Manila Standard - 2024 February 20 - Tuesday

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Senate rallies around Zubiri ‘Coup’ efforts started last week, but senators ‘know nothing’ of move

Imee: Nobody wants Senate top job NOBODY wants to be Senate President. This was how Senator Imee Marcos doused rumors of an ouster plot against Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri. “His job is too heavy. Nobody wants his job,” Marcos said. Zubiri himself revealed there have been efforts to remove him as Senate leader since last week. His colleagues, however, said they have not heard of such a move. “In truth, nobody wants to be Senate President. It’s a difficult

job -- you always get caught in conflict,” Marcos said. Macon RamosAraneta

By Macon Ramos-Araneta

S

ENATE President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Monday revealed there were efforts to have him replaced as leader of the Upper Chamber since last week.

Amid the fresh ouster plot, Zubiri “I am extremely honored to serve at said he has been communicating closely the pleasure of my colleagues...I leave it with his fellow senators, who he said to the wisdom of our majority,” he said. denied knowledge of the push for a lead“We will just focus on the job at hand, ership change. and we’ll not lose sight of the most im-

portant things to help the Filipino people. So that’s it,” Zubiri added. He said his colleagues at the Upper Chamber “know nothing about [the alleged coup].” “We’ll know today. We’ll know today if I’ll give you a farewell dinner or not. But if not, then let’s continue working. It’s important we continue working for the people,” he said. Zubiri is leading an overwhelming Next page

Senator Imee Marcos

VOL. XXXVIII • NO. 10 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Dalipe: House perfect in passing gov’t priority bills, Senate lagging 7 DEAD AS ARMY, JIHADISTS CLASH IN LANAO SUR NEWS / A2

NSC PROBING CYANIDE USE AT MASINLOC NEWS / A4

By Maricel V. Cruz THE House of Representatives has achieved a record 94.7 percent performance rating in terms of passing priority bills identified by President Marcos and the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC). The Senate, on the other hand, logged only a 31.6 percent performance rating, House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Jose Dalipe said. “Under Speaker Martin Romualdez’s leadership, we have done our part in supporting the President’s legislative, prosperity and economic development agenda, whose goal is to make life better for every FilipiNext page

SWORN TESTIMONY. Former Kingdom of Jesus Christ church member ‘Rene’ swears to his testimony at the hearing of the Senate committee on women children family relations and gender equality chaired by Senator Risa Hontiveros (foreground) into the reported cases of KOJC leader Apollo Quiboloy on Monday. Lino Santos

2 subpoenas for Quiboloy; Rody, Sara ‘received guns’

GASOLINE UP P1.60/L, DIESEL BY P1.10/L TODAY

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

NEWS / A2 CHANGE FOR DIESEL. A jeepney driver counts change to pay for topping up his tank at a gas station along Commonwealth Avenue on Monday, a day before the expected fuel price hike of P1.10 per liter for diesel. Manny Palmero

THE Senate and House of Representatives on Monday issued separate subpoenas to Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to attend their respective hearings on disparate issues, even as a former member of Quiboloy’s Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) cult said former President Rodrigo Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte picked up guns from the religious leader’s Davao City estate.

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Senators okay House files own version of ‘Cha-cha’ RBH P100 wage hike on 3rd reading

tution, which are the same as the Senate’s current Charter change proposals. Resolution of Both Houses (RBH) 7, authored by LEADERS of the House of Representatives on Monday filed a resolution containing their own ver- Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio sion of economic amendments to the 1987 ConstiNext page

#ANONGBALITA Walang forever? Leonen gives ‘real talk’ on love, outdated laws A SENIOR magistrate of the Supreme Court lamented some of the existing laws governing marriage and marital relationship now appear to be outdated. Next page

Miss Universe PH 2024: Grace, beauty, ‘bardagulan’

By Maricel V. Cruz

By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Rio N. Araja THE Senate has approved on third and final reading a bill mandating a P100 daily pay increase for the estimated 4.2 million minimum wage earners nationwide. However, economists and labor advocates wanted a daily wage hike of P1,200 in the private sector, saying the increase was not inflationary. “Let it be said that this august chamber is responsive to the needs of our kababayans, especially on the back of rising cost of living and Next page

TAAL EMITS 14K TONS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE GAS NEWS / A2

SULFUR EMISSION. A cloud is seen rising from the crater of Taal Volcano on Monday, when it emitted over 14,000 tons of volcanic sulfur dioxide, its second highest gas emission this year, according to Phivolcs. DOST Photo

IT’S shaping up to be a fierce battle for Miss Universe Philippines 2024, dubbed the “bardagulan” (different opinions) edition by pageant aficionados. Next page

‘This is not a talk show, not a presscon’: Tulfo rips cops BEFORE he became House Deputy Majority Leader, Rep. Erwin Tulfo was among the country’s most popular radio and television hosts, with millions tuning in to him on social media too. Next page


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