Category: Business Mirror

THE Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) raised the possibility that banks and their employees may be complicit in the release of funds from accounts linked to the anomalous flood control projects.

In a radio interview, AMLC Executive Director Matthew M. David said if this were the case, the AMLC can initiate an examination or compliance checking against the banks, including their employees.

David said AMLC can also file criminal cases of money laundering against banks and their employees who are complicit in the current corruption controversy.

‘Pwede pong mangyari na kasabwat ang mga bangko [It’s possible that some banks are complicit]. Unang una [First among them are], supervisors [of] covered persons, we can initiate examination or compliance checking against the banks, including their employees,’ David said.

‘[This form of] money laundering that a bank employee can do is called facilitating-money laundering offense through facilitating of the transaction,’ he added.

David said banks should file suspicious transaction reports to the AMLC if there are withdrawals that are suspicious, as provided under the law.

He said if the bank, compliance officer or bank manager thinks a withdrawal is possibly related to corruption, they should file a suspicious transaction report. If they do not do that, AMLC will never know.

‘Ang tawag natin sa mga [We call the] banks and covered persons [the] first line of defense. Because the banks are the first that can see this, not the AMLC. They’re the first that can see, detect or even prevent these unlawful activities,’ he added, partly in Filipino.

Meanwhile, David said AMLC included in its investigation foreign assets of the respondents. This includes offshore bank accounts, real properties or properties acquired by respondents in other countries.

Through mutual legal assistance (MLAT), David said AMLC can request foreign entities to file a civil forfeiture abroad in order to return these to the national government.

‘We are coordinating with our foreign counterparts to determine if they are respondents in financial transactions abroad; they share that with us. And they share whatever properties these people may have overseas,’ David said.

To date, AMLC has immobilized P4.2 billion worth of assets linked to the alleged irregularities in flood control spending.

This was after AMLC secured its fourth freeze order from the Court of Appeals on Friday. The latest order covered 57 bank accounts, 10 real properties, and nine motor vehicles.

AMLC expects the latest valuation of frozen assets will increase as the flood control inquiry progresses.

The Court of Appeals has frozen a total of 1,620 bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 163 motor vehicles, 40 real properties and 12 e-wallet accounts.

AMLC said the assets seized include high-value holdings such as a luxury compound in a prime urban district, multiple high-end vehicles, virtual currencies and unit investment trust funds.

The Council said it remains committed to tracing financial links to public sector anomalies.

A DEPUTY minority leader of the House of Representatives on Monday expressed disappointment over the exclusion of a bill that institutionalizes an Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (Icaic) from the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s (Ledac) legislative agenda.

House Deputy Minority Leader Leila M. de Lima noted the urgency of House Bill 4453 amid challenges in ongoing investigations.

As Executive Order 94 ‘falls short of providing the powers,’ a group of lawmakers is urging Congress to fast-track the passage of House Bill 4453, which seeks to establish a truly independent commission against corruption in infrastructure projects, amid growing public outrage over alleged anomalies in flood control and other public works.

EO 94 issued by President Marcos created the Independent Commission on Infrastructure that is mandated to investigate corruption in flood control and other public works projects.

‘As much as we welcome the inclusion of some of our priority bills in Ledac, we are disappointed that a very crucial measure is missing-our proposed bill to create a stronger, transparent, and truly independent commission to probe the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects and hold accountable all those involved,’ de Lima, the nominee of the party-list group Mamamayang Liberal, said.

De Lima noted that with the suspension of the House Infrastructure Committee’s joint inquiry, the Independent Commission for Infrastructure’s (ICI) reluctance to livestream its hearings despite its limited powers, and the uncertainty surrounding the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee’s investigation owing to the impending resignation of Sen. Panfilo Lacson as chairman, the swift passage of House Bill 4453 should be fast-tracked.

‘If the President is truly serious about holding accountable those responsible for the biggest corruption scandal in our country’s history, he should certify this proposed law as urgent. If he delays or simply ignores it, it casts doubt on his sincerity in pursuing accountability for corrupt officials and government syndicates,’ she added.

In a recent meeting, the Ledac adopted a new Common Legislative Agenda (CLA) that includes 44 priority bills.

De Lima and her co-authors of HB 4453 are hopeful for the swift passage of HB 4453, as House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III was ‘very open and receptive’ about the bill.

