Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. James ‘Jojo’ Ang pleaded not guilty to two of the graft charges against him before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division on Tuesday.

Ang faces 14 counts of violating Republic Act No. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act before the Sandiganbayan, two of which were raffled to the Sixth Division.

The information filed by state prosecutors as read during the hearing on Tuesday alleged that Ang had ‘direct and/or indirect financial interest’ in contracts between the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Allencon Development Corporation.

The contracts in question were worth P8.18 million and P16.079 million.

Ang purportedly owned 500 shares in Allencon Development Corporation.

State prosecutors argued that Ang’s alleged acquisition of the shares violated Article VI, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution, which prohibits lawmakers from being ‘interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the government.’

Before Ang’s arraignment, state prosecutors moved to amend the information filed to note that the amounts indicated in the charges were ‘more or less’ P8.18 million and P16.079 million.

The prosecution cited ‘unquantifiable’ differences between the amount stated in the contract and the budget approved by the DPWH.

However, Ang’s legal counsel, Luis Vera Cruz, argued that the motion to amend the information to include the phrase ‘more or less’ would change the nature of the charges and affect the jurisdiction of the court.

Nonetheless, the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division granted prosecutors’ motion to amend the information.

The court set the preliminary conference on Monday afternoon, September 7 and the pretrial proper on Tuesday morning, September 8.

After Ang entered his plea, state prosecutors requested the Sixth Division to preventively suspend the lawmaker.

Given the state prosecutors’ request, the Sixth Division ordered Ang to file an explanation within five days as to why he should not be preventively suspended. /

Classes on Wednesday, Sept. 2, have been suspended in several areas due to the expected bad weather brought by the southwest monsoon, or habagat.

Below are the following areas with class suspensions:

Central Luzon

Guagua, Pampanga – no face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

Tarlac – no face-to-face classes, all levels, public and private; until Saturday, September 5

Pangasinan

Basista – no face-to-face classes in daycare to senior high school; public and private

no face-to-face classes in all levels, public and private

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said in a weather advisory that the southwest monsoon may bring scattered rains over Luzon and Visayas until Wednesday afternoon.

Metro Pacific Water (MPW) plans to invest P23 billion by 2031 to enhance its operations in the Philippines and Vietnam.

The group disclosed the planned investment as it marked its 15th year in the water business.

‘Water security is economic security, and this P23-billion investment is our commitment to building the infrastructure the next generation will depend on,’ Andrew Pangilinan, MPW president and CEO, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Moreover, the company said the funds will support new water sources, infrastructure development, network rehabilitation, reducing non-revenue water, and pipeline repairs.

In addition, part of the investment will fund new technologies to enhance the reliability and efficiency of the water network.

Currently, MPW uses modular treatment technologies, including reverse osmosis, to serve water-scarce areas.

The group serves around 221,000 households in Iloilo, Dumaguete, and San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, and operates Metro Iloilo Bulk Water Supply Corp. and Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. through joint ventures with local water districts.

Likewise, MPW has presence in Nghe An, Vietnam’s largest province, via its subsidiaries Tuan Loc Water Resources Investment and Phu Ninh Water.

‘As we build stronger regional water operations in Southeast Asia, our investment improves our ability to expand capacity and pursue new opportunities where reliable water infrastructure is increasingly critical,’ Pangilinan said.

‘Our cross-country experience has allowed us to combine local operating experience with technologies and solutions that can be deployed across different markets,’ he added.

MPW’s portfolio now has a water production and treatment capacity of 798 million liters per day, up from 667 MLD last year.

Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) saw revenues rise in the first half of 2026, giving the tollway operator a lift as it works to seal its mammoth merger with conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC).

MPTC said toll revenues grew 8 percent to P19.6 billion during the January-to-June period, driven by its expanding road network in the Philippines, stronger operations in Indonesia and contributions from overseas investments.

That growth came despite slightly softer traffic at home, which accounts for more than 90 percent of its revenues, as average daily vehicle entries declined 1 percent to 715,200.

