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VP should have known better-SEC exec

A SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) official on Tuesday testified before the Senate Impeachment Court that Vice President Sara Z. Duterte should have known the constitutional requirement to divest business interests before assuming office in 2022.

SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario made the statement during questioning by Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo regarding Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution, which prohibits the President, Vice President, Cabinet members, and their deputies or assistants from participating in business or holding certain financial interests while in office.

Del Rosario said that while the SEC does not have guidelines requiring the agency to flag public officials who form or become involved in corporations, the restriction should have been known by a high-ranking government official.

‘She should have known, as a high-ranking government official who took an oath to serve as President or Vice President, that this was her limitation,’ del Rosario said.

‘Therefore, before she took her oath of office, she should have removed those interests or divested from them,’ he added.

Duterte assumed office as Vice President on June 30, 2022. However, her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) continued to include business interests and financial connections after she entered office.

Her 2024 SALN listed several companies under business interests, including Metro City Chow Foods Corp., Gencorp Industries Inc., Carpio Lawyers, 888 Bistro, Cale88 Foods Corp., Madayaw Fisheries Corp., Mati City Ice Plant and Cold Storage Inc., Amianan Shores Inc., Geometry Security and Investigation Agency Inc., and Cabletow 88 Shipping and Marine Services Inc.

Among the companies examined during the hearing was Metro City Chow Foods Corporation. SEC records presented before the impeachment court showed that Duterte remained listed as a director and shareholder of the company from 2022 through 2025.

Corporate documents showed that Duterte subscribed to 20 percent of the company’s original subscribed capital and was listed as holding 500 shares valued at P50,000.

Del Rosario explained that under the Revised Corporation Code, the board of directors exercises corporate powers, manages company affairs, and oversees the properties and operations of a corporation.

Metro City Chow’s audited financial statements also stated that the board was responsible for overseeing the company’s financial reporting process, reviewing financial statements, and approving them before submission to shareholders.

The SEC official, however, clarified that the documents reviewed by the agency only showed Duterte’s corporate position and did not establish whether she attended meetings, participated in daily operations, or received compensation from the company.

The hearing also examined Gencorp Industries Inc., which Duterte identified in her 2024 SALN as a business interest where she was a stockholder.

Del Rosario testified that Duterte’s name did not appear in the Gencorp incorporation documents and General Information Sheets reviewed by the SEC.

‘For Gencorp Industries Incorporated, the name of Vice President Sara Duterte does not appear from the company’s incorporation up to the filing of the General Information Sheets. That is what appears in my summary,’ Del Rosario said.

The SEC witness said Gencorp’s records showed company sales totaling P1.04 billion and net income of P8.04 million from 2021 to 2024. He clarified that these figures represented company performance and did not identify any personal income received by Duterte.

During questioning, the defense raised the possibility that ownership interests could exist through private trust agreements or beneficial ownership arrangements that may not appear in regular SEC filings.

Del Rosario explained that ordinary trust agreements generally do not need to be filed with the SEC, while certified voting trust agreements are required to be submitted. He added that no certified voting trust agreement involving Gencorp was found in the records reviewed.

The witness emphasized that his testimony was limited to the documents requested from and maintained by the SEC.

‘We can only state what is contained in the documents that were requested from us,’ del Rosario said.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also questioned whether companies linked to Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, declared dividends that could explain increases in their declared wealth.

Del Rosario answered that the SEC records reviewed during the hearing contained no information showing declared dividends from the companies presented.

‘Based on these records, if she did not receive any benefit or dividends, I do not know whether she could declare income earned from these corporations,’ he said.

The SEC official clarified that the absence of recorded dividends in the reviewed documents did not determine all possible sources of Duterte’s wealth.

Gatchalian noted during the discussion that increases in wealth could come from other sources.

‘It could come from another source. It is not only from these corporations,’ Gatchalian said.

Osun Assembly backs creation of state police

Osun State House of Assembly has thrown its weight behind the proposed establishment of State Police, approving the constitutional amendment bill transmitted to state legislatures for consideration.

The resolution was reached on Tuesday during plenary following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Kofoworola Babajide Adewunmi, and seconded by Hon. Tajudeen Adeyemi.

The lawmakers subsequently considered and approved the proposal seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to provide for the establishment of State Police Services across the country.

The development forms part of the ongoing constitutional alteration process initiated at the national level to decentralise policing and create a dual policing structure comprising Federal and State Police Services.

The National Assembly transmitted the constitutional amendment bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration.

Speaking after the approval, the Speaker of the Osun Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, directed that the resolution of the House be communicated to the National Assembly as required under the constitutional amendment process.

The approval by Osun is, however, only one stage in the process, as the proposed amendment requires the endorsement of at least two-thirds of the 36 state Houses of Assembly, representing a minimum of 24 states, before it can proceed to the next stage.

The proposal is aimed at establishing a constitutional framework under which states would have their own police services operating alongside the Federal Police, with provisions covering command, oversight, and operational safeguards.

Aviation, logistics fuel BCDA boom

MAJOR aviation and logistics companies drove a more than sixfold surge in investments approved by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in the first half of 2026.

Latest data showed that BCDA-approved investments reached P49.96 billion during the period, up 535 percent from P7.87 billion in the same period last year. The commitments are expected to generate about 4,210 jobs.

The aviation sector alone accounted for P33.91 billion, or nearly 68 percent of the total, making it the largest contributor to the investment increase.

The latest commitments included Lufthansa Technik Philippines’ development of a new widebody aircraft maintenance facility in Clark, along with continued expansion by Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) and United Parcel Service (UPS) International.

The projects cover aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), cargo and logistics and other aviation-related activities, adding capacity around Clark International Airport and strengthening its links to domestic and international markets.

‘Global companies are making larger and longer-term commitments to the Philippines because they see the potential to serve both the domestic market and the wider Asia-Pacific region from here,’ BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Joshua M. Bingcang said.

Clark’s location in Central Luzon provides aviation and logistics operators with access to the region, Metro Manila and other domestic markets.

Other sectors also posted investments during the period. The residential sector accounted for P5.9 billion in approved investments, while government and sports projects contributed P500 million and hospitality investments reached P30 million.

Agreements involved InfiniVAN, the Philippine Sports Commission, Sophia Real Estate Executives and Development Corp., Baguio Mountainscapes, Hann Philippines and ACWA Power Philippines, as well as a consortium of GTM Networks Asia and Volksbahn Technologies.

Furthermore, investment activity was concentrated primarily in BCDA’s major economic zones, including Clark and Camp John Hay in Baguio.

The investment commitments come as BCDA and its partners continue to develop infrastructure for the Luzon Economic Corridor, including airport capacity, connectivity and logistics facilities.

Woman dies after refusing to leave burning house in Quezon

A 65-year-old woman died after refusing to leave her burning house in Sariaya town, Quezon province, on Sunday, police said.

The Quezon police said in a report Monday that a male relative noticed the house on fire in Barangay Lutucan Bata and rushed inside to rescue the woman, who was reportedly suffering from an unspecified mental health condition.

The woman, however, refused to leave the house, forcing the relative to abandon the rescue attempt because of the intense heat, police said.

Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters recovered the victim’s charred remains inside the burned house. Investigators are looking into the possibility that the victim herself may have been responsible for the fire, police said.

Authorities estimated the property damage at P40,000.

Tamwenya seeks to overturn Kinobere’s Kibuku MP victory

The hearing of a petition challenging the election of Kibuku County Member of Parliament Herbert Kinobere has been scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026.

The petition was filed by Charles Tamwenya, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) candidate who lost the January 15 parliamentary election to Mr Kinobere, an independent candidate.

The High Court sitting in Mbale, presided over by Justice Issa Sserunkuma, on September 21 set October 1 as the date for the hearing of the petition and determination of the issues that will guide the proceedings.

Mr Tamwenya is seeking to overturn Mr Kinobere’s election and have himself declared the winner.

Mr Kinobere polled 14,522 votes against Mr Tamwenya’s 12,869, giving him a majority of 1,653 votes.

The election attracted several other candidates, including Hamusini Mudederi of the FDC, Tom Tongolo of the NUP, Fred Bonyoko, Hassan Dodwa, Abudallah Ikebere, Herbert Mukoda and Richard Tagoya, all independents.

Petitioner’s claims

Mr Tamwenya contends that the election was conducted in contravention of the 1995 Constitution, the Electoral Commission Act and the Parliamentary Elections Act, which he says affected the integrity of the election and the validity of the results.

He alleges that the electoral process, from the campaign period through polling, counting and tallying, was characterised by intimidation, lack of freedom and transparency, unfairness and several alleged electoral offences and illegal practices.

According to the petition, the alleged irregularities affected the election results in a substantial manner and denied voters in Kibuku County a free and fair election.

Mr Tamwenya further alleges that the Electoral Commission returning officer for Kibuku and several presiding officers committed electoral offences.

He claims the returning officer made false records and returns that differed from results counted and declared at polling stations, thereby denying him his alleged rightful tally.

The petitioner further alleges that, contrary to Sections 66 and 97 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, the returning officer included in the final tally sheet results that he knew were not genuine or had been wilfully altered.

Mr Tamwenya also alleges that voters were bribed with money during the campaign period in areas including Buseta, Kituti, Kibuku and Kibuku Town Council, as well as at several polling stations on polling day, allegedly to influence them to vote for Mr Kinobere.

Court sets timelines

During Monday’s brief court session, the parties agreed to prepare a joint memorandum identifying the issues to be determined by court.

Justice Sserunkuma said cross-examination of witnesses would be limited to one hour and 30 minutes, urging lawyers to focus on substantial issues.

‘The lawyers should only pick key substantial issues that could be cross-examined rather than wasting time on the same issues. I will not entertain such wastage of time on non-issues,’ he warned.

The judge also granted the petitioner’s lawyers five days to respond to 53 affidavits filed by the respondents.

Mr Kinobere is represented by lawyers led by Geoffrey Kandebe, alongside Mr Asuman Basalirwa and two others, while Mr Tamwenya is represented by M.S Alliance Advocates.

Mr Kandebe said the defence was prepared to challenge the petition, dismissing the allegations as baseless.

‘I don’t see any serious issues that are contained in the petition that may interfere with our client’s victory. All the accusations are baseless but, of course, the petitioner has the right to make his assertions,’ he said.

‘We are prepared to confront them legally,’ he added.

The lawyers representing Mr Kinobere had also asked court to strike out claims relating to alleged lack of prerequisite academic qualifications, arguing that the petitioner should have raised the matter with the Electoral Commission.

Justice Sserunkuma rejected the submission and directed the parties to proceed with the agreed scheduling of the petition.

Mr Richard Okalany and Mr Machel Omondi, who represent Mr Tamwenya, said they had substantial evidence to support their client’s claims, including the allegation that the Electoral Commission wrongly declared Mr Kinobere the winner.

The petition will be determined after court considers the evidence and submissions from both sides.

Vice govs, staff get adaptation fund access tips

THE Climate Change Commission (CCC) has given 33 vice governors and provincial legislative staff members instruction on how to help local governments (LGU) develop risk-informed proposals for the People’s Survival Fund (PSF).

CCC Deputy Executive Director Romell Antonio O. Cuenca briefed the provincial officials and employees during the Legislative Excellence and Development (LEAD) Program of the League of Vice Governors of the Philippines.

The LEAD Program, administered by the Development Academy of the Philippines, is a 14-session legislative capacity-building program running from August to November.

The CCC session emphasized the work LGUs must undertake before preparing a PSF concept note or full proposal-including identifying their actual climate risks, determining which communities and sectors are most exposed, and establishing a credible basis for the proposed intervention.

‘Accessing the People’s Survival Fund begins well before an LGU writes its proposal. It begins with understanding the specific climate risks confronting its communities and identifying the intervention that can reduce those risks,’ Cuenca said.

The presentation covered the PSF submission, evaluation, appraisal and Board approval processes. Participants were also provided with 16 links to climate and geospatial information sources that their technical teams can use to strengthen the data and analysis supporting their proposals.

Participants’ questions centered on the application process and the preparations required of LGUs. The recorded session will be uploaded to the program’s online learning platform for officials and staff who were unable to participate live.

CCC Vice Chairperson and Executive Director Robert E.A. Borje said provincial legislative bodies can play an important role in helping translate local climate priorities into properly designed and supported adaptation investments.

‘Local access to climate finance is not merely a question of completing forms. A sound proposal must connect the risk identified, the people and systems exposed, the intervention proposed and the resilience result expected,’ Borje said.

‘Vice governors and provincial boards can help create the enabling conditions for this work by supporting climate-risk assessments, strengthening local plans and investment programs, allocating resources for proposal development, and encouraging coordination among provincial, city and municipal governments,’ he added.

Established under Republic Act 10174, the PSF provides long-term financing for adaptation programs and projects of LGUs and accredited local and community organizations. It supplements annual government appropriations for climate change programs and supports measures responding to climate-related risks and vulnerabilities.

The CCC continues to provide policy guidance, technical assistance and capacity development to help LGUs formulate science- and risk-based adaptation programs aligned with the National Climate Change Action Plan and the National Adaptation Plan 2023-2050.

Cyprus FM continues meetings in NY, regional developments-bilateral ties on agenda

Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos continued his contacts and meetings in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Regional developments and bilateral ties were on the agenda.

The Minister met Monday (NY time) with his counterparts from the UAE and India, among other officials. Kombos posted on X that it is always a privilege to meet his dear friend and colleague, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE.

”Exchanged views on reinforcing our strategic partnership, reaffirming excellent – bilateral ties. I also expressed full support for rapid progress in EU-UAE relations. Held insightful exchange on key regional files, and once again expressed solidarity with UAE’s Government and people”, Kombos posted on X.

The Minister also met with Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the UAE, with a focus on implementing the Cyprus-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Energy Partnership and implementing next steps ahead.

Kombos held also a meeting with PM/FM of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Than. “Reaffirmed the shared objective for regional stability and security. We also reviewed bilateral relations and examined concrete ways to further enhance them”, he said.

The Minister also attended an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in the margins of UNGA with Indo-Pacific partners, hosted by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

He said that on the agenda was the effective multilateralism for the prevention and management of security crises, EU and Indo-Pacific cooperation, including on maritime, critical-infrastructure security and emerging technologies and economic security, resilience, diversification of critical supply chains.

Kombos accompanied President Nikos Christodoulides with his meeting with King of Jordan Abdullah with Cyprus-Jordan bilateral relations, EU-Jordan relations and regional developments on the agenda.

Talks on how to strengthen bilateral cooperation, regional developments, as well as EU-Algeria relations were on the agenda of the meeting Kombos had with his counterpart.

Impeachment trial: Jaime Tan Cruz was ex-Pres Duterte’s envoy to China

Jaime Tan Cruz, who was identified as an incorporator of the same businesses in which Vice President Sara Duterte declared holding shares, previously served as special envoy to China for trade and investments under her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Prosecution lawyer Erwin Matib confirmed this on Monday, the 28th day of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, when asked by Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo.

‘Ito po bang si Jaime Tan Cruz is the same person na na-appoint ni dating Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte as special envoy to China for trade and investment?’ Tulfo asked.

(Is this Jaime Tan Cruz the same person appointed by former President Duterte as special envoy to China for trade and investment?)

‘Yes, they are the same person,’ private prosecutor Matib said.

Matib also confirmed that this is the same Jaime Tan Cruz who former President Duterte once offered to lead the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. as its chair, but Cruz refused.

Based on records by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC, Cruz was identified as an incorporator of the following companies linked to Duterte:

City Hall King Chow Foods Corp.

Metro City Chow Foods Corp.

Great Jolly Times Foods Corp.

Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corp.

Davao Emerging Taipans Corp.

Davao Bounty Times Foods Corp.

JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc.

The prosecution panel previously said that it may also summon Cruz himself as one of its witnesses in Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth before the Senate impeachment court.

2027: Obi, Kwankwaso best bet to salvage Nigeria – Babachir Lawal

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has declared that the presidential ticket of Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) represents the best option for Nigerians seeking to address the country’s challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Lawal made the declaration on Tuesday after joining the NDC, where he was received by the party’s National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson.

He said Nigerians concerned about insecurity, economic hardship, hunger, ignorance and disease should support the NDC to achieve what he described as a patriotic objective of electing Obi as president and Kwankwaso as vice-president in 2027.

‘I have nothing much to say, except to say that anybody, anybody at all in Nigeria that has the interest of our country at heart, that has sympathy for the suffering that is going on in our country, endeavoured by insecurity, economic deprivation, hunger, ignorance and disease, will have no choice but to join a party that presents Peter Obi and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the presidential candidates of the party,’ Lawal said.

He urged Nigerians to partner with the NDC to pursue the Obi-Kwankwaso ticket, saying the objective was aimed at securing what he described as a better future for the country.

‘It is now convincing to partner with the NDC to see to the fulfilment of this very, very noble patriotic objective of installing Peter Obi as the president and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as the vice-president in 2027,’ he said.

Lawal expressed optimism that the party would achieve its objective by the end of the 2027 electoral cycle.

‘So by the grace of God, by the grace of our leader and Nigerians at large, we look forward to May 29, 2027, where we celebrate that we’ve done that which is proper, we’ve done that which is good for the country, and we’ve done that which is good for generations yet and more,’ he said.

Receiving the former SGF into the party, NDC National Leader, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, described Lawal as an experienced politician, organiser and mobiliser whose experience would be valuable to the party as it prepares for the 2027 elections.

Dickson said Lawal had witnessed the rise and fall of several political parties and had experience in political mobilisation beyond his former official position as SGF.

‘Behind the official designations that are known, what is not known is that he’s a great mobilizer. He’s actually some sort of a political activist also, but a great organizer and mobilizer,’ Dickson said.

He welcomed Lawal on behalf of the National Working Committee, candidates and members of the NDC, describing the party as the ‘fastest-growing’ and ‘largest opposition party.’

Dickson disclosed that Lawal would take leadership of the party’s activities and campaigns in the North-East and also oversee and guide its activities in the North-Central zone pending further decisions by the party.

He said the former SGF’s experience and network would be deployed to strengthen the party’s mobilisation efforts across the two regions and beyond.

‘You led those efforts. But we also would like to request you not to get tired. You will, from today, also oversee and guide the efforts of our party and our candidates and all the campaigns in the North-Central part of Nigeria too,’ Dickson said.

He added that the party would rely on Lawal to help resolve issues and provide guidance to candidates and campaign structures in the two zones.

Dickson also appealed to the former SGF to deploy his extensive contacts and political network to support the party’s activities across the country.

The NDC National Leader expressed appreciation to Lawal for what he described as his humility, commitment, patriotism and decades of service to Nigeria.

He said a more formal reception would subsequently be held in Adamawa State, Lawal’s home state, where the party would present him to the people and outline its vision for the 2027 elections.

MRT Blue Line back to normal

Normal MRT Blue Line services resumed Monday morning after an electrical fault near Tao Poon station damaged power and signalling equipment and disrupted services on Sunday.

Bangkok Expressway and Metro Plc (BEM), the line’s operator, said maintenance teams worked overnight to repair the damage and conduct safety inspections before the first train departed at 5.30am.

The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) said the fault was caused by sparks from a 750-volt direct-current power cable along the track. The incident damaged the power supply and signalling systems, forcing a temporary suspension of services on part of the Blue Line.

BEM cancelled plans to deploy shuttle buses between Bang Son and Tao Poon stations after normal services resumed.

Deputy Transport Minister Phattrapong Phattraprasit said MRTA governor Gardphajon Udomdhammabhakdi had informed him that all stations were operating normally after emergency repairs.

Engineers repaired the damaged cables, power rail and signalling equipment overnight, followed by safety inspections across the system.

Mr Phattrapong thanked the agencies involved in restoring services and said passengers could travel with confidence after the necessary safety checks had been completed.