Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag said that while they interviewed the 18 former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, only five signed their testimonies, as their legal counsel, Levito Baligod, allegedly wanted to destroy the documents.

Matibag made the claim during the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on Monday, after being asked by acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian if the 18 former bodyguards, who claim to be ex-Marine officers, were interviewed by the NBI.

The NBI chief said they issued subpoenas, and persons linked to the 18 bodyguards, including Bishop Efraim Tendero and former lawmaker Mike Defensor, denied giving statements. Matibag said they were given another chance, and agents were able to interview the 18 bodyguards.

However, when they were asked to sign their testimonies, only five signed, as Baligod wanted to review the documents first. When Baligod was not allowed, Matibag said the lawyer wanted to tear up the documents.

‘The 13 others were stopped by Atty. Baligod from signing as he wanted to review first the statements made by them; there was even an incident where Atty. Baligod wanted to tear up the testimonies of the 18 bodyguards, which we did not allow,’ Matibag said in Filipino.

Gatchalian asked how the NBI viewed the testimonies of the 18 ex-bodyguards.

Matibag said only 10 to 20 percent of the testimonies were true and involved factual matters-that they were former employees of Co and that they were assigned to load suitcases into vans.

However, when asked whether they knew what was inside the suitcases, Matibag said several of the bodyguards admitted they had no idea.

‘What’s difficult is that of the 10 percent that was true, these are facts such as being former employees of Zaldy Co, that they were assigned to different people, that some of them are former Marines, and that they know some of the people-these things are true,’ Matibag said in Filipino.

‘But the allegation itself that a crime happened, that they delivered cash, which they should directly know, they do not know whether the suitcases actually contained cash,’ he added.

The NBI chief cited the case of Gil Navidad, who admitted to the NBI that he was not the one who delivered suitcases and cash.

‘One of the signatories, Gil Navidad, one of the 18, he was asked because there was an allegation that he was among those who delivered. He was asked in a one-on-one interview, during the delivery of the suitcases, whether he drove all of these or whether someone else drove them, because he provided a plate number,’ Matibag said in Filipino.

‘The plate numbers are true. Then he was asked, regarding the delivery of suitcases allegedly containing cash, which of the suitcases did you personally deliver? His answer was none; he was only a driver, and Mark Ticsay and Paul Estrada were the ones who personally delivered the suitcases to their intended recipients,’ he added.

Last Thursday, the group led by Senator Alan Peter Cayetano pushed through with their blue ribbon committee hearing despite all positions being declared vacant and new Senate officials being elected a day earlier.

During the discussions, the 18 former bodyguards testified and reiterated several of their allegations contained in an affidavit released last February 25.

They claimed that they used to work for Co, who previously headed the House of Representatives’ committee on appropriations.

According to the 18 individuals, they were tasked by Co to deliver suitcases allegedly filled with cash to different individuals, including several House members.

However, observers were quick to point out alleged inconsistencies and changes in their testimony last Thursday compared to their original affidavit in February. One issue raised was the sudden inclusion of Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez as a recipient of the alleged suitcases.

Alvarez rushed to the Senate on Thursday to confront the 18 men, saying he did not receive any suitcase with cash.

When asked why he was suddenly included in the list of lawmakers allegedly receiving money from Co, Alvarez said it may have been due to his refusal to endorse an impeachment complaint against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

According to the lawmaker, a certain Margarette-who claimed to represent Defensor-texted him and sent a copy of the complaint against Marcos. When asked if he would endorse the complaint, Alvarez said he flatly refused the request.

Other lawmakers have also denied the allegations. According to Deputy Speaker Janette Garin, some sectors have been using the Senate as a political theater weeks before the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Garin disputed the allegations that she and other lawmakers received any suitcase from Co, urging the public to be ‘vigilant and discerning’ as the current political climate has led to the proliferation of ‘gross propaganda and public deception.’

Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V also noted that the blue ribbon committee’s hearing last Thursday was merely staged to discredit the House before Duterte’s impeachment trial even begins.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara has ordered the immediate mobilization of safety inspections and emergency support for schools affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck near Sarangani on Monday morning, impacting over 6,000 schools across Mindanao.

In line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive, classes at all levels in affected areas of Mindanao have been suspended until further notice to ensure the safety of learners, teachers, and school personnel.

‘Following the president’s directive, we immediately mobilized our engineers in the affected regions, particularly in DepEd Regional Office XII, to inspect school facilities impacted by the earthquake,’ Angara said in a statement.

