato By Ram Superable THE Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges will meet in executive session on March 4 to adopt its rules and conduct an initial review of pending complaints, including a case filed against Senator Ronald dela Rosa over his prolonged absence from sessions. Committee chair Senator JV Ejercito said the gathering was moved up from its original March 10 schedule after Senate President Vicente Sotto III approved the use of the Senate President’s Conference Room for the meeting. “Executive session among members; the agenda is the adoption of rules, and Next page
DISASTER READY. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian check
out the mechanized production center of the Visayas Disaster Resource Center (VDRC) of the DSWD in Mandaue City, Cebu, where vacuum sealing is now machine-operated to make the food packs last longer and be more protected. PCO
DOJ reviewing decision on raps against Zaldy Co, Bong Revilla By Pot Chavez THE resolution on the cases involving resigned Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Zaldy Co and former Senator Bong Revilla is now under review, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday.
“The resolutions for Zaldy Co’s Plunder case and Revilla’s Malversation case are currently under review with the Division Chief,” Martinez said in a Viber message to reporters on Thursday. He added there is still no exact date Next page
VANCE TO IRAN: TAKE THREATS SERIOUSLY WORLD / A6
PH SEEKS $10.3B IN LOANS FROM JPN, KOR, FRANCE BUSINESS / B1
P3,500/mo rental subsidy for homeless proposed By Maricel Cruz KANLAON UNREST. Mt. Kanlaon in Negros Occidental erupts anew at 7:13 p.m. last night, according to the Philippine Volcanology and Seismology Institute (Phivolcs). The volcano has been in a state of unrest since it last erupted on February 19. Sam Pantalita FB page
LEYTE Rep. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez has filed a bill seeking to grant a monthly rental housing subsidy to millions of homeless Filipinos, or in-
formal settler families (ISFs). The proposal is contained in House Bill 7230, titled “An Act establishing a rental housing subsidy program for informal settler families and appropriating funds therefore,” with Rep.
Jude Acidre of TINGOG Party-list as co-principal author. Romualdez said the proposed Rental Housing Subsidy Program Act would provide social protection and support Next page