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DOLE magsisimula ng review sa minimum wage ngayong Mayo

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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DOLE magsisimula ng review sa minimum wage ngayong Mayo

MAYNILA. Kumpirmado mula sa Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) na sisimulan na ngayong Mayo ang masusing pagrepaso sa umiiral na minimum wage rates sa ilang rehiyon ng bansa, kabilang na ang National Capital Region (NCR).

Ayon kay DOLE-Bureau of Local Employment (BLE) head at Assistant Secretary Patrick P. Patriwirawan Jr., ang wage review ay alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa ika-123 anibersaryo ng Labor Day na ginanap sa SMX Convention Center sa Pasay City, sinabi ng Pangulo na pinag-aaralan ng gobyerno ang balanse sa pagitan ng kapakanan ng mga manggagawa at ang magiging epekto ng umento sa sahod sa mga negosyo at ekonomiya.

“Bagama’t masarap pakinggan ang matatamis na pangako, dapat pa rin timbangin ang magiging epekto nito sa negosyo, trabaho at ekonomiya,” ayon sa Pangulo. “Kaya kailangang masusing pag-aralan ito.”

Ipinunto ni Patriwirawan na, “Mula po sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo, magsisimula po ang pagre-review ng mga minimum wage rates ngayon pong Mayo para sa ilang mga rehiyon.”
Dagdag pa niya, “Lalo na’t sa mga nakalipas na taon, lahat po ng mga regional offices natin, regional tripartite boards, nakapag-issue na po ng mga kaniya-kaniyang wage orders.”

Isa sa mga rehiyong apektado ng repaso ay ang National Capital Region (NCR). Ayon kay DOLE-NCR Regional Director Sara Mirasol,

“60 days prior to the anniversary date ng effectivity ng wage order so the last week, mag-start na kami.”

Sinabi rin ni Mirasol na magsasagawa sila ng labor at employer consultations ngayong buwan ng Mayo, kasunod nito ang public hearing sa Hunyo. Inaasahang mailalabas ang resulta ng wage deliberations pagsapit ng Hulyo.

Matatandaang noong Hulyo 2024, naglabas ng bagong wage order ang Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) kung saan itinaas sa ₱645 mula sa dating ₱610 ang daily minimum wage para sa mga manggagawa sa non-agriculture sector sa NCR, matapos ang ₱35 wage hike.

Habang patuloy ang konsultasyon, inaasahang mas magiging malinaw sa mga susunod na buwan kung magkakaroon ng dagdag sahod — at kung gaano kalaki ito, sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa.

Drone strikes kill 9 in Ukraine hours after U.S. signs minerals deal with Kyiv

Venus L Peñaflor
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Drone strikes kill 9 in Ukraine hours after U.S. signs minerals deal with Kyiv

KYIV, Ukraine. At least nine people were killed and dozens more injured in separate drone strikes in Ukraine and Russia-occupied territory on Thursday, mere hours after the U.S. and Ukraine finalized a long-anticipated agreement granting American access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources.

The bloodiest strike occurred in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, in the southern Kherson region, where a Ukrainian drone attack hit a busy market. Seven people were killed and over 20 wounded, according to Moscow-appointed Governor Vladimir Saldo.

“At the time of the attack, there were many people in the market,” Saldo wrote on Telegram. He claimed that after the initial wave, Ukraine launched additional drones to “finish off” survivors.

Meanwhile, a Russian drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa early Thursday killed two people and injured 15 others, according to Ukraine’s emergency services. Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said the barrage damaged several apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket, and a school.

Kiper shared videos on Telegram showing a high-rise with a scorched facade, shattered storefronts, and firefighters battling flames.

In another attack, a drone ignited a fire at a petrol station in central Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Following the wave of attacks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced Russia’s continued aggression and rejection of peace efforts.

“There were also our proposals — at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land,” Zelenskyy said. “Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.”

U.S.-Ukraine Minerals Deal Sealed

The violence came just hours after Ukraine and the United States signed a landmark agreement on Wednesday that grants the U.S. access to Ukraine’s critical mineral wealth. The deal, months in the making, is seen as a step toward bolstering Kyiv’s long-term economic and defense ties with Washington amid concerns that former President Donald Trump might scale back U.S. aid if he returns to office.

