Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday asked all bishops to authorize a second collection during Sunday masses on June 14 for the victims of the deadly earthquake in Mindanao.

In a statement, CBCP President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera said they express solidarity with the victims and grieve with the families who lost loved ones. ‘I appeal to all bishops to authorize a second collection in their respective dioceses during the Sunday Masses of June 14, 2026. The proceeds of this collection may be transmitted through the diocesan social action centers and Caritas Philippines to support the emergency relief and rehabilitation efforts for our affected brothers and sisters,’ he added.

Caritas Philippines is the humanitarian, development, and advocacy arm of the CBCP, headed by Bishop Gerardo Alminaza.

Garcera said the Church cannot be indifferent to the suffering of the affected residents, emphasizing that moments like this are a reminder ‘that the Church is called to be a sign of hope and a witness of charity.’

He requested all dioceses and religious communities across the country to offer a special Prayer of the Faithful during all masses next Sunday for the victims of the earthquake and those tasked with relief and rescue efforts.

‘May the Lord Jesus, who calmed the storm and strengthened those who were afraid, grant comfort to those who mourn, healing to the injured, protection to those in danger, and courage to all who are extending help. Through the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may our people find strength, consolation, and hope amid this calamity,’ Garcera said.

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Maasim, Sarangani, at 7:37 a.m. on June 8. Tsunami warnings were initially issued for the Philippines but were later lifted.

According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the earthquake has killed 37 individuals and injured 479 as of Tuesday.

Based on the agency’s figures, 33 deaths, 456 injuries, and four missing persons were recorded in the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, and General Santos City), while four deaths and 23 injuries were reported in the Davao region. /mcm

The Sandiganbayan Third Division has junked the graft case against a former Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) chairperson regarding the alleged violation of a contractual clause.

This was the outcome of the anti-graft court division’s move to grant the demurrer to evidence filed by Alberto Collantes Agra on Jan. 26, 2026 for the dismissal of his case under Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

The case arose from the execution of three memoranda of agreement (MOA) between PRA and Bacoor City in 2021 regarding the reclamation projects, despite the claimed right of first refusal (ROFR) of Cavite Holdings Inc (CHI) and the Province of Cavite. An ROFR refers to a contractual clause that guarantees a party the opportunity to purchase an asset before the other party could sell it to someone else.

The same reclaimed area in PRA and Bacoor City’s MOA was alleged to be a subject of a ROFR clause pursuant under the joint venture agreement of PRA and Malaysian firms Majlis Amanah Rakyat and Renong Berhad, according to the Office of the Ombudsman prosecutors.

State prosecutors then accused Agra of manifest partiality, evident bad faith and/or gross excusable negligence by allowing the reclamation project to proceed despite the existing ROFR clause.

In a resolution penned by Associate Justice Ronald Moreno promulgated on June 5, he noted that there are three grounds for graft conviction: first, if the accused is a public official; second, if he acted with manifest partiality, or evident bad faith, and/or gross inexcusable negligence; and, third, if their action caused undue injury to the government or unwarranted benefits to a private party.

‘The first element is present,’ Moreno wrote in the resolution. ‘However, upon review of the records, the court finds that the prosecution failed to prove the second and third elements.’

The court said the evidence is insufficient to establish that Agra represented, directed, and instructed the execution of the three MOAs. A plain reading of the MOAs stated that the PRA was represented by its General Manager Janilo Rubiato, while Agra only signed as a witness.

The prosecution also said that PRA, under Rubiato, could not enter into the MOA without Agra’s concurrence. However, PRA rules state that the authority to approve the execution of the MOAs lies with the PRA Governing Board as a collegial body, not with the chairperson alone.

‘Failure to establish that he (Agra) committed these acts precludes a finding of manifest partiality, evident bad faith, or gross inexcusable negligence under Section 3(e) of R.A. No. 3019,’ the resolution said. ‘The second element is therefore absent.’

