INQToday: Group to hold transport protest on Jan. 16; Pope defends same-sex blessings declaration

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

Group to hold transport protest on Jan. 16 vs PUV franchise consolidation

Transport group Manibela will again hold a protest on January 16 (Tuesday) to protest government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

Manibela President Mar Valbuena said the protest will start at 9 a.m.

Marcos returns to PH after attending Brunei’s prince wedding

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has returned to the Philippines from his trip to Brunei, according to Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Cheloy Garafil on Monday.

On Sunday, Marcos was in Brunei for the royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei, the son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

DFA says it remains committed to One China Policy

The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Sunday reiterated its commitment to the One China Policy as it tiptoed on the growing tensions between Beijing and Taipei following the successful presidential campaign of Taiwan’s democratic politician Lai Ching-te.

Lai has been repeatedly slammed by China for his supposedly “separatist” views as Beijing continued to claim Taiwan as its own.

Pope defends same-sex blessings declaration, says it is misunderstood

Pope Francis on Sunday defended a landmark decision approving blessings for same-sex couples, suggesting that those in the Catholic Church who have resisted it have jumped to “ugly conclusions” because they do not understand it.

In a television interview, Francis made his first public comments since the Dec. 18 declaration sparked widespread debate in the Church, with bishops in some countries, particularly in Africa, refusing to let their priests implement it.