Category: Philippine Star

At the rate several of the 18 self-proclaimed former bodyguards of Zaldy Co keep changing their stories, their testimony in the corruption scandal would be worth less than used toilet paper.

In a joint affidavit, the 18 had originally claimed that Co, at the time the chair of the powerful House committee on appropriations, had tasked them to deliver suitcases stuffed with cash, some in US dollars, to several senators, congressmen led by former speaker Martin Romualdez, and to former senator Antonio Trillanes supposedly for visiting probers of the International Criminal Court. The ICC denied the accusation.

By the bagmen’s reckoning, the cash, mostly meant as kickbacks for anomalous government projects, amounted to a staggering P805 billion.

Lawsuits were filed by Trillanes and several of the others implicated, not only against the bagmen but also their counsel, Levito Baligod, and their handler Michael Defensor. The 18 later dropped ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima from their list of alleged cash recipients.

The accusations seemed to shift with political winds, with the names of lawmakers added or taken out depending on their ties with the Duterte camp.

In a press conference, the bagmen claimed delivering the suitcases of cash to the homes of Romualdez, President Marcos himself and his son, Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said individual affidavits were needed amid such broad accusations. Several of the 18 complied, but only four were deemed by the ombudsman to be credible.

Yesterday, the four retracted their statements. Remulla, in a press conference, openly expressed suspicion that Romualdez had a hand in the recantation.

The four claimed they hurled false accusations in exchange for promised compensation, and that they were merely forced to sign affidavits before the ombudsman. Remulla denied this. The National Bureau of Investigation is set to probe this claim by the four.

It was the second major blow in Remulla’s efforts to pin down Romualdez, following the rejection by the Sandiganbayan of the ombudsman’s petition to allow former public works chief Manuel Bonoan to turn state witness.

Romualdez has denied receiving the cash deliveries. He has also stressed that he did not handpick Co as chair of the appropriations committee and that he did not micromanage the budget proceedings.

Malacañang urged the public not to be easily swayed by disinformation coming from pro-Duterte groups.

But even some people who weren’t pro-Duterte were ready to believe some parts of the bagmen’s story. With the latest retractions, the nation may never know the truth.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday, August 8, admitted that several issues were left out of his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) because his speech was already running too long.

In a vlog released nearly two weeks after his July 27 address, Marcos said Filipinos should watch for his next SONA for some of the issues that did not make it into his speech.

‘Marami kaming nailagay na kailangan na hindi namin na maisama, dahil masyado ng mahaba kaya’t abangan na lang ninyo sa susunod na SONA,” Marcos said.

(We had a lot of things that we needed to leave out because it was too long. So just wait for them in the next SONA.)

Marcos said his team gradually shortened the speech to prevent it from lasting two and a half hours.

‘So dahan-dahan naming ginawang mas maiksi para naman hindi umabot ng dalawang oras kalahati ang ang speech. Masyadong mapapagod ang tao pati ako mauubos ang boses ko,’ he said.

(So we gradually shortened the speech so it wouldn’t end up lasting two and a half hours. People would get too tired, and I would lose my voice.)

His fifth SONA lasted one hour and 26 minutes, making it his longest annual address since he assumed the presidency.

The president said preparations for the speech began weeks before he delivered it at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City. He said he primarily wrote the opening and closing portions, while his team handled research and supplied details such as statistics and events.

Marcos also said the speech continued to evolve until the last moment, including while he was already delivering it.

“At ang katotohanan nu’ng lumabas na ‘yung speech ko, mayroon pa rin akong binago habang ako nagsasalita. Kaya ‘pag basta’t may naisip ako na mas maganda ang pwedeng pagkasabi eh ‘yun ang aking ginagawa,” he said.

Issues left out

In his vlog, Marcos read letters from people who wanted him to address specific concerns during his SONA.

Among the concerns raised was hunger and malnutrition among young Filipinos.

Marcos responded by citing the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Program, which provides qualified poor families with P3,000 worth of food credits each month. He also mentioned school feeding programs and government funding for local government units to provide affordable rice to Filipinos in need.

He also mentioned the government’s Zero Balance Billing program, saying patients may have zero out-of-pocket expenses for medical services, laboratory tests, medicines and doctors’ fees through government subsidies and assistance from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

Marcos did not revisit some of the major issues he tackled during his SONA, including his announcement that criminal cases were being prepared against his cousin, former House Speaker and incumbent Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, over alleged irregularities in flood control projects.

The president also said that his SONA should be seen as a starting point for government action.