‘I actually brought it up already with the new Speaker. And he’s very open and very receptive about it, that he will push for its speedy enactment and that he would even try to convince the President to certify it as urgent,’ De Lima earlier said.

De Lima also expressed concern over efforts to mislead or distract public attention from the corruption issue.

‘Many cases of corruption and collusion have already been exposed. But there are also those who cause confusion and muddy the waters-people who spread fake news, those who attack the very individuals pursuing the corrupt and exposing government wrongdoing, and some who make grandstanding suggestions without basis. For what purpose? For their own personal agendas, to distract us and divert attention from our real goal-which is to uncover the full truth,’ she said.

Growth retardant

PRESIDENT Marcos warned that systemic corruption in flood control projects could derail the country’s growth and deny Filipinos access to basic services, stressing that accountability and reforms are crucial to national progress.

In Episode 5 of his ‘Bagong Pilipinas Podcast’ released on Monday, Marcos said his decision to raise the issue in his fourth State of the Nation Address in July was driven by the magnitude of the problem.

‘The reason I brought it up and made it part of the national discourse was quite simply because this could not go on,’ Marcos said.

He said the impact of corruption is not only financial but also life-threatening.

‘There is a great deal of damage that has been caused, not only financial damage or economic damage, but damage, actual damage to people’s lives,’ Marcos said.

‘A lousy flood control project that collapsed during the flood that killed a family-I mean, how can you live with that? I can’t live with it.’

At the same time, Marcos said resigning from government service will not clear officials linked to the alleged irregularities in flood control projects, but stressed that accountability must be established through due process.

‘No, that’s not enough. That’s not enough,’ Marcos said in his latest podcast episode when asked if resigning allows officials to be free of culpability.

‘There is a great deal of damage that has been caused, not only financial damage or economic damage, but damage, actual damage to people’s lives,’ he added.

Marcos also said cases related to anomalies in government projects must be backed by strong evidence to ensure only those truly guilty are punished.

‘You don’t want to go after people who are innocent. Now, we know many of these people are not innocent. But if you’re going to bring them to court, you must have a very strong case,’ he said.

He cautioned against rushing prosecutions.

‘What will happen? We brought it. Our evidence is incomplete. Our evidence is vague. But we forced it. The case was passed. Can you imagine? I think that would be much, much, much worse,’ he said.

Marcos acknowledged public anger over corruption but said due process is necessary.

‘It’s understandable. Because it’s the sins committed-and I call them sins, it’s no longer mistakes or corruption. The sins they committed, it’s hard to swallow. But if we.we are a nation of laws, we have to follow the law. Otherwise, whatever we do is not legitimate,’ he said.

The President earlier called out irregularities in flood control projects, triggering a broad review of public works spending.

Some groups have called for immediate arrests, but Malacañang has stressed the importance of careful evidence-gathering.

IN her book, The Creativity Choice: The Science of Making Decisions to Turn Ideas into Action, Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle writes about how to use emotional intelligence to manage the creative process, regardless of industry or job role.

As communicators, we certainly can appreciate her thoughts on this. After all, she is a senior researcher at the Yale Center of Emotional Life.

After all, ‘creativity is the powerhouse that differentiates good organizations from great ones. It goes beyond generating ideas. It is about the long process of developing ideas for more effective performance and the process of building abstract notions into concrete products.’

Fast Company recently interviewed Dr. Pringle, and here she shares one of her top tips for fueling creativity.

Noticing emotions to identify opportunities

‘Entrepreneurs are skilled at identifying opportunities by reading their own and others’ feelings,’ says Dr. Pringle.

She cites Apoorva Mehta who hated everything about the grocery shopping experience, and used this feeling to found Instacart. With this, he created a way to shop for groceries from one’s phone.

Likewise, Melissa Butler founded Lip Bar to counter her frustration with the beauty industry. Its products are vegan and cruelty- free, and offer a wide variety of vibrant lip colors and complexion products.

She encourages innovators inside organizations to do the same. For example, ‘when a supervisor in a food service unit of a major hospital realizes his workers are exhausted, he’s identifying a problem in need of a creative solution.’

As a result, the hospital redesigned the workflow, reducing worker burnout and improving their accuracy on the job.

Taking advantage of thinking/feeling connections

Emotion scientists have discovered moods boost different kinds of thinking.

