#ThewRap: Things you need to know, February 19, 2018

Dear Rappler reader,

Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, the official closest to President Rodrigo Duterte, faces the Senate for the first time today to speak on issues hounding the P16-billion Philippine Navy frigate project. 

You can watch the hearing live on Rappler.com

For a background on the issue, these stories would be helpful:

DOCUMENTS: How Bong Go is linked thrice to frigates deal

TIMELINE: PH Navy’s P15.7-B frigates acquisition project

Bong Go intervenes in P15.5-B project to acquire PH warships

Lorenzana: White paper came from Malacañang, not Bong Go

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives continues hearings on the impeachment case against Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. Watch today’s hearing live or check out previous hearings via this link.  

Stay tuned as we give you the top news of the day!

Bong Go faces Senate on frigate deal

With a large gathering of supporters outside the Senate, President Rodrigo Duterte’s closest aide arrives for the hearing on the P16-billion Navy warships deal

Florida students to march on Washington in call for gun reform

They pledge to make the February 14 slaughter in Parkland, Florida a turning point in America’s deadlocked debate on gun control

‘Painful’: Citizens count Brexit’s personal cost

Future relations between Britain and the EU is far from certain and the British government is deeply divided over how to proceed

Amid trips controversy, DOT chief Teo still has Duterte’s trust – Palace

Teo came under fire as reports detail Department of Tourism employees were taken on foreign trips

UST expels 8 students over Horacio Castillo III killing

The University of Santo Tomas says its probe will continue ‘until all students who were involved in the hazing incident are held administratively liable’

Keep ‘balance of power’ in government – IBP head

‘If we are to stick to the rule of law, the balance of power must not be disturbed,’ says Integrated Bar of the Philippines president Abdiel Fajardo on Rappler Talk

[EDITORIAL] #AnimatED: Pagsasanla ng kasarinlan ang bagong diplomasya

Tuluyan na bang tatalikuran ang soberanya at kasarinlan dahil sa pragmatismo? Hindi ba ito pagtataksil sa bayan?