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The Sandiganbayan has affirmed its earlier decision that ordered the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Cainta, Rizal to immediately proceed with the graft trial of former Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) director general Jeremiah Belgica and four more officials.

The court’s Sixth Division denied in a 31-page resolution on Thursday, Oct. 9, the motions for reconsideration filed by Belgica and his co-accused, which asked the Sadiganbayan to reverse and set aside its Aug. 18 decision.

It pointed out that there is no ‘prejudicial question’ that would block the graft trial, dismissing the petitioners’ argument that two cases filed before and yet to be resolved by the Supreme Court should suspend the RTC proceedings.

‘As [.] discussed at length in the assailed Decision, the issues in the criminal case and those in the Newsnet and Now Tel cases are not intimately related. Thus, there is no ground for suspending the proceedings on the basis of prejudicial question,’ it said.

The Sandiganbayan explained that the cases filed before the SC center on whether ARTA has the authority to issue Orders of Automatic Approval (OAAs) that override actions made by the National Telecommunications Commission.

RELATED STORY: Ombudsman suspends ARTA chief, 4 other execs for 6 months

The graft case, on the other hand, discusses the regularity of a specific OAA issued on March 1, 2021, which affected frequencies already assigned to Dito Telecommunity.

Belgica’s co-defendants are ARTA Deputy Director General Eduardo Bringas, Division Chief Sheryl Pura-Sumagui, and Directors Jedrek Ng and Melamy Salvadora-Asperin.

They were accused of favoring NOW Telecom when ARTA issued the March 1, 2021 OAA granting the company 3G mobile frequencies, even though the NTC had previously assigned the same frequencies to Dito Telecommunity Inc.

Prosecutors also said NOW Tel was ineligible to receive the frequencies because of unpaid Supervision and Regulation Fees (SRF) and Spectrum User Fees (SUF).

As Belgica and his co-accused stated in their motions, the criminal case and the SC petitions involved identical issues and that ‘the regularity of the issuance of an OAA is intrinsically tied to the proper exercise of ARTA’s authority.’

However, the Sandiganbayan rejected this, saying that the arguments had already been considered and found without merit.

‘In fine, the respondents failed to convince this Court that the reversal of the assailed Decision is warranted,’ said the resolution, which was penned by Associate Justice Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, with Associate Justices Kevin Narce B. Vivero and Lord A. Villanueva concurring.

LANDBANK continues to strengthen its support for farmers and other players in the agricultural value chain with the regional rollout of the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program in this province, bringing low-interest financing and capacity-building support closer to more agricultural communities nationwide.

Over 1,400 farmers from the municipalities of Aborlan, Bataraza, Brooke’s Point, Narra, Quezon, Rizal, and Sofronio Española gathered for the event, reflecting the strong interest of Palawan’s agri communities for accessible and affordable credit assistance.

LANDBANK President and CEO Lynette V. Ortiz, along with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Director Mynard Bryan R. Mojica and Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) Deputy Executive Director Ma. Cristina G. Lopez, led the launch on 10 October 2025 at Brooke’s Point Event Center.

They were joined by Brooke’s Point Mayor Cesareo R. Benedito Jr., Narra Mayor Gerandy B. Danao, and national and local partners from the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC).

‘With the continued rollout of the LANDBANK AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program nationwide, we are deepening our commitment to empower farmers and other agri stakeholders, including those in far-flung provinces like Palawan. We aim to provide them with the financing, tools, and partnerships needed to strengthen agricultural productivity and build resilient livelihoods,’ said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz.

Inclusive and holistic agri financing

Developed in partnership with the DA, DAR, ACPC, NIA and other private sector partners, the AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program is LANDBANK’s enhanced value chain-based financing initiative to provide holistic support to agricultural players.

The Program offers a fixed interest rate of 4.0% per annum for small farmers, fishers, and ARBs, with competitive rates for their associations and organizations, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large enterprises, anchor firms, and agriculture graduates.

Borrowers benefit from simplified documentary requirements, free life and credit life insurance, and expanded access to technical and market support to help boost productivity and profitability.

The AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program is complemented by the LANDBANK ASCEND (Agri-Fishery Support through Capability Enhancement for Nationwide Development) initiative, a capacity-building component that provides farmers and fishers with training on digital financial literacy, sustainable agriculture, and enterprise development.

As of August 2025, LANDBANK has released ?1.78 billion in loans under the AGRISENSO Plus Program, supporting over 12,000 borrowers nationwide. The Palawan rollout follows successful launches in Pampanga, Cagayan, Isabela, Batanes, Bukidnon, and Iloilo, with the next rollout scheduled in Negros Occidental later this month.