When we feel positive, energized, and enthusiastic, these are the best times for brainstorming and charting new ideas.

When we are feeling subdued or even sullen, these are times best for critical thinking.

‘To optimize creative work, it takes skill to match different moods and tasks which benefit from them, ‘says Dr. Pringle. Feeling playful? Come up with new ideas for a project. Feeling down? Review and revise.

Generating emotions

Remember we have more power over emotions than we realize. You can create the mood that is more helpful at the moment. Recall a past win. Put on a song that inspires you.

Another skill is generating emotions to communicate and inspire. ‘Leaders skilled at communicating their passion to inspire others end up having workers who are clear about their responsibilities and goals,’ says Dr. Pringle.

Using emotional intelligence to build a climate for creativity and innovation

A Yale study including more than 14,000 people across industries in thee US asked workers to describe how their supervisors act in emotionally fraught situations. It shows that emotionally intelligent supervisors do four specific things.

1. They are skilled at reading emotions and acknowledge them. They realize when people are upset or worried about organizational or industry changes

2. They inspire enthusiasm and model decision-making that takes into account more optimistic and cautious voices.

3. Emotionally intelligent supervisors understand how their decisions or other events affect other people.

4. They are able to successfully manage their own emotions, and also help their team members when they are upset or frustrated.

‘If the goal is creativity and innovation, leaders should develop emotional intelligence skills,’ says Dr. Pringle.

When leaders develop these skills, ‘they notice how their team members feel, demonstrate understanding of how their decisions impact others, and help people deal with challenges at work. Investment in leadership development will pay off in capacity for innovation.’

PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (IPRA), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chair.

Eastwood City, the country’s first-ever pet-friendly mall, proudly celebrated the 21st year of the longest-running pet blessing in the Philippines with a glamorous, star-studded event themed ‘Pawlywood.’ Eastwood City transformed into a red carpet playground for pets and pet parents alike, packed with blockbuster activities and Oscar-worthy moments.

Coinciding with World Animal Day and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, this annual tradition once again brought together the pet-loving community for a meaningful and joyful celebration of life, love, and companionship.

Paw-some Activities for Pets and Pet Parents

The celebration featured a pet adoption drive, educational talks about pet care, and activities for furparents and their furbabies. Guests explored pet merchandise booths, posed at themed photo booths, and took part in various interactive stations designed for pets and their owners.

The celebration culminated on October 5 with the highly anticipated Pet Blessing Ceremony at the Eastwood Mall Open Park. Fr. Chris Fajardo prayed for the health, safety, and happiness of every animal present, blessing them with holy water.

Spotlight on the Stars of Pawlywood

Ten pets were honored with Best-Dressed Award-each receiving cheers and applause from the community. Also adding excitement to the event were fun activities such as the pet trivia challenge and games sponsored by partner brands.

Celebrating Pet-Friendly Living at Eastwood City

As a pioneer in pet-friendly living, Eastwood City continues to champion spaces where pets are not only welcome but celebrated. With its pet-friendly restaurants, shops, parks, and regular pet-centric events, Eastwood City remains a beloved destination for animal lovers all over Metro Manila.

AFTER showcasing an exquisite collection at the Bower Museum in California in May, Filipino-American couturier Alexis Monsanto was commissioned by the Art Hearts Fashion Production to present his Spring/Summer 2026 Collection at Art Hearts Fashion at New York Fashion Week this September.

Founded in 2010, Art Hearts Fashion is a ‘leading platform dedicated to bringing innovative designers and artists to the forefront of Fashion Weeks in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Las Vegas.

‘Monsanto’s presentation is theatrical and high fashion. It sets the tone of the evening. He never disappoints,’ said Erik Rosete, the president of AHF who handpicked Monsanto to headline the show at Angel Orenzans Foundation on September 13.

‘It is always an honor to be asked by Erik Rosete to participate, and then to open the most coveted time slot of Saturday evening. I have done several shows with them in the past, and I was told that we needed to maintain the momentum after I was asked to open the Las Vegas swim show,’ said the Misamis Occidental-born Monsanto.

The New York collection, called ‘Chinoiserie,’ is a further exploration of his ‘Qin Court Collection,’ which is in conjunction with the ongoing exhibition ‘World of the Terracotta Warriors: New Archaeological Discoveries’ at the Bowers Museum Orange County in Santa Ana, California, which opened on May 24 and closes on October 19, 2025.

