Category: Philippine Star

The government is committed to cracking down on corruption and reducing red tape, which the United States cited as impediments to the Philippines’ efforts to attract foreign investments.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque told The STAR yesterday that the government is committed to fighting corruption to clean up the system and restore public trust, acknowledging that recent corruption issues exposed in flood control projects undermine reforms aimed at boosting investor confidence.

In this light, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sees the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure as a major step in uncovering the misuse of public funds and ensuring accountability.

The DTI is also doing its part to help build a government that the public can trust.

‘We believe that honest and transparent service is key to earning the trust of our people and our business community. That’s why we’re going digital, cutting red tape and making sure our processes are clear and fair,’ Roque said in a Viber message.

Roque’s comments were made following the release of the US Department of State’s 2025 Investment Climate Statement on the Philippines, which cited challenges faced in attracting foreign investments, as well as recent moves to improve the overall investment climate and promote economic growth.

According to the report, the Philippines’ efforts to attract foreign investments have been hampered by corruption, poor infrastructure, high power and logistics costs, regulatory inconsistencies and a cumbersome bureaucracy.

‘Corruption is a pervasive and long-standing problem in both the public and private sector,’ the report said.

It also highlighted the lack of progress in addressing corruption since 2019, with the Philippines placing 114th out of 180 countries in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index.

In addition, the report said various organizations, including the World Economic Forum, have cited corruption among the top problematic factors for doing business in the Philippines, with the Bureau of Customs still considered as one of the most corrupt agencies.

‘The Philippines’ complex, slow, redundant and sometimes corrupt judicial system inhibits the timely and fair resolution of commercial disputes,’ the report said.

The traffic in major cities and congestion in the ports was also cited as barriers to doing business.

‘While the Philippine bureaucracy can be slow and opaque, the business environment has been better in special economic zones,’ the report said.

The report said recent reforms aimed at attracting new investors were also put in place, such as the CREATE MORE Act, which expanded incentives.

The law extended the period for tax exemptions up to 27 years, clarified value-added tax zero-rating rules and streamlined local tax policies.

American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines executive director Ebb Hinchliffe said in a Viber message that the US report reflects investors’ top concerns.

While investors are encouraged by recent reforms such as the CREATE MORE, Ease of Paying Taxes Law and the executive order on green lanes for streamlined processing of permits, he said businesses are pushing for other measures to strengthen the country’s investment climate.

‘We continue to advocate for structural reforms that promote transparency and business efficiency. These include the passage of the Freedom of Information Act, National Single Window System Act and amendments to the Bank Secrecy and Electric Power Industry Reform Acts,’ Hinchliffe said.

According to Hinchliffe, streamlining travel requirements for foreign tourists and reviewing Revenue Memorandum Circular 5-2024, which covers the tax treatment of cross-border services, are also critical steps to boost investor confidence and position the Philippines as a competitive destination for global investment.

‘Equally important is the consistent implementation of existing laws such as the Ease of Doing Business Act and CREATE MORE,’ he said.

Rep. Martin Romualdez denied another round of bribery allegations thrown against him, this time by Vice President Sara Duterte, who claimed he also accepted bribes from illegal gambling.

‘Naririnig ko ang mga akusasyon. Diretsahan kong sasabihin: hindi totoo na ako’y tumatanggap mula sa ilegal na sugal,’ he said in a statement on Monday, September 29. (I’ve heard the accusations. I will directly say it’s not true that I accept [bribes] from illegal gambling.)

A former Philippine National Police chief has been appointed investigator and special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), replacing Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong – also a retired PNP official – who resigned just two weeks after his appointment to the post.

Malacañang announced yesterday the appointment of retired Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., who served as PNP chief from August 2022 to April 2023.

‘The administration is confident that General Azurin’s experience and leadership will further strengthen the commission’s mandate to uphold accountability and transparency in the use of public funds,’ the Office of the President (OP) said in a statement.

Sought for reaction to his appointment, Azurin, who is abroad, told The STAR via Messenger, ‘I will be honored to help the administration in its ongoing investigation and to support the call of the President for better governance for a better Philippines.’

Azurin will assume his duties after concluding his personal and administrative arrangements, according to the OP statement.

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy’s Makatao’ Class of 1989, Azurin served as commander of the Northern Luzon Police Area, which covers the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and Cordillera regions.

Azurin was embroiled in the alleged cover-up of the P6.7-billion shabu haul involving high-ranking PNP officers, which the Senate had investigated.

He was later cleared in the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ investigation on the controversy.

President Marcos, meanwhile, expressed his gratitude to Magalong for his service and contributions to the administration’s anti-corruption efforts.

‘His efforts in safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the commission have been vital to the government’s campaign against corruption in infrastructure projects,’ the OP said.

In a letter to the President which circulated on Friday, Magalong said he resigned as special adviser to the ICI to spare it from doubts related to his appointment. ‘This was not an easy choice,’ Magalong said in a statement, ‘but one I believe is necessary.’

Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto meanwhile clarified that he had never been offered the job of IC advisor and investigator, contrary to a report on a news channel.

