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Far Eastern University needed four sets to turn back College of Saint Benilde on Friday, an effort that was well worth it after the Lady Tamaraws booked the last quarterfinal bonus in the Shakey’s Super League (SSL) Preseason Unity Cup at San Andres Gym in Manila.

Alyzza Devosora stepped up big in the fourth set and carried the Lady Tamaraws to a 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 25-23 victory as Far Eastern closed out Pool F play with a 2-1 record for second spot and the right to win just one game over University of the Philippines on Tuesday to advance.

Devosora scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth, including four of FEU’s last six points.

‘We really wanted to make the quarterfinals with an advantage,’ Devosora said in Filipino. ‘That’s why we worked so hard to win the fourth set.’

The winner of the SSL National Invitationals Batangas Leg, Far Eastern, squandered a four-point lead midway into the fourth frame as the Lady Blazers uncorked a 7-1 run to take a 21-19 advantage.

Gerzel Petallo sparked the Tamaraws’ closing 6-2 rally, capped by Devosora’s back-to-back hits.

The Fighting Maroons clipped Ateneo, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14, for their only pool win to finish third. They will battle Adamson, needing to beat the Soaring Falcons two straight times to march on.

Jelai Gajero led UP’s assault by banging in 11 of her 12 points off kills, with Irah Jaboneta and Sarah Ali adding eight and seven points, respectively, to help the Fighting Maroons arrest a two-game skid.

‘We talked about playing with a lot of mental toughness,’ Gajero said in Filipino. ‘That was our problem in our previous games. We need to keep fighting with our hearts and our minds.

‘We needed this win to boost our confidence.’

The Blue Eagles went winless in the round as they fell on a collision course with the Pool F top seed and twice-to-beat University of Santo Tomas in the quarters.

Four-peat-seeking and twice-to-beat National University will face San Beda in the other pairing in the first round of the playoffs.

A magnitude 4.2 aftershock struck Bogo City in Cebu on Saturday afternoon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

According to Phivolcs, the tremor was another aftershock of the deadly magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the city on Sept. 30.

The agency said the aftershock’s epicenter was located 18 kilometers west of Bogo City, and struck at 12:59 p.m. It was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers.

Phivolcs said no damage to property was reported, and aftershocks are expected.

According to a Friday report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the magnitude 6.9 earthquake affected 216,947 families, or 747,979 individuals.

The NDRRMC also reported 79 casualties and 559 injuries, with no one missing.

The deadly earthquake also damaged a total of 134,229 houses and 948 infrastructures in Central Visayas

While this week’s occurrence in the West Philippine Sea is no longer surprising, it remains brazen, menacing, and deeply alarming.

On Oct. 12, Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels approached three Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) vessels, including the BRP Datu Pagbuaya, anchored near Pag-asa Island. The BFAR vessels were assisting Filipino fisherfolk under the ‘Kadiwa para sa Bagong Bayaning Mangingisda’ (KBBM) program.

The Chinese then conducted dangerous maneuvers and activated their water cannons. Not content with these hostile actions, one CCG vessel fired a water cannon directly at the BRP Datu Pagbuaya and deliberately rammed its stern, causing minor damage but no injuries to the crew.

The Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela, described this encounter as the ‘closest reported incident of bullying by the CCG,’ this statement, made during a press briefing, underscores how such actions threaten regional stability and the safety of Filipino personnel.

But what happened on Oct. 12 is only the latest instance of harassment. Less than a month earlier, on Sept. 16, another BFAR-operated vessel was subjected to dangerous maneuvers; it sustained water cannon assaults by CCG and CMM vessels in Bajo de Masinloc. The incident injured one Filipino crew member due to shattered glass caused by the impact.

Prior to this, on Aug. 11, a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel and a CCG vessel, in the waters of Bajo de Masinloc, executed aggressive and dangerous maneuvers with the clear intent of obstructing one of the patrol vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard. These vessels then collided into each other.

