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Cendaña calls out transfer of funds to foreign-assisted projects

Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña has called out the transfer of unprogrammed funds for infrastructure projects in the proposed 2026 national budget to Foreign-Assisted Projects (FAP) – noting that it is just another unprogrammed appropriations (UA).

In a virtual interview on Thursday, Cendaña said that while allocations for the Strengthening Assistance for Government Infrastructure and Social Programs (SAGIP) were transferred to FAP, there is still a need to clarify where the funds would go because both are considered UA.

‘That is what we have observed, the reduction of the SAGIP projects, but when we saw it, it seems it was just transferred to the FAP, the Foreign Assisted Project,’ he said. ‘So we really need to scrutinize the allocations under UA.’ According to Cendaña, while there are reforms initiated for the budget process, it should be clarified how the UA will be appropriated.

‘Because while we have mentioned improvements, reforms, a lot still has to be explained, like the basic issues, like why are these items placed under the UA, if these are obligations that we should pay for our healthcare workers, if these are obligations under foreign loans when we implement foreign assisted projects,’ he said.

But Deputy Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong allocations for FAP are necessary because the country just cannot renege on its obligations to projects backed by foreign loans.

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‘The Foreign Assisted, these mostly are big ticket projects, we cannot avoid that, we cannot just renege from our obligation to the agreement that we had with Foreign Assisted Projects. So we cannot turn back on that,’ Adiong, a vice chairperson of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, said.

`Open to any abuses’

‘Number two, it’s a matter of really restricting, for example, it’s restricting the usage so that it may not be open to any abuses. That’s why we removed the infra projects from SAGIP, because that in a way is a room for probably using these funds to allocate to some projects that are not really that important,’ he added.

Adiong also assured the public that there are safeguards to ensure that the placement of SAGIP funds to FAP would not be prone to production.

‘So here, we prioritize. I mean it comes to the Foreign Assisted projects, we know that there are big ticket projects and there are guidelines on how to source out that fund,’ he said.

‘It’s not as easy as just getting a portion of that and using that indiscriminately to whatever programs that one may think should be allocated to,’ he added.

Earlier, Adiong was also asked about the presence of the payment for healthcare workers’ allowances during the COVID-19 pandemic in the proposed 2026 budget, even if these were already paid in 2025.

According to Adiong, both the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Department of Health (DOH) should explain this, agreeing with views that having line items for programs that have been completed raises suspicions.

‘Well, we cannot answer for DBM [.] I for one do not know how, but I’m sure the DBM has the perfect [.] explanation for that. But I cannot quite for certain give you a direct answer to that,’ Adiong, a vice chairperson of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations, told reporters.

‘Well, one would think of it that way,’ Adiong said when asked if having the line item for healthcare workers’ allowances was suspicious. ‘Because if it is already paid, of course, it should not be there. So again, it’s something that our executive department (should explain), but I’m pretty sure that they have the answer for that.’

Adiong explained that the discovery of the line item for health workers’ payments were made after agencies approached the BARSc, a sub-panel of the appropriations committee, about projects that they prefer to be prioritized.

DOH apparently told the BARSc that they have already completed the payments, and therefore can be removed from the proposed 2026 budget.

Last September 2, the DBM announced that it has released the P6.8 billion final balance for the payment of health emergency allowance to healthcare workers who served during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, or from 2021 to 2023.

This is not the first time, however, that there were reports of projects already completed being present in the 2026 National Expenditures Program. Early September, Deputy Speaker and Antipolo Rep. Ronaldo Puno suggested that the NEP be sent back to the DBM due to several problems – like the discovery of multiple or redundant entries. Puno revealed that Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) programs in the district level still received allocations despite these being completed already, citing the case of Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro who experienced the said issue. Puno said he also checked the allocations for his own district – the first district of Antipolo – and he found out that projects provided by the district and regional engineering office of the DPWH were no longer in the NEP.

Subpanel skips OVP budget as it gets no hike from realigned DPWH funds

The Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) budget was not discussed by the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) because the hearing only covered agencies that would receive additional funding from the realigned Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) budget.

This was the explanation given by House Deputy Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Thursday when asked why the OVP’s proposed ?902.8-million budget for 2026 was not taken up by the BARSc – despite several calls to either reduce it or revert it to its 2025 level of ?733 million.

