Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The civil society-led Truth Commission is taking steps to build a registry that would harmonize the total death toll in the so-called war on drugs during the Duterte administration, as the number has remained a point of contention even with the alleged mastermind, President Rodrigo Duterte, soon facing trial in an international tribunal.

To do this, the commission on Tuesday called on the victims’ families to submit the names for the planned registry, and for organizations, lawyers, as well as journalists and researchers to share their records of the killings.

The former chief executive and ex-mayor of Davao City, who is detained in The Hague, is charged in the International Criminal Court (ICC) with three counts of murder for allegedly masterminding the bloody anticrime model first implemented in Davao City and then replicated at the national level when he became President in 2016.

The drug war led to some 30,000 killings, according to estimates by international and local watchdogs. The police, however, put the official figures at around 6,000.

Difficult to ascertain

‘The actual numbers are difficult to ascertain because government documentation is flawed. In the course of the commission’s work so far, and according to previous findings by rights groups and journalists, the documentation that exists is riddled with death certificates that contain questionable details and incomplete or faulty police reports, to cite two problems,’ said the Truth Commission.

It pointed to figures cited by then national police chief Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa during a Sept. 5, 2017, hearing in the Senate, who told lawmakers that since he assumed office on July 1 of that year, 2,216 drug suspects had been killed in supposed legitimate operations.

But Philippine National Police (PNP) figures, dubbed ‘Real Numbers PH,’ already showed 3,811 deaths from July 2016 to Aug. 29, 2017.

To address the issue of conflicting data, the new registry, which would cover drug-related killings from 2016 to 2022 or under the entire Duterte presidency, aims to be representative of various records and ‘help establish what happened, hold people responsible, compensate families, and prevent a repeat.’

‘It also aims to make the wider effort to record the killings more visible,’ said the commission.

The commission has also sought help from the government, including the PNP and the Commission on Human Rights, for their own data, such as police reports, autopsy findings, court documents, and photographs.

Statements of cooperation

Carlos Conde, commissioner and spokesperson for the Truth Commission, said that the government agencies have yet to comply with the request, but they have issued statements of cooperation.

‘We are so looking forward to that happening,’ he told the Inquirer. ‘In the case of the PNP, their statement of support is quite important for obvious reasons. Their cooperation should be a first step forward for some measure of accountability for killings attributed to law enforcers,’ Conde added.

For Bono Olgado, the commission’s director for documentation, archives, and memorialization, this initiative is about ‘asking whether we can build a shared layer that connects [records] while respecting and protecting the people and communities who have stewarded these records.’

The database of various organizations was ‘built by many hands long before the Truth Commission existed,’ Olgado added in a statement.

In the ICC, the crimes against humanity case of Duterte, now at the trial phase, covers the killings of 76 individuals in 49 encounters with either police officers or masked gunmen. The prosecution has proposed to add eight more incidents tied to the charges to bring the total incidents to 57, should the Trial Chamber III grant this request before the start of the trial on Nov. 30.

The municipality of Quezon rolled out the red carpet for its 9,538 registered senior citizens on Thursday, turning the Quezon Civic Arena into a vibrant gathering place for the town’s 10th Senior Citizens’ Day celebration.

Thousands of senior citizens from the town’s 31 barangays gathered for a day dedicated to kalipay (joy), wellness, and community fellowship.

The local government ensured accessibility by providing free transportation, with pick-up and drop-off arrangements for participants from remote areas.

During the program, Quezon Mayor Pablo Lorenzo III noted the growing number of senior citizens each year.

He urged them to avail themselves of PhilHealth health services and reminded them to take care of themselves, emphasizing that their guidance remains essential.

Bukidnon 3rd District Rep. Audrey Tan-Zubiri also attended the event as guest of honor, expressing her respect for senior citizens and acknowledging their vital contributions to the community and the country.

What began as a local initiative has since evolved into a legally institutionalized tradition.

