Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Transport groups urged six Metro Manila local government units to defer the reimplementation of the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP), saying their motion for reconsideration remains pending before the Supreme Court (SC).

Transport leaders Boy Vargas of ALTODAP, Obet Martin of Pasang Masda, and Liberty de Luna of ACTO, said the local governments of Manila, Quezon City, Valenzuela, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, and San Juan should await the SC’s final ruling on the legality of the NCAP implementation.

The groups said that NCAP violates due process, with some of its provisions being unreasonable, particularly for public utility vehicle operators.

‘I am not a lawyer, but my understanding of the law is that it should not be implemented yet because our group still has an appeal pending on the matter,’ said Vargas in a joint statement on Monday.

The SC dismissed their consolidated petitions in June, but the transport groups filed a motion for reconsideration on Aug. 5.

Vargas said that transport groups would comply if the SC orders the implementation of NCAP, but asked the local government to wait for the final resolution.

‘Our dismissal of the Petitions is confined to the determination that petitioners failed to overcome threshold issues, and that the supervening adoption of a uniform regulatory framework has rendered the Petitions moot,’ the SC decision on NCAP read.

‘There is no explicit determination regarding the prior issuances, nor a resolution of grievances based on specific facts,’ it added.

Martin said he consulted their lawyer after learned that some local governments planned to resume NCAP.

‘The explanation given to us is that the Supreme Court’s decision does not state that the dismissal of our petition is already final and executory,’ said Martin.

De Luna likewise appealed to the concerned local government to defer NCAP implementation and urged them to respect the pending legal process and consider the concerns of public transport operators.

A 66-year-old man was found dead under a bridge in Barangay Casiligan, Pola town, on Saturday, Oct. 3, police said.

The body was discovered after a barangay official alerted the Pola Municipal Police Station. Police responded and conducted an initial investigation.

Residents told police that the man was last seen possibly under the influence of alcohol.

Police have yet to determine how he died and requested a post-mortem examination to establish the cause of death.

The investigation was ongoing as of Sunday.

Money Guro, Cebuana Lhuillier’s financial education initiative led by President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier, has long helped Filipinos make sound financial decisions. Now, the platform is taking its mission a step further by helping Filipinos turn what they learn about money into action with the launch of Money Guro Loans.

From its inception, Money Guro has stood for more than just teaching Filipinos how money works. It has championed the idea that empowerment comes when knowledge is paired with the right tools to act on opportunities and address financial needs. With Money Guro Loans, this approach extends to Filipino entrepreneurs who may need additional resources to keep their businesses moving or pursue growth opportunities.

Jean Henri Lhuillier emphasized the deeper purpose behind this expansion: ‘Financial literacy is only meaningful when it empowers people to act. With Money Guro Loans, we are giving Filipino entrepreneurs the means to turn knowledge into opportunity, to grow their businesses, and to strengthen their communities. This is the next chapter of our commitment to financial inclusion.’

Money Guro Loans brings this approach to entrepreneurship through four financing options designed around different types of small businesses. The MerryBiz Loan supports small retailers preparing for the Christmas season, helping them stock inventory and secure supplies for increased demand. The ClickStart Loan caters to online sellers seeking funds to expand their digital storefronts. The SheGlows Loan supports women entrepreneurs in the beauty and personal care sector, while the FoodTrip Loan provides capital for home-based food sellers, bakers, food carts, and carinderias.

The loans range from ?5,000 to ?20,000, with terms of three to six months and a streamlined online application process. Once approved, Cebuana Lhuillier branches handle disbursement and repayment.

The launch of Money Guro Loans expands the platform’s role from financial education to support entrepreneurs’ day-to-day businesses. Whether preparing for a busy season, growing an online store, or meeting the needs of a food or beauty business, entrepreneurs can access financing designed around their specific circumstances.

As Cebuana Lhuillier continues to advance its commitment to financial inclusion, Money Guro Loans reflects a broader effort to make financial education more relevant to Filipinos’ everyday needs. It brings the platform’s lessons closer to real-life decisions, giving entrepreneurs another way to put what they know into practice.

The joint accounts of Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had P193 million worth of unique bank transactions in just one day in March 2014, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reports showed.

