Category: Business Mirror

THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) secured a major conviction with the decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) to convict Janet Lim Napoles of money laundering in connection with the ‘pork barrel’ scam.

AMLC said RTC Branch 158 in Pasig City convicted Napoles of 13 counts of money laundering due to her orchestration of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam in 2013.

The case was initiated and prosecuted by the AMLC and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The decision marked another milestone in the fight against corruption and financial crimes.

‘This sends a strong message: those who abuse public funds will be held accountable,’ said AMLC Executive Director Atty. Matthew M. David.

‘The AMLC welcomes this court decision as a demonstration of AMLC’s relentless pursuit of individuals who exploit the financial system to conceal corruption,’ he added.

AMLC said this is the second conviction secured by the AMLC against Napoles involving the ‘pork barrel’ scam, following a 2024 decision issued by RTC Branch 24, Manila-affirming AMLC’s effectiveness in prosecuting money laundering cases linked to corruption.

In this 2025 conviction, AMLC said the Trial Court found that Napoles planned a scheme involving the creation of bogus non-government organizations (NGOs) to receive pork barrel funds for ghost projects.

By making it appear that the funds originated from legitimate sources, Napoles concealed its criminal origin-an act that fully satisfied the elements of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001, as amended.

Napoles was sentenced to 7 to 14 years of imprisonment for each count and was ordered to pay a P94.15-million fine. AMLC said, however, the judgment of conviction may be subject to appeal.

MOA between ICI, AMLC

Meanwhile, the AMLC and the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for inter-agency collaboration and coordination in light of the ongoing flood project investigations.

The partnership aims to enhance information sharing and coordinated action between the AMLC and the ICI to support more effective investigations.

‘This partnership is a strong demonstration of our collective resolve to uphold integrity in public service, ensure that illicit financial activities tied to infrastructure project anomalies are thoroughly investigated, and to hold accountable those responsible,’ David said.

The MOA outlines provisions for interagency coordination, information sharing, and joint efforts to trace, preserve, and recover assets linked to unlawful activities.

The agreement also reinforces the AMLC’s mandate to investigate money laundering offenses arising from corruption, malversation, plunder, bribery, and related unlawful activities.

Established under Executive Order No. 94, Series of 2025, the ICI was created in response to public calls for greater transparency and accountability in infrastructure spending.

Composed of individuals with unquestionable integrity and expertise, the Commission is tasked to conduct an in-depth investigation into alleged irregularities and misuse of funds in flood control and other infrastructure projects.

THE five-year action plan for the Philippine semiconductor and electronics industry will focus on developing a skilled Filipino workforce to boost the local industry, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.

In a statement, the department’s Special Task Force Office said the Semiconductor and Electronics Industry Advisory Council (Seiac), chaired by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (Osapiea), has laid out its Technical Working Group’s five-year action plan during the second meeting of the Seiac.

DTI said the main topic of the discussions was the development of a strong school-to-industry pipeline through closer collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), and industry partners.

‘The Council proposed flexible learning pathways-including ladderized programs and micro-credentials-aimed at equipping Filipinos with high-value technical skills that meet global industry standards,’ DTI said.

Chairing the meeting on behalf of Secretary Frederick D. Go was Osapiea Undersecretary Angel Ignacio who emphasized that strong human capital is the foundation of the industry’s long-term growth.

‘Investing in our people is the most critical component of building a resilient and globally competitive semiconductor industry,’ Ignacio said.

The DTI statement added that Osapiea highlighted that the council’s long-term goal is to nurture homegrown talent and encourage Filipinos to pursue careers in the country, strengthening both the industry and national development.

Beyond talent development, the council also discussed initiatives to enhance the country’s investment climate.

These include the development of world-class Strategic Economic Zones, supported by an ongoing infrastructure audit to identify gaps in power, water, and logistics.

In addition, the DTI said, the Seiac reviewed efforts to streamline regulations, promote ease of doing business, and showcase the Philippines semiconductor industry in the global market.

Further, the Trade department underscored that ‘The Council is looking to spearhead the country’s participation in Semicon Europa 2025, the premier European platform that brings together key players across the entire design and manufacturing value chain of the semiconductor and electronics industry.’

DTI said the Philippines’ participation in Semicon Europa is a ‘strategic’ move to diversify the country’s electronics export destinations, reducing reliance on traditional markets and aligning with Europe’s growing demand for alternative suppliers amid geopolitical shifts.

