Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Amid rising prices of basic commodities, Sen. JV Ejercito has proposed doubling the monthly social pension for indigent senior citizens from P1,000 to P2,000.

Ejercito’s Senate Bill No. 2522 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11916, which sets the monthly social pension at P1,000, to address the rising costs of food, maintenance medicines, healthcare, and basic utilities.

‘P1,000 a month is simply no longer sufficient to significantly support the daily needs of an elderly Filipino,’ he said.

According to the senator, the modest monthly pension received by many retirees is quickly consumed by expenses for maintenance medicines, medical consultations, food, rent, electricity, transportation, and other necessities.

‘The small statutory pension they receive every month is far from the financial security we envisioned for our seniors,’ he added.

Under SB 2522, the definition of an indigent senior citizen would be expanded to include elderly Filipinos who have no pension or permanent source of income, as well as those who receive a pension, compensation or financial assistance not exceeding P10,000 per month, subject to determination by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The bill would also remove the existing requirement that an indigent senior citizen be ‘frail, sickly or with disability’ to qualify for the social pension.

If enacted, the measure would also require the DSWD, in consultation with relevant stakeholders and subject to DBM approval, to review the social pension every two years and adjust it when necessary.

The proposed adjustments would take into account the consumer price index, poverty threshold, cost of living, and other relevant economic indicators reported by government agencies.

‘Social pension is not charity. Ultimately, this measure is about how we value those who came before us. Our senior citizens should be able to spend the remaining years of their lives with dignity, not in constant worry about their next meal, their medicines, or their most basic needs,’ Ejercito said.

Citing the Philippine Statistics Authority’s 2024 Census of Population, Ejercito said approximately one in every 10 Filipinos is a senior citizen.

Defense Secretary Gilbert ‘Gibo’ Teodoro Jr. on Saturday said former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV should submit evidence to law enforcement authorities to back his allegations that Chinese funds went to an organization linked to Vice President Sara Duterte and her family.

‘The allegations of [former] Senator Trillanes, if substantiated, raise serious implications for national security,’ Teodoro said in a message forwarded to reporters by Palace press officer Claire Castro.

‘He should submit the evidence in his possession, if any, to our law enforcement authorities so the matter can be thoroughly investigated,’ he added.

Trillanes on Friday claimed that P319 million from the Chinese government and China-based corporations went to CALLE88 Foods Corp., a company linked to the Vice President’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

He also alleged that Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Inc., a foundation where Duterte is an incorporator, received a P150 million donation from the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines.

Teodoro has been one of China’s staunchest critics in the Marcos administration, frequently denouncing Beijing’s aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea.

Nat’l security implications

Malacañang said Trillanes’ allegations should not be ignored, provided that they were substantiated by sufficient evidence.

Castro warned that those who tolerate such acts, which could be considered an act of betrayal of the country, should be made accountable.

Trillanes made the disclosures a day after the prosecution panel in Duterte’s impeachment trial announced that he would no longer testify against Duterte.

The former senator said the country should be ‘horrified’ because China’s support for the Vice President has ‘national security implications’ and should be grounds for her impeachment.

The Dutertes are known for their close ties to China. Ex-President Rodrigo Duterte, the Vice President’s father, pivoted the country’s foreign policy toward China in 2016 to secure economic investments and distance the country from traditional ties with the United States.

While he urged Filipinos to closely follow the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian urged those who may be too tired or sleepy to just stay and monitor the proceedings at home to avoid falling asleep inside the session hall.

‘If they’re sleepy, they shouldn’t come. They can sleep at home and watch the proceedings on TV. It doesn’t look good to attend the impeachment court proceedings and then sleep there. They can just watch from home if they’re feeling sleepy, and so they won’t be reminded or nudged inside the court,’ Gatchalian said in an interview with radio dzBB on Sunday.

‘Even in a normal court, you do not go there to sleep. You’re also not allowed to sleep there. And also, [not sleeping inside the court] is a sign of respect for the court,’ he added.

It can be recalled that Rep. Bienvenido Abante, who was seated at the VIP section of the Senate session hall, was caught sleeping last Monday while Rendell Sopeña, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System’s (PhilGEPS) division chief, was at the witness stand and answering questions from senator-judges.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero then asked former Surigao del Norte and prosecution spokesperson Rep. Robert Ace Barbers and prosecutor Rep. Lorenz Defensor to ‘kindly nudge Cong Benny a bit.’

‘It seems he’s tired. He may want to rest somewhere, but at least not right behind the witness,’ Escudero said.

‘I think he’s praying for us,’ lead public prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said in jest.

‘I doubt that,’ Escudero replied, adding: ‘It’s been a long day, I guess.’

In an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the trial, Abante said, laughing: ‘I fell asleep at 2 a.m. this morning, so I fell asleep a little.’

‘You’ll really feel sleepy because of the questions from the defense lawyers…it’s nice to listen, but when [the questions] become boring, you’ll get sleepy,’ he said.

South Korea’s Asian Games football captain called it ‘disappointing’ after the country’s flag appeared to get stuck during the victory ceremony following their win over hosts Japan.

