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The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is moving to forfeit the assets of personalities implicated in anomalous flood control projects, Secretary Vince Dizon said yesterday.

Dizon is set to meet today at around 10 a.m. with officials of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to discuss the filing of civil forfeiture cases.

‘This will be our second meeting to discuss when to file civil forfeiture cases against those involved so the process can begin,’ Dizon told reporters in Filipino.

Asked about reports that three air assets owned by former Ako Bicol party-list congressman Zaldy Co were flown out of the country, Dizon said there was no issue since the aircraft were already covered by a freeze order.

‘They cannot be sold regardless of their location and will now be subject to future forfeiture cases,’ he said.

Co earlier resigned as a lawmaker after being identified as a key figure in the flood control scandal.

Internal probe launched

As part of his broader reform efforts, Dizon has also created an Internal Investigation Committee (IIC) in the DPWH to root out widespread and institutionalized corruption within the agency.

In a department order issued Oct. 29, Dizon said the formation of the IIC complies with President Marcos’ directive to cleanse the DPWH and uphold integrity and accountability in public service.

Dizon appointed Undersecretaries Ricardo Bernabe III and Nicasio Conti as chair and vice chair of the committee, respectively.

The IIC is authorized to conduct internal investigations – motu proprio or upon administrative complaint – against DPWH officials and employees.

It may issue subpoenas, take sworn statements, inspect project sites, and obtain records and information from any DPWH office.

‘For this purpose, and if necessary, to also coordinate with other government agencies and law enforcement bodies to obtain any information in the process of its investigation,’ Dizon decreed.

The committee is also tasked to recommend or initiate administrative, preventive, or disciplinary actions against erring officials and employees based on its findings.

‘All proceedings, statements, and reports of the IIC shall be treated as strictly confidential. All concerned offices and personnel are likewise directed to extend their full cooperation and support to the Committee,’ said Dizon.

Philippine National Police emergency and health response teams were activated yesterday, establishing the PNP’s dual hazard preparedness posture in areas around the restive Kanlaon and Taal Volcanoes in Negros and Batangas, respectively.

Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police units in the affected regions were placed on alert in compliance with evacuation and disaster protocols by local authorities.

Nartatez said the initiative is meant to protect communities from the potential impact of a possible eruption in Kanlaon and Taal.

‘This ensures that the PNP can provide a full spectrum of immediate assistance ranging from search and rescue operations to medical triage and psychological first aid,’ Nartatez said in a statement.

He stressed the need for PNP personnel self-sufficiency, emphasizing that police officers must be ready to sustain their operations while rendering public assistance.

Nartatez instructed police units to coordinate with local government units for the provision of emergency go bags and face masks to affected residents.

He urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and cooperate with preemptive evacuation and safety advisories.

Battling the blistering heat and the mounting pressure of a possible lead surge, Russell Bautista held his ground with steely resolve and a fighter’s heart, fashioning a superb five-under-par 67 to surge past Jeffren Lumbo and into the lead of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here Thursday.

From enduring Wednesday’s wet, soggy grind to surviving Thursday’s searing conditions, Bautista showed the maturity and patience of a seasoned campaigner. Starting the day three shots behind, he methodically carved out a bogey-free six-under card through 17 holes, climbing steadily up the leaderboard.

Then came the only blemish – a three-putt bogey on the 18th that slightly tempered what could have been a career-defining round for the Tuburan, Cebu native. Still, his five-under total and a 54-hole aggregate of nine-under 207 proved more than enough to propel him past two-day leader Lumbo and the equally surging Ramil Bisera, giving him a two-shot cushion heading into the final round.

It was a commanding yet unlikely position for Bautista – one that thrust him from the shadows of anonymity into the tournament spotlight.

‘Hindi ko in-expect na mag-lead kasi andiyan ‘yung mga magagaling, mga idol ko,’ Bautista admitted, naming among them the formidable Angelo Que, who had swept the first two legs of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Bisera eagled the par-5 No. 12 en route to a solid 67, matching Bautista’s output and seizing solo second at 209. Lumbo, who had held the lead until Bautista drained his fourth birdie on No. 12, slipped to third at 211 after carding a 74.

