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Metro Manila, Philippines – House justice committee chairperson Gerville “Jinky” Luistro said Vice President Sara Duterte’s attendance in the upcoming impeachment hearings will be “very significant” to directly challenge the evidence presented against her. In an interview on The Newsmaker on Friday, March 20, Luistro said Duterte’s presence would give her the opportunity to “witness up close and personal the evidence which will be presented by the complainant.” “Of course, this is significant because she needs to counter, to rebut, to question the evidence of the complainant so as to provide basis for the members of the Justice Committee in not voting in favor of the impeachment complaint,” she said. Luistro said skipping the proceedings could leave the allegations unanswered. “If she will not avail of this opportunity, she will not participate in the hearing proper… she will not rebut, she will not challenge, she will not refute the evidence…

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said food companies and retailers have agreed to keep prices steady for up to two months, as the government moves to cushion the impact of global uncertainties on basic goods. The assurance came after Marcos inspected the distribution center of Century Pacific Food Inc. in Calamba City, where he said supply remains sufficient and stable across the sector. “Simple lang naman, andito tayo upang tingnan ang suplay ng pagkain at ang presyuhan ng pagkain,” Marcos said. [Translation: It’s simple — we are here to check food supply and pricing].  He said the government is coordinating with industry partners to make sure daily needs are met.  “Lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan… nilalapitan natin ang mga partner natin na food suppliers para sa pang-araw-araw ng taumbayan,” he added  [Translation: All government agencies are reaching out to our partner food suppliers for the daily needs…

Metro Manila, Philippines — Transport group PISTON and its allied sectoral organizations brought to Malacañang on Friday, March 20, their issues to mark the second day of the nationwide transport strike. Jeepney drivers, operators, and supporters gathered at Mabuhay Rotonda – commonly called Welcome Rotonda – in Quezon City before heading to Mendiola in Manila. The groups are protesting what they call the government’s lack of response to soaring fuel prices. Authorities were deployed at the roundabout at around 11:30 a.m., ahead of the protesters’ assembly at noon. PISTON president Mody Floranda earlier said the group would continue mounting protests until President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. addresses its demands. These include the suspension of excise and value-added taxes on fuel, reduction of diesel prices to ₱55 per liter, and repeal of the oil deregulation law.

Metro Manila, Philippines – The Economy and Development (ED) Council on Friday announced its approval of the implementation of a three-term school calendar for the academic year 2026–2027. This policy changes the four grading periods to three, which students are expected to benefit from due to “longer, uninterrupted instructional blocks,” the council said in a statement. President Bongbong Marcos chaired the deliberation on Thursday, March 19, during which the council approved the Department of Education’s (DepEd) proposal. The council said the policy makes sure that students will benefit from adequate learning experiences despite climate-related conditions, aligning with the findings and recommendations of the Second Congressional Commission on Education. “Our commitment to developing a globally competitive workforce begins with providing evidence-based solutions to bridge educational gaps in our country. We commend DepEd for continuously pursuing initiatives that support critical development priorities,” said DEPDev Secretary and ED Council Vice-Chairperson Arsenio Balisacan. According…

Metro Manila, Philippines – The House justice committee has invited Vice President Sara Duterte to attend the impeachment hearing on Wednesday, March 25. The letter, signed on Thursday, March 19, by committee chairperson Jinky Luistro, listed the agenda, including a discussion on ground rules and the initial hearing on the two complaints filed by a group led by Catholic priest Joel Saballa and lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera. The issue involves Duterte’s alleged violations of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.  These stem from the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, threats to kill President Bongbong Marcos and his family, and unexplained wealth. The hearing also aims to address pending motions and/or requests for subpoenas, such as Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno’s request to place Ramil Madriaga, Duterte’s self-confessed bagman, under protective custody. Diokno also requested the committee to subpoena documents and records related to Duterte,…