‘The ‘Chinoiserie Collection’ is totally different from what I presented in May at the Bowers Museum, which was all about the Terracotta Warrior exhibition. I expanded it to Oriental art from the 17th and 18th centuries,’ said Monsanto via email. ‘For instance, the hand-painting on the cape I made was all about landscape and scenery from the past centuries. I also infused cherry blossoms on my embroideries in addition to the existing lotus flowers I previously made.’

True to his haute-couture streak, Monsanto showed his signature elegance and timeless feminine style with menswear inspired by ancient Chinese warriors for good measure. Some of his stupendous designs include a black windowpane shift dress with laser-cut cranes, lotus and koi details; a long sleeves nude bodysuit with cherry blossoms embroidery;

A gray men’s three-piece ensemble and black double-breasted suit with turquoise cascading asymmetrical cherry blossoms; an electric blue bi disc laser-cut design cocktail dress with dragon armor; and a fuchsia phoenix gown with laser-cut design in the center with mermaid ostrich feather skirt.

His finale look is an empress gown with a teal origami top with Swarovski crystals-embroidered column skirt and an impasto hand-painted oversized cape with cranes and oriental landscape with Swarovski crystals embroidery detail.

Monsanto, an alumnus of Otis College of Art and Design in LA and founder of the Alexis Monsanto Atelier in Downtown Los Angeles, collaborated with different artisans for the NYFW collection.

‘I gave them a design direction and the color palette, and then they submitted their interpretation. But I approved it before the execution. Last May, I had Van Cleef and Arpels and Delvaux. This season, I wanted to highlight Filipino artisans like Nanette Catigbe, a painter who has done exhibitions at the Virginia Museum of Art; I had Victoria’s Crafts USA manufacture the minaudiere,’ said Monsanto.

‘IXXIA made the jewelry that added the bling in the collection. Jojo Bragais, the Miss Universe official footwear at the pageant, designed the shoes and boots while the head pieces were truly a work of art with this young artisan, Deepkie Restauro from Cebu City,’ he added.

Dubbed Hollywood’s Newest Fashion Expert, Monsanto’s creations have been worn by Hollywood A-listers such as Charlize Theron, Kate Beckinsale, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Coolidge and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

He admits that presenting a collection in the Big Apple is a mind-blowing experience.

‘NYFW is the most revered in the US like Milan, Paris and London in the fashion calendar with the presence of showrooms and buying offices, as well. LAFW comes next since Los Angeles is the manufacturing capital of the US. Big brands are made here, dye houses operate here and the mills and fabric converters are prevalent in Southern California,’ explained Monsanto.

‘Showing in the Big Apple is totally different because you are in the battlefield with the big brands and I don’t have a lot of allies. I felt like the little David against Goliath,’ he shared. ‘Showing in LA is different. It’s my turf, my territory. I am comfortable and I have lots of help from crew to stylist.’

He is confident, though, that he is fully equipped to be at par with the best in the world.

‘My being a perfectionist is often misunderstood because I am very detail-oriented. I am observant and resourceful and I collaborate and make quick decisions along the way when I need to change course and effectively present innovative ideas to my clients and the target market,’ he stressed.

‘To be a world-class designer, it takes a lot. You have to have strong creative and artistic skills and technical expertise in patterns, draping and construction,’ said Monsanto. ‘On top of that, you have to be business-savvy, ready to adapt to stay current by doing constant research on trends, and have a keen forecasting ability.’

Underscoring government’s commitment to support teachers at the frontlines of learning recovery, President Ferdinand Marcos and the Department of Education (DepEd) capped this year’s National Teachers’ Month and World Teachers’ Day celebration with the rollout of programs and benefits aimed at strengthening the welfare, training, and professional growth of educators.

At the National Teachers’ Day Culminating Program, Marcos joined Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, National Teachers Month Coordinating Council (NTMCC) Chair Aniceto Sobrepeña of Metrobank Foundation, DepEd officials, lawmakers, and education partners in recognizing the pivotal role of teachers in nation-building.