Zelenskyy, who first proposed the concept last year, described the final agreement as “truly historic” and said it was the “first result” of his meeting with Trump at the Vatican during the funeral of Pope Francis.

“This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which help us in defense, can earn in partnership,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address.

He clarified that the agreement includes no debts related to past U.S. military aid and emphasized that Ukraine would retain the ability to export to other countries as well. “This is a truly equal agreement,” he added.

Zelenskyy said the accord would be submitted to Ukraine’s parliament for ratification, and urged lawmakers not to delay the process. “Ukraine is interested in ensuring that there are no delays with the agreement.”

Public Reaction: Hope, Skepticism, and Cautio

While officials praised the minerals agreement as a geopolitical win, reactions among ordinary Ukrainians were mixed.

Tymofiy Mylovanov, former economy minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, wrote on Facebook: “This is a huge political and diplomatic win for Ukraine. The deal looks fair.”

He noted that the agreement does not restrict Ukraine to selling only to the U.S., and acknowledged that both countries contribute: Ukraine through revenues from mineral projects and the U.S. potentially through ongoing military support.

However, many Kyiv residents expressed uncertainty about the deal’s terms. Diana Abramova, whose father went missing in combat, said: “Any news is hard to take — whether it’s about negotiations or anything else. But I still believe and hope that any action will bring us closer to one thing: Ukraine’s victory. Only victory.”

University lecturer Natalia Vysotska, 74, said, “I don’t know what the terms are — they may not be favorable for Ukraine at all. Still, if it was signed, our experts must have weighed the pros and cons. I hope it will be beneficial.”

Others voiced strong skepticism. Iryna Vasylevska, 37, said: “I feel terrible that our land is just a bargaining chip for the rest of the world and that we do not have our own full protection, but rely on someone.”

“My vision is that instead of strengthening ourselves, we continue to give it all away. I feel sorry for our land and for our people,” she added.

Moscow React

While initial reaction in Russia was muted due to a national holiday, some officials rebuked the deal.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s National Security Council, claimed on Telegram: “Now military supplies will have to be paid for with the national wealth of a disappearing country.”

Vladimir Rogov, chairman of the Russian Civic Chamber’s commission on sovereignty, told RIA Novosti that Ukraine had essentially been delivered into “legally prescribed slavery.”

Despite such rhetoric, the mineral agreement solidifies a deeper strategic link between Ukraine and the U.S., even as the path to peace remains uncertain.

“They’re still far apart. They’re closer, but they’re still far apart,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an appearance on Fox News Channel’s Hannity. “And it’s going to take a real breakthrough here very soon to make this possible, or I think the president is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we’re going to dedicate to this.”

₱20 na Bigas, itinigil muna: DA sumunod sa utos ng Comelec

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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₱20 na Bigas, itinigil muna: DA sumunod sa utos ng Comelec

Sinuspindeng subsidiya, pansamantalang hinto hanggang matapos ang Eleksyon 2025

MAYNILA. Pansamantalang sinuspinde ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ang programang pagbebenta ng ₱20 kada kilong bigas sa Cebu, isang araw lamang matapos ang inilunsad nitong rollout noong Mayo 1.

Ayon kay DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., ang hakbang ay tugon sa utos ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) na ihinto ang implementasyon ng programa alinsunod sa mga alituntunin ng election ban.

“Todo-suporta si Pangulong Marcos sa proyekto pero minabuting itigil muna ito,” ani Laurel, habang nilinaw niyang layunin ng DA ang makatulong sa mga nangangailangan ngunit kailangang sumunod sa batas sa gitna ng election season.

Sa unang araw ng rollout, ipinagbili ang bigas sa halagang ₱20 bawat kilo, kung saan limitado lamang sa hanggang 10 kilo kada indibidwal. Prayoridad ng programa ang mga senior citizen, solo parent, at persons with disabilities (PWD).

Naging positibo ang pagtanggap ng publiko sa subsidized rice program ngunit kinailangang ipatigil muna habang umiiral ang election-related prohibitions.

Hindi pa tinutukoy ng DA kung kailan ito muling ipagpapatuloy, ngunit tiniyak nitong agad na ibabalik ang programa matapos ang Eleksyon 2025.