One incident is in itself disturbing enough. But the emerging pattern and its growing intensity and frequency are alarming. Taken together, these acts reveal a dangerous and deliberate pattern of aggression aimed at normalizing China’s unlawful presence and coercive behavior in Philippine waters.

These events underscore that the true source of instability in the region is Beijing’s continued disregard for international law, including the 2016 arbitral award by the Permanent Court of Arbitration. The PCA decision decisively invalidated China’s expansive and baseless claims.

China has, of course, chosen to ignore the PCA’s decision because it exposes its claims for what they are-unfounded excuses for expansionism. It insists it does not fall under the jurisdiction of the PCA, when many other countries in the world do and in fact acknowledge its power to resolve disputes.

The Philippines has also filed numerous diplomatic protests for these instances of harassment.

As of writing, seven foreign missions-the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Finland, and the European Union Delegation to the Philippines-have publicly condemned China’s latest act of aggression in the West Philippine Sea and reaffirmed their support for the rules-based order.

Indeed, it is one thing for the Philippines to face constant threats to its sovereignty. But it is quite another to respond to the broader challenge of ensuring sustainable and inclusive governance of its waters. The Philippines is emboldened by the support of the international community, which shares our reverence for the rule of law and our deep commitment to keeping the peace not only in our areas of sovereignty but in the whole Indo-Pacific region.

These same like-minded countries who articulate their support of Philippine sovereignty and their condemnation of China’s acts are also being steady partners in ensuring and practicing maritime governance. After all, beyond external aggression, the Philippines grapples with

marine pollution, illegal and unreported fishing, coastal degradation, and the worsening impact of climate change on coastal livelihoods and ecosystems.

An example would be France, which has been among the Philippines’ steadfast partners in advancing this vision. Through the ‘Blue Nations: France and the Philippines, Partners for the Oceans’ initiative, both countries continue to promote a comprehensive and cooperative approach to maritime governance.

This partnership was again highlighted in the Blue Talks titled ‘France and the Philippines: Promoting a Sustainable and Inclusive Maritime Governance in the Indo-Pacific,’ a forum jointly organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Embassy of France in the Philippines.

Ultimately, effective maritime governance is not only about defending territory but about ensuring that the seas remain a shared space of peace, prosperity, and sustainability. Here, the Philippines cannot and should not stand alone. A whole-of-society approach that integrates maritime security, economic resilience, and environmental stewardship.

By harnessing the strength of alliances, empowering local communities, and ensuring that governance frameworks are inclusive and transparent, we can protect our waters-not only from coercion, but from exploitation and neglect. True maritime security begins with shared responsibility and sustained cooperation. This is our long view even as we are prepared to address each and every instance of China’s bullying in our sovereign waters.

The Philippines rests on the volatile edges of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Here, the Earth’s restlessness is constant. Structural integrity is a matter of foresight, discipline, and respect for natural forces. Every structure must be envisioned as a shelter and a safeguard in a country where tremors frequently ripple beneath our feet. Knowing the ground beneath

The National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP) and the National Building Code (PD 1096) require a comprehensive geotechnical investigation before construction.

This study determines soil type, bearing capacity, groundwater conditions, and liquefaction potential. Weak alluvial soils in Metro Manila and nearby provinces can amplify ground motion during earthquakes.

Projects built near known faults, such as the West Valley Fault, must follow setback regulations enforced by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) to minimize risk.

Pile foundations, mat slabs, and properly tied grade beams help distribute loads evenly and resist differential settlement. Neglecting this relationship between soil and structure invites future distress and failure. Designing for the inevitable

The NSCP treats earthquakes as unavoidable and designs accordingly. Buildings should sustain damage during strong events but must preserve life safety and avoid collapse.

The code prescribes lateral load requirements based on seismic zones, site classes, and building importance. Stricter load and drift limitations apply for critical facilities such as hospitals, schools, and high-occupancy buildings.

Performance-based seismic design evaluates how a structure behaves under different levels of shaking rather than relying only on simplified static methods. This approach allows designers to aim for specific performance goals, such as immediate occupancy, life safety, or controlled repairability. The craft of structural detailing

Ductility, or the capacity to deform without collapse, depends on reinforcement quality, bar spacing, confinement, and anchorage.

