[Rappler’s Best] Impeachment season once more

On Monday, January 19, the submitting of an impeachment criticism towards President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Partylist Consultant Jett Nisay

The Senate blue ribbon committee resumes in the present day, January 19, its hearings on the flood management scandal, and we anticipate some blockbuster testimonies that would additional gasoline the road protests that varied teams shall be mounting within the coming weeks.

Sure, we’re again to actuality. Or our personal variations of it. One of many central figures within the scandal, resigned public works and highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, is again within the nation after a two-month hiatus within the US. A senator has accused him of offering Malacañang with flawed flood management tasks information, so let’s see how this unravels as effectively. 

The Senate and the Home are additionally resuming periods every week from now, on January 26, with some lawmakers gearing up for the submitting of one other impeachment criticism towards Vice President Sara Duterte, who escaped trial final yr by way of a Supreme Courtroom ruling that has made the method extra stringent. 

Somebody beat them to it on Monday, January 19, with the submitting of an impeachment criticism towards President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that was endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Partylist Consultant Jett Nisay. 

• Lawyer Tony La Viña says he expects the impeachment criticism towards Duterte to be filed in February. Except President Marcos “pulls all stops” to make this occur, it’s sure to fail, La Viña tells Rappler’s John Nery in a current episode of Within the Public Sq.. La Viña additionally sees the “additional deterioration” of Marcos’ political assist and a deeper political turmoil forward. Watch his interview right here.
• Former political adviser Ronald Llamas additionally thinks there shall be a renewed offensive towards the Vice President and her allies. However he notes that the destiny of those political maneuverings hinges, amongst others, on the faltering financial system and whether or not the Marcos administration can arrest shrinking incomes and anemic investments. Watch his interview right here.
• However why has it develop into tougher now to question both the president or the vp? Dwight de Leon explains on this story.

Exterior the financial system and an American president who’s invading lands and wanting to purchase them is our burly neighbor that’s China, which opened the New 12 months with a bang by way of a turnaround of its erstwhile bitter ties with Canada.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Beijing final week, the primary by a Canadian prime minister in almost a decade, as he seeks to rebuild damaged ties with China, Canada’s second-largest buying and selling associate after the US.
• Each nations signed an preliminary commerce settlement that can cut back tariffs on electrical automobiles from China and canola from Canada.
• The warming of ties comes within the aftermath of US President Donald Trump’s assaults towards Canada since taking oath in January 2025. Marites Dañguilan Vitug writes about how the center energy has been exerting methods to get out of the US shadow.
• Issues have certainly modified for each nations from the time of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who was even caught in a testy alternate with China’s President Xi Jinping in a 2022 G20 summit. 

However towards the Philippines, America’s key ally within the area, China shouldn’t be firming down. The US’ present obsession with invasion and possession — from Venezuela to Greenland (Trump has simply threatened European allies with tariffs till he’s allowed to purchase the autonomous territory) — and its dalliances with Taiwan, are including impetus to Chinese language aggression in territories that they deem to be their very own. 

• Final week, the US and Taiwan signed a deal that cuts tariffs on the latter’s main exports and pushes new investments in America’s tech business. 
• The specter of Chinese language invasion of Taiwan looms bigger than ever. What would the Philippines do if that occurred? Bea Cupin tackles the matter in this story.
• On Friday, January 16, the Chinese language embassy within the Philippines mentioned it filed protests with Malacanãng, the Division of Overseas Affairs, and the Philippine Coast Guard over “malicious provocations” by Commodore Jay Tarriela, one of many key spokespersons on the West Philippine Sea. Bea Cupin tells us why in this story.

However, hey, it could’t be that unhealthy. Manila lastly made up its thoughts and mentioned that beginning January 16, it’ll now be granting visa-free entry to Chinese language nationals for as much as two weeks.

Will China canter, gallop, and trot all through the 12 months of the Horse?

Listed below are a few of Rappler’s bests that you just shouldn’t miss:

Val Villanueva explains why markets must be apprehensive concerning the saga of Batangas 1st District Consultant Leandro Leviste. Isagani de Castro Jr. tells us why Leviste’s canceled Photo voltaic Philippines contracts matter to Filipinos.

Victor Barreiro Jr. stories that ChatGPT will now check advertisements and tells us what to anticipate from this transfer. The Dialog raises the specter of manipulation in this piece.

Val Villanueva places in perspective the worldwide growth of Jollibee and lays out the challenges forward.

Jairo Bolledo provides us a actuality test: why it might be onerous to maintain Atong Ang in jail. 

Marites Vitug sits down with former finances secretary Butch Abad on how the damaged finances course of will be mounted.

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The views expressed by the author are his/her personal and don’t essentially replicate the views or positions of Rappler.