Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Investigators from the Office of the Ombudsman may no longer face unnecessary delays when they need to examine data on the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and check government contracts in real time for possible irregularities.

An agreement with the Procurement Service-Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) grants the Ombudsman ‘faster access’ to procurement records on PhilGEPS, eliminating delays caused by manual document requests.

A data sharing agreement (DSA) signed on Tuesday at the DBM office in Malacañang allows for ‘interoperability’ of database systems between the DBM and antigraft body without violating data privacy laws, officials said.

‘The whole point of this agreement is to make the world smaller for those who abuse the system,’ Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said.

PhilGEPS is the centralized electronic portal that serves as a source of information on government procurement. Since the official launch in 2006, the general public may view information on PhilGEPS by creating an account, but limited to such details such as the owners of companies, the bids made and the contracts’ worth, among others.

he Ombudsman-DBM agreement, however, allows investigators to go further and follow procurement trails, connect related information, identify suspicious patterns, and verify evidence that can be used in prosecutions.

Prior to the agreement, an Ombudsman investigator seeking procurement records-such as bid notices, notices of award, contracts or supplier registration documents-still needed to file a formal request and wait for its transmittal.

‘Read-only’ access

This could delay the investigation and potentially compromise the overall effort to prosecute those behind anomalous contracts, Remulla said.

The DSA grants authorized investigators ‘secure, role-based and read-only’ access to a comprehensive set of procurement data on the portal. These include datasets on supplier and merchant registration, uploaded general information sheets, beneficial ownership information, buyer profiles, participation history and life cycle documents such as bids, awards, and contracts.

But officials stressed that access to the data will still be subject to privacy, security, logging and monitoring controls under the Data Privacy Act and related laws.

In effect, the agreement shortened that ‘gap’ on access by allowing investigators to see procurement records together, which is crucial in any inquiry, Remulla said.

‘When the Ombudsman sees the whole procurement record, relationships emerge. The same names, the same addresses, the same patterns,’ he said, seeing the DSA as a deterrent in itself. ‘It makes it more difficult for contractors and their conspirators in the government to hide their illegal activities.’

‘To anyone who still thinks our procurement system can be gamed: understand that the Ombudsman is now looking at the same data you are submitting,’ he said. ‘Every document you upload to PhilGEPS is a document we can read. Act accordingly.’

Budget Secretary Kim Robert de Leon said faster access would help investigators obtain evidence while maintaining safeguards over government data.

‘Right information, to the right institution, at the right time,’ De Leon said. ‘When it comes to accountability, speed matters-but evidence matters even more. There must be proof. There must be a basis.’

The agreement comes amid ongoing graft investigations or filed court cases involving multibillion-peso flood control projects.

‘The agreement means that when investigators need relevant procurement records for authorized official purposes, they will no longer have to depend solely on the traditional process of separately requesting documents and waiting for records to be transmitted,’ the DBM said in a statement.

With farmers in Caraga (Region 13) feeling the crunch of the prolonged drought, the Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office has sought funding of P6.2 million for cloud seeding operations to alleviate the impact of the dry spell that has already affected water sources in some parts of the region.

The mitigation measure, backed by the Caraga Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC), is intended to induce rainfall in drought-affected areas in October and November, including Agusan del Sur, where over 26,000 hectares of agricultural lands have been damaged, affecting thousands of farmers.

Several local government units in Caraga have already declared states of calamity as the dry conditions continue to affect farming communities and household water supplies.

Dinagat Islands Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. earlier sought a cloud seeding operation after the province declared a state of calamity in August because of severe dry conditions, Gerlie Antipaso, DA-Caraga agriculturist II, said.

But a technical assessment by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) from Sept. 14 to 17 found that only about 300 hectares of agricultural lands in Dinagat Islands qualified for the operation, below the 1,000-hectare minimum required for a standalone cloud-seeding operation.

DA-Caraga subsequently proposed expanding the target area to cover the rest of the region during a Sept. 18 exit conference with local stakeholders, including Agusan del Norte Rep. Dale B. Corvera, the Butuan City agriculturist and representatives of the city’s lone congressional district.

Butuan City had declared a state of calamity because of the continuing dry conditions, which affected water supplies to consumers.

The DA-Caraga expanded proposal would cover the five provinces of Region 13, allowing the cloud seeding operation to meet the minimum area requirement while extending potential benefits to more drought-affected communities.

Local officials in Dinagat Islands welcomed the proposal, particularly in communities with limited natural water sources.

‘In dire need of rain’

‘San Jose is in dire need of rain, especially after we found out that we have no natural water source within our municipal territory,’ said San Jose Mayor Ruben Zuniega.

‘Cloud seeding would be a very timely intervention and an immediate remedy to our need for rainwater. It will significantly help in sustaining our water sources,’ he added.

DA-Caraga presented the regional cloud-seeding plan during the third-quarter full council meeting of the Caraga RDRRMC on Sept. 24.

The agency, however, faces budget realignment constraints in funding the proposed P6.2-million cloud seeding operation.

Lorene Sia-Catedral, Caraga RDRRMC acting chairperson and Office of Civil Defense Caraga officer-in-charge, advised DA Caraga to seek assistance from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund.

‘Given that we are facing a crisis needing immediate intervention, and with the impending threat of Super El Niño later this year, we encourage our fellow national government agencies to seek financial assistance through our NDRRM Fund to augment their respective response operations,’ Catedral said.

She also recommended that the council pass a resolution to help expedite the funding request.

The proposed cloud-seeding operation comes as DA Caraga prepares interventions for the December 2026 to March 2027cropping season, with the agency seeking to restore farm productivity in areas affected by prolonged dry conditions.

Beyond providing immediate relief, the interventions are intended to strengthen climate resilience, protect farmers’ livelihoods and help maintain food production in the region

Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores serves as one of the House panel prosecutors in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Born April 16, 1972, Flores notably serves as the lead prosecutor of the panel on Article III, or Duterte’s alleged bribery of Department of Education (DepEd) officials.

However, his first foray leading the prosecution’s direct examination was on Thursday, Oct. 1 as Davao City Register of Deeds Atty. Kathy Florence Baldonado stood as one of the witnesses for Article II.

Article II covers Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth, failure to truthfully disclose assets in statements of assets, liabilities and net worth or SALNs from 2022 to 2024, as well as her supposed failure to divest from her private business interests after being elected vice president.

Meanwhile, prior to being one of the prosecutors against Duterte, Flores began his political career in 2019 when he was first elected as representative of Bukidnon’s second legislative district.

Before becoming a politician, he was a partner at Europa, Dacanay, Cubelo, Europa, Flores Law Office.

He is also the son of Florencio Flores Jr., who once served as congressman and mayor of Malaybalay, Bukidnon

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Administrative Order No. 50, transferring the management of Mile-Long Property back to the Privatization and Management Office (PMO) to facilitate its disposition and maximize its value.

The PMO is an attached agency of the Department of Finance (DOF) that acts as the government’s marketing and disposition arm for state-owned or non-performing assets.

Located in Makati’s central business district, the 22,924-square-meter property was transferred to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority under Administrative Order No. 21, issued in 2020. It is registered under the national government.

The newly signed order reverted its administration and management to the PMO ‘as part of the government’s efforts to optimize the utilization of public assets, enhance fiscal space, and support priority development programs.’

Additionally, the PMO was directed to prepare and implement a privatization plan for the property in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, and in a transparent and competitive manner that ensures optimal value for the National Government.

Under AO 50, the Department of Budget and Management was directed to study and propose measures to ensure that proceeds from the property’s disposition will fund priority government programs.

It also said the PMO will seek the approval of the Privatization Council before proceeding with the property’s disposition.

Complex history

The property was occupied by Sunvar Realty Development Corp. until it was ordered to vacate the premises in 2017 in compliance with a court order. Sunvar is owned by the prominent Rufino-Prieto clan.

Three years later, the administration and management of the Mile-Long Property were transferred to the BCDA pursuant to AO No. 21, signed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

Duterte also ordered the property’s development to generate funds for priority programs, particularly pension programs for retired military and uniformed personnel.

The Inquirer sought further information from the PMO and the Palace regarding future plans for the Mile-Long Property but had yet to receive a response as of posting time

Dennis Trillo got netizens talking anew after he shared a cryptic remark about washing one’s hands in a ‘sewer,’ after Patrick Garcia’s tell-all about his past relationship with Jennylyn Mercado.

Trillo – who married Mercado in 2021 and soon after legally adopted her and Garcia’s child Alex Jazz – shared the post via his TikTok page on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

‘Kapag naghugas ka ng kamay sa kanal, lalo lang dudumi,’ he wrote as his Memo No. 01, with the post featuring the song ‘Tabing Ilog’ by Barbie’s Cradle.

While he did not name anyone, some netizens have linked the remark to Garcia and his recent interview with Ogie Diaz, where the actor spoke about Mercado and their son Jazz.

Trillo further piqued the curiosity of his TikTok followers after he liked a comment from a netizen who jokingly asked if the ‘sewer’ the actor was referring to was Diaz.

Trillo also responded to a TikTok user who dared him to fistfight with a certain Patrick.

‘Hindi ako pumapatol sa Starfish,’ he said, apparently referencing the fictional character from the animated series ‘SpongeBob SquarePants.’

Meanwhile, Trillo’s recent social media posts drew laughs from netizens. On Facebook, he joked about having a dance showdown with a certain someone if his post reached thousands of likes. He also responded to a netizen’s playful remark in a separate Threads post.

Garcia’s earlier interview included his denial of claims that he abandoned Mercado in 2008 while she was pregnant with Jazz. He claimed that the actress was the one who did not want him involved in the pregnancy.

Garcia also disclosed that he had not seen Jazz since 2017, saying Mercado had not responded whenever he reached out to see their son. He admitted as well that he had not provided financial support since then.

Mercado opted not to comment on the matter, but appealed to the public to stop the bashing toward Garcia’s family.

An eight-year-old boy drowned in a lake in Umingan, Pangasinan, after rushing to save his younger brother, who had cried for help while they were swimming after school on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

According to a police report, the brothers were on their way home from school when they decided to stop and swim in the lake.

What began as an ordinary swim ended in tragedy when the younger brother suddenly struggled in the water.

The eight-year-old boy rushed to his brother’s aid but drowned in the attempt to save him.

Upon learning what had happened, their parents rushed to the lake. At about 4 p.m., they recovered the boy from the water and tried to revive him.

He was taken to a hospital in the town but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Competition in Aichi-Nagoya has reached its penultimate full day, with several medals at stake for Team Philippines at the 2026 Asian Games on Friday, October 2.

Carlo Paalam goes for gold in men’s boxing, while Filipino athletes vie for medals in beach volleyball, jiu-jitsu, judo, taekwondo and wrestling.

Team Philippines schedule for October 2, Friday at Aichi Nagoya Asian Games 2026

Softball

8am – PH Blu Girls vs Hong Kong – preliminary round

Boxing

~12pm onwards

Carlo Paalam vs Rui Yamaguchi – men’s 55kg gold medal match

Jiu jitsu

8am – Antonio Dy vs Davaadorj Munkhtur (Mongolia) – men’s -77kg elimination Round of 32

8:40am – Mark Constance Vergel vs Bulgankhuu Shinezorig (Mongolia) – men’s -77kg elimination Round of 32

8:56am – Romeo John Arellano vs TBD – men’s -94kg elimination Round of 16

11:20am – Annie Ramirez vs Nuchanat Singchalad (Thailand) – women’s -52kg elimination Round of 16

11:52am – Jenna Napolis vs Thi Thanh Ha Tran (Vietnam)- women’s -52kg elimination Round of 16

~1:30pm onwards – medal matches

Golf

5:30am – men’s individual stroke play/team – round 3 – Carl Jano Corpus, Justin Delos Santos, Miguel Tabuena

8:19am – women’s individual stroke play/team – round 3 – Pauline Del Rosario, Rianne Malixi, Bianca Pagdanganan

Judo

~10am onwards

Kiyomi Watanabe vs Ekaterina Tokareva (Kazakhstan) – women’s -78kg elimination Round of 16

Chino Sy vs Ryotaro Masuchi (Japan) – men’s -100kg elimination Round of 16

Eskelen Kedo vs Magomedomar Magomedomarov (UAE) – men’s +100kg elimination Round of 16

~4pm onwards – medal matches

Padel

12pm – Danna Abad / Joshea Malazarte vs Indonesia – women’s pairs semifinals

Rugby Sevens

9:40am – Philippines vs Singapore – men’s pool

Taekwondo

9am – Jeus Yape vs Dunya Saber (Saudi Arabia) – mixed individual virtual taekwondo

12:30am – Tachiana Mangin vs Rita Bakisheva (Kazakhstan) – women’s -49kg Round of 16

1:06pm – Kurt Barbosa vs Abdullah Almushraf (Saudi Arabia) – men’s -58kg Round of 16

1:42pm – Laila Delo vs Ozoda Sbirjonova (Uzbekistan) – women’s -67kg Round of 16

2:44pm – Dave Cea vs Hung Jiun-yi (Chinese Taipei) – men’s -80kg Round of 16

~4pm onwards – medal matches

Volleyball

12pm – Alas Pilipinas vs Uzbekistan – men’s classification round

Beach volleyball

11am – Khy Progella / Sofiah Pagara vs China – women’s battle for bronze

Wrestling

9:38am – Aliah Rose Gavalez vs Feng Ziqi – women’s wrestling 50kg 1/8 finals

Alex Eala’s bid for an Asian Games women’s singles gold medal ended with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 semifinal loss to China’s Wang Xiyu, but the Filipino tennis star had a simple answer when asked whether she regretted competing.

‘No.’

‘I feel like I have no regrets,’ Eala added after settling for the bronze medal at Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center in Japan.

Eala had given herself an opportunity to reach the final after a strong opening set against Wang.

Momentum shifted in the second.

After the set reached 1-1, Wang won four consecutive games to open a 5-1 advantage. Eala responded by taking two games in a row, but Wang closed out the set, 6-3, to force a decider.

Eala won the opening game of the third set before Wang pulled away to complete the comeback.

‘I think she was more consistent. I think I had a couple ups and downs during the match,’ Eala said. ‘It’s something I have to talk with my team about and process.’

The semifinal defeat ended a campaign in which Eala had not lost a set before facing Wang.

She opened with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the round of 16 and then defeated Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland, 7-5, 6-0, in the quarterfinals to guarantee herself a medal.

Garland had moved within a game of taking the first set before Eala won three consecutive games and then dominated the second.

Against Wang, Eala again made the quicker start. This time, however, her opponent found a way back.

‘I think everyone’s constantly trying to find their way around the court and what works for them,’ Eala said afterward. ‘But yeah, I think she played really well today.’

Even with the loss, Eala focused on what the Asian Games gave her beyond the result.

‘I’m really happy to have experienced this, of course, to experience the support, to be with the team and to compete for the country again,’ she said.

Eala also believes she has changed substantially as a player since her previous experiences on the international stage.

‘I think physically I’m better, more mature, more experienced, of course,’ she said. ‘So many things. I think everything all around has improved.’

That made her verdict on competing in the Asian Games unequivocal even after seeing a first-set lead disappear in the semifinals.

There was a match to review with her team and a bronze medal rather than the gold she had pursued.

There were no regrets.

ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio on Thursday called on the Budget Amendments Review Subcommittee (BARSc) and the leadership of the House of Representatives to provide a detailed committee report on the amendments that will be made regarding the proposed national budget for 2027.

The BARSc will begin its deliberations on the amendments on the national budget on Thursday, October 1. According to House Secretary General Atty. Cheloy Garafil, the proceedings will be livestreamed to the public to ensure transparency.

‘Immediate call natin sa BARSc at sa House leadership, maglabas ng detalyadong committee report on the amendments that will be approved and integrated into the final General Appropriations Bill na pagbobotohan para transparent sa lahat ng miyembro at sa publiko kung ano ba yung binago at kinalikot sa budget,’ Tinio said in a press briefing.

(Our immediate call to the BARSc and to the House leadership, release a detailed committee report on amendments that will be approved and integrated into the final General Appropriations Bill that will be voted to ensure transparency among members and the public on the changes made.)

The House wrapped up its plenary deliberations on the P7.2-trillion budget bill last week.

The BARSc, composed of select lawmakers from major political parties and the minority bloc, will discuss and handle proposed amendments expected to be introduced by lawmakers before being voted on the floor for second reading.

Tinio then said that releasing the report on amendments is necessary, as he noted that ‘essentially, these are committee amendments.’

‘Dapat ang tamang proseso nyan, pagkatapos ng BARSc, magkaroon muli ng meeting ng committee on appropriations, yung mother committee, tapos aprubahan ng buong committee yung amendments,’ he added.

(The proper process should be: there must be another meeting of the committee on appropriations after the BARSc deliberations, then the whole committee will approve the amendments.)

He then emphasized that every member of the committee on appropriations must review the report first before approving the amendments.

The BARSc was introduced last year after the abolition of a ‘small committee’ of select lawmakers tasked with finalizing the House’s budget bill behind closed doors

Converge has brought back Serbian coach Djordje Jovicic in an active capacity to help out the team’s campaign in the PBA Governors’ Cup, which resumes next week.

Jovicic was spotted calling the shots for the FiberXers during Thursday’s 113-99 loss to the Blackwater Bossing in a tune-up game held at Ronac Art Center in San Juan.

Team governor Archen Cayabyab is hoping that Jovicic’s expertise will replicate what Converge did in the Philippine Cup when she served as a consultant under coach Delta Pineda’s staff.

‘He is really in charge of our defense, and when he was with us, the team was doing well,’ Cayabyab said. ‘That’s why we took him back because we believe that he can be a big help.’

The 50-year-old was coming off a coaching stint in the Indonesia Basketball League for Satria Muda Pertamina.

The FiberXers resume their Governors’ Cup campaign on Oct. 11 against the Titan Ultra Giant Risers, looking to build on a string of back-to-back wins before the league went on a long hiatus.

Converge also hopes to make good use of the confidence boost gained by its three stars who played for Gilas Pilipinas: Juan Gomez de Liano, Justin Arana and Justine Baltazar.

Gomez de Liano excelled for Gilas during the fourth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers while Arana and Baltazar took part in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Baltazar didn’t play in the tune-up while Arana saw limited action as he’s still recovering from a sprained ankle sustained during the Asian Games.

Converge holds a 5-4 record for third in Group A with three games to play.