Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa chairs the committee investigating the March 4 Degamo assassination, along with dozens of other killings. The inquiry began on April 17 and ran for three days. (WATCH: LIVESTREAM: Senate inquiry into Degamo killing)

The brazen attack, also known as the “Pamplona massacre,” brought national attention to the long-running problem of unsolved killings in Negros Island.

The death toll in the massacre rose to 10 on Saturday, May 6, when Fredilino Cafe Jr. died two months after he sustained a gunshot wound.

Dela Rosa previously called the killings in Negros Oriental a “reign of terror.”

Bookmark this page to watch the livestream starting at 9 am. – Rappler.com

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), over 17,000 soldiers participated in the exercise with 12,200 from the US, 5,400 from the AFP, and 100 from Australia’s military.

Major exercises included command post, cyber defense, field drills, as well as humanitarian assistance activities.

Aside from Metro Manila, activities were also held in northern and central Luzon, and in Antique.

Bookmark this page and watch the livestream here. – Rappler.com 

While Negros Island has been a hot spot for political violence, insurgency, and drug killings, the Degamo assassination has been one of the most bloody killings over the past decade.

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LIVESTREAM: Senate inquiry into Degamo killing

Degamo’s widow, Janice, the mayor of Pamplona town, Negros Oriental, has been calling for an investigation into her husband’s assassination, along with other killings in Negros Oriental province.

Also expected to attend is former governor Pryde Henry Teves, who was unseated by Degamo months before the assassination.

Committee chairperson Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa also invited Teves’ brother Congressman Arnolfo “Arnie” Teves to participate in the inquiry through video conferencing. Arnie has been the main focus of the government’s joint task force investigation into the killing, although he has denied his involvement in the massacre several times.

Janice, however, has protested the participation of Arnie, saying the fugitive congressman – who is wanted for three previous killings in 2019 – should attend in person.

Watch the inquiry live here on Rappler at 10 am. – Rappler.com

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The Senate is expected to hear the sentiments of transport group leaders, who have announced a weeklong strike in protest of the scheme. Jeepney operators and drivers are also against what they say is a poorly implemented modernization program that forces them to take on millions in debt to acquire modern jeepney units.

Marcos’ broken promise: Why jeepney drivers protest modernization

On Tuesday, February 28, senators adopted a resolution to “strongly urge the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to postpone the planned phase out of all traditional jeepneys by June 30, 2023,” citing the possibility of 50,000 jeepneys being phased out by the LTFRB memorandum circular.

Under the memorandum circular, traditional jeepneys that have yet to consolidate into cooperatives or corporations by June 30 will no longer be allowed to ply their routes. This drew threats of transport strikes from jeepney drivers and operators, who said there was lack of government preparations for the implementation of the plan.

Following statements of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista in relation to the issue, and the Senate move seeking a deferment of the phaseout, the agency decided to extend the consolidation deadline by six months, or to December 31, 2023. – Rappler.com

Anwar, elected to power late 2022, is the first head of government to visit the Philippines under the also relatively new Marcos administration.

The two leaders, prior to their press conference, held a bilateral meeting where, according to both countries, they talked about “areas of mutual concern such as political, security, and economic cooperation, as well as people-to-people ties.” The two are also expected to discuss regional and international issues.

Marcos is set to host a dinner banquet for Anwar and his delegation composed of ministers, as well as his wife, Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Bookmark this page to catch the two leaders’ statements live at around 6 pm. – Rappler.com

More than 20 floats are expected to parade along Session Road, Harrison Road, and the Melvyn Jones Grandstand and Football Field on Sunday, February 26. Spectators have been waiting as early as 6 am Sunday to secure spots along the streets.

Watch the livestream of the parade here.

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– Rappler.com

With this, the popular Grand Street Dance Parade also pushes through on Saturday, February 25 at 8 am, with performers and spectators expected to fill up the Panagbenga Park, Session Road, Harrison Road, Melvin Jones Grandstand, and Football Grounds.

Watch the livestream of the parade on this page or on Rappler’s social media accounts. – Rappler.com

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Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said last month that the Senate “cannot snub” President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has personally backed the establishment of the Maharlika Investment Fund.

Introduced only in late November, the Maharlika fund proposal steamrolled past the House of Representatives on December 15, 2022, after Marcos certified it as urgent. Zubiri estimated that the Senate could pass the measure after the Holy Week break.

Days before the scheduled Senate hearing, US-based think tank Milken Institute advised the government to find “realistic funding sources,” and to avoid political risks and conflicts of interest as it hammers out the Maharlika Investment Fund. – Rappler.com

Norway wealth fund posts record $164-billion loss

Joining Ressa in the panel are Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, University of Urecht associate professor on Media and Performance studies Bruce Mutsvairo, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression and opinion Irene Khan, European Parliament member Alexandra Geese, and Norwegian Media Businesses’ Association chair Pal Nedtegotten.

The conference reviews the state of press freedom in different parts of the world – including problems and solutions – and aims to contribute to a safer and more democratic media landscape.

Watch the full conference here:

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The Freedom of Expression Festival ends a year focusing on Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov’s peace prize. The two journalists were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia. – Rappler.com

Senator Francis Tolentino will preside over the hearing starting at 9 am. It will continue to tackle the fiasco behind the botched resolution that would have allowed the importation of 300,000 metric tons of sugar without the approval of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who is also the country’s acting agriculture chief.

The Philippines’ top soda makers had earlier confirmed reports of a shortage in premium bottlers’ grade refined sugar, causing a slowdown in production in at least one manufacturer.

Watch the proceedings live on Rappler. – Rappler.com