Capacity design principles require beams to yield before columns, allowing the building to dissipate energy through controlled deformation rather than brittle failure. Adequate lap lengths, proper hooks, and closely spaced ties in columns preserve stability even under cyclic loads.

Connections between structural members must efficiently transfer forces. Beam-column joints, slab-wall interfaces, and foundation ties should be detailed clearly and precisely. Each connection tests the builder’s craftsmanship and adherence to the engineer’s intent. Integrating systems and safety

Cladding, ceilings, and mechanical systems can become hazards if inadequately anchored. Nonstructural failures have caused injuries in past earthquakes, even when the main frames survived.

Philippine seismic instrumentation guidelines require tall buildings over 50 meters to install accelerographs. These sensors record real-time movements, providing valuable data for engineers to evaluate and improve designs.

Construction supervision, material testing, and strict inspection protocols prevent deviations that could compromise safety. The use of certified materials, correct concrete curing, and regular evaluation of workmanship maintains the integrity envisioned during design. The developer’s mandate

Developers must demand early collaboration between architects, engineers, and geotechnical experts. They must allow the budget for rigorous analysis, accurate testing, and professional supervision. Cutting corners in these stages invites costly retrofits and potential tragedy.

Structures that may expand vertically or change in use should be designed with reserve strength and accessible points for reinforcement. Monitoring and maintenance programs preserve structural health throughout a building’s life.uring by design

A well-conceived structure should sway, absorb, and settle back gracefully when the ground moves. True resilience in Philippine architecture promises that the Earth may tremble, yet the people within remain safe.

The Akbayan bloc in the House of Representatives has filed a bill that would allow intersex Filipinos to change their names and gender markers in official documents without going through costly and time-consuming court proceedings.

Akbayan Reps. Perci Cendaña, Chel Diokno and Dadah Ismula authored House Bill No. 5474, which seeks to amend Republic Act Nos. 9048 and 10172 to authorize city or municipal civil registrars and consuls general to correct the sex and first name of intersex persons in the civil registry without the need for a judicial order.

The measure draws inspiration from the 2008 Supreme Court ruling in Republic of the Philippines v. Jennifer Cagandahan (G.R. No. 166676), which recognized the right of an intersex individual to amend the sex marker in their civil registry to reflect their lived identity.

‘Under the current law, intersex Filipinos have to go through the eye of a needle just to change their name and sex in legal documents. Why must they go through the courts when it can be done at the municipal level?’ Cendaña said in a statement on Thursday.

‘Intersex Filipinos deserve to be recognized under the law. They should have the right to live in alignment with their identities without the tedious and expensive process of hiring a lawyer, proving themselves before a court, and waiting indefinitely for a ruling,’ he added.

No need for litigation

According to the Intersex Society of North America, intersex is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t fit the typical definitions of female or male.

For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. HB 5474 aims to make government processes more inclusive by providing a straightforward and administrative pathway for intersex people to correct their documents without having to litigate their identities.

Under the proposed measure, intersex individuals of legal age may file a verified petition before the local civil registrar or consul general to correct the entry for sex and/or first name in their birth record.

The petition must be supported by a medical certificate from a licensed physician confirming the presence of intersex traits and other relevant documents.

Once approved, a new certificate of live birth shall be issued reflecting the petitioner’s correct sex and name. The bill also includes a confidentiality clause, ensuring that all records related to the correction remain private in accordance with the Data Privacy Act.

Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) may make landfall in Northern Samar on Saturday around noon or in the afternoon, the weather bureau said.

In its 11 a.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Ramil is expected to move generally west-northwest or northwest, ‘following a brief west-southwest movement.’

The storm was last spotted over the coastal waters of Palapag, Northern Samar, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) and gusts up to 90 kph. It was moving west-southwest at 20 kph.

‘The center of Ramil may make landfall or pass close to Northern Samar around noon or early afternoon, then over Catanduanes in the afternoon or evening,’ Pagasa said.

