Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla challenged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to commit to data sharing with the anti-graft body, noting that a lack of cooperation in this regard may be done to stall complaints.

In response, the BOC on Monday said they are committed to work with the agency regarding ‘lawful’ requests of information in its fight against smuggling.

‘The problem always with Customs is that they don’t want to complete the documentation so the case can be dismissed,’ Remulla said in a radio dzRH program over the weekend.

‘As we file the case or investigate it, when we ask for the document [from BOC], the document does not come,’ Remulla said. ‘There is no data sharing.’

Remulla noted that the Department of Budget and Management already agreed to a data sharing pact with the Office of the Ombudsman.

The Office of the Ombudsman now has direct access to government procurement records after the data sharing agreement between the anti-graft body and the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

‘At least the DBM allowed data sharing, this time, we are now challenging the Customs,’ Remulla said.

In a statement, the BOC said: ‘The Bureau continuously supports lawful requests for information and is strengthening its systems and processes to further improve cooperation and data sharing, in accordance with existing laws and regulations.’

‘The BOC reaffirms its commitment to transparency, cooperation, and whole-of-government action, and will continue to provide the necessary support to partner agencies to protect government revenues, strengthen anti-smuggling efforts, and serve the best interests of the Filipino people.’

Lopez-led First Gen Corp. is pushing for stronger policy and financial backing to derisk geothermal energy activities and harness about 35,000 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity in Southeast Asia, making the region a global leader in this industry segment.

The group made this call on the opening day of the Asean Energy Business Forum on Monday, saying members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have massive geothermal resource potential of 34,000 GMW to 35,000 MW.

If the target capacity were unlocked, it would represent nearly 48 percent of the world’s geothermal resource.

According to Jaime Jemuel Austria Jr., president of the National Geothermal Association of the Philippines, the region’s current production stands at 4,000 MW.

Indonesia continues to dominate the market, accounting for about 84.9 percent of regional capacity. The Philippines, meanwhile, contributes about 12.7 percent.

But First Gen said there is also geothermal interest in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia and Laos.

‘Despite the abundance of this 24/7 renewable energy source, geothermal remains a minor contributor to national energy grids across Southeast Asia,’ the firm said.

In Indonesia, although it holds about 40 percent of global resources, the country operates less than 8 percent of the capacity due to bureaucracy problems and pricing structures.

First Gen also cited infrastructure challenges, such as the absence or lack of subsea cables and high-voltage transmission backbones that are needed to transfer the electricity generated from geothermal power plants located in remote areas to consumers.

Further developments are hindered by Hefty initial capital for exploration activities are hindering the development of more such power assets.

‘Because geothermal [energy] bears heavy upfront subsurface drilling risks before revenue generation begins, unsupportive policy environments often render projects unbankable compared to cheaper, faster-to-deploy variable alternatives,’ it added.

In the Philippines, the Department of Energy has begun entertaining developers wanting to secure initial investments from a P10.7-billion geothermal derisking facility.

The concept of this is the government will shoulder half of the drilling costs, with the loan tagged as a grant if the exploration activity is unsuccessful.

At present, the country has 2,057 MW of installed geothermal capacity, making it the third-largest geothermal power producer globally

The Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) said the climate adaptation budget will recover in 2027. However, mitigation funding will continue to decline, raising concerns about the shift to a low-carbon economy.

In its 2027 budget brief, the CPBRD said mitigation spending accounts for only 6.7 percent of total climate expenditures from 2025 to 2027, compared with 93.3 percent for climate adaptation.

Climate mitigation refers to spending that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and addresses the root cause of climate change. Adaptation, meanwhile, focuses on strengthening resilience to climate impacts.

For 2027, the government proposes P681.5 billion for adaptation, partially recovering from a 40.8-percent decline to P582.9 billion in 2026 from P984.3 billion in 2025.

Next year, the government projects to reduce mitigation spending by 83 percent, dropping it to just P11.2 billion from P65.8 billion.