Eom Ji-sung scored the only goal as South Korea won a fourth straight title with a 1-0 victory over Japan in the final at Toyota Stadium near Nagoya on Saturday evening.

However, footage of the victory ceremony afterward showed ceremonial officials struggling to raise South Korea’s flag on the flagpole, sparking boos from Korean fans.

‘I believe an awards ceremony should be an occasion for celebration,’ said captain Lee Gi-hyuk, according to Yonhap News Agency.

‘We worked so hard to get here, so it was disappointing that they couldn’t even properly unfurl the flag.

‘I imagine the players, as well as the fans who came all this way to support us, must have been unhappy about it too.’

According to South Korean media, the flag was eventually raised properly, but only after the national anthem ended.

The Games in Aichi-Nagoya, which close later Sunday, have been dogged by organisational issues over accommodation and transport.

South Korea were also victims of a mix-up when the national anthem for North Korea was played for the South’s hockey team.

South Korean Olympic officials have been outspoken in their criticism of how the Games have been run.

Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee, said during the first week: ‘If I were to give them a grade, it would be an F.’

Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong has backed Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Patrick Gregorio, who defended the Philippines’ performance at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games amid criticisms.

In a statement issued by the Baguio Public Information Office on Sunday, Oct. 4, Magalong praised Gregorio for defending Filipino athletes and sports officials, describing the PSC chief’s message as ‘exceptional, passionate and strongly worded.’

The mayor said the public should ‘look beyond wins and losses’ and recognize the work, dedication and sacrifices of athletes regardless of their results.

‘Chairman Pato was right. This is the best output in so many decades,’ Magalong said, congratulating the athletes, coaches, trainers and sports officials.

According to Gregorio, the Philippines recorded its biggest overall Asian Games medal haul in 64 years, since the 1962 Jakarta Games, despite falling short of its target of eight gold medals.

He also noted that the country won medals in nearly 19 sports, compared with 11 in the 2022 Hangzhou Games.

Gregorio cited the silver-medal finish of 18-year-old taekwondo athlete Tachiana Keizha Mangin, who reached the final after defeating Japan before losing to China via superiority in a scoreless gold-medal match. He said the result should also be appreciated as part of the country’s overall performance.

The PSC chief also said sports officials attend competitions not only to celebrate victories but also to show athletes that they remain supported even when they fall short of winning medals.

Gregorio also announced plans to roll out a P100-million PSC National and Regional Youth Training Pool Program for athletes aged 16 and below across the top 40 national sports associations beginning in January.

Jhoanna Robles of P-pop girl group BINI turned her personal wardrobe into a fundraising effort as she held a closet sale for charity over the weekend.

Robles spearheaded the charity event on Oct. 3 in Mandaluyong City, where she met fans who registered for the sale. The attendees took to social media to give a glimpse of the closet sale.

The singer sold pieces from her personal collection, including brand-new clothes and pre-loved pieces. Each purchase also came with a photocard featuring the girl group member wearing the item.

The sale was part of The Cinder Project, a charitable initiative launched by the BINI leader under Burn Theory, her new passion project.

During the event, attendees were given drinks from the singer’s coffee shop business and samples of candle wax from Burn Theory ahead of its official launch.

Robles earlier said that 100% of the proceeds from the wardrobe sale would go to charity, particularly initiatives supporting local farmers.

A local perfume brand also partnered with the initiative, with 5% of its sales going to The Cinder Project. Local artists also showcased and sold their works at the event, with 15% of proceeds from sold artworks going to the project.

Monetary donations in any amount were also accepted from those who wanted to support the cause without purchasing anything.

The BINI member also received clothing donations from friends and colleagues. Among those who contributed were fellow BINI member Sheena Catacutan, the group’s stylist Ica Villanueva, and content creator couple Kath and Gene, among others.

Robles first floated the idea of selling some of the clothes she had received from fans in September, asking BINI fans, known as Blooms, for their support.

‘Would you guys be okay if I sell some of the clothes you’ve given me over the years, and 100% of the proceeds will go to charity?’ she said in a previous X post.

A 58-year-old dump truck driver died while two others were injured in a collision involving three dump trucks in Real, Quezon, on Saturday night, the police said. In a report on Sunday, the Quezon police said a dump truck driven by alias ‘Joel,’ 50, was forced to stop after another vehicle suddenly entered the highway in Barangay Tignoan at around 7 p.m. The said truck was rear-ended by another dump truck driven by alias ‘Celso,’ 48. Moments later, a third dump truck driven by alias ‘Encio,’ 58, reportedly traveling at high speed, failed to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the second truck.

The impact left Encio trapped inside his truck and critically injured. After being extricated by rescuers, he was rushed to a hospital in neighboring Infanta, Quezon, where he was declared dead on arrival. The other victims sustained injuries and were brought to a hospital for treatment. Police said the parties involved were working toward an amicable settlement.

