Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The spokesperson for the Office of the Ombudsman continued to express doubt over the official reason given by Sen. Loren Legarda for her continued medical leave, which had been extended for almost a month now.

This was despite an earlier statement from Senate President Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian attesting to Legarda having a ‘serious illness.’

‘Well, if [Legarda] really has a serious illness, then she should have requested just one medical leave, rather than getting repeated extensions,’ Clavano said at a press conference on Friday.

Legarda and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, are under investigation over the projects that the latter’s solar power company committed but allegedly failed to accomplish under the franchise awarded by the government.

Legarda first filed a medical leave on Aug. 3, days after Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla announced that both mother and son, as well as former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, were being investigated for plunder and graft.

‘Increases suspicion’

Legarda filed the fourth extension of her medical leave until Sept. 2. Leviste also sought a two-month travel authority from the House, from July 26 to Sept. 24, Clavano earlier said.

‘The fact that both the mother and son are out of the country adds to the speculation, or increases the suspicion, of the Office of the Ombudsman,’ he said, noting that there’s a standing order for the two to submit their counteraffidavit.

Preliminary probe

‘We hope that you (Legarda and Leviste) will remain in the country for now so that we can shed some light on what happened and allow the public to know the truth,’ Clavano said, adding:

‘That’s why we are flagging their travel at this point. .. it is really very suspicious that they are there [abroad], while they have a case here that requires them to answer and appear, and that they chose to leave the country at precisely this time.’

Investigators alleged that Legarda, Leviste and Cusi ‘conspired to secure exclusive government rights over the country’s solar energy resources through legislative and regulatory actions.’

Despite the awards, they said, ‘many of the projects were never developed as promised.’

The antigraft body said the terminated contracts of Leviste’s Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. (SPPPHI) resulted in more than P10.44 billion in unpaid financial obligations to the government.

Leviste, who founded SPPPHI in 2013 when he was just 20 years old, won more than 30 service contracts with the government.

Remulla said Leviste would not have won the contracts-awarded during the Duterte administration-without his senator mother.

‘Baseless allegation’

In an earlier statement, Legarda, the former chair of the powerful Senate committee on finance, described the allegations as ‘utterly false and baseless.’

‘No public funds were involved. We are prepared to bring out the truth,’ she said. ‘This baseless allegation is a smear on my person that is totally undeserved.’

‘We remain confident that once the facts are laid bare, we will be vindicated and our names cleared,’ Legarda said.

The motoring public will get a small break from rising fuel prices next week, with possible rollbacks reaching up to P4 per liter on Sept. 1.

Jetti Petroleum Leo Bellas said the per-liter price of diesel may go down by P3.50 to P4. Gasoline prices may also dip by 25 centavos to 75 centavos.

‘Prices declined this week as threatened US sanctions fell short of the market’s expectations and viewed the economic pressure as a lower-risk path for physical supply than a military escalation, reducing the oil market’s anxiety and easing immediate supply concerns,’ Bellas said in an advisory.

Renewed hopes on a potential end to the Iran war surfaced after Tehran said it had resumed talks with Oman, including the reopening of crucial maritime route Strait of Hormuz.

‘However, with the recent rebound in world oil prices following latest reports that the US is not interested in returning to the ceasefire deal terms with Iran, the potential rollback on local pump prices next week could be capped, with risk of pushing to the lower limits of the initial estimated range,’ Bellas said

All four members of the Philippines’ first delegation to the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) won medals in Astana, Kazakhstan, this August, bringing home one silver and three bronze medals.

Theo Lorenzo T. Bustamante of Philippine Science High School-Calabarzon Region Campus won silver, while Ellison Matthew S. Ang of Philippine Science High School-Main Campus, Juan Mateo J. Desuasido of Brent International School Manila and Jhareign S. Solidum of University of Mindanao Ilang High School each won bronze.

The four-member team competed against 466 high school students from 108 countries and territories, giving the Philippines a 100 percent medal rate in its IOAI debut.

Bustamante ranked 80th overall, placing among the top 17 percent of competitors. The Philippines was also among 11 of 18 countries making their IOAI debut in 2026 that won at least one silver medal.

Overall, the competition awarded 37 gold, 73 silver and 110 bronze medals.

Now in its third year, the IOAI tests students in machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing and multimodal processing.

The weeklong competition was officially opened by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and featured international artificial intelligence experts and technology leaders, including Kai-Fu Lee. It was the first event held at the newly constructed facilities of the Kazakhstan National University of Sports.