Strengthening partnerships for growth

The AGRISENSO Plus Lending Program also connects farmers and fishers to market opportunities through partnerships with anchor firms, such as Kita Agritech Corporation, Sarisuki Stores, Inc., TAO Foods Company, Inc., Yovel East Research and Development, Inc., and Unified Tillers Agriculture Cooperative (UTAC).

Santeh Feeds Corporation recently joined the roster of the Program anchor firms following the signing of a memorandum of agreement with LANDBANK on 07 October 2025 at LANDBANK Plaza in Manila.

The partnership will broaden the Program’s reach to aqua farmers nationwide who use Santeh Feeds’ products and services. It aims to boost productivity and strengthen the economic resilience of aqua farmers, while advancing sustainable aquaculture practices across the country.

Advancing digital financial inclusion

Meanwhile, LANDBANK and Palawan State University (PSU) have partnered to launch the Cash-Lite Campus initiative, advancing digital financial literacy and empowering students with secure, efficient banking solutions.

Launched on 09 October 2025 at the PSU Performing Arts Center, the initiative aims to reduce cash dependency and streamline transactions for University’s students, faculty, and staff through mobile and e-banking services.

‘LANDBANK is here to help students build digital confidence in managing their finances – safely, smartly, and efficiently. Whether paying school fees, buying meals, or splitting costs with friends, our digital solutions make everyday transactions simpler and more secure,’ said LANDBANK President and CEO Ortiz, who led the event, together with PSU President Dr. Ramon M. Docto and other officials. The Cash-Lite Campus initiative introduces the LANDBANK Mobile Banking App (MBA) and other e-payment channels, equipping students with essential digital financial skills.

A key feature is the LANDBANK Piso Plus account, which can be opened via the LANDBANK MBA, with no initial deposit or maintaining balance. Pre-launch activities on 8 October engaged students in interactive missions to promote account opening and digital engagement.

The launch also featured a financial literacy session and live demonstrations of cashless transactions using the LANDBANK MBA, highlighting the convenience and security of digital banking.

The initiative is expected to result in over 12,000 new account openings and a significant boost in digital transactions at PSU, supporting LANDBANK’s mission to advance financial inclusion in the education sector.

The 20-point plan recently announced by United States President Donald Trump at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu comes close to living up to Trump’s hype. It is a bold attempt to address all the issues that need to be resolved if there is to be lasting peace in Gaza.

Could it work? Both sides are tired of the war. Throughout history, quite a number of wars have simply come to an end when both sides were too exhausted to continue. Two-thirds of Israelis want the war to end, and though polling of Palestinians is difficult, they clearly want the devastation and suffering in Gaza to stop as well.

So this plan, despite its limitations, could come at the right time. However, there are many outstanding questions about the feasibility of the plan and to what extent it is likely to be successful. Given the Middle East’s violent history, it is impossible to be optimistic at this point.

Here are five main reasons for concern: First, trust is lacking. There is zero trust between the sides right now. Several aspects of the plan are so vague that there is a big risk that both sides could accuse the other of breaking their promises.

Second, the plan is asymmetrical. The deal favors Israel more than it does Hamas. Hamas is essentially being asked to give up all the remaining Israeli hostages it holds and all of its weapons at the same time, rendering it entirely defenseless.

In addition, Hamas was not invited to negotiate the terms of the agreement, and it now faces an ultimatum: accept the terms or Israel will ‘finish the job.’ Given the asymmetry of the plan, Hamas may decide the risks of accepting it outweigh the potential benefits, despite the plan’s offer of amnesty for Hamas fighters who lay down their arms.

Israel is being asked to make some compromises in the plan. But how realistic are these?

For example, the deal envisions a future when the Palestinian Authority can ‘securely and effectively take back control of Gaza.’ Netanyahu has previously said he would not accept this.

Likewise, it would be very difficult for Netanyahu to accept ‘a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood,’ as outlined in the plan.

Third, important details are lacking. The implementation strategy of the plan is extraordinarily vague. We know nothing at this stage about the ‘International Stabilization Force’ that would take the place of the Israeli military after it withdraws from Gaza.

Which countries would participate? It would obviously be a mission fraught with danger to the personnel involved.

There is also no time frame in the plan for Palestinian Authority reforms, nor any details on what those reforms would entail.

Presumably, there would need to be new elections to install a credible leader in place of current President Mahmoud Abbas. But how that would be done and whether the people of Gaza would be able to take part are still unknown.

In addition, the details of the civil authority that would oversee the reconstruction of Gaza are very unclear. All we know is that Trump would appoint himself chair of the ‘Board of Peace,’ and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would also be involved.

This board would need the absolute confidence of the Netanyahu administration and of Hamas to be effective. Trust is always in short supply in the Middle East.

Fourth, no mention of the West Bank. The West Bank is clearly a flash point. There are disputes and clashes every day between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents, which are only likely to get worse. The West Bank must be central to any overall settlement between Israel and Palestine.

