President: ‘Incomplete’ grade for Year 1

ricultural sector," he said.

By Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz

economist giving him an "incomplete" grade to which he agreed.

housing request was already granted.

"That is why I was a little surprised when I saw some of the news reports (that) there’s a deal between the US. There is no deal," the President said.

He said he is still looking at how to make it work, adding that the government needs to be cautious when it comes to security issues.

PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday there is still a long way to go in assessing his performance as the country's chief executive after just one year in office.

Speaking with the reporters, Mr. Marcos said that more needs to be done, citing the assessment report from an

Senate leader denies ‘sneaky tampering’ of Maharlika

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday said there was "no sinister move to tamper" with the Maharlika In- vestment Fund (MIF) bill.

"There was never a plan to tamper. There was no sinister move to tamper the measure. There’s no tampering that took place," he said.

Zubiri said the measure will be transmitted to the Palace next week, likely before the meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council on Wednesday.

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

THE Philippines would be a target of China if its tensions with the United States spiral out of control following the expanded American military presence in the country, former President Rodrigo Duterte said in a television interview.

In a television interview earlier this week, Duterte said he “regularly” meets with Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian to keep an open discussion with the Communist nation and relay that the

"I saw a report earlier this morning where one of the economists said the grade that I will give for the President is incomplete. I agree with him. We are not done," Mr. Marcos said.

The President said that the agriculture sector is still the biggest sector that got neglected in the past decades.

"We have to undo 30, 35, almost 40 years of neglect when it comes to the ag-

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

SENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri yesterday said he has no illusions that he is irreplaceable even as he rejected the idea of conducting a loyalty check among his colleagues amid rumors of a leadership coup in the Upper Chamber.

“I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues, we all do. A leadership position is at the pleasure of the majority. You are always ready to go in or go out. This [Senate Presidency] is just a bonus from God,”

"We have done a lot of growth (and) we are beginning to see the systemic changes that are going to be part of the new bureaucracy, but there is still a long way to go," he added.

Moreover, Mr. Marcos said that under his administration, he would continue to improve the country's economic situation.

“So, it’s never enough. Whatever it he said in a press forum on Thursday.

“If they don't want me anymore, then they can take me out. If they are happy with me, they can keep me as long as they need me. But I am very honored to serve my colleagues,” he added.

Zubiri said he does not know where the rumors of a coup threat against him are coming from.

Earlier this week, at least six senators denied rumors of a leadership change in their chamber during the opening of the