Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Members of the prosecution panel have agreed with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero that it is hard to explain Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial transactions, even if her net worth across the years were lumped as one.

In a press briefing on Tuesday, counsel for the prosecution Benjamin Tolosa Jr., public prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua, and prosecution spokesperson Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong were all asked about the questions raised by Escudero and the answers given by AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura regarding the P4.4 million transactions made by Duterte and her relatives.

At one point during Tuesday’s hearing, Escudero said he considered the absurd possibility that Duterte’s net worth, as stated in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2007, were totaled just to make sense of the P4.4 billion transactions, even if this should not be the case. Buenaventura in response said he also cannot explain how the transactions happened.

‘So sabi nga niya (Escudero), if you’ll consider it, pagsasamahin mo ‘yong mga net worth na dineklara ng bise presidente from 2007 to 2025, that’s P840 million. And from 2022 to 2025, P336 million. But as explained by him, ‘di mo naman ‘yan pagsasamahin dahil hindi naman nagba-back to zero ‘yong net worth mo per year,’ Tolosa told reporters.

(So he said that (Escudero), if you’ll consider it, combining the net worth declared by the vice president from 2007 to 2025, that’s P840 million. And from 2022 to 2025, P336 million. But as explained by him, you do not combine your net worth over the years because this figure does not reset to zero every year end.)

‘P840 million, P336 (million), hindi pa rin maabot ‘yong total transactions worth P4.4 billion do’n pa lang sa assets nilang mag-asawa. ‘Pag sinama mo pa ‘yong do’n sa corporations nila na more than P5 billion. So ang naging sagot ng AMLC executive director, hindi ko po maipaliwanag ‘yon. Well, tulad ng sabi mo, in English, yaman to na we cannot explain,’ he added.

(P840 million, P336 (million), it would not reach the total transactions worth P4.4 billion, just based on the assets of the couple. If you include the assets from corporations then that’s more than P5 billion. So the AMLC executive director’s answer was that he cannot explain it. And as you said, in English, that’s wealth that you cannot explain.)

Alonto Adiong also shared the same sentiments, saying that at this point, only Duterte can explain why the figures are such.

‘So in a very clear, simple answer, even the Presiding Officer and AMLC itself cannot even provide that explanation. Only the vice president supposedly can provide that explanation but she failed to do that over the years – which then explains kung bakit there’s really that attempt to conceal the assets and therefore a clear case of unexplained wealth,’ he said.

During the midsection of the trial on Tuesday, Escudero said the sum of Duterte’s net worth from 2022 to 2025 was at P336 million, but it is still short of the transactions recorded during that time – at P424 million.

‘It still did not reach P424 million. Meaning to say, assuming that nothing was spent from all of their assets and everything was deposited in the bank, it still would not reach this amount,’ Escudero pointed out.

Escudero then asked Buenavantura how the amount could be explained. When he saw that the AMLC head was struggling to respond, Escudero surmised that the witness could not explain the gap.

Buenaventura agreed, saying that he cannot explain it.

The net worth stated by a government official, as declared in his or her SALNs, is a result of financial movements for the year prior – be it acquisition of solid or liquid assets, loans, and other monetary changes. This means that the net worth for a current year has a direct correlation to the net worth stated in the previous year – and must not be taken as numbers that can be added together.

Moreover, Chua explained that Escudero’s hypothesis – lumping Duterte’s net worth for different years all together – means that non-cash assets like vehicles, real estate, jewelry, furniture, and other hard assets were considered.

In contrast, Chua noted that the AMLC’s report on the covered and suspicious transactions totaling to P4.4 billion only involved cash movements – indicating that the actual net worth could be higher.

‘Dapat tandaan din natin na ang SALN, halo-halo ‘yan, so ibig sabihin ‘pag sinabi mong halo-halo, nandirito na ‘yong real estate, cash, pati ‘yong mga, let’s say mga sasakyan, jewelry, furniture, and fixtures, and so forth and so on. ‘Yong sa AMLC na sinasabi na P4.4 billion, cash lang ‘yon, hindi po kasama do’n ‘yong ibang asset,’ he said.