Patuloy pa rin ang monitoring ng DA sa presyo ng bigas sa merkado at magsasagawa ng mga alternatibong hakbang upang matulungan ang mga mahihirap na sektor habang naka-hold ang nasabing proyekto.

Scorsese’s new documentary features final interview with late Pope Francis on cinema and education

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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Scorsese’s new documentary features final interview with late Pope Francis on cinema and education

LOS ANGELES. A new documentary by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese will feature one of the last known interviews with the late Pope Francis, focusing on his deep belief in the power of cinema as a tool for education and cultural dialogue, according to the film’s producers.

Titled “Aldeas – A New Story,” the documentary explores the pontiff’s long-standing support for creative storytelling and its role in fostering understanding among people. The film is “rooted in the pope’s belief in the sacred nature of creativity,” the filmmakers said in an official statement.

Pope Francis passed away earlier this month at the age of 88 and was laid to rest on Saturday.

The documentary highlights the work of Scholas Occurrentes, an educational initiative founded by Pope Francis himself, and Aldeas, a related project that encourages the creation of short films aimed at bridging cultural divides.

In one of his final recorded reflections, Pope Francis praised the documentary as “an extremely poetic and very constructive project because it goes to the roots of what human life is, human sociability, human conflicts… the essence of a life’s journey.”

While Aldeas – A New Story promises a heartfelt tribute to the late pontiff’s cultural and educational vision, no official release date has yet been announced.

Comelec sa DA: ‘P20/kilo bigas, ipatupad na lang pagkatapos ng halalan’

Venus L Peñaflor
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Comelec sa DA: ‘P20/kilo bigas, ipatupad na lang pagkatapos ng halalan’

MAYNILA. Umapela ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) sa Department of Agriculture (DA) na ipagpaliban muna ang rollout ng P20 kada kilo ng bigas hanggang matapos ang eleksyon sa Mayo 12, upang maiwasan ang anumang hinala ng pamumulitika gamit ang ayuda.

“Our only request is, I know they will be rolling out PHP20 rice tomorrow in the Visayas, I hope that the next rollout will be after the election so that we don’t get accused that rice is being politicized,” pahayag ni Comelec Chairperson George Garcia sa isang panayam nitong Martes, Abril 30.

Ayon kay Garcia, ayaw ng Comelec na magmukhang ginagamit ang murang bigas sa pamumulitika, lalo’t papalapit na ang Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (BSK) elections sa ilang lugar at ang plebisito sa May 12.

Nakatakdang isagawa ang distribusyon ng P20 kada kilong bigas sa Visayas ngayong araw, Mayo 1, kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng Labor Day.

Bagama’t pinayagan ng Comelec ang exemption ng nasabing proyekto mula sa election spending ban, iginiit ni Garcia na mas mainam kung ipagpapaliban na lang ito upang maiwasan ang maling interpretasyon. Ang exemption ay ipinagkaloob sa ilalim ng Section 261 (V) ng Omnibus Election Code, base sa Comelec Resolution No. 11060, na binago ng Resolution No. 11118.

“The Comelec granted an exemption, proving that the Comelec supports this very well-organized program because our countrymen need assistance in the form of cheaper rice,” aniya.

Dagdag pa ni Garcia, hinihintay pa rin ng Comelec ang sulat mula sa DA hinggil sa mga detalye ng implementasyon ng proyekto. Aniya, “Dapat maaga itong maipasa para maiwasan ang kalituhan at masiguro ang transparency.”

Samantala, ipinaalala rin ng Comelec na simula Mayo 2 hanggang Mayo 12 ay mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pamimigay ng anumang uri ng “ayuda” o financial assistance mula sa gobyerno, maliban na lamang sa burial at medical assistance.

Nilinaw naman ni Garcia na hindi saklaw ng ban ang operasyon ng mga Kadiwa stores, dahil ito ay bahagi ng regular na programang pangkabuhayan ng pamahalaan.

Who will be the next pope? Contenders include a diplomat, a street priest, and a conservative theologian

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Who will be the next pope? Contenders include a diplomat, a street priest, and a conservative theologian

As the Catholic Church prepares for the conclave on May 7 to choose a successor to Pope Francis, attention is turning to the likely contenders. While there are no official candidates for the papacy, some cardinals are widely considered papabile, possessing the qualities necessary to be elected as the next pope. The cardinal-electors will gather in the Sistine Chapel to select a new leader for the Church’s 1.4 billion followers, weighing holiness, theological vision, and the capacity to navigate the modern world.

