Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Saturday, February 1, 2025.
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READ: EDSA rally backs impeach-Sara call
THOUSANDS of protesters gathered on EDSA on Friday, urging the House of Representatives to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte faces three impeachment complaints over alleged misconduct and misuse of millions of pesos in government funds, but legislators have yet to tackle them just days before Congress adjourns next week ahead of the May midterm elections. The 46-year-old vice president, who is estranged from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. but remains his constitutional successor in case he is unable to perform his duties, has denied the allegations. Marcos himself has urged Congress not to pursue Duterte's impeachment, calling it a "storm in a teacup" that would distract the legislature from its primary responsibilities. Protesters, mostly wearing white shirts, held placards calling for Duterte's removal and chanted, "Impeach! Impeach Sara now!" Around 4,000 people took part in the rally at the People Power Monument, police said, with authorities deploying 7,400 riot police to keep the peace.
READ: PNP officer a victim of US air collision
A FILIPINO police colonel was among the fatalities in the midair collision between an American Airlines jetliner and a United States Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., the Philippine National Police (PNP) confirmed on Friday. The PNP identified the officer as Col. Pergentino N. Malabed, chief of the PNP Supply Management Division. Malabed's "untimely passing is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honor, integrity, and dedication throughout his career," it said. Based on information from PNP officials, Malabed had flown to the US from the Philippines on Jan. 22, accompanied by a non-commissioned officer and a non-uniformed personnel, for a pre-delivery inspection of the armored vests bought by the PNP Directorate for Logistics.
READ: 4PS tops party-list poll, EduAksyon rises
THE Pagtibayin at Palaguin ang Pangkabuhayang Pilipino (4PS) party-list topped the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on party-list voter preference. The Stratbase-SWS January 2025 Pre-Election Survey released Thursday showed that 11.80 percent of the intended votes went to the 4PS, when the respondents were asked the question, "If the elections were held today, who would you vote for party-list?" In second place was Duterte Youth, with 6.05 percent and in third was the Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) with 5.41 percent. The top two party-lists in the survey are poised to guarantee three seats in the House of Representatives by obtaining more than 6 percent of the votes. The third placer is guaranteed two seats, by obtaining 4 percent.
READ: PH bares economic achievements at Davos
THE Philippines showcased its economic accomplishments at the 2025 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 25, 2025. The Philippine delegation to the forum "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age" was led by House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Aldeguer-Roque and top Filipino businessmen. Among the Philippine companies represented in the talks were Ride-hailing firm Grab and mobile payment service provider GCash.
BUSINESS: February rate cut 'on the table' – BSP
Over to business, another interest rate cut is "on the table" as the economy continues to grow below its potential, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said on Friday. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth fell below the government's 6.0- to 6.5-percent target last year, edging up by just 5.6 percent from 5.5 percent in 2023 as a series of typhoons battered the country in the last three months of the year. The BSP, in its December monetary policy report that was released earlier this week, said that the output gap — the difference between actual and potential economic output — would remain negative until 2025 but could close by 2026 as economic expansion gains traction.
SPORTS: Creamline seeks to remain unbeaten
In sports, Creamline seeks to keep its win-loss record immaculate as it guns for win number seven against Cignal in the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) 2024-25 All-Filipino Conference on Saturday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. The 10-time league champions hope to overpower the third-ranked HD Spikers and solidify its hold of the top spot. Led by healthy veterans Alyssa Valdez, Tots Carlos and Jema Galanza, the Cool Smashers made quick work of Nxled for its sixth win last Tuesday. Carlos, who sat out the 2024 Reinforced and Invitational Conferences, scored 10 points while team captain Valdez added seven points against Nxled. Spearheading the team, however, is playmaker Kyle Negrito, who claimed back-to-back Player of the Game honors and averaged 4.57 percent excellent sets per game.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras, Yen Makabenta and Danton Remoto are today's front page columnists. Contreras talks about the debate on Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Makabenta weighs in on President Marcos' deal with China, while Remoto talks about former Iloilo City mayor Jed Mabilog's freedom and on cold storage facilities.
Today's editorial says climate resilience is the key to economic growth. Read the full version in the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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