‘Although the country’s climate change expenditures have historically been skewed toward adaptation measures due to its high vulnerability to typhoons, flooding, drought, sea-level rise, and other climate-related hazards, investments in mitigation initiatives that reduce GHG emissions are equally critical to addressing the underlying drivers of climate change and enhancing long-term climate resilience,’ the CPBRD said.

The decline in mitigation spending ‘raises concerns about the country’s capacity to sustain investments aimed at reducing GHG emissions and supporting transition to a low-carbon economy,’ it added.

The national government has committed to cutting emissions by 75 percent by 2030. However, the Climate Change Commission recently said the country’s fossil carbon dioxide emissions have risen by 25 percent since 2021.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development earlier warned that a high-emissions scenario could shrink the country’s gross domestic product by about 5 percent as early as 2040, with losses accelerating to 20 percent by 2070.

The CPBRD also noted that national government departments account for 96.5 percent, or P668.6 billion, of the P692.7-billion total climate spending proposed for 2027.

‘The effectiveness of climate spending therefore depends not only on the amount identified at the national level, but also on whether resources, implementation mechanisms, and technical capacity reach LGUs and other frontline institutions,’ the CPBRD said.

The agency also cautioned that tagging a large amount as climate spending does not necessarily translate into climate impact.

‘It ultimately depends on the accuracy of tagging, the quality and additionality of interventions, budget execution, and evidence that expenditures contribute to adaptation or mitigation outcomes,’ the CPBRD said.

Vice President Sara Duterte told journalists here on Tuesday that her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, had advised her to ‘come home’ and leave national politics to her brother, Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte, the city’s incumbent mayor.

Duterte made this revelation at a press conference during which she denied accusations that she received money stuffed in suitcases from dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr.

The Vice President was asked about suggestions that her younger brother take the cudgels for her amid threats to her viability as a presidential contender. Duterte may lose her eligibility to hold public office if the Senate impeachment court convicts her.

Duterte said she has not discussed the matter with her brother, who currently leads the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino (PDP), the political party that carried his father’s presidential bid in 2016.

During the press conference, Duterte said she is not inclined to follow her mother’s plea, and that she is not coming home yet because she still has work as Vice President.

Grade 4 student Elena Jane had mixed emotions before receiving her first Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine dose on Tuesday at Sinabuagan Integrated School, about16 kilometers from Valencia City’s economic center.

The immunization marked the launch of the Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DepEd) Bakuna Eskwela school-based program for October.

During the rollout, Grade 1 and 7 students also received Measles-Rubella (MR) and Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td) shots with parental consent.

Rural health midwife Jonalyn Jayme Malunes, alongside the Valencia City Health Office team, targeted 29 first-time Grade 4 female learners for the HPV vaccine, including 10-year-old Grade 5 student Emily Grace, following previous supply shortages. The team is also administering delayed second doses to 32 young learners.

Malunes noted that while both learners had parental consent, some hesitation remains due to negative social media rumors regarding vaccine side effects.

Nationwide, the Department of Education is targeting approximately 4.6 million learners for the School Year 2026-2027 immunization campaign.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday called on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to make public the video of dismissed policeman Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. undergoing a lie detector test to dispel doubts about whether the examination was actually conducted.

Duterte said she had no problem undergoing a polygraph examination herself, responding to Gracioso’s challenge for her to take the test.

Gracioso, who accused Duterte of receiving money stuffed in suitcases, took the test on Sept. 30 at the NBI as part of the process of verifying the truthfulness of his Sept. 14 affidavit about cash deliveries to Duterte and other personalities.

Gracioso used to be a security detail of former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, a key Duterte ally.

The test showed ‘no specific physiological reactions indicative of deception.’

Duterte said an affidavit she prepared in response to Gracioso’s accusations had refuted each of the former policeman’s claims.

In a statement released Monday, Duterte said Gracioso ‘made 29 statements concerning me that we believe are false.’