The Philippine delegation was selected, trained and managed by International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence Philippines (IOAI PH), hosted by the Ateneo Business Insights Laboratory for Development (BUILD) under the John Gokongwei School of Management of Ateneo de Manila University.

Students qualified through a merit-based national screening process, with participation offered free of charge.

RELATED STORY: CIT-U students bring home inaugural ASEAN AI Hackathon championship to Cebu

Over 10 months, Ateneo BUILD provided the team with cloud testing infrastructure and proctoring environments and conducted expert-led boot camps on machine learning theory, computer vision, natural language processing, audio processing and VRAM constraint optimization.

‘A 100% medal rate on our global debut proves that Philippine talent can immediately compete at the highest level of international AI,’ IOAI PH executive director and team leader Martin Gomez said.

‘Outranking competitors from traditional global STEM powerhouses in our very first year establishes a baseline for what our students can accomplish with structured training, corporate backing, and national support,’ Gomez added.

Held under the patronage of UNESCO, the IOAI was hosted by the Kazakhstan Competitive Programming Federation with support from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development and Ministry of Education.

Singapore will host the fourth IOAI in 2027.

Kevin Quiambao found his rhythm when Gilas Pilipinas needed it most on Friday.

Quiambao buried a crucial three-pointer with 11.7 seconds left in overtime as Gilas Pilipinas survived Jordan, 82-81, in the Fiba World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.

‘Tinira ko lang. I practice those shots,’ said an exhausted but ecstatic Quiambao.

‘That was just a rhythm shot. I was already in my rhythm when I took that shot. Luckily, it went in and I’m thankful for Kuya CJ (Perez) for giving that pass.’

KING KQ ????

Kevin Quiambao talks about his heroics for Gilas Pilipinas in their overtime win over Jordan. | @MeloFuertesINQ

Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/UxbZM5DE3E pic.twitter.com/HAcYUx6hT1

– INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) August 28, 2026

Gilas had possession in the dying seconds of overtime, with the game tied at 79-all, when CJ Perez found a wide-open Quiambao, who promptly sank the dagger for an 82-79 lead.

Perez, who also delivered key baskets for the Philippines late in regulation and overtime, said he was just trying to make the right play when the defense collapsed on him.

‘I’ve been shooting my layups and the defenders were collapsing. Luckily, KQ was there, I saw him and he made the shot,’ said the San Miguel Beer star, who finished with 16 points.

‘He has so much confidence and I’m proud of him,’ he added.

Quiambao’s heroics set up a thrilling finish where Kai Sotto also rose to the occasion with a massive block on Jordan’s Abdullah Olajuwon.

The former La Salle star ended with 14 points and five rebounds in the win that sent Gilas Pilipinas to a 3-4 record in Group E.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Friday over 200 personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), including all its regional directors, are being investigated for an alleged scheme in which applicants are asked to pay for available ‘slots’ or positions in the agency.

At a press briefing at Camp Crame, Remulla vowed to ‘clean up’ the BFP, an agency of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). ‘This will be a massive purge,’ he said.

‘We’re now investigating more than 200 personnel regarding the slots-for-sale [scheme],’ he said, adding that ‘as of now, all regional directors are being investigated.’

But the BFP and the Philippine National Police have yet to finalize how many ‘slot-selling’ cases are being investigated, he said.

Reileved SFO

Police in Pampanga recently arrested a BFP official from Metro Manila with the rank of senior fire officer (SFO) 1, who allegedly asked an applicant at the bureau’s Central Luzon office to hand her an initial P500,000.

Fire Chief Supt. Wilberto Rico Neil Kwan Tiu, BFP officer in charge, said at the briefing the SFO concerned had been relieved from her post and is now facing dismissal proceedings.

According to police, this SFO had also allegedly claimed to have successfully orchestrated the hiring of four other applicants in the past year.

Remulla said these four applicants have been subpoenaed by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the PNP.

‘They can either testify…or we will charge them because they paid,’ the interior chief said. ‘If they testify, we will give them clemency because they are as much … victim[s]. But they have to come out with all the deeds.’

Remulla said earlier the arrested SFO had named a ‘senior fire commissioned officer’ as an accomplice-further identifying that official as a deputy director for administration in BFP Calabarzon.

P100,000 to P800,000

Kwan Tiu also said the BFP and police had arrested another SFO 1 in the Ilocos Region who had recently been dismissed, but he did not provide further details.

