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Why does the mention of Greta Thunberg, the young Swedish climate change-turned-pro-Palestine activist, get the panties of so many white (and those with pretensions to whiteness) men in a twist? Piers Morgan for one. They label her activism performative, dismiss her actions as stunts, and portray her as an attention-seeking opportunist riding on the coattails of some cause or another.

Not just white men, mind you, but even all of the white so-called feminists who waste no time clamoring for the liberation of Afghan/Iranian/(insert Global South nation here whose resources the West is itching to extract and control) women under cruel subjugation by medieval and unenlightened leaders who trample on their human rights.

Yet when one of their own, someone who, by their own measure, embodies the qualities they loudly extol-confidence, compassion, intelligence, and integrity-is kidnapped whilst on a humanitarian mission by a foreign military power on international waters and taken to prison where she is tortured, these self-declared foghorns of democracy are deafeningly silent.

Not a word, not a sound

Where is the outrage? Seriously, why aren’t these people up in arms at this display of inhumanity toward someone who shares the same melanin deficiency as they do?

One would think these defenders of freedom would be rushing to condemn Israel for this blatant bulldozing of international law (not surprising, really, when you consider that bulldozing Palestinians and their homes is part of the Israeli arsenal of genocide in Gaza), as well as for the flagrant abuse of human rights. Other activists from the humanitarian Global Sumud Flotilla who were taken captive by Israel witnessed Thunberg’s mistreatment, recounting that she was beaten, dragged on the ground, and, bizarrely, made to kiss the Israeli flag while unlawfully detained.

But the West, of course, never calls out its allies, especially one it is actively supplying with bombs, aircraft, and intel in the wholesale extermination of an Indigenous people.

Thunberg was not the only white woman from the flotilla to experience this degradation. Activist Yvonne Ridley, 67, a former Welsh newspaper editor once kidnapped by the Taliban, declared, when she was released from Israeli custody, that she would rather spend two months in a Taliban jail than two days in an Israeli prison.

Such a strong condemnation should have elicited, one would assume, stringent denials from the Western establishment; after all, their nemesis, the Taliban, has long been the poster child of oppression and cruelty.

But not a word. Liberal hypocrisy, is that you? Why the double standard?

Equal opportunity sadists

It wasn’t just the white women (and men) who were subject to torture-including the deprivation of food and water as well as medication-whilst being held in Israeli prisons. The Israeli military, after all, is an equal opportunity sadist. Muslim hostages from Malaysia and South Africa have reported being strip-searched, their hijabs torn from their heads in the presence of men. One woman, Fatima Hendricks, said they received harsher treatment when the military found they were South African; as a breast cancer survivor, she said her mastectomy scars were even exposed and mocked by her captors.

But the West doesn’t really care about them; they’re not white, for one, and they come from the country that filed the case against Israel, and by extension, its complicit allies, in the International Court of Justice.

Yet all the hostages, regardless of gender, have insisted that the issue is not about them. It is Gaza, and the torture they were subjected to was only a fraction of the torture Palestinian detainees are regularly meted out as they languish in Israeli jails-many without formal charges, under the nebula of administrative detention.

And I suppose this is part of the problem the West has with Thunberg and other white female activists. In sticking steadfastly to the cause, they refuse to center themselves, the very opposite of the individual-as-brand approach, the self-absorbed look-at-me media whoring prevalent these days.

The wrong kind of blonde

The erstwhile international darling who at 16 confronted the world and demanded the powers-that-be take concrete actions to protect the Earth for future generations, Thunberg could have had a cushy life doing the Davos and TED Talk route, hobnobbing with the likes of Hilary Clinton and all these ‘global thought leaders’ who really are, at the end of the day, instruments of imperialism milking the system that was created to keep them entrenched in power and wealth.

But she saw through the artifice of liberalism fairly quickly and understood that to be a climate activist is to be an advocate for climate justice. One cannot claim to care about the environment when one country is dropping the equivalent of over 100,000 tonnes of explosives on Gaza, uprooting its olive trees, cutting off food and water, and poisoning its wells, among others.