Angara, who is in Cotabato City for a school opening visit, also ordered the deployment of structural engineers from the Department of Education’s Central Office to support damage assessments and assist regional teams on the ground.

‘[I] am closely monitoring developments in the affected areas. We also inspected classrooms here today following the earthquake. The safety of our learners, teachers, and school personnel remains our top priority, and we will take all necessary measures to ensure that schools are safe before classes resume,’ he said.

Based on initial reports, approximately 6,224 schools across five regions were exposed to the effects of the earthquake and its aftershocks. More than 3.2 million learners and 128,000 teachers and personnel were affected.

DepEd has activated its emergency response mechanisms and is conducting rapid assessments and structural safety inspections of school facilities, particularly in areas that experienced strong ground shaking and aftershocks.

Meanwhile, Angara assured parents, teachers, and learners that assistance would be immediately provided to affected schools.

Minor repairs costing up to P50,000 may be charged against schools’ Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, allowing immediate action on urgent needs.

For major repairs and rehabilitation requiring larger funding, DepEd has separate funding mechanisms and emergency resources available to support affected schools.

The department also reminded the public that under DepEd Order No. 014, s. 2026, or the Guidelines on Learning Continuity in Emergencies, the immediate priority during disasters is the protection of the lives and safety of learners and personnel.

Angara likewise directed all schools to review and strictly implement earthquake preparedness measures, including evacuation procedures and regular earthquake drills, to strengthen readiness for future emergencies.

MANILA, Philippines-Alex Eala jumped four places to World No. 33 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings ahead of her campaign at the HSBC Championships, formerly known as the Queen’s Club Championships in London.

After winning the title in the WTA 125 Birmingham Open on Sunday night, Eala wastes no time and gets back into action on Tuesday in the main draw of the Queen’s Club Championships in London.

The 21-year-old Eala battles China’s Zhang Shuai, who’s ranked 64th, in the round-of-32.

Eala survived Czech Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5, in the Birmingham final for her first victory against a Czech in 14 tries since turning pro in 2020.

Polish rising star Maja Chwalinska, who made a surprise run to the French Open final, was the biggest mover in the rankings, soaring to 21st from 114th.

Russian ace and newly minted French Open champion Mirra Andreeva improved two spots to No. 6.

Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka remains the top-ranked WTA player for the 89th consecutive week.

Sen. Loren Legarda’s son and Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste has offered to assist the new leadership of the Senate blue ribbon in its investigation into the flood control projects controversy.

In a letter dated June 5 addressed to Sen. Erwin Tulfo, Leviste thanked the senator for pushing for the investigation of the flood control projects.

‘I would like to present information relevant to this at your earliest convenience. I would appreciate being informed by your office if this may be possible,’ Leviste said in his letter, a copy of which was shared with the media by Tulfo’s office on Monday.

‘I remain available to assist in any investigation on flood control projects and other projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH),’ he added.

Tulfo currently heads the blue ribbon panel following a Senate shakeup on June 3. Sen. Pia Cayetano, however, insists she remains the chairperson of the committee.

Notably, Leviste’s letter was written only a day after the Cayetano-led hearing on the DPWH projects.

Legarda insisted during that hearing that she is still the Senate president pro tempore.

‘We have never clung to any position, but I am here to show that we are present and that I have not resigned from my position,’ she said.

In January, Leviste attended a hearing of the blue ribbon panel when Sen. Panfilo Lacson was still its head.

The congressman earlier claimed he has the so-called ‘Cabral files’ or the budget documents which he said he obtained from late DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral.

The files supposedly link several high-ranking officials, including Cabinet secretaries, to the alleged 2025 infrastructure budget insertions.

The city government of Pagadian ordered residents of coastal barangays to immediately move to higher grounds or designated evacuation areas following a tsunami warning issued by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), triggered by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked parts of Mindanao at 7:37 a.m. Monday.

In an advisory, officials stressed that the preemptive evacuation applies strictly to coastal communities to safeguard residents in vulnerable areas.

The public was reminded to remain calm and avoid panic while following instructions from barangay officials, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and emergency responders.

According to the advisory, proceeding to shorelines, ports, and beaches to take photos or videos is strictly prohibited, warning that such actions put lives at risk.

‘For everyone’s safety, do not gather near coastal areas,’ the advisory read.

CDRRMO personnel have been deployed to conduct monitoring, coordination, and response operations.

Meanwhile, residents in non-coastal areas, particularly within the city proper, were advised to stay alert but calm, and to monitor only official advisories from the city government.

The evacuation order is part of precautionary measures to mitigate risks posed by potential tsunami waves.