She confirmed receiving a copy of Gracioso’s affidavit from the NBI, along with identification documents, but said it contained no attachments.

‘Among several other pieces of my evidence, Jefry Tupas and I were nowhere near Marinduque during Mahal na Araw in 2019, nor were we in Manila on September 21, 2019,’ Duterte said in the Oct. 5 statement.

She said she was confident that the NBI would be able to file a perjury case against Gracioso after the agency ‘completes its investigation and the evidence is fully evaluated.’

The Biliran Province State University (BiPSU) in Naval, Biliran, has warned students that threatening or endangering anyone on campus could lead to expulsion on the first offense.

This follows an alleged gun threat involving a third-year female college student and one of her teachers on Monday.

In a reminder issued after the incident, the university said any act or conduct that threatens or endangers the health and safety of anyone on university premises constitutes a serious offense under its Student Handbook.

‘Students found responsible for such acts, after due process, shall face expulsion from the University on the first offense,’ BiPSU said in its advisory.

The reminder came hours after the university was reportedly placed on heightened security alert following an alleged gun threat involving a third-year college student and a teacher.

Initial reports said the student allegedly made a threat against her teacher, whom she described as ‘bad,’ through a text message. The university later said the situation had been placed under control.

Authorities and university officials coordinated on the incident to ensure the safety of students, faculty members, and other personnel on campus.

BiPSU, based in Naval, Biliran, has a student population of more than 13,000, making campus security a major concern following the reported incident.

The university cited Section 22.1.1.2.4 of its Student Handbook, which covers ‘brutal and cruel acts such as hazing or any form of conduct which tend to threaten and endanger the health and safety of any person inside the school premises.’

Under the handbook provision, the first offense is punishable by expulsion from the university.

The university, however, stressed that disciplinary action would be imposed only after due process and a determination of responsibility.

‘Following the incident earlier today, we remind everyone, especially our students, that any act or conduct that threatens or endangers the health and safety of any person within the University premises is a serious offense under our Student Handbook,’ BiPSU said.

It urged students and other members of the university community to act responsibly and help maintain a safe and secure campus.

BiPSU officials said the university remains committed to protecting its students, faculty and personnel while addressing the latest incident in accordance with its rules and due process.

The incident comes amid continuing concerns over school and campus safety in Eastern Visayas following a series of threats and violence involving students.

In June, three people were killed and 20 others injured in a shooting at the San Jose National High School here, prompting renewed calls for stronger security measures and closer coordination among schools, parents, local governments and law enforcement agencies.

Philippine stocks fell on Tuesday as faster September inflation and a weak peso dampened investor sentiment, erasing part of the previous session’s gains.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) shed 1.15 percent, or 66.09 points, to close at 5,677.12.

Philstocks Financial Inc. said investors weighed the latest headline inflation reading, which accelerated to 7.2 percent in September from 6.1 percent in August.

Additionally, the figure was close to the upper end of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ forecast range of 6.4 to 7.4 percent.

The peso’s continued weakness also weighed on market sentiment, the brokerage said.

Ron Acoba, chief investment strategist at Trading Edge, said persistent high long-term yields suggest markets remain concerned about inflation, fiscal pressures, and the prospect that interest rates could stay elevated longer, maintaining a challenging backdrop for emerging-market equities.

‘Domestic selling pressure may also be building ahead of the upcoming Mynt IPO as institutional investors begin freeing up liquidity to participate in the offering,’ Acoba said.

Trading remained thin, with net value turnover reaching P4.04 billion. Foreign investors ended the session as net sellers, with net outflows of P293.89 million.

Moreover, all sectoral indices declined. Mining and oil posted the steepest loss, falling 2.38 percent.

Among index stocks, ACEN Corp. bucked the downturn, rising 2.66 percent to P2.70 to become the session’s top gainer.

Meanwhile, Emperador Inc. was the biggest laggard, dropping 7.59 percent to P15.10.