In a Facebook post, Sotto said he was misquoted by Bilyonaryo News Channel when asked if he would accept the ICI post following the resignation of Magalong, who is a co-convenor in the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG).

Aside from Sotto and Magalong, the other convenors are Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Isabela City Mayor Sitti Hataman.

‘I was quoted wrong. If you listen carefully, what I said was, ‘Nag-release na po kami ng statement.’ What I was referring to was our statement from M4GG in support of Mayor Benjie Magalong,’ he said.

After being called out for its decision not to livestream its proceedings, the ICI said it would make sure its probe on corruption in flood control projects would be insulated from political interference.

‘It’s important that we maintain the integrity of the commission,’ ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said yesterday. ‘We don’t want the commission to be used for any political agenda.’

He maintained that the ICI’s investigation is a process that involves careful assessment of every piece of evidence laid out before the three-member body.

‘It’s hard to simply believe the statement of one witness, especially if his or her background is unknown,’ Hosaka said.

‘The commission needs to be prudent so that the cases filed would be supported by correct evidence and hold judicial scrutiny,’ he added.

Hosaka reiterated that the committee would not be beholden to any political party.

‘We will be independent,’ he said, adding, ‘We will not allow any group to use us for any political agenda or leverage because we want to seek the truth. We want to know who was really responsible for this mess. We owe that to the Filipino people.’

‘Currently, the ICI hearings are not livestreamed. This is the present policy of the commission. The initial hearings, so far, are for purposes of case build-up for criminal, civil and administrative action,’ He said in a statement.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged the fact-finding body to reevaluate its decision in the name of transparency. ‘Do not test the people’s desire to know the truth,’ he warned in a post on X.

Officials and members of the Minority Bloc in the House of Representatives have also expressed objection to limiting public access to ICI investigation.

‘ICI was created to seek for truth, justice and accountability. And transparency is an essential ingredient thereof, since its purpose would be defeated if its hearings are not accessible to the public,’ complained House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima.

‘It also serves as a venue for those accused or implicated to clear their names. For the policy to come from ICI itself about the possibility of a trial by publicity, does it then mean that it cannot trust itself that it can handle such types of investigation?’ she asked.

‘This is very disappointing and frustrating – a body with limited powers to investigate anomalous flood control projects and which is merely a recommendatory board, is not fully accessible to the public,’ the former senator and justice secretary said.

Minority House members Marcelino Libanan (4Ps party-list) and Perci Cendaña of Akbayan party-list also voiced objection to ICI’s decision.

‘There’s no real accountability without transparency. Let the people in. The people have all the right to watch the ICI proceedings precisely because the funds that were stolen were the taxes that they have paid religiously,’ Libanan said.

‘To begin with, the corruption took place because the process was not transparent in the first place – from the bicameral conference committee up to the project implementation stage. And now, even the investigation itself does not have any transparency at all?’ Cendaña pointed out.

Lucio Tan-led Philippine Airlines (PAL) has been named as one of the world’s four-star airlines by an industry network that specifically assesses in-flight comfort and passenger service.

The flag carrier was recognized a four-star major airline for 2026 by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX).

The APEX Awards are considered as some of the highest accolades in the aviation industry, as it gathers verified feedback covering more than one million flights yearly across over 600 airlines.

PAL chief operating officer Carlos Luis Fernandez said the award places the airline in the league of some of the world’s finest carriers.

As a four-star major airline, PAL was judged as one of the best for cabin comfort, food and beverage, in-flight entertainment and overall service.

‘We remain steadfast in sustaining the highest standards of service for the welfare of passengers we serve across our global network. The trust and confidence of our travelers inspire us in PAL to further elevate our service standards,’ Fernandez said.

Also joining the four-star list are Air Europa, Air Mauritius, Air Transat, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Cayman Airways, Condor, EgyptAir, flydubai, Hong Kong Airlines and Icelandair.

The list also includes Kenya Airways, KM Malta Airlines, Norse Atlantic Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, SriLankan Airlines, Virgin Australia and WestJet.

Among global airlines, APEX gave five stars to some Asian carriers, such as Bangkok Airways, Gulf Air and Vietnam Airlines.

PAL is landing wins after wins in its recovery from the pandemic restructuring. The carrier won as the second most preferred airline in Southeast Asia at the 2025 Flyers’ Choice Awards.

Cirium also named PAL as the most punctual airline in Asia and the Pacific for August. The airline turned in an on-time rate of 89.37 percent during the month, outperforming even some of the region’s finest like Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.

PAL plans to maintain its position as a respected full-service carrier through the addition of new aircraft and the refurbishment of existing assets.

Currently, PAL is reconfiguring 18 of its Airbus A321ceos by sacrificing seats to expand space for passenger comfort, and the airline will receive new long-range aircraft starting at the end of this year.

‘Idol Kids Philippines’ has officially named its first grand winner, with kiddie hopeful Alexa Mendoza clinching the title in the Final Showdown held Sunday, September 28.