The agency had earlier forecast that Ramil would make landfall or approach Catanduanes on Saturday afternoon or evening.

Pagasa also said the likelihood of Ramil making landfall over Albay or Sorsogon is increasing as it continues moving west-northwest, passing near mainland Bicol Region and the Polillo Islands.

The agency added that the tropical storm may make another landfall over Aurora on Sunday morning or afternoon, although a landfall over Northern Quezon or Southern Isabela instead of Aurora is still possible.

Pagasa also noted that ‘a northward or southward shift of the track could result in a different landfall area.’

Ramil is forecast to maintain its strength or slightly weaken ‘due to frictional effects of the landmass’ as it passes over Northern Luzon

Mark Barroca and Ian Sangalang flashed their old forms on Friday to keep Magnolia and rookie coach LA Tenorio unbeaten after two games in the PBA Philippine Cup.

Their efforts in the 127-119 victory over the Titan Ultra Giant Risers served as an indication that the remnants of the Hotshots’ glory days can still figure prominently amid the slow rise of Tenorio’s young core.

Tenorio, however, begged to differ.

‘I’m not really emphasizing our young players, I want everyone [to play],’ Tenorio said. ‘In our team, anybody can start and I want to have a combination that has so far worked.’

Barroca had 16 points, four rebounds and seven assists, while Sangalang was a recipient of most of his old-time teammate’s passes and scored 21, as both off the bench and helped Magnolia shake off a determined Titan Ultra side that played minus ex-Hotshot Calvin Abueva.

Abueva sat out the contest due to a hamstring injury sustained against the Converge FiberXers.

The two members of the franchise’s 2014 Grand Slam and the last championship back in the 2018 Governors’ Cup combined with the youngsters composed of Zavier Lucero, Peter Alfaro and Jerom Lastimosa for the first winning streak in the Tenorio regime.

‘There’s a purpose on the combinations that we’re putting on the court,’ Tenorio said. ‘Vets are vets. Whether they play five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes, I know they will deliver.

‘And it’s a good thing for us that the vets are showing the young players that even though they are not starters and are playing limited minutes that they are playing their hearts out. And it’s a good sign for our team.’

Top young gun

Lucero was once again superb for the Hotshots with 23 points and 17 rebounds, Lastimosa had 13 points, four rebounds and six assists and Alfaro added seven in the win.

Speaking of vets, Magnolia also got solid contributions from Russel Escoto, in the league since 2016 with three teams, but usually given sparse minutes. He finished with 16 points in a relief appearance.

Titan Ultra fell to 1-2 sans Abueva, who was denied a chance to take on his former team that traded the energetic forward in last season’s Philippine Cup eliminations.

Joshua Munzon scored 28 points with six assists and three steals for the Giant Risers.

Meanwhile, Converge has a massive test ahead in TNT on Saturday as the league hosts a provincial sortie at Chavit Arena in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, at 7:30 p.m.

Converge is keen on proving its label as a potential title contender against last year’s near-Grand Slam winner in TNT, which will come into the contest smarting from a 15-point defeat at the hands of Barangay Ginebra last Wednesday.

One of Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s closest aides has stepped down from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) after Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste linked him to what the lawmaker described as questionable dealings with contractors. ‘Asking for favors’

Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, or Region 4-A) region, which includes Leviste’s home province of Batangas, would get only 10 percent of the DPWH’s allocable budget even though it accounts for 15 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

In August, Leviste filed a complaint of direct bribery against DPWH Batangas first district engineer Abelardo Calalo for trying to offer him P3 million supposedly in exchange for blocking an inquiry into flood control projects in the district. In his affidavit, Calalo, who is out on bail, denied bribing Leviste, claiming that the money was a ‘donation’ from a contractor.

Leviste on Thursday also alleged that some of the DPWH appointees were already meeting with contractors and ‘asking for favors.’ However, he did not identify these officials or say what these favors were, noting that his information was only based on his conversations with ‘multiple sources’ whom he did not identify.

