‘Go ahead, make my day’What’s worse than assassins using an RPG or rocket-propelled grenade to assassinate a mayor in broad daylight? Unfortunately, it was the Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Lingpeng, saying there was “no need for a Senate resolution” to declare “the deputy spokesperson of the Chinese embassy persona non grata” over the current word war between Philippine and Chinese officials. As a team, we stay or leave together.”“There is but one person who has the authority to ask Ambassador Jing to leave, and that is President Marcos Jr. I learned that the attack on Xi Jinping made sparks fly among Chinese embassy officials. Any diplomat or student of international studies will tell you that it is equivalent to Malacañang or President Marcos Jr. directly disrespecting China’s Xi Jinping.

EDITORIAL - Reversing a slowdownEconomic growth skidded to 4.4 percent in 2025, well below the government’s target of 5.5 to 6.5 percent. Balisacan admitted that the corruption scandal involving flood control and other infrastructure projects contributed to the economic slowdown along with extreme weather disturbances, aside from economic headwinds overseas. Corruption scandals rock other countries, with minimal or no impact on their economies and business confidence. These are not seen in the Philippines, where there has been a long string of major corruption scandals, with the big fish all getting away. The best way to reverse the economic slowdown and achieve government targets is to show the world that those behind the corruption scandal are identified, prosecuted swiftly and punished, particularly the big fish.

2 soldiers killed in clashes with terroristsThe slain Cpl. Ryan Bagual, a Muslim, was immediately buried by his relatives in their hometown, President Quirino in Sultan Kudarat, only about 60 kilometers south of Datu Hofer, Maguindanao del Sur, where he was killed in an encounter with Dawlah Islamiya terrorists. COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A soldier who was reported missing after a gunfight with Dawlah Islamiya terrorists in Datu Hoffer town in Maguindanao del Sur was found dead by villagers on Wednesday, the Philippine Army said. Mangalay is the second casualty in the skirmishes with terrorists this week. Both soldiers are members of the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion.

Learning crisisEmerging briefly at Malacañang from his diverticulitis break, President Marcos accepted the report of the Second Congressional Commission on Education or EDCOM 2 yesterday and said that he wanted the country’s “learning crisis” to be addressed. Changes can start in early education, a critical part of the human learning process. Once learning is derailed in the formative years, it’s so hard to catch up. Aid distribution is among the core functions of the DSWD, but it shouldn’t disrupt preschool education. Most of our Asian neighbors understand the importance of quality education, early childhood learning and skills-jobs matching after high school.

Seasoned with saltLet your words be seasoned with salt. When we season our words with salt, we recognize that, just as salt enhances food and preserves it, so do our words when we apply them with grace, tact and wisdom. As we all should know, the Philippines and China have some non-sensitive areas of cooperation that are put at risk. Words that are seasoned with salt require speech that is wholesome and truthful in order to preserve relationships and not corrupt them. As Colossians 4:6 in the Bible says, “Let your words be seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”

P221 million smuggled gadgets seizedStock image of people using their mobile phone. MANILA, Philippines — Smuggled cellphones and other gadgets valued at P221.5 million were intercepted in Quezon City on Wednesday. Gen. Hansel Marantan said police officers noticed the convoy of trucks for traffic violations, such as fraudulent license plates. The HPG said it received information about a convoy of trucks allegedly transporting illegal goods from Central Luzon to Metro Manila. The gadgets were turned over to the Bureau of Customs for further investigation.

Parental claim conflictDNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is the genetic material found in most human cells, carrying information that is passed from one generation to the next. She asked Maria to return the child, but Maria refused, leading Lina and Pedro to file a petition for habeas corpus. During the trial, Lina testified about the child’s birth and disappearance. Midwife Aling Rosa confirmed Junjun’s birth, while Daniel testified about Carlos’ sterility and the adoption claim. Both Maria and Carlos were incapable of having children, Lina presented the midwife and clinical records, and the birth certificate had discrepancies.

Special purpose taxesMANILA, Philippines — As if the burden of regular taxes on the middle class is not enough, there are also numerous special taxes that overtax the taxpayers. The most visible is the travel tax, a special tax imposed on all Filipinos and long-term foreign residents when they leave the country. Why CHED gets anything from the tourism tax is unexplainable, a product of chop suey policymaking. The problem is, like the toilets of PTA before, not all the supposedly tourist rest areas are really in tourist travel routes. The other notorious special tax is what they call the road users tax.