Nine-year-old Alexa, who hails from Laguna, emerged as the grand winner after earning 98.88 percent of the combined public votes and judges’ scores, showcasing her artistry with the original piece ‘Maaabot Ko’ and her rendition of Eraserheads’ classic ‘Ang Huling El Bimbo.’ Alexa won an exclusive contract with StarPop and a cash prize of over P1 million.

Adding to the milestone are original songs from the Top 3 kiddie hopefuls, with Klied performing ‘Pakinggan Mo’ and Quinn offering ‘Dalangin,’ alongside Alexa’s winning piece. All tracks were produced by award-winning songwriter and producer Jonathan Manalo.

The in-studio lyric videos will be available on the ABS-CBN Star Music YouTube Channel, while the official EP will be released this Friday (October 3) on all streaming platforms worldwide.

The Final Showdown also featured performances from ‘It’s Showtime’ hosts Jhong Hilario and Vhong Navarro, who delivered high-energy numbers that lit up the stage.

Capping the season were the Kapamilya Idol judges, Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Power Diva Angeline Quinto, record-breaking singer-songwriter Juan Karlos, and Mr. Pure Energy Gary Valenciano, who have guided and witnessed the growth of the kiddie hopefuls throughout the competition.

Joining the celebration were the ‘Idol Kids Philippines Spotlight’ IdolKada online hosts, Kapamilya actress and Idol hopeful Shanaia Gomez and Jeremy G, who brought added energy and connection to fans online throughout the season.

Viewers can relive the journey and performances of the kiddie hopefuls on the official ‘Idol Philippines’ YouTube channel and on-demand via iWant.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has flagged incomplete or ‘ghost’ farm-to-market road projects in two provinces so far, as part of its ongoing audit of infrastructure programs, amid concerns over possible corruption and mismanagement in multibillion-peso flood control projects.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday two anomalous projects were identified in Davao Occidental.

‘It was two, in 2021 and 2022. We have not seen any recent projects, just those two,’ Tiu Laurel told reporters in a chance interview at the House of Representatives.

He noted that in the overall scope of DA infrastructure initiatives, the scale of the issue was relatively small.

Another project was spotted in Zamboanga del Norte, where a road remains unfinished and unusable.

Tiu Laurel did not provide details, such as the cost or value of the projects, noting instead they are still undergoing validation.

He said the findings will be reported to President Marcos amid the ongoing Senate inquiry on flood control projects that were either poorly built or overpriced, allowing officials and contractors to pocket kickbacks.

The revelations have implicated several lawmakers and government personnel, sparking public outrage and calls for accountability.

At the center of the controversy are billionaire contractors Sarah and Pacifico Discaya, who have since admitted to bribing lawmakers and officials at the Department of Public Works and Highways with hundreds of billions of pesos to secure massive contracts.

Several officials have been dragged into the mess, including former House member Zaldy Co and speaker Martin Romualdez as well as Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva and Chiz Escudero along with former senators Nancy Binay and Bong Revilla.

Host University of Santo Tomas shoots for a third straight win to gain a share of lead with Ateneo when it clashes against fellow unbeaten National University in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament Wednesday at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion in Manila.

Game time is at 4:30 p.m. after the La Salle-Far Eastern University duel at 2 p.m., with the Growling Tigers (2-0) banking on their home crowd anew to break a second-spot tie with the Bulldogs (2-0) and join the Ateneo Blue Eagles (3-0) on top of the league nearing the halfway mark of the first round.

The three remain as the only undefeated squads in the squad, with UST being the biggest revelation so far after slaying reigning champion University of the Philippines and La Salle, finalists of the last two UAAP seasons.

Led by super rookie Collins Akowe, momentum and confidence are on the España-based dribblers on the back of a mammoth 87-67 trashing of the Fighting Maroons and a stellar 93-84 comeback over the Green Archers for a statement start.

But while that shored up UST’s tag as this year’s dark horse especially with UP and La Salle still adjusting to the departure of their core led by Finals MVP JD Cagulangan and two-time MVP Kevin Quiambao, the mission is just beginning.

Winning against the Bulldogs, who have also taken care of their first two games, is just a continuation for the Tigers.

‘This is not a statement. We’re just happy that we’re progressing as a team. Right now, we’re just focusing on ourselves and our games, which is now against NU,’ said ace playmaker Forthsky Padrigao, who returned from a one-game suspension with 12 points, nine assists and three steals against La Salle.

‘UST this year is not the same as UST last year. Medyo may confidence na kami ngayon but we have to keep grounded. We just have to stick to what we’re doing,’ said assistant coach Peter Martin.

Starring in the duel is Akowe, who will be in first match against what was anticipated as his collegiate school after graduating from the National University-Nazareth School as UAAP juniors MVP and Best Foreign Student-Athlete, before surprisingly committing to UST.

Count on the readiness of the Bulldogs to finally try to stop the 6-foot-10 Senegalese anchor, who feasted on UP and La Salle with averages of 24.8 points and 18 rebounds.

‘We will be ready no matter what happens talaga. At hindi lang naman si (Collins) ‘yung paghahandaan namin. Buong UST ang paghahandaan namin. We’ll see,’ said Bulldogs mentor Jeff Napa after their wins against FEU, 84-68, and University of the East, 72-57.