Trillanes denies $2 million bribe from Co for ICCFormer senator Antonio Trillanes IV talks to media in front of the Department of Justice in this photo from July 2024. He also claimed that ICC investigators interviewed witnesses endorsed by Trillanes. Asked whether ICC investigators conducted activities in the Philippines in 2023, Trillanes declined to give details, saying the matter is highly confidential. “What they (ICC investigators) did was to interview witnesses sent to them by Sonny Trillanes, they did not interview any other witnesses but only people who were only sent by Sonny Trillanes. The funds were given to Sonny Trillanes to take care of these ICC investigators, that’s why all the vehicles used, all the hotel accommodations, were paid for by Zaldy Co and Sonny Trillanes,” Baligod added.

Marcos Jr. : Talks underway for possible successorPresident Marcos fields questions during the general assembly of the National Irrigation Administration and the National Confederation of Irrigators Associations at the NIA main office in Diliman, Quezon City yesterday. MANILA, Philippines — The administration is already talking to potential candidates for the presidency in 2028, President Marcos revealed yesterday as speculations intensified on the possible alliances shaping up for the next elections. Although people are already talking about the 2028 presidential race, Marcos said he won’t be endorsing a candidate anytime soon. “Of course, of course (it will affect) because here in our proceedings, the grounds will be discussed, which are issues being imputed, imputed against the Vice President. In a related development, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla brushed off inquiries about a possible presidential bid for 2028.

Humid weather expected as monsoon weakensMANILA, Philippines — The public has been advised to prepare for warm and humid weather in the next few weeks as the northeast monsoon or amihan has weakened, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. State weather forecasters said that easterlies would affect the weather conditions until Friday. Cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms will prevail over Dinagat Islands, Eastern Visayas and Surigao del Norte, and may cause flash floods or landslides. Metro Manila and the rest of the country will see partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms. Severe thunderstorms may cause flash floods or landslides, particularly in low-lying areas.

Divers finish searching Trisha Kirsten 3Members of the Philippine Coast Guard lower an inflatable boat from BRP Melchora Aquino as the search for the M/V Trisha Kerstin 3 resumes near Baluk-Baluk Island in Hadji Muhtamad town in Basilan. ZAMBOANGA CITY M, Philippines —– After 27 days of underwater operation, technical divers of the Philippine Coast Guard have finished searching the interior of the sunken M/V Trisha Kerstin 3, the PCG reported yesterday. However, the divers will continue scouring the vessel until tomorrow to ensure that all areas are inspected thoroughly, PCG District Southwestern Mindanao chief Cmdre. During the 27-day underwater operation, the divers recovered 22 bodies trapped inside Trisha Kerstin 3. All diving operations were documented through underwater video recordings to support the ongoing investigation, Marfe said.

Mayon Volcano emits ashPhivolcs said the ash emission occurred at 1:50 p.m. at the summit crater of the volcano. MANILA, Philippines — Mayon Volcano in Albay yesterday emitted ash, producing plumes that rose 1,000 meters, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. Phivolcs said the ash emission occurred at 1:50 p.m. at the summit crater of the volcano. State volcanologists said Mayon remains under Alert Level 3 or high level of unrest. Pilots have been warned against flying close to the volcano as ash emission can be hazardous to aircraft.

Blockbuster rematch onMANILA, Philippines — A date is set for the much-awaited, long-overdue rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather. It’s on Sept. 19 and the fight will be a 12-rounder at the 18,600-seat Sphere in Las Vegas. Pacquiao withheld confirming the bout the other day and said he’ll wait for Mayweather to announce it. With the rematch, they will settle the score once and for all. Mayweather likes to be called Money and was once said to have earned over $1.2 billion in his career.

Total lunar eclipse expected on March 3A lunar eclipse is observed from San Pedro City, Laguna, in this photo taken in November 2022. MANILA, Philippines — A total lunar eclipse is expected to be seen in the country’s skies next week, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. PAGASA said the moon will be totally eclipsed for about 59 minutes and 24 seconds on March 3 and will be visible over Eastern Asia, Australia, the Central Pacific and most of the Americas. The maximum eclipse is expected to happen at 7:34 p.m., with the moon entering totality at 7:04 p.m., it added. “Contrary to solar eclipses, observing a lunar eclipse is completely safe and does not require any protective eyewear,” the agency said.