Fifth, Israel’s right-wing cabinet remains an obstacle. This could be the ultimate dealbreaker: the hardline, right-wing members of Netanyahu’s cabinet, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, have said they will not accept anything less than the complete destruction and elimination of Hamas. Although Hamas would be disarmed and politically sidelined under this plan, its ideology would remain intact, as would a significant number of its fighters.

So does it have a chance? If Hamas accepts Trump’s plan, we could soon have the answers to several of these questions. But it is going to require a great deal of work by the US to maintain pressure on Israel to stick to the deal.

Given this, Netanyahu would not have agreed to Trump’s plan at all if the US leader had not put pressure on him. At the same time, Trump said at his news conference with Netanyahu that if Hamas fails to live up to the agreement or refuses to accept it, Israel would have his full backing to finish the job against Hamas.

This promise may be enough for Netanyahu to be able to persuade Smotrich and Ben-Gvir to support the plan, for now. The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

Six Grade 8 students from the Nueva Vizcaya General Comprehensive High School were given a three-day suspension for allegedly bullying a 14-year-old classmate, school officials confirmed on Wednesday.

School principal Merlita Padilla said the penalty imposed on the students follows the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy, but may be extended with approval from the Division Office. The suspension will begin after the ongoing psychosocial interventions wrap up, likely by Friday.

To prevent further contact, both the victim and the accused are under the Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) learning.

The incident, caught on video and shared online, shows the girl being physically assaulted on Oct. 8 inside a classroom. The video sparked public outrage, with many calling the punishment too lenient.

The victim’s mother criticized the school’s response, saying justice has not been served. The family is considering transferring the student to another school.

Gov. Jose Gambito condemned the incident, offering assistance, including medical and psychosocial support, and pledging to monitor the case. He also called for stronger anti-bullying measures in schools

University of Santo Tomas is coming off a character win, Far Eastern U has piled up moral victories its coach hates.

So when those two squads occupying opposite ends of the pole battle Wednesday, one will be looking for a follow-up to an ego-boosting triumph while the other will be seeking to finally chalk something tangible up and not be left too far behind in Season 88 eliminations of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

‘Hopefully this makes us a better and stronger team with the experience we had against Ateneo,’ said Growling Tigers assistant coach Juno Sauler after a 98-89 triple overtime victory over the Blue Eagles over the weekend, with their first chance at that coming at 5 p.m. against the Tamaraws at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.

A win will give the Tigers a share of the lead with idle National U at 5-1, even as the Tamaraws try to bring down a heavyweight and give coach Sean Chambers something to see on the leaderboard.

‘We need to get over the so-called hill to finalize and finish these games off,’ Chambers said as his Tamaraws are at 1-4, just a game better than cellar-dwelling University of the East. ‘I spoke to all of them during practice, saying that we have to go earn the respect of the rest of the team in the league by winning against some of the upper echelon teams to let them know that we have arrived.

‘We’re playing great basketball, but we just gotta finish off these games and the deal,’ he went on. ‘So, I mean, I’m happy with their effort, but I hate losing, and I just think that we don’t want moral victories. I know we’re playing good basketball. We just gotta get one more step over to beat these top teams.’

Meanwhile, La Salle tries to climb to .500 when the Green Archers sug it out with the Red Warriors in the 3 p.m. game.uring its worst start since coach Topex Robinson took over in 2023, La Salle is digging deep to stay within the top-four range.

‘There’s no way for us but to, again, keep on persevering and fighting,’ Robinson said even after grim news on Mason Amos knee injury was reported. ‘We could have had all the reasons to just go down and die, but I guess that’s the least of our priorities right now.

‘We have a lot of basketball to play, a lot of opportunities to bounce back,’ he said. ‘What’s important is we stick together and go through this harder this time, especially with injuries to our players but it is what it is. As long as we have life, we have a chance.’

Amos sustained an MCL tear in an 82-78 loss to the Bulldogs and could likely miss the next eight weeks.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) against additional individuals amid investigations into ghost infrastructure projects.

In a press release on Wednesday, the ICI said the ILBO request was sent to the DOJ Oct. 13.

The following 16 individuals are listed on the ILBO request of the ICI:

Former Cong. Mary Mitzi ‘Mitch’ Cajayon-Uy

Arturo ‘Art’ Atayde

Alvin Tan

Bong Marasigan

Elmer de Leon

Ed Fuentebella

Johnny Santos

John Mary Vianney Parago

Alvin Mariano

Ryan Uy

Darryl Recio

Nestor Venturina

Benjie Tocol

District Engr. Aristotle Ramos

District Engr. Michael P. Rosaria

Engr. Angelita Garucha

Additionally, at the ICI’s request, the DOJ on Oct. 8, issued an ILBO against former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Sens. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, and ex-Sens. Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay, and several others. /jpv/abc

Electricity transmission rates will slightly drop in October’s electricity billing, according to the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP).