Acting City Mayor Lance Samuel Co reiterated that compliance with safety instructions is crucial in ensuring community protection during emergencies.

The 18 alleged bagmen, claiming to be former Marines, along with their legal counsel Levito Baligod, arrived at the Senate on Monday to visit Sen. Robin Padilla, and not to attend the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on the flood control controversy.

Padilla called them his ‘guests.’

He said he was informed of their arrival and personally met and escorted them inside the Senate premises.

The senator said it is up to his guests whether or not they would attend the panel’s probe, presided by its chair, Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

The group has been linked to allegations involving the delivery of cash-filled luggage to several government officials, including senators and congressmen, reportedly under the employment of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co.

The SM group has debuted in mainland China’s hospitality space, offering a property with 325 guest rooms in Xiamen city, as it tweaked its strategy to concentrate future investments in Fujian province, birthplace of the late founder, Henry Sy Sr.

In a chance interview, SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) chair Hans Sy said he had just come from Xiamen for the opening of the group’s new hotel under the label Voco, a four-star hospitality brand under InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG).

‘It’s a business hotel but catering to young families,’ Sy said.

Voco is located at the 10-hectare SM Xiamen complex that also hosts SM malls and five office buildings. It offers accommodations for 700 renminbi (P6,300) a night.

This marks IHG’s first partnership with the SM group, as Sy hinted of future collaboration in the Philippines.

‘Through us they want to come back [as soon as possible] to Manila,’ Sy said.

IHG’s flagship InterContinental hotel brand bowed out of Makati back in 2015.

In March, IHG also announced plans to open a 212-key InterContinental hotel in BGC in partnership with Keyland Corp., Philippine Realty and Holdings Corp. and Greenhills Properties Inc.

For its part, SMPH has built a portfolio of nine shopping malls in mainland China with a gross floor area of 1.8 million square meters that attract 400,000 visitors a day.

Most of these malls are located in Fujian, specifically in the cities of Xiamen and Jinjiang.

‘Last year we opened another mall in China, in Fujian,’ Sy said, referring to the newest mall that opened in Haicang District.

‘We kind of changed our strategy. All will be in Fujian province. Fujian is where our father came from. We’re already known there. We’d rather have a stronghold,’ Sy explained.

The previous strategy was to open at least one mall each year in second and third-tier cities.

The first China mall opened in Xiamen 25 years ago. Since then, SM malls have been built in six other key cities, namely, Chengdu, Suzhou, Chongqing, Zibo, Tianjin and Yangzhou.

‘I’m maintaining [them] but right now we’re discussing, not anymore opening outside [Fujian],’ he said.

By the end of the third quarter this year, Sy said SMPH would open its fourth phase of shopping mall expansion in Xiamen called Chao Block.

‘Ibang hitsura. (It’s uniquely designed.) It’s a mall that you can never see here,’ he said.

Since building its first China mall in Xiamen 25 years ago, SM group remains bullish on this populous market.

In just two years, Sy noted that the group’s five office buildings at the Xiamen complex have been 75-percent leased out.

‘China is still having 5-6 percent growth. Everybody is used to 12 percent but the base is so big, and there are many things are happening. Industry is still growing, especially now that [expensive] fuel prices are driving EVs (electric vehicles). Growth of the export industry is still in double digit,’ he said.

House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III appealed to individuals affected by the Magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Sarangani province on Monday morning to heed authorities’ advice and warnings to ensure their safety.

Dy said the authorities’ foremost concern is the safety of affected residents, especially those living near coastlines, as tsunami warnings have been raised and aftershocks remain possible.

After the earthquake, whose epicenter was located 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim town in Sarangani, six areas were reportedly hit by tsunamis.

‘Our foremost concern at this time is the safety and well-being of our fellow Filipinos in Mindanao. I urge everyone, especially those in coastal and low-lying communities, to heed the warnings and instructions of authorities. Please evacuate immediately when directed and prioritize your safety and that of your families,’ Dy said.

‘During these times, quick coordination and cooperation are important. We call on all LGUs (local government units), emergency responders, volunteers, and community leaders to ensure the safety of our people and a prompt, orderly response to any needs in the affected areas,’ he added.

Phivolcs said the tsunami waves were recorded in these areas, with the highest wave height being measured at 1.4 meters.

Maasim, Sarangani: 7:42 a.m.

Kiamba, Sarangani: 7:44 a.m.

Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat: 7:59 a.m.

Mati, Davao Oriental: 8:19 a.m.

Zamboanga City: 8:32 a.m.

Tandag City, Surigao del Sur: 8:45 a.m.

Other areas, including Davao Occidental, Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato, were also warned of possible increases in wave heights.

Dy also thanked President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for directing all concerned government agencies to respond swiftly to the situation.

‘This whole-of-government approach is crucial in ensuring that rescue, relief, and response operations are carried out quickly and effectively,’ Dy said.

‘The House of Representatives stands in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Mindanao. We are prepared to support all necessary efforts to help affected communities recover and rebuild. What is important now is ensuring the safety of every Filipino and responding immediately to their needs,’ he added.

The quake disrupted classes, work, and government services, which were set to resume earlier. Several services, including internet, electricity, and water, were also unavailable in parts of Soccsksargen.

According to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), several transmission lines in Southwestern Mindanao were damaged following the earthquake.

Over 3.2 million learners and nearly 129,000 education personnel across five regions were affected after a powerful magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, on Monday morning, prompting class suspensions and emergency response measures in thousands of public schools.

According to the Department of Education (DepEd) Situation Report No. 2, released at noon, the earthquake occurred at 7:37 a.m. with an epicenter about 32 kilometers southwest of Maasim, Sarangani, and a depth of 33 km.

Authorities classified the tremor as a strong tectonic earthquake capable of causing significant damage and generating aftershocks.

DepEd reported that 3,239,964 learners, 128,861 teaching and non-teaching personnel, and 6,224 public schools in 33 school divisions across Regions IX, X, XI, XII, and the Caraga Region were affected by the quake.

As a precautionary measure, classes were suspended while authorities inspected classrooms and other school facilities. School officials also implemented evacuation procedures and coordinated with local government units and disaster management offices.

The strongest ground shaking was reported at Intensity VII in General Santos City. Intensity VI was recorded in the municipalities of Palimbang and Senator Ninoy Aquino in Sultan Kudarat. Intensity V was felt in several areas of Davao, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Zamboanga del Norte. Instrumental monitoring recorded Intensity VIII in Malapatan, Sarangani.

The earthquake also triggered tsunami warnings and prompted precautionary evacuations in several coastal communities in southern Mindanao. Initial reports indicated damage to buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure in parts of Sarangani and General Santos City, while authorities continued validating reports of casualties and structural damage.

DepEd’s Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service said it is closely monitoring developments and has directed schools to activate earthquake contingency plans and remain vigilant amid possible aftershocks. The agency is also gathering field reports through its Incident Management Reporting System.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered national government agencies to coordinate disaster response operations, pre-position relief supplies, and ensure that evacuation centers are prepared to accommodate affected residents.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, making it one of the most seismically active countries in the world and highly vulnerable to earthquakes and other geological hazards.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Cebu Pacific (CebPac) canceled all flights to and from General Santos City until June 11 after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake prompted restrictions at General Santos International Airport.

In an advisory, PAL’s eight flights scheduled from June 9 to 11 would be canceled:

PR 453/454 Manila-General Santos-Manila

PR 2455/2456 Manila-General Santos-Manila

PR 2339/2340 Cebu-General Santos-Cebu

PR 2357/2358 Cebu-General Santos-Cebu

Meanwhile, in a separate advisory, CebPac’s 22 flights scheduled from June 9 to 11 would be canceled:

June 9, 2026

5J 251/252: Cebu – General Santos – Cebu

5J 991/992: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 993/994: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 995/996: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 997/998: Manila – General Santos – Manila

June 10, 2026

5J 251/252: Cebu – General Santos – Cebu

5J 991/992: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 993/994: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 995/996: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 997/998: Manila – General Santos – Manila

5J 4843/4844: Iloilo – General Santos – Iloilo

Earlier, PAL canceled six flights on June 8 connecting General Santos with Manila and Cebu. While, Cebu Pacific canceled 11 flights scheduled on June 8 connecting General Santos with Manila, Cebu and Iloilo.

The cancellations would allow PAL to conduct the ‘necessary safety assessments’ in coordination with airport authorities, the flag carrier said.

In addition, Cebu Pacific said the developing situation in Mindanao may affect additional flights.

Passengers on affected services may opt to reroute their flights via Davao City. They may also rebook their flights, request a full refund, or convert their tickets into travel credits.

Earlier, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) issued a new Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), which will remain in effect until 6 p.m. on June 11, prompting the additional cancellations. A Notam is a safety advisory issued to pilots and flight operators to alert them to temporary hazards, operational restrictions or changes in airspace conditions.

Meanwhile, Caap said General Santos International Airport currently allows only government, military and humanitarian flights to land and take off.