House panel tackles VP impeachment on March 2Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for president in the 2028 general elections, at a press conference in Mandaluyong. MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice will begin deliberations on the four impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte on March 2, 3 and 4. “For clarity, what we mean in the consolidation is because we will be deliberating on the four impeachment complaints in one impeachment proceeding. He added that the public must remember that impeachment proceedings in the House are not the trial. It will only be the members of the justice committee who will participate in the deliberation,” she noted.

Angara promotes PPPs to address classroom lackMANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara underscored yesterday the crucial role of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in accelerating classroom construction to address the country’s 165,000-classroom backlog. “This administration has clearly set very clear signals that they want to work with the private sector and that they need the private sector. The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to build more than 16,000 classrooms in high-need areas nationwide under the PPP for School Infrastructure Program 3 (PSIP 3), with a total project cost of P105.7 billion. Angara said the initiative is part of the Marcos administration’s efforts to modernize school facilities and address critical learning gaps. Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on finance, said the funding aims to address long-standing capacity constraints that have forced SUCs to turn away qualified applicants.

Duterte also wants to skip detention hearingMANILA, Philippines — Former president Rodrigo Duterte has requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow him to waive his attendance at the scheduled hearing regarding his detention on Friday. The ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I earlier allowed the former president to skip the confirmation hearings. Under ICC’s rules, the Pre-Trial Chamber is required to hold a hearing on pre-trial detention at least once every year. “There is no evidence, that they are repeating it to the public, that it is the fault of the former president Duterte,” Panelo said over radio dzBB. “We all know that president Duterte doesn’t believe in the ICC because, first of all, he pointed out that it has no jurisdiction.

12 senators sign panel report on anti-dynasty billMANILA, Philippines — The Senate bill banning political dynasties is now up for plenary approval after hurdling the committee level last week. Panel chair Sen. Risa Hontiveros yesterday sponsored Senate Bill 1901, with 12 senators signing the committee report. Hontiveros acknowledged that the report’s second-degree ban is a compromise compared to the stricter fourth-degree prohibition originally proposed in her version of the bill. The Charter explicitly bans political dynasties, but the provision requires an enabling law from Congress. A second-degree ban could affect roughly 30 percent of existing political dynasties nationwide as early as the 2028 elections, Hontiveros said, citing a study.

Apple to shift some Mac Mini production to Houston from AsiaThe Apple logo hangs from the front of the new Apple Store Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., July 28, 2016. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo

The question is – if war were to break out tomorrow, will America unequivocally come to the Philippines’ defense? In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration rejected China’s sweeping claims and affirmed that the contested waters indeed lie within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. For its part, the United States has long positioned itself as the chief architect and defender of that order. Economic ties between the United States and the Philippines are no longer as dominant as they once were. The United States might begin with intelligence sharing, logistical assistance, cyber operations and accelerated military deployments to nearby bases.

Days before the country marked the 40th anniversary of the people power revolt, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines warned that the country faced a new threat. “When freedom is treated merely as a memory and not a duty, the spirit of EDSA slowly dies,” Garcera said in his homily on the fourth day of novena masses for the people power anniversary. The unresolved corruption scandal in budgeting, flood control and other public works projects casts a shadow over events marking the 40th anniversary of people power. On the 40th anniversary of the people power revolt, Filipinos are calling for sweeping reforms as well as accountability – in the drug war, and in the corruption scandal. These calls deserve to be amplified today, with Filipinos dispelling fears of moral fatigue, and aware of the price of freedom.

During Duterte’s six years in power, state forces reported over 6,000 mostly drug suspects killed in what the government described as law enforcement operations. Commemoration of the people power revolt became progressively tepid in the past four decades. There’s acknowledgment that public outrage alone is not enough, without accompanying systemic changes. Perhaps it’s true that life begins at 40. Will long-term, meaningful change in our society also begin at 40?