The next day, Leviste decided to identify Perez, though he clarified that the undersecretary was not a contractor, but that he was ‘the most frequently named official’ by his sources who spoke of continuing corruption issues in the DPWH central office.

Again citing his sources, Leviste said he heard talk that Dizon had planned on appointing Perez to the DPWH’s bidding and procurement office. The lawmaker said ‘many would be disappointed in the leadership of Secretary Vince Dizon once they see the history of bidding and procurement under Perez.’

Leviste did not again give specifics, though the Inquirer had confirmed through Perez’s publicly available resumé on the BCDA website that he ‘managed the project implementation and construction of the New Clark City’s world-class sports facilities, composed of the Class 1 athletics stadium and aquatic center, as well as the athletes’ village.’

These were the same sports facilities that were used during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and which the Commission on Audit had flagged for giving ‘undue advantage’ to private contractor MTD Capital Berhad, which won the P8.51-billion contract through an unsolicited proposal instead of a competitive bidding.

At the time, Perez was serving as the BCDA vice president as well as the deputy director general of the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee.

Pressed for details, Leviste accused Perez of meeting with contractors outside of the DPWH headquarters, calling it inappropriate in light of allegations that the agency’s officials had colluded with senators, congressmen and contractors to profit off of infrastructure contracts.

‘Secretary Dizon himself acknowledged that [the optics of that] is not nice. And the reason why we shouldn’t give the benefit of the doubt to someone who talks to contractors is because of the context of the DPWH and its procurement [issues], which is very sensitive,’ Leviste said.

He said that apart from Perez, another high-ranking official in Dizon’s team had met with three contractors in a restaurant during an undisclosed date and that the appointee ‘was already asking for something, perhaps in exchange for projects not yet awarded by the DPWH.’

‘That’s why it’s important that they themselves disclose this and assure the people that they did not receive kickbacks,’ Leviste added.

‘Delicadeza’

But Dizon said: ‘For the better understanding of our countrymen, talking to contractors, that’s the job of the DPWH. Of course, it’s another matter if they’re asking for something from contractors.’

He also reminded the public of the case of dismissed DPWH Bulacan first district engineer Henry Alcantara, who supposedly received millions of pesos in cash in his office-‘which just goes to show that even meetings inside the office doesn’t necessarily mean they’re clean meetings.’

‘It’s very unfortunate, but you have to give it to him (Perez) that he has delicadeza and he is not ‘kapit-tuko’ (clinging to one’s position),’ he added. ‘Allegations are par for the course when you’re in government, but what is important is that you also have due process, and that these are proven with evidence and not just hearsay,’ Dizon added.

Before his DPWH stint, Perez, a longtime associate of Dizon since the latter was BCDA president and CEO during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, served as president and COO of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. Dizon said he personally sought permission from businessman Manny V. Pangilinan, the chair, president and CEO of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., to bring Perez into the DPWH.

Food for Thought: Living the Statistics of P64/Day,’ was last Monday’s topic for discussion by a panel formed by the Ateneo de Manila’s council of [college-student] organizations. I was invited to the panel, on account of Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) long history of hunger-surveys. The discussion took place in the Loyola Heights campus, in a building where I was a sophomore high school student, eons ago, and is now used for college activities.

I quickly went over two basic SWS findings: (1) the long-term national trend in hunger is flat-unlike poverty, which has a slight downward tendency; and (2) the area most vulnerable to hunger is the National Capital Region-whose residents have almost no means to grow their own food-rather than the much poorer area of Mindanao. SWS has many other statistics pertinent to hunger. But the 64-pesos-per-day is not one of them.

The number that sparked the students is an official one-‘NEDA chief: persons spending P64 below for 3 meals a day considered ‘food-poor” (gmanetwork.com, 8/13/2024). This report says: ‘At the first day of the Senate hearing on the proposed 2025 budget, [National Economic and Development, now Department of Economy, Planning and Development) Secretary Arsenio] Balisacan was asked the current threshold for one to be classified as ‘food poor.’ ‘As of 2023, a monthly food threshold for a family of five is 9,581 pesos. It comes out about P64 per person,’ Balisacan said.’ (The arithmetic is: 9,581 pesos/5 persons = 1,916.20 pesos per person, and 1,916.20/30 days = 63.87 pesos/person/day).