The council also noted that it will continue to ‘refine’ these action plans of their final adoption, according to DTI.

I now know why this idea that Filipinos are resilient persist. They do not come from us. We are by far wiser than that. We know the falsity of that virtue-of the human spirit enduring all the insults that human institutions and organizations are brought to bear upon them. We have seen through the illusion of that virtue, the fakery of the grit, the stilted speeches delivered for inspiration and sublimation.

Behold our mentors-our leaders and politicians who see to it that we continue to strive to persist, to suffer, to be resilient. Of course, they know they cannot be resilient; that is why they need to impose such an imaginary upon us.

As the month of September was drawing to a close and the breath of October ushering in a different climate, typhoons came.

As was the case of storms, the Oratio Imperata was taken out of the dustbin of old beliefs. Who knows this might work. Who knows the God almighty might listen to us after all.

We have become experts when it comes to storm tracking. In Bicol, for example, there is a local expert Bicolanos listen to. While the state meteorological agency continues its work, a native expert has been developed. The story was one time, the region was so ill-prepared for the onslaught of a particularly devastating weather disturbance because no proper warning was issued. From then on, a dedicated team of experts was developed with the aim in mind of focusing on the region.

For some reason, this approach has worked. True, there was time in October last year, when the region -the city of Naga included-was severely flooded. The people had to recognize one thing, the unpredictability of the amount of rain falling. Climate change has become real. And while there were structures that impeded the draining of flood water, there was at least one factor that was new-the awareness that there were factors that gave rise to these calamities. Knowledge was claimed by the people and this was good enough.

And yet, something obnoxious and anomalous has remained through all these days. The typhoon that hit certain parts of the country during the last part of September is a sign that in this country there are two realities. One dwells on the social facts of poverty; the other on power. Of all the provinces in the Bicol region, Masbate was the one heavily affected by the typhoon. Being an island-province and separated from the mainland, Masbate suffered a double whammy. Its isolation meant succor had to go through a geographical gridlock. There was no one to help the province except itself.

For days, there was no signal from the island of Ticao, for example. There were photographs of entire villages with houses decimated. We have gotten used to viewing people standing in front of their ruined homes after devastation but it takes guts to see old people weeping over a vanished homestead.

We are familiar with images of poverty-of children with tattered clothes and homes with no walls-but we are never ready to confront helplessness and hopelessness. Somehow, we allow ourselves the modicum of faith, that the human soul has the capacity to live on and fight and be alive for another day but faced with nothingness and we will never know what to do.

Witness an old woman standing where her home used to be and listen as she speaks-‘wara na gayud.’ There is nothing left.

‘Bangon Masbate,’ a tarp is flying in the wind.

Somewhere, a person has posted the Masbate Dynasty-the local leaders from the governor to the representatives all share the same family name.

Then the earthquake struck Cebu and tremor was felt all over the Panay island and the neighboring areas.

Panic and hysteria ensued. There was no more resilience. No hidden strength. This archipelago of suffering people has gone through enough suffering. In basketball courts, people were trying to stay calm until the lights went out. In hospitals, patients had to be wheeled out of the rooms. When the tremor was over, there was not enough space in clinics and hospitals for those injured.

The only chill place in this country is in Manila, in the hallowed halls of Congress and the Senate. There the congressmen and the senators are debating in aid of legislation. They are the gods of the upper air, reeking of expensive colognes and protected by parliamentary procedures only they could understand and most of the time mystify. At the end of the day, they will go home to the comfort of their homes, cocooned from the total social facts that they can articulate but will never actualize. Somewhere, we hope there is another god-one that punishes politicos and spares the massesˆa god who does not require an obligatory prayer but one who listens, and listens well.

San Beda recovered from a shaky start to sweep Lyceum of the Philippines University, 26-24, 25-18, 25-20, and claim the solo lead in Pool A of the 2025 Shakey’s Super League Preseason Unity Cup on Friday at Paco Arena.

Angel Habacon and Janelle Bachar led the way as the Lady Red Spikers notched their second win in as many matches.

Habacon scored 11 points from nine attacks and two aces. Bachar chipped in eight points, while Katie Molina and Chynna Castillo each added seven.

The Lady Red Spikers struggled to shake off the debuting Lady Pirates in the opening set, which was extended after Johna Dolorito’s crosscourt hit.

Bachar responded with a kill, and Dolorito’s error sealed the set for San Beda.

The Lady Red Spikers face a tough challenge against defending champion National University in their final group stage match.

