Faces of the News: February 16, 2025
Jaime Santiago
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago announced on Wednesday that the bureau had recommended the filing of criminal charges against Vice President Sara Duterte, a week after she was impeached by the House of Representatives.
The charges—inciting to sedition and grave threats—stemmed from her expletive-laden online press conference in November last year, during which she said she had hired someone to kill President Marcos, his wife Liza and Speaker Martin Romualdez should an alleged murder plot against her succeed.
Some ranking House leaders said the NBI’s move would also bolster the impeachment complaint against Duterte, while Senate President Chiz Escudero said it would have no bearing on her impeachment trial.
Salvador Panelo, who was chief presidential legal counsel under former President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara’s father, dismissed the charges as baseless, saying the NBI better “go back to law school.” In retort, Santiago said they could both “sit in” with law students so that Panelo could see how wrong he was. —GILLIAN VILLANUEVA
Vince Dizon
Malacañang on Feb. 13 announced the appointment of Vivencio ‘’Vince’’ Dizon, a former presidential adviser during the Duterte administration, as the next secretary of the Department of Transportation.
This was following the resignation of Secretary Jaime Bautista, who cited health reasons. Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin said Dizon, whose new post takes effect on Feb. 21, had been authorized by the Office of the President to begin the transition in coordination with Bautista’s team.
Dizon, 50, earlier served as president and chief executive officer of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, where he oversaw the integration of the Clark Freeport Zone, Clark Global City, Clark International Airport and the New Clark City as an economic hub and government center.
During the pandemic, he was tapped as deputy chief implementer of the National Action Plan Against COVID-19, chief testing czar, and chief coordinator of the Test, Trace, Treat Program. The Palace took particular note of his 26 years of experience working in the legislative and executive branches. —JEROME ANING
Rommel Marbil
Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, who was originally scheduled to retire on Feb. 7, was extended in the post by another four months or until June. This would allow him to remain at the PNP helm during and after the election season.
Marbil has assured the public of a peaceful and orderly conduct of the midterm elections, saying the PNP would prioritize deployments in election hot spots by mounting regular checkpoints and intensifying intelligence work.
He said the PNP would focus on dismantling private armed groups, intercepting loose firearms, and hunting down wanted persons. On a matter outside election concerns, Marbil earlier this week warned all personnel that any act of abuse would not be tolerated, as he ordered the investigation of 10 Taguig City officers who allegedly carried out a warrantless search on a house and hurt its residents in the process.
The officers, who claimed they were on an antidrug mission, have since been disarmed and relieved of duty. For Marbil, the probe is ultimately about preserving the public’s trust in the PNP. —NESTOR CORRALES
Sonny Angara
The Department of Education (DepEd) will try to save its programs funded and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), even if it means doing them alone, according to Secretary Sonny Angara.
He wrote a letter to US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson on Feb. 7 to thank Washington for its “long-standing support in improving basic education in the Philippines.” But he also underscored the impact of US President Donald Trump’s sweeping order to freeze foreign aid. DepEd currently has five programs receiving USAID support amounting to $94 million (P5.5 billion).
They include projects for children with special needs, numeracy and literacy initiatives, and assistance to out-ofschool youths, among others.
To save these programs, Angara said, DepEd would adopt a multi-pronged strategy that includes requesting USAID to turnover project materials that can still be efficiently used, finding alternative sources of funding; and enhancing the Curriculum and Teaching Strand to integrate key project interventions into the DepEd’s existing systems. —DEMPSEY REYES
Pope Francis
Pope Francis has joined the growing chorus of criticism greeting the second term of US President Donald Trump, particularly on his massive immigration crackdown.
In a rare open letter to American Catholic bishops last Tuesday, he called the crackdown a “major crisis’’ for the US and reminded the faithful not to fall for narratives that discriminate against migrants and refugees.
“What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly,” the Pontiff said.
In the same letter, Francis also took on Vice President JD Vance’s defense of the deportations and the latter’s reference to the theological concept known as “ordo amoris” or “order to love” to suggest that Catholics must prioritize nonimmigrants.
“The true ‘ordo amoris’ that must be promoted [is] … by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception,’’ he said.
The Pope has been critical of Trump’s immigration policies since 2013. During Trump’s first term, in 2016, Francis did not mince words and said Trump’s views on the issue were “not Christian.’’ —PRESS RELEASE