The news report continues: ‘This amount has increased since 2021 where the ‘food-poor’ threshold was P55 per person and it is expected to increase to P67 in 2025, according to Balisacan.’ When the senators complained that such a low threshold must surely be out of date, Balisacan confirmed that the 2021 threshold is only being adjusted by an annual general price index, rather than reestimated by new research. ‘The basket has not been changed for some time. . kasi medyo matagal na rin, more than a decade na ‘yon since it was set. . I think the changes in the economy warrant a revisit already of the threshold,’ he said.

That same Monday evening, I happened to see my old friend Arsi Balisacan, at the 90th birthday party of Dr. Gerardo P. Sicat at the University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE). (Gerry Sicat is a former UPSE faculty colleague of Arsi and myself; he and Arsi are both marathon-runners, physically fit.) When I told Arsi that the government’s food threshold was sparking discussion among Ateneo students, he remarked that the students should bear in mind that the threshold is actually per month, not per day. Also, it’s the cost of food prepared at home, not the cost of buying it at a public place.

My point here is that an official food threshold can trigger students in an elite school, who don’t know hunger, except from the distance of stories and, yes, statistics. By the way, Ateneo is not where the wealthiest students go. But it certainly has a long tradition of socially-conscious students and teachers.

I once had a UPSE thesis advisee who thought of surveying the wealth of students in exclusive schools, and was able to get the cooperation of several schools. She took random samples of high-school class-sections and distributed a questionnaire to the students of the samples to take home, for their parents to fill out. The parents were given a letter from the school authorities, confirming the school’s cooperation with the study; and the parents cooperated as well.

Among the schools surveyed, the one with the wealthiest students turned out to be the Colegio de San Agustin (CSA), in Dasmariñas Village, Makati City. I recall that the Ateneo de Manila, UP Diliman, and Philippine Science High School were among those included. But the first two were not close to CSA in terms of the wealth of the students’ families.

The thesis topic was the student’s idea, not mine, though of course I was very pleased by it. Some years later, with her doctorate, she became a professor of economics at the Ateneo, where she served until retirement.

Statistics are not only for statisticians.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has denied insinuations that it is ‘lawyering’ for resigned Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co amid calls to cancel his passport.

DFA spokesperson Angelica Escalona issued the statement late Friday after the remarks of Rep. Toby Tiangco, asking why it seems like the DFA was defending Co on why his passport cannot be immediately canceled.

Escalona said this allegation ‘reflects a misunderstanding of the legal standards governing passport cancellation.’

She pointed out that the cancellation or revocation of a passport is a process governed by established legal criteria and ‘is not subject to arbitrary or political considerations.’

‘Our respect for the constitutional guarantee of due process and the rule of law cannot be rewritten on a whim – the government cannot simply play ‘gotcha’ with passports,’ she said.

‘If Congressman Tiangco has genuine concerns and substantive evidence, he should seek judicial relief, rather than indulge in baseless accusations. Upholding the rule of law, not rhetoric, must remain the compass of public service.’

In a press briefing on Friday, Tiangco posited that the DFA has the power to cancel Co’s passport, questioning why it cannot swiftly act on the cancellation when the public is already calling for the former lawmaker’s immediate return to the Philippines.

‘Shouldn’t you cancel it, then let his lawyer question the cancellation in court? Why does it seem like they are even lawyering on the issue of cancellation?’ he said in Filipino.

Escalona noted that under the New Passport Law, the DFA may only cancel or revoke a passport if it was acquired fraudulently, tampered with, or issued erroneously; or upon orders of the court when the holder has been convicted of a criminal offense or is a fugitive from justice.

Co, who has been accused of receiving kickbacks from questionable flood control projects, initially flew to the United States to seek medical treatment.

His travel clearance from the House of Representatives has been revoked.