During the resumption of the impeachment trial against the vice president, Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, a witness of the prosecution panel, was asked about the nature of the accounts that made the following transactions in March 28, 2014, which totaled to P193,705,615.88:

reference number ending in 2490: P41,721,056.62

reference number ending in 2540: P55,131,747.32

reference number ending in 2510: P20,000,000.00

reference number ending in 2500: P20,000,000.00

reference number ending in 2480: P16,852,832.94

reference number ending in 2520: P20,000,000.00

reference number ending in 2490: P20,000,000.00

In response, Buenaventura said it belonged to former president Duterte and Vice President Duterte.

‘Yes, Atty. Buenaventura, we had a question left hanging: who owned these accounts that are involved in these transactions?’ counsel for the prosecution, Mae Divinagracia, asked.

‘The first was from former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Sara Z. Duterte, so this is a joint account. The second is Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Sara Z. Duterte; all of those on page 9 are under former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Sara Z. Duterte. And the last, Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Sara Duterte,’ Buenaventura replied.

The transactions were part of the P4.4 billion in financial movements that AMLC flagged in its reports on covered and suspicious transactions.

At one point in the discussions, Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero asked whether the transactions were made on the same day and whether these were unique movements.

Buenaventura said the code under the AMLC’s covered transaction reports (CTRs) was an IA-inter-account transfer.

‘The code po is TRIA, inter-account transfer po, CTR-IA po means inter-account transfer, so this is a movement of funds from one account to another client’s account within the same bank, Your Honor,’ Buenaventura said.

‘Within the same bank, but different transactions?’ Escudero asked.

‘Yes, Your Honor, they have different transaction codes, so they are treated as unique transactions,’ the AMLC chief added.

Objections

Vice President Duterte’s lawyers, particularly counsel for the respondent Mark Vinluan, opposed the showing of total numbers on the Senate livestream, noting that the actual AMLC report did not have a total – and that a total or an aggregate amount may have a misleading effect.

‘Your Honor, again […] but again, Your Honor they’re already presenting an aggregate total in their presentation your Honor, particularly our powerpoint presentation, I would just like to manifest your Honor that the CTRs do not indicate any aggregate total or grand total your Honor, because it creates a perception your Honor whether it’s correct or wrong,’ Vinluan said.

‘May we just, Your Honor, have this taken down, Your Honor?’ he asked.

Escudero, however, did not allow it, noting that Buenaventura had testified that these were unique transactions and therefore could be added.

The presiding officer then asked Buenaventura if these were double-booked transactions – or transactions that referred to the same exact amount of money that moved within the Dutertes accounts. Buenaventura reiterated that these are unique transactions because they have different reference numbers.

‘Unfortunately, counsel, the court will allow it to stay because it’s quite clear, given the intervention of the presiding officer, that these are unique accounts in one day, and he further explained that these are mere transfers from one account to another, but that these are unique transactions,’ Escudero said. ‘Atty. Ronel, so these are not double-booked transactions; these are unique transactions?’

‘As reported to us, Your Honor, because they have separate transaction reference numbers, Your Honor,’ Buenaventura replied.

When asked whether it is proper to have a total of the financial transactions made in March 28, 2014, Buenaventura said he is not in the position to say this – leading Vinluan to manifest that the witness cannot ascertain whether it is proper or not to show a total value.

‘Is it proper to total because these are unique transactions? Is it correct for us to provide a total of the amounts involved in the transaction made in a single day? Because as you said, these transactions are unique,’ Escudero said.

‘I cannot say po you Honor, I cannot say if it is proper or not your Honor,’ Buenaventura said.

‘We just manifest for the record, Your Honor, that he said that he doesn’t know if it’s proper or improper, and we’ll just register a continuing objection, Your Honor,’ Vinluan added.

However, Vinluan’s request to remove the total shown on the Senate’s livestream was denied.

During the hearing of the House of Representatives’ committee on justice on the two impeachment complaints against vice president Duterte, Buenaventura also appeared to report that they found covered and suspicious transactions made by her and her relatives, amounting to P6.7 billion.

This includes a total of P4.4 billion in inflows and P1.5 billion worth of outflows.

Buenaventura clarified that covered transactions are bank transactions over P500,000, which banks report to the council. Suspicious transactions, meanwhile, refer to those whose amounts are not determined, but were reported by banks because there is something questionable in terms of how funds were sourced.

Later that day, Buenaventura confirmed at least 18 Duterte transactions mentioned in the sworn affidavit of former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, who has accused the Dutertes of hiding bank accounts not disclosed in their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN).

The confirmation happened after Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima randomly picked 18 financial transactions listed in Trillanes’ annexes and asked AMLC to check if this was part of their investigation.

Pet owners and animal lovers brought their furry companions to the Sto. Niño Cathedral on Sunday, Oct. 4, to mark the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, nature and ecology.

