Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

About 100 tourists and local travelers were scheduled to fly out from the island province of Batanes on Tuesday on board a mercy flight arranged by the Philippine Air Force when it was postponed due to high winds.

Occupants of the PAF C-130 plane l, who were stranded in Batanes for days, were sent back to their lodging places because gusty winds and rain exceeded standard safety limits for planes, according to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

The southwest monsoon and typhoons dumped more than two weeks of rain, resulting in the cancellation of commercial and government-chartered flights to Batanes.

Air Force officials told disaster responders that pilots adhere to the rules to ensure safe flights.

PDRRMO officials said C-130 seats allotted for the tourists and residents would still be honored once good weather allows flights to resume.

The provincial government earlier asked for mercy flights to bring home stranded island guests who are under the care of the Provincial Heritage and Tourism Office (PHTO).

The Batanes provincial government continues to provide relief goods, household kits and lodging amenities to the stranded tourists and visitors.

The provincial government has also been distributing maintenance medicines, first aid support, and medical monitoring to people in need

The Department of Health in Mimaropa has vaccinated 137,245 children against measles and rubella, representing 43.96 percent of the region’s target population as of 7 a.m. on Aug. 24.

The DOH Mimaropa tracker shows that 312,191 children have been targeted for the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA), that is being conducted across Oriental and Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan and Puerto Princesa City.

The latest figure marks an increase from the 109,371 children, or 35.03 percent coverage, reported as of Aug. 19.

Occidental Mindoro recorded the highest vaccination coverage among the provinces, with 29,158 of its 54,894 target children vaccinated, or 53.12 percent.

It was followed by Romblon, with 12,316 of 25,881 children vaccinated, or 47.59 percent; Palawan, 43,571 of 97,125, or 44.86 percent; Marinduque, 9,180 of 21,841, or 42.03 percent; and Oriental Mindoro, 34,289 of 86,196, or 39.78 percent.

Puerto Princesa City had the lowest coverage at 33.26 percent, with 8,731 of its 26,254 target children vaccinated.

The DOH also reported that 108,960 children had received Vitamin A supplementation, equivalent to 34.90 percent of the region’s target.

The ‘Ligtas Tigdas 2026’ campaign is being implemented from Aug. 10 to 28 and provides supplemental measles-rubella vaccination to eligible children aged 6 to 59 months, regardless of their previous vaccination status.

The campaign also includes Vitamin A supplementation.

The DOH has been urging parents and guardians to bring eligible children to vaccination sites to help close immunization gaps and strengthen community protection against measles and rubella.

The agency is targeting at least 95 percent vaccination coverage to help prevent outbreaks and protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases

The campaign set to end on Aug. 28.

A former special disbursing officer’s testimony before the Senate impeachment court pointed to a continuing system of entrusting confidential funds to security officers under Vice President Sara Duterte, from her years as Davao City mayor to her tenure at the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

Gina Acosta, who had served as special disbursing officer (SDO) for confidential funds in Davao City and later at the OVP, testified on Monday that it was standard operating procedure (SOP) in both offices to turn over confidential funds to a security officer, despite knowing he was not a bonded officer.

Acosta has been declared a hostile witness by the prosecution in view of her current position at the OVP and her employment relationship with Duterte.

The second day of her testimony on the 17th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial focused on confidential fund transactions during Duterte’s Davao City mayoralty from 2019 to 2022 and at the OVP in 2022 and 2023.

Acosta told the court she turned over responsibility for disbursing OVP confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, then chief of the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG).

She said Duterte had designated Lachica as her security officer and that he was the one who knew and implemented the confidential operations on the ground.

The arrangement, she acknowledged, was not unique to the OVP.

Suspecting same system

When prosecution counsel Amando Ligutan asked if the same practice, which he described as ‘modus operandi,’ was followed when she was SDO in Davao City, impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero noted that such characterization has a secondary meaning.

Escudero added that it is better to ask if this the standard operating procedure that Acosta followed in both Davao City and OVP. Acosta confirmed that it was their SOP.

The prosecution is seeking to establish whether the same system of disbursing and liquidating confidential funds followed Duterte from Davao City to the OVP.