GDP growth slows to 4.4% in 2025Photo shows the skyline at the Ortigas Business Center in Pasig. Last year’s GDP growth also fell below the government’s 5.5 to 6.5 percent growth target. The fourth quarter 2025 GDP print was also lower than the previous quarter’s 3.9 percent expansion and the 5.3 percent growth in the same quarter in 2024. Industry declined by 0.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025 from the previous quarter’s 0.7 percent growth, bringing the sector’s full-year 2025 growth to 1.5 percent. Growth in the services sector also eased to 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2025, from 5.4 percent in the previous quarter, leading to a full-year 2025 growth of 5.9 percent.

SE Asia carriers adding over 300 jets until 2027MANILA, Philippines — Southeast Asia, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for leisure travel, will receive at least 310 aircraft until 2027 with locals spending more as their economies grow. The industry expects to receive 310 aircraft through 2027, with 121 arriving this year and 189 to be delivered in 2027, showing the region’s immediate requirement for more units. In 2025, Airbus delivered 42 aircraft to Southeast Asian carriers, while Boeing reported 15. Boeing estimates passenger demand in Southeast Asia to expand by an average of seven percent annually through 2044, making it the fastest-growing region along with South Asia. Schulte rests his optimism on the five-percent growth of economies in Southeast Asia yearly, driving travel and tourism higher.

Malaysia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Hasan, Myanmar's Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hau Khan Sum, Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa, East Timor's Foreign Minister Bendito dos Santos Freitas, and Vietnam's Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung pose for a group photo during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Cebu City, Philippines, January 29, 2026. JAM STA ROSA/Pool via REUTERS

Duterte’s lead counsel stays – SaraVice President Sara Duterte speaks to her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, during a hearing of the House quad committee, Nov. 14, 2024. This is the elder Duterte's first time facing the panel, while the vice president was there to watch the proceedings. MANILA, Philippines — Detained former president Rodrigo Duterte will not replace lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman despite the defense lawyer’s failure to stop the confirmation of charges hearing against him, Vice President Sara Duterte said. The Vice President cited concerns raised by both detractors and supporters of Duterte on the performance of his legal team. Vice President Duterte said the former president was OK.At the same time, the Vice President thanked the supporters of the former president outside the detention cell.

Marcos lauds Sandro for inhibiting on impeach rapsRep. Sandro Marcos (Ilocos) and his father, President Bongbong Marcos, as photographed in an Instagram post on June 30, 2024. Palace press officer Claire Castro maintained that Marcos would respect the impeachment process. “The problem is straightforward: there is no House member endorser. The absence of an endorser is the main issue.”Adiong said these rules are long established and intended to ensure order and fairness in the impeachment process. Without meeting either requirement, a complaint does not enter the formal House process.

Persona non grata for China diplomats ‘option of last resort’The Chinese embassy has drawn flak for its remarks against Philippine officials who had criticized China’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea. Some senators have proposed that Chinese embassy officials be declared persona non grata, a declaration that can be made by President Marcos as head of state. When asked about Marcos’ position on declaring Chinese embassy officials persona non grata, Castro said Lazaro’s statement reflected Marcos’ stance on the matter. China claims practically the entire South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea, the area within Manila’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. In 2002, ASEAN member countries and China inked the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to address maritime disputes peacefully.

Broader anti-corruption powers eyed for OmbudsmanMANILA, Philippines — The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will recommend broadening the Office of the Ombudsman’s anti-corruption mandate, in its upcoming partial report on the flood control scandal. Speaking to dzMM yesterday, Sen. Panfilo Lacson said the Senate anti-graft panel would recommend a bill that would allow the undermanned ombudsman to deputize private lawyers as prosecutors. “One recommendation is based on the suggestion of former Senate president Franklin Drilon to allow the Ombudsman to deputize private lawyers to help in prosecuting cases, because the Office of the Ombudsman is very undermanned. If we allow it to deputize private lawyers to act as prosecutors by way of legislation, that would be a good measure,” Lacson said. The ombudsman only relies on the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation for help in investigating corruption or enforcing search warrants.