‘Similarly, as it was not proven that Agra committed the acts imputed to him, he could not have given any unwarranted benefit, preference, or advantage to the City of Bacoor and its reclamation partners, nor caused undue injury to the Province of Cavite or CHI. Thus, the third element is also absent,’ it continued.

In a separate concurring opinion, Associate Justice Karl Miranda, Third Division chairperson, raised that the present criminal case is not the appropriate opportunity to settle the validity of the ROFR clause of CHI.

But still, Miranda said the parties should seek a definitive legal ruling on the issue of the ROFR.

Miranda then issued a ‘strong reprimand’ against the parties for seeking administrative opinions from the Office of the Government Counsel (OGCC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) instead of filing an appropriate case before the courts.

The OGCC and DOJ has repeatedly recognized the ROFR clause in this case.

Associate Justice Fritz Bryn Delos Santos also issued a separate concurring opinion, noting that Agra, in his official capacity as chairperson, cannot be expected to also be knowledgeable of PRA’s daily operations, including the OGCC and DOJ opinion on the ROFR.

Delos Santos said the prosecutors only relied on presumption of knowledge without concrete evidence that Agra should have known the OGCC and DOJ opinions. /das

The decision of the 18 bodyguards of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co to skip the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Monday places a dent on their allegations, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said.

Ridon, in a statement, said that the bodyguards, if they were speaking the truth, would have no problem showing up to different fora to explain the allegations they made against several House of Representatives lawmakers.

‘The decision of the ’18 Maleta Boys’-the group of former bodyguards who launched a sensationalized smear campaign last week-to skip today’s Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing speaks for itself,’ Ridon said.

‘If their allegations were true, they should have had no difficulty appearing before an official congressional proceeding, testifying under oath, and subjecting themselves to questioning by senators. Instead, they chose not to appear,’ he added.

The 18 bodyguards, initially described as former officers of the Philippine Marine Corps, appeared before the blue ribbon committee hearing last Thursday, which was led by former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s group.

But acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian’s bloc maintained that this hearing had no bearing since the new Majority declared all positions vacant a day prior, and installed new officials to several committees.

Earlier, the committee under Senator Erwin Tulfo, a member of Gatchalian’s bloc, held another hearing.

However, the 18 bodyguards did not show up and chose to stay inside the office of Sen. Robinhood Padilla.

According to Ridon, he challenged the individuals to appear before the committee last Saturday – a simple challenge, which he said should depend on the advice of a single senator.

However, despite this challenge supposedly being simple, Ridon said the 18 bodyguards still refused to attend.

‘Their decision should not depend on the advice, instruction, or preference of any one senator. It should depend on what their supposed whistleblower story was all about: truth-telling, accountability, and a willingness to stand by serious allegations under oath,’ he said. ‘The contrast could not be clearer.’

‘They were willing to make sensational allegations in an informal forum, but were unwilling to repeat those same allegations under oath before the duly constituted Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Their refusal to do so seriously undermines the credibility of the claims they previously made,’ he added.

With the refusal from the 18 bodyguards to attend, Ridon said that the House prosecution panel is still focused on its duty regarding Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

‘The House prosecution panel remains focused on its constitutional duties and on the forthcoming impeachment trial. No distraction, no fabricated allegation, and no manufactured sideshow will deter us from presenting the evidence and the truth before the Senate impeachment court,’ he noted.

Discussions about the claims of the 18 bodyguards surfaced again as Cayetano’s group pushed through with the blue ribbon committee hearing last Thursday.

During the hearing, the 18 former officers testified and reiterated several of their allegations, which were contained in an affidavit released last February 25, 2026.

The former officers claimed that they used to work for Co, who was head of the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations during the 19th Congress. According to the 18 individuals, they were tasked by Co to deliver suitcases allegedly filled with cash to different individuals, including several House members.

However, observers were quick to point out alleged inconsistencies and changes from the 18 individuals’ testimony last Thursday, and their original affidavit last February. Manila Rep. Joel Chua said that the venue in which the 18 bodyguards supposedly handed the money to him had changed.

Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, meanwhile, questioned his sudden inclusion in the list of those who received suitcases.

Alvarez rushed to the Senate on Thursday to confront the 18 individuals, saying that he did not receive any suitcase with cash. When asked what might have been the reason why he was suddenly included in the list, Alvarez said it might be because of his refusal to endorse an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to Alvarez, a certain Margarette who claimed to represent former lawmaker Mike Defensor – a supporter of the 18 Marines – texted him and sent a copy of the complaint against Marcos.

When asked if he will endorse the complaint, Alvarez said he flatly denied the request.

Other lawmakers have denied the allegations, too: according to Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, some sectors have been using the Senate as a political theater weeks before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Aside from Garin, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also noted that the blue ribbon committee hearing was merely staged to discredit the House before Duterte’s impeachment trial even starts.

During the hearing earlier, both the Office of the Ombudsman and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said they have no problem checking on claims made by the 18 bodyguards, but both agencies stressed the need for individual affidavits, as not every action was done collectively.

Ombudsman Central Records Division officer-in-charge Karen Batu said that lawyer-evaluators from the Office of the Ombudsman required the 18 bodyguards’ legal counsel, lawyer Levito Baligod, to submit individual affidavits stating their personal knowledge of the incidents alleged.

As of now, Batu said that the 18 bodyguards’ camp has not yet sent these documents.

NBI Director Melvin Matibag said that while they were able to interview the 18 bodyguards, only five signed the testimony as Baligod stopped the 13, because he wanted to review the documents.

Matibag said that Baligod later wanted to rip the documents.

Prosecutor-General Richard Anthony Fadullon on the other hand said it would not be a problem if the entire group has personal knowledge of everything that was alleged in the document, or if there would be clarifications that for a certain portion, only select individuals knew what transpired.

Classes in several coastal barangays of Pagadian City were suspended on Monday following the issuance of Tsunami Information No. 1 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

The advisory was issued after a magnitude 7.8 offshore earthquake struck near Sarangani at 7:37 a.m.

Phivolcs warned coastal communities in Sarangani, Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato to immediately evacuate to higher ground or move farther inland as a precaution against possible tsunami threats.

In Pagadian City, Acting Mayor Lance Samuel Co ordered the suspension of classes at all levels in both public and private schools across 12 coastal barangays: Poloyagan, Bomba, Lumbia, San Pedro, Napolan, Dumagoc, Kawit, Tawagan Sur, White Beach, Santiago, Sta. Lucia and Muricay.

The City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) urged residents to remain alert, observe precautionary measures, and closely monitor official advisories from the city government, Phivolcs, and other concerned agencies.

Authorities said classes will only resume once Phivolcs, through the CDRRMO, declares that the tsunami threat has been lifted and conditions are safe.

Meanwhile, Philippine Information Agency Region 9 Acting Regional Director Jocelyn Alvarez said that classes and government work were also suspended in Basilan province and Zamboanga City. Boat operations in both areas were likewise halted as a precaution.

Two people died in South Cotabato due to the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck parts of Mindanao on Monday morning.

Rolly Doanne Aquino, head of the South Cotabato Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, said the deaths were recorded in Barangay Kablon, Tupi town.

One victim was hit by falling debris, while the other suffered cardiac arrest following the 7:37 a.m. tremor, he told reporters.

The Rural Health Unit of Tupi confirmed the fatalities, he added.

No further details about the victims were immediately available.

Electricity and internet services remained disrupted as of 11 a.m. in parts of South Cotabato.

Operations at General Santos International Airport have been temporarily suspended following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani, on Monday morning, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP).

A Notice to Airmen, which is a safety advisory given to pilots and flight operators to alert them of sudden or temporary hazards or route changes in airspace, is in effect from 8:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.

‘Assessments of air navigation facilities, equipment, and operational capabilities are underway to ensure the continued safety and integrity of airport operations,’ CAAP said in a statement.

The agency also advised passengers to coordinate with their respective airlines for updates on their flights.

The earthquake was initially reported at magnitude 7.0 but was later upgraded to 7.8 by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

It struck at 7:37 a.m., with its epicenter located approximately 125 kilometers northeast of Sarangani.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in a separate statement, said he has ordered an immediate response from all concerned government agencies following the destructive quake.

Classes at all levels in affected areas across Mindanao were also suspended until further notice.

Reports of casualties following the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck off Maasim, Sarangani, on Monday morning are still being monitored and validated, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

As of posting time, there are no official reports of casualties, the agency said in a Viber message to reporters.

Meanwhile, the OCD said there were reports of significant damage to various infrastructure facilities, while electricity and communication services were also disrupted in several areas.

The regions most affected by the powerful earthquake were Regions 9, 11, and 12, as well as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

‘Public is advised to refrain from reentering their homes or other infrastructures, especially with signs of damage and high-rise buildings, and threat of aftershocks,’ the OCD said.

The Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices were also directed to supervise their areas of responsibility.

The OCD further said that rescue units of the uniformed services are on standby for deployment at any time, and that the Operations Center, National Inter-Agency Coordinating Cell, Response Clusters, and Agencies are on red alert status.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the tectonic earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. The epicenter of the earthquake was located 32 kilometers south and 4 degrees west of Maasim, Sarangani.

I will not graduate on time-not because I failed my subjects, but because I failed to listen to my younger self.

As graduation season nears, photos of my friends wearing togas are starting to appear on my social media feed. The day that most of my batchmates in the university are waiting for is the day that I have also been preparing for-not because I will march with them, but to keep myself from doubt and to be reminded of my achievements despite not having that degree yet.

I entered college in 2022, which means I am expected to graduate this year. I found my freshman self at the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV), studying fisheries and ocean sciences. Never in my life have I imagined myself doing fieldwork near the beach and dissecting fish in the laboratory. Honestly, I knew nothing about fisheries before college.

UP was a dream, but I did not pass the admission screening-UPCA without T (test) during our time. That did not stop me. I appealed for reconsideration multiple times, but with a catch: I had to appeal for a science-related degree program because I was granted a DOST-SEI (Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute) scholarship. At the time, my family was struggling financially, and my parents were worried about how they could support my studies. So I needed the scholarship to continue my education. Fortunately, UPV opened an opportunity for me.

Staying in Visayas was my first time being miles away from my family. But my freshman year was a blast. I met new friends who shared the same struggles. I was introduced to a warm community that welcomed me completely. Ultimately, I found a home away from home.

But I felt that something was not right. I was not happy with my studies-the very reason why I flew to Iloilo. I had barely passed and even failed most of my major exams. I had difficulties catching up with our laboratory classes. I was not performing well in my academics. Impostor syndrome dominated my confidence.

I have always wanted to excel in my craft. I knew I could do better-but not in this field.

I was a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) student in senior high school, but I really wanted to pursue a different path even before. I want to be a journalist. But where can I find scholarship opportunities for the social sciences field?

After a year of choosing practicality over passion, I made a decision that completely changed my college journey. I transferred to UP Los Baños (UPLB) to pursue a degree in development communication.

It was not an easy decision. I literally started from scratch-new campus, new people, new life. I also needed to accept the fact that most of the academic units I had taken from my previous degree program were not credited, delaying me from my original date of graduation. Adding to this was the financial burden my family had to carry for the next few years of my stay in college because my scholarship was terminated.

Transferring meant delays, and I knew it since day one. There were moments when I questioned myself: Was I wasting time? Was passion enough to justify the cost?

But I did not regret that decision.

As I pursue my passion at UPLB, I found something I had been missing all along-clarity and fulfillment. Now, the lessons that I am studying resonate with me. I find myself more engaged in classes and more motivated to improve. I excel in my outputs, even topping exams. Finally, no more self-doubt.

I have come to realize that growth does not always follow a straight path. Sometimes, it requires detours that look like delays from the outside but are necessary redirections from within.

Nevertheless, I wish that students would not need to pursue practicality over passion anymore in the future. I hope that more opportunities will be given to the social sciences field so they can choose what they really want without hesitation.

As I see my batchmates preparing for their graduation, I cannot deny that a part of me feels left behind. But I also know that if I stayed with them, I might have worn that ‘Sablay’ sooner, yet with unending what-ifs waiting to be answered.

I want to tell myself and my fellow delayed ‘iskolar ng bayan’: Hindi pagsablay ang hindi pa pag-Sablay! Not walking the commencement stage this year does not mean we are less valuable. Not receiving our diplomas on time does not mean we failed.

Being delayed does not erase the courage it took me to choose a different path, nor does it diminish the growth I experienced along the way. I may not graduate on time, but I am exactly where I need and want to be.

And when the time comes for me to wear my own Sablay, I know it will carry not just the weight of a degree, but the story of choosing purpose over pressure, and becoming, finally, the person my younger self always hoped I would be.

Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian expressed concern on Sunday about the delay caused by the recent leadership impasse in the Senate, particularly the confirmation of eight Cabinet members and a backlog of military and diplomatic appointees.

Aside from pending legislation, no senators have been elected as members of the Commission on Appointments to act on appointments to the Cabinet and to the military and foreign services since January.

Eight Cabinet appointments remain unconfirmed:

executive secretary

secretary of the Department of Finance

secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways

secretary of the Department of Justice

secretary of the Department of Budget and Management

secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources

secretary of the Department of Transportation

secretary Presidential Communications Office

Also unconfirmed are about 160 promotions and appointments in the military and foreign service, purportedly because the executive department has not submitted their appointment papers.

The delays appeared to have nothing to do with the reorganization drama on May 11 when Sen. Vicente Sotto III was ousted as Senate president. It appeared to be due to the inaction ahead of the sine die adjournment of the 20th Congress’ first regular session on June 5.

More confusion arose after presidential spokesperson Claire Castro suggested that President Marcos would be open to calling for a special session to tackle bills and appointments for a valid reason.

Only the President is empowered to call a special session of Congress and does not require a ‘formal request’ from any leader of Congress.

A lot on agenda

‘We’re still laying out the things that need to be discussed during the special session, like the promotion of the five generals. That’s important to me… especially if you’ve been serving our country for a long time. There’s also a lot on our agenda,’ he said in an interview with radio DZBB on Sunday.

But the matter involves not only the confirmation of five generals but also of dozens of military officers and appointments to the foreign service.

‘That’s one of our concerns… these five generals who should be promoted, but they were not confirmed. If they go beyond their birthday, they can no longer be promoted. So it would be unfair to our generals who served our country and our people,’ said Gatchalian in an earlier interview.

Apart from the generals’ confirmation, the senators are also reviewing the list of pending bills and appointments that may be discussed should the President call for a special session, he added.

Congress is scheduled to remain in recess until the start of the second regular session on July 26, the constitutional requirement for Congress to convene annually on the fourth Monday of July.

But the President may call Congress into a special session at any time to deal with urgent legislative measures or emergencies.

A special session is limited to a maximum period specified in the presidential proclamation, focusing strictly on the urgent legislation outlined in the call.

The Visayas continues to experience tight power situation amid the unavailability of three major coal facilities.

The National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Monday placed the Visayas grid under yellow alert anew, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

As of Monday morning, available capacity was 2,659 megawatts (MW), while peak demand was 2,510 MW.

A yellow alert indicates that available power reserves are thinning, meaning any unexpected plant outage could trigger service interruptions.