Her identification with the cause of the Palestinians basically nipped any aspirations to speaking engagements at $100,000-a-plate benefit galas with the world’s movers and shakers (for a list of names, see the Epstein files).

Not that she was ever about that life. There’s Malala for that.

And, because we live in a society where looks matter, Thunberg is the wrong kind of blonde. She’s cute, but not glamorous or even conventionally pretty. She is frank, disconcertingly so for some, and doesn’t smile or giggle coyly or feign performative concern for an audience drowning in its own liberal delusions that it constantly congratulates itself for caring about the world, reciting daily affirmations while children are literally being starved and sliced in half by bombs.

There’s Taylor Swift for that.

Regine Velasquez once again expressed her dismay toward the Philippine government as she stressed how Filipino taxpayers do not deserve the poor public service they currently experience.

The singer-actress shared her sentiment through her Instagram page on Monday, Oct. 13 along with a video which underscored that the country is rich in natural resources but is infested with corruption.

‘Nung bata ako ang akala ko mahirap ang Pilipinas hindi rin nakatulong na pinanganak akong mahirap. Pero ngayon napagtatanto ko hindi tayo mahirap!! Pinahihirapan tayo!’ she said.

‘Ako po ay isang singer lamang na nagsumikap para maiahon ang aking pamilya sa hirap. Sa tulong ng ating Panginoon natulungan ko ang aking pamilya,’ she continued.

(When I was a child, I thought the Philippines was poor. It didn’t help that I was born poor. But now, I realized that the country is not poor! We’re being made to suffer! I’m just a singer who worked hard to get my family out of poverty. With the help of our Lord, I was able to help my family.)

Velasquez then lamented how she has been working hard and paying her taxes right, but has not been benefitting from it.

‘Ang aking income tax ay nasa 32% plus meron po akong [value added tax] na 12% – 32+12=44% po ng pinaghirapan ko napupunta sa gobyerno pero wala akong nakukuha kahit anong benipisyo,’ she lamented.

(My income tax is at 32% then I pay another 12% value added tax. So 32 plus 12 is equal to 44%-44% of the money I earn goes to the government but I do not get proper benefits in return.)

The singer further pointed out the country’s need for proper health care as well as quality education and infrastructures-which the government should have provided using the taxpayers’ money.

‘Hindi mahirap ang Pilipinas, sa aking palagay hinayaan nilang isipin nating mahirap ang bansa natin para hindi tayo magreklamo at para umasa na lang tayo sa mga barya barya nilang binibigay,’ she stated, taking for example the relief goods that feature the photos of politicians during calamities.

(The Philippines is not poor. I suspect they just want us to think that way so that we would not complain about the country’s situation and just accept the lacking service they offer.)

‘I’m ranting again, I know, pero ang laki ng utang ng gobyerno sa mga Pilipino,’ she concluded. (I know I’m ranting again but the government owes the Filipino people a lot.)

Velasquez’s sentiment came amid the public outcry against the worsening corruption that has been plaguing the country. /edv

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) has extended its previously issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) covering flights near Bulusan Volcano in Sorsogon, Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island, and Taal Volcano in Batangas until Wednesday morning, October 15.

In its latest advisory released on Tuesday, Caap said the extension of the NOTAM was released ‘to ensure aviation safety.’

According to Caap, the NOTAM for Bulusan is now effective from 8:39 a.m. this Tuesday until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with vertical limits from the surface up to 10,000 feet.

Meanwhile, the NOTAM for Kanlaon will be in effect from 8:35 a.m. this Tuesday until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with vertical limits from the surface up to 11,000 feet.

As for Taal Volcano, the NOTAM is effective from 8:38 a.m. this Tuesday until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, with vertical limits from the surface up to 11,000 feet.

‘All flight operators are strongly advised to avoid flying close to the volcanoes and to continuously monitor NOTAMs for updates,’ Caap said.

The aviation authority assured the public that it remains ‘vigilant and proactive in ensuring flight safety amid ongoing volcanic activity across the country.’

It was on Monday when Caap first issued NOTAMs over Bulusan, Kanlaon, and Taal following volcanic activities observed by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

Based on the update from the Phivolcs on Tuesday, 26 volcanic earthquakes were recorded over Bulusan, which remains under alert level 1.

Kanlaon, which is on alert level 2, recorded 17 volcanic quakes in the past 24 hours.

On the other hand, a minor phreatomagmatic eruption that lasted for six minutes and 17 volcanic quakes were observed over Taal. It remains under alert level 1. /das

The contract for a new building for the Commission on Audit’s (COA) headquarters was awarded to a contractor with ties to the wife of one of its own commissioners already linked to anomalous public works projects, according to a watchdog group.

Records reviewed by the Right to Know, Right Now (R2KRN) coalition showed that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) awarded in 2021 a P959 million contract for the new COA building, with a basement, in its central office in Quezon City, to the joint venture of R.U. Aquino Construction and Development Corp. and Le Bron Construction.

Le Bron Construction, a sole proprietorship, is the main joint venture partner of Olympus Mining and Builders Group Phils. Corp., a construction company headed by Marilou Laurio Lipana, wife of incumbent COA Commissioner Mario Lipana. A review of Olympus’s DPWH contracts from 2023 to 2025 showed that it entered into joint ventures with Le Bron in nine out of its 22 contracts during that period.

Le Bron’s authorized managing officer is a certain Moises Nicdao, who is also among the incorporators of Iron Ore, Gold and Vanadium Resources Inc. where Mrs. Lipana is listed as president. Although Commissioner Lipana was not yet part of the commission when the project was awarded, R2KRN noted that he was already a senior COA officer then. His official profile indicated that he had served as the supervising auditor of COA for Manila.

The Inquirer called Commissioner Lipana’s office for comment but was told by his staff that he was still on medical leave.

The 1987 Constitution bars members of constitutional commissions from having any financial interest, direct or indirect, in businesses that may be affected by their office’s functions.

Republic Act No. 6713, the Code of Conduct for Public Officials, extends this prohibition to spouses and close relatives.

Even if Commissioner Lipana had no role in auditing DPWH projects involving his wife’s company, R2KRN argued that it ‘still stands that the new headquarters of the nation’s audit institution was awarded to a contractor that had a business association with the family of one of its senior officials.’

‘This betrays the deeper institutional entanglements that now confront COA,’ read the report written by Nepomuceno Malaluan, Malou Mangahas, and Jenina Joy Chavez.

‘Indeed, while a new home for the country’s supreme audit institution was being built, the very foundations of its independence were being eaten away like wood by termites from within,’ the report said.

The Le Bron-Olympus partnership extended far beyond the COA compound, the coalition added.

From 2016 to 2025, Olympus bagged P1.89 billion worth of infrastructure projects from DPWH-mostly flood-control structures and access roads in Bulacan-including nine joint ventures with Le Bron Construction.

Many of these projects fell under Bulacan’s first district engineering office, whose former officials Henry Alcantara and Brice Ericson Hernandez had admitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to kickbacks, bid rigging and ghost projects.

In his sworn statement to the Senate on September 23, 2025, Alcantara claimed Commissioner Lipana personally requested a list of flood-control projects for Bulacan and later managed to insert P500 million worth of them into the 2023 Unprogrammed Appropriations, followed by P400 million in 2024 and another P500 million in 2025.

DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo confirmed in an affidavit that the commissioner had sought introductions to Bulacan DPWH officials.

The Office of the Ombudsman earlier confirmed that it was now conducting a fact-finding investigation into Lipana since these allegations surfaced.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said this could constitute an impeachable offense for Lipana, who was appointed by former President Rodrigo Duterte in 2022 and whose term is set to expire in 2027. /apl

The market regulation arm of Philippine Stock Exchange has lifted the involuntary suspension issued against Globalinks Securities and Stocks Inc. after three months, saying the stock brokerage house now had enough capital to continue operating.

In a memorandum on Tuesday, Capital Markets Integrity Corp. (CMIC) said it had received documents from Globalinks showing proof of capital infusion.

The suspension, which was imposed on July 9, was lifted on Tuesday.

Still, CMIC said Globalinks needed to ensure that it consistently followed the minimum capitalization requirement.