The BARSc met on Wednesday to finalize proposed amendments to the 2026 national budget, during which some agencies – including those in the education sector – received larger allocations. The realignment was sourced from the ?255.5 billion slashed from the DPWH budget. ‘Because what we talk about in the BARSc is the P255 billion that was taken from the original, initial request ng DPWH. These are the flood control, these are the programs that were removed, mostly infra, flood control, and we tried to redistribute that to those agencies that may be needing more funding,’ Adiong, a vice chairperson of the committee on appropriations, said.

‘So those agencies that are not present, they were not part of the augmentations or did not make a request from the P255 billion that was initially allotted to DPWH and later on was slashed [.] so that is what we talked about,’ he added.

According to Adiong, lawmakers who wish to make changes to the OVP budget can propose amendments during the period of amendments, which will be held on Friday, October 10.

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‘There’s a period of amendments, what we talked about in the BARSc is the institutional amendments because we have made adjustments. Remember when we had the first meeting at the BARSc, there were line items that agencies want to reduce, they said that it is not their priority,’ he said.

‘So definitely since we would open a period of amendments, we expect that there are individual amendments that will be raised, especially from the Minority bloc, we are expecting that there will be a couple of motions and proposed amendments, individual amendments coming from their side,’ he added.

Several lawmakers from the Minority called for the reduction of the OVP budget after Vice President Sara Duterte failed to show up or send an undersecretary-level representative to the plenary debates.

According to ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio, he would push for the reduction of OVP’s budget – from P902 million to just P198 million, or the OVP’s proposed personal services (PS). Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said that because of Duterte’s actions, she initially thought of proposing to cut OVP’s budget to zero, but she said thinking of employees prompted her to just push for a budget cut. Adiong, for his part, prefers that the OVP budget for 2025 be the same amount given to the agency for 2026. Also, the lawmaker maintained that OVP will not get a budget cut should the House retain the P733 million that was given to the said office for 2025.

‘I just want to also correct the term, because the budget of the OVP is still a request – the P900 (million), so if you if you try to really assess and just to use the right term, it is not really a decrease because there is a pending request for an additional P200 (million). THis means the working draft or the baseline is the P733 million,’ he said.

Group reiterates call to stop mining near Unesco Heritage Site in Mati

The environment group Interfacing Development Intervention (IDIS) welcomed Davao Oriental Governor Nelson Dayanghirang’s sudden turnaround to stop mining in Mati City’s Barangay Macambol, an area very close to Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

But the group said the damage had already been done, and someone had to be held accountable for it.

Instead the group called on the provincial government headed by Dayanghirang, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region and all relevant agencies to immediately suspend and revoke the mining operations in Macambol and surrounding areas; conduct a full environmental and social audit; file administrative and legal actions against violators and their enablers and implement a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for the over 200 hectares of damaged land. ‘IDIS welcomes the provincial leadership for finally recognizing the urgency of the issue,’ said the group’s statement, referring to Dayanghirang’s call for public support on Monday to stop a mining operation that reportedly destroyed a 200-hectare land in Mati City’s Barangay Macambol.

‘But we must also confront the reality that this response came far too late. The damage has already been done, and its consequences are now being felt by communities, ecosystems and future generations,’ the group said in a statement sent to reporters.

Dayanghirang said during a stakeholders’ dialog in Mati City on Monday, October 6, that a resolution calling for a stop to the mining operations would soon be passed in the Provincial Board after mining had destroyed 200-hectares of forest land in the area which could also affect the planned Macalula Road Network Loop Project that would link Macambol with the neighboring villages of Cabuaya, Luban and Lanca.

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He also stressed the need to protect the environment, especially since the mining operation was very close to the buffer zone of Mt. Hamiguitan.

Warning against threats

Lawyer Mark Peñalver, executive director of IDIS, expressed surprise as the group had been warning against the threats that large-scale mining posed in the area for years, but their warning had fallen on deaf ears.

Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary has been recognized for its unique and fragile biodiversity and as home to rare and endemic species of wildlife like the Philippine Eagle; and the pygmy forest ecosystem

IDIS said the provincial government’s acknowledgment of the environmental damages was both a ‘welcome and painful validation.and a stark reminder that when environmental protection is delayed, the costs multiply, and the victims are the poor and the powerless.’ ‘While we recognize this long-overdue action, IDIS underscores that the damage has already been done – with over 200 hectares of land degraded and threats now extending to the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape,’ said part of the group’s statement.

For more than a decade, residents of Barangay Macambol and environmental advocates have repeatedly sounded the alarm on the dangers posed by large-scale mining in the area, but these warnings were met with silence or denial.

In 2022, IDIS released a public statement warning that the mining operations in Macambol posed serious threats to both the Mount Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary and the Pujada Bay Protected Landscape and Seascape but government agencies only dismissed these concerns, reasoning that the site was technically outside the protected area boundaries, disregarding the reality that pollution, siltation and deforestation do not stop at invisible lines on a map.

Hallmark Mining Corporation, which operates a mine in the area, released a statement saying it shared the ‘deep concern’ with the provincial government and that it was committed to ‘responsible mining.’ IDIS, however, said it rejected the notion that large-scale mining could ever be ‘responsible’ in a country with fragile ecosystems, weak regulatory enforcement, and communities already suffering from poverty and displacement. ‘Mining, by its very nature, is extractive and destructive,’ it said. ‘If the company’s operations were truly responsible, how do we explain the 200 hectares of ravaged land?’

Tropical Storm Nakri enters PAR, named Quedan

Tropical Storm Nakri entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) Thursday afternoon, Oct. 9.

In its 12:40 p.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced that Tropical Storm Nakri – now locally named Quedan – is already inside PAR.

Pagasa said that Tropical Cyclone Bulletins for Quedan will be issued starting at 5 p.m. Before entering PAR, Quedan (international name: Nakri) was monitored 1,445 kilometers east of extreme northern Luzon, packing maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) with gusts up to 90 kph.

It was moving northwest at 25 kph.

Pagasa had earlier noted that the storm posed no direct impact on the country. /apl/abc

Win for renewables: CDO cold storage firm shifts to geothermal energy

In a big win for clean and renewable energy in Mindanao, an electricity-intensive business operation here has shifted to geothermal power to run its facilities.

According to Donna Robles, chief operating officer of Mets Cold Storage Services, Inc., they have recently entered into an agreement with Energy Development Corp., a subsidiary of Lopez-owned First Gen, to supply its cold storage facility in Barangay Tablon here with geothermal energy.

The supply agreement, signed last October 3, covers up to 2,050 kilowatts of power for Mets’ expanding facility here, which currently offers more than 7,100 metric tons of cold storage capacity.

‘We are pleased to partner with First Gen to reduce the energy intensity of our cold storage operations,’ Robles said in a statement. The geothermal power will be wheeled from EDC’s Mt. Apo geothermal power plant in Cotabato province.

Robles said Mets’ tapping of renewable energy marks a major step toward greener operations.

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‘This move will reduce not just our energy cost but our carbon footprint as well, while providing a stable power supply,’ Robles pointed out.

Arlene Sy-Soriano, assistant vice president and head of sales and engagement at First Gen, said the partnership aligns with both companies’ sustainability goals.

‘Cold storage is critical for ensuring safety and sanitation across the food and pharmaceutical supply chains,’ she said. ‘We are committed to partnering with Mets to ensure they can power their cold storage operations sustainably with a steady supply of renewable energy.’

Large power customers have the option to source supply directly from generators, as provided under the open access provision of the Electric Power Industry Reform Act.

Fighting Maroons clip Blue Eagles

Rampaging title holder University of the Philippines clipped Ateneo’s perfect run, 83-69, to catch up with the leaders after a poor start in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball yesterday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Fighting Maroons shattered the gates wide open in the second half to run away from a slim 40-38 cushion at the turn, hitting two birds with one stone by notching their third win in a row and snapping the Blue Eagles’ torrid 4-0 start.

At 3-2, UP climbed from the cellar to solo fourth behind Santo Tomas (3-1) with Ateneo and first-game winner National U sharing the leaderboard. Up next for UP is Far Eastern U (1-3) Sunday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

Francis Nnoruka feasted on the Blue Eagles with a career-high 28 points built on a 9-of-13 clip alongside nine rebounds, four steals and a block while Noy Remogat added 20 points on four triples before his ejection due to an unsportsmanlike foul late in the blowout affair.