‘Patuloy na nagbibigay ang DepEd ng prayoridad sa inyong kapakanan, mula sa career progression, dagdag benepisyo tulad ng teaching, medical, overtime at overload pay, hanggang sa pagbawas ng admin tasks. Lagi kayong kaagapay ng Kagawaran. Ngunit gaya ng paalala ni Pangulong Marcos, dapat maramdaman ang tulong sa bawat silid-aralan, sa bawat guro, sa bawat bata,’ Angara said.

Meanwhile, in his keynote message, Marcos said that the teachers are the guiding hands, and in their hands lies the nation’s progress.

‘In your strength, in your wisdom and in your courage, we find assurance that our future is secured. For this National Teachers’ Day, we offer our respect, our deepest gratitude for shaping minds, touching hearts and in your way, building a nation that we can be proud of, one student at a time,’ Marcos said.

DepEd, likewise, highlighted reforms designed to ease teachers’ workload and improve working conditions, among them the reduction of required school forms being accomplished by teachers and the creation of 60,000 new teaching positions under the proposed 2026 national budget.

Under the PBBM administration, teachers have received higher allowances and benefits, including the P10,000 teaching allowance under the Kabalikat sa Pagtuturo Act, the medical allowance of up to P7,000 for eligible personnel, and the Special Hardship Allowance for teachers assigned to difficult posts.

Public school teachers are also set to receive the annual World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit of P1,000.

Meanwhile, private school teachers also received a P6,000 increase in the annual salary subsidy for private school teachers covered by the Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) component of the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program.

Other measures include the release of the 2023 performance-based bonus, expanded vacation service credits from 15 to 30 days, and the implementation of a clearer career progression system that provides additional teaching and administrative positions to address teachers’ long-standing concerns about promotions.

Under the current administration, teacher profession is also being improved through the launch of the Teacher Education Roadmap 2025-2035 and the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR), which will support teachers in adapting to emerging technologies. DepEd said these complement the agency’s push to digitize classrooms, backed by a proposed more budget for laptops and connectivity support next year.

Angara pointed to the resilience of teachers who continue to serve despite the recent string of disasters that struck parts of the country, including the 6.9-magnitude earthquake in Cebu and typhoons that damaged schools in Northern Luzon and Bicol.

He said DepEd is working to speed up the delivery of temporary learning spaces, modular learning materials, and psychosocial support for affected teachers and students.

‘Our teachers have been the first to step up in every crisis, ensuring that children’s education does not stop. That is why recovery efforts are tied closely with teacher support,’ Angara said.

The culminating event, attended by some 12,500 teachers from Luzon and Metro Manila, also featured the unveiling of a PhilPost commemorative stamp, recognition of national awardees from TESDA, Metrobank Foundation, and other partners, and a variety show with raffle draws as tribute to educators’ contributions.

COLLECTIONS for government housing beneficiaries in Cebu and Masbate will resume in November following a one-month moratorium granted to families affected by recent typhoons and an earthquake.

The National Housing Authority (NHA) earlier suspended amortization and lease payments for October, including penalties and delinquency charges, to give temporary relief to residents reeling from the impact of the disasters.

Under Memorandum Circular 153, the one-month moratorium applies automatically to all residential account holders in areas hit by the 6.7-magnitude earthquake in Cebu and Typhoons Mirasol, Nando and Ompong in Masbate.

‘We’re no longer making any distinctions. As long as you’re in Cebu or Masbate this October, it’s automatic. You won’t have to pay anything. The next payment will be for November,’ NHA general manager Joeben Tai said in Filipino in an interview.

The agency clarified that payments made within the moratorium period will still be credited based on the existing hierarchy of payments, ensuring proper posting of accounts once collections resume.

Aside from the payment suspension, the NHA is conducting validation activities and coordinating with local government units to identify eligible beneficiaries for its Emergency Housing Assistance Program (EHAP), which provides financial aid to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed.

Elreen Ann Ando delivered a gritty performance at the International Weightlifting Federation (IWF) World Championships on Sunday in Forde, Norway, clinching a bronze medal in the clean and jerk category of the women’s 63 kg division.

The 26-year-old Cebuana, a two-time Olympian, hoisted 131 kilograms in the clean and jerk, edging out Colombia’s Yenny Sinisterra Torres, who managed 128 kgs.

However, Torres came up with 103 kgs versus Ando’s 100 kgs in the snatch, resulting in a tie at 231 kgs total. The tiebreak favored Torres, who reached the total in her first attempt, relegating Ando to fourth place overall.