Here are some of the most talked-about candidates:

Cardinal Pietro Parolin – The Vatican Diplomat

  • Age: 70
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Position: Vatican Secretary of State
  • Made Cardinal by: Pope Francis

Parolin, effectively the Holy See’s prime minister, has served as Pope Francis’ top diplomat and is widely respected for his skill in navigating complex international affairs. He oversaw the Vatican’s controversial deal with China on bishop appointments and played a key role in the 2014 U.S.-Cuba rapprochement.

Despite being a central figure in Francis’ pontificate, Parolin’s style is more reserved and traditionally diplomatic. He has little pastoral experience, having spent most of his priestly life in Vatican diplomatic service after just two years in parish ministry following his 1980 ordination.

He has also been the Vatican’s point man in attempting to mediate peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. On the war in Ukraine, he commented:

“Let’s hope we can arrive at a peace that, in order to be solid, lasting, must be a just peace, must involve all the actors who are at stake, and take into account the principles of international law and the UN declarations.”

If elected, he would mark a return of the papacy to an Italian after three consecutive non-Italian popes.

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle – The Communicator from Asia

  • Age: 67
  • Nationality: Filipino
  • Position: Pro-Prefect, Dicastery for Evangelization
  • Made Cardinal by: Pope Benedict XVI

Tagle is among the top contenders to become the first Asian pope. A former archbishop of Manila and now a senior Vatican official, he is beloved for his pastoral charisma and communication skills.

He has often referenced his Chinese heritage — his grandmother was Chinese — as a symbol of the Church’s diversity. Tagle’s strengths lie in evangelization and teaching, making him a desirable candidate for an increasingly global Church.

“The pope will have to do a lot of teaching, we’ll have to face the cameras all the time so if there will be a communicator pope, that’s very desirable,” said Leo Ocampo, a theology professor at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila.

However, Tagle’s leadership at Caritas Internationalis drew criticism, and in 2022, Pope Francis removed its top management, citing “real deficiencies” in administration that had affected staff morale.

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu – The Voice of Africa

  • Age: 65
  • Nationality: Congolese
  • Position: Archbishop of Kinshasa
  • Made Cardinal by: Pope Francis

Ambongo leads the archdiocese with the largest Catholic population in Africa, and he has emerged as one of the continent’s most outspoken Church leaders. He is known for his unwavering orthodoxy and social justice advocacy.

In 2024, he signed a statement on behalf of African bishops rejecting Pope Francis’ declaration allowing blessings for same-sex couples — a significant moment of resistance that highlighted his influence.

“Congo is the plate from which everyone eats, except for our people,” he said in a fiery address at the Pontifical Antonianum University last year.

Ambongo’s criticism of government corruption and foreign exploitation of Congo’s resources has earned him admiration and legal scrutiny. In 2024, prosecutors launched an investigation against him for “seditious behavior” due to his condemnation of the government’s handling of conflict in eastern Congo.

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi – The Street Priest and Peacemaker

  • Age: 69
  • Nationality: Italian
  • Position: Archbishop of Bologna; President, Italian Bishops’ Conference
  • Made Cardinal by: Pope Francis

A “street priest” in the mold of Francis, Zuppi has been a long-time member of the Sant’Egidio Community, known for its peacebuilding efforts. He played a diplomatic role in Mozambique’s peace process and, more recently, served as Pope Francis’ envoy to Russia and Ukraine.

Zuppi traveled to Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Washington as part of a Vatican effort to help secure the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war.

He has advocated for greater inclusivity in the Church. In his introduction to the Italian edition of “Building a Bridge,” by Rev. James Martin, Zuppi wrote that outreach to the LGBTQ+ community was

“A difficult process, still unfolding… doing nothing, on the other hand, risks causing a great deal of suffering, makes people feel lonely, and often leads to the adoption of positions that are both contrasting and extreme.”

His pastoral commitment, progressive leanings, and peace mission credentials make him a compelling choice, though some cardinals may find his age too young for a transitional papacy.

