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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider March started with 'breaking news'

March started with 'breaking news'

Published Mar 7, 2026 12:05 am  |  Updated Mar 6, 2026 05:46 pm
PAGBABAGO
The month of March is known as a time for celebrating culture, women’s rights, social causes and of course for introspection reflective of the 40 days of Lent.
But this year, it was superseded with “breaking news” starting with the conflict in the Middle East that started six days ago. All the media – local and international TV channels like CNN, BBC, and AlJazeera, carried news on the US and Israel strikes on Iran which killed the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini. Iran subsequently attacked Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf.
Iran describes the US and Israel attacks as “unprovoked, illegal and illegitimate” and carried out missile and drone attacks in response. The death toll since it started is estimated at over 1,000. An attack in a girls’ school killed 160. More than 30,000 people had been forced to flee their homes. Iran has accused US and Israel of targeting nine hospitals. Analysts foresee the far-reaching effect of the recent conflict not only in terms of disruptions in global travel through airport closures, global trade but also in regional security and international alliances. At this time of writing, the conflict continues to escalate.
The impact of the recent outbreak of conflict in the Middle East on the Philippine economy is considerable. We have 2.2 million Filipinos in the region, many of whom are based in Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain. The Department of Migrant Workers is ready to bring home 1,200 of our overseas workers. The Philippines, according to Nomura Global Research Portal, may emerge as one of Asia’s economic losers because of high oil prices which would rekindle inflation and erode the peso’s recent gains.
Other “breaking news” on the local scene include the recently concluded hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte by the House Justice Committee sufficient in form and substance. It was endorsed by 54 members with one dissenting vote from Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay who was also asked to face the House Committee on Ethics for his sexist remarks about actress Anne Curtis.
For the past seven months or so, we have been deluged with front page news.
Since the flood control mess scandal broke out, our media has been coming out with “breaking news,” a mix of incredulous accounts and pleasant breakthroughs.
The “trillion march,” held several times in varied locations, and the last one during the EDSA 40 celebration, promises hope as it encouraged our citizenry to come together in addressing current social and political concerns.
Last week the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague held four pre-trial hearings which found reasonable evidence of former President Duterte’s participation as a co-perpetrator of the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug addicts. We look forward to the final deliberations. ([email protected])
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