White flowers and book of condolences at the reception of The Chapels at the Heritage Park for former president Aquino. Among visitors have been Justice Ben Caguioa and Samira Gutoc @rapplerdotcom
Visitors go straight to the chapel where they are staying until now. Once or twice, former Palace Usec Abi Valte will go out to assist them, like this with former House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte. Ex DOH Sec and now Rep Janette Garin also inside
Malabon Mayor Lenlen Oreta, PNoy's cousin, says although the family has known of the former president's illness, the death also seems so sudden. Oreta recalls moments where PNoy would train him in Karate
Aquino's former DSWD Sec Dinky Soliman also arrives
Former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte says he knew PNoy was ill "but I never knew it was something like this." Belmonte says he does not go out in the pandemic but felt he had to go here to pay respects. Belmonte says PNoy's Tuwid na Daan never bent.
Justice Conchita Carpio Morales arrives, calls Pnoy "brave" and "ran after the powerful even to his discredit."
An emotional former senator Bam Aquino appeals that the country remember PNoy today as a man "who gave it his all, halos wala nang tinira sa sarili niya." Sen Bam says they just finished mass, and Abi Valte will announce details later.
That's Justice Ben Caguioa and Edwin Lacierda talking. In a brief chat, Justice Caguioa says PNoy "looks good," lost weight but looks good.
When we offered our condolences to Justice Caguioa, he says "condolences to all of us."
Aquino's former executive secretary Jojo Ochoa has also arrived.
Senator Ping Lacson has also arrived. He went straight to the chapel.
The wreath from Vice President Leni Robredo has arrived. Robredo still inside the chapel.
Senator Risa Hontiveros is also here
Retired SC Justice and PHILJA Chancellor Adolf Azcuna is also here
Atty Chel Diokno is here also
Aquino's former comms secretary Ricky Carandang confirms that the former president will be cremated.
Former QC Mayor Herbert Bautista sends a wreath for PNoy
Kris Aquino earlier went out to thank Pres Duterte and ES Medialdea for "offering all we wanted," but pandemic restrictions force them to keep it simple: urn will be in Ateneo tomorrow, and burial will be on Saturday at the Manila Memorial Park where his parents are also buried.
Kris Aquino: God blessed me because we made our peace. But that is private.
Former VP Jejomar Binay arrives at the Heritage Park with children Senator Nancy Binay and former Makati mayor Junjun Binay
Miguel Abellada, PNoy's nephew, carries the urn out of The Heritage. Public viewing will be at the Church of Gesu tomorrow at Ateneo from 10am to 10pm
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2024 was the year I left breaking news to focus on investigations and in-depth stories. Here's some of those stories, as I will always hold myself accountable to you. Thanks for reading, apologies for the lapses, and asking for your continued support.
Links in thread.
We found that the motorcycle used to abduct Cebu-based activists have been traced to the military's intelligence service (ISAFP). We followed up with AFP repeatedly , and got a schedule for interview but they canceled and never got back again to us. rappler.com/newsbreak/in-d…
As part of the effort demystify law, and zero in on the real effects of justice, we kept going back to victims and asked them often: how does a favorable ruling impact you? For Gazan refugees in PH, the ICJ prelim measures did not do much. rappler.com/newsbreak/in-d…
Bruised from the many disappointments before, the mood in the De Lima home in Iriga City on Monday was "relaxed," says Leila De Lima's cousin Elma Gaspi. "Kung lalabas, pagdating dito, saka tayo maniwala." @rapplerdotcom
De Lima has safely reached home in Iriga City. This is earlier footage of her arrival by commercial plane in Daraga, greeted by sister Carol and supporters who said "Ma'am, welcome to Bicol ulit." De Lima has had her hair cut, and with a much lighter aura than the last two days
WATCH: Emotions and festivities at the De Lima home in Iriga, as Leila De Lima comes home.
Reporting from Aseana in Parañaque for Uniteam's final Miting de Avance. At 1:47pm, people start to arrive at the lot fronting Solaire for the program slated to start at 5pm. The venue, sticking to theme of unity. has 3 entrances for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao @rapplerdotcom
Media instructed to go here in a small boxed area.
Just regained signal so I will tweet some clips from Uniteam's final miting de avance in Parañaque. This was the drone show from earlier.
Senator Leila De Lima formally brings to court the Rafael Ragos retraction, and asks for her immediate release whether on dismissed charges or on bail. @rapplerdotcom
When we spoke with De Lima in Camp Crame last week, she said campaigning from jail had been hard because potential donors were wary, if not completely pulled out, because of her situation.
Trillanes campaigned and won as senator from jail, too, but De Lima said her situation is different. "No one has been subjected to this kind of demonization made by the president himself. He painted me as a bad woman," De Lima tells Rappler.
ONGOING: Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio 'Ambo' David, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines, leads the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday web.facebook.com/rapplerdotcom/…
Bishop David starts homily: Alam ni Pontio Pilato ang katotohanan, hindi lang niya mapaninidigan. Alam naman niyang hindi totoo ang akusasyon kay Hesus na kasama siya ng mga rebeldeng grupo para mapabagsak ang Roman Empire. Sa modernong salita, na-red tag si Hesus.
Before the Holy Week ban on campaign activities, Bongbong Marcos will headline an event here in QC where the local slate of mayoral challenger Mike Defensor is campaigning. 1.3 million votes up for grabs here. Marcos won QC in 2016. @rapplerdotcom
Bongbong Marcos arrives in Quezon City, at least his 3rd return to this city of 1.3M voters. He has been going heavy in Luzon, returning to areas already considered his bailiwicks. Strategists see this as consolidation of Luzon that has more than half of total voter population.
Read my latest report on the geographical strategy of the current survey frontrunner, as we learn he is set to return to Bicol, and is headed to Cebu where he recently got One Cebu of Visayas, considered a “sway” region.