The alleged scheme offered slots in the bureau ranging from P100,000 to P800,000, according to Remulla.

He said before his appointment to the DILG, BFP personnel involved in this scheme made at least P15 billion a year, including kickbacks in the purchase of equipment and additional fees for inspections.

Remulla and Kwan Tiu also cited recent reforms in the BFP, particularly the adoption of an electronic hiring system in the recruitment of applicants for next year.

‘As long as people are involved in the selection, that’s where corruption happens. Now, the lists are systems-generated,’ Remulla said.

Kwan Tiu said he will explore options with the Civil Service Commission (CSC) to protect the identities of BFP applicants. The bureau, similar to the PNP, publishes its lists of applicants in a bid for transparency.

Earlier this year, Remulla launched an anticorruption drive in the BFP, starting with criminal and administrative cases against more than 40 personnel and the relief of over 900 fire safety inspectors in Metro Manila for alleged questionable practices.

The campaign included the suspension of then BFP chief Fire Director Jesus Fernandez, whom Remulla had accused of facilitating a kickback scheme on the procurement of fire trucks and ambulances.

Remulla had vowed to ‘clean the BFP and remove all its syndicates.

‘My goal is to strengthen the institution of the DILG. It used to be very weak. It used to be very porous,’ he said. ‘I will not leave as [Secretary] until I clean this up.’

A college student was found dead by campus security at the University of Makati (UMak) on Friday morning.

According to a spot report by Taguig City police, the student was a 17-year-old male from Taguig City.

Initial investigation said a security guard saw the student ‘lying motionless’ and ‘apparently lifeless’ beside the university’s generator set around 8:30 a.m.

Campus security then reported this to Taguig police, who are investigating if the student’s cause of death ‘was indeed suicide or [if there was] any indication of foul play or other circumstances.’

In a statement, UMak said it extends ‘our heartfelt sympathies to the student’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.’

It added: ‘We kindly ask the community to respect the family’s privacy by refraining from spreading speculative details and by upholding compassion across all platforms.’

The country’s target of having offshore wind assets is gaining more ground as the Department of Energy (DOE) seeks to accelerate the acquisition of land properties to support its rollout.

In pursuit of that goal, the DOE and the Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) inked a memorandum of agreement signed by Energy Secretary Sharon Garin and PNOC president and CEO Franz Josef George Alvarez.

The state-run company would serve as DOE’s designated agency tasked to speed up the processing of leases or permits from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The government hopes its goal of scaling up the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 35 percent by 2030 will receive a boost from the firing up of offshore wind developments by 2028.

Currently, the share for clean power assets is 25 percent.

But the country’s first auction for wind technology has faced a delay. The DOE in July cited logistical issues, infrastructure readiness and supply chain risks tied to the Middle East conflict.

Projects for auction

The DOE, however, intends to pursue the green energy auction round for offshore wind projects by December. The bidding covers 3,300 megawatts of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity, expected for delivery between 2028 and 2030.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) earlier said the Philippines needs at least $500 million to upgrade ports to support the launch of offshore wind parks.

Ann Margret Francisco, GWEC director for the Asia-Pacific, said in June the group has initiated talks with financial institutions to raise funds for the modernization of ports.

‘Particularly because it will be constructed at sea, you will need vessels. And for equipment of that size, you will definitely need adequate space. And that’s the reason why you would need ports as a starting point for the business,’ Francisco said

Continuous southwest monsoon rains triggered widespread flooding and soil erosion in several parts of Olongapo City since Friday, Aug. 28, leaving major roads impassable and forcing residents in a riverside barangay to evacuate.

Minor soil erosion was reported in Barangay Kalaklan at around 1:30 p.m., scattering rocks along the major road leading to Zambales, according to former Vice Mayor Rolen Paulino.

Water levels along Rizal Avenue near Apo Torunda began rising at around 2:30 p.m.

By 4:30 p.m., the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) ordered the preemptive evacuation of residents in Barangay Sta. Rita as water levels in the Sta. Rita River continued to rise.

The river eventually overflowed at around 6:30 p.m., spilling over the Del Rosario and Sta. Rita bridges and flooding portions of West Bajac Bajac, East Bajac Bajac, Kalaklan and Sta. Rita.

Traffic in the affected areas came to a standstill by 7 p.m.

Another case of soil erosion was reported along Napalan Street in Barangay Mabayuan. No injuries were reported.

Inside the Subic Bay Freeport Zone, several roads also became impassable because of flooding, according to Armie Llamas, officer in charge of the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Corporate Affairs.

