Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

An instructor and a student pilot escaped unharmed after their light aircraft made an emergency landing in a rice field in Arayat, Pampanga, on Saturday afternoon, Oct. 3.

Lt. Sherlyn Bañares, duty officer of the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Unit 3, told the Inquirer by phone that the incident occurred around 2:30 p.m.

Bañares said the US-made, two-seater Cessna 152, bearing body number RP-C8864, made the emergency landing in a rice field along the Magalang-Arayat Road in Barangay San Antonio after its 41-year-old pilot noticed unusual vibrations.

‘The training aircraft left Omni Aviation School in Clark Freeport Zone at 2:26 p.m. Upon reaching the area of San Antonio, Arayat, Captain Huelgas decided to execute an emergency landing on the rice field due to the unusual vibration in the aircraft,’ Bañares said.

She said the aircraft flipped over after landing, but Huelgas and the 23-year-old student pilot safely got out.

The two were taken to a hospital for medical examination and were later released after doctors determined they had not sustained any serious injuries.

The aircraft remained at the emergency landing site in Arayat as of Sunday morning, pending an investigation by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

As the country marks World Teachers’ Day on Monday, the Department of Education (DepEd) recognized a community-based teacher in Pampanga for nearly two decades of work providing education to out-of-school youth and other underserved communities.

Allan Delos Reyes, a Master Teacher II and Alternative Learning System (ALS) teacher at Minalin Elementary School in Pampanga, was among those honored.

The DepEd Heroes ceremony took place last week at President Corazon C. Aquino National High School in Pasay City.

Among the initiatives Delos Reyes developed was Project C.O.A.S.T.A.L.S., or ‘Eskwela sa Palaisdaan,’ which brings lessons to children of fisherfolk in coastal communities.

He also developed Education Behind Bars, which provides learning opportunities to persons deprived of liberty, former rebels, and children in conflict with the law.

Another initiative, Project kALSada, is a municipality-funded mobile classroom that delivers ALS modules to remote communities in Minalin, Pampanga.

‘This is not an award meant to stay in our home. It’s a reminder that there are more youth, more learners waiting for me every day, who are excited to learn relevant lessons which can be built into a better future,’ Delos Reyes said.

Education technology firm Frontlearners Inc., represented by President Leo De Velez and CEO Maria Elaine De Velez, was also recognized during the ceremony.

The recognition was held alongside DepEd’s national ceremony honoring schools and education partners whose efforts contributed to the Philippines’ improved performance in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment or PISA.

‘The Filipino talent is as competitive as any other nationality in the workforce,’ De Velez said.

Former Sen. Antonio ‘Sonny’ Trillanes IV’s allegations involving China-linked funds and other financial transactions cannot simply be disregarded because he will no longer testify in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial, prosecution spokesperson Atty. Benjamin ‘Jay’ Tolosa Jr. said over the weekend.

Tolosa said the allegations are serious enough to warrant scrutiny against official financial records expected to be presented before the Senate impeachment court beginning Monday.

‘These are very serious allegations na hindi puwedeng isang tabi lang basta-basta. So kailangan tingnan pa rin natin ‘yan,’ Tolosa said during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

Trillanes on Friday alleged that Cale88 Foods Corp., a company partly owned by Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, received P319 million from China-linked sources.

He separately alleged that Tapang at Malasakit Alliance for the Philippines Inc., a foundation linked to Duterte, received P150 million from the Chinese Embassy.

The former senator also made allegations involving undeclared time deposits, insurance policies and other financial transactions.

These claims, however, have not been established before the Senate impeachment court.

Tolosa said official records expected from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), banks and other financial institutions should provide a means of checking whether Trillanes’ allegations are supported by documentary evidence.

‘Kapag nakita na natin ‘tong official documents na ‘to, then we can all see for ourselves kung ito bang sinabi ni Sen. Trillanes talagang backed by official records,’ he said.

Tolosa cited as an example Trillanes’ allegation involving a P80-million cash transaction to secure insurance policies.

‘Meron siyang na-mention, again, as ‘yung mga sinasabi nga niya, one day, 80 million pesos in cash to secure policies,’ he said.

