GOVERNANCE/POLITICS

MANILA – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. will end his eight-month “roller coaster” stint on Monday as he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56.

He said he still has some unfinished businesses but overall, he is grateful for the opportunity to serve.

COTABATO CITY - The Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) has adopted Resolution No. 205, requesting the Office of Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim to grant an inflation relief assistance not exceeding Php 15,000.00 to officials and employees of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Government of whatever status including persons engaged under contracts of service and job order.

It shall exclude Members of the Parliament, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Director Generals, and heads of offices.

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday vowed justice for the killing of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo.

Marcos condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the attack, which local authorities said happened at about 9:40 a.m. right inside Degamo’s residence in Pamplona town.

Initial reports said about 10 men got off separate vehicles and barged into the compound, where the governor was in the middle of a meeting with some of his constituents who are beneficiaries of the poverty alleviation measure Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim agreed Wednesday to strengthen political, security, and trade and investment cooperation between the Philippines and Malaysia.

This developed after the two leaders held a bilateral meeting at Malacañan Palace in Manila on Wednesday afternoon.

Marcos said he and Anwar had a "cordial and productive" discussion on the Philippines and Malaysia's bilateral cooperation, reaffirming their desire to revitalize the two nations' relations amid the shift to the "new normal."

MANILA – Filing of Certificates of Candidacy (COCs) for the Oct. 30 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) will begin July 3.

In Resolution No. 10899, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) set the filing period from July 3 to 7.

Campaign activities are prohibited from July 8 to Oct. 18 while the campaign period will be on Oct. 19 to 28.

MANILA – As the nation commemorates the 37th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Saturday urged his fellow Filipinos to seek “peace, unity, and reconciliation.”

Marcos made the call as he hoped for a solemn and meaningful commemoration of the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.

MANILA, Philippines — In an unexpected move, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared Friday, February 24, a special non-working day to allow Filipinos to commemorate the EDSA People Power Revolution that, iroically, ousted his father, former Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

The country commemorates EDSA revolt anniversary every February 25, but the 37th anniversary falls on a Saturday so Pres. Marcos moved it a day earlier, Malacanang said.

JAPAN -- The Philippines and Japan on Thursday affirmed their commitment to strengthen defense and security cooperation during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s five-day official trip to Tokyo.

In a joint statement, Marcos and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said this would be done through “strategic reciprocal port calls and aircraft visits, transfer of more defense equipment and technology, continuous cooperation on previously-transferred defense equipment and capacity building.”

MANILA – At least eight senior Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) officers were promoted and given new jobs and positions befitting their seniority and experience amid efforts to further professionalize the organization.

AFP deputy chief of staff, Vice Adm. Rommel Anthony SD Reyes, led the joint change of chief-of-office rites in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday.

MANILA – The Sandiganbayan has turned down a plea by a former Maguindanao town official to downgrade his graft charges.

The anti-graft court’s Third Division rejected the appeal by former South Upi treasurer Onofre Natividad for plea bargaining and the lesser charge of "failure of accountable officer to render accounts."