Bravo Fence, San Bernardino Road, Labitan Street and Quezon Avenue were not passable to light vehicles, while the 10-13 Road near the Kalayaan Sentry was closed to all vehicles.

The CDRRMO issued a red rainfall warning at around 8:30 p.m., even as floodwaters began to recede in some parts of the city

The search for three Aetas, including two children, continued on Friday, a day after a boat carrying members of an indigenous community capsized in Mapanuepe Lake in San Marcelino town, killing six people.

The missing passengers are a 26-year-old pregnant woman and two children, ages 3 and 8. They were among 13 passengers aboard the boat that capsized at about 2 p.m. on Thursday near the Sunken Church in Barangay Buhawen.

The passengers were returning to their community in Sitio (subvillage) Lumibao after attending a government vaccination program and a meeting under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) when the boat encountered strong winds and rough lake conditions. Four passengers survived the incident.

Euphraim Jayson Diciano, head of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Zambales, said personnel from the PCG Special Operations Group were expected to conduct an underwater search for the three missing passengers.

Municipal disaster response personnel, police, the PCG and other responding agencies continued search and recovery operations on Friday despite heavy rains in the province.

The six fatalities were identified as Elvis Tiglao Pabalan, 33; Joanavie Mae Tiglao Pabalan; Sally Serrano Dela Cruz, 29; Prince Lenard Serrano Dela Cruz, 1; Evelyn Yurik Lagman, 45; and Cedric Serrano Liwanag, 2.

The four survivors were identified as Rebecca Paana Sulit, 39; Palit Liwanag, 32; Julian Pabalan Balario; and Marqie Paanan Balario.

The passengers were members of the Aeta community in Sitio Lumibao, located across Mapanuepe Lake from the main part of Barangay Buhawen.

Residents of the sitio rely on boats to cross the lake to reach the barangay proper, where they access government services and other facilities.

Isolated

The tragedy came as continuing rains further isolated other Aeta residents in San Marcelino.

Around 800 residents on the northern side of the river in Barangay Sta. Fe have remained isolated since Aug. 9 after floodwaters damaged a portion of a dike and swept away a bridge.

The damaged dike sustained further damage on Friday as a swollen river pushed floodwaters into nearby communities. A house collapsed after being hit by strong currents, although the family living there was able to evacuate, according to the San Marcelino Public Information Office.

Floodwaters also entered government buildings and a school, while water levels nearly reached a temporary footbridge being built in the area.

The municipal government postponed its scheduled relief operations because strong river currents made it unsafe for vehicles to cross.

Local officials continued to monitor the affected communities as heavy rains persisted, while rescuers pressed on with the search for the three missing Aetas.

Surigao del Norte Rep. Francisco ‘Lalo’ Matugas and his son Francisco ‘Bingo’ Matugas II are facing complaints for graft and malversation of public funds over an P80-million road project that allegedly remained unfinished yet reported on paper as complete, with the contractor already paid in full.

This was according to the spokesperson of the Office of the Ombudsman, who said the filing of the complaints was recommended by the now-deactivated Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), the body created by President Marcos in September 2025 to investigate public works anomalies.

’65-70% accomplished’

Also included as respondents were several officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and officers of the private contractor Boometrix Development Corp.

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano on Friday said a preliminary investigation is under way on the allegations against the Matugases, the DPWH personnel and Boometrix officers regarding the P80.61-million Mahayhay-Tuburan Road project in Del Carmen, Surigao del Norte.

According to Clavano, the project has been declared complete by the DPWH officials, allowing Boometrix to collect full payment.

However, a site inspection conducted in April by the Office of the Ombudsman found it ‘only 65 to 70 percent accomplished.’

‘The matter now proceeds to preliminary investigation,’ Clavano said at a press conference. ‘No finding of guilt has been made at this stage.’

House, AMLC notified

Aside from the proceedings at the Ombudsman, the agency’s investigators have notified the House committee on ethics and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the complaints against Lalo Matugas, he added.

The respondents will soon be ordered to respond to the complaints, Clavano said.

There was no immediate reply from Representative Matugas when the Inquirer asked for comment.

Recommendation

But in a statement last year, when the ICI made the recommendation for the filing, the lawmaker maintained there were no records that would link him to any financial interest and contractual involvement in the project.

But Clavano on Friday said investigators have also documented P457.13 million in loans between the Matugases and Boometrix, which he said supports the conclusion that both father and son held direct pecuniary interests in the company.