Trillanes asked the House prosecution Thursday to withdraw him from its witness list, saying this would relieve the panel of pressure.

House lead prosecutor Atty. Gerville Luistro of Batangas subsequently informed the impeachment court that the prosecution would no longer present him as a witness.

Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero had earlier declined to issue a subpoena for Trillanes but said the prosecution was not barred from presenting him as a voluntary witness.

Tolosa said Trillanes’ withdrawal does not mean his public allegations should simply be set aside.

‘Kahit hindi siya natuloy, no, dahil nag-request siya na i-withdraw ng prosecution ‘yung name niya among the list of witnesses, hindi pwedeng, kumbaga, i-disregard na lang nang ganun-ganoon ‘yung mga naging statements niya,’ he said.

AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura is expected to testify Monday on summaries of alleged covered and suspicious transaction reports involving Duterte, Carpio and several companies, as well as inward remittances and insurance and investment-related transactions.

His testimony forms part of the prosecution’s presentation under Article II, which accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, failing to fully and truthfully disclose her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities and net worth, and continuing business interests while serving as vice president.

An octogenarian couple, both retired teachers, were brutally killed inside their home in Banisilan, North Cotabato before dawn Sunday, police said.

Colonel Ramel Hojilla, Cotabato police provincial director, identified the victims as Edwin Galeno, 81, and his wife Elsa, 82.

Quoting a report from the Banisilan municipal police station, Hojilla said the couple’s neighbors in Barangay Poblacion 2 heard cries for help, but were afraid to come out and check what happened.

They reported what they heard to village officials and the police.

The attack was believed to have transpired between 3 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Police found the couple in a pool of blood inside their home with stab wounds to the head and body.

A bloodied kitchen knife and a piece of wood were recovered at the crime scene.

Shirlyn Macasarte, a member of the North Cotabato Sangguniang Panlalawigan, strongly condemned the brutal murder of the couple.

‘I strongly condemn this senseless and brutal act. Their lives were taken in the place where they should have felt safe -their own home,’ Macasarte said in a statement.

Macasarte, a resident of Banisilan town, said Gov. Emmylou Mendoza had instructed her and fellow board member Sittie Antao to work closely with the police to fast track the resolution of the couple’s murder.

She said the police have already identified ‘persons of interest’ in the crime.

Macasarte said the slain couple were like parents to her.

‘They were both my teachers when I was in elementary school. I have fond memories of those days, especially when I would eat lunch at their home when I was still a child. They were not only my teachers, but people who became part of my childhood,’ she said.

‘We mourn with their family, and we join the call for justice. May those responsible be held accountable,’ she added.

Senator JV Ejercito has submitted a proposed measure seeking to double the current monthly social stipend for indigent senior citizens from P1,000 to P2,000, providing greater financial relief for elderly Filipinos amid rising costs.

Ejercito’s Senate Bill No. 2522 aims to amend Republic Act No. 11916, which sets the monthly social pension to P1,000, to address the escalating costs of food, maintenance medicines, healthcare, and basic utilities.

‘With the continuing rise in the prices of food, medicines, utilities, transportation, and health care, P1,000 a month is simply no longer sufficient to significantly support the daily needs of an elderly Filipino,’ Ejercito said.

‘For many retirees, a modest monthly pension is quickly consumed by maintenance medicines, medical consultations, food, rent, electricity, transportation, and other necessities. The small statutory pension they receive every month is far from financial security we envisioned for our seniors,’ he added.

With the number of senior citizens growing-based on the Philippine Statistics Authority 2024 Census of Population, approximately one in every ten persons is a senior citizen-Ejercito insisted that the government must also ensure that social protection system keeps pace with the changing needs of our elderly.

‘Our senior citizens have spent the productive part of their lives working, raising families, building communities, and contributing to our nation. Many of them cared for us when we were young and still finding our way through life. In their later years, it is only right that society, in turn, ensures that they are able to live with dignity and security,’ he said.