A 58-year-old dump truck driver died while two others were injured in a collision involving three dump trucks in Real, Quezon, on Saturday night, the police said. In a report on Sunday, the Quezon police said a dump truck driven by alias ‘Joel,’ 50, was forced to stop after another vehicle suddenly entered the highway in Barangay Tignoan at around 7 p.m. The said truck was rear-ended by another dump truck driven by alias ‘Celso,’ 48. Moments later, a third dump truck driven by alias ‘Encio,’ 58, reportedly traveling at high speed, failed to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the second truck.

The impact left Encio trapped inside his truck and critically injured. After being extricated by rescuers, he was rushed to a hospital in neighboring Infanta, Quezon, where he was declared dead on arrival. The other victims sustained injuries and were brought to a hospital for treatment. Police said the parties involved were working toward an amicable settlement.

A 58-year-old dump truck driver died while two others were injured in a collision involving three dump trucks in Real, Quezon, on Saturday night, the police said. In a report on Sunday, the Quezon police said a dump truck driven by alias ‘Joel,’ 50, was forced to stop after another vehicle suddenly entered the highway in Barangay Tignoan at around 7 p.m. The said truck was rear-ended by another dump truck driven by alias ‘Celso,’ 48. Moments later, a third dump truck driven by alias ‘Encio,’ 58, reportedly traveling at high speed, failed to stop in time and slammed into the rear of the second truck.

The impact left Encio trapped inside his truck and critically injured. After being extricated by rescuers, he was rushed to a hospital in neighboring Infanta, Quezon, where he was declared dead on arrival. The other victims sustained injuries and were brought to a hospital for treatment. Police said the parties involved were working toward an amicable settlement.

The BARMM Grand Coalition (BGC), the regional political party in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao that holds the ‘key’ for a party to dominate the first regular parliament said it has yet to coalesce with any group.

In a statement, the BGC said it has engaged in dialogues with the leadership of the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) and the Bangsamoro Federalist Party (BFP), and most recently with officials of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

‘The BGC has yet to complete this process of dialogue and consultations. At this stage, the BGC has not entered into any coalition agreement with any political party or parties,’ it said.

The BGC said these engagements form part of their group’s continuing efforts to consult political parties and key stakeholders as the region moves toward the formation of the first elected Bangsamoro Parliament.

‘We believe that any decision concerning government formation must be reached through careful consultation, meaningful dialogue, and consideration of what will best serve the interests of the Bangsamoro people,’ the BGC said.

It said it will formally announce its decision only after these consultations have been completed and the BGC leadership has reached a collective position, with consensus serving as a major factor in the decision-making process.

The BGC issued the statement after the BFP claimed on Friday that it had ‘secured the support of 46 of the 80 elected members of the Bangsamoro Parliament.’

On October 30, the inaugural session of the Bangsamoro Parliament will take place with the parliament members electing the chief minister and other parliament leaders.

Police seized 33 grams of suspected shabu worth P224,400 and arrested a man during a search warrant operation in Bolinao, Pangasinan, on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The suspect, a single and unemployed resident of Bolinao, was reportedly on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s Regional Watch List for illegal drugs in Pangasinan.

The Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Special Operations Unit 1, along with other police units, implemented Search Warrant No. 41-2026 against the suspect.

According to the police, the operation resulted in the seizure of seven heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets containing suspected shabu, with a total estimated street value of P224,400. Police also confiscated a black coin purse reportedly used to store the suspected drugs.

The seized items were inventoried and marked at the scene in the presence of the suspect, two barangay kagawads and a representative of the National Prosecution Service.

Police said the suspect was brought to the Lingayen Municipal Police Station, while the seized drug evidence was turned over to the Urdaneta City Satellite Forensic Office for examination and proper disposition.

Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro on Sunday said the prosecution team will formally state its position before the Senate impeachment court following the prosecution panel’s reported plan to drop an impeachment charge against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Manila Rep. Joel Chua bared early Sunday that prosecutors will no longer present the bribery charge hinged on the testimony of former Department of Education (DepEd) officials who said they received cash envelopes through Duterte’s subordinate.

‘Our responsibility remains clear: to follow the evidence and bring a focused, well-supported case to its conclusion,’ Luistro said in a statement.

‘That responsibility guides every decision we make.’

In September, prosecutors said they were studying whether to pursue the allegation that the vice president bribed officials to persuade DepEd officials to bypass procurement rules in her stint as education secretary.

Luistro said the prosecution is committed to finish presenting its case ‘without unnecessary delay,’ adding that prosecutors intend to avoid needlessly prolonging the trial

‘We are confident in the evidence we have laid out and continue to present before the Senate impeachment court,’ she said.

The prosecution team had already presented two impeachment articles: that Duterte allegedly threatened President Ferdinand R.Marcos, Jr., the First Lady and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and that she misused P612.5 million in confidential funds.

‘The evidence on confidential funds and grave threats is already before our court. Our presentation on unexplained wealth is ongoing, and we will see it through with the rigor and resolve that this case demands,’ Luistro said.

She said the public has the right to see with clarity the allegations against Duterte, assuring that prosecutors remain steadfast in delivering that by presenting evidence of alleged wrongdoing against the vice president.

‘It is our duty to present the evidence and complete our case, and we will fulfill that responsibility to the very end,’ Luistro said in Filipino.