The celebration, held as part of the Catholic Church’s Season of Creation, began with an 8 a.m. Mass at the cathedral grounds, followed by the traditional blessing of pets.

Dogs, cats and other companion animals joined their owners in the gathering, which emphasized gratitude for the diversity of life and the responsibility to care for God’s creation.

The pet blessing carried the theme ‘Part of Creation with Life,’ encouraging participants to become responsible stewards of the environment and to extend care and compassion to all living creatures.

Zabdiel Anorico, a college student who brought his dogs Megu and Cloe, said the celebration was both enjoyable and meaningful. ‘It was fun and meaningful,’ Anorico said, adding that organizers also distributed food for dogs and cats.

Churchgoers were encouraged to ‘pray with love, care with kindness, respect every life, and protect the common home’ as part of the celebration’s call for greater compassion toward animals and the environment.

Organizers also held a ‘Cutiest and Smartest Pet’ competition, with the winning pet receiving a prize.

The celebration ended with a reminder that caring for animals is also part of caring for creation: ‘Every creature matters. Be part of the change.

Lionel Messi will bring the curtain down on his glittering Argentina career on Tuesday with a farewell friendly against Benin that marks the dawn of a new era for the South American champions.

After more than two decades of service to his country, the 39-year-old superstar will hand over the captain’s armband for good as he makes his final appearance in the Albiceleste jersey at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Messi will be joined for his international swansong by 85,000 spectators and several of the teammates with whom he reached the pinnacle of football at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, alongside members of Argentina’s emerging generation.

The friendly marks a symbolic passing of the torch for a player whose international legacy includes a World Cup title, two Copa America crowns and the Finalissima.

Messi also bows out as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 games, as well as a record 68 assists.

His farewell comes two and a half months after Argentina’s ill-tempered World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey, where Messi exited in tears after making little impression.

‘I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,’ Messi wrote when announcing his international retirement in August.

Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, although following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he revealed he may hang up his boots for good sooner than anticipated.

Friends reunited

Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad – the players who delivered the country’s third star – and their families will join Messi for Tuesday’s farewell against Benin, ranked 93rd in the world.

Veterans of that Doha triumph such as Angel Di María, who retired from international football in 2024, will be there to witness the passing of the torch to a new generation charged with extending the Albiceleste’s golden era.

Several of the newcomers, including Franco Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not even born when ‘La Pulga’ (‘The Flea’) made his Argentina debut in 2005 for a team whose history had for so long been dominated by Diego Maradona.

‘It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be at this match, and now it’s just about enjoying it,’ Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said.

Argentina’s new generation has already shown what it can do without its captain, although nobody is pretending that replacing a man regarded by many as the greatest footballer in history will be straightforward.

‘Collectively, we will try to fill the void left by Leo,’ said Scaloni, who is negotiating a contract extension after leaving his future unresolved following the World Cup defeat in July.

Scaloni, who mastered the art of building the right supporting cast around Messi, will also say goodbye on Tuesday to 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi.

Like Messi and Otamendi, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were called up solely for the Benin game, raising the possibility that neither will represent Argentina again.

New generation

Those certain to be involved, at least from the bench, include other veterans of the 2022 World Cup who will be the standard-bearers for Argentina after Messi: defender Cristian Romero, midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez, and forwards Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

Tenacious centre-back Romero is set to inherit the captain’s armband, first worn by Messi at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez are next in the captaincy hierarchy.

They have already begun to rally around Messi’s heirs, who showed their appetite for success in Argentina’s first game since the World Cup final, against Bolivia in Cordoba on Wednesday.

Argentina swept the Bolivians aside 4-0, with young talents Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez among the scorers.

They followed that victory with a 7-0 rout of Burkina Faso at the Monumental on Saturday, with Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni scoring their first international goals.

While Argentina’s future is beginning to take shape, one small but symbolically significant question remains: who inherits Messi’s number 10 shirt?

The Supreme Court (SC) has overturned a Court of Appeals ruling and reinstated the warrant of arrest against Bernand Lu Chong in connection with the 2019 seizure of P1.877 billion worth of illegal drugs.

In a decision made public Monday, the SC’s 2nd Division granted the petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General on behalf of government prosecutors, challenging a Court of Appeals ruling that cited grave abuse of discretion on the part of the Manila court that issued the arrest order.