Across MPTC’s regional portfolio, however, average daily vehicle entries still edged up 1 percent to about 2.5 million, buoyed by a 3-percent increase in Indonesia to 1.67 million vehicles a day.

MPTC attributed the revenue growth partly to the opening of Cavitex C5 Link Segment 3B Phase 1 and Calax Subsection 3. In Indonesia, stable logistics activity, tariff adjustments and improved toll-road access also supported its performance.

The company said earnings from its equity investments in Indonesia likewise boosted core profit.

Only MPTC’s Philippine tollway assets are expected to be folded into the planned merger with SMC, Pangilinan said earlier.

Both groups are now working to seal the deal before year-end, with SMC chair and CEO Ramon Ang expected to lead the combined tollway company. Pangilinan previously said SMC could own about 55 percent.

Ahead of the planned merger, MPTC continues to expand its domestic network.

Capital expenditures reached P7.6 billion in the first half, although this was 5-percent lower year on year as right-of-way and construction issues affected project completion schedules.

Ongoing projects include North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Segment 8.2 Section 1A, the remaining Calax subsections, Cavitex-Calax Link Expressway, Cavitex C5 Link Segment 3B Phase 2 and remaining works on the NLEx Connector.

MPTC’s regional portfolio now spans more than 1,100 kilometers of toll roads across the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.

In the Philippines, the company operates the NLEx, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, Manila-Cavite Expressway, Cavite-Laguna Expressway, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway and the NLEx Connector.

At least P3.713 billion in public funds may have been wasted on flood control and multipurpose projects in reclamation areas of Laguna Lake in Taguig City, according to Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson.

Also on Monday, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano welcomed the scrutiny of land titles in his bailiwick, noting that his wife, Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, had long wanted these properties examined.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has ordered a halt to reclamation projects in Taguig, saying it would soon ‘determine a way forward’ on this matter after consulting with ‘different stakeholders.’

Posting on X on Monday, Lacson said: ‘WASTED PUBLIC FUNDS DUE TO MISUSE: Based on official records and our investigation, the total cost of Identified completed, ongoing (and suspended) DPWH Flood Control and Multi-Purpose Projects along the ‘illegal’ Laguna Lakeshore Reclamation Areas in Taguig City has so far reached P3.713 billion.’

‘These do not include other anomalous Slope Protection and Flood Mitigation projects along Taguig River involving double appropriations and ‘ghost’ projects using recycled photographs in different ‘completed’ projects, for billing purposes,’ he added.

Lacson’s latest disclosure came following Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon’s announcement of cease-and-desist orders issued on the said projects, in line with a directive from the Office of the President through the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA).

Lacson said earlier that an investigation by his team has found reclamation activities on Taguig City’s side of Laguna Lake covering at least 85 hectares of land.

He said their latest findings would be among the evidence to be sent to the Office of the Ombudsman’s fact-finding team ‘for proper disposition.’

Contractors

In his post on X, Lacson also cited official records as well as his office’s investigation identifying the top five contractors involved in projects covering P2.372 billion:

Dahl Construction: P858.22 million covering five solo projects worth P571.5 million and four joint ventures totaling P286.7 million

JC Uyecio: P483.1 million covering four joint ventures

ToughBuilt: P434.2 million covering three solo projects

Topnotch: P329.9 million covering two joint ventures with Core Check and one with Beam Team

GR Fervidal: P266.6 million covering five solo multipurpose building projects

Lacson said all of the multipurpose building projects of GR Fervidal were suspended due to a ‘revision of plans’ involving soil reinvestigation.

He said the DPWH issued the cease-and-desist orders ‘to prevent further waste of government funds on contractors carrying out unauthorized or illegal activities.’

Lacson also said earlier he was told by PRA officials that all unpermitted reclaimed areas in Taguig City, whether belonging to the local government or to private individuals, are subject to forfeiture in favor of the national government.

On Saturday, he disclosed that at least four parcels of illegally reclaimed land in Taguig City had been initially identified as covered by ‘fraudulently’ issued land titles, while at least four other parcels have no plotted title lots in the digital file of the Land Registration Authority (LRA).

‘Digging further’

In a statement on Monday, Cayetano said the government stands to gain if allegations of illegally titled properties along Laguna Lake in Taguig are proven true.

‘Yesterday, there was something in the newspaper saying that there is a 181,000-square-meter, or 18-hectare, property that was supposedly ‘illegally titled.’ On one hand, we are also hoping that’s true. Why? Because if it is indeed illegal, it would go to the government. Then we would have 18 hectares now for the government,’ said Cayetano, referring to one of the parcels identified by Lacson.

In another post on X, Lacson reacted to that statement by Cayetano.

‘Maybe so, except that those titles (38.83 hectares total, so far) are registered to private individuals. We have their names as well as the OCT (original certificate of title) and TCT (transfer certificate of title) numbers. We are digging further deep into it,’ said Lacson.

‘What if it wasn’t exposed?’ he added.

A fire triggered by an explosion aboard a motor tanker at GGC Port in Barangay Punta, Ormoc City, Leyte, was quickly brought under control Tuesday morning with no injuries or fatalities reported among the vessel’s crew.

The incident involving MTKR Matipuno occurred around 10:05 a.m. on Tuesday, prompting personnel from the Coast Guard Station Western Leyte (CGSWL), Coast Guard Sub-Station Ormoc (CGSS Ormoc), and other concerned units to respond immediately.

Coast Guard personnel who were in the area noticed the explosion and established communication with the tanker to assess the situation. The responding team also coordinated the deployment of MBCA KCQ 3 to proceed to the vessel.

Upon reaching the tanker, the response team conducted an initial inspection and assessment.

According to the vessel’s master, the explosion may have originated from faulty electrical wiring involving the port and starboard windlass funnel board. Authorities have not determined the cause of the explosion as they continue their investigation.

The tanker’s firefighting team immediately took action and successfully extinguished the fire, preventing the incident from escalating.

No crew member was reported injured or killed, according to the initial assessment.

The Coast Guard is continuing its investigation and assessment to determine the exact cause of the explosion and establish any damage to the vessel or its equipment

A 22-year-old motorcycle rider died on Monday after he crashed into an unattended parked jeepney in Gumaca town, Quezon province.

The Quezon police, in a Tuesday report, said the rider was traveling along the Maharlika Highway in Barangay Bamban at around 4 p.m. when he reportedly lost control of his motorcycle while overtaking another vehicle.

The wayward motorcycle subsequently veered toward the roadside and crashed into the parked jeepney.

Marvin sustained serious injuries and was rushed by rescuers to a hospital in the town proper, but he died while undergoing treatment.

The police report did not indicate whether the parked jeepney had an early warning device to alert approaching motorists. It also did not state whether Marvin was wearing a protective helmet, as required under Republic Act 10054, or the Motorcycle Helmet Act of 2009.

For the first time since the Senate Impeachment Court issued a ruling for a stricter sub judice rule implementation last Aug. 26, a member of the prosecution team – Manila Rep. Joel Chua – appeared before an official press conference.

However, during the briefing after Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial on Tuesday, Chua’s answers seemed to be measured and calculated – often pausing several times before replying to questions, earning laughs from the crowd.

‘Ang mahal ng penalty (The penalty is expensive),’ Chua said after being asked about the testimonies of Col. Manaros Boransing II and Col. Magtanggol Panopio, two Philippine Army (PA) officials who issued certifications on Army-funded youth summits which were used by Vice President Sara Duterte’s office used to justify confidential expenses.

It appears this will be the way forward for the prosecution, as Chua said no one will resign and be appointed as a full-time spokesperson, contrary to the panel’s initial plans.’Well we have decided na wala na lang munang magre-resign and kasi no’ng una isa ‘yan sa mga naging discussions kung ganoon ang mangyayari, kaya nga po nasabi ni Congressman Zia (Alonto Adiong), kasi ‘yon ang talagang unang option,’ Chua said.

(Well we have decided that no one will resign, because one of the initial considerations was that we will adopt such a measure, which is why Congressman Zia (Alonto Adiong) mentioned this because it was one of the first options.)

