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PBBM open to 4-day workweek
DTI: No price hikes yet for basic, prime goods amid MidEast crisis By Charles Dantes, Alena Mae S. Flores, Othel Campos and Maricel Cruz
RESIDENT Ferdinand • House to prioritize Marcos Jr. is open to bill allowing Marcos studying a proposal for a four‑day workweek for to slash fuel excise tax government offices as part of broader efforts to conserve energy amid global oil price risks driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Palace on Wednesday said.
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VOL. XL • NO. 23 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2026
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Iran to continue war ‘for as long as we want’ IRAN has no intention of negotiating with the Unit‑ ed States and can continue the war for “as long as we want,” Mohammad Mokhber, a senior aide to late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told state TV on Wednesday. The country’s judiciary chief meanwhile warned anyone aiding Iran’s enemies would “be dealt with decisively and severely,” after the United States and Israel called on Iranians to rise up against the Islam‑ ic republic’s authorities. With global energy prices already on the rise over the expanding war, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said it has “complete control” of the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial chokepoint into the Gulf. Next page
ON TO PLENARY . Lawmakers from the House of Representatives raise their hands in favor of moving the remaining impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte to a plenary vote on March 4, 2026 after the House Committee on Justice ruled that the cases are sufficient in form and substance. House of Representatives / Screenshot
House committee sends 2 VP Sara impeach raps to plenary By Maricel V. Cruz and Katrina Manubay THE House Committee on Justice agreed over‑ whelmingly on Wednesday to submit to the ple‑ nary the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte for a vote that could de‑ cide her political future. Meanwhile, Duterte’s defense team said they
VP Sara files perjury case vs Madriaga NEWS / A3 will carefully review the House ruling that the third and fourth impeachment complaints were
Palace bucks antidynasty jab vs. PBBM; minority junks bill
sufficient in form and substance. The daughter of former president Rodrigo Duterte, who announced earlier her 2028 presidential bid, was impeached last year, only for the Supreme Court to toss out the case over procedural issues. Under the Philippine Constitution, an im‑ peachment by the House of Representatives trig‑ gers a Senate trial, where a guilty verdict would
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday pushed back against criticism that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was merely paying lip service to the proposed An‑ ti-Political Dynasty bill, after a lawmaker accused him of insincerity over the measure’s priority status.
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By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz
PH-Sokor agreements to spur investments, job creation—PBBM PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. yesterday said newly-signed business agreements between Philippine and South Korean firms covering ship‑ building, nuclear energy, aerospace, crit‑ ical minerals, supply chains, retail, and health and wellness, are expected to spur investments and job creation. Speaking at the Philippines–Korea Business Forum at Conrad Manila,
Marcos said the agreements reflect growing private sector confidence and a deepening economic relationship be‑ tween Manila and Seoul. The president said the deals are pro‑ jected to generate new projects across strategic industries while creating em‑ ployment opportunities for Filipinos. “These will ripple into significant Next page
STRONG POTENTIAL. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung together with Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque attend the Philippines-Korea Business Forum where the President highlighted in his speech the strong potential for expanded investments, job creation, and deeper economic cooperation between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. PCO
ANTI-FAKE NEWS PACT. Newspaper publishers and the President Communications
Office sign an agreement to strengthen cooperation in combating fake news, disinformation, and misinformation yesterday at the PBS Room in Malacañang Palace. From left to right, Arjay Balinbin, Business World, Associate Editor, Luisito ‘Chito’ Lozada, Daily Tribune, Executive Editor, T. Anthony C. Cabangon, BusinessMirror, Publisher, Paolo R. Prieto, Philippine Daily Inquirer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dave M. Gomez, PCO Acting Secretary, Herminio B. Coloma, Jr., Manila Bulletin, Publisher, Rolando Estabillo, Manila Standard, Publisher, Allen A. Macasaet, Business Insight, Publisher and Chairman, Anna Marie Ang-Thompson, The Manila Times, Chief Executive Officer and Teresa ‘Tammy’ Mendoza, The Philippine Star, Senior Vice President. Revoli Cortez
Publishers back PCO drive vs. fake news, disinformation By Charles Dantes THE Manila Standard, together with other broadsheets and the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), on Wednesday took part in a nationwide initiative to combat fake news and dis‑ information across digital and social
media platforms. The newspaper signed a Memoran‑ dum of Understanding with the PCO and eight other major publications to promote transparency, media literacy, fact-based reporting, and responsible information sharing. Next page
Suntay may have violated Safe Spaces Act—Palace By Charles Dantes, Maricel V. Cruz, and Rio N. Araja MALACANANG on Wednesday slammed the remarks of a lawmaker about fantasizing and boasting over a woman, saying it could constitute a viola‑ tion of the Safe Spaces Act and stressing that objectifying women should not be normalized or treated as a compliment. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro made the remarks during a press briefing when asked about comments attributed to Quezon City 4th District Rep. Jesus Manuel “Bong” Suntay which drew harsh criticisms from women’s groups. Meanwhile, Suntay apologized for his lewd remarks about actress Anne Curtis during the House impeachment proceedings last Tuesday. For her part, Quezon City May‑ or Joy Belmonte said Suntay should
Anne Curtis
Rep. Bong Suntay
Jasmin Curtis slams Suntay for risque remark SHOWBIZ / C2
publicly apologize for “inappropri‑ ate” remarks he made about actress and television host Anne Curtis dur‑ ing the House deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Next page