Volunteers and environmental groups removed 609 crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) from the waters off Buyayao Island in the southernmost town of Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro, during a two-day reef conservation activity over the weekend.

This starfish species is a natural component of coral reef ecosystems but can threaten reefs when its populations reach outbreak levels.

The starfish feed on living coral tissue, and large concentrations can consume coral faster than reefs can naturally recover.

The loss of live coral can affect marine biodiversity and coastal communities because reefs provide habitat and food for marine species and support activities such as fishing and tourism.

Healthy coral reefs also help sustain marine tourism, including diving, freediving and snorkeling, while reef degradation can diminish the appeal and ecological value of coastal destinations.

The COTS removal activity on Oct. 3 and 4 brought together Mindoro AdvenTours, the Center for Environmental Studies of the Mindoro State University, Freediving Coaches of Asia in Calapan, Mindoro Freediving Buddies, and the Bulalacao local government, including its tourism, municipal environment and natural resources, agriculture, disaster risk reduction and management, and Bantay Dagat offices.

Individual volunteers also joined the activity, combining their time, diving skills, and resources to help protect the island’s coral reefs.

‘For us, conservation is not just about removing COTS. It is about building awareness, inspiring people to care, and creating a community that takes responsibility for the ocean we all depend on,’ said Tina Jarabe of Mindoro AdvenTours.

‘Every volunteer who joined this activity became part of that mission,’ she added.

Organizers said removing 609 COTS demonstrated the value of cooperation among local governments, coastal communities, environmental organizations, tourism stakeholders, and diving and freediving groups.

The activity also highlighted how recreational diving and freediving communities can contribute to marine conservation by using their skills to support reef protection initiatives.

The organizers stressed that reef conservation should not be left to a single organization or sector, saying sustained protection requires continuing collaboration and community participation.

They expressed hope that the initiative would encourage more people to help protect Mindoro’s marine ecosystems and lead to further reef conservation activities in Buyayao Island and other coastal areas.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has no records showing that the P319.3 million received by CALE88 Foods Corp., a company linked to Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Manases Carpio, came from the Chinese government, an AMLC official testified Tuesday.

During the resumption of the impeachment trial, defense lawyer Mark Vinluan asked AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura if the agency had any indication that the funds came from the Chinese government.

The P319.3 million was among CALE88’s transactions flagged by the AMLC as covered or suspicious. Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV had earlier identified the same amount as funds allegedly sent by the Chinese government.

Vinluan also asked Buenaventura whether AMLC records showed that China-based entities that transacted with CALE88 were illegitimate.

‘No, Your Honor, there’s nothing in the records,’ Buenaventura replied.

Senator-Judge Risa Hontiveros, however, said her office had researched two of the companies that transacted with CALE88: China National Township Enterprises and Beijing Jianweifang Food Co.

Hontiveros said China National Township Enterprises was previously directly under China’s Ministry of Agriculture and later became a state-owned agricultural enterprise under the country’s State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

She also said company profiles indicated that the firm supported the implementation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative and foreign policy.

Hontiveros said Beijing Jianweifang Food Co. is owned by Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group, which she described as a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

She added that Xinjiang Fruit Industry Group has an embedded Chinese Communist Party organization within its corporate structure and that Beijing Jianweifang’s chairman is a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

‘Bakit po ito mahalaga, Atty. Buenaventura?’ Hontiveros said, explaining that the companies’ alleged state links were relevant to the issue before the impeachment court.

(Why is this important, Atty. Buenaventura?)

Buenaventura began testifying for the prosecution Monday, when he confirmed several financial transactions involving Duterte and Carpio.

At one point, he testified that Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, had P193 million in unique bank transactions on March 28, 2014.

Later, Buenaventura testified that CALE88 received P319,326,770.41 in funds from China, confirming the figure earlier presented by Trillanes at a press briefing in San Juan.

Trillanes said Chinese firms sent the P319 million to CALE88 in tranches from 2023 to 2025.