Despite missing the podium in the snatch and total lift, Ando, from Carreta, Cebu City, and seen as the successor to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, showed progress ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics.

North Korea’s Ri Suk topped the event, sweeping the three gold medals with a commanding 253 kg total – 111 kg in snatch and 142 kg in clean and jerk.

Canadian Olympian Maude Charron bagged the silver, lifting 236 kgs (103 kg snatch, 133 kg clean and jerk).

Ando represented the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing seventh in the women’s 64 kg category.

Silver medalist in the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Southeast Asian Games, Ando bagged gold at the 2023 SEAG in the 59 kg class, before returning to the Olympic stage in Paris 2024, where she placed sixth.

IT’S a two-way fight between Chot Reyes and Leo Austria for the Baby Dalupan Coach of the Year trophy as the PBA Press Corps holds its annual Awards Night next week at the Novotel Manila.

Reyes and Austria were the two coaches who won championships in Season 49.

The Tropang 5G fell just short of a grand slam, topping the Governors’ Cup and Commissioner’s Cup but finishing second in the Philippine Cup.

San Miguel foiled TNT’s bid for a season sweep and regaining the trophy considered as the PBA’s crown jewel.

The Coach of the Year will be announced on October 13.

Reyes has won the award six times, while Austria is a four-time winner.

Other awards to be presented during the affair organized yearly by the group of media men regularly covering the PBA beat are the Danny Floro Executive of the Year and the Defensive Player of the Year.

Also to be awarded are the Bogs Adornado Comeback Player of the Year, Scoring Champion, Mr. Quality Minutes, All-Rookie team, Order of Merit for the player with the most Player of the Week citations, and Game of the Season.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Monday he is confident there will be no leadership shakeup in the Senate, amid speculations fanned by netizens at the weekend that certain blocs are moving to replace his month-old leadership.

Asked again at the end of a press conference if he is confident that there won’t be any shakeup when the Senate convenes on Friday (Oct 10), Sotto, whose 15-man majority bloc is viewed by some as a tenuous lead over a 9-member minority, replied, ‘Quite confident,’ while adding, ‘but any senator elected into the leadership serves at the pleasure’ of the members.

He also said that Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, rumored to be groomed to replace him, had told him, when they spoke the other day, ‘wala he naman akong kinakausap kahit na sino.’

He explained he has been talking to most senators and was confident his leadership was addressing their concerns, citing as example Sen. JV Ejercito, who was reported in social media as planning to bolt the majority over issues in the direction of the flood-control projects investigation.

At the same time, Sotto sounded certain that the 2026 budget will not be hounded by questions of irregularities like the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) because the President has ruled out certifying the budget bill-the first time in many years it will not get Palace certification.

This means, Sotto explained, that lawmakers have three days between second-reading approval and their third-reading vote to read the budget bill thoroughly.

He said that Congress was told by President Marcos ‘they will not be given the certification of urgency.’

The ‘President doesn’t want to certify budget so there will be time for everyone to go over the budget. The President himself said that: ayaw niya yung short cut ng 3-day rule.’

‘Taon taon, may fina-fast break,’ and the President does not want that to happen this year, Sotto said. He was referring to criticism that most lawmakers had failed to read the budget in detail as a result of the quick succession in second and third-reading passage, accounting for numerous questions about so-called insertions.

Asked if a non-certification by the Palace won’t affect or delay the budget, Sotto replied, in Filipino, ‘No. It will be even good for the process. Every year, Congress asks for a certification to skirt the 3-day rule. The question is: ‘ did you read the budget?’ No.

‘Now, you have 3 days to go over the budget. We will make sure we all read the budget.’

Lacson stays for now

In another development, Sotto said he would rather that Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson keep the chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) , amid wrangling over the direction of the Senate inquiry.

He said he understood why Lacson wants out. ‘Senator Lacson is frustrated. He is not stressed..Sanay sa stress yun. Maghi-hearing siya, merong umaangal bakit maghi-hearing; pag di naman siya nagtawag, meron pa ring umaangal.’

He said he has not received yet Lacson’s letter of resignation from the BRC, but ‘I will support whatever decision he makes; and I will accept whatever decision he makes.’

Still, ‘I can only hope for the best.’