Here are today’s headlines – the latest news in the Philippines and around the world:
- ‘Unite,’ Bishop Pabillo tells splintered opposition vs Marcos, Duterte
- Independent Senate bet Heidi Mendoza warns of bogus Facebook fundraiser
- Pope Francis in critical condition for 4th day running, but stable
- US lawmakers warn that China could use Musk to influence Trump
- Kris Aquino makes first public appearance after years
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/february-26-2025/
- ‘Unite,’ Bishop Pabillo tells splintered opposition vs Marcos, Duterte
- Independent Senate bet Heidi Mendoza warns of bogus Facebook fundraiser
- Pope Francis in critical condition for 4th day running, but stable
- US lawmakers warn that China could use Musk to influence Trump
- Kris Aquino makes first public appearance after years
https://www.rappler.com/video/daily-wrap/february-26-2025/
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NewsTranscript
00:00Today on Rappler
00:15Catholic Bishop Broderick Pabillo urges opposition groups to unite for the common good.
00:20Senatorial candidate Heidi Mendoza warns of a fake Facebook page that's been scamming
00:24her supporters.
00:26The Vatican says Pope Francis' condition is still critical for the fourth consecutive
00:30day but is stable.
00:32A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers warn China might try to influence Elon Musk to
00:37gain favorable U.S. policies.
00:40And Chris Aquino makes a brief public appearance on Tuesday, February 25, her first after years
00:45of recovering from illnesses in private.
00:50On the 39th anniversary of the EDSA revolution, Catholic Bishop Broderick Pabillo urges the
00:55country's opposition groups to unite and shelve differences for the common good.
00:59The politically outspoken cleric calls on the splintered opposition to take inspiration
01:04from the 1986 revolt that toppled dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos.
01:08Our fight is to be united.
01:12We cannot get 100% that people will agree with us, but we can move together.
01:19We don't have money because we don't have power, we don't have strength, and if we don't
01:26have unity, what fight will we have?
01:29Pabillo was born in Negros and educated in Rome.
01:32He is well-known for his biblical scholarship and political activism.
01:35His words come as opposition groups remain divided on whom to castigate.
01:40President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, or both?
01:44Fr. Jerome Ceciliano, Rector of the EDSA Shrine, echoes Pabillo and talks about the
01:49role of the Catholic Church in political life.
01:52Sometimes, the Church would not like to speak because there are critics among us who believe
02:00that the Church should not speak.
02:03What is the Church fighting for?
02:05The first thing the Church is fighting for is the right of the people, the right of the
02:10people.
02:12Senatorial candidate and former State Audit Commissioner Heidi Mendoza flags a fraudulent
02:18Facebook page that's been scamming her supporters.
02:21Mendoza posts a screenshot on her official account showing how the fake page contacted
02:25one of her supporters.
02:27The fake account solicits funds for the supposed printing of tarps and flyers.
02:31The bogus account was marked as blocked, which blocks public access, and was linked to a
02:36mail user, both glaring red flags.
02:39Unlike the imposter account, Mendoza's real Facebook page is fully accessible to the public.
02:44Mendoza is an independent candidate.
02:46She says she relies on social media to connect with voters, given her shoestring campaign
02:50budget and lack of political machinery.
02:53She adds her supporters have set up a Gmail address for legitimate campaign-related transactions,
02:58particularly for the printing of flyers.
03:03To help you make the best decision of who to vote for, we have all the information you
03:06need in one place, the Rappler election site.
03:10From comprehensive election guides and explainers, to profiles of candidates, both national and
03:15local, we bring you a news feed of all the latest updates on voters' issues and campaign
03:19moments.
03:20Check it out at ph.rappler.com.
03:25The Vatican says Pope Francis, who is battling double pneumonia, is still critical for the
03:29fourth consecutive day, but is stable.
03:32He has also not had any further respiratory crises.
03:35The pope's prognosis remains guarded, but his hemodynamic parameters were also stable.
03:40The Vatican also says the pontiff had met with his second-in-line, Cardinal Pietro Parolin,
03:45and Parolin's deputy, on Monday, February 24.
03:48They discussed several pending sainthood cases and decided on new appointments that required
03:53the pope's approval.
03:54Despite his illness, Pope Francis has been working occasionally from the hospital as
03:58Vatican matters proceed as usual.
04:01Meantime, senior Vatican official Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle led a prayer service for
04:06the pope at St. Peter's Square on Tuesday evening.
04:09The service is attended by pilgrims and senior church officials, and will be repeated daily
04:14this week.
04:15Tagle prayed for the pope's health, asking that he may feel the solidarity and closeness
04:19of the Christian community.
04:23Bipartisan leaders of a U.S. House panel on China warned on Tuesday that Beijing might
04:28try to influence Elon Musk to gain favorable U.S. policies.
04:32They also said Washington should counter such efforts.
04:35Committee Chair John Muellenaar and Member Raja Krishnamoorthi believe the Chinese Communist
04:39Party wants to use U.S. business leaders, including Musk.
04:43These business leaders have commercial interests in China, which they could leverage in talks
04:47with Washington.
04:48Musk, who is a major donor to Trump's 2024 campaign, could be of interest to Beijing
04:53as a link to Trump.
04:55Musk is one of Trump's top advisers and a member of his cabinet.
04:59The billionaire also had regular contact with high-ranking Chinese officials, including
05:03President Xi Jinping, for years.
05:06Musk and the White House did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
05:10Meantime, China's Washington embassy says China welcomed mutually beneficial cooperation
05:15with people from all walks of life in the United States.
05:20Kris Aquino made a brief public appearance on Tuesday, February 25 at PeopleAsia magazine's
05:26People of the Year 2025 event, this after years of recovering from illness privately.
05:32She was there to support her close friend, fashion designer Michael Leyva, who was one
05:36of the awardees.
05:38An InterAction report says the former television host and actress was with her son Bimby and
05:43her medical team.
05:44Photos shared by Cornerstone Entertainment and PeopleAsia show the queen of all media
05:49in a colorful outfit.
05:51Her public appearance coincides with the 39th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.
05:57Aquino revealed in September 2024 that she was returning to the Philippines for a second
06:01round of treatment after spending two years in the United States.
06:06She has been battling six autoimmune disorders since 2018.
06:10She said her ongoing health struggle is, quote, the fight of my life.
06:15And that's today's wrap.
06:16I'm Cara Oliver.
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