00:01The House Justice Committee declares impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte have sufficient grounds.
00:08President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspends a scheduled fair hike a day before implementation.
00:14Former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo allegedly received P130 million from Zaldico as a token of gratitude.
00:23Kaloocan Congressman Edgar Erize calls the diluted anti-political dynasty bill a sham.
00:28And P-pop group SB19 will be the first Filipino act to perform at the Lollapalooza Festival.
00:42The House Committee on Justice declares the complaints against Sara Duterte show sufficient grounds for impeachment.
00:49This paves the way for public hearings starting March 25, followed by proceedings on April 14, 22, and 29.
00:56The panel met on Wednesday to weigh in on Duterte's filing of a verified answer to the two impeachment complaints
01:03against her.
01:04Her formal reply did not address the allegations and instead questioned the integrity of the House impeachment proceedings.
01:11The complainants described Duterte's reply as a non-answer.
01:15It prompted legislators to waive their right to file a reply to fast-track the proceedings.
01:20In the public hearings, lawmakers can evaluate documents and other related evidence and examine witnesses.
01:28President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. suspends a scheduled fair hike a day before implementation.
01:34Marcos says he has directed the Department of Transportation to roll out free public transportation services nationwide.
01:41MRT and LRT fare discounts, as well as on toll roads, are also being planned, although details have yet to
01:47be disclosed.
01:48Meantime, the Senate passes on third and final reading, a measure that will allow the President to reduce excise taxes
01:55on petroleum products.
01:56This if the average oil prices breach $80 a barrel for one month.
02:01The Senate measure also limits the tax exemption or reduction to just one calendar year.
02:06This power can only be exercised by the President until December 31, 2028.
02:12The passage of the bill comes a day after the House of Representatives passed its counterpart measure.
02:18But the House version requires the President to first declare a state of national emergency or calamity to justify suspending
02:25or reducing levies.
02:28State witness and former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo says
02:32he allegedly received money on several occasions from now-resigned Congressman and Fugitive Zaldi Ko.
02:39Ko was the powerful chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations until 2025.
02:44He oversaw the national budget and is believed to be at the nexus of massive corruption involving flood control projects.
02:52Bernardo tells the anti-graft court Sandigan Bayan that he allegedly received about 130 million pesos from Ko between 2023
03:00and 2025.
03:01He says the balato or token of gratitude was allegedly coursed through former DPWH Mimaropa Regional Director Gerald Pacanad.
03:10Bernardo adds he was afraid that if he disagreed or did not accept the money, he would be seen by
03:16Ko as a hindrance.
03:17Ko, along with officials of the DPWH Mimaropa and board members of SunWest Corporation,
03:23are facing charges for alleged irregularities in the 289.4 million peso flood control project in Nauhan, Oriental, Mindoro.
03:33Kaloocan 2nd District Representative Edgar Erice continues to criticize the quote,
03:38diluted anti-political dynasty bill being pushed by the House majority.
03:43He struggles to contain his emotions during the first day of House plenary deliberations on the proposed bill.
03:49Kaya ang final na sagot ko po, hindi ito anti-political dynasty lo, ito po ay isang pudol.
03:59Pudol.
04:00Pudol.
04:01Under the current version, a political dynasty relationship is set up only to the second degree of consanguinity.
04:08This means relatives such as cousins, nephews, aunts and uncles can still run simultaneously alongside a politician or succeed them
04:16in office immediately.
04:17The proposal also allows families to field candidates for a national post, a provincial post, a municipal or city government
04:25post,
04:26and as many congressional posts as possible at the same time.
04:30Erice argues the proposal won't do anything to put an end to the monopoly of power in areas ruled by
04:36dynasts.
04:38Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adyong, the bill's sponsor, disputes this.
04:42Monopoly resides when the power to appoint resides and exercised by one person.
04:49That is monopoly.
04:50But we allow the people to vote.
04:53But directly with this bill, Mr. Speaker, it would change 180 degrees the setup in the Senate
04:59because we know that there are four sets of siblings currently now serving under the 20th Congress.
05:05Let us not deceive ourselves.
05:08When you file a weak law, when you pass a diluted version,
05:12when you allow contradiction between the House and the Senate, you are not solving the problem.
05:18Ito po ay hindi po anti-political dynasty law.
05:23It will institutionalize political dynasties.
05:28P-pop group SB19 is set to perform at the Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago this year.
05:35Pablo, Stell, Josh, Justin, and Ken continue to make Filipinos proud
05:40as members of the first Filipino act to grace the famous stage.
05:44Congratulations also come pouring in with other P-pop acts like Beanie and BGYO
05:49and members from G22 and Kaya wishing them good luck.
05:53The annual music festival brings together major music acts from all around the world
05:58with a lineup this year that includes Charlie XCX, Tate McRae, Lorde, Olivia Dean, and Blackpink member Jenny.
06:07Filipino-British singer Biba Dubi will also be performing at the festival's 2026 edition.
06:13This year's Lollapalooza will be held from July 30 to August 2 at Grant Park in Chicago in the United
06:19States.
06:21And that's today's wrap. I'm Ako Arceo. Thank you for watching.
06:25Click the link below for the full story.
06:28For more updates, download the Rappler app.
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