(We should remember that inside SALNs are a mix of assets, so by saying it is a mixture, you have real estate, cash, including vehicles, jewelry, furniture, and fixtures, and so on and so forth. But the AMLC’s report of a P4.4 billion transaction, that’s only cash, it does not include other assets.)

‘So ‘yong transaction na ‘yon ay transaction na pera, hindi po transaction na kasama ‘yong mga lupa, hindi po kasama do’n. Pero do’n po sa ginawang explanation po o sample ng ating presiding officer, sinama na nga niya lahat eh […] ibig sabihin sinama niya dito pati ‘yong lupa, bahay, sasakyan, jewelry, baril, lahat na, sinama niya. And yet hindi pa rin aabot kahit man lamang kalahati or kahit man lamang one-fourth,’ he added.

(So the transactions listed only involve cash, it does not include land and others. But with the explanation or example made by our presiding officer, he even included everything […] including lands, real estate, vehicles, jewelry, firearms, everything. And yet it would not even reach half or one-fourth of the transactions.)

Duterte is being tried before the Senate Impeachment Court over four main allegations. As of now, the prosecution is presenting evidence of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which focuses on her alleged unexplained wealth and her supposed failure to disclose these in her SALNs.

However, Adiong also said that the issues against Duterte have gone beyond mere non-declaration in her SALNs, as he believes it has already escalated to a national security concern.

Adiong was referring to the AMLC’s confirmation of financial transactions moving from accounts in China towards CALE88 Foods Corporation – a company owned by Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

Last Friday, former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV claimed that CALE88 received over P319 million worth of funds from China-based companies and the Chinese government itself.

On Monday, upon the questioning of counsel for prosecution Mae Divinagracia, Buenaventura released reports showing that they recorded P319,326,770.41 worth of inward transactions coming from either the mainland China or Hong Kong, towards CALE88 – confirming Trillanes’ claims.

Duterte’s lawyers were able to secure confirmation from AMLC that there was no document showing the Chinese government’s involvement with companies that sent funds to CALE88.

However, Hontiveros eventually noted that her team studied the background of the two companies that transacted with CALE88 – China National Township Enterprises and the Beijing Jianweifang Food Company – revealing possible ties to the Chinese government.

Based on their research, Hontiveros said that China National Township Enterprises used to be directly under China’s Ministry of Agriculture, being a state-owned agricultural enterprise.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed three new associate justices in the Court of Appeals (CA) filling in the current vacancies in the 69-member court.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Presidential Communications Office said President Marcos has appointed Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty; Parañaque Regional Trial Court – Branch 294 Presiding Judge Leilani Marie Dacanay-Grimares; and Las Piñas RTC Executive Judge Pia Cristina Bersamin-Embuscado as new CA associate justices.

In August, Marcos appointed Justice Assistant Secretary Randolph Pascasio as an associate justice of the CA.

The four were among the 80 nominees in a short list submitted by the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to President Marcos in July to fill the four vacancies for associate justice in the CA at the time.

They replaced the four retired associate justices of the CA, who reached the compulsory retirement age of 70, namely Marie Christine Azcarraga-Jacob, Evalyn Arellano-Morales, Marlene Biag Gonzales-Sison, and Apolinario Bruselas Jr.

The JBC has yet to submit to President Marcos a short list of nominees to replace former CA Associate Justice Rafael Antonio Santos, who availed of early retirement in February.

Bersamin-Embuscado

Bersamin-Embuscado is the eldest daughter of former Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

In November last year, Malacañang said the elder Bersamin and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman voluntarily resigned out of delicadeza after their names were mentioned in the flood control scandal.

Marcos’ second Executive Secretary, however, maintained that he was told to step down from his post.

President Marcos would eventually clear things out with Bersamin, saying ‘there’s no bad blood, there’s no acrimonious feeling [and] everything is fine’ between them.

Bersamin-Embuscado completed her communication research degree from the University of the Philippines Diliman. She then earned her Bachelor of Laws from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, and successfully passed the 2004 Bar.

Gepty

Prior to his new appointment, Gepty was the Undersecretary for International Trade Group (ITG) at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), where he supervises the Bureau of International Trade Relations, the Strategic Trade Management Office, and the Philippine International Trading Corporation.

His main portfolio covers trade policy and trade negotiations at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels.

He earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree (Economics) from the UST in 1992 (cum laude), his law degree from San Beda College in 1997, and his Master of Laws degree from the UST in 2016 (summa cum laude).

He also teaches at the UST Faculty of Civil Law and Graduate School of Law

Dacanay-Grimares

Meanwhile, Dacanay-Grimares is also a faculty member of the UST Civil Law.

The heat index in parts of Olongapo City reached as high as 43°C on Wednesday morning, prompting warnings of possible heat-related illnesses with continued exposure to the heat.

According to the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office, the heat index at the Barretto automatic weather station (AWS) reached 43°C as of 10:15 a.m., placing the area under the ‘danger’ category.

At the Old Cabalan AWS, the heat index was recorded at 40°C, which meant ‘extreme caution.’

At 43°C, people may experience heat cramps and heat exhaustion, while prolonged exposure may lead to heat stroke, according to the warning accompanying the heat index readings.

The 40°C reading at Old Cabalan carries the same health warning, with residents advised to limit prolonged exposure to the heat.

The heat index refers to the apparent temperature, or how hot it feels to the human body, based on air temperature and humidity.

In its Sept. 23 climate advisory, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said a strong El Niño was active in the tropical Pacific and was expected to intensify into a very strong event between September and December and persist through the first half of next year.

Pagasa said El Niño increases the likelihood of below-normal rainfall, dry spells and drought in parts of the country, as its latest climate outlook also points to warmer-than-usual temperatures.

The Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 will temporarily operate with nine trains from Tuesday to Sunday while it upgrades its train system, the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) said.

The LRTA said that only nine trains will run every Tuesday to Sunday in the LRT-2 line, which may cause longer waiting times and an increase in passenger volume.

This, as it is upgrading the Train Operating Control Panel (TOCP) of LRT-2 line trains, which takes five days per train, according to the LRTA.

‘The shift from the old analog system to the digital TOCP aims to enhance the onboard Public Address (PA) system. With the new system, the delivery of announcements and important communications for passengers will be automated,’ the LRTA said in a statement.

Meanwhile, all 10 trains will operate every Monday to accommodate the expected surge of commuters, it assured.

‘However, every Monday, when passenger traffic is expected to peak at the start of the week, all ten (10) operational trains will be deployed to ensure smooth service,’ the LRTA said.

The LRTA said that it will implement crowd control and passenger assistance measures in every station at LRT-2, while the nine-train operations are in effect.

‘The operational LRT-2 trains are over 27 years old, so they need to undergo upgrading and modernization,’ it said.

Some of the smartest choices are made before there is any guarantee they will work.

For Ace Gapuz, one of those choices was believing in creators before ‘creator economy’ was even a familiar phrase.

At a time when blogging was still largely considered a hobby and social media was only beginning to find its footing in the Philippines, Gapuz saw something others were only beginning to notice: ordinary people could build communities, create influence, and eventually turn their passions into meaningful opportunities.

She chose to invest in that idea.

Years later, that choice has grown into Blogapalooza, one of the pioneering platforms in the country’s creator economy. But if there is one lesson from Gapuz’s journey, it is that staying ahead is not about making one perfect decision. It is about continuing to make smart choices as the world around you changes.

‘Blogapalooza has been one of the pioneering platforms in the country’s creator economy. We were building this space at a time when social media was still finding its footing in the Philippines, so being part of that journey has been incredibly rewarding and meaningful,’ Gapuz says. ‘Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing how the creator industry has evolved, from a relatively new space to a thriving ecosystem where creators can build communities, influence conversations, and create real opportunities.’

Her story is about more than building a company. It is about recognizing possibilities early, staying open to change, and choosing the people, ideas, and technology that can help those possibilities grow.

Where It All Started

In the early 2000s, Gapuz talked her way onto the internet the way many in that first generation did: dial-up by the hour, Friendster, a self-taught patch of HTML, and a first blog parked on GeoCities.

She was not chasing a career. No career existed there to chase. Blogging was a hobby; a diary other people could happen to read. What fascinated her was discovering that strangers who cared about the same things could find one another if you gave them a place to gather.

That early fascination with online communities would eventually grow into something much bigger. Blogapalooza was born, bringing bloggers together and eventually evolving alongside a new generation of content creators.

Technology has changed dramatically since then. So has the community that grew with it.

