Category: Philippine Star

Santo Tomas needed three overtimes to earn a 98-89 against Ateneo and gain a piece of the lead in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball yesterday at the refurbished Blue Eagle Gym in Katipunan.

The Growling Tigers saved their best for last, forcing the Blue Eagles to just four points in the third extension to share the UAAP leadership with National U at 4-1 nearing the end of the first round.

Included in the killer finisher was a 9-0 blast capped by Collins Akowe’s layup to turn an 85-85 count after two extra sessions to a sudden 94-85 cushion heading home.

Akowe collared 20 points and 19 rebounds laced by three steals and three blocks, none bigger than the game-tying free throws in the last 31.6 seconds of the second OT to keep Santo Tomas afloat.

‘It was a triple overtime game so throw away all the numbers. It was all heart for both teams,’ said assistant coach Juno Sauler on the UAAP’s first triple extension since women’s basketball in 2018.

Earlier, Adamson needed a strong closeout after wasting a 20-point lead to keep University of the East winless, 76-62.

Adamson climbed to 2-4 for solo sixth place ahead of another tough assignment against red-hot Santo Tomas next Saturday.

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has shut down three branches of a visa consulting firm for allegedly engaging in illegal recruitment activities.

Padlocked were the branches of GST International Education and Visa Consultancy in Polomolok, South Cotabato; Iloilo City and San Fernando, Pampanga, which were found offering jobs abroad instead of visa consultancy services.

The DMW said the company and its branches have no license to recruit workers for overseas jobs.

Initial investigation showed that the GST offers career matching services and charges applicants from P30,000 to P50,000.

Applicants were reportedly promised to work as pipefitter, factory worker and caregiver in Australia, New Zealand and Canada with corresponding salaries ranging from P47,000 to P66,000.

The DMW said it would file charges against GST owner Nicole Salazar and her employees involved in illegal recruitment.

‘The GST, along with its officials and personnel will be included in the list of people and establishments with derogatory records. This means they cannot participate in the government’s overseas recruitment program,’ the agency said as it urged victims to cooperate with proper authorities for the filing of a case against the company.

Victims may contact the DMW office or send a message so they could be provided free legal assistance, the DMW said.

Cement manufacturers are urging the government to impose a safeguard duty of P600 per metric ton on cement imports to help the domestic industry survive amid competition from imports.

Cement Manufacturers Association of the Philippines Inc. (CeMAP) executive director Renato Baja said the group has requested the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to impose a safeguard measure of P600 per metric ton on cement

being brought in from overseas.

‘In our prayer (to the DTI), the P600 considered the injury (caused by imports) on the industry,’ he said.

He said the amount is what is considered a ‘fair price’ for domestic manufacturers, based on the comparison of the landed cost of imported cement and the factory gate price of locally produced cement.

‘What we want is to have a level playing field in terms of pricing,’ he said.

Earlier, the CeMAP said that cement suppliers from other countries, such as Vietnam, receive subsidies, which enable them to sell at lower prices.

As demand for cement is anticipated to slow down slightly with some government projects being put on hold amid the flood control controversy, Baja said a safeguard measure is now very much needed by the industry.

CeMAP’s proposed safeguard duty is higher than the provisional safeguard measure imposed by the DTI, amounting to P400 per metric ton, and the Tariff Commission (TC)’s recommended definitive safeguard duty of P349 per metric ton of imported Portland Cement Type 1 and blended cement.

While the CeMAP is proposing a higher safeguard duty, the group welcomes the TC’s recommendation to impose a safeguard measure on cement imports.

‘We’re happy that the TC recognized the injury to the domestic industry. But we will be more than happy if they can grant our prayer,’ he said.

He said a ban on cement imports would also be favorable for the industry.

According to the CeMAP, cement imports have declined by 19 percent following the DTI’s imposition of the provisional safeguard duty.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the DTI is currently reviewing the TC’s recommendation and expects to issue a decision before Oct. 14.

Earlier this year, the DTI imposed a provisional safeguard duty on cement imports after finding a link between increased imports of the building material and injury to the local cement industry.

Under the Safeguard Measures Act, the government can use safeguard measures, such as tariffs, to provide relief to the domestic industry from the harm caused by a surge in imports.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora has joined the Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) and commits to uphold transparency and accountability in public service while assuring that his city remains free of ‘ghost projects.’