‘Alam ko na ang SONA ay higit pa sa isang talumpati marami pang trabaho ang kailangang gawin para maisabuhay ang lahat ng ating tinatalakay at minimithi bilang isang bayan,’ he said.

(I know that the SONA is more than just a speech. There is still much work to be done to put into action everything we have discussed and aspire to achieve as a nation.)

Marcos has two years left in his term to pursue the priorities outlined in his fifth SONA, with some issues that did not make the speech potentially carrying over to his final address next year.

Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda wants the private sector to take a front-seat role alongside government in driving the Philippines’ artificial intelligence push.

The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) is urging the creation of a national AI implementation task force to allow the Philippines to move faster in preparing various sectors for the opportunities and risks brought about by artificial intelligence.

The proposal was presented during the fifth meeting of the PSAC Education and Jobs Sector Group last Wednesday at Malacañang.

PSAC said President Marcos agreed on the need for the AI task force initiative, but not without seeing inputs from the private sector.

In a statement, the PSAC said the meeting focused on turning the country’s AI plans into concrete actions that would enhance education and upskilling at scale, create better jobs and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness.

PSAC Strategic Convenor Sabin Aboitiz said the Philippines already has a national framework to guide AI development, deployment and governance.

The challenge is delivering the National AI Strategy for the Philippines through collaboration between the government and private sector, using a nationwide approach, he added.

‘Artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future – it is already changing the way people work, learn and do business today,’ Aboitiz said.

The proposed task force will focus on three major areas – education and workforce development; technology, infrastructure and research and development; policy and governance.

The Philippines’ entry into Pax Silica presents a genuine strategic opening. It could help the country move into higher-value segments of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and critical-mineral supply chains. It could also leave the Philippines with another enclave of foreign-owned facilities, generous incentives and limited domestic capability.

The difference will depend on how the country defines its national interest, and how firmly it negotiates for it.

Technology, trade, energy and national security are increasingly treated as a single strategic system. Semiconductors, data centers, critical minerals, telecommunications networks and AI infrastructure are now sources of economic power and leverage.

Supply chains are being reorganized, with the United States and its partners seeking trusted locations for manufacturing, processing, data infrastructure and research. The proposed 4,000-acre industrial hub in New Clark City places the Philippines within that emerging architecture.

But strategic location alone does not create strategic value. The task is not merely to host the infrastructure of other powers, but to use it to build Philippine capability.

Move beyond the enclave model

The Philippines already has a strong semiconductor and electronics industry and decades of experience in assembly, testing and packaging. Yet much of the highest value remains elsewhere.

Pax Silica will matter only if it changes that structure. The Philippines should target advanced packaging, integrated-circuit design, power electronics, industrial automation, cybersecurity, specialized engineering services and applied AI.

This requires industrial policy, not only investor promotion.

The test is simple: after ten years, will the Philippines know more, design more and own more? If not, investment will have arrived without transformation.

Strategic partnership must preserve strategic autonomy

Pax Silica is part of a US-led effort to build trusted technology supply chains and reduce dependence on strategic competitors. The Philippines should recognize this reality without being trapped by it.

A small or middle power protects its interests by engaging major powers while preserving room to maneuver and avoiding excessive dependence.

The question is not whether the Philippines must choose between the United States and China in every economic decision, but whether each partnership strengthens Philippine resilience, expands its options and avoids creating new strategic vulnerabilities.

The country must retain authority over land use, infrastructure, data governance, environmental standards, investor selection and the terms for foreign firms. Agreements should address export controls, cybersecurity, intellectual property, technology restrictions and dispute settlement.

A sound arrangement should diversify economic options, deepen the technological base and reduce dependence on imported knowledge, not replace one dependence with another.

Energy is part of economic security

Data centers, semiconductor facilities and advanced manufacturing require large, continuous electricity supply, redundancy and protection against outages. A technology hub cannot be globally competitive if its energy system is expensive, unstable or heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.

Energy must be designed into the project from the start. New generation capacity, transmission upgrades, storage, backup systems and demand management will be needed. Investors should help finance this capacity rather than compete with households and existing industries for limited supply.

Water may be the harder limit

Water may prove the more difficult constraint. Semiconductor manufacturing, mineral processing and some data-center cooling systems require substantial volumes and can generate wastewater containing chemicals, metals and other hazardous substances.

Government should require a transparent water-balance study for the entire zone, covering industrial demand, household use, agriculture, watershed conditions, dry-season supply and climate-change effects.

Water recycling and closed-loop systems should be mandatory where feasible. Wastewater standards should be set before operations begin.