Janeth Tulang scored 11 points and Joanne De Guzman added eight for Lyceum.

Earthquake victims in some towns in northern Cebu province call for help as they battle rain, the cold weather at night and their desperate need for food while still waiting for relief goods to reach their area.

Arg De Real, a resident of Sitio Pandan, Barangay Mahawak in Medellin town, uploaded photos on Wednesday showing some of his family members and other evacuees sleeping under a blanket of transparent plastic to shield them from the rain.

De Real shared that there are currently an estimate of 400 families there who evacuated after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck northern Cebu on Tuesday evening, September 30, 2025.

‘Duol ra man mi og dagat sad. Ni bakwit lang mi sa bukid [We are living near the sea. That’s why we evacuated here at the hilly area],’ he told BusinessMirror in an interview on Thursday.

Most of them, he shared, only brought plastic bags so they can use it to shield them from the rain while some were fortunate enough to have some tents.

Fear prevents them from going back their houses especially at night as the town continues to experience aftershocks.

They called on authorities to help them as they are running out of food to eat.

‘Untag hatagan tanan peru ug kamu mang hatag unaha tawn amoa kay murag dili kaabot sa amoa [We hope that everyone gets to receive it but if you can help us please prioritize us as we haven’t received any help yet],’ he added.

He emphasized that they currently need food, water to drink, and tents there.

Amidst the tragedy, De Real still keeps a positive mind saying they are all ‘good’.

Different photos spread all over social media where evacuees seek help in order for relief goods and aid to reach them.

An uploader also posted a photo of kids photographed along the highway in San Remigio town raising cardboards with the words printed, ‘Walay tarong kaon [Had not eaten well]’ and ‘Help us. More food, water’.

The Cebu Provincial Government reported they have sent 7,622 food packs to Medellin town and 300 food packs to San Remigio as of 5pm on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

This is apart from the water bottles and other relief items that were also sent there.

In a video interview by local station MyTV Cebu, Mayor Edwin Salimbangon said the quake left many residents traumatized that they opted to stay on the roadside and open fields.

Salimbangon said the town has received initial relief goods but it could only last up to two days.

The municipality has opened their Tourist Rest Area to serve as a 24/7 drop-off site for donations.

No permit needed to deliver aid

Private individuals and groups who wish to directly send their dontations to affected areas don’t need to get a permit.

The Cebu Provincial Government clarified this advising to ‘proceed with extra caution and remain vigilant’ since there are still aftershocks there.

‘Donations coursed through the Capitol will be received and recorded at the Command Center to ensure transparency, proper documentation, and accountability, and to guarantee that assistance reaches those in need.,’ the Cebu Provincial Government said in a statement.

Two senators took the cudgels for erstwhile backwater destinations down south in eastern Mindanao when they argued for funding to upgrade its small airport and usher in wider recognition and interest to its water bodies described as untapped world-class destinations.

A communication dispatch from the Office of Senator Lawrence Christopher ‘Bong’ Go said the senator from Davao City called for support to allocated funds to the airport in Mati City, the capital of Davao Oriental, now increasingly known for its open seven-kilometer white sand beach and where three water bodies around this Pacific Ocean-side city have been listed in the in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World.

Go said he was manifesting in the recent Senate hearing to allocate funds to develop the Mati Airport through the proposed 2026 budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr). The hearing was held Monday.

He has urged the national government to continue current development works at the airport that were initiated last year to make it operational on its target date of November this year.

‘Transportation has always been the backbone of our economy,’ citing this and other infrastructure projects that were started during the previous administration that he said must be continued.

He said former DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade completed and enhanced aviation infrastructure across the country. ‘The DOTr, led by Sec. Tugade, constructed new airports and improved existing ones. They were able to complete more than two hundred airports including those in Albay, Legaspi, Clark International Airport, Bohol-Panglaw and Mactan-Cebu International Airport.’

How does this Mati Airport be made operational? He said the project was supported by Sen. JV Ejercito to help decongest the Davao Airport and improve tourism.

Sen. Loren Legarda supported Go’s call as she emphasized that ‘leaving runways idle wastes existing infrastructure and even leads to safety issues, such as animals straying onto airstrips’. She said she has supported the move to secure funds to make Mati Airport and similar facilities and make them operational.

Early this year, Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat announced that ‘collaborative efforts’ with the Department of Transportation, contractors, and local government officials would accelerate the development of the Mati Airport to be finally opened next month.