‘In fact may mga sinasabi, suggestions ‘yong mga private prosecutor at public prosecutor na may ilan na pagre-resignin para maging spokesperson. Pero after considering everything – tutal, isang buwan na lang kung masusunod ‘yong ating target, eh siguro susubukan na lang namin to explain in a way na hindi tayo magta-touch sa merit,’ he added.

(In fact, there were suggestions that some of the private prosecutors and public prosecutors will resign to become spokespersons. But after considering everything – since we have a few months left on our target, maybe we will just try to explain in a way that we will not touch on the merit.)

The prosecution’s setup, Chua said, is that they will have a member of the prosecution panel to sit during press briefings and another spokesperson or House member to explain matters that may be considered sub judice.

After all, Chua said that not every question asked during press briefings are related to the merits of the case.

‘Kaya kung makikita ninyo may isang public (prosecutor) at may isang spokes(person) […] kasi too late na kung magbabawas tayo tapos magdadagdag pa, sino pa ba naman ang idadagdag natin to maintain ‘yon 11(-person) prosecution team?’ he said.

(If you will see our setup now, there is a public (prosecutor) and one spokes(person) […] because it is too late already, if we will cut and add prosecutors, who will we add now to maintain that 11(-person) prosecution team?)

‘Well hindi naman sa comfortable pero baka mamaya may magtatanong tungkol sa procedure aspect outside the merit of the case, so I can answer that. Kasi hindi naman lahat puro merito ang tanong, so may mga iba tinatanong – kagaya po ng tinanong kanina, na ano na ‘yong susunod,’ he added.

(Well it’s not a state of being comfortable but we were anticipating that some people may ask about the procedural aspect outside the merit of the case, so I can answer that. Because not all questions are about merits, so there may be other questions – like what was asked earlier, as to what is the next issue.)

Discussions on the sub judice rule came after a manifestation from lead counsel for respondent Sheila Sison last August 12, when she questioned counsel for prosecution Amando Virgil Ligutan over a Facebook post where he said that a ‘principle all lawyers and law students know by heart’ is that ‘misleading questions are not allowed even on cross-examination.’

Sison said Ligutan did not name anyone, but he was clearly referring to counsel for respondent Kristine Ferrer – particularly the exchange between her and another prosecution counsel. Atty. Lorna Kapunan.

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Sison was pointing to a tense moment during the cross-examination of state auditor Xylene Mae del Campo, where Kapunan strongly objected to Ferrer’s habit of cutting the witness off before she was even able to provide an answer to the questions.

As she insisted that Ferrer is mistaken in stating that she can throw questions answerable by yes or no only, Kapunan said that ‘misleading questions are not allowed.’ After this, Ferrer responded by saying that ‘it is allowed.’

But Sison said that Ferrer’s ‘it is allowed’ quip was not a reply to Kapunan’s ‘misleading questions are not allowed’ even on cross-examination statement – making Ligutan’s social media post as something done in ‘bad faith.’

In response to this manifestation, Presiding Officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero said last Wednesday that while they would no longer punish previous violations, the ruling will apply to all parties moving forward.

For senator-judges, Escudero clarified that they may still ask questions during trial where they usually do their interjections but must do so with ‘cold neutrality’. Escudero reminded them that they must not only be impartial but must also appear impartial.

For lawyers representing the prosecution and defense, public reprimand with admonition awaits sub judice rule violators on their first strike, while a monetary fine of P30,000 with the possibility of being restricted from speaking, objecting, or examining witnesses on the floor may be imposed upon them on their subsequent violations.

The ruling prompted the prosecution to reconsider sending out prosecutors to press briefings. Alonto Adiong, a spokesperson for the panel, said there are still ongoing discussions on whether there will be changes to the composition of the prosecution panel.

Last Friday, prosecution member and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon clarified that none of the public and private prosecutors for Duterte’s impeachment trial will resign, as the panel is moving towards adding more spokespersons who will not be bound by the court’s sub judice rule.

Atty. Michael Poa has temporarily set aside his role as counsel and spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team as he is set to take the witness stand before the Senate impeachment court.