‘Should there be any subsequent findings showing that the above rules have been infringed by Globalinks, the proper disciplinary actions shall be meted out by CMIC to the trading participant,’ CMIC president Gerard Sanvictores said in their memorandum.

Sulu province’s integration into the Zamboanga Peninsula region is progressing ‘seamlessly,’ the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said.

Sulu was transferred to the Zamboanga region through Executive Order No. 91 series of 2025 after the province voted against ratifying the Bangsamoro Organic Law, which establishes the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

‘The seamless transfer of the Province of Sulu to Zamboanga Peninsula is in progress,’ the DILG said in a statement on Tuesday.

‘During this transition, the government is committed to keeping public service uninterrupted while laying down a stronger foundation for good governance and local development in Sulu,’ it added.

EO No. 91 designated the DILG as the vice chairperson of the technical working group tasked to oversee the transition.

The DILG further said it will be issuing a joint memorandum circular with the Department of Budget and Management by the end of this October to address personnel management in Sulu.

Additionally, the DILG said the technical working group is considering asking the Office of the President for permission to allow the BARMM to continue implementing its programs and projects in Sulu until 2026.

For a long time now, and for all the right reasons, the name Lostprophets has been anathema. It’s a name that conjures images of unimaginable horror, a deep-seated revulsion that eclipses any artistic legacy the Welsh rock band might once have possessed. The absolutely heinous crimes of their late frontman, Ian Watkins, cast a long, dark shadow, one so profound it effectively erased the band from the cultural conversation of pop culture forever. The music itself – once a vibrant part of the early 2000s rock landscape – was not only forgotten but actively shunned, buried under a collective public disgust.

The band had to be figuratively and literally thrown out of the music industry because of what the late frontman had become. There is zero tolerance for that. Beginning that day, I decided to forget their songs, which had been part of the ‘soundtrack’ of many in my generation. Which is a bit sad because their music was more than just popular hits; it carried meaning, had relevant themes, and displayed the artistry that made Lostprophets a much more compelling rock band than others of their movement in the early 2000s.

Now, my deep appreciation for music compels me to acknowledge the band’s impact on my generation. I can’t ignore or overlook that about them because they consistently released well-put-together songs that captured the feelings, emotions, and – more importantly – the frustrations of youth during those years. I was entering high school when the songs of the Lostprophets became a fixture on local radio stations that played all forms of rock music; they were featured often in music magazines, and their brilliantly made music videos were on regular rotation on all the music channels at the time, both local and foreign.

As I continue to reminisce about those wonderful times, Lostprophets were easily one of the most recognized bands in that era, and people did not care that they were Welsh. Their songs are simply too enjoyable, relatable, and great to make that a factor. Haha. I mean, honestly, who gives a **** where these guys came from? Haha. Hey, the guys appreciated their music, and the girls dug their good looks, and also their music. Haha. So, it brought all of us together.

In fact, in early 2012, the same year I started my writing career here, it was on my to-do list to eventually write about the Lostprophets. I excitedly immediately thought of all the bands I was going to write about, but as I was about to get to the Lostprophets, the career-ending news came in when the criminal acts that their late frontman had committed was discovered, and it was an absolute shocker to all their fans, whose band they once liked all these years had to be avoided like the plague, erased from their memories, and permanently removed from their list of favorite bands. Lostprophets were no more.

As a result, Lostprophets’ music career ended abruptly. They never reformed again, nor did they ever search for a new frontman, and they all collectively stopped making music together, with the majority of the members calling it quits when it came to being in a band. Indeed, it was the right thing to do by the other members of Lostprophets and for the fans to stop everything and move on from them.

However, now that their monster of a late frontman is no more, dead and gone forever, the music has now become gradually more acceptable to be appreciated once more. Well, that is what I hypothesize, and others would surely agree or disagree. But in my case, I am honing in on the songs themselves and figuring out the best way to highlight them in what would be my first and last piece about the defunct Welsh band that once rocked with their brand of tunes that spoke to nationalities from all over the world with their powerful, resonating, and range of themes that only the youth could understand and relate to.