Critical minerals must create domestic value

This is an opportunity to move beyond exporting raw or lightly processed materials, but it carries an old risk.

‘Critical minerals’ can become a geopolitical justification for expanding extraction while leaving value creation elsewhere. If the Philippines supplies ore but imports technology, equipment and finished products, little will have changed.

The country needs a realistic value-chain strategy. Mining should be linked to materials research, recycling, advanced manufacturing and domestic supplier development. Host communities must receive enforceable economic benefits, not only promises of future employment.

Nickel, copper or chromite do not automatically create a semiconductor industry.

Jobs must be judged by quality, not only quantity

Semiconductor assembly can employ thousands. Data centers may require billions in investment but relatively few permanent workers. Chip design and research may employ smaller numbers but create far greater knowledge and value.

Government should publish a workforce plan distinguishing construction, permanent, technical, managerial and indirect jobs. Universities, technical institutions and industry should jointly develop programmes in microelectronics, materials science, electrical engineering, AI, cybersecurity, industrial maintenance and environmental management.

Women, Indigenous peoples and young people from nearby communities should not be peripheral beneficiaries.

Governance will decide the outcome

The greater risk is that investment arrives before the Philippines has defined the rules.

Before land, major incentives or public infrastructure are committed, government should disclose the project’s integrated masterplan, energy and water requirements, environmental and social risks, fiscal costs and expected public benefits.

Investor incentives should be tied to performance and reviewed when commitments are not met. Public institutions should retain authority to enforce standards and recover assets.

The Philippines should compete through capability and governance, not simply cheap land, tax concessions and labour.

Make Pax Silica a Philippine project

The country should resist the excitement of announcements.

Acreage, memoranda signed and investor interest are not the final measures of success.

The real measures are harder:

Will Filipino companies become suppliers and innovators?

Will Filipino engineers move into design, research and management?

Will Philippine universities generate patents and applied technologies?

Will the energy and water systems become more resilient?

Will surrounding communities share in the gains?

Will the country retain policy space and control over strategic infrastructure?

Pax Silica should be designed as a Philippine industrial strategy that uses international partnership to build domestic power.

That is how the country can turn geopolitical relevance into sustainable development and avoid becoming merely the site where other nations secure their future.

SMX Convention Centers, the conferences and exhibitions arm of SM Prime Holdings Inc., saw a double-digit jump in visitor traffic in the first half amid robust demand for business events.

From January to June, SMX venues welcomed 4.3 million visitors, 18 percent more than the 3.6 million recorded in the same period last year.

A total of 807 booked events were hosted by SMX Convention Centers nationwide during the period.

SMX Convention Center Manila recorded the highest visitor traffic, welcoming more than 2.5 million visitors in the first semester.

Regional venues, including SMX Convention Center Davao, SMX Convention Center Bacolod and SMX Convention Center Clark, likewise recorded healthy growth in visitor traffic.

SM Hotel and Conventions Corp. executive vice president Peggy Angeles said locations within SM Prime’s larger mixed-use developments give event organizers and attendees direct access to dining, accommodation and transportation options, making events more convenient and attractive.

‘Our strong first-half performance supports our ongoing expansion. We are excited to add new capacity in Cebu and Metro Manila,’ Angeles said.

SMX Convention Center Seaside Cebu is set to become the country’s largest convention center when it opens in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Located beside newly launched SM Arena Seaside Cebu and connected to SM Seaside City Cebu via a link bridge, the venue will form part of an integrated MICE, entertainment and retail destination in the Visayas.

SMXCITE in Pasay, which is slated to open in early 2027, has started booking negotiations with event organizers.

The 18,000-square-meter facility will offer 900 parking spaces and direct access to SM Mall of Asia via an elevated walkway.

Its proximity to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and a broad range of hotels makes it well suited for local and international events.

The new developments will expand SMX’s portfolio to seven convention centers and six trade halls across the Philippines, bringing its combined leasable area to more than 90,000 square meters.

Up to 93,155 dengue cases have been recorded this year, which is lower by 46 percent than the number of infections reported in 2025, according to the Department of Health.

DOH data showed the figure, which was recorded from Jan. 4 to Aug. 1, is lower by 80,922 than the 174,077 cases recorded during the same period last year.

The number of dengue fatalities is also lower with 386, while 699 died from the mosquito-borne disease in 2025.

Among regions, Central Luzon recorded the highest number of cases with 16,057 followed by the National Capital Region with 10,611 and Calabarzon with 10,320.

Davao region and Zamboanga peninsula reported 7,537 and 6,124 cases, respectively.