‘I do not think you ever really arrive,’ she says. ‘You just keep going, and you bring good people with you. If you had shown me all of this back then, I would not have believed you. And honestly, I think the best part still has not happened yet.’

Building Blogapalooza

What started as a passion for blogging and content creation, Ace built Blogapalooza into a strong community that connects and empowers content creators in the country. Her hard work led her to build the Bloga Creator Hub (BCH), a space where content creators can meet, connect, and turn creative ideas into reality.

A room full of creators uploading, streaming, shooting, and collaborating at the same time needs a connection that can keep up. PLDT Home Fiber, the hub’s connectivity partner, powers up creators in BCH.

For creators, connectivity is more than a technical detail. A livestream that freezes, an upload that stalls, or a video call that drops can interrupt the creative process. The hub gives creators access to the tools, connectivity, and community they need to create together. Much of the work, however, still happens wherever creators happen to be, including at home.

Gapuz points out that as the work became more demanding, the tools available to creators also became more capable.

‘Today, a content creator can reach audiences around the world and build a thriving business online. What makes that possible is that technology has grown alongside us, which gives us the tools, platforms, and connectivity to turn ideas into real opportunities,’ she says.

Making Smart Choices

For Gapuz, the creator economy is proof that the choices people make today can open possibilities they could not have imagined before.

She chose to believe in creators when the industry was still taking shape. She chose to keep evolving as technology changed. And she chose to build spaces where people could turn their own ideas into something more.

Today, content creators have more choices than ever. From the platforms they use, the communities they build, the technology that powers their work, to the space where they produce content. And increasingly, content creators start their creative ideas from home. A bedroom can become a studio, a dining table can double as an editing desk, and a laptop can connect a creator to an audience anywhere in the world. Behind every livestream, late-night upload, video call, and content collaboration is a connection that needs to keep up.

This is why choosing the right home setup becomes part of the creative process. PLDT Home’s Fiber Unli All Plan 1499 brings together fiber connectivity, entertainment, and mobile connectivity in one plan, giving households a more seamless way to stay connected across the things they do every day. For creators, it means having an internet connection designed not just for watching and scrolling, but for creating, sharing, working, and staying connected to their communities.

‘Having a fiber connection that can keep up with everything we do is important,’ Gapuz says. ‘PLDT Home Fiber Unli All Plans make sense for our kind of lifestyle because it brings together the connectivity, entertainment, and mobile access in one subscription. For me, that’s what makes it a smart choice because it gives content creators and families value for money by having all our essential subscriptions in one plan.’

Ask Gapuz what she is proud of, and she does not talk about herself. She talks about the people whose journeys she has watched unfold.

‘I’ve had the privilege of watching content creators grow their communities and careers in our industry,’ she says. ‘That’s what inspires me most. It was never about me or my own dream. It has always been about giving creators the space, support, and opportunities to see their own dreams come to life and helping them become better at what they do.’

Perhaps that is what making a smart choice really means: recognizing possibility before the outcome is certain, choosing what helps it grow, and creating the conditions for what comes next.

For Ace Gapuz, one smart choice made years ago helped build a community. Today, she is helping a new generation of creators make smart choices of their own.

When I was 6, I was hit in the head when another student swung too far on the school swing. My parents took me to the emergency room for stitches. They didn’t sue the school: it was an accident, and we’d already been warned to be careful when crossing the playground.

I remembered my experience weeks ago, when a professor from another university told me that her nephew’s school literally did not allow them to play.

I shared this with a fellow Ateneo instructor. We both teach creativity and human-centered design, classes that require students to listen to people’s needs before making anything, to wait before creating, to be comfortable with uncertainty and the possibility that not everything will proceed according to plan.

In short, we are asking students to play-the way we did in playgrounds, at home with whatever we could find, in our backyards as we spent long afternoons running, talking, winning, or losing at games, getting scratched and bruised. Except now, play means doing something without fear of grades, correction, or critique.

We shared the observation that many of our students are so afraid to do anything without first asking what they can write, design, or say that will get them an A. They are intimidated by the notion that creativity is a process that they have to undergo independently, without asking someone to constantly reassure them or protect them from the consequences of their work.

‘Takot silang sumugal,’ my friend said. They are so afraid to take risks.

Her students seemed to think and design in terms of bite-sized nuggets of knowledge. My students seemed to cower in fear of an invisible, judgmental audience and therefore didn’t dare speak up.

All our students found it difficult to deal with a mess that they had to fix on their own. They couldn’t understand that knowledge, information, and data could come in overwhelming force; that people were more complex than video game characters who would simply obey orders when told; that their parents wouldn’t always be there to make things easy for them.

We shared stories we had heard from other instructors at the university, who had dealt with parents trying to protect their children from difficulty, shield them from penalties, and hover over every step their children take. Once, my friend said, a mother shouted at her over the phone, demanding to know why her child couldn’t simply be put in an already full class without asking the instructor’s permission first. Another time, a father tried to push her to extend her deadline for his son’s final project.

We talked of the times that our students seemed to rely so much on outside forces to support and validate them. When they had expected everything to be easy because the way had been paved by well-meaning parents who had not yet learned to let go. When they had been so afraid to engage in negotiation and conversation. When they had disengaged because their first draft was not perfect.

We agreed that our students just didn’t know how to play-and banning play from elementary school would make the problem worse for the students later, when they entered college and had to learn how to design even with uncertainty, to wrestle with ideas in their writing, to interrogate difficult concepts when they speak up.

Play is not a frivolous activity, and it is not the same as games or gamification, where students engage in competitions and comparison on a leaderboard.

Experts have raised alarms at how play has been removed from elementary schools around the world. Unstructured play has to begin early. It begins when parents allow their children to be bored, and encourage their children to find a way to entertain themselves without resorting to gadgets. It continues when parents allow their children to make mistakes so that their children learn to face challenges on their own later.

Play helps children converse, negotiate, and socialize, so that they know how to listen without interrupting, ask for permission, and understand consent. It’s where kids learn to gracefully correct and graciously accept correction, rather than expect to solve problems through brute force.

Without play, our students go to school for a grade rather than education. In college, they chase after scores rather than learning, and wonder why they are so burned out.

Last week, one of my students in Creativity wrote that her nephew’s school had told children to stay off the playground and instead play on their iPads.

‘I worry about the next generation!’ she said.

Our students are slowly learning to play again. They also see how lack of true play has stood in the way of genuine learning.

When I was six, I had to get stitches for an accidental hit to the head by a swing. My friends experienced scratches, bruises, teasing, and critique. Play taught us to experiment, to learn on our own, to accept where we needed to be faster or stronger.

We who had been given the time and space to play have never stopped playing. We hope today’s kids receive the same precious gift.

Several bank accounts belonging to Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, were presented before the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday as the proceedings on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth continued.

On the 35th day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, several bank representatives testified before the court to show Duterte and Carpio’s year-end balances from 2022 to 2025.

Among these were two bank accounts from the Asia United Bank or AUB, with Davao Toril Branch Manager Arcy James Gonzales testifying that Carpio held two bank accounts ending in 4387 and 0301, respectively.

The first bank account (4387) was solely owned by Carpio, while the other (0301) was a joint account he held with another individual who remained unidentified.

Below are the year-end balances for both accounts:

2022

Account ending in 4387 – P314,059.17

Account ending in 0301 – P1,682,094.21

TOTAL: P1,996,153.38

2023

Account ending in 4387 – P470,852.28

Account ending in 0301 – P1,774,663.58

TOTAL: P2,245,515.86

2024

Account ending in 4387 – P456,352.28

Account ending in 0301 – P867,291.90

TOTAL: P1,323,644.18

2025

Account ending in 4387 – closed as of this year

Account ending in 0301 – P871,998.77

TOTAL: P871,998.77

The next batch of bank accounts presented were those owned by Duterte and Carpio, respectively, particularly from the Philippine Savings Bank.

As testified by Branch Operations Department Head Irene Joy Ishida, Duterte has an active account ending in 3853, while Carpio had his own ending in 2107-both were opened at PSB Wilson Branch in Manila.

