COURT ORDERS MADRIAGA TO ATTEND SARA IMPEACHMENT HEARING AT HOUSE

The Regional Trial Court Branch 21 in Manila has ordered Ramil Madriaga to appear before the House justice committee's public hearing on the impeachment case of VP Sara Duterte on April 14.

Duterte fails to get TRO from SC; House impeachment hearing proceeds April 14
The Supreme Court ignored Vice President Sara Duterte's request for a temporary restraining order, which would prevent the House of Representatives from proceeding with the impeachment hearing.
The SC, in a press release, directs respondents instead to submit a comment within 10 days.

Arroyo denies plotting to oust Speaker Bojie Dy

Congresswoman Gloria Macapagal Arroyo denies a report that she is supposedly plotting to unseat Speaker Bojie Dy.

Read her statement below. @here

Good morning! I'm covering the House joint committee on legislative energy action and development. Government agencies are briefing the panel about the implementation of Malacañang’s Executive Order 110, which placed the country under a state of national energy emergency, and authorized the government to come up with a unified package for livelihoods, industry, food, and transport. Watch the livestream @here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnH7nEE_oSk

Finance Undersecretary Rolando Ligon says the agency is still awaiting President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive on whether to suspend or reduce the excise tax.

When asked by Marikina Representative Miro Quimbo whether the tax adjustment would apply to fuel already in the country or only to newly imported pump, Ligon said the coverage would depend on the President’s directive.

Ligon noted that “it will be difficult in terms of administrative feasibility” to apply a suspension or reduction of the excise tax to fuel already in the country.

Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to suspend the excise tax. Marcos signed the bill authorizing him to suspend or reduce excise tax on petroleum products on March 25.  

Rodriguez also called to cut the VAT for fuel from 12% to 10%. 

Watch the livestream of second part of the House joint committee on legislative energy action and development. @here  https://youtube.com/live/oaVPxuQunjc?feature=share

Speaking before the House of Representatives, Move As One Coalition co-convenor Robert Siy calls for lifting the ban on e-trikes and e-bikes on major roads to reduce dependence on fossil fuel. He also calls for safer roads for these types of vehicles.

Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez shares the toll discount for selected vehicles. More details in this report: https://www.rappler.com/business/nlex-slex-star-toll-discount-march-2026/?_thumbnail_id=2575112

Why excise tax suspension applies only to LPG and kerosene

Asked why excise taxes were suspended only for LPG and kerosene, Finance Undersecretary Rolando Ligon said these fuels were prioritized because about 50% of vulnerable Filipino households rely on them.

Ligon said that the Office of the President is still studying the possible removal of excise taxes on other petroleum products, with no specific timeline set.

Kiko Barzaga released after posting bail

Kiko Barzaga was released from the Dasmariñas Component City Police Station late Monday evening, April 13, after posting bail. This follows the suspended lawmaker’s surrender to police authorities at 6:59 pm the same day after a court issued an arrest warrant against him in relation to eight counts of cyberlibel.

VP Sara Duterte rejects Madriaga claim she needed help in law school

Vice President Sara Duterte rejects claims made by her former alleged bagman Ramil Madriaga during a congressional hearing that she needed help to finish law school, calling them false and politically motivated.

“I completed my studies on my own terms,” she says in a statement posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday, April 15, adding she passed the bar exam on her first attempt in 2005 with a general weighted average of 80, which she says is five points above the minimum.

"I placed a higher premium on living a well-rounded life rather than pursuing academic excellence. I never asked any professor for special accommodation for my grades because the bare minimum was easy enough to meet."

Madriaga appeared before a House panel for the first time, where he raised corruption allegations against Duterte as she faces the prospect of getting impeached.

Photos from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook