00:00 Today on Rappler
00:06 PIRMA, which advocates charter change via People's Initiative, hasn't been registered
00:16 since 2004.
00:18 Pasig City padlocks online gambling outlets.
00:22 Environmental groups call for the shutdown and probe of Apex Mining in the aftermath
00:26 of the Davao de Oro landslide.
00:28 Bacolod Mayor Albie Benitez apologizes to YouTuber Ivana Alawi over affairs speculations.
00:34 And pop superstar Beyoncé drops two new singles after her surprise appearance in a Super Bowl
00:39 ad.
00:41 A Senate inquiry on the People's Initiative to amend the Constitution reveals the People's
00:46 Initiative for Modernization and Reform Action, or PIRMA, has been non-existent since February
00:51 10, 2004.
00:53 That's the date the Securities and Exchange Commission revoked its registration for failing
00:57 to submit reportorial requirements.
00:59 PIRMA first registered with the SEC on March 12, 1997.
01:04 The SEC says, based on its records, PIRMA has not been submitting its documents for
01:08 registration since 2004.
01:11 In response, PIRMA says it had submitted the corporation's updated email and contact
01:16 persons to the SEC portal just after the Senate held its first inquiry in early February.
01:21 PIRMA spent P55 million for a paid advertisement on the supposed failures of the 1987
01:27 Constitution with the "help of House Speaker Martin Romualdez."
01:32 Amid questions surrounding the People's Initiative, the Commission on Elections decided to stop
01:36 charter change efforts.
01:40 Pasig City shuts down all forms of online gambling with Mayor Vico Soto, noting the
01:44 social costs far outweigh the financial benefits.
01:48 Soto orders the shutdown of Philippine offshore gaming operators as well as e-games and e-bingo.
01:53 In a post, he says online gambling outlets do not really contribute anything good to
01:57 society.
01:58 Soto adds state-owned Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation filed a temporary restraining
02:03 order against the Pasig City's decision, but it was denied.
02:07 He also says the closures would affect Pasig City's revenues but that social costs outweigh
02:11 the benefits.
02:13 The House Games and Amusements Panel on Monday, February 12 approved a bill banning pogos
02:17 in the country.
02:20 Environmentalist groups demand an investigation and a halt to mining operations in Davao de
02:25 Oro in the wake of the February 6 landslide at a mining village in Masara, Majo Town.
02:31 This as 68 bodies were found by rescuers, but the search continues for 51 others still
02:36 missing.
02:37 The Calicasan People's Network for the Environment says the government should investigate and
02:41 determine the extent of accountability of Apex Mining Corporation.
02:45 Groups say the landslide shows how the impact of climate change has been intersecting with
02:49 corporate negligence, pointing out the steep costs of mining to the environment, especially
02:53 during floods and heavy rain.
02:55 Apex says the area where a landslide buried several dozen people, houses, and vehicles
03:00 is not part of its mine site.
03:04 Bacolod Mayor Albie Benitez publicly apologizes to YouTuber-turned-model actress Ivana Alawi
03:09 over speculations they were having an affair.
03:12 This after talk ignited following a viral video and photos that showed the two standing
03:16 close together at a Japanese airport.
03:19 In a statement, Benitez says the speculations are untrue and calls the incident with Alawi
03:24 a "chance encounter."
03:26 He also apologizes to Alawi and her family for being unfairly dragged into issues concerning
03:30 Benitez's private life.
03:32 Benitez adds he was in Tokyo for a business trip.
03:35 Alawi also releases a statement denying any romantic links with Benitez.
03:40 In a Facebook post, she categorically denies Benitez was her boyfriend.
03:44 Alawi adds she is seeing someone who makes her happy and clarifies her boyfriend is a
03:49 respectable businessman and not a politician.
03:53 Pop superstar Beyonce releases two new songs after making a surprise appearance in a Super
03:58 Bowl commercial.
03:59 She mentions breaking the internet minutes before announcing an upcoming album.
04:06 She then posts a teaser video on Instagram previewing the release of a new album, Act
04:10 2, on March 29.
04:12 It will be the second in a three-album project that kicked off with her 2022 critically acclaimed
04:17 Renaissance.
04:18 Her album announcement is followed by the release of two new songs, "Texas Hold'em"
04:22 and "16 Carriages," which have already soared to the top of music charts.
04:26 Renaissance and its singles earned Beyonce four Grammy Awards in 2023, helping her break
04:31 the record for the most career wins with 32.
04:34 Renaissance, a film by Beyonce, premiered in 2023 at the top of the U.S. box office.
04:41 And that's today's Wrap.
04:42 I'm Nina Liu.
04:43 Thank you for watching.
04:44 Click the link below for the full story.
04:46 Follow us on Rappler's YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok.
04:50 [music]
04:52 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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