Ligutan presented a graphic showing that Davao City received P460 million in confidential funds annually from 2019 to 2022, totaling P1.84 billion during Duterte’s four years as mayor.

Acosta repeatedly said she could not remember the amounts, citing the passage of time and her age.

‘I cannot remember, Your Honor. It’s been a long time and I am also old, Your Honor,’ the 61-year-old Acosta said.

During cross-examination, however, Acosta was able to answer defense counsel Lindon Bacquel’s questions on whether the Commission on Audit had issued audit observation memoranda or notices of disallowance involving Davao City’s confidential funds during her tenure.

She said none had been issued.

Memory questioned

On redirect, Ligutan pointed out the contrast, saying Acosta appeared able to recall events when questioned by the defense after repeatedly saying she could not remember them during direct examination.

Acosta clarified that she could remember events but not specific amounts.

The prosecution also questioned Acosta about the release of P500 million in four tranches of P125 million each in OVP confidential funds to Lachica.

Acosta said she no longer had acknowledgment receipts showing that Lachica received the money because the documents had been returned to him after liquidation. She said she relied on documents supplied by Lachica to prepare and certify the liquidation reports.

Some receipts, she said, lacked dates or names. When she raised questions, Lachica told her the documents he provided were all that could be given because the transactions were sensitive and ‘confidential in nature.’

‘I relied on whatever documents were given to me by the security officer, Your Honor,’ she said.

Project implementer

Senator-judge Sherwin Gatchalian questioned how Acosta could assure the public that the money had not been pocketed or misappropriated when she did not personally witness its use and relied on a utilization report signed by Lachica.

Acosta said she trusted Lachica because Duterte had designated him as a security officer and because he was responsible for the funds.

‘Because he was the one who knew. He was the one who implemented the confidential projects,’ she said.

She recalled questioning Lachica over acknowledgment receipts with missing dates and names.

‘Col. Lachica would tell me, ‘Ma’am Gina, whatever documents I gave you, that’s it, because the transactions or operations involved sensitive and confidential information,” she quoted him as saying.

The prosecution cited Joint Circular No. 2015-01, which provides that cash advances for confidential and intelligence funds should be drawn by duly designated and bonded SDOs or heads of agency for authorized activities. It also prohibits the transfer of confidential funds from one accountable officer to another.

Acosta nevertheless testified that she turned over the funds to Lachica, who was not a bonded OVP disbursing officer.

The prosecution argued that this could have broken the accountability chain because Acosta remained the accountable officer while Lachica, who was not an OVP employee, controlled and implemented the spending.

The VPSPG is a military unit under the command and operational control of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Call Lachica to stand

Acosta had earlier testified that P125 million in cash was packed into four traveling bags after it was withdrawn from a Landbank branch on Shaw Boulevard in December 2022. She said she later followed Duterte’s instruction to turn over the money to Lachica.

Senator-judge Joel Villanueva suggested that Lachica be called to testify, noting that Acosta had acknowledged having no personal knowledge of how the funds were actually used.

The court has yet to determine whether the practices described by Acosta constituted misuse of public funds or violated applicable rules.

Malacañang on Tuesday said the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has already presented sufficient evidence to merit her conviction over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

This comes after former Office of the Vice President (OVP) special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, during Monday’s hearing, pointed to what appeared to be a continuing practice of entrusting confidential funds to a security officer under Duterte, from her years as Davao City mayor to her tenure at the OVP.

‘Ayon sa Palasyo, in a way, in a way, yes. Pagdating sa pagturo kay Bise Presidente, kay Col. [Raymund Dante] Lachica na sila ang nag-control ng pondo para sa confidential funds,’ said Palace Press Officer Claire Castro when asked whether she believed the prosecution had presented enough evidence to warrant Duterte’s conviction over the alleged misuse of confidential funds.

(According to the Palace, in a way, yes. When it comes to pointing to the Vice President and Col. Lachica as the ones who controlled the funds for the confidential funds.)

But Castro noted that the decision remains in the hands of senator-judges: ‘Depende po iyan sa magiging desisyon ng mga judges. Lagi naman nilang sinasabi na ito ay pulitika at mukhang hindi sila pupunta sa ebidensiya.’

(It depends on the decision of the judges. They always say that this is political and that it seems they will not look at the evidence.)

‘Pero ang mga kababayan natin, mas marami ang gusto na ebidensiya ang gamitin kaysa sa isyu ng pulitika. Kasi kapag ebidensiya ang ginamit natin, mas matutugunan natin, unang-una, ang due process, justice, at kung ano ang nararapat at magiging benepisyo nito sa ating bansa at sa taumbayan,’ she continued.

(But our fellow Filipinos, the majority of them, want the evidence to be considered rather than the political issue. Because if we base our decision on the evidence, we can better uphold due process and justice, determine what is appropriate, and ensure what will ultimately benefit our country and the Filipino people.)

What Acosta said

During the 17th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, Acosta said it was standard operating procedure (SOP) in both offices to turn over confidential funds to Col. Lachica, despite knowing that he was not a bonded officer.

When prosecution counsel Amando Ligutan asked whether she remembered the amounts disbursed in Davao City from 2019 to 2022, Acosta repeatedly said she could not recall the amounts, citing the passage of time and her age.

In the same cross-examination, however, Acosta was able to answer questions on whether the Commission on Audit had issued audit observation memoranda or notices of disallowance involving Davao City’s confidential funds during her tenure. She said none had been issued.

This prompted Ligutan to point out the contrast, saying Acosta appeared able to recall certain events when questioned by the defense despite repeatedly saying during direct examination that she could not recall them.

Acosta clarified that she could recount events but not specific amounts.

Castro, during today’s briefing, flagged the supposed ‘pattern’ in Acosta’s testimony, describing her responses as evasive and repetitive.

‘Dito ay makikita ng sambayanang Pilipino kung paano naging dekahon ang sagot ng witness [Acosta]. Paulit-ulit kahit sa ang daling tanong, doon pa rin at doon at doon ang iikot ang sagot niya,’ Castro said.

(Here, the Filipino people can see how evasive the witness [Acosta] was in answering the questions. She kept repeating the same response, even when asked simple questions. No matter what was asked, she kept circling back to the same answer.)

”Pag hindi na niya alam, sasabihin niya hindi naiintindihan or hindi niya alam. Pero lumalabas pa rin ang totoo, dahil itinuro niya pa rin si VP Sara at saka si Colonel Lachica,’ she continued.

(When she no longer knew the answer, she would say that she did not understand or that she did not know. But the truth still came out because she still pointed to VP Sara and Colonel Lachica.)

The Palace official said that if the confidential funds were not properly accounted for, it would constitute prima facie evidence that the funds were used for personal purposes.

‘Paano magkakaroon ng magandang liderato kung ang mga pondong ito, sa ganito pa lang na halaga ay mahihirapan na silang i-account. Tandaan natin, this is a public fund and this confidential fund is part of public fund,’ Castro continued.

(How can there be good leadership if they are already having difficulty accounting for funds of this amount? Let us remember that this is public money, and these confidential funds are part of the public funds.)

Calamity aid, assistance to schools and hospitals, and other ‘nation-building initiatives’ by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) may face cuts due to a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that hiked the gaming regulator’s mandated contribution to the government’s sports body.

Pagcor chair and CEO Alejandro Tengco said its monthly contributions to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) is now at around P400 million, increasing from about P200 million, in accordance with a ruling by the high court which states Pagcor owes the sports body 5 percent of its gross income.

Pagcor appealed the ruling early this year but its motion was denied with finality.

This is apart from its P37-billion obligation to the PSC dating back to the 1990s, Tengco told a hearing by the House committee on appropriations, adding that Pagcor may need to remit an additional P300 million a month to settle its liability within 10 years.

‘This will affect our projects, our aid assistance because… instead of being poured for nation-building, it will have to be used to pay off the debt from the Supreme Court’s decision,’ Tengco said in Filipino

Ten municipalities in vegetable-growing Benguet province suspended face-to-face classes on Tuesday as persistent monsoon rains that have battered the province through most of August continued to raise concerns over flooding, landslides and unsafe roads.

