Former Senator Bongbong Marcos wanted the textbooks being used by students to be “fixed” to clean the image of his father, late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

In a forum hosted by the National Press Club, Marcos said that they were accused of changing the history in their favor, but it seems that the textbook shows that they’re not the ones doing revisionism.

According to him, the court already cleared his father from accusations like

“Pinapalitan daw namin ang kwento ng kasaysayan. Who is doing revisionism? Nilagay nila sa libro ng textbook ng mga bata na ganito, ‘ang mga Marcos ganito ang ninakaw, ganito ang ginawa’,” said Marcos.

“Ngayon lumalabas sa Korte hindi totoo lahat ng sinabi ninyo dahil hindi niyo naipakita,” he added.

Marcos said that they’re asking the government for correcting some of the details about his father in textbooks, however, the people in power during those times are their critics.

“What has been proven wrong is essentially what they continue to contend in the textbooks of our children. Essentially you are teaching the children lies,” said Marcos.

“‘Yung kanilang sinasabi na ninakaw namin, na ginawa namin, hindi lahat totoo. Pa’no ko nasasabi ‘yun? ‘Yan ang desisyon ng korte. There was no evidence,” he added.

He then called the cases filed against his family as “political propaganda”.

In November 2019, Sandiganbayan junked a P1-B civil-ill gotten wealth cases against the Marcoses and their alleged dummies.

They also dismissed the P200-B civil suit filed by the government against the Marcoses.

The former Senator suggested that instead of political appointees, history professors should be given the task in checking the textbooks being distributed to the country.

A retired journalist who also worked for ABS-CBN in the past made an open letter to actress Angel Locsin and actor Baron Geisler and explained why the television giant is having a hard time to get a franchise renewal from the government.

In a lengthy post, Jay Sonza said that he understood why Locsin, Geisler and other employees of ABS-CBN are defending the said network because they’re currently working there and getting paid well.

However, Sonza pointed out that not all of the employees of ABS-CBN are enjoying the same treatment they’re receiving.

Sonza listed some of the issues allegedly being faced by the television giant:

“1. the company is not 65 years old. abs or Alto Broadcasting Service of the Quirino family was annexed (itanong nyo sa mga Lopez paano nila nakuha) by cbn or Chronicle Broadcasting Network of the Lopez clan and merged in 1959. abs-cbn was taken out of commission from 1972 to 1986 (14 year-shut down).”

“2. The company is one big violator of existing laws of the land:
= more than 90 percent of their employees are victims of ENDO or labor only contracting despite working practically 24/7 Monday to Sunday. Check their labor cases pending before NLRC numbering hundreds.
= almost 90 percent are NOT given their due social amelioration as provided by law regardless of work status including but not limited to SSS, PhilHealth and Pagibig Fund coverages. Simply ask any ‘talent employee” if they have one.
= the company is not honest and religious in paying their taxes, tarrif, duties, etc. Proof of these are their cases before tax courts.”

“3. While the network projects publicly their concern and compassion, take a look of these samples:
– Ruth Abao Espinosa = radio announcer and TV news and public affairs program presenter. She got pregnant. went on maternity leave. Hindi na pinabalik sa trabaho.
– Izza Reniva Cruz = news producer and writer. nabuntis. nanganak. nagpapasuso. pinabalik sa trabaho mula 11 ng hatinggabi hanggang 7 ng umaga.
– Public donations sa abs cbn Foundation pinambili ng lupa at sasakyan, pinagpatayo ng gusali at pinamigay na donasyon sa Ateneo Alumni Association.”

“4. Huwag na nating pag-usapan ang iba pang kahalayan at pangangalunya sa loob ng bakuran. Huwag na nating pangalanan ang mga artista at program hosts at news anchors na bumababa mula sa penthouse ng bagong paligo o may pabahay o pakotse.”

Angel Locsin and Baron Geisler expressed their support to ABS-CBN amid the possible closure of the said network after President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to block its franchise renewal.

The network’s franchise is set to expire in March 2020.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. and the group Migrante engaged in an argument when the militants mentioned several issues and also urged the government to avoid sending the army in the Middle East.

