[Rappler’s Best] Impeachment season again

The Senate blue ribbon committee resumes today, January 19, its hearings on the flood control scandal, and we expect some blockbuster testimonies that could further fuel the street protests that various groups will be mounting in the coming weeks.

Yes, we’re back to reality. Or our own versions of it. One of the central figures in the scandal, resigned public works and highways secretary Manuel Bonoan, is back in the country after a two-month hiatus in the US. A senator has accused him of providing Malacañang with wrong flood control projects data, so let’s see how this unravels as well. 

The Senate and the House are also resuming sessions a week from now, on January 26, with some lawmakers gearing up for the filing of another impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte, who escaped trial last year through a Supreme Court ruling that has made the process more stringent. 

Someone beat them to it on Monday, January 19, with the filing of an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that was endorsed by Pusong Pinoy Partylist Representative Jett Nisay. 

• Lawyer Tony La Viña says he expects the impeachment complaint against Duterte to be filed in February. Unless President Marcos “pulls all stops” to make this happen, it’s bound to fail, La Viña tells Rappler’s John Nery in a recent episode of In the Public Square. La Viña also sees the “further deterioration” of Marcos’ political support and a deeper political turmoil ahead. Watch his interview here.
• Former political adviser Ronald Llamas also thinks there will be a renewed offensive against the Vice President and her allies. But he notes that the fate of these political maneuverings hinges, among others, on the faltering economy and whether the Marcos administration can arrest shrinking incomes and anemic investments. Watch his interview here.
• But why has it become harder now to impeach either the president or the vice president? Dwight de Leon explains in this story.

Outside the economy and an American president who’s invading lands and wanting to buy them is our burly neighbor that is China, which opened the New Year with a bang through a turnaround of its erstwhile sour ties with Canada.

• Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Beijing last week, the first by a Canadian prime minister in nearly a decade, as he seeks to rebuild broken ties with China, Canada’s second-largest trading partner after the US.
• Both countries signed an initial trade agreement that will reduce tariffs on electric vehicles from China and canola from Canada.
• The warming of ties comes in the aftermath of US President Donald Trump’s attacks against Canada since taking oath in January 2025. Marites Dañguilan Vitug writes about how the middle power has been exerting ways to get out of the US shadow.
• Things have indeed changed for both countries from the time of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, who was even caught in a testy exchange with China’s President Xi Jinping in a 2022 G20 summit. 

But toward the Philippines, America’s key ally in the region, China is not toning down. The US’ current obsession with invasion and possession — from Venezuela to Greenland (Trump has just threatened European allies with tariffs until he is allowed to buy the autonomous territory) — and its dalliances with Taiwan, are adding impetus to Chinese aggression in territories that they deem to be their own. 

• Last week, the US and Taiwan signed a deal that cuts tariffs on the latter’s major exports and pushes new investments in America’s tech industry. 
• The threat of Chinese invasion of Taiwan looms larger than ever. What would the Philippines do if that happened? Bea Cupin tackles the matter in this story.
• On Friday, January 16, the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said it filed protests with Malacanãng, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Philippine Coast Guard over “malicious provocations” by Commodore Jay Tarriela, one of the key spokespersons on the West Philippine Sea. Bea Cupin tells us why in this story.

But, hey, it can’t be that bad. Manila finally made up its mind and said that starting January 16, it will now be granting visa-free entry to Chinese nationals for up to two weeks.

Will China canter, gallop, and trot throughout the Year of the Horse?

Here are some of Rappler’s bests that you shouldn’t miss:

Val Villanueva explains why markets should be worried about the saga of Batangas 1st District Representative Leandro Leviste. Isagani de Castro Jr. tells us why Leviste’s canceled Solar Philippines contracts matter to Filipinos.

Victor Barreiro Jr. reports that ChatGPT will now test ads and tells us what to expect from this move. The Conversation raises the threat of manipulation in this piece.

Val Villanueva puts in perspective the global expansion of Jollibee and lays out the challenges ahead.

Jairo Bolledo gives us a reality check: why it would be hard to keep Atong Ang in jail. 

Marites Vitug sits down with former budget secretary Butch Abad on how the broken budget process can be fixed.

[EDITORIAL] Most reliable institution ang media. Ano’ng mindshift ito?

Rappler’s take on a recent survey showing that the public trusts the news media more than government institutions in the flood control scandal investigations.

Australia social media ban hits 4.7 million teen accounts in first month

And so it begins, what the Australian government describes as their source of national pride.

[Tech Thoughts] Environmental concerns amid rising data center demand in ‘too hot’ PH

There are at least 35 data centers in the country. And counting.

Even before the landslide, controversies haunted Cebu’s Binaliw landfill

The Razon-run landfill had inadequate drainage and stormwater management, among others.

What awaits Alex Eala in breakthrough Australian Open campaign?

For the first time, Alex Eala plays in the main draw of the Australian Open.

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The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Rappler.