TODAY’S TOP STORIES - Thursday, 26 February 2026

TODAY’S TOP STORIES (from online monitoring)

26 February 2026, Thursday, 5:00 p.m.

.    1. Pres. Marcos visits Cebu, inaugurates two vital facilities

[ABS-CBN News, Cebu Daily News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Manila Times, News5PH, Sunstar, The Freeman]

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/700613/pres-marcos-visits-cebu-inaugurates-two-vital-facilities

2. Palace on NUP unlikely backing VP Sara impeachment raps: It's their decision

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Philstar, Rappler]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/977965/palace-on-nup-unlikely-backing-vp-sara-impeachment-raps-it-s-their-decision/story/

3. Palace respects ICC move allowing Duterte to skip hearing; return to Rome Statute not a priority

[ABS-CBN News, BusinessWorld, DZRH, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, MindaNews, Mindanao Times, News5PH, NewsWatchPlus, Panay News, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/26/palace-respects-icc-move-allowing-duterte-to-skip-hearing-return-to-rome-statute-not-a-priority

4. Lawyer refers affidavit of 'ex-Marines' vs lawmakers, gov't officials to Ombudsman

-ICC Office of Prosecutor denies ex-Marines' claims, asserts independence

-Palace: Bribery claims vs Marcos may be bid to discredit ICC

-Trillanes denies $2 million bribe to ICC judges

-Año dismisses ‘malicious’ cash deliveries accusations

-NBI chief Matibag orders probe into exposé by 18 ex-Marines

-Validation of ex-Marines' cash delivery claims begins – Lacson

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, Panay News, Rappler, Sunstar, Watchmen Daily Journal]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/lawyer-refers-affidavit-of-ex-marines-vs-lawmakers-gov-t-officials-to-ombudsman-1349

5. Palace: ‘Wonder Boy’ Mike Defensor is ‘Ador Mawanay 2.0’

[Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, News5PH, Philstar]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2187952/fwd-palace-on-mike-defensor

6. PNP: EDSA 40th anniv rallies generally peaceful despite tension; Youth group denounces arrest of 2 activists

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune,  DZRH, GMA News, Inquirer, Malaya, Manila Bulletin, Manila Standard, News5PH, Panay News, Philstar, Sunstar]

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/977935/pnp-edsa-40th-anniv-rallies-generally-peaceful-despite-tension/story/

7. JV Ejercito eyes March 4 for Senate ethics panel hearing

[ABS-CBN News, Daily Tribune, GMA News, Inquirer, Manila Bulletin, Manila Times, News5PH]

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2187837/jv-ejercito-eyes-march-4-for-senate-ethics-panel-hearing

8. Davao scribe disputes CCTV evidence presented before ICC

[Manila Bulletin, News5PH, Panay News, Philstar, Sunstar]

https://mb.com.ph/2026/02/26/davao-scribe-disputes-cctv-evidence-presented-before-icc

9. Pro-Duterte pages use AI to recast drug war victims' kin as rich

[ABS-CBN News, Philstar, Sunstar]

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/02/26/2510415/pro-duterte-pages-use-ai-recast-drug-war-victims-kin-rich

10. Youth leaders urge Comelec to junk bid to disqualify Kabataan Partylist

[ABS-CBN News, DZBB, DZRH, Philstar]

https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/2/26/youth-leaders-urge-comelec-to-junk-bid-to-disqualify-kabataan-partylist-1457

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