To me, historically, the Lostprophets were the greatest Welsh musical import for decades, when we assumed the late frontman was ‘clean enough,’ normal, and was generally, for the most part, a law-abiding person not committing anything that goes beyond the norm of the usual ‘rock and roll’ lifestyle. Then, everything came to a screeching halt and ended, but what I just said remains true.

Their music remains, no matter what; that is their legacy, which I consider to be an art form, as all songs are, as all great music can be categorized as. I think their greatest songs have finally begun to lift out of that dark, hovering cloud they have found themselves in. Away from the darkness that monster caused, exactly what remains is the art (music) itself.

With that said, I will go forward with this because there is no point in going back and forth, weighing the pros and cons, and delaying this. At the end of the day, for anyone to truly appreciate their musical journey, one must engage in a difficult, tricky, and uncomfortable exercise: to acknowledge the talent of the collective while condemning the actions of the individual. Which finally led me to feel comfortable enough in re-listening to my favorite tracks from the Lostprophets. Re-remembering what those songs meant to me, and to celebrate those songs once more.

It is precisely in that spirit that I present my personal Top 5 songs from Lostprophets, a tribute not to the monster, but to the music – the songs that once meant something to a generation of pre-teens navigating the post-grunge, pre-emo landscape and getting ourselves ready for what the future might hold.

5. ‘Burn Burn’ (from ‘Start Something,’ 2004)

A track built for the arena, ‘Burn Burn,’ encapsulates the band’s transition from the raw, angular aggression of their early work to a more polished, melodic rock sound. The driving riff, courtesy of the tight-knit guitar work of Lee Gaze and Mike Lewis, is pure, unadulterated rock candy. Watkins’ vocals, for all their controversy today, were once a calling card for the band’s infectious energy. Here, he shifts effortlessly between a melodic chorus and a harder, rhythmic verse, a vocal style that would become a trademark. For many, ‘Burn Burn’ was their first taste of a more accessible Lostprophets, a testament to their growing confidence as songwriters. It’s a song that, for a few glorious minutes, makes you forget everything else and want to headbang and be in a mosh pit.

4. ‘Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja’ (from ‘The Fake Sound of Progress,’ 2000)

This was the track that put Lostprophets on the map, a breathless, frenetic shot of adrenaline that perfectly captured the nu-metal zeitgeist. Man, I clearly remember this one being played often on MTV here and abroad. The title, a nod to old-school video games, is an indicator of the band’s playful yet aggressive youthful spirit. It’s a rough-around-the-edges song defined by its jagged, stop-start guitar riffs and a blistering pace that never lets up. The lyrical content, while somewhat esoteric, tapped into a feeling of youthful rebellion and defiance. It’s a pure, unrefined slice of early 2000s rock history, a throwback to a time when baggy jeans and spiky hair ruled the airwaves. It’s a reminder of a time before the facade collapsed, a time when ‘The Fake Sound of Progress’ was still a novelty to be savored.

3. ‘Rooftops’ (from ‘Liberation Transmission,’ 2006)

In many ways, ‘Rooftops’ was the band’s imperial phase distilled into a single. This received heavy radio airplay also from our side of the world. It was pure radio-friendly rock gold, a soaring, stadium-sized anthem with a chorus that was impossible to ignore. The song’s massive, reverb-drenched guitars and propulsive rhythm section provided the perfect backdrop for Watkins’ most melodic performance. Thematically, it was a song about longing and escape, and its emotional core resonated with a massive audience. It’s a testament to the band’s ability to craft a truly universally appealing pop-rock song, one that showcases their evolution from a scrappy nu-metal act to a legitimate mainstream force. This was Lostprophets at their most confident, a band seemingly on the precipice of global superstardom.

2. ‘Wake Up (Make A Move)’ (from ‘Start Something,’ 2004)

This song is the very definition of a hidden gem, a track that perfectly captures the essence of early 2000s rock and the band’s burgeoning melodic side. I was going to select this as my Number 1 track, but ‘Last Train Home’ made me rethink that upon re-listening to all of these songs. The track’s opening-a swirling, almost hypnotic guitar riff-draws you in immediately before erupting into a powerful, punchy chorus. The dynamic shifts between the melodic verses and the heavier choruses are expertly executed, a testament to the band’s tight musicianship, and this early on, as soon as they crossed over to the mainstream scene. Watkins’ lyrics here are less confrontational in nature and more introspective, a reflection of the band’s thematic maturity on the ‘Start Something’ album. It’s a track that rewards repeat listens, a song that holds up remarkably well despite the passage of time. Give it a listen.