Guido van der Valk made a late surge, firing three birdies in the last four holes for a 68 that lifted him to fourth at 212. Clyde Mondilla also made his move, eagling No. 3 and adding six birdies to offset two bogeys for a 66, climbing into a share of fifth at 213 with Kuresh Samanodi and Jaehyun Jung, who turned in 68 and 72, respectively.

Que and Marvin Dumandan matched 71s to tie for ninth at 214, while Kristoffer Arevalo rebounded with a 68 to join Keanu Jahns (72), Michael Bibat (73), and Ryan Monsalve (76) in a share of 11th place.

For a player who had yet to taste victory on the Philippine Golf Tour since 2023, Bautista’s poise was as remarkable as his ball-striking. His game plan was simple, almost disarmingly so – fairways and greens, and take the birdie chances when they come.

‘Fairways at greens lang. Kung may chance maka-putt, mas okay,’ he said, downplaying what was arguably the round of his young career.

Through 18 holes, Bautista hit every fairway and nearly all greens in regulation, a testament to his control and focus. He wielded his putter with confidence despite logging 32 putts, a mix of missed opportunities and timely par saves that kept his scorecard clean until the final green.

‘Okay lang ang palo, from the tee to the greens,’ he added. ‘May mga na-miss na birdie chances pero may mga na-save din.’

Now, as he stands on the brink of a breakthrough victory, Bautista knows the biggest battle will be fought not against the course or his rivals – but within himself.

‘Hindi ko alam kung kaya kong i-handle ang pressure, pero ie-enjoy ko lang ang laro ko,’ he said, smiling, his humility as striking as his composure. ‘Basta pag binigay sa akin, salamat.’

Friday’s final round promises a refreshing twist from the usual title duels that feature the PGT’s biggest names. This time, the stage belongs to three lesser-known title-less contenders – Bautista, Lumbo and Bisera – all chasing a maiden championship and the P616,000 top purse.

As the heat rises and the tension builds, all eyes will be on Bautista, who turned up the fire when it mattered most, and now stands 18 holes away from turning promise into triumph.

Bisera eagled the par-5 No. 12 to spike a similar 67 as the homegrown contender seized solo second at 209, while Lumbo, who had held the lead until Bautista nailed his fourth birdie on No. 12, slipped to third at 211 after a 74.

Guido van der Valk also made a late charge of three birdies in the last four holes to fire a 68 for fourth at 212, while Clyde Mondilla eagled No. 3 then fired six birdies to negate a two-bogey mishap for a 66 that pushed him to joint fifth at 213 with Kuresh Samanodi and Jaehyun Jung, who carded 68 and 72, respectively.

Que and Marvin Dumandan matched 71s for a share of ninth at 214 while Kristoffer Arevalo charged back with a 68 to tie Keanu Jahns (72), Michael Bibat (73) and Ryan Monsalve (76).

The dark web post claiming it has records of GCash data sets has been taken down following the government’s investigation concluding that the files were fake, according to the e-wallet.

GCash has assured its users that their accounts and funds on the app are safe and secure, as it reported receiving clearance from state regulators that it is free from data breach.

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), led by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), confirmed that GCash did not succumb to any form of data leak.

Information Secretary Henry Aguda said the DICT has initiated an investigation into the alleged data breach through the CICC. To date, the dark web post claiming it has files of GCash data sets has been removed.

‘If you see data allegedly being sold online, do not panic or share personal information. Always verify through legitimate sources and be careful with what you post and click,’ Aguda said in a radio interview.

Scam Watch Pilipinas co-founder Art Samaniego said the individual who claimed he has access to GCash data sets may have been banned from the dark web.

Individuals on the dark web operate on a system of credibility, so if someone was found lying to make a transaction, it could lead to removal from the community.

‘Once a poster is exposed as a scammer – say, for uploading fake or recycled data – they would be quickly banned and blacklisted by forum moderators,’ Samaniego said.

GCash, for its part, cautioned the public against reposting unverified information online. It also warned legal action on individuals and groups proliferating malicious claims against the e-wallet that cause public confusion.