She said the 1,628 meter-long airstrip was once called Imelda Marcos Airport when it was constructed and operated in the 1980’s and later renamed Mati Airport. ‘This will be back on tract after a long lull and will operate beginning in November this year,’ she said.

The DOTr and the provincial government also jointly announced that they will sign an agreement that time on the expansion and development of the airport runway, and that the approved construction scope of the DOTr includes the terminal, fire station, and parking area. Contractors O.G. Santos Construction and Rakki Corporation reaffirmed their commitment to delivering the project on schedule.

Engr. Zenaida Loon, head of the Office of the Building Official (OBO), will oversee the electric plan and coordinate with Davao Oriental Electric Cooperative (Doreco). Joseph Progatorio, head of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), will handle the zoning requirements to ensure the project’s seamless integration into the city’s master plan.

They also disclosed that expansion works has a budget of P90 million, to be taken from the P100 million budget previously secured in 2019 by former Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo and her brother, Congressman Erwin Tulfo. This money jumpstarted the airport development, the information office said, although it was halted when the Covid 19-pandemic set in the following year.

Mati City boasts of untapped natural wonders like the seven-kilometer white-sand Dahican Beach fronting the Pacific Ocean, the tranquil and marine-resource rich Pujada Bay and the Unesco

Heritage site Mount Hamiguitan. Also just around its corners are its three water bodies, including Pujada, which were listed in the Most Beautiful Bays in the World by the MBBW Association.

Outside Mati City is Pusan Point in Caraga town, which was marked as the site of the first millennium sunrise in the Philippines.

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday raised serious concerns over nearly P15 billion worth of uncompleted or non-operational projects, after reviewing items under the Department of Health (DOH), including the so-called ‘haunted’ super health centers.

Gatchalian described the centers as ‘haunted’ because, despite having physical structures, they have long remained unused and unoccupied.

During the Senate Committee on Finance’s hearing on the proposed 2025 budget of the DOH and its attached agencies, Gatchalian cited the 2024 Commission on Audit (COA) report, which revealed that 123 projects worth P11.54 billion were not completed within the contract period.

Citing DOH data, Gatchalian added that of the 1,099 super health centers scheduled for construction from 2021 to 2024, 319 projects amounting to P3 billion remain either unfinished or non-functional.

‘We will not allow haunted super health centers or unfinished projects to happen again. Everything under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program must be completed. Sayang ang pera, we’re talking about P15 billion,’ said Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance.

To address the issue of incomplete and non-operational DOH projects, Gatchalian is proposing a counterpart program in which the DOH and local governments (LGUs) would share resources for the construction and operationalization of health facilities.

ZACH VILLAROMAN and Jakob Taruc salvaged an all-square result in the final pairing to help Team North escape with a nerve-wracking 6 1/2-5 1/2 victory over Team South in Thursday’s Foursomes of the International Container Terminal Servicers Inc. Elite Junior Finals in the City of Santa Rosa.

The tightly contested match-up capped a rollercoaster Day 2 in this Ryder Cup-style event, showcasing the country’s finest junior golfers at The Country Club.

With the team standings at 14-9 heading into the final match, South’s Eric Jeon and Mhark Fernando III looked poised to deliver a crucial point, taking a 1-up lead to the 18th.

But on the challenging par-four finishing hole, Fernando’s 3-iron approach into a stiff headwind found the pond, opening the door for Villaroman and Taruc to steal a half-point with a steady par.

They delivered, reaching the green in two and two-putting to snatch the tie and hike Team North’s lead, 14 1/2-9 1/2.

While Team North built on its 8-4 Four-ball win from Tuesday to take early control, Team South mounted a fiery comeback, winning key matches late in the day.

Earlier in the day, North captured six of the first 11 matches, threatening to pull away, but South clawed back in the boys’ 7-10 division with a clean sweep, while also notching pivotal wins in the 11-14 and 15-18 categories.

Ralph Batican and Marcus Dueñas exacted revenge on Vito Sarines and Ryuji Suzuki, 2-up, in boys’ 11-14, while Lucas Revilleza and James Rolida stormed back from behind to edge Halo Pangilinan and Asher Abad, 1-up.

Ethan Lago and Kvan Alburo also repeated their dominance with a 2 and 1 victory over Zach Guico and Zoji Edoc in the youngest age category.

On the girls’ side, South’s 15-18 pairs flexed their experience and chemistry once more. Crista Miñoza and Precious Zaragosa cruised to a 3 and 2 victory, while Tashanah Balangauan and Mikela Guillermo secured a 4 and 3 rout .

