Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A poll watchdog has urged the House of Representatives to consider basing a proposed law against misinformation and disinformation on transparency rather than mere content regulation, as the latter supposedly has the tendency to result in censorship.

At the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms’ hearing on Monday on four bills seeking to ensure the fair use of the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence (AI) during elections, the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (Lente) said it wanted to avoid a chilling effect, as defining misleading and false content would depend on the implementing agency and could touch on protected speech.

‘We would like to anchor enforcement in transparency rather than content regulation. Our comparative mapping of disinformation policy found through jurisdictions relying on content regulation broadly-worded definitions of false content […] have produced censorship and abuse rather than a better information environment,’ Lente Executive Director Ona Caritos said.

‘Several of the pending measures make the creation and dissemination of fake news a punishable act. Definition of that breath, coupled with criminal liability, risks chilling protected expression and being turned against critics rather than against organized operations,’ she added. ‘Lente urges caution on this, and cause for transparency approaches over content regulation.’

Instead, Caritos told the House panel that they prefer transparency measures like the disclosure of who was behind the use of technologies in the campaign material, who financed the campaign, and other information that would relay to the public who the personalities involved are.

‘The provisions most likely to work are the transparency provisions, mandatory disclosure of AI use, paid advertisement disclosure, identifying who paid for the material, the public database of funding and spreading disclosures proposed in one of the measures, and the right of reply,’ she explained.

‘Transparency initiatives are less draconian and effective in addressing the problem of disinformation by increasing the perception of accountability, insofar as suppliers of political content are concerned,’ she added.

After the presentation, committee chairperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong asked Caritos to expound how she intends this proposal to be carried out. In response, Caritos said they prefer disclosures of who are the parties behind the campaign, instead of an outright removal of the content.

‘Chair, it’s more on the disclosure on the part of the users and the platforms, so the responsibility or the obligation should be lodged on the part, primarily on the platforms, the different social media platforms on disclosure and transparency, and of course the users, for example if they use AI in the campaign, they should disclose that they use AI,’ Caritos said.

Adiong then reminded Caritos that the reason why the bill is being pushed is to remove false information on the internet during election season – whether these campaign materials are in favor or against a particular candidate.

‘Actually it’s not even the negative (campaigning), it’s entirely a different story because we intend to address fake news nga eh ‘di ba? So either way, positive or negative, basta hindi tama, hindi dapat ‘yan ilalabas ‘di ba?’ Adiong said.

(Actually it’s not even about negative (campaigning), it’s entirely a different story because we intend to address fake news, right? So either way, positive or negative, as long as it’s not correct, that should not come out, right?)

‘So the responsibility share should be primary lodged on the social media platforms, so they have that responsibility to disclose, to be transparent, and to act as soon as possible on post like what you mentioned chair, the negative campaigning or campaigning against for example the electoral process or negative information about the electoral process,’ Caritos responded.

Before Caritos’ presentation, four bills have been consolidated, including House Bill (HB) No. 3691 or the proposed Social Media, Artificial Intelligence and Internet Technology Regulation for Fair Elections Act from House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos.

Marcos’ proposal defines various terms related to the internet like AI, bots, deepfakes, and coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB), as well as who and what parties will be covered by the proposed measure.

HB No. 3691 would allow ‘election propaganda on the internet and the social media’ but will be ‘subject to the limitation on authorized expenses of candidates and parties, observation of truth in advertising, and to the supervision and regulation’ by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

‘Social media posts, regardless of format, whether original or re-posted from some source, which may either be incidental to the poster’s advocacies of social issues or which may have, for its primary purpose, the endorsement of a candidate only including paid advertisements in internet subject to the requirements set forth in Section 5 hereof and the Fair Elections Act shall also be allowed,’ Section 4 of the bill stated.

Also, the bill listed what activities will be considered prohibited:

Use of ‘false amplifiers’, such as fake accounts, bots, and astroturf groups filled with fake users to propagate disinformation and misinformation in endorsing or campaigning against a candidate, a political party/coalition, or party-list organizations

Coordinated inauthentic behavior and utilization of hyperactive users for the aforementioned purposes

Creation and dissemination of deepfakes, cheapfakes, and soft fakes for the aforementioned purposes

Use of fake and unregistered social media accounts during the election and campaign period for the same purposes

Creation and dissemination of fake news in furtherance of the aforementioned purposes

Use of content produced through AI technology but without compliance to the transparency and disclosure requirements under these guidelines

No one has been penalized for engaging in CIB, but the said activity has been observed several times in the Philippines. As early as M arch 2019, then Facebook Cybersecurity Policy head Nathaniel Gleicher said they removed 200 fake accounts operating under the network of communication strategist Nic Gabanuda Jr. for CIB.

Gabunada was the social media campaign of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Gleicher, the taken-down accounts were made to appear as normal and legitimate accounts while boosting messages in favor of certain political candidates.

Then in September 2020, Gleicher announced that the social media platform had taken down two networks for CIB again, with one of the networks being traced to the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

On Day 33 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, the House prosecution is set to present Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura.

Buenaventura is expected to testify on suspicious transaction reports involving Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and their business interests. His testimony will be followed by representatives from banks and insurance firms subpoenaed to testify on financial records that could shed light on the allegations of unexplained wealth.

Investors looking for winners among the country’s biggest listed companies had a short list by the end of the third quarter.

Only six of the PSEi’s 30 constituents as of Sept. 30 finished above their Jan. 2 closing prices.

Leading the blue-chip race was Enrique Razon Jr.-led International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), which surged 60.40 percent to P891 from P555.50.

Its run included a historic milestone in July, when ICTSI became the first domestic listed company to close with a market capitalization exceeding P2 trillion.

The port operator ended July 14 with a market value of P2.01 trillion. This rose to P2.02 trillion the next day as its shares closed at a then-record P999 after touching P1,020 intraday.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures ranked second, climbing 34.75 percent to P38 from P28.20.

Ayala Corp. gained 5.57 percent to P500 from P473.60, while LT Group rose 3.39 percent to P15.26 from P14.76.

Puregold advanced 2.08 percent to P39.20 from P38.40. Monde Nissin completed the winners’ circle, inching up 0.85 percent to P5.90 from P5.85.

With four in every five blue chips ending in the red, ICTSI sailed far ahead of the pack.

But this is only the third-quarter scorecard. With one lap left in 2026, investors will see whether the six can stay afloat-or whether a late rally reshuffles the blue-chip race. – Emmanuel John B. Abris

A pop-up booth at the mall

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) is bringing its latest Retail Treasury Bond offering (RTB) 32, to TriNoma on Oct. 2 as it marks the program’s silver anniversary and looks to get more Filipinos comfortable with investing.

Last year, the Treasury took a step in that direction when RTBs became available through GCash’s GBonds. This year, it is taking the experience offline and straight to the mall.

That’s the whole tenet of RTBs, after all: bringing bonds closer to the people.

The idea is to make government securities feel a little less intimidating and investing a little more accessible, with visitors able to play games, win freebies, get one-on-one advice from BTr experts and, for those ready to take the plunge, invest on the spot.

All of this is part of the BTr’s push to bring RTBs to a wider pool of small investors, who can put in as little as P5,000, as the government seeks