Faces of the News: February 23, 2025
Rene Sarmiento
The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, should promptly begin the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte due to the time-sensitive nature of impeachment, which is why the Constitution uses the term “forthwith” in the relevant provision.
Thus explained lawyer Rene Sarmiento, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution, during a forum on Feb. 19. “[Forthwith] means right away, immediately—no hesitation, no doubt, act without delay,” Sarmiento said.
His stance differs from that of Senate President Francis Escudero, who believes that the impeachment process does not need to commence immediately after the House of Representatives endorses the complaint to the Senate.
Sarmiento, a member of the Constitutional Commission formed after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution, emphasized that the “forthwith” provision was a “novel addition” not present in the 1935 and 1973 Philippine Charters, nor in the 1787 US Constitution.
He also stressed that the urgency of having a trial was evident in the intent of the framers and their discussions on the “time-compelling significance of impeachment.” —JANE BAUTISTA
Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III called on Senate President Francis Escudero to act “forthwith” and start the trial of impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, citing what was intended by the Constitution.
Pimentel, who topped the 1990 bar examinations, said it was the constitutional duty of every senator to hear “without any delay” the complaint endorsed by 215 House members seeking the removal of the country’s second highest elected official.
It was “imperative that the Senate uphold its duty with urgency, diligence, and a steadfast commitment” to the Charter, he said and carry out its tasks as impeachment court in exacting accountability on public officials accused of committing serious offenses.
Later last week, Pimentel also proposed to Senate President Francis Escudero that the chamber hold an all-member caucus to get the opinion of the 23 senators on how they should address the matter while still on a break.
He insisted that the impeachment trial can start as early as March instead of waiting for the resumption of session on June 2. —MARLON RAMOS
Riley
The Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), the country’s sole organization dedicated to captive breeding the national bird, received a special gift in time for its 38th founding anniversary: an eaglet hatched in its facility in Davao City.
“Riley’” came to the world on Jan. 16, the 31st eaglet produced through cooperative artificial insemination at the PEF. Riley is the offspring of the male “Sinag” and female “Dakila.”
The mother now lives at the National Bird Breeding Sanctuary in Barangay Eden, while the father is still with the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos. Sinag’s semen was transported to Eden for introduction to Dakila, and the procedure worked.
Riley’s arrival thus raised the confidence of the PEF technicians regarding the soundness of their methods.
Having her also significantly lifted the morale of the conservationists at the PEF, who were earlier saddened by the loss of Chick #30—an eaglet that was hatched in November last year but lived for only 17 days. Riley has since been “adopted” or nurtured with the support of the company Eagle Cement. —JOSELLE R. BADILLA
Cesar Chavez
Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez on Thursday confirmed rumors that he had indeed decided to leave the Marcos Cabinet after only five months on the job as head of the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
In a statement, Chavez said he had submitted his “irrevocable resignation” on Feb. 5, becoming the third PCO chief to step down in less than three years.
Chavez admitted that he fell short of expectations, without going into details, but maintained in an Inquirer interview that he was not fired or forced to resign.
Speculations about his exit began after he became conspicuously absent at the Feb. 11 rally kicking off the election campaign of the Alyansa Para sa Pagbabago’s senatorial slate in Laoag City.
His recent move to designate PCO Senior Undersecretary Emerald Anne Ridao as officer in charge from Feb. 17 to Feb. 21 also fanned the rumors.
Chavez will be replaced by Jay Ruiz, a former ABS-CBN reporter and son of the late lawyer Alfonso Ruiz, an ex-mayor of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte, birthplace of the President’s father. —JULIE M. AURELIO
Victor Wembanyama
The playoff hopes of the San Antonio Spurs suffered a big blow on Friday after sophomore star Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the rest of the NBA season.
The Spurs said the 7-foot-3 phenom nicknamed “Wemby” was diagnosed with a blood clot on his right shoulder, a development that came at a time when the Spurs needed to catch up in the race for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.
Wembanyama was sidelined ironically after earning high praise for his competitiveness during the otherwise heavily panned NBA AllStar Game in San Francisco on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Frenchman averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists before being put on the shelf due to the injury.
San Antonio as of this writing has a 24-29 win-loss record, good for 12th place in the West, and in desperate need to catch up with the Golden State Warriors who are 10th at 28-27.
Teams that place sixth to 10th in both East and West after the regular season will go through a play-in for the last two seeds. —JONAS TERRADO