1. ‘Last Train Home’ (from ‘Start Something,’ 2004)

This tops my list. Simply put, ‘Last Train Home’ is Lostprophets’ masterpiece, their most enduring and emotionally resonant song. From the moment the melancholic guitar line kicks in, you know you’re in for something special. The track is a masterclass in pacing, structure, and dynamics, building from a quiet, reflective verse to an explosive, cathartic chorus. This is a perfect example of finding that balance. Watkins’ vocals are at their absolute best here, filled with a sense of desperate yearning and vulnerability. The lyrics, a plea for reconciliation and a desire to return to a simpler time, are universal and heartbreakingly relatable. ‘Last Train Home’ is more than just a song; it’s an emotional journey, a powerful piece of music that stands on its own merits, completely detached from the sordid story that would later consume the band, which makes this their most bittersweet track, ending everything on a poignant note.

***

It would be impossible to talk about Lostprophets without acknowledging the horrific legacy of its late frontman. And frankly, we shouldn’t. The truth is, the music has been forever tainted, its memory sullied by the monstrous actions of one man. Yet for those of us who grew up with their sound in the early 2000s, who found a unifying voice in their music before the ugly reality emerged, there is the complex, difficult, and often painful task of a form of reconciliation of the former fans with the now-defunct Welsh band. I believe that these five songs I have selected serve as a testament to the band’s musical prowess, a brief glimpse into a time before the sound turned to silence, and a reminder that even the most beautiful music can be born from the most corrupted source.

Let this sink in or else we will not learn from this: One valuable lesson all of this has taught us is to be careful about the kind of bands we listen to because we never know what the frontman is really like in real life and what his true nature is when nobody is around him, from his family, friends, and bandmates, to discover that he lived a double life of a monster. And that this should serve as the biggest wake-up call that I believe we all have to learn to carry and keep always in mind, moving forward in the world of music.

R.I.P. Lostprophets. /ra

Senator Loren Legarda, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education, has filed Senate Bill No. 1412, or the Last Mile Schools bill, which seeks to bring quality education to children living in the country’s most geographically isolated, disadvantaged, and conflict-affected areas (GIDCA).

The measure institutionalizes last mile schools under the administration of the Department of Education (DepEd), serving learners in remote and underserved areas, including Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs), consistent with the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.

‘Many of our schools in far-flung areas still operate without electricity, proper classrooms, or clean water,’ Legarda said.

‘We cannot expect children to learn or teachers to stay if we do not first provide the most basic conditions for education. This bill is about giving every community the means to sustain learning, not just access to it.’

Findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) reveal that of approximately 9,000 remote schools nationwide, about 1,500 remain without electricity, while many lack adequate sanitation and safe learning spaces.

These gaps are compounded by difficult terrain and a shortage of teachers, conditions that have kept thousands of children from completing basic education.

The Last Mile Schools bill adopts a whole-of-government strategy to close these gaps.

It directs DepEd to work with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for access roads, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Electrification Administration (NEA) for power supply, and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) for internet connectivity.

DepEd is also tasked to design learning programs tailored to the realities of these communities, including teacher training, learner support services, and school maintenance standards.

‘The goal is to make schools a living part of every community,’ Legarda said.

‘Education should not depend on distance or circumstance. When every child can learn within their own community, the promise of education becomes real.’

To ensure accountability, the bill establishes a five-year school building program and requires DepEd to assess and report separately on learner outcomes in last mile schools.

These data will guide continuous improvement and the transparent use of public funds.

Cavite Rep. Francisco ‘Kiko’ Barzaga arrived late and missed his own ethics hearing in the House of Representatives on Monday.

The reason? The 27-year-old lawmaker admitted he stayed up late ‘playing games’ on his computer.