The DOH reported that from July 5 to Aug. 1, several areas have breached the epidemic threshold including the cities of Mandaluyong, Lapu-Lapu and Zamboanga as well as the provinces of Abra, Agusan del Sur, Albay, Aurora, Camarines Norte, Davao Oriental, La Union, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga Sibugay.

The cities of Cebu and Mandaue as well as the province of Davao de Oro breached the alert threshold.

A dengue alert threshold serves as an early warning for local government units and related agencies to prepare for the disease.

The epidemic threshold indicates an active, widespread outbreak requiring urgent action.

‘Practice taob or flip, taktak or shake, tuyo or dry up and takip or cover all containers to prevent them from becoming breeding sites of mosquitos,’ the DOH said.

Dengue is an acute viral infection transmitted through the bite of aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste left the country for France with his mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, before the National Bureau of Investigation served him a subpoena over the alleged honey trap plot targeting Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said on Thursday.

Matibag said immigration records showed Leviste and Legarda departed the country separately on Aug. 2 via Hong Kong but were both bound for France.

‘The office confirms the departure of Sen. Loren Legarda and Rep. Leandro Leviste in separate flights last Aug. 2. Both had no derogatory records at the time of departure,’ the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said.

‘He left the country. That has been confirmed. He and Senator Legarda traveled separately through Hong Kong, but their final destination was France,’ Matibag told True FM.

He said the NBI issued Leviste’s subpoena on Aug. 3, a day after his departure, although the bureau had already publicly announced on Aug. 1 that subpoenas would be sent to Leviste and former lawmaker Jacinto Paras.

Matibag said the evidence against Leviste as the alleged brains in the honey trap is ‘as strong as Superman.’

Leviste and Legarda are also under probe by the Office of the Ombudsman over ‘ghost electricity’ involving his solar power franchise.

Matibag noted that despite being abroad, Leviste was able to engage legal counsel, who wrote the NBI requesting copies of the evidence against the lawmaker.

‘Their lawyer essentially asked to see all the evidence so they could prepare their response. But this is still a fact-finding investigation. We are not yet at the stage of filing charges,’ Matibag said.

He said the bureau wanted Leviste and Paras to personally explain the allegations, adding that doing so could also help clear their names if they were not involved.

The NBI has refused to release its evidence, citing Department of Justice rules prohibiting the disclosure of records while an investigation is ongoing.

Matibag also disclosed that investigators have identified four lawyers from a ‘well-known law office’ allegedly linked to the supposed scheme. He said subpoenas for the lawyers were being prepared.

The NBI summoned Leviste and Paras after witnesses in a human trafficking case following a raid at a hotel in Malate, Manila last July 28 claimed they were linked to an alleged plan to recruit women who would falsely accuse Recto of sexual misconduct in exchange for P5 million.

Matibag said Leviste and Paras would be given another opportunity to appear before the bureau on Aug. 11 following the request of the former lawmaker.

The NBI chief added the talent manager arrested during the anti-human trafficking operation remains detained without bail on qualified human trafficking charges despite cooperating with investigators.

Matibag said the talent manager executed another sworn statement on Thursday and provided additional information, including details about the alleged involvement of lawyers in the supposed operation.

Medical leave

Senate officials said yesterday that Legarda had filed a medical leave of absence for the first half of the week, explaining her absence from the Senate’s regular sessions and the impeachment court proceedings from Aug. 3 to 5.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed that Legarda’s chief of staff sent a letter to his office officially notifying them that the senator ‘will be on medical leave from Aug. 3-5, 2026.’

In a statement sent to The STAR, Legarda confirmed that she filed for a formal medical leave.

‘I confirm that I filed a formal medical leave with the Senate covering Aug. 3 to 5, 2026, in accordance with Senate rules,’ Legarda said.

‘I ask the public not to draw unwarranted conclusions from my travel or link it to the recent false and baseless allegations, which undeservedly besmirch a reputation that I have built over decades of public service,’ she added.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian clarified that he had not spoken directly to Legarda regarding any overseas travel, noting that senators are not required to secure a travel authority for unofficial trips.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo reported that Legarda and Leviste had already left the country but defended his colleague’s absence.

Asked if he expects the senator to return next week, Tulfo replied: ‘Hopefully, she will return. Nothing was said about the purpose, just medical need.’

Legarda’s medical leave followed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla’s announcement last week that he had signed the charge sheet initiating a preliminary investigation against Legarda, Leviste and former energy secretary Alfonso Cusi.