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‘We find that the Court of Appeals erred in finding that the Regional Trial Court (RTC) committed grave abuse of discretion in finding probable cause for respondent’s arrest,’ the SC, through Associate Justice Jhosep Lopez, said.

The SC remanded the case to Branch 53 of the Manila RTC for further proceedings, ordering the court to resolve it ‘with utmost dispatch.’

‘The case is ordered remanded to Branch 53, Regional Trial Court of Manila for further proceedings, and to resolve the case with utmost dispatch,’ the SC said.

The case stemmed from a March 22, 2019 joint operation by government authorities at the Manila International Container Port, which led to the seizure of 276,344.82 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, commonly known as shabu. The contraband was hidden in plastic resin sacks stored inside a 40-foot container that originated from Vietnam.

Investigations revealed that Fortuneyield Cargo Services Corporation was listed as the declared consignee on the bill of lading. While Chong claimed he had already assigned his corporate shares and resigned as president of Fortuneyield before the shipment, prosecution records showed that a Client Profile Registration Form submitted to the Bureau of Customs listed Chong as the general manager responsible for the company’s overall operations.

In its ruling, the SC said the trial court was justified in relying on the prosecution’s public records. It explained that under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, corporate officers can be held liable, noting that ‘it would be absurd to indict Fortuneyield’s operations officer without considering the probable participation of his superior who was in charge of the company’s overall operation.’

Addressing the preliminary nature of the proceedings, the Court noted: ‘It should be emphasized that before issuing warrants of arrest, judges merely determine personally the probability, not the certainty, of guilt of an accused.’

It added that ‘it is not necessary to prove, at this point, that respondent is indeed guilty of the crime charged,’ explaining that questions regarding Chong’s degree of involvement ‘are evidentiary in nature and are matters of defense that may be best passed in a full-blown trial on the merits.’

Meanwhile, Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen said the sheer scale of the drug haul required coordinated efforts rather than an individual actor.

‘When a judge issues a warrant of arrest following the seizure of a considerable quantity of dangerous drugs, such determination should not be lightly disturbed absent a clear showing of grave abuse of discretion,’ Leonen said.

He added that justice should be balanced between the accused and the State.

‘The rights of the accused under the Bill of Rights remain fully protected. They may still be acquitted should the prosecution fail to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Their arrest does not imply their guilt. Rather, it signifies that the judicial process continues to operate and that the proper administration of justice prevails,’ he said.

Do young people know what a volcanic eruption is? Can they imagine the destructive force of lahar? Beyond the altered landscapes, what other tragedies did communities endure from a disaster whose effects are still felt today?

Answers to these and other questions about the June 15, 1991, eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, the years of lahar flows and the disaster that followed are now just a few taps away.

Young people can access this information through the Pinatubo Kiosk, an interactive digital booth that is the newest feature of the Center for Kapampangan Studies (CKS) Pinatubo Museum in this city.

Preserving history

‘The Pinatubo Kiosk preserves the history of the eruption and the disaster. It also serves as a bridge to the youth so they can prepare for a similar disaster,’ said Myra Lopez, associate director of CKS at the Holy Angel University (HAU), in an interview.

Six fourth-year information technology students from HAU’s School of Computing developed the kiosk. They are Luis Gabriel Aquino, Justin Cabe, Sebastian Canlas, Friench Lonie Kylevine Ocampo, Marius Kevin Galang and James Carl Mananquil, who are between 20 and 24 years old.

Cabe shared the team spent three months developing the digital kiosk, which features videos, photographs, interviews, a chatbot and ‘Laharaya,’ an interactive game.

Lopez said the kiosk is housed at the museum, which CKS opened in 2016 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Pinatubo eruption. It was launched on Oct. 2, following the 31st anniversary of the Oct. 1, 1995, Cabalantian Tragedy, when lahar buried large portions of Bacolor, the former capital of Pampanga.

During the launch, poet laureate Alvin Ignacio, also known as Bertong Isponga, and journalist Cecile Yumul shared their eyewitness accounts of the disaster.

The Pinatubo Museum became more interactive in 2022 with the addition of augmented reality features to photographs in its timeline. It also houses the large mural ‘Lumud’ (Drowned) by Arnel Garcia, the art installation ‘Ing Ablas nang Apung Namalyari’ (The Revenge of Apung Namalyari) by Don Reich de Dios and various artifacts related to the eruption and its aftermath.

Maritess David-Cabe said she was proud that her son Justin was among the kiosk developers. She was 11 years old when Mt. Pinatubo erupted, and said the project helped her son better understand what she experienced.

Bea Yumul, a Grade 9 student, noted the kiosk helped her grasp the ordeal endured by her parents and grandparents.

The decline in government spending on infrastructure eased in July, falling 4 percent to P89.6 billion from P93.3 billion a year earlier.

Still, the broader picture remains weak. From January to July, infrastructure spending totaled P457 billion, down 36 percent from P713.5 billion during the same period in 2025.

To many Filipinos, these numbers may seem distant from everyday life. But infrastructure spending does more than build roads, ports, and transportation systems. It supports jobs and businesses, while completed projects can make it cheaper and easier for people and goods to move around the country. What caused government infra spending to dip?

One factor behind the slowdown has been tighter scrutiny of infrastructure spending, including the review and validation of payment claims and contractor documents following corruption concerns involving public works projects.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has stressed that accelerating infrastructure projects should not mean relaxing stricter safeguards meant to protect public funds. However, additional checks have also contributed to slower payments and project implementation, particularly at the Department of Public Works and Highways.

The challenge is to reduce avoidable delays while maintaining stronger scrutiny and accountability.

How do delays in infrastructure projects affect businesses?

Construction companies, contractors, and suppliers are among those most directly affected when public projects or payments are delayed. But the effects can extend well beyond construction.

A new road, for example, can shorten travel times and lower the cost of transporting goods. Railways and other transportation projects can make it easier for workers to reach jobs and for businesses to reach customers and suppliers.

When projects face delays, businesses incur higher logistics costs for an extended period, while contractors and suppliers receive fewer orders or experience delayed payments.

Economists from the University of Asia and the Pacific have also said that faster infrastructure spending could support construction activity, job creation, and broader domestic demand.

How do these delays affect us?

The impact can eventually reach households.

ANZ Research has linked weaker public infrastructure spending to lower household confidence and more cautious corporate investment plans. Slower construction activity can mean fewer opportunities for workers and businesses tied to these projects, while uncertainty may make companies more hesitant to expand or invest.

That can weaken investment and economic activity, ultimately limiting job and business opportunities.

What is the solution?

While slower infrastructure spending can hurt the economy, simply loosening government controls is not the answer.

Stricter reviews help ensure taxpayers’ money goes to legitimate projects instead of being lost through waste, fraud, or corruption. The challenge is therefore not choosing between fast spending and clean spending but finding a way to achieve both.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) identified the sharp fall in public construction investment following stricter infrastructure reviews as one of the headwinds facing the Philippine economy in 2026. At the same time, it recommended streamlining procurement, project appraisal, and project selection to help the government carry out planned capital spending more effectively.

Doing so could allow legitimate projects to move faster without sacrificing safeguards meant to protect public funds.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado on Monday, Oct. 5, ordered the police to swiftly identify and arrest the suspects who robbed two Chinese tourists at a popular tourist spot in Loay town.

Aumentado directed Bohol Provincial Police Office director Col. Patricio Degay Jr. to immediately investigate the robbery and ensure the suspects are brought to justice.

The governor stressed the need to protect the safety and security of visitors to Bohol, particularly tourists exploring the province’s various destinations.

‘No visitor should be abused or fall victim to criminality while visiting Bohol,’ Aumentado said.

The incident happened at 5:56 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Morning Hills in Barangay Botoc Occidental, Loay, where the two tourists had been taking photographs for about 20 minutes before preparing to leave.

Police said a man armed with a knife suddenly approached the 23-year-old victim and demanded his backpack. When the tourist resisted, the suspect forcibly took the yellow backpack and fled toward a grassy area, where another man was waiting.

The victims tried to chase the suspects but failed to catch them.

Police said the stolen items included a DJI Pocket 3 camera, four bank cards, P9,000 in cash and the passport of one of the tourists.

The victims, both college graduates aged 23 and 24, were temporarily staying at a resort in Alona, Panglao.

They described the first suspect as a man in his 20s, about 5 feet 2 inches tall, thin, brown-skinned and with short, curly hair. The second suspect was described as being in his 30s, medium-built and with short, straight hair.

The Loay Municipal Police Station is continuing its investigation, while the BPPO has launched a manhunt for the suspects.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Council of Botoc Occidental temporarily closed Morning Hills to the public starting Oct. 5 to allow safety and security upgrades following the robbery.

The barangay said it was coordinating with local authorities to strengthen security measures and ensure the safety of visitors.

Aumentado also called on local government units with tourist destinations to intensify monitoring and security in areas frequently visited by tourists to prevent similar incidents.