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Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. respects the decision of the House of Representatives to proceed with impeachment deliberations after two complaints against him were found sufficient in form, Malacañang said Monday, Feb.2.  Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Palace would abide by congressional procedures, stressing that the president is confident he committed no wrongdoing. “Well, that’s the process. We have to respect that,” Castro told reporters when asked about the House justice panel ruling. The Palace said Marcos is confident the complaints would eventually fail on substance.“Even before, sinabi na po ng pangulo na alam niya na wala siyang ginawang mali, wala siyang ginawang paglabag sa batas at wala siyang ginawang impeachable offense kaya kumpiyansa siya sa sarili niya.”[Translation: The president has said even before that he knows he did nothing wrong, committed no violation of the law, and committed no impeachable offense, which is why he…

Metro Manila, Philippines – Oil companies have advised motorists of a fuel price hike on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Gasoline prices will increase by ₱0.80 per liter, diesel by ₱1.60/l, and kerosene by ₱1.10/l. The Department of Energy cited higher demand and geopolitical risks, including tensions between the United States and Iran, as factors driving higher oil prices. Shell, Caltex, and SeaOil said they will implement the adjustments. Petro Gazz, CleanFuel, and PTT Philippines will apply the same increases, except for kerosene, which they do not offer. “Tinitiyak ng DOE sa publiko na patuloy nitong mahigpit na minomonitor ang kalagayan ng pandaigdigang pamilihan ng langis,” the DOE said in a media release on Monday, February 2. [Translation: The DOE assures the public that it continues to closely monitor the condition of the global oil market.]

The two verified impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were declared “sufficient in form” on Monday, Feb. 2, as deliberations on the matter began in the House of Representatives.

Metro Manila, Philippines – Two fresh complaints to oust Vice President Sara Duterte were filed with the House of Representatives on Monday, Feb. 2, amid conflicting interpretations on the one-year bar rule, the provision in the Constitution that prohibits more than one impeachment proceeding against one official in one year. The Makabayan Coalition filed the first complaint, alleging betrayal of public trust for her supposed mismanagement of P612.5 million funds as vice president and former education secretary. Makabayan bloc representatives Antonio Tinio, Renee Co and Sarah Elago endorsed the complaint. France Castro, former ACT Teacher’s party-list representative and a complainant in the petition against Duterte, said the vice president committed gross abuse of discretionary power, gross disregard of transparency and accountability by making a mockery of the audit process. “Hindi siya sumasagot doon sa mga tanong sa lahat ng committee, budget hearings so nag-asal pusit ang vice president,” she said. …

President Bongbong Marcos on Sunday, Feb. 1, said he is recovering from diverticulitis, acknowledging he appears to have lost weight.