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PESO AT NEW RECORD LOW VS. US $; INFLATION SEEN TO SOAR TO 6.3% By Thony Lesaca

VOL. XL • NO. 74 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026 •

Final impeach hearing focuses on VP’s threats vs. First Couple By Maricel V. Cruz, Rolando Ng III and Ram Superable

THE Philippine peso slumped to a new record low of P61.3 to $1 on Tuesday, weakening further from its previous all-time closing low of P60.748 on March 31. Data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed the local currency opened at P60.8 to $1 before hitting an intraday low and settling at P61.3 per dollar. SM Investments Corp. chief economist Robert Dan Roces said

PBBM ‘disappointed’ over failure to bring Co home By Charles Dantes, Vince Lopez, Maricel Cruz, Ram Superable and Rolando Ng III

ALACAÑANG on Tuesday confirmed that fugitive former lawmaker Zaldy Co is now in France where he is seeking political asylum.

TOXIC SMOKE. Toxic smoke rises from burning garbage at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill more than two weeks after the fire started. Inset shows Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon together with Japanese ambassador Kazuya Endo, DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, and Navotas Mayor John Tiangco inspecting the progress of efforts to put out the blaze. FB pages of Mayor John Tiangco, DPWH

BIR orders tax audit of VP Sara, spouse By Jimbo Gulle

Co now seeking political asylum in France—Palace

THE House Committee on Justice will resume today (Wednesday) what is expected to be its final hearing on Wednesday to determine probable cause in two remaining impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte. This time, the hearing centers on Duterte’s public threat, caught on video in 2024, to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez killed if something happens to her. The panel, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, will also rule on whether the third and fourth impeachment complaints—previously found sufficient in form, substance and

THE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has ordered a formal tax audit of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, her husband lawyer Manases R. Carpio, and nine affiliated business enterprises. In a statement released yesterday, BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza confirmed the issuance of Letters of Authority (LOAs), an official document authorizing revenue officers to examine a taxpayer’s records for a specific taxable year. Taxpayers are generally required to comply with the audit within 10 days of receipt. The tax agency cited a determination of probable cause as the basis for the probe, framing the move as a rulesbased exercise to ensure the collection of correct taxes due to the government. To be valid, an LOA must be served within 30 days of its issuance, and its authenticity can be verified through the BIR’s online systems. Failure to comply with an authorized audit can lead to significant legal consequences, including the issuance

the peso’s move above the P61 level does not mean the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ policy rate hike failed, noting that stronger forces are driving the Philippine currency’s depreciation. “US rates are still high, the dollar is strong, and money is moving out of emerging markets. There is also steady local demand for dollars from importers. The market is looking at where rates are headed, not just the last move, and may still

Navotas landfill still burning; end uncertain— Dizon By Rex Espiritu and Vito Barcelo

And while President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not blaming anyone for the failure to bring Co back to the Philippines, he was “disappointed” at what happened, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. “We were able to speak directly with the President today, and he said he was disappointed because we were already close to bringing Zaldy Co home,” Castro said. “According to the President, he does not see anyone to blame because all the officials who were involved in this, in order to determine what happened and what the condition of Zaldy Co was at that time, did their jobs properly,” she said. The President will meet with the French ambassador today (Wednesday) to discuss developments and possible actions regarding Co’s status, Castro added. “So that we can be made clearer on what else should be done and what further assistance other countries can provide, especially since we have what is called the United Nations Convention Against Corruption,” she said. She said the President also intends to meet with the ambassador of the Czech Republic. For his part, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla apologized for his Next page

DEPARTMENT of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon on Tuesday said authorities have extinguished nearly 50% of the ongoing fire at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill. However, the DPWH chief clarified that they still cannot provide a timeline for when the entire fire will be put out. “According to estimates, we have extinguished almost half of the fire. It’s big progress, but as we have seen, Next page

PH, ALLIES REPEL INVADERS IN DRILL NEWS/ A2

PINOY INVENTION. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. checks out the MultiGrain Precision Seeder with Fertilizer Applicator invented by Mr. Delfin C. Cuevas of Southern Luzon, at left, winner of the 2026 National Invention Contest & Exhibit (Nice) of the DOST Banghay Award for Outstanding Industrial Design during a ceremony in Malacañang. With the President is DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. Revoli Cortez

LIVE FIRE EXERCISE. A tank fires at invading forces during a counter-landing exercise held yesterday by Philippine and allied forces at Aborlan, Palawan island. Balikatan Public Affairs Combined Information Bureau

SENATE Ethics committee chairman JV Ejercito said Tuesday more than half of the nine ethics complaints filed before the panel against senators did not meet the crucial criteria of sufficiency in form and substance to be accommodated. Ejercito said earlier they would begin evaluating complaints against senators once its rules are published following the completion of the required six signatures.

By Pot Chavez

“Some are not compliant so we will be returning them to the complainants,” Ejercito said. “Maybe half or even more, more than half are not compliant,” he added. Ejercito stressed that complaints should comply with a “matrix of requirements.” He noted however, that the case under the first docket met the test of form and substance, and the respondent would be furnished a copy for response.

THE International Criminal Court (ICC) organized a group of three judges to hear the case of former President Rodrigo Duterte. This development follows the confirmation of charges by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I last week, which committed Duterte for trial. ICC-accredited assistant to counsel Kristina Conti told Manila Standard that the trial proper is expected to happen between October 2026 until February 2027. Meanwhile, she noted that the ICC shall conduct status hearings and evidence disclosure before the trial begins. “Next steps are generally administrative, and involve the cooperation of the prosecution, defense, and victims’ legal teams. A status hearing, in private session, might be scheduled soon,” said Conti. The Trial Chamber consists of Judge

Most of 9 ethics cases to be returned to complainants—JV By Ram Superable

ICC appoints 3 judges for Rody’s trial