In a statement, Zamora thanked Mayors Mayor Joy Belmonte of Quezon City Vico Sotto of Pasig, Benjamin Magalong of Baguio, Sitti Hataman of Lamitan and other M4GG members for welcoming him into the organization.

‘You can count on my support as a member of M4GG and expect transparent and efficient governance here,’ Zamora said in Filipino. ‘There are no ghost projects in San Juan and we ensure that all funds from both the national and local governments reach our constituents.’

Zamora, who serves as president of the Metro Manila Council and national president of the League of Cities of the Philippines, was among 74 newly inducted M4GG mayors.

According to the M4GG, the new members reflect ‘a strong commitment to integrity and accountability.’

The group emphasized that the fight against corruption requires daily adherence to the principles of good governance.

M4GG is an alliance of local chief executives promoting integrity as well as anti-corruption and reform-oriented leadership.

As expected, the defense team of detained former president Rodrigo Duterte has filed an appeal for interim release after the International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber I rejected their earlier request.

Duterte’s lead counsel Nicholas Kaufman confirmed that an appeal was filed ‘a week ago.’

The ICC on Friday released the public redacted version of the Sept. 26 decision denying the interim release request.

A copy of the defense appeal has yet to be released, but Kaufman described the tribunal’s decision ‘to be erroneous.’

He noted that the ruling rejected ‘unprecedented State guarantees for a debilitated and cognitively-impaired 80-year-old, (who has been) kept from the public eye for more than six months.’

In its 23-page decision, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber I said Duterte should remain in detention to ensure that he would not obstruct or endanger the investigation and the proceedings.

It outlined why Duterte remains a flight risk and how he could pose a threat to potential witnesses.

The decision, signed by Judges Iulia Antoanella Motoc, Reine Ade?lai?de Sophie Alapini-Gansou and Mari?a del Socorro Flores Liera, also rejected the defense’s arguments that Duterte should be released on the basis of humanitarian conditions.

‘The Chamber notes that the Defense limits itself to argue that ‘Mr. Duterte is 80 years old and medical reports’ . without substantiating how detention is so detrimental that it justifies his release,’ read the ruling.

It stressed that Duterte enjoys the right to medical treatment while in detention, including access to a qualified medical officer with experience in psychiatry and a nurse assigned at the ICC Detention Center.

‘Nothing in the request indicates that this would not be sufficient to ensure that Mr. Duterte receives the appropriate medical attention and care in detention,’ the judges ruled.

The defense is claiming that Duterte is not fit to stand trial supposedly due to cognitive decline.

An independent assessment has yet to be conducted, with the judges saying that the documents presented by the defense ‘do not indicate how Mr. Duterte’s alleged physical condition or cognitive impairment negate the risks’ that would warrant the approval of his interim release plea.

Ruling welcomed

Among those who welcomed the ICC’s rejection of Duterte’s interim release plea is ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who was imprisoned for several years for being a vocal critic of the ex-president.

‘That was quick. We welcome the rejection of the International Criminal Court’s Pre-Trial Chamber of Rodrigo Duterte’s request for interim release,’ De Lima said in a statement.

De Lima said the swift denial of Duterte’s plea for interim release is not a surprise.

‘The plea lacks support both in fact and in the Rome Statute. The ICC does not easily issue warrants of arrest without any inkling of the weight of the evidence,’ De Lima said.

In the case of Duterte, De Lima said the evidence is strong enough for the ICC to require his detention during trial.

‘Expectedly, as a no-nonsense court, the ICC will spare no sacred cows. It will not show favor to anyone, and will only listen to reason and side with what is just and right,’ De Lima noted.

Meanwhile, human rights groups were also delighted with the denied interim release plea.

‘The ICC’s ruling affirms what victims, families and human rights advocates have long known: that Duterte continues to have the means, motive and network to evade justice and obstruct the judicial process,’ the Duterte Panagutin Network said.

‘Allowing him temporary freedom would not only embolden impunity but also place at risk families of victims of his drug war who courageously continue to speak out and testify,’ it added.

ICC Assistant to Counsel Kristina Conti, who represents some of the drug war victims, said the decision ‘shows a fair amount of trust and respect for victims, often overlooked in international law, and a balanced consideration of arguments of the suspect/accused.’