On Friday, Locsin who arrived at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DDFA) building was welcomed by the shouting activists.

Locsin became furious when the rallyist called the DFA secretary “epal”.

“Oh sige bugbugin mo ko,” Locsin told the activists, he also ordered his security personnel not to interfere.

He then answered the issues being mentioned by the activists one by one.

“Yung namatay na Kuwait sinabi ko na, life for a life, no other compromise,” Locsin said “Two kahit na wala nang gera. In spite of that, there will be a massive repatriation effort to bring our people back home,”

Locsin then assured that even if the OFWs refused to go back home, they’re going to stay there and protect them.

“We will stay there and we will protect them as much as we can, you know why? Because this is the government of Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” he said.

The DFA secretary also clarified that the Philippines was not siding with the U.S in the Middle East crisis.

The situation became calm when a family of an OFW asked Locsin to save her sister working in Saudi Arabia who was barred by her employers to go home.

The secretary asked the complainant for more details and vowed to save her sister from her Saudi employers.

On a tweet, Locsin then teased the media for their report about the confrontation.

“Hoy, mga sioki, “Bugbugin mo ako. Sige.” I shouted at them. That’s not a challenge but an invitation,” said Locsin.

Actress Liza Soberano appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN to save the employees who may be affected by its closure.

In a press conference for his upcoming series “Make It With You,” a reporter asked Soberano about her stand on the possible franchise expiration of ABS-CBN.

Her show is expected to air by March 30, 2020, the same month when the franchise of ABS-CBN is going to expire once the Congress fails to pass it.

According to Soberano, she believes that it’s possible for President Duterte to retract his decision to block the ABS-CBN franchise renewal.

“He is understanding, I believe, alam niya namang maraming maaapektuhan… It’s not just the company itself, but all the employees. I’m sure he has a generous heart and an understanding heart.” Soberano said.

“I hope he wakes up one morning and he thinks about it again, and maging bukas ‘yung puso niya sa lahat ng smaller employees na nangangailangan ng trabaho,” she added.

Meanwhile, Soberano’s long time partner, Enrique Gil said that he’s worried about the possible people that could lose their job because of the closure of ABS-CBN.

“Ang iniisip ko lang ang ‘yung may mabababang posisyon. You know I don’t know what to say minsan. Siyempre nasasaktan din ako na there is a possibility na hindi matuloy. We grew up. I’ve been here for a long time but I don’t know. I just hope for the best,” Enrique stated.

They’re not the only celebrities who asked President Duterte to reconsider his decision.

Yesterday, Actress Sharon Cuneta, a friend of Duterte asked the President to support the ABS-CBN franchise renewal for the sake of its employees.

“I’ll just say this before saying goodbye—I pray that our dear President reconsiders his decision about ABS-CBN, not just because I just renewed,  I can always find a job,” Cuneta said.

“But because everybody I grew up with here—who have remained loyal to the station and have grown up here having learned from the school of hard knocks and have become family and good friends—will lose almost everything they’ve built over the years, And even those that might choose to stay—if indeed, unfortunately, goes that way—it won’t be the same,” she added.

Overseas Filipino Workers in the Middle East celebrated after U.S President Donald Trump announced that he doesn’t want to use their weapons against Iran amid the crisis between the said two countries.

In a televised address from the White House, Trump said that they’re going to impose new economic sanctions against Iran instead of engaging battle with them.

“To the people and leaders of Iran: we want you to have a future. One that you deserve. One of prosperity at home, and harmony with nations of the world,” Trump said.

“The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,” he added.

The said statement of Trump made the netizens, especially the OFWs a peace of mind as the U.S military is not planning to retaliate against Iran.

“Thank God, I hope you will touch also the heart of the leader in Iran” netizen Naty Sabejon said.

“That’s good news for the whole world… We are all human why not forgive each other??” netizen Jhoy Habawel commented.

“Maging thankful na lang tayong lahat..na mas ginusto ni trump ang kapayaan keysa madaming madamay..pero kung ibang president yan..bska cge laban lang tayo matira matibay..thats the powe of prayers,” Anne Delarosa remarked.