Despite South’s late charge, Team North found strength in its younger divisions.

The girls’ 7-10 duo of Winter Serapio and Ronee Dungca remained untouchable, dispatching Soleil Molde and Denise Mendoza in just two and a half hours with a commanding 7 and 6 victory. Minutes later, Mavis Espedido and Tyra Garingalao matched the feat against Claren Quiño and Francesca Geroy.

The back-to-back sweeps from Serapio-Dungca and Espedido-Garingalao-who also won convincingly on Day 1-agave North critical breathing room heading into Friday’s singles.

‘While we considered the players’ personalities when drawing up pairings for team formats, I think we’ll now be focusing on confidence heading into the singles-specifically, who has the mental toughness to go up against the South,’ said North captain Francis Talion, who acknowledged that the singles matches present an entirely different battlefield.

North also benefited from new pairings in the girls’ 11-14 division, where Mona Sarines and Alexie Gabi edged out Brittany Tamayo and Kimberly Baroquillo, 1-up, and Lisa Sarines and Kendra Garingalao cruised to a 5 and 4 win over Rafella Batican and Zuri Bagaloyos.

In other boys’ matches, Zianbeau Edoc and Jacob Casuga held off Jared Saban and Ken Guillermo, 2-up, in 11-14 division, while Patrick Tambalque and Kristoffer Nadales outclassed Alexis Nailga and Armand Copok, 4 and 3, in the premier category.

Every few years the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program becomes the subject of heated debate. Critics call it a dole out. Supporters defend it as the country’s flagship anti-poverty initiative. But the truth is that both views miss the bigger picture: 4Ps is not simply about poverty relief. It is about investing in the kind of workforce that can power the country’s economy for decades to come.

The genius of 4Ps lies in its conditions. Families receive assistance, but only if their children attend school and visit health centers. These requirements may sound basic, yet they are transformative. In a country where poor children often drop out early and health care is scarce, the program keeps families connected to services that build human capital. Every day a child stays in school because of 4Ps is a small victory for the nation’s future. Every clinic visit supported by the program is a step toward a healthier workforce.

Think about the alternatives. The government has rolled out other social protection schemes. TUPAD offers short term jobs to displaced or underemployed workers. DOLE-AKAP for OFWs hands out financial assistance to overseas Filipinos affected by crises. These interventions may provide temporary relief but they do not create inclusive growth. They are designed to patch holes, not to change lives. A few weeks of emergency work under TUPAD does not prepare anyone for stable employment. A one-time grant under AKAP-OFWs may ease the pain of job loss but it does nothing to ensure long term resilience. These programs need to be modified and tied more closely to 4Ps. Otherwise they remain palliative measures that neither reduce vulnerability nor build capacity.

The real strength of 4Ps is that it builds habits and expectations. Parents are nudged to keep children in school. Families are encouraged to value preventive health care. These are not small shifts. They reshape attitudes across generations. The payoff is a labor force that is more skilled, more resilient, and more competitive. This is not welfare. It is economic strategy.

Of course, the program is far from perfect. Graduation is often defined by whether a household reaches a certain level of self-sufficiency. But the more meaningful test should be whether children from these households actually transition into stable and decent work. If a teenager completes high school because of 4Ps yet ends up in precarious employment, the cycle of poverty has not been broken. What is needed is better coordination with programs that offer skills training, scholarships, and livelihood support. These should be the natural next steps for families completing 4Ps. Without this bridge, much of the investment is wasted.

This is why linking 4Ps to programs like TUPAD and AKAP matters. Imagine if instead of providing temporary cash or stop gap jobs, these initiatives were redesigned to help 4Ps graduates gain entry into sustainable employment. TUPAD could evolve into community based apprenticeships that feed directly into local industries. AKAP could be restructured to reintegrate returning migrants into a stronger domestic labor market. Both could act as transition mechanisms that ensure the gains from 4Ps are not lost.

The common criticism that 4Ps breeds dependency is tired and misleading. The conditions embedded in the program already push families toward self-improvement. No parent would voluntarily send a child to school every day or line up at a health clinic unless they believed it mattered. The dependency narrative ignores the fact that poor families, given the chance, are eager to invest in their children’s future. What 4Ps does is reduce the risks that poverty will cut those investments short.