Atty. Justin Nicol Gular, who serves as the deputy spokesperson for Duterte’s defense team in her impeachment trial, said Poa himself opted to temporarily step away out of respect to the impeachment court.

‘I think for the defense team, it’s just proper that considering that Atty. Michael Poa ay isasalang po sa impeachment court, common etiquette and property quorum dictates that we respect the impeachment court, and he needs to at the moment, step aside from serving as the defense team spokesperson,’ said Gular in a press conference.

In fact, Gular said he and the other defense lawyers last spoke with Poa on Aug. 26, after which both sides opted not to meet to avoid accusations of witness tampering following the prosecution’s decision to call him as a witness.

‘That’s the reason why, if you notice, Atty. Michael Poa is not in court, meaning wala siya sa side ng defense,’ said Gular.

‘And he is also not in our holding room, the one that the public does not see. Nasa ano po siya, kung saan po yung regular witness (he is where regular witnesses are held),’ he added.

However, Gular clarified that Poa’s absence is not permanent, stating that he will be back after taking the witness stand.

New spokesperson? No decision yet

‘I think this is still being considered and talked about between the defense team and of course the client, the vice president,’ said Gular when asked if the defense has already found a separate spokesperson outside the legal team itself.

‘But I’m pretty sure naman, if may mapipili na kami o may makikita na kami (once we pick someone), if that time comes, Atty. Michael Poa or the vice president herself will inform the media of this matter,’ he added.

Talks of having a new spokesperson began after presiding officer and Senator-Judge Francis Escudero implemented a stricter application of the court’s sub judice rules.

The Civil Service Commission (CRS) on Tuesday said that caps of employees under Job Order (JO) and Contract of Service (COS) in government agencies must be studied after lawmakers raised concern of its rising number.

During the House committee on appropriations’ briefing on the CSC’s proposed budget in 2027, Commissioner Ryan Alvin Acosta said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should assess the relevance of the Personal Services (PS) limitations on local government units (LGUs) to regulate workers under JO and COS.

‘And they should coordinate with DBM (Department of Budget Management) on how to use this PS cap to administer or to regulate the number of COS in LGUs. Each LGU has unique needs and unique capacities,’ Acosta added.

(‘And they should coordinate with DBM (Department of Budget Management) on how to use this PS cap to administer or to regulate the number of COS in LGUs. Each LGU has unique needs and unique capacities,’)

Acosta’s remarks are in response to the concern raised by Kamanggagawa party-list Rep. Elijah San Fernando on the increasing number of government non-permanent contractual workers.

The lawmaker further said that some government employees who work for more than five years remained contractual.

‘It is high time po, maganda na meron pong mga nailatag na mga proposals ang Civil Service Commission para matugunan itong problema sa patuloy na paglaki ng bilang ng mga job orders and contract of service workers natin,’ San Fernando stressed.

(‘It is high time-and it is good-that the Civil Service Commission has laid out proposals to address the problem of the continuously rising number of job orders and contract-of-service workers,’)

According to the CSC, the Department of Public Works and Highways has the largest number of non-permanent contractual workers with more than 44,000.

Also included in the government agencies with the highest number of contractual workers employed are the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Education.

Acosta noted that the common ground of these agencies are involved in social welfare programs and projects.

He said that a factor in the rising number of contractual low-rank workers is because of mandatory department head positions that are beyond the LGUs capacity.

‘So, dahil may mga mandatory na matataas na position na hindi kaya sa budget ng LGU na mag-create ng mga ganitong position, hindi nagagawan ng plantilla positions ng ibang LGUs ‘yong mga utility nila na ang tagal nang nagtatrabaho sa kanila,’ he explained.

(‘So, because there are mandatory high-level positions that the LGU budget cannot accommodate, some LGUs are unable to create plantilla positions for their utility staff who have been working for them for a long time,’)

He added that the agency is currently studying positions that may be considered optional to lessen mandatory roles.

In this way, low-income LGUs may hire or create more plantilla positions for long-serving JO and CO employees, the commissioner said.

Acosta, moreover, suggested the establishment of an optimization committee to strengthen oversight in government agencies against the possible abuse in the employment of workers under COS and JO.