Below are the year-end balances for both accounts:

2022

Account ending in 3853 – P2,029,237.88

Account ending in 2107 – P473,845.96

TOTAL: P2,503,083.84

2023

Account ending in 3853 – P2,080,023.45

Account ending in 2107 – P503,550.96

TOTAL: P2,583,574

2024

Account ending in 3853 – P2,133,658.78

Account ending in 2107 – P480,076.09

TOTAL: P2,613,734.87

2025

Account ending in 3853 – P2,188,222.18

Account ending in 2107 – P259,792.87

TOTAL: P2,448,015.05

The next bank to be presented was Metrobank, where the couple held six total bank accounts, including their children’s.

However, according to Metrobank Anti-Money Laundering Division head Niña Feren Alquiroz-Aguilar, only three bank accounts remained active: a joint account between Carpio and Duterte ending in 3876, another owned by Duterte ending in 2445, and a third account ending in 5263 in one of their children’s names.

Below are the year-end balances for the said accounts:

2022

Account ending in 3876 – P2,278,832.33

Account ending in 2445 – P85,556.33

Account ending in 5263 – P1,184,168.02

TOTAL: P3,548,556.68

2023

Account ending in 3876 – P2,436,156.69

Account ending in 2445 – P85,556.33

Account ending in 5263 – P1,330,800.53

TOTAL: P3,852,513.55

2024

Account ending in 3876 – P330,896.40

Account ending in 2445 – P85,581.89

Account ending in 5263 – P1,458,423.09

TOTAL: P1,874,901.38

2025

Account ending in 3876 – P55,273.18

Account ending in 2445 – P85,625.29

Account ending in 5263 – P1,459,162.56

TOTAL: 1,600,061.03

One Security Bank account was also presented before the court, with Security Bank branch banking group head Leslie Cham confirming it was named under Carpio.

Below are the year-end balances for Carpio’s account:

2022

Account ending in 4534 – P25,074.34

2023

Account ending in 4534 – P232,134.27

2024

Account ending in 4534 – P344,388.90

2025

Members-consumers-owners (MCOs) of the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative Inc. should participate in the plebiscite on the proposed joint venture agreement (JVA) with Ignite Power and Energy Holdings Inc. as they should be involved in key decision-making matters, a lawmaker said.

In a statement, Saranggani Rep. Steve Chiongbian Solon said that the plebiscite provides MCOs a chance to partake in the crucial steps that will determine the future of power provision in their area.

Socoteco II is facing criticism after its board pushed for a JVA with Ignite Power, despite questions about whether the electric cooperative’s methods in securing the authority for the agreement were even proper. Calls have been made to suspend the cooperative’s board officials for allegedly acting arbitrarily and for facing criminal and administrative charges.

‘This is an opportunity to have a direct say in an issue that may shape our power sector and regional development for years to come. The betterment of the population involved should be the main driving force behind this decision,’ Solon said on Tuesday.

‘Their participation is paramount and whatever outcome they ultimately choose should be respected as an expression of their right and their duty in shaping the future of the communities they call home,’ he added.

Solon said the plebiscite, which will go on to the third weekend this Saturday, is an important exercise of the MCOs’ right to determine the direction of Socoteco II and its services to General Santos City, South Cotabato and Sarangani.

‘(MCOs should) carefully consider the facts, weigh the arguments, and make an informed choice guided by what they believe will best serve the people and areas affected,’ he said.

‘The eventual result should likewise be respected as an expression of the MCOs’ right and responsibility to help shape the future of Socoteco II and the communities it serves,’ he added.

Several stakeholders have expressed concerns about the proposed JVA between Socoteco II and Ignite. Last August, South Cotabato Rep. Shirlyn L. Bañas-Nograles filed House Resolution No. 1401 last August, asking the House of Representatives to investigate the proposed agreement and determine whether the supposed arrangement complies with existing laws, rules and regulations.

Bañas-Nograles’ resolution also seeks an assessment of whether the JVA will affect the rights and economic interests of the government and Socoteco’s MCOs.

The lawmaker based her resolution on consumer complaints on the process used by Socoteco II’s board in securing authority for the proposed JVA, with the Social Action Center of the Diocese of Marbel claiming that Resolution No. 104 was declared adopted during the cooperative’s 43rd Annual General Membership Assembly last July 25 without a duly counted vote.

SAC-Marbel also questioned the use of a standing vote without an actual count and called for the deferment of the plebiscite.