Malversation, plunder cases

The three face complaints for non-bailable plunder and multiple violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for allegedly securing exclusive solar energy franchises but failing to deliver the promised power supply, costing the government more than P10.44 billion in unpaid financial obligations and hundreds of billions in stunted economic investments.

Instead of building the necessary infrastructure to generate electricity, the ombudsman claimed Leviste merely sold the company assets and rights for massive profit.

Remulla also accused Legarda of using her position as then-chairperson of the Senate finance committee to secure the lucrative solar energy franchise for her son, who was only 21 years old at the time.

I am yet again on another journey, one that took me to a beautiful part of Southern Thailand. It was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by lush greenery and the calming waves of the sea. Khao Lak, part of Phang Nga province, has left me breathless. I thought it would just be another workshop where we would be taught the basics of storytelling for impact. Little did we know that we were about to embark on an unforgettable ride, one that would stay with us long after the sessions had ended.

I found myself alongside explorers who told stories through photographs and videos. Their passion for storytelling transcends beyond words and orality. It is reflected in the images they carefully frame with their eyes and capture through the tools in their hands. Their work is not about creating content for engagement or chasing viral moments. It is about leaving a lasting impression that can influence mindsets, shape policies, and eventually change the world. There is, indeed, a career in changemaking, and it reminded me that journalism has always belonged in that space.

While it may sound like a lofty ambition, many have already given up on this path simply because they believe nothing is happening. Progress is painfully slow, and victories are often invisible. The state of our climate policies and environmental practices continues to worsen. I look back at my latest work on Cebu’s garbage situation, particularly after the landfill collapse, and there really is not much movement to celebrate. The investigation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources seems slower than a sloth-or perhaps we simply are not hearing enough about it. Workers in the area continue to hope for better days despite losing many of their colleagues. The city remains trapped in a labyrinth, searching for ways to deal with the thousands of tons of garbage that still need to leave the transfer station. I do think we are in some sort of trouble.

I commend the many colleagues who continue doing an excellent job reporting on this situation. It may not be the most appealing story to tell, but the updates, however scarce, still matter. Some narratives may already sound repetitive, yet repetition is sometimes necessary because people deserve to know what is happening and what the government is actually prioritizing. Journalism does not stop becoming important simply because the headlines have become familiar. If anything, that is precisely when it becomes even more necessary to keep asking questions.

Apparently, it is not only us struggling with the garbage problem. Much of Southeast Asia, deeply entrenched in a sachet-driven culture, is facing the same crisis. Plastic convenience has become an environmental burden shared by millions. The challenge is regional, but the consequences are painfully local. Perhaps that is why this workshop in Khao Lak resonated with me. Change does not always happen overnight, nor does every story immediately result in new laws or better policies. Sometimes, changemaking begins with refusing to look away.

Rain came pouring down on the Macau Giant Pandas.

The depleted Macau squad got absolutely demolished by the San Miguel Beermen by 52 points, 131-79, in their PBA Governors’ Cup Saturday at the Ynares Center in Montalban.

After about a half an hour rain delay after another leak inside the court, San Miguel caught fire and did not let up to grab the win.

George King paced the winning team with 19 points in just 10 minutes and 53 seconds of play. Don Trollano added 17 markers, six dimes and three boards off the bench.

The Beermen started the game off smoking hot, taking a 35-20 lead at the end of the first quarter.

They kept their foot on the gas pedal, dropping 45 points in the second quarter against just 17 for the Giant Pandas as the former set the new record for the biggest margin at the half after leading by 43 points, 80-37.

From that point on, the Beermen just kept on coming, taking a lead as much as 62 points, 115-53, in the fourth quarter after a layup by JM Calma.

Jericho Cruz added 14 points for San Miguel while Jeron Teng had 13. Calma and Marcio Lassiter chipped in 12 markers for the Beermen.

Kobey Lam and Damian Chong Qui had 24 and 23 points, respectively, for Macau, whose import De’Vondre Perry and sharpshooter Jenning Leung missed the game.

San Miguel rose to 6-2 in the standings, while Macau dropped to 2-6.

Pieces of metal debris believed to have come from a rocket were recovered by personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Calayan, Cagayan on Thursday.

A resident found the debris along the shores of Sitio Naydi in Barangay Babuyan Claro, according to PCG spokesperson Cmdre. Noemie Cayabyab.

The debris bore no markings that can confirm it was part of a rocket, Cayabyab said.

‘We advised fisherfolk and coastal residents to avoid touching unidentified floating objects as these may contain hazardous chemicals, and to immediately report these to authorities,’ she said.

The PCG said it would work with other government agencies to determine the origin and nature of the debris.