Recently, Deep Web Konek, which exposes data leaks in the Philippines, has flagged a dark web post from a user named Oversleep8351. The post claimed that it has records of as many as eight million GCash users between 2019 and 2015.

The post said the data sets contain personal information, bank accounts and e-wallet numbers of GCash customers, raising concerns from users online.

The Manjuyod White Sandbar in Negros Oriental has been closed temporarily due to the contamination of the local water supply.

In an order issued on Monday, Mayor Raffy Alipio Andaya said the water discoloration was caused by wastewater discharged from a collapsed dike in a lagoon of a nearby distillery company.

Alipio said the dike sustained cracks from an earthquake and heavy rainfall that occurred in the past few days.

He said the contamination poses health and environmental hazards,which required immediate preventive actions to ensure the safety of visitors, residents and stakeholders.

The municipal government and its disaster risk reduction and management council are coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other concerned government agencies for the conduct of water quality testing, assessment and monitoring.

During their staredown a day before their boxing match, Eumir Marcial and Eddy Colmenares promised war in their World Boxing Council international middleweight title fight.

And the two did not disappoint early Thursday.

In easily the best fight of the night thus far, the two fighters were left bloodied and bruised, but it was Eumir Marcial who ran away with the title via majority decision.

Marcial survived two knockdowns in the third and 10th rounds to get the victory.

‘Grabe talaga, sabi ko. Ang tibay, ang tibay ni Colmenares. Talagang pumunta siya dito para punin yung panalo at nakita naman natin kung gano katibay,’ he said.

‘Binigay ko yung best ko para i-knockout pero grabe, ako po yung na-knockdown sa lakas ng kalaban natin,’ he added.

A judge scored in 94-94, while the two others had it 95-93 in favor of the Filipino.

The two boxers exchanged blows right from the get-go, with both of them landing shots against each other.

But the first knockdown on Marcial came in the third round, with mere seconds remaining in the round, as Colmenares’ combination sent Marcial crashing to the canvas.

The Filipino then took the knee to recover, as the referee counted.

Marcial, though, came back stronger, unleashing a flurry of shots as well as the crowd cheered for him.

He tried to go for the kill in the fourth, but could not put his opponent to bed.

The two traded combinations and power punches, with Marcial even hurting his opponent with a body shot and a barrage of head shots.

However, Colmenares would not go down easily despite Marcial’s constant pressure.

And, with less than 30 seconds left in the final round, Marcial was actually winning the round with clean punches to the head.

But the Venezuelan connected on a one-two combo that sent the Olympian to the canvas with 30 seconds to go.

After beating the 10-count, Marcial still exchanged blows but the rang shortly after.

The two fighters raised their hands as they waited for the judges’ score, and when the result was announced, Marcial let out a scream as he celebrated.

‘Habang lumalaban po ako, isa lang yung naririnig ko yung sigaw ng mga tao. Yun yung nagbibigay ng lakas sa akin. So maraming maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,’ he said.

‘Ang hirap na makisabay sa kanya dahil matangkad siya and then pressure fighter. Nag-stick ko lang yung game plan po namin. Sinunod lang po namin yung game plan na puntos lang, makuha ko lang din yung timing ko. So yun yung ginawa namin eh,’ he added.

‘Ang hirap magkisabay sa kanya dahil matibay, malakas. So ginawa namin yung puntos lang, yung score, yung smarts mo. Sabi naman ang kasamahan ko, mas magaling ka dyan. Olympian ka. Gamitin mo lang yung talent mo. Score lang, score lang. So yun yung ginawa namin. Puntos-puntos lang at siyempre nakuha natin yung panalo.’

The Filipino Olympic bronze medalist, thus, rose to an undefeated record of 7-0 (win-loss), while Colmenares rose to 11-3-1 (win-loss-draw).

‘What Lies Beneath’ expressed gratitude to Filipino audiences for their overwhelming support, as the series achieved a new all-time high of 530,015 peak concurrent online viewers during its October 27 episode, fueled by heightened anticipation surrounding the secrets of the Mabels.

The series remains the most-watched show on Netflix Philippines, while maintaining a strong and consistent presence as one of the top trending topics across social media platforms.

The said episode revealed the truth behind the troubled marriage of Mel (Sue Ramirez) and Anton (Jameson Blake). Viewers learned that Mel is the one being mistreated in the relationship. Despite her desire to end the marriage, Anton threatens the downfall of her career should she pursue a divorce.

Meanwhile, Beth (Charlie Dizon) finally convinces Alice (Janella Salvador) to confess the real reason behind her extreme anxiety and concern for her child’s safety. Alice reveals that she has already separated from her husband and only wants to ensure he does not take their child away from her.

Audiences can expect an even more suspenseful and gripping drama as hidden truths and emotional battles continue to unfold in ‘What Lies Beneath.’ The series airs weeknights at 8:45 pm on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, TFC, and Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Episodes can also be streamed in advance on Netflix and iWant.

Film studio Regal Entertainment Inc. defended Ivana Alawi following rumors that the actress-content creator was causing shooting delays on “Shake, Rattle and Roll: Evil Origins,” an entry to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).

A viral post on Reddit claims that the cast of the upcoming film are frustrated because of Ivana.

“Word going around is the production has been a mess lately,” the post said. “Staff, co-actors, even the director are getting frustrated kasi she’s always the reason for the delays. They’ve been shooting for months already pero hindi pa rin daw tapos.”

The post even claimed that according to people on the set, Ivana doesn’t appear worried as if she knows she won’t be apprehended for it.

“Rumor has it the producer of the movie is actually her alleged billionaire boyfriend, which might explain why no one’s calling her out directly,” the post ended. “If this is true, that’s wild. Imagine being part of the MMFF lineup and still not wrapping up production this close to December.”

Regal issued a statement denouncing such talks, calling false claims involving Ivana as “entirely untrue.”

“The film’s production proceeded smoothly and wrapped on schedule, with Ms. Alawi demonstrating utmost professionalism and dedication throughout,” said the studio.

The production outfit furthur clarified it solely developed, produced, and financed the project

“We urge the public to avoid engaging with unverified information and to rely only on Regal Entertainment’s official pages for accurate updates,” it ended.

Co-starring with Ivana on her segment in the 17th “Shake, Rattle and Roll” entry are Richard Gutierrez, Manilyn Reynes, Dustin Yu, and Matt Lozano.

Former actress Marjorie Barretto is hurt by comments made by her mother Estrella “Inday” Barretto who sat down for a two-part interview with showbiz vlogger Ogie Diaz.

The previously aired portion highlighted claims that actor Raymart Santiago abused Claudine, his ex-wife and Marjorie’s sister. Claudine is the youngest of the three Barretto sisters.

Raymart has since released both a legal and personal statement denouncing Inday’s allegations that he hurt Claudine.

The second part of the interview focused on Inday’s relationship with Marjorie, Claudine, and another daughter, Gretchen, as well as the three sisters’ relationship with each other.

Inday described Marjorie as strong-willed but feels rejected by her saying that she feels the need to provide something missing for Marjorie, adding that her second daughter never invites her to events.

She said Gretchen and Marjorie used to be very close but somehow drifted apart. They had a feud that became very public during the funeral of Inday’s husband and the Barretto patriarch, Miguel, back in 2019.

The senior Barretto even claimed that no one in Marjorie’s family accompanied her van during Claudia’s – Marjorie’s daughter with ex-husband Dennis Padilla – wedding because the vehicle was gifted by Gretchen.

“This family, mag-away-away kayo, but no one can beat the love that is in this family,” Inday said. “This family knows how to love and really love deep.”

Ogie and Inday briefly discussed the viral argument between Gretchen and Marjorie at Miguel’s funeral, a fight Inday admitted being indifferent to even after the intervention of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

She claimed that some of her children did not want Gretchen’s name placed on Miguel’s coffin, where a similar incident occurred when Inday’s sister died. She added that Marjorie’s family was “lined up ready for war” when Gretchen arrived for Miguel’s wake.

Inday stressed that she never played favorites with her children as she never treated any of them differently.

“I love Marjorie pero I’m not going to beg for her love. ‘Yung pagmamahal hindi mo niluluhod ‘yan,” Inday reiterated. “I feel rejection from her, like I’m not enough, like I always have to make her habol until tumubo na sungay ko.”

Marjorie in an Instagram post yesterday decided to react to her mother’s comments, just as the Barrettos are mourning the death of their eldest sibling Mito who passed away last month.

She admitted being shocked to learn that her mother believes that they are not on good terms after spending so much time together for Mito.

“Was this really necessary to drag our grieving, non-showbiz family members into a new scandal while everyone is still mourning my brother’s death?” Marjorie asked. “Or am I once again damage control? The Mission: Destroy Marjorie – to make the youngest child look good and clean.”

She pointed out that across her Instagram posts are photos of her family, including Inday, and directly addressed her mother’s claim that she does not send invitations out of embarassment. She also revealed that she was told not to upload their photos together because those might upset Gretchen and Claudine.

“Mom, as God is my witness, you begged me to never fix things with my sisters so you won’t be left out,” Marjorie said, calling the interview as “false, unfair, and destructive” as the portion slamming Raymart.

Marjorie was hurt by Inday calling her strong-willed, viewing it as an insult.

“Mom, I want you to know that I love you. And I have learned to accept whatever kind of love you can give me. In fact, I have surrendered to it. Instead of looking for affection and protection from you, I will pour all of my energy into being the best mom to my children. I am not a perfect mom, but they can trust me,” she continued.

Apart from Claudia, Marjorie and Dennis are also parents to Julia and Leon. Marjorie’s eldest child is Dani (her daughter with Kier Legaspi), while her youngest is Erich (her daughter with Recom Echiverri).

“You may ask why do I feel the need to clarify and explain, it’s because I am misunderstood,” Marjorie ended. “And when someone close to you distorts the truth in a very public way, it creates an ache that my silence cannot hold anymore.”

Julia, Dani, and Leon were quick to show support for their mother in the comments section, as well as fellow celebrity moms Karla Estrada, Ruffa Gutierrez, Mariel Padilla, Isabel Oli, and Neri Naig.

Resigned lawmaker Zaldy Co’s alleged kickback scheme did not occur solely during the secretive bicameral conference committee but, according to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), started from the very beginning when the budget was proposed in the National Expenditure Program (NEP).

The ICI’s interim report, which was released to the media, details these findings.

Citing the testimony of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) engineer Henry Alcantara, the ICI reported that Co proposed projects through three different channels: the NEP, the bicameral conference committee (bicam) and the unprogrammed funds.

From 2022 to 2025, Co allegedly requested a 20% to 25% share from the projects he proposed.

Under the alleged scheme, Co would have received the following portions:

NEP: A project proposed during the NEP would allegedly give Co 10%, with an additional 10% to 15% once it is approved in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the measure that creates the national budget.

Bicam: A project proposed during the bicam would allegedly give Co 10% after the budget is submitted to the House, with the remaining 10% to 15% once the GAA is signed into law.

Unprogrammed Allocations (UA): For projects proposed under the UA, Co would allegedly request the full 25% of the kickbacks.

Both the bicam and the UA have come under scrutiny following the corruption allegations. In previous years, the bicam has been a closed-door meeting where legislators make last-minute changes to the General Appropriations Bill before it is submitted to the president.

The bicam has introduced several controversial changes in the past, including the removal of PhilHealth’s subsidy budget for 2025.

Meanwhile, the UA has also become a point of contention among lawmakers, with some describing it as a form of pork barrel. While the House of Representatives has retained the UA in their version of the budget, senators are pushing for its complete removal.

Questions have also arisen over the possibility of Co influencing projects in the NEP, particularly regarding how a lawmaker could affect projects in the executive branch’s proposed budget.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is responsible for consolidating the proposed budgets of various agencies into the NEP. Together with the Development Budget Coordination Committee, it then submits the budget to Congress for months-long deliberations.

Asked for a reaction on the ICI’s findings about the NEP, the DBM told Philstar.com that politicians do not speak to the agency during the budget preparation stage.

Co is currently outside the country, and his whereabouts remain unknown. The former lawmaker is suspected of being a key figure in the massive corruption scheme uncovered in the DPWH.

The ICI has previously recommended filing charges against Co over his alleged involvement in an anomalous P289.5-million flood control project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

The full ICI report can be accessed here: