00:00Today on Rappler
00:06President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoes over 92.5 billion pesos of unprogrammed appropriations in
00:18the 2026 budget. Retired Air Force General Romeo Poquiz is arrested on an inciting to sedition
00:24charge. The legality of the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro will be in focus at
00:29the United Nations. The Philippines expresses concern over the impact of the U.S. attack on
00:34Venezuela. And Alex Ayala and Eva Jovich stunned Venus Williams and Elina Esvitolina in ASB classic
00:40women's doubles. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vetoes over 92.5 billion pesos of unprogrammed
00:48appropriations in the national budget for 2026. This reduces the UA to less than half of the amount
00:53Congress that agreed upon and approved.
00:55To ensure that public funds are expended in clear service of national interest,
01:01I vetoed several items of appropriations with their purposes and corresponding special provisions
01:08under the UA, totaling almost 92.5 billion pesos.
01:14He also notes the unprogrammed appropriations for 2026, at just over 150 billion pesos,
01:20were at the bare minimum and the lowest since 2019.
01:24These are the vetoed items.
01:31Marcos signs the 2026 national budget into law on Monday, January 5. The 2026 budget is the first
01:37under Marcos that was signed this late. This year's budget approval comes amid heightened scrutiny and
01:43public outcry over billions of pesos that were pocketed through government flood control projects.
01:47Retired Air Force General Romeo Pocquez was arrested upon landing at the Ninoy Aquino
01:54International Airport on Monday, January 5. This over an inciting to sedition charge filed by the
01:59Philippine National Police. Pocquez's lawyer says the complaint stemmed from a Facebook post that
02:04was critical of the government's handling of the flood control mess. Pocquez is an outspoken critic of
02:09the Marcos administration and is allied with groups supporting former President Rodrigo Duterte.
02:14He also helped lead the September rallies against infrastructure corruption but ones which were
02:19seen to be politically motivated to boost the Duterte bloc. Pocquez was also named as one of the
02:23alleged instigators of a planned coup against the Marcos administration last November, but he says
02:28his group only met with AFP Chief General Romeo Bronner Jr. to air legitimate grievances. His lawyer
02:34clarifies the complaints had nothing to do with the protests nor the discussion with Bronner.
02:38The US forcefully deposes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Saturday, January 3 following an
02:45audacious raid of the country's capital. Russia, China, and other Venezuelan allies condemned the
02:50attack, accusing the United States of violating international law. US allies in Europe and Asia,
02:56many of whom oppose Maduro, have been less vocal about concerns over the use of military force.
03:01The attack follows months of US military buildup and airstrikes on suspected drug vessels in the
03:06Caribbean. Washington says the operation was carried out to apprehend Maduro and his family
03:11who are facing drug-related charges. Maduro is currently being held in New York, awaiting a court
03:16appearance on Monday for his charges. The legality of the US capture of Maduro will be under the spotlight
03:21at the United Nations Security Council as they are set to meet on Monday. Washington will likely not be
03:26held accountable for any violation by the UN Security Council as it is one of the five countries with
03:31veto power. The Department of Foreign Affairs says the Philippines is concerned over the quote
03:37consequential impact on peace and stability of the recent US attack on Venezuela as it forcefully
03:42deposed its sitting President Nicolas Maduro. The Philippines acknowledges the security considerations
03:47of the United States but stresses the importance of following international law. It also calls on both
03:52parties to exercise restraint and prevent further escalation to restore peace and order in Venezuela.
03:57Meantime, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Laila de Lima says the attack marks a regression of the US into
04:03an aggressive state, undermining the rules-based international order. De Lima adds the attack
04:08is particularly troubling for the Philippines. As a US ally, the country is left with a compromised
04:13moral ascendancy in protesting China's aggression in the West Philippine Sea.
04:17Alex Ayala and partner Eva Jovic opened their women's doubles campaign in the ASB Classic with
04:24a 7-6-6-1 win over Venus Williams and Elina Esvitolina on Monday, January 5. The young duo recovered from a
04:315-6 deficit in the first set and edged a tiebreak to beat their more established opponents. Williams owned
04:37seven Grand Slam titles on Olympic gold medal and once held the world No. 1 ranking. Meanwhile,
04:42Esvitolina won the 2018 WTA Tour finals, captured an Olympic bronze medal, and reached a career-high
04:49World No. 3 ranking. Ayala and Jovic then dominated the second set as they wrapped up the match with
04:54Williams unable to return the serve of the Filipina for the point that sealed the game.
04:59In the singles competition, Ayala will face World No. 17 Donna Vekic in the first round on Tuesday, January 6.
05:05And that's today's wrap. I'm Julian Serenio. Thank you for watching. Click the link below
05:11for the full story. For more updates, download the Rappler Communities app.
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