JUST IN: Proposal allowing PH president to suspend, reduce fuel excise tax hurdles House committee

The House ways and means committee approves an unnumbered substitute bill that grants the President the power to suspend or reduce excise taxes on petroleum products during national or global emergencies.

Under the latest draft of the bill, the president may suspend fuel excise taxes when the barrel price of Dubai Crude rises to $80, or when oil prices "increase extraordinarily" during a state of national emergency or calamity in the Philippines. @here

JUST IN: House bill authorizing President to suspend, reduce fuel excise taxes passes 2nd reading

House passes on second reading a bill allowing President Marcos to suspend or reduce fuel excise tax during national or global economic emergencies. This comes amid the spike in local oil prices, fueled by the US-Iran war and the tensions in the Middle East. @here

House OKs travel tax abolition proposal on 2nd reading

The House of Representatives approves on second reading a bill that will remove the travel tax imposed on Filipinos traveling abroad. @here

ICI operations to end on March 31

Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) Chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., has recommended winding down the commission’s operations after six months since it was created.

Reyes said the commission’s operations will end on March 31, 2026. He said that the commission is currently completing the necessary administrative processes related to its wind-down. See the full statement of Reyes below: @here

Hello, everyone @here! I hope you all are having a great Sunday night. In case you missed this: (1st UPDATE) Without a chair heading the government peace implementing panel, 'there is no credible table at which the two parties can meet,' the Moro Islamic Liberation Front wrote in February https://www.rappler.com/philippines/mindanao/marcos-urged-reconstitute-panel-bangsamoro-peace-process/

Puno slams Speaker Bojie Dy, says NUP mulling move to minority

NUP chairman and acting president Ronaldo Puno hits Speaker Bojie Dy, says he is dissatisfied with his leadership as budget woes hound congressional districts. Puno says NUP is considering jumping to the minority.

Puno and NUP members are holding a press conference now. @here

NON-ANSWER?

The petitioners in the impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte endorsed by ML Representative Leila de Lima waive their right to reply to the Vice President's verified answer.

For the complainants, Sara's answer is a "non-answer.

The complainants say formally replying would be unnecessary when Duterte "conspicuously failed to deny each and every material allegation in the 98-page impeachment complaint."

"Complainants also note, and lament, respondent's continued failure to explain to the Filipino people how she was able to spend P125 million in 11 days, and where exactly the total amount of P612.5 million entrusted to her by the public went," the document reads. @here