The farming town of Atok suspended classes from preschool to senior high school in both public and private schools. At the same time, Kibungan town extended its suspension from daycare to senior high school until Aug. 28.

Other municipalities announced suspensions covering various grade levels, including Bakun, Bokod, Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, La Trinidad, Mankayan, Sablan and Tuba.

Local officials cited the continuing southwest monsoon and forecasts of heavy rain as reasons for the suspensions.

In La Trinidad, Mayor Roderick Awingan said face-to-face classes from preschool to elementary in both public and private schools were suspended based on the 5 a.m. weather forecast from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and recommendations from the Department of Education and the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office.

Atok officials also cited the risk of heavy rainfall, strong winds, flooding, landslides, and unsafe road conditions in extending the suspension.

Schools were directed to continue using alternative learning protocol in line with Department of Education guidelines to ensure continuity of instruction.

As of 5:50 a.m. Tuesday, suspensions covered daycare to kindergarten in Bakun and Mankayan; preschool to elementary in Bokod, Buguias, Kapangan and Sablan; preschool to senior high school in Tuba; and preschool to elementary in Kabayan, in addition to the Adaoay National High School, Abucot Integrated School, Ballay Integrated School, Kabayan Central Integrated School and Kamora National High School

This was the reaction of House Committee on Appropriations chair and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing after finding out that none of the proposed projects under the Commission on Audit (COA)’s ‘capital outlay’ request for next year were granted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The COA initially proposed around a P1.18-billion budget for its ‘capital outlay’ funds, which would supposedly cover the commission’s Information Systems Strategic Plan for 2027 to 2029, the construction or modernization of some of its buildings, and the purchase of three vehicles, among others.

But the DBM did not approve the COA’s proposal, recommending a ‘zero capital outlay’ for the commission through the 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP).

During the budget hearing on Tuesday, Suansing mentioned that upon scrutinizing the 2027 NEP for COA, ‘What really stood out is the capital outlay was zero.’

Suansing asked if the DBM gave the COA a particular explanation as to why it zeroed out the whole proposal for the commission’s ‘capital outlay’ request, to which COA assistant commissioner Nilda Plaras answered, ‘There was none, Your Honor.’

The Inquirer reached out to the DBM about the matter but has yet to respond as of this writing.

Meanwhile, Suansing also pointed out COA’s request for a budget to purchase a vehicle for its regional office in the Negros Island Region (NIR), which was included in its capital outlay request.

‘They didn’t approve that either?’ Suansing asked.

‘Yes, one vehicle for the NIR,’ the COA official answered, to which the Committee on Appropriation’s chairperson exclaimed, ‘Interesting.’

Senior Deputy Speaker and South Cotabato Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez seemingly echoed Suansing’s reaction, quipping, ‘Can you conduct an audit on the DBM?’

‘I think they will grant your request. Do that before you submit the budget to the President. Maybe next time, a special audit is possible,’ Hernandez furthered.

Suansing asked the DBM to provide a ‘wish list’ of all the items that were left out in the NEP that the commission wanted to advocate for so that Congress may consider them during the deliberation of the institutional amendment requests from the different agencies.

‘Given the limited fiscal space, realistically, we would not be able to fund all. So for us to get a better sense, we request a more detailed list of all of the items under the capital outlay request with the corresponding details,’ said Suansing.

The COA is seeking a P17.3-billion overall budget proposal for 2027, but the DBM has recommended lowering the amount to P16.05 billion.

Aeta community members began fencing parts of Mt. Bagang in San Marcelino on Sunday, claiming the area is part of their ancestral domain despite a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) finding that a private company’s forest plantation application does not overlap with any approved Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT).

The fencing was led by Aeta leader Trolie Romualdo, who said the community’s CADT is identified as CADT No. 280, contrary to information earlier provided by Zambales Provincial Environment and Natural Resources officer Marife Castillo.

Castillo said the DENR’s verification, based on available references and data from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), showed that the Socialized Industrial Forest Management Agreement (Sifma) application of Philippine Ocean Business Corporation (POBC) did not encroach on any approved CADT.

She made the clarification in an Aug. 13 response to the Inquirer’s request for information.