Cardinal Péter Erdő – The Theological Conservative

  • Age: 72
  • Nationality: Hungarian
  • Position: Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest
  • Made Cardinal by: Pope John Paul II

Erdő is known as a serious scholar and doctrinal conservative, with doctorates in theology and canon law and fluency in six languages. He has played key roles in the European bishops’ conferences and is considered a top candidate among traditionalists.

He firmly opposes same-sex unions and the reception of communion by divorced and remarried Catholics, unless they remain abstinent. In 2015, he reiterated:

Catholics who remarry after divorce should only be permitted communion if they remain sexually abstinent in their new relationship.

Erdő’s intellectual rigor and theological consistency could appeal to those seeking a pope who will uphold traditional teachings amid growing global pressure for reform.

The Road Ahead

As cardinals prepare to enter conclave, speculation continues around which direction the Church will take — and who is best suited to lead it. Whether the next pope is a diplomat, teacher, reformer, or theologian, one thing is clear: the world’s eyes will be on the Sistine Chapel this May.

Who do you think will wear the white cassock next?

With reports from the Vatican City — May 1, 2025

Testimonya ng pamilya at kaibigan, katanggap-tanggap sa annulment — SC

Venus L Peñaflor
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Testimonya ng pamilya at kaibigan, katanggap-tanggap sa annulment — SC

MAYNILA. Maaari nang gamitin ang testimonya ng pamilya at kaibigan bilang ebidensya sa pagpapatunay ng psychological incapacity para sa pagpapawalang-bisa ng kasal, ayon sa Korte Suprema.

Ito ang naging pahayag ng Supreme Court Second Division sa desisyon nitong ipawalang-bisa ang kasal nina Jeffery A. Green at Rowena Manlutac Green dahil sa psychological incapacity ni Rowena.

Ayon sa psychiatric report na iniharap ni Jeffery, batay sa panayam sa sarili niya, ina ni Rowena, at isang kaibigan, napabayaan ni Rowena ang kanilang pinansya at umabot sa PHP 4 milyon ang kanilang utang. Inakusahan din niya si Rowena ng panloloko at pagsisinungaling sa tunay na ama ng kanilang anak.

Pinaboran ng RTC, Court of Appeals, at Korte Suprema ang petisyon. Giit ng Korte, “If the totality of evidence presented sufficiently establishes that a spouse’s psychological incapacity existed at the time of the celebration of the marriage, then the marriage may be declared null and void under Article 36 of the Family Code.”

50 years after the war, Vietnam marks reunification with a call for reconciliation and peace

Paraluman P. Funtanilla
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50 years after the war, Vietnam marks reunification with a call for reconciliation and peace

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam. Fifty years after the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of North and South Vietnam, the country marked the anniversary on Wednesday with a powerful message of reconciliation, unity, and forward-looking diplomacy amid rising regional and global tensions.

Thousands gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, to witness a large-scale military parade and cultural performances near the historic Independence Palace, where a North Vietnamese tank famously crashed through the gates on April 30, 1975, ending the war and solidifying the formation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Unlike previous anniversaries that emphasized military victory, this year’s commemorations placed reconciliation and cooperation at the forefront of the national message.

“National reconciliation does not mean forgetting history or erasing differences, but accepting different perspectives in tolerance and respect, to work towards a greater goal: building a peaceful, unified, powerful, civilized and prosperous Vietnam,” Communist Party General Secretary To Lam wrote in an article published on a government website.

To Lam acknowledged the deep divisions rooted in the country’s wartime past, but emphasized that Vietnam is now “armed with lessons of its past.”

According to analyst Nguyen Khac Giang of Singapore’s ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute, the shift in messaging signals a pragmatic shift by the Communist Party.

“The Vietnam War remains central to how the Communist Party frames its legitimacy, not just as a military triumph but also as a symbol of national unity,” he said. “But To Lam’s comments underline that the reconciliation remains unfinished. The war still defines Vietnam’s unity, and its unresolved divides.”

Pham Ngoc Son, a 69-year-old war veteran who served as a truck driver along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, returned to Ho Chi Minh City to remember the day his troops entered the city. Though he recalled that moment with joy, he said his focus now is on peace.

“The war is over a long time ago,” he said. “Now there is only space for peace and friendship.”

Local resident Nguyen Thi Hue shared a similar sentiment.