Harold Alarcon was also instrumental for the Maroons, scoring 13 of UP’s 22 points in the second quarter, where they launched a tone-setting 15-3 rally to overturn a 23-30 deficit.

It was all UP from there.

Earlier, National U clawed back from 11 points down to scrape past Adamson, 56-54.

The Bulldogs stepped up in the last five minutes, launching a 15-2 finishing kick to erase a 41-52 deficit for a gutsy rebound from an endgame meltdown versus the Maroons.

Rain or Shine’s Norwood announces PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup will be his last

One last flight for ‘Mr. President’.

Rain or Shine wing Gabe Norwood will be retiring after the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup, he announced Thursday.

The 40-year-old Norwood, who has played for Rain or Shine since 2008, announced the news through an Instagram video posted by the Elasto Painters’ social media team.

Norwood, also a longtime member of Gilas Pilipinas, looked back on his career, which started in his four-year stint with George Mason University in the US NCAA.

‘The journey has been nothing short of incredible. I poured everything I had into this game, and in return it has given me more than I could ever ask for – the unforgettable moments on the court, the battles won and lost, the lifelong friendships, the love of the fans, and above all a family,’ he said in the video.

‘That’s why today I want to share with you all that this upcoming Philippine Cup will be my last. One last conference, one last run, one last flight,’ he added.

The 6-foot-6 Norwood, who has won two PBA championships and is an 11-time All-Star, is known for his basketball IQ, defensive chops and athleticism.

He was a Defensive Player of the Year and a seven-time member of the PBA All-Defensive Team.

He was a fixture in several Gilas teams, which competed in the FIBA Asia Cup, FIBA World Cup and William Jones Cup.

Last season, Norwood averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 49 games played. The Elasto Painters reached the semifinals in all three conferences.

The player’s retirement tour will tip off this weekend, as Rain or Shine takes on the Meralco on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

Practicality questioned

Cebu City Councilor Pastor ‘Jun’ Alcover has questioned the practicality of the ‘Mayor of the Night’ program following discussions on the proposed P12 million rental for the program’s base office at IT Park for three years during the City Council session yesterday.

In an interview with reporters, Alcover said the issue lies not in the proposed rental payment, but in the collective decision of the council to implement the ‘Mayor of the Night’ program. According to him, it appeared that the council had not yet approved the program, yet there was already a move to seek budget appropriation for the rental of the offices.

During the session, the council referred the resolution to the Committee on Budget and Finance for review, comments, and recommendations. When a further motion was made to refer the matter to the Committee on Laws, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña explained that they were under ‘pressure’ to open the ‘Mayor of the Night’ offices by January 1, 2026.

According to Osmeña, while he understood the need to seek the Committee on Laws’ opinion, any delay in approval would prevent them from making the downpayment and securing the property by January.

‘So if there are any reservations, now is the appropriate time, but right now we cannot simply afford any delay by referring it to the Committee on Laws,’ said Osmeña.

With this, the council called for a recess. When the session resumed, the council approved a motion to seek the opinion of both the Committee on Budget and Finance and the City Legal Office (CLO) on the proposal.

It was during this recess that Alcover later revealed a heated discussion had erupted among council members. According to him, the council had not yet been asked whether they approved the implementation of the program itself.

‘Mura mag sigeng-sigeng mi nga aprobahan ni kay molarga si Tomas, and ikaduha aprobahan ni aron dili kapa abangan og lain, mura nag negotiate na sila og rental nga wala pay approval sa Mayor of the Night,’ said Alcover.

Alcover expressed concern over the large sum involved in the project. He also questioned the need for such a program, pointing out that the city already has an elected mayor.

‘Ang mayor nga atong gipili usa raman gyud, si Mayor Nestor Archival, mayor 24 hours a day,’ said Alcover.

According to him, it was members of the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) party who allegedly insisted on approving the resolution. He added that during the discussion, he expressed that if they pushed through with the approval, he would object-potentially leading to a division of the house.

While Alcover agreed to the referral of the proposal to the appropriate committee and the CLO, he said he does not agree with the practicality of the project.

‘Wa gyud ko makauyon ani. usik-usik ni sa kwarta,’ said Alcover.

During the session, the body tackled a letter from Vice Mayor Osmeña dated September 26, requesting authorization for the mayor to enter into a multi-year lease contract for office space at Cebu IT Park in Lahug.

The proposed office would serve as a one-stop shop for the ‘Mayor of the Night’ program from 2026 to 2028, with a total lease amounting to P12,501,144, including advance and security deposits.

As indicated in the letter, the program aims to provide 24/7 government services to business process outsourcing (BPO) workers, nurses, drivers, and other night-shift employees. It also seeks to enhance safety by ensuring accessible government transactions and transport services during nighttime hours.

Among the agencies listed as participants in the planned one-stop shop are the Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG Fund, Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), PhilHealth, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and other local offices offering city services.

The annual lease was proposed at P4.32 million in 2026, P4.45 million in 2027, and P2.29 million for the first half of 2028, with a monthly rental estimate of P360,000, inclusive of taxes and utilities.

While the intention is to house the one-stop shop services in this office, Alcover raised concerns about whether there is already an agreement with national government offices to deploy employees to man these offices at night. He sought clarification on whether such arrangements had already been formalized through a written commitment.

He also flagged the lack of structure in the program, noting that it had jumped directly to the lease proposal without foundational approval.

‘Para nako it is unconstitutional kay wala man na sa provision sa Local Government Code nga dunay mayor of the night, kay usa raman ka mayor atong gipili. and I think it is illegal,’ said Alcover.

‘So in short, mohunong ang pagka-mayor ni Archival inig alas sais ba?’ he further asked.

According to Alcover, it would be more practical to set up a satellite office in upland barangays to accommodate residents who find it difficult to access services at City Hall.

In line with this, he called on the executive department to reconsider the project, adding that it may not be appropriate for the vice mayor to push such initiatives, stressing that his role is to serve as presiding officer of the City Council.

Outstanding women

Can they help unravel the biggest political crisis in the Philippines in the last 127 years – the syndicated stealing of over P1 trillion of flood control money in the last 10 years?

This question faces the 15 outstanding young women of 2025, announced Sept. 17, by the TOWNS Foundation. It is a relevant challenge, given that some of the awardees are in the fields of governance, national and local; human rights, education and journalism, to name a few critical fields.

Women are the majority, the ruling class in the Philippines, certainly not the weaker or lesser sex. They constitute more than half of our population of 115 million.

When governance fails, it is women who are hit hardest. Nearly all our 25 million households are managed by women, often thanklessly and without compensation. When things go wrong, they are the fulcrum of stability and hope.

Our second highest official is a woman, Sara Duterte, the first vice president to be impeached. For graft, for corruption, for malversation of P612 million of taxpayers’ money. She produced thousands of fake receipts (named after fictitious restaurants and chichiria) to cover her trail.

Sara was rescued by Senate president Chiz Escudero, who did not act forthwith on her impeachment, enabling the Supreme Court to concoct new ideas how to derail any House impeachment. Now every impeachable official has nothing to fear – impeachment is nearly impossible to engineer in the House.

Chiz’s wife is angry. Heart has reaped the whirlwind of people’s wrath after Chiz spiraled into ignominy in the gyre of the P1-trillion flood-gate. A trophy wife, she was recently gifted with a $1-million diamond ring, thanks to Chiz’s hard work. Heart has a stupendous luxury watch and bag collection, her hard work.

Chiz was ousted as Senate president Sept. 8, 2025 when it surfaced he benefitted from dirty FC money, got a P30-million campaign donation from a, FC contractor and that he engineered P142 billion worth of ‘insertions’ into the 2025 national budget, which money was stolen.

Two of the 2025 TOWNS awardees easily stand out: economist Maria Cielo Magno and lawyer Maria Kristina Conti.

Cielo is a professor at the UP School of Economics, and was undersecretary for fiscal policy at the Department of Finance. She quit her job at DOF, apparently in disgust over how government finances are run. Now, she is at the forefront of civil society’s campaign to demand accountability for the P1-trillion flood-gate, using her brilliant mind and beautiful personality. To her, good governance is a human right of Filipinos. Sadly, good governance is will-o’-the-wisp, a doomed spirit.