Last Aug. 31, Socoteco II officials said that the proposed JVA remains intact despite a recent rally opposing the deal.

Then on Sept. 12, it was reported that the Regional Trial Court in Polomolok, South Cotabato has granted Socoteco’s motion to lift a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the plebiscite for the proposed JVA.

The court order lifted the September 4 TRO, which was initially extended to September 24 – effectively affecting the plebiscite originally scheduled earlier this month.

Aside from Bañas-Nograles, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio also backed calls for an investigation, saying that he understands the concerns raised by Diocese of Marbel Bishop Cerilo Casicas.

Casicas is one of the two Catholic Church bishops – the other being Diocese of San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza – who asked Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to preventively suspend members of Socoteco II’s Board of Directors for pushing for a supposedly questionable agreement.

In their letter to Remulla dated September 8, Casicas and Alminaza asked Remulla to suspend the board members as criminal and administrative charges have already been filed against them.

However, there are also parties supporting the JVA. On Monday, the General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GSCCCI) called for the immediate resumption of the plebiscite as the power issues may worsen if a strong El Niño hits the country.

GSCCCI said it was ‘extremely important to have a ‘white knight” to help the power cooperative address the threat of tight electricity supply.

After decades of conflict, the Kalinga sub-tribes of Lubuagan and Mabongtot in the Cordillera have agreed to end hostilities and rebuild their bodong (indigenous security and social agreement), sealing the reconciliation with a peace pact on Monday.

The agreement was formalized at the Kalinga Sports Complex Function Hall through a sipat (cessation of hostilities) and allasiw (traditional exchange of tokens) to affirm peace and renewed relations.

Three families involved in the conflict received P1.5 million in settlement assistance. The Ando, Jaime, and Lumpao families each received P500,000.

The parties also agreed to forego revenge and retaliation and to refrain from undertaking harassment or aggression. They committed to settling future disputes through dialogue and traditional conflict-resolution mechanisms.

A sectoral team, with the Kalinga Bodong Council of Elders, led by Chairperson Jhonny Maymaya, and Lubuagan Vice Mayor Oliver Dickly, who helped mediate the negotiations, facilitated the settlement.

Representatives of the families and the two sub-tribes signed the Amicable Settlement and Acknowledgement of Receipt.

Witnessing the ceremony were presentatives of the Kalinga provincial and Lubuagan municipal governments, the Mabongtot Elders Council, Lubuagan peace and security bodies, neutral tribes, religious groups, and the Tabuk City government led by Mayor Darwin C. Estranero.

The pact highlights the continuing role of the bodong and community elders in resolving tribal conflicts and preserving peace in Kalinga.

Police and environmental authorities arrested two alleged illegal miners and seized several pieces of mining equipment during a joint crackdown on unauthorized small-scale mining in two upland villages in Surigao City on Oct. 6.

The suspects were identified as Emiliano Minglana Solana, 52, of Purok 1, Barangay San Juan, and Maximino Tero Luspe Jr., 40, of Purok 11, Sitio File, Barangay Mat-i. They allegedly worked as gold panners, police said.

Lt. Col. Mariano Lukban, chief of the Surigao Component City Police Station (SCCPS), said village officials tipped off the station about ongoing unauthorized extraction in Sitio Bacahan, Barangay Mabini, and Sitio File, Barangay Mat-i, around 10 a.m.

A joint enforcement team was immediately dispatched to the site, located roughly 15 kilometers from the city police station. Joining the operation were operatives from the Surigao del Norte 1st Police Mobile Force Company, inspectors from the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-13 (MGB-13), and personnel from the Surigao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO).

Operatives reached the area around 11:20 a.m. and allegedly caught Solana and Luspe red-handed while actively extracting mineral ores without permits, Lukban said.

Several unidentified companions eluded arrest after fleeing into the surrounding terrain upon spotting the approaching authorities.

Confiscated at the scene were 10 diesel- and gasoline-fueled water pumps, six shovels, four wooden strainers, a roll of fire hose, and a wooden round mill.

The suspects were detained at the SCCPS custodial facility and will face formal charges for alleged violations of Republic Act No. 7076, or the People’s Small-Scale Mining Act of 1991.

The confiscated mining equipment was turned over to the City ENRO, in coordination with MGB-13, for proper custody and disposition.