“The war has ended and we shake hands [with the former enemy] for development. Now it’s time for peace. Peace is the dream that everyone in the world wants,” she said.

This year also marks 30 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States, a relationship that has deepened significantly. In 2023, Vietnam elevated its partnership with the U.S. to the level of a comprehensive strategic partner, its highest diplomatic status, on par with that of China and Russia.

Officials in Hanoi have credited the strength of this bond to Washington’s ongoing efforts to address war legacies, including the cleanup of unexploded ordnance and remediation of areas contaminated by Agent Orange. However, the sustainability of these efforts has been called into question due to drastic cuts to USAID under the Trump administration.

Vietnam, heavily reliant on global trade, also finds itself vulnerable to shifting U.S. economic policies. In recent years, it was hit with a staggering 46% reciprocal tariff, one of the highest imposed by the Trump administration.

An estimated 13,000 people, including soldiers, veterans, militias, and local residents, took part in the parade. Troops from Laos and Cambodia also joined the event. Notably absent was a formal Chinese contingent, although a viral video showed Chinese troops singing the Vietnamese song “As If Uncle Ho Were With Us on Victory Day” during an earlier rehearsal, a symbolic gesture after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Vietnam.

The parade route passed by the U.S. Consulate, a reminder of how far the two nations have come from former enmity to close strategic partners.

According to Huong Le-Thu of the International Crisis Group, Hanoi’s growing ties with Washington have helped it maintain balance in its complicated relationship with Beijing, particularly in light of South China Sea disputes.

However, she warned that the U.S.’s focus on tariffs and short-term economic priorities could undermine long-term strategic ties.

“It really will be shaping up [on] how the new administration sees the strategic picture in the Indo-Pacific and where countries like Vietnam would fit in,” she said.

As Vietnam reflects on a half-century of peace, the focus is no longer on the bitter divisions of war but on its vision of unity, development, and resilience, a message deeply resonant in a time of global uncertainty.

Despite lingering scars, both physical and political, the country is determined to transform its past into a foundation for peace.

Pangulong Marcos sa PNPA Class 2025: “Maging marangal, kahit walang parangal”

Carlo Juancho Funtanilla
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Pangulong Marcos sa PNPA Class 2025: “Maging marangal, kahit walang parangal”

SILANG, Cavite. Sa harap ng 206 bagong nagtapos ng Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 2025 “Sinaglawin,” hinikayat ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang mga bagong opisyal na piliin ang landas ng dangal at katapatan, kahit hindi ito nakikita ng karamihan at hindi man ito magbunga ng pagkilala.

“Piliin ang marangal, kahit walang parangal, at ang paninindigan na tama kahit walang nakakakita,” panawagan ng Pangulo sa ginanap na graduation rites sa Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda sa Silang, Cavite nitong Huwebes.

Sa kanyang talumpati, binigyang-diin ng Pangulo ang kahalagahan ng presensiya ng mga alagad ng batas sa komunidad at ang pagiging matatag sa gitna ng tukso at pagsubok.

“My dear officers, this country will never ask you to be perfect, but it will ask you to be present, be there, let our people feel your presence, feel the presence of their law enforcer, feel the presence of the law,” ayon kay Marcos.

Kinikilala ng Pangulo ang mga kontrobersiyang kinakaharap ng ilang kasapi ng PNP at ang posibilidad na mailigaw ang kanilang katapatan. Kaya’t hinamon niya ang mga bagong opisyal na maging ehemplo ng integridad at propesyunalismo.

“May mga pagkakataong ang inyong mga paniniwala ay tila hinihila sa iba’t ibang direksyon,” babala ni Marcos. “Subalit ito rin ang sandali upang patunayan ninyo ang inyong paninindigan at kahandaang maglingkod.”

Sa hanay ng mga nagsipagtapos, namayagpag si Police Cadet Marc Joseph L. Vitto mula Oriental Mindoro bilang class valedictorian. Pinarangalan siya ng Presidential Kampilan Award, Journalism Kampilan Award, at Plaque of Merit para sa pagiging pinakamagaling sa klase.

Ang Sinaglawin Class of 2025 ang kauna-unahang batch sa kasaysayan ng akademya na tuluy-tuloy nang itatalaga bilang mga fully commissioned Police Lieutenants ng PNP. Ito ay kasunod ng pagpapatupad ng Republic Act 11279, na naglilipat sa PNPA sa ilalim ng direktang pamamahala ng PNP at nagtapos sa dating sistema ng pagtatalaga ng mga kadete sa Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) at Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

Sa kabuuan, 206 kadete ang nagtapos, 168 lalaki at 38 babae, na ngayon ay opisyal nang bahagi ng bagong henerasyon ng mga tagapagpatupad ng batas.

Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from papal conclave

EDGARDO HERNAL
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Disgraced Cardinal Becciu formally withdraws from papal conclave

VATICAN CITY. Cardinal Angelo Becciu, the embattled Italian prelate at the center of the Vatican’s landmark corruption trial, has formally announced his withdrawal from the upcoming conclave to elect the next pope, citing his desire to serve “the good of the church.”

The 76-year-old cardinal issued the statement through his lawyers on Tuesday, just days ahead of the conclave set to begin on May 7 following the death of Pope Francis. Becciu’s eligibility had been a source of intense scrutiny and debate within the Roman Catholic hierarchy, casting a shadow over the papal succession process.

“Having at heart the good of the church, which I have served and will continue to serve with fidelity and love, as well as to contribute to the communion and serenity of the conclave, I have decided to obey as I have always done the will of Pope Francis not to enter the conclave while remaining convinced of my innocence,” Becciu declared.

Becciu, once a powerful Vatican official and a potential papal contender, was stripped of his rights as a cardinal in 2020 after Pope Francis forced his resignation over allegations of financial misconduct. Although he has consistently denied any wrongdoing, Becciu was convicted in December 2023 by a Vatican court on charges related to financial crimes and sentenced to five and a half years in prison. His appeal is set to begin in September.

Despite his fall from grace, Becciu had been attending pre-conclave meetings, including one on Monday, and had recently asserted his right to vote in the election, stating his intent to enter the Sistine Chapel with the other electors.

His sudden reversal appears to have been triggered by two letters signed by Pope Francis before his death, which, according to Domani, were presented to Becciu during initial pre-conclave discussions. These letters reportedly reiterated the late pontiff’s wish that Becciu not take part in the conclave.

While Becciu remains under the age of 80, the cutoff for conclave participation, and thus technically eligible to vote, Vatican statistics have long classified him as a “non-elector.” Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni confirmed Tuesday that two other cardinals have also withdrawn from the conclave due to health reasons, leaving 133 electors.

The Vatican’s governing document for papal elections, Universi Dominici Gregis, states that cardinals under 80 may vote unless they have been “canonically deposed or who with the consent of the Roman Pontiff have renounced the cardinalate.” It also emphasizes that the College of Cardinals has no authority to reinstate such individuals after a pope’s death.

The nature of Becciu’s original resignation remains murky. The Vatican’s 2020 press release simply noted that Pope Francis had accepted Becciu’s resignation as prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints “and his rights connected to the cardinalate.” No formal canonical sanction has been publicized.

Becciu, who rose through the ranks during the papacy of Benedict XVI and was seen as aligned with the conservative old guard, had once been a close adviser to Francis. Despite his subsequent fall, Francis maintained contact with him and permitted his participation in Vatican life, even while reforming church laws that enabled prosecutors to bring the cardinal to trial.

The fairness of Becciu’s trial has come under increasing scrutiny. Defense attorneys argued that the prosecution benefited from excessive papal interference, including four secret decrees by Francis that allowed investigators to wiretap and detain suspects without judicial oversight. The trial’s main witness against Becciu was reportedly manipulated by outside parties, with new evidence suggesting possible collusion between prosecutors and Vatican gendarmes.

Despite the tribunal’s rejection of these concerns, ongoing revelations have fueled claims of due process violations in what has been described as the Vatican’s “trial of the century.”

Becciu’s withdrawal from the conclave, while symbolically significant, does not alter the official count of electors, nor does it erase the questions his presence had raised. His statement, referencing the will of Pope Francis, brings a dramatic chapter to a close, at least for now.

The conclave will proceed with 133 cardinal-electors, tasked with choosing the next leader of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics, one whose tenure may be shaped by both the legacy of Francis and the ongoing calls for greater transparency within the Church.

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