In a media briefing Wednesday, NGCP’s head of revenue management department Julius Ryan Datingaling said overall transmission rates for the September 2025 billing period dipped by 1.23 percent to P1.3998 per kilowatt hour (kWh) from a month ago’s P1.4171 per kWh.consumers will see this reflected in their monthly bill for October.

This, as both transmission wheeling rates and ancillary services rates recorded reductions.

Ancillary services refer to the cost of power sourced from the reserve market and generators with deals with the NGCP.

The grid operator said this continued to account for the bulk of transmission charges at 65 centavos per kWh.

‘For the October 2025 electric bill of the end consumers, NGCP charges only 59 centavos per kWh for the delivery of its services,’ it said. /rwd

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck off Guimbal town early Wednesday morning and was felt at Intensity IV in Iloilo City, prompting local authorities and school officials to inspect buildings for possible damage.

Students and employees also evacuated to open ground while waiting for advisories for suspension of classes and work.

According to the Iloilo City Operations Center, the quake occurred at 6:48 a.m., with its epicenter located 13 kilometers south-southwest of Guimbal, Iloilo, at a depth of 10 kilometers, based on data from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Instrumental intensities were recorded at Intensity III in Nueva Valencia, Guimaras, and Intensity II in San Lorenzo, Guimaras; Iloilo City; and Bago City, Negros Occidental. Light tremors were also felt in Culasi, Antique, and La Carlota City, Negros Occidental.

Following the quake, the Iloilo City Government issued an advisory reminding education officials of DepEd Order No. 022, series of 2024, which allows Schools Division Superintendents and school heads to conduct immediate visual inspections of their facilities. They are authorized to suspend classes in their respective institutions if buildings show signs of structural risk.

‘This approach demonstrates that we prioritize the safety of our students and teachers while ensuring the continued education,’ the city government said in its statement.

The advisory also urged residents to be calm and to cooperate.

No reports of major damage or casualties have been recorded as of press time. The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) continues to monitor aftershocks and coordinate with barangay officials for building safety assessments./coa

Although with different lead actors-the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. then, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. now-the scenarios and sequence of events are almost the same.

In 1983, former Sen. Ninoy Aquino was assassinated. There was a flood of people in the streets who joined and watched his funeral march. Marcos Sr. created the Fernando Commission and later, the Agrava Commission, to investigate Aquino’s assassination. But some principal suspects were either spared from the investigation or ultimately acquitted by the Sandiganbayan, like Gen. Fabian Ver, businessman Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., and other publicly known cronies. While protests were ongoing, there were lavish parties in Malacañang. There was a snap election. People were disgruntled with the results of both the investigation and the snap election. There were talks of a coup d’état. There was people power. And the rest is history.

Today, there is massive corruption in government infrastructure under the DPWH, and most likely in other government agencies, too, where billions of people’s money is involved. There is real flooding all over the country. President Marcos Jr. created an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate anomalies and corruption in government infrastructure projects, particularly in flood control. The Senate and House of Representatives are also conducting their own investigations. But the public is sensing that there are once again sacred cows who are sparingly touched by all investigations, particularly former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and other implicated senators. While the streets are flooded, there is a series of concerts at Goldenberg.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano suggested a snap election. People are getting angry and starting protest marches and rallies again, the biggest one, last Sept. 21, which was the anniversary of the declaration of martial law. If the results of all investigations, particularly of the ICI, are unacceptable to the people, this can lead to bigger protests and rallies similar to the 1986 People Power Revolution. And what could be next?

We are always told that those who do not learn from history are bound to repeat the same mistakes and consequently suffer the same results.

Mr. Marcos Jr., during the 108th birth anniversary of his father, mentioned that his ‘every act must be motivated by a true commitment to service and driven by true love of every single Filipino and a love for the Republic of the Philippines.’ He wants to be ‘on the right side of history.’

Filipinos join him in this wish and hope that God and providence will help him change the course of history. The impending events, if history repeats itself, and what comes thereafter, might even be worse than what the Philippines had after the first people power.

The majority of Filipinos obviously never learned from history, as they keep on voting for the same corrupt national and local officials. Our political history also keeps on repeating itself, as we get more entangled in the web of corruption, which has become more systemic and systematic.

Contractor couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya arrived at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) building for the commission’s hearing on Wednesday, October 15.

Curlee, who is currently under the Senate’s custody, first entered the office at around 12:50 p.m.

Meanwhile, Sarah-apparently avoiding the media-used the backdoor to enter the commission’s office at around 1 p.m.

The ICI earlier said in a Viber message to reporters that its hearing was scheduled at 1 p.m.

This would be the third time the Discayas will be resource persons at the ICI hearing. They appeared before the commission on September 30 and October 7. /cb