The bigger challenge is political will. It is easy to fund short term programs that hand out visible benefits. It is harder to stay committed to long term investments whose results take years to show. Yet if the Philippines is serious about inclusive growth, then it must see 4Ps as more than a poverty project. It must see it as the foundation of a human capital strategy. Roads, airports, and technology hubs will mean little without educated and healthy workers to run them.

In the end, the question is not whether the country can afford 4Ps. The real question is whether it can afford not to. Every peso spent on a child’s schooling or on preventive health is a peso that secures the productivity of the next generation. Other programs should be redesigned to reinforce this goal rather than distract from it.

4Ps is not charity. It is not political tokenism. It is nation building. It is the closest thing the Philippines has to a real long-term strategy for inclusive growth. The challenge now is to sharpen its impact, tie it to programs that can deliver employment and livelihood, and stop pretending that quick fixes like TUPAD and AKAP can do the heavy lifting on their own. The country has a chance to turn social protection into economic strength. It should not waste it.

MERCEDES-BENZ Philippines has added the new GLE 400 e 4MATIC Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) to its electrified lineup. The German automaker claims the hybrid luxury SUV combines performance and efficiency. Its bold design, smart features, and electrified powertrain set a new standard for sustainable luxury in the Philippine Plug-in Hybrid segment.

AMG Styling

Regarding the exterior, the GLE 400 e boasts its AMG Line body styling, highlighted by the diamond grille with the Mercedes-Benz pattern in chrome. These AMG elements include the front apron with chrome trim strip, side sill panels painted in the vehicle color, and rear apron with a diffuser-look insert in black and a trim strip in chrome. Other design features include distinctive air inlets at the front and rear, wing flares painted in the vehicle color, electrically folding exterior mirrors, an auto-dimming driver’s side exterior mirror, aluminum roof rails, and illuminated running boards with rubber studs.

In addition, the vehicle features Multibeam LED Headlamps, which use individually controlled LEDs to adjust light distribution and include Adaptive High Beam Assist Plus for optimal illumination. The latest model also sports 21-inch AMG multi-spoke light-alloy wheels, designed for a blend of performance and visual appeal.

Inside, the GLE 400 e features the MBUX multimedia system with dual 12.3-inch displays and Augmented Reality Navigation. The model supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HDD Navigation, Active Parking Assist, and a 360-degree camera. The cabin uses ARTICO leather and MICROCUT microfiber, while the Burmester surround sound system ensures high-quality audio.

The cabin offers heated front seats, power-folding 40/20/40 second row, and memory functions for the electrically adjustable seats. There is a rear sunblind, Thermotronic Automatic Climate Control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and standard 64-color ambient lighting.

Other features include a Nappa leather sport steering wheel, chrome interior package, anthracite open-pore oak trim, black roof liner, and panoramic sunroof. AMG-branded floormats and sports pedals add finishing touches.

Intelligent Hybrid Power

Motivation comes from plug-in hybrid technology that combines a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine with an electric motor, delivering 252 hp and 400 N-m of torque. AC charging supports up to 11kW. The car provides an all-electric range of over 100 km (measured on the official test cycle). The AC charging socket is Type 2 and includes a cable for use with a domestic plug. A 7kW wall box charger with a 5m cable is also available.

The 4MATIC all-wheel drive ensures strong traction on varying roads. DYNAMIC SELECT offers drive modes suited for efficiency or performance.

Safety and convenience

The GLE 400 e includes advanced safety features like the PRE-SAFE system, which prepares occupants for collisions, and Active Brake Assist, which helps prevent or lessen accidents by monitoring traffic and intervening when needed.

Standard safety features include ABS, ESP, DSR, electronic traction, Hill-Start Assist, adaptive brake lights, ATTENTION ASSIST drowsiness detection, and ISOFIX child-seat mounts. Other features: comfort seatbelts, window and knee airbags, pedestrian protection, belt tensioners, tire pressure warning, and Urban Guard Vehicle Protection.

As for comfort and convenience, there is a DIRECT SELECT gearshift with steering wheel shift paddles, central locking (remote control with selective and global opening), cruise control with SPEEDTRONIC variable speed limiter, Keyless-Go Comfort Package, hands-free package, ‘Hey Mercedes’ voice control, wireless charging for mobile phone in front, and additional USB ports.

Pricing and color

The new Mercedes-Benz GLE 400 e PHEV with EQ Technology retails at P5.790 million. Available colors are Selenite Grey, High-Tech Silver, Obsidian Black, and Polar White.