October 1 officially became an annual celebration dedicated to senior citizens after the Sangguniang Bayan enacted a municipal ordinance.

The ordinance established a policy promoting senior welfare, recognizing older people as integral contributors to nation-building and mandating the annual organization of activities centered on their needs.

True to the ordinance, the event featured free wellness services, including medical checkups, haircuts, massages, and manicures.

Laughter echoed through the venue during parlor games and a raffle draw, while the ‘Seniors Got Talent’ competition showcased the participants’ rhythm and stage presence.

Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Chair and CEO Jose ‘Joey’ Javier Reyes refuted rumors that he had resigned from his post after his previously-approved business-class privilege for an official trip to Spain was withdrawn.

The rumors arose after Reyes expressed his frustration over receiving a memo from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) saying that the privilege granted to him had been withdrawn following a review of the travel arrangements and government rules on official travel.

The notice was issued on Sept. 11, a few days before Reyes was supposed to fly to Spain to sign a co-production agreement.

Reyes was unable to make the scheduled trip and instead sent a representative to attend on his behalf.

‘After all the hard work, all it took was the stroke of a memo to disavow all the sacrifice invested to fulfill what was required and to deliver credible results,’ he said through his Facebook page last Sept. 16. ‘But that is bureaucracy and despite all these decades of human experience, I am still a neophyte in the domain of government. I was infuriated. Frustrated. Insulted.’

Reyes then addressed the resignation rumors during his speech at the closing event of the Philippine Film Industry Month on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

‘Surprise! Hindi ako resigned, contrary to popular rumors that sent me trending this afternoon,’ he said. ‘I’m very much alive and still part of the FDCP.’

Reyes explained during the event that while he was hurt and insulted by the withdrawal of the approval, he understands and respects the decision. He nonetheless underscored that he would have appreciated being given more time to adjust to the change, given that he had already scheduled appointments in Spain.

In a message sent to INQUIRER.net, Reyes said he will not resign over this issue because he has ‘so much work to do.’

Meanwhile, in a separate Facebook post after the event, Reyes also seemed to have playfully alluded to the resignation rumors.

‘Philippine Film Industry Month done. Honoring members of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino for their nearly five decades of hard work assessing Filipino movies/ Now the program is over and I haven’t had dinner. I am ‘resigned’ to war cheese and crackers when I get home,’ he wrote.

Team Philippines’ Amaya Cojuangco delivered the silver medal in the archery women’s compound individual event at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, falling to Indonesia’s Nurisa Dian Ashrifah, 139-137, at Ozakaki Chuo Sogo Park.

Cojuangco pushed Ashrifah to the limit, but the Indonesian hit a 10 with her final arrow to clinch her country’s first Asian Games gold in archery.

It capped a strong run for Cojuangco, who also upset No. 66-ranked Park Jungyoon of South Korea, 142-141, in the semifinals after beating Iran’s Bita Asheghzadeh Oskouei, 146-135, in the quarterfinals.

Cojuangco’s silver ended the Philippines’ 12-year Asian Games medal drought in archery. The country’s previous medal came from Paul Dela Cruz, who won bronze in the men’s individual compound event at the 2014 Incheon Games.

The 40-year-old veteran campaigner for the Philippines added to the country’s silver medal haul, which now stands at four.

Cojuangco beat Wei Fangyao of China and Le Pham Ngoc Anh of Vietnam on Monday to advance to the quarterfinal.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla challenged former House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and his wife to return to the Philippines and take a polygraph test amid allegations linking them to alleged cash deliveries to the Duterte family.

‘The lie detector test is not admissible in court. But I’m asking the Velasco couple to come home and take the same test. We’ll see who’s telling the truth,’ said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief at an ambush interview after an event at Pasay City on Thursday.

Remulla said they are in Niseko, Japan, adding that they have a residence there.

‘They have a house there, the most exclusive vacation spot in the entire Japan. It’s expensive there in Niseko, only rich people go there,’ he added.

National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag said the Bureau of Immigration had confirmed that Velasco departed for Nagoya, Japan, on Aug. 30.

‘Latest is Niseko,’ Remulla told the Inquirer upon clarification of Velasco’s location.

On Wednesday, former police officer Rodulfo Gracioso Jr. took a lie detector test at the NBI in connection with his affidavit alleging that he delivered suitcases, called ‘maleta,’ containing cash to some members of the Duterte family.

Gracioso alleged that he delivered cash in several batches to Vice President Sara Duterte, former President Rodrigo Duterte, and Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte beginning in 2018, allegedly on Velasco’s instructions.

Velasco, through his spokesperson, denied the allegation, describing Gracioso’s cash delivery claim as fabricated.

The Philippine National Police earlier confirmed that Gracioso was dismissed effective Sept 11 due to an administrative case.

‘Gracioso has a tainted past. That’s why he was dismissed. But even a broken clock is right twice a day,’ said Remulla in mixed English and Filipino.

Remulla said the polygraph indicated that Gracioso was telling the truth when asked about delivering the bags.

‘But the polygraph is not admissible in court. Still, I dare the Velasco couple to come and take the same polygraph so we can see who is really telling the truth,’ he added. /

More than 1,200 bamboo culms were planted at a National Greening Program site at the Talaytay Protected Landscape in the Aurora town of Dinalungan as part of efforts to restore degraded forest areas.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon said the planting activity led by its community office in Casiguran town was held in Barangay Dibaraybay in observance of Philippine Bamboo Month last September.

The Talaytay Protected Landscape covers about 3,526 hectares, straddling Dinalungan and Casiguran, and protects the Talaytay River watershed.

It was originally established as a watershed forest reserve in 1990 before it was declared a protected landscape in 2000 under Proclamation No. 283.

DENR-Casiguran community head Ariel Mendoza said the National Greening Program promotes bamboo propagation because the plant helps restore degraded lands, absorb carbon dioxide, and reduce soil erosion.

The activity drew more than 85 participants from the Dibaraybay barangay government, Talaytay Protected Landscape Occupants Association Inc., Bantay Kalikasan ng Dinalungan Aurora Inc., and the Casiguran municipal environment office

The municipal government of Naujan in Oriental Mindoro has tightened measures to prevent the entry and spread of African swine fever (ASF), including a temporary ban on the entry of live pigs for various purposes, according to its information office on Thursday.

The measures are contained in Municipal Executive Order No. 26-040 signed by Mayor Henry Joel C. Teves on Sept. 29.

The order seeks to strengthen prevention, monitoring, biosecurity, and enforcement measures to protect hog raisers, food security, and livelihoods in the municipality.

Under the EO, the entry of live pigs into Naujan is temporarily barred, including their unloading, sale, delivery, storage, breeding, slaughter, and other local activities.

The municipality will also establish ASF checkpoints to inspect and monitor vehicles, shipments, permits, and other required documents.

Swine farms should comply with biosecurity measures, including registration, installation of footbaths and fences, disinfection, and pest control.

The order also regulates hog traders, swine breeding services, genetic materials, frozen pork, and processed pork products in accordance with existing laws and government regulations.

Residents are urged to immediately report to the Municipal Agriculture Office or barangay officials any unusual pig deaths, symptoms displayed by swine that may be associated with ASF, and unauthorized movement of pigs or sale of undocumented pork products.

The Municipal ASF Task Force will lead the implementation of the measures with the Municipal Agriculture Office and other concerned government agencies.

According to the municipal government, Oriental Mindoro and Naujan remain ASF-free

Malacañang on Thursday told the public that there is no need to hoard potable water as the government is preparing to prevent a water supply shortage amid the possible impact of a super El Niño.

The state weather bureau recently warned that a ‘very strong El Niño’ is likely to emerge between October and December 2026 and may continue until the first half of 2027.

At a briefing, Palace press officer Claire Castro warned that hoarding could fuel fear and panic, while an artificial shortage caused by stockpiling could also drive up prices.

‘Ang unang-una po kasi, bakit kailangang mag-hoard ng tubig para pang-inom? Hindi po tayo mawawalan ng tubig para mainom. At kung alam ninyo naman ang tubig kapag ito ay bottled water, mayroon din po itong panahon na dapat ito ay i-consume,’ she said.

(First of all, why do you need to hoard water for drinking? We will not run out of drinking water. And as you know, bottled water also has a period within which it should be consumed.)

‘So hindi po advisable na kayo ay magtago, mag-hoard ng mga tubig ngayon para iniisip ninyong mawawalan tayo ng tubig na maiinom. Ang sabi nga po natin madalas, taun-taon na po nating nararanasan ang El Niño; mayroon po tayong Task Force El Niño,’ the Palace official also said.

(So, it is not advisable to stockpile or hoard water now out of fear that we will run out of drinking water. As we have often said, we experience El Niño every year, and we have a Task Force El Niño in place.)

Citing previous statements from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that climate change is worsening the effects of the phenomenon, Castro said the public should also prepare alongside the government’s efforts to assist those who may be affected.

‘Handa po ang gobyerno at marami na pong mga programa ang naumpisahan na, pati ang mga ayuda para sa ating mga fisherfolk at mga farmers ay maaayudahan na rin po sila,’ she said.

(The government is prepared, and many programs have already been put in place. Assistance will also be provided to our fisherfolk and farmers who may be affected.)

Government agencies concerned are also coordinating with the Climate Change Commission, headed by Marcos, on preparations for the impact of El Niño.

Among the agencies involved are the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration, National Water Resources Board, and Department of Social Welfare and Development.

‘Ang pondo po ay talagang pinaglaanan para po mas magkaroon tayo ng tamang pagprepara dahil nga binabanggit ito na super El Niño,’ Castro said.

(Funding has been allocated to ensure that we are properly prepared, especially since this has been identified as a potential Super El Niño.)

‘So, marami na pong mga napag-usapan na gagawin para sa climate information, agriculture and food, irrigation, water supply and social protection. So, makakaasa po kayo na ang gobyerno ay tumatalima sa kanilang tungkulin,’ she also said.

(So, many measures have already been discussed covering climate information, agriculture and food, irrigation, water supply, and social protection. So, you can be assured that the government is fulfilling its responsibilities.)

Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo has scolded the prosecution for instances where they failed to pique the curiosity of senator-judges, as they supposedly fielded witnesses that are not necessary to Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

During the start of the trial on Thursday, Tulfo asked the prosecution, particularly public prosecutor and Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores when they will present former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

When Flores said that they will announce the order after the Senate impeachment court goes on a lunch recess, Tulfo said it will be good for the prosecution to present Trillanes first before the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) rather than the other way around, as it is the AMLC which will confirm the former senator’s allegations.

‘Kasi kung kukuning witness si former senator Trillanes, much better kung mauna muna siya bago ang AMLC kasi ‘yong mga sasabihin ni Mr. Trillanes may kinalaman sa mga bank accounts na kanyang nakalap a long time ago,’ Tulfo said.

(Because if they will present former senator Trillanes as a witness, much better kung if he will go first before AMLC because the testimony of Mr. Trillanes will involve the bank accounts he discovered and gathered a long time ago.)

‘So kung meron siyang mga ibubulgar na bank accounts, mga pera, pumasok lumabas sa accounts na nakuha niya sa kanyang source, then after na makausap natin si senator Trillanes, iko-confirm ‘yan ng AMLC. So dapat mauna muna si Mr. Trillanes and then AMLC, hindi pwedeng ‘yong AMLC and then Trillanes,’ he added.

(So if he will reveal bank accounts, funds that went in and out of the accounts which were from his source, then after we talk to senator Trillanes, it will be confirmed by AMLC. So it should be Mr. Trillanes first and then AMLC, not AMLC and then Trillanes.)

When presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero said that Flores will give reply after lunch, Tulfo said that he is raising this suggestion as the prosecution seems to have stumbled several times when presenting witnesses.

‘Kasi kung minsan ‘yong prosecution, sorry ah, pumapalpak-palpak kayo, there are times na naglalagay kayo ng mga witnesses na hindi naman kailangan talaga, nagsasayang lang tayo ng oras, nakikita naman ‘yong mga senador inaantok, ‘yong iba panay ang punta sa CR kasi wala eh, parang useless eh ‘di ba?’ Tulfo said.

(Because sometimes, the prosecution – I’m sorry – you fail in your presentation, there are times that you present witnesses that are not really needed, you are just wasting time, you can see senators being sleepy, some go to the CR because listening seems to be useless, right?)

‘Kukuha kayo ng witness, make sure na ‘yong talagang ‘yong witness na ‘yon ay merong masasabing bagay na makakatulong sa ginagawang imbestigasyon dito sa impeachment. Meron pa nga kayong kinuha na pinagtatawanan tuloy, nagpapa-cute lang habang kinakausap ang witness na pulis […] So ingat kayo sa pagkukuha ng witness at ingat kayo sa pagsasalang ng mga abugado ninyo d’yan,’ he added.

(If you will invite witnesses, make sure that they will be able to provide testimony that would help the investigation conducted here at the impeachment. You even presented a witness that is poked fun at, because the prosecutor is trying to be cute while talking to the police officer […] So be careful in inviting witnesses and also in fielding your lawyers.)

Tulfo did not specify what this specific incident was, but so far, only one police officer has been presented by the prosecution – Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosive Office (PNP-FEO) official P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang, who testified regarding Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

Article II deals with allegations that Vice President Duterte has unexplained wealth, and that these were not declared in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

Sangalang was quizzed by public prosecutor and San Juan City Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora about the firearms owned by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, which were supposedly not stated in the vice president’s SALN for previous years.

Zamora called out these people who made the comments online, saying that they should ‘get a life’ if they cannot handle her style.

The prosecution maintained on Wednesday that they still intend to present Trillanes, but the order of his presentation remains in question.

During Tuesday’s trial, Escudero himself gave a suggestion to the prosecution, but it was different from Tulfo – as the presiding officer proposed that Trillanes be brought after the AMLC representative.

The Quezon provincial government is using aerial drone technology to gather accurate data for disaster preparedness and manage its natural and agricultural resources.

‘The drone mapping aims to collect geospatial data and aerial imagery that can serve as a basis for improved planning in agriculture, disaster preparedness, environmental protection, and resource management,’ the provincial government’s Public Information Office (PIO) said in a report on Wednesday.

From Sept. 22 to 24, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA), in coordination with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) and the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO), conducted aerial mapping using a VTOL Griffin Pro unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

The mapping covered 2,377 hectares in selected areas, including portions of Sariaya, Mount Banahaw, and watershed areas in Atimonan.

The PIO said advanced technology facilitates data gathering in vast, hard-to-reach areas, enabling government offices to develop more appropriate programs and interventions for Quezon’s communities and natural resources.

The provincial government continues to promote technological innovation and inter-agency collaboration to obtain more accurate information, improve development planning, and ensure a more proactive response.

Quezon, located in the southeastern portion of Luzon, is the largest province in the Calabarzon region, covering 870,660 hectares, or 8,706.60 square kilometers.

Its terrain is characterized by rugged mountains dominated by the Sierra Madre range, interspersed with plains, river valleys, rolling coastal lowlands, and extensive forestlands.

Of its 42 municipalities, 34 are coastal: 17 along Lamon Bay facing the Pacific Ocean, 12 along Tayabas Bay, and five along Ragay Gulf.

Quezon’s diverse topography supports extensive agricultural activities, particularly coconut production, as well as abundant forest and marine resources