‘The decision on interim release is mollifying, but at the same time acutely reminds us of how influential the Dutertes still are,’ she noted.

‘But with the detention of Duterte the mastermind in the Netherlands, we expect victims and witnesses of the ‘war on drugs’ here in the Philippines to be more emboldened to participate. Perhaps, the victims of all his other crimes as well,’ Conti added.

Mum for now

In Davao Oriental, Vice President Sara Duterte refused to comment on the denial of his father’s interim release plea.

‘I will hold my comment in the ICC case as we need to empathize with the victims of the earthquake and sympathize with those who suffered deaths,’ she said in an ambush interview in Mati City.

The Vice President also refused to comment on the present condition of her father as well as the slashed budget for the Office of the Vice President for 2026.

‘Let us prioritize the victims of the calamities. I will give my comments in the next few days,’ she said.

A bill has been filed in Congress to create an Agricultural Pension Program for farmers and fishermen in the country.

Rep. Nathaniel Oducado of 1Tahanan party-list has filed House Bill 5009, also known as Pensyonadong Magsasaka at Mangingisda, which seeks to create an agricultural pension program to provide long-overdue social security and pension benefits to the country’s farmers and fisherfolk.

The lawmaker pointed out that despite being the backbone of national food security, farmers and fishermen remain among the poorest in the country.

He said that in 2023, poverty incidence was recorded at 27 percent among farmers and 27.4 percent among fisherfolk, placing them among the top three poorest sectors in the country. Unlike workers in the formal sector, they are largely excluded from the national social security system, leaving them vulnerable in times of old age, illness or disability.

Oducado pointed out that the proposed measure would establish a comprehensive pension and social security program, while also offering an educational scholarship to the legitimate and legally adopted children of registered farmer and fisherfolk beneficiaries – with reasonable allowances for supplies and other academic needs.

‘This aims not only to secure their present welfare but also to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring access to quality education,’ Oducado said.

The Philippines is projected to be the second fastest-growing economy in Southeast Asia this year and the next, although the pace of expansion is expected to slow from last year amid uncertainties stemming from external developments, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).

In the Quarterly Update of the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook, AMRO said it expects the Philippine economy to grow by 5.6 percent this year.

The forecast falls within the government’s target growth range of 5.5 to 6.5 percent for this year.

If AMRO’s forecast is realized, the Philippines would post the second-highest growth in Southeast Asia, next to the projected 7.5-percent expansion for Vietnam this year.

Other ASEAN countries are expected to register slower growth rates than the Philippines, such as Indonesia (five percent), Cambodia (4.9 percent), Laos (4.4 percent), Malaysia (4.3 percent), Singapore (2.6 percent), Thailand (2.2 percent) and Brunei Darussalam (1.2 percent).

For 2026, AMRO expects the Philippine economy to expand at a slightly slower pace of 5.5 percent, below the government’s growth target of six to seven percent.

AMRO’s forecast for the Philippines is the second highest in Southeast Asia, with Vietnam projected to lead the region’s growth with a 6.4-percent expansion next year.

AMRO expects slower growth in 2026 for Indonesia (4.9 percent), Cambodia (five percent), Laos (4.2 percent), Malaysia (four percent), Singapore (1.7 percent), Thailand (1.9 percent), Brunei Darussalam (1.8 percent) and Myanmar (1.5 percent).

Runchana Pongsaparn, group head and lead economist at AMRO, said in a press conference that the growth forecasts for the Philippines for 2025 and 2026 are slower than the 5.7 percent growth posted in 2024 due to the anticipated weakening of exports as tariffs imposed by the United States kick in by the end of the year and next year.

‘But we still expect that the consumption is going to grow quite steadily, supported by the strong labor market, lower inflation and also the still robust remittances as well,’ she said.

She said the AMRO also expects the US tariffs to affect investor sentiment.

‘In terms of the (flood control) scandal, I think we would have to see to what extent it’s actually going to affect the wider economy because if the event is short-lived and then it does not severely affect the investment sentiment, then that could be contained and may not affect the growth forecast materially,’ she said.

While the Philippine economy has been performing quite well, AMRO chief economist Dong He said the challenge for the country is how to bring medium-term growth to higher levels.

He said that higher investments, both from the government and the private sector, are necessary to support faster growth in the medium-term and to address major shocks.

‘The Philippines, because of its geography, is quite exposed to climate risks. Infrastructure really has to be strengthened. Some of these issues with flooding have to do with the infrastructure not being able to deal with these shocks,’ he said.

He said the Philippines would also need to upgrade its business process outsourcing sector, given its important role in the economy and the growing use of artificial intelligence.

‘That would also require the upscaling of human resources in terms of public investment and also private sector investment,’ he said.

College of St. Benilde survived the absence of reigning MVP Allen Liwag for the second straight game after it repulsed upset-conscious Jose Rizal University, 73-65, to seize the solo Group B lead in NCAA Season 101 at the Filoil EcoOil Arena in San Juan.

Raffy Celis and Justine Sanchez filled in the massive void left by Liwag, who remained out due to flu-like symptoms, in helping propel the Blazers to their third straight victory in four starts and straight to No. 1 in the second bracket.

The Celis-Sanchez pair took turns in scoring their team’s final eight points with three minutes to go that quashed the last hope of the Bombers to turn things around in their favor while sealing the runners up a season ago the win.

Celis ended up firing a game-high 20 points with five rebounds and four steals while Sanchez had 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.

‘We weathered the storm,’ said CSB coach Charles Tiu.

JRU, which came into the showdown a few days after shell-shocking San Beda, 67-66, almost pulled off another upset after roaring back from a deficit as high as 11 points at the half and cutting it to just two points, 65-63, on three foul shots by Sean Salvador with 2.52 minutes to go.

But it proved to be the Nani Epondulan-mentored Bombers’ last show of resistance as Celis and Sanchez each scored four points in that decisive 8-2 run.

JRU fell to 2-2 but not without receiving heaps of praise from Tiu.

‘Give credit to JRU. They’re a really good team and they play so hard. Those kids are young but man, they’re legit,’ said Tiu.

The scores:

CSB 73 – Celis 20, Sanchez 17, Morales 7, Ancheta 5, Umali 5, Moore 5, Oli 5, Gaspay 3, Eusebio 2, Cajucom 2, Ynot 1, Galas 1, Jalalon 0.

JRU 65 – Salvador 13, Peñaverde 11, Argente 9, Lozano 9, Benitez 7, Panapanaan 5, Laurenaria 5, Garupil 4, Herrera 2, Duque 0, Castillo 0, Sarmiento 0.

Quartescores: 22-19; 42-34; 55-51; 73-65

One will find it difficult to believe the gravity of it all. But here we are, waking up every day to this ugly reality. Just the other day, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon announced that government agencies have uncovered 421 new ghost projects out of 8,000 sites investigated.

Detailed blueprints were signed, contracts were forged and monitoring teams gave the green light. Yet, in the end, these projects never happened. These aren’t just criminal acts but billions in hard-earned taxpayer money lost to corruption.

Obviously, Satan went on overdrive here in our nation of 115 million.

Sec. Dizon said the 421 ghost projects are only the initial findings, as there are around 100,000 projects that still need to be validated nationwide.

The people of Masbate are hoping authorities would visit their province too, because they say it is also plagued with ghost and substandard infrastructure projects.

Masbate, population 910,000, is an island province in the Philippines about 370 kilometers from Manila.

The province, say geologists, sits on a ‘pot of gold’ with its rich natural resources. It’s been called an Eden off the tourist trail with its powdery white sand beaches and turquoise waters.

And yet, Masbate is consistently listed among the top 10 poorest provinces in the Philippines.

The DPWH, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense and the Department of Economic Planning and Development, has been auditing the country’s flood control projects.

They should include Masbate in their audit – and not just the flood control projects.

I got hold of a copy of an Aug. 2, 2025 judicial narrative submitted by journalists Arnel Bello, Edarlito Doremon Jr. and Benjamin Gigante, members of the Masbate Quad Media Society (MQMS) Inc., detailing alleged ghost projects in different districts in the province.

The MQMS, an independent group of journalists, conducted a 2022 fact-finding mission, including physical visits to project sites. They ‘gathered photographic, testimonial and on-ground evidence pointing to possible malversation, fraud and administrative misconduct.’

As a result, they filed various cases with the Office of the Ombudsman against local officials led by then provincial governor Antonio Kho, now a representative of Masbate.