Kristina Conti risks her life and her future in the legal profession while seeking accountability from former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, in jail in The Hague and facing trial for allegedly killing between 7,000 and 30,000 Filipinos. Her job is to document the killings and convince the International Criminal Court of Duterte’s culpability.

The TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service) Foundation Inc. makes the selection only once every three years, adding to the prestige and significance of the much-coveted award.

‘Each of our awardees embodies the very essence of what the TOWNS Foundation stands for: visionary leadership rooted in service to others,’ enthused Patricia Prodigalidad, president of TOWNS Foundation Inc. ‘At a time when our country faces deep challenges but also great opportunities, these women offer us not just hope, but concrete pathways toward progress. They remind us that real change is possible when brilliance meets compassion and purpose.’

‘This year’s selection process brought forward extraordinary women from across the country whose stories moved, challenged and inspired us,’ said Olivia Ferry, chairperson of the 2025 TOWNS Search Committee. ‘The awardees are not only leaders in their fields, but they are also agents of change – fearlessly confronting inequality, championing innovation and building stronger, more inclusive communities. Choosing from among such an outstanding group was incredibly difficult but also reaffirming.’

The TOWNS Awards recognize exceptional Filipino women who have made transformative contributions to Philippine society through excellence, leadership and service in their respective fields. From science and technology to public service, culture, social entrepreneurship and more, the award celebrates women whose work has had a meaningful and measurable impact on the nation.

The awardees were selected after a rigorous nationwide search and vetting process led by a panel of respected leaders and past awardees.

The 2025 awardees join over 200 women who have inspired generations through their courage, commitment and leadership. The 15 batch 2025 outstanding women exemplify service to country with purpose and integrity and to uplift others.

The 2025 TOWNS awardees, in alphabetical order:

ALBA, Sha Elijah B. Dumama for Peace Building and Good Governance

ALINDOGAN, Jamela for Courageous and Honest Journalism

CONTI, Maria Kristina for Human Rights for All

DICIANO, Christine Pauline for Maritime Law Enforcement and Public Service

DUPLITO, Salve for Financial Empowerment

ESLAVA, Decibel Faustino for Environmental Science for Local Learning Communities

HATAMAN, Sitti Djalia for Peacebuilding, Courageous Governance and Social Economic Development

JOCSON, Jennie for Innovations in Teacher Education and Access

LIM, Nur-Ainee Tan for Ethical Public Service, Social Services and Development

MACAPAGAL, Gail for Information Technology and Entrepreneurship

MAGNO, Maria Cielo for Financial Accountability and Good Governance

OSIAL, Lorelie for Business Innovation and Corporate Citizenship

PADILLA, Francel Margareth for Cybersecurity, Military Service and Transformative Engagement with Local Communities

REYES, Katherine Ann for Service, Research and Leadership in Public Health Delivery

YANG, Georgina for Leadership in Innovations in Local Governance and Education

Since 1974, TOWNS now has over 200 awardees. They should lead our house cleaning from corruption.

TOWNS is an offshoot of the TOYM – The Outstanding Young Men – after outstanding young women felt left out from the prestigious plum. So they put up their own TOWNS awards. Still, women join the annual TOYM search now open to women.

CIDG: 2 suspected Mendiola riot instigators face raps

Two of the four people believed to be among those who instigated the Sept. 21 violent protests against corruption in Mendiola, Manila are facing charges for snubbing the subpoenas issued by the police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

CIDG spokesperson Maj. Helen de la Cruz said yesterday they are preparing complaints for indirect contempt against the two.

One of those summoned, Park Alamada Pangawilan, appeared at the CIDG on Monday and explained his side about a viral video of him asking the protesters if they have lighters with them.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Renee Co criticized the CIDG for allegedly harassing Kalayaan Kontra Korapsyon officer Aldrin Kitsune and Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag chairperson Jacob Baluyut through subpoenas.

Co said a student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines was also summoned by the CIDG in connection with the unrest that marred the anti-corruption protests on Sept. 21.

De la Cruz, however, maintained that there is nothing irregular in the actions of the CIDG.

‘Crimes and violations have been committed during the protests so an investigation is ongoing,’ she said.