‘My hearing was already over when I arrived. I was very busy last night. I was just playing games with my computer,’ he said in an ambush interview at the House.

The lawmaker briefly joined a protest outside Forbes Park Village in Makati City late Sunday night, where demonstrators called for the resignation of President Marcos amid allegations of corruption in his administration.

Last month, members of the National Unity Party (NUP), led by Deputy Speaker Ronaldo Puno, filed an ethics complaint against Barzaga, citing his ‘unusual behavior’-including his sudden declaration of a speakership bid and alleged ‘lewd’ photos posted on social media.

Puno said the party believed Barzaga might have committed four violations: not acting in a manner that reflects creditably on the House; engaging in acts contrary to law, good morals, customs, and public policy; conduct that incites seditious activity; and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service and unbecoming of a member of Congress.

2,000 cops deployed

Barzaga, a former NUP member, left the party after Puno reportedly accused him of plotting to oust then Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Meanwhile, no untoward incidents were reported at the rally that Barzaga led outside Forbes Park Village, according to the Philippine National Police.

The rally ‘finished around 4:20 in the morning, and they dispersed,’ said PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño.

In a Facebook post on Sunday afternoon, Barzaga urged people to join the rally, saying they would ‘enter the homes of (former Ako Bicol Rep.) Zaldy Co and (former Speaker and Leyte Rep.) Martin Romualdez’ as part of the protest.

Co and Romualdez had been linked to anomalies flagged in government flood control projects. They earlier denied the allegations.

At the Camp Crame flag-raising ceremony on Monday, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the PNP deployed about 2,000 police officers to secure rally sites across five areas in Metro Manila over the weekend.

Nartatez did not specify these areas where the protest actions took place.

The PNP had previously said it was on alert for anticorruption rallies by civic groups set every Friday starting Oct. 10.

The Trillion Peso March movement announced the weekly protests on Oct. 7, aiming to sustain its campaign against government corruption after its Sept. 21 rally. The protests were triggered by alleged kickbacks and other acts of corruption by government officials in collusion with private contractors in public infrastructure projects.

While cases of influenza-like illnesses were lower this year compared to last year, the public is still urged to isolate themselves should they exhibit symptoms to avoid spreading the infection, which can become severe and lead to hospitalization.

‘When you look at this type of infection, we sometimes think. it’s just a fever. But sometimes it can lead to what we call severe acute respiratory infection,’ Dr. Rontgene Solante, chair of the adult infectious diseases section at San Lazaro Hospital, said during a forum on Tuesday.

According to Solante, a person 5 years old and above may have a severe acute respiratory infection if they have a history of fever with a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, while also suffering from coughs, with an onset of within the last 10 days.

He warned that once a person has a severe infection, he or she may find it difficult to breathe and may have to be hospitalized. Based on data from the Department of Health shared by Solante, a total of 15,868 cases of severe acute respiratory infections have been recorded in the country this year as of September 27, which is lower than the 24,032 cases reported the previous year.

Solante also pointed out that influenza A, which is the most commonly detected pathogen for influenza-like illnesses, can also lead to severe viral pneumonia and cardiovascular complications, such as heart attacks. Another cause of influenza-like illnesses, the respiratory syncytial virus, may also lead to an exacerbation of chronic respiratory or cardiac insufficiency, Solante added.

‘Those with asthma or [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease], you might be asking why your asthma isn’t going away.[or] I’m taking my maintenance [medicine] but my condition is still the same, you might be having [respiratory syncytial virus],’ he said.

According to Solante, those who are most vulnerable to severe infections are children, the elderly, people with comorbidities and pregnant women. He urged people who are exhibiting symptoms of influenza-like illnesses to take a rest, isolate themselves and wear a mask in order to avoid infecting vulnerable members of the population.

Should vulnerable individuals become infected with influenza-like illnesses, Solante said they should be closely monitored and taken to the doctor if their symptoms become worse.

‘If you’re still coughing after five to seven days, you’re experiencing difficulty in breathing and you still have a fever, don’t wait for your fever to last for seven or eight days. Go to the doctor,’ he said. ‘It might be too late when you go to the doctor, and there would not be medication that can be given to you,’ he added.