The list of alleged ghost projects they documented is long. Due to space constraints, I will print only the first 10 on the list:

Five ghost projects amounting to P234.6 million (complaint filed on Jan. 5, 2023)

Five ghost projects amounting to P127.7 million (complaint filed on Jan. 5, 2023)

Twenty-three ghost projects amounting to P198 million (complaint filed on Jan. 5, 2023)

Ghost rehabilitation of Bayombon-Ubo Road Project amounting to P19.9 million (complaint filed on Oct. 18, 2023)

Ghost rehabilitation of Igang-Gutusan-Igang Rawis Road in Barangay Igang, Masbate City amounting to P8.96 million (complaint filed on Oct. 18, 2023)

Ghost rehabilitation of Calabad-Rizal Road, Barangay Calabad, Dimasalang, Masbate amounting to P19.9 million (complaint filed on Oct. 18, 2023)

Canahig-Polot Road in Barangay Polot, Mobo, Masbate amounting to P19.84 million (complaint filed on Oct. 18, 2023)

Ghost rehabilitation of Cagay-Guintorelan Road, Mobo, Masbate amounting to P6.98 million (complaint filed on Oct. 18, 2023)

Ghost rehabilitation of Sitio San Vicente Road, Milagros, Masbate amounting to P19.97 million (complaint filed on Dec. 22, 2023)

Ghost rehabilitation/regraveling of Barangay Real to Barangay Famosa Road, Monreal, Masbate amounting to P9.98 million (complaint filed on Dec. 22, 2023)

Furthermore, some of these ghost projects were awarded to a single, newly set-up contractor. The bidding dates and starting dates were all the same.

The complainants have since faced counter-charges and other forms of harassment, they said in their judicial narrative.

But as I said, this list is not even complete. It’s now up to Sec. Dizon to look into this.

Notorious for corruption

Stories of corruption in Masbate are nothing new. These have been reported by local newspapers and national newspapers.

Last year, The STAR reported that Doremon and Gigante filed a complaint against Kho and other officials for awarding contracts for three road rehabilitation projects worth P99.8 million in 2022.

There were other complaints filed against Kho and other officials, such as one involving alleged anomalous road projects worth over P234.6 million, but these were dismissed.

Interestingly, Kho himself, now a lawmaker, has spoken out against ghost projects, according to reports quoting him.

During a House investigation into flood control projects last August, the Masbate lawmaker raised concerns about the possibility of ghost projects among the 9,956 projects nationwide implemented as of July 2022.

He stressed the need for a comprehensive review to determine the extent of any irregularities and emphasized his commitment to finding solutions to the persistent problem of flooding.

If this is the case, then Masbate shouldn’t have ghost projects.

Only a full independent audit by the DPWH, together with the government team looking into flood control projects, can determine this.

With the Marcos administration stepping up its campaign against corruption in public works, it would be good to look into this province long notorious for poverty and graft.

This is also a challenge to newly appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. He must look into the different cases pending before the ombudsman related to ghost projects in Masbate or corruption in general.

As we’re seeing now, whether it’s Manila or Masbate, corruption in flood control projects exists and the ghosts will continue to haunt us until authorities finally bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Presidential Communications Office is finalizing the process of donation of its property to a state university in Bukidnon, according to PCO Secretary Dave Gomez.

The property was originally intended as a training center for government information officers.

The construction of the Government Strategic Communications Academy (GSCA) was initiated by the Presidential Communications Operations Office, which was renamed PCO, under the administration of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian earlier flagged the PCO for tapping the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the construction of the project, saying it falls outside the core function of the PCO.

Gomez said he agrees with Gatchalian’s opinion. He gave assurance that the project would benefit government scholars at Northern Bukidnon State College.

‘The previous administration should not have engaged in such a public works project that falls outside our core responsibility,’ Gomez said.

Citing a 2024 report of the Commission on Audit (COA), Gatchalian said the PCOO entered into a contract with the DPWH in 2019 for the implementation of the second phase of the GSCA project worth P45.7 million.

He said a 2020-2023 report of the COA listed a similar project with a different amount of P79 million.

The project has no budget allocation for 2026 as the funds have been allotted for the completion of the remaining 10 percent of the facility, Gatchalian said.

‘We’ve already spent P124 million and the project is 90 percent complete. If we don’t finish this, it will become a white elephant,’ Gatchalian, chair of the Senate committee on finance, said.