INQToday: Marcos signs 2024 nat’l budget; Cops relieved over Ronaldo Valdez video

Here’s a quick roundup of today’s top stories:

Bongbong Marcos signs P5.768-trillion 2024 nat’l budget

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday signed into law the 2024 national budget. This came more than a week after Congress approved and ratified the proposed spending plan.

Marcos signed the P5.768-trillion national budget in a ceremony held in the Malacañan Palace, marking the second full budget of his administration since 2022.

Piston to SC: Stop gov’t orders for jeepney upgrade, Dec 31 deadline

A group of public transport drivers, operators, and commuters on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court (SC) to suspend the implementation and ultimately void certain government directives related to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Piston Chairman Mody Floranda, along with four other petitioners from the commuter and jeepney sectors, urged the SC to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) from implementing several issuances regarding jeepney modernization and the December 31, 2023 deadline for mandatory consolidation of PUV franchise.

Choosy taxi drivers worsening commuters’ hassle – group

Choosy taxi drivers appeared to be adding to the burdens of commuters affected by the ongoing strike of jeepney drivers and operators.

According to The Passenger Forum convener Primo Morillo, the public has difficulty commuting because of the transport strike protesting the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP) and the holiday rush.

QCPD station chief, 2 others relieved over Ronaldo Valdez video

A Quezon City police station chief and two other personnel were removed from their posts after the video of late veteran actor Ronaldo Valdez circulated online.

“Two [police personnel] were relieved. One first responder and one uploader to the Viber group, while the station commander is also relieved under the doctrine of command responsibility,” disclosed Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Director Brigadier General Red Maranan in a Viber message to INQUIRER.net on Wednesday.