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…

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

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.

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.

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/… @rapplerdotcom

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.

Bar results to go as planned. Special en banc session at 10am, afterwards Bar chair Justice Marvic Leonen is scheduled to make the announcement inside SC. Bar takers allowed inside SC grounds in portion near the screen. @rapplerdotcom It's almost back to normal. Controlled entry of crowd at the SC grounds for the pandemic batch of lawyers - the biggest batch to undergo unprecedented Bar conditions, finishing degree and reviewing on lockdown, and some unable to take the Bar if they tested positive.

LOOK: Supreme Court's Entry of Judgment which shows that GR 120880, where the High Court ordered Marcos heirs to pay P23 billion in estate tax, became final and executory on March 9, 1999. @rapplerdotcom P23 billion is estimated to have gone up to P203 billion because of surcharge, interest and penalties.

BIR had earlier confirmed sending the last demand on December 2, 2021.

Bongbong Marcos barnstorms Davao region and will start 9am in crucial province - Davao del Norte where Rep Pantaleon Alvarez & allies, incl. Gov Edwin Jubahib, backed VP Robredo. DVO del Norte has 690k voters. Cayetano won here in 2016, Marcos 2nd, and Robredo 3rd @rapplerdotcom

Alvarez endorsement in Norte is seen as crucial because even with a falling out with Sara Duterte, Alvarez and allies beat the Hugpong-endorsed Floirendos and Del Rosarios in 2019. 2nd Dist Rep Alan Dujali tho, PDP-Laban in 2019, is HNP this year and supports Uniteam.

Packed day for Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte in vote rich Cavite, starting first of their 5 events here today with Gov Jonvic Remulla in Bgy San Juan, Dasmariñas. Remulla promised 800k votes here for Marcos, who edged out Robredo in 2016 with 556k vs 404k @rapplerdotcom In Uniteam campaign sortie here in Dasma, Gov Jonvic Remulla gives P5k each to two people who got the biggest applause after their song number, and P2k to the third person

[THREAD] In interview with One PH, Marcos says he favors anti-endo but adds regularization "applies only to those businesses that are not seasonal."

Being called seasonal workers have been a perennial problem of the labor force.

rappler.com/nation/marcos-… Ano ba ang seasonal work? Sa labor code, regular ka kung ang trabaho mo ay "necessary and desirable," kung hindi, seasonal ka at puwede kang i-endo. Naranasan na namin sa TV network na sabihang hindi necessary and desirable kahit na producer, cameramen o researcher kami.

On One PH's Kandidatalks, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr defends President Rodrigo Duterte's veto of the Anti-Endo measure, says there are really seasonal workers. "We have to adjust to reality, pero ibigay natin ang safety na pagka hindi seasonal na may security." @rapplerdotcom Read this for the nitty gritty of passing an anti-endo law. In 2019, a labor lawyer proposed it can be as simple as changing the word "or" to "and" in the labor code to get rid of the widespread endo scheme of subcontracting rappler.com/nation/electio…

Following Jose Montemayor's vaccine misinfo in last night's debate, Moreno's VP bet Doc Willie Ong says he would just expect moderators to more actively fact-check. Ong promotes vaccination. He doesn't comment on Mocha Uson's support for Moreno @rapplerdotcom Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said they have done a debrief after last nigh's debate and is looking into how the program can more actively fact check on the spot.

FACT CHECK: Bongbong Marcos told One News he had never seen gold. It's a different tune from records we obtained showing in 1990 he told Inquirer "only I know where [the gold] is and how to get to it" & in 2007 he told court trading gold was their source of wealth @rapplerdotcom If Marcos says that "sa buong buhay ko hindi pa ko nakakakita ng gold," why submit a pleading to Sandiganbayan in 2007 staking claim to Payanig property because their legitimate wealth "includes trading of precious metals." This was junked by Sandiganbayan way back July 2007.

JUST IN: Office of the Solicitor General files a petition with the Supreme Court asking to rescind Rappler's fact checking agreement with Comelec. But SolGen Jose Calida aren't here, neither are lawyers, they sent admin staff to file @rapplerdotcom We haven't seen the petition but according to the press statement, OSG argued the fact checking deal constituted the unconstitutional prior restraint on free speech. This is unchartered territory, using the press' favorite defense against the press.

We're in Masbate for Bongbong Marcos' 2nd Bicol stop. He's claiming lead over Robredo in her own bailiwick, citing surveys. In that aspect, this leg has something to prove. Sorsogon had a so-so crowd, let's see turnout here where Marcos is endorsed by Gov Tony Kho @rapplerdotcom LOOK: Members of a Marian Catholic group Ina Poon Bato Simbahang Naglalakbay waiting for Marcos' arrival at the Masbate airport, say Imelda and the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos are devotees

Bongbong Marcos flip-flops on Ukraine issue, from not wanting to take a stand last Tuesday to now "standing with the rest of the world for Russia to respect Ukraine's freedom and its citizens' democratic way of life." @rapplerdotcom
Background story: rappler.com/nation/electio…

We're ready for tomorrow! Follow the live updates page for the Marcos-Duterte campaign kickoff. Head on over to Rappler.com for the live updates page of the rest of the tandems. rappler.com/nation/electio… With 53% rating, Marcos expects 25,000 warm bodies to fill half of world's largest arena, operating at reduced capacity. It is a campaign that scares those who remember the other statistics: 70,000 jailed, 34,000 tortured & 3,240 killed by martial law.
rappler.com/nation/electio…

[Thread] Process of potential extradition for Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to the US. The United States will first file a request for extradition, coursed through the diplomatic channels. DFA as first step is not merely ministerial, said Justice Sec Menardo Guevarra @rapplerdotcom Guevarra said DFA will make the determination if the case is covered by the PH-US extradition treaty, including the dual criminality test, meaning the offense is a crime both in PH and US. If request passes those test, it is endorsed to DOJ.

NOW: Senate Blue Ribbon Committee resumes hearings into pandemic procurement anomalies, particularly favored contractor Pharmally Pharmaceuticals. A committee preliminary report is expected. @rapplerdotcom Senator Richard Gordon: The anomalies could not have happened without the imprimatur of the executive department from beginning to end.

ONGOING: Pharmally board members attend Senate hearing after two invitations and a contempt order. Twinkle Dargani (president), Mohit Dargani (treasurer), Linconn Ong (director) and Justine Garado (director says SEC records, but exec asst accdg to him) @rapplerdotcom Michael Yang attends the Senate hearing from a hotel in Davao City.