POBC’s application for clearance to establish a tree plantation covers 51.88 hectares (ha) in Mt. Bagang along Barangay Sta. Fe.

Romualdo has maintained that the Aeta community considers Mt. Bagang part of its ancestral territory and has sought recognition of its claim.

The fencing came after two tree-growing activities were conducted in Mt. Bagang by the San Marcelino municipal government and private-sector partners, during which nearly 1,000 African talisay seedlings were planted.

Aeta leaders said they support reforestation efforts but questioned why the activities proceeded without prior consultation with the community, which they consider the owners of the ancestral domain.

Pending NCIP process

Castillo said POBC’s Sifma application had been endorsed to the NCIP Central Luzon office for evaluation and the issuance of the appropriate clearance or certification, as may be required under existing laws and regulations.

The endorsement was made through a DENR letter dated April 15, 2025, she said.

The DENR said the NCIP process was being undertaken pursuant to Republic Act No. 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Act of 1997.

‘All applications for forestry tenure instruments are endorsed to the NCIP for evaluation and the issuance of the appropriate clearance or certification, as may be required,’ Castillo said.

Pending the issuance by the NCIP of a Certification Precondition stipulating that the free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of the Aeta had been secured, or the release of a Certification of Non-Overlap or a Resolution of Non-Consent, the DENR said a Provisional Agreement may be issued to the applicant, subject to applicable rules and regulations.

The provisional agreement allows temporary improvements within the area covered by the application while the necessary requirements and evaluations are being completed.

San Marcelino Indigenous Peoples Mandatory representative Robert Dela Cruz earlier said POBC had undertaken an FPIC process for about six months in connection with its proposed project, but the process had not yet been completed.

The ancestral domain area identified by Indigenous leaders covers around 33,608 ha across the villages of Aglao, Buhawen, San Rafael and Sta. Fe. The Aeta communities in the area include the Ayta Ambala, Ayta Mag-Indi, and Ayta Zambal.

Without the prolific Justin Brownlee to rely on, Gilas Pilipinas hopes to draw a big lift from its young guns like Carl Tamayo in the second round of the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.

Tamayo, of course, will look to step up in the absence of the injured Brownlee. He is also fully aware that he can only do so much, and it will take a village to fill the void left by Brownlee.

‘I think it really is a challenge for us because we all know how big of a part JB (Brownlee) plays in our national team and coach Tim’s (Cone) system,’ said Tamayo.

‘That’s the challenge in front of us so everyone needs to help out. We need to work together to fill that space for this window and we’ve been practicing hard. Hopefully, we get the two wins so we have a bigger chance to play in the World Cup.’

Brownlee has long been the Philippines’ offensive anchor and best clutch performer. He averaged 14.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in the five games. Brownlee was already dealing with injuries in Gilas’ double overtime loss to New Zealand before sitting out the Nationals’ final game of the third window against Australia.

There was, however, a silver lining amid Brownlee’s woes against the Kiwis, with Tamayo and fellow youngblood Kevin Quiambao picking up the slack.

Tamayo turned in 17 points, four assists and two rebounds against New Zealand, while Quiambao fired 23.

‘This team is different. There’s a lot of talent in this team. We have to stick to our role to help the team win the next two games. It’s going to be crucial for us, especially for KQ (Kevin Quiambao) now that Justin is not here.’

‘I don’t think we can do what Justin is doing. No one in our team can be like Justin but we’ll do whatever we can to help our country.’

Gilas’ second-round campaign tips off Friday against Jordan before clashing with Iran on Sunday, with both games taking place at Mall of Asia Arena

In-person classes have been suspended in some areas for Wednesday, Aug. 26, due to inclement weather brought by the southwest monsoon.

Here are the areas where classes have been suspended:

Pampanga

Macabebe – no face-to-face classes (public and private); shift to alternative modes of learning

San Simon – no face-to-face classes (public and private); shift to alternative modes of learning; until Aug. 28

Santo Tomas – no face-to-face classes (public and private); shift to alternative modes of learning; until Aug. 28

Benguet

Kibungan – no face-to-face classes (preschool to senior high school) until Aug. 27.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said in a weather advisory that the southwest monsoon will affect parts of Luzon in the next few days