Meanwhile, the mandatory reparation for all Filipino workers in Iran and Lebanon was lifted, according to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III.

“Initially, the level of alert for Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon are the same—[Alert Level] 4. Although it was unofficial, I was informed yesterday that the alert level in Lebanon was put down to level 2 and I understand that there’s no more alert level in Iran,” Bello said

However, the mandatory evacuation in Iraq would still be implemented and also the deployment ban.

Some netizens believe that President Rodrigo Duterte’s independent foreign policy is now bearing fruit amid the US-Iran crisis.

On Wednesday, netizen Jaira Andrea shared a screenshot of some comments from the netizens who called Duterte a ‘political’ genius for distancing the country from the U.S military.

According to the screenshots posted by Andrea, one netizen said that the reason why President Duterte opposed the presence of the U.S military in the country is that the Philippines may become the target of America’s enemies.

“US po ang target ng Iran kaya nila bobombahin yung mga nasabing bansa syempre babawiin na din ng kabilang panig dafhil pati sila madadamay kaya nga ayaw ni DU30 na meron tayong US BASE sa pilipinas kung naalala nyoyung dating binalita para makawas tayo sa giyera kung sakaling magkaron man,” netizen Albert Rodriguez said.

Another netizen, Michael John Go called Duterte a ‘genius’ saying that despite the alliance between US, the President also befriended Russia and China to maintain the neutrality of the Philippines.

“This is why Duterte is a political genius. He well knows that we have this agreement with USA but get engage and friendly with Russia and China just so we can be neutral,” Go said.

“He knows that if the WW3 starts or the tension gets out of hand in the South China Sea, Philippines can be a battleground. People calls him moron, but he is really a political genius,” he added.

The post has gone viral on social media and now reached 10,000 shares.

It’s already known that President Duterte opposed any plans of the U.S to build bases in the Philippines.

In 2017, Duterte told the U.S to stop unloading arms in several parts of the country because it might put the Philippines in possible danger.

He made the statement after he was informed that US troops appear to be building a depot in the Philippines and unloading arms in Palawan, Pampanga and Cagayan De Oro.

“You place us all in danger. You do that and I will be there when you start building, even before you build the first post,” Duterte said.

In another interview, Duterte said that he wanted to remove any presence of foreign military troops in the Philippines.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III defended President Rodrigo Duterte’s Oplan Tokhang after Vice President Leni Robredo called it a failure.

On a tweet, Sotto said that the popularity of the President and the stories from the people about how the Oplan Tokhang made their place safer is “incompatible” with the accusations of Robredo who gave a grade of 1 over 100 to the administration during the revelation of her ICAD findings last Monday.

The Senate President also believes that the users and pushers lost their confidence to roam along the streets because of Duterte’s Oplan Tokhang.

“The President’s high approval ratings after 3 years, is incompatible with a grand failure accusation. The truth is found in the stories of families at home and the changes in their neighborhood. Dati takot ang mga tao sa adik; ngayon ang adik ang takot,” said Sotto.

The President's high approval ratings after 3 years, is incompatible with a grand failure accusation. The truth is found in the stories of families at home and the changes in their neighborhood. Dati takot ang mga tao sa adik; ngayon ang adik ang takot.

— Tito Sotto (@sotto_tito) January 8, 2020

Sotto added that “numbers alone” will not explain the problem.

“It is deeper than mere arithmetic,” Sotto said.

Some of Sotto’s followers also shared how their place became safer because of Oplan Tokhang.

“Madami pong adik sa lugar namen, mga namamayat noon. Ngayon po, they are all in good shapes now. I really felt and see some good changes,” netizen @jerick_pacio said.

“Include me in the stories of families and lives that were changed for good when Duterte became President,” @meiyingchua remarked.

Despite the criticisms being received by Duterte, he’s still enjoying high approval ratings since he took the most powerful position in the Philippines.

Some believe that his popularity also made his allies won the 2019 senatorial elections while all of the candidates the opposition lost the race.