Under SB 2522, the definition of an indigent senior citizen would be expanded to include elderly Filipinos who have no pension or permanent source of income, as well as those who receive a pension, compensation, or financial assistance not exceeding P10,000 per month, subject to determination by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The bill would also remove the existing requirement that an indigent senior citizen be ‘frail, sickly or with disability’ to qualify for the social pension.

It likewise mandates the DSWD, subject to the approval of the Department of Budget and Management and in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to review and, when necessary, adjust the social pension every two years.

The proposed adjustments would take into account the consumer price index, poverty threshold, cost of living, and other relevant economic indicators reported by government agencies.

‘Social pension is not charity. Ultimately, this measure is about how we value those who came before us. Our senior citizens should be able to spend the remaining years of their lives with dignity, not in constant worry about their next meal, their medicines, or their most basic needs,’ Ejercito said.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the impeachment court is aiming to reach a verdict on Vice President Sara Duterte’s case by November.

‘Maybe mid-November to end-November. Hopefully, hopefully,’ he said in an interrview with radio dzBB on Sunday.

Pressed further if he meant that the trial would end and the impeachment court may issue a verdict by that time, Gatchalian answered: ‘I think so.’

The Senate leader earlier said that they expect to finish the impeachment proceedings before Christmas.

However, according to him, recent changes may allow them to wrap up sooner.

‘After this week, hopefully, this week to next week, the [prosecution’s presentation of evidence for] Article 2 or unexplained wealth, will end. Then we’ll go to Article 4 or bribery. After that it’s the defense’s turn,’ he said.

‘So, hopefully, during the defense, the trial will run more efficiently because [everyone involved in the trial] already got the hang of it. So between 30 to 45 days,’ he said, adding that he based it on his personal estimates.

But Gatchalian said ‘I can be wrong,’ as he noted that adjustments in the schedule of the trial hearings happen as changes occur during the proceedings.

The Senate has also been trying to balance the impeachment proceedings with its usual legislative duties.

Last week, the defense asked for the deferment of the prosecution’s presentation of the Anti-Money Laundering Council witness to Monday, suspending all proceedings until then.

‘It depends on the witnesses to be presented. Like on the issue of confidential funds, there were witnesses removed. Same with article on unexplained wealth, the number of witnesses was also reduced. So it depends,’ said Gatchalian.

He added he wants the trial to end and verdict to be issued before Christmas. ‘That’s what we want to happen.’

Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol earlier said that the court is expected to reach a verdict on Duterte’s case by December 16.

Three drug suspects were arrested in separate buy-bust operations here that resulted in the confiscation of a combined 7.85 grams of suspected shabu valued at P53,380, police said.

The first operation was conducted at about 7 p.m. on Friday in Purok 6, Barangay Saray, resulting in the arrest of alias ‘Opaw,’ 39, a resident of Barangay Gimangpang, Initao, Misamis Oriental. Police seized seven small sachets of suspected shabu from him, valued at P5,508.

At around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, police arrested a 22-year-old woman from Purok 1, Barangay Tambacan, during a joint buy-bust operation at Zone 8 Cocogrove in Barangay Poblacion. The seized drugs weighed about 3.9 grams and were valued at P26,520.

Hours later, police arrested a 51-year-old woman in Purok 4A, Barangay Tambacan.

Police recovered 20 sachets of suspected shabu valued at P21,352, along with the buy-bust money, from the suspect.

The three operations were conducted by different units of the Iligan City Police Office, with support from the Iligan City Mobile Force Company and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The suspects were informed of their constitutional rights and placed under police custody for documentation and the filing of appropriate charges under Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

A 29-year-old woman died while two others, including a two-year-old child, were injured after their tricycle was hit by a pickup truck in Sta. Barbara town in this province on Saturday.

Police said the tricycle, driven by a 24-year-old security guard, was hit from behind by a pickup truck driven by a 38-year-old sales agent around 4 a.m. in Barangay Tebag West.

The impact caused the tricycle to lose control and spin several times before stopping along the outer lane of the road.

The tricycle driver, his 29-year-old live-in partner and their child two-year-old child were taken to Urdaneta City District Hospital.

The woman was declared dead on arrival, while the driver remained at the hospital for treatment. The child received first aid and was placed under a relative’s care.

The pickup truck driver was unhurt but was brought to the Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City for a medical examination.

Both vehicles were damaged, although police had yet to determine the extent of the damage.

Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial enters a crucial week Monday, with the House prosecution set to present witnesses from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), banks, insurance companies and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) as it moves closer to completing its unexplained wealth case.

The Senate impeachment court is scheduled to hold full-day hearings from Oct. 5 to 9, giving prosecutors five consecutive trial days to present financial records involving Duterte, her husband, lawyer Manases ‘Mans’ Carpio, and companies linked to them.

First on the witness stand is AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, whose testimony was postponed last week after the defense sought more time to review voluminous financial records and prepare for cross-examination.

‘Una, isasalang po finally ‘yun pong AMLC executive director patungkol doon sa mga transactions ng mag-asawang Duterte-Carpio at mga kumpanya po nila,’ House prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Buenaventura is expected to testify on summaries of covered and suspicious transaction reports involving Duterte, Carpio and several companies, as well as inward remittances and insurance and investment-related transactions.

Ridon said the postponement and the weekend should give the defense sufficient time to review the records. Prosecutors expect to complete their direct examination of Buenaventura, the defense’s cross-examination and questions from senator-judges on Monday.

‘So we’re expecting matapos po for Monday ‘yung pong AMLC executive director for direct, for cross, at questions of Senate judges,’ Ridon said.

Buenaventura previously testified before the House Committee on Justice on AMLC records covering billions of pesos in transactions involving Duterte and Carpio.

The aggregate figures represent recorded transactions and are not, by themselves, a finding that the amounts were illegally acquired or constitute unexplained wealth.

After Buenaventura, officials from seven banks and seven insurance and financial firms have been ordered to appear before the impeachment court beginning Tuesday to testify and produce financial records.

The seven banks are Land Bank of the Philippines, Asia United Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank and BDO Unibank.

Also summoned are representatives of Prudential Life, Allianz, Manufacturers Life, FWD Life, BPI-AIA Life, BDO Securities and BDO Life.

The prosecution also intends to summon a BIR witness to present records on the couple’s income and taxes as part of its effort to build a more complete picture of their finances.

‘At panghuli, ‘yun pong BIR para makita po natin ‘yung pong income, net of taxes, ng mag-asawang Duterte-Carpio para magkaroon po tayo ng, lagi po nating binabanggit, na most complete picture ng kayamanan, supposedly kayamanan, ng atin pong Pangalawang Pangulo at ng kanya pong asawa,’ Ridon said.

The witnesses form part of the prosecution’s presentation under Article II, which accuses Duterte of amassing unexplained wealth, failing to fully and truthfully disclose her and her spouse’s assets, liabilities and net worth, and continuing business interests while serving as vice president.

Prosecutors have already presented evidence involving Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, corporate interests, real properties and firearms.

The coming AMLC, bank, insurance and tax records are expected to be compared with those disclosures as prosecutors seek to establish whether the couple’s finances are consistent with their declared wealth.

The prosecution expects to move closer to the end of its unexplained wealth presentation once the remaining financial witnesses are completed.

House Speaker and Isabela Rep. Faustino G. Dy III on Sunday extended his sympathies to the family of the two students who died during a fun run at the Cauayan South Central School.

The fatalities, aged 7 and 8, were electrocuted during a bubble fun run on Saturday, Oct. 3.

‘Lubos akong nakikiramay sa mga pamilya ng dalawang mag-aaral na nasawi sa malagim na insidente sa Cauayan South Central School,’ Dy said in a statement.

‘Nang malaman ko ang nangyari, agad akong nagtungo sa paaralan upang personal na alamin ang sitwasyon at makausap ang mga kinauukulan.’ he added.

‘Bilang isang ama at kapwa Isabeleño, napakasakit tanggapin ang ganitong trahedya. Walang magulang ang dapat makaranas ng mawalan ng anak sa ganitong paraan. Nakikiisa ako sa matinding pagdadalamhati ng mga pamilya, at dalangin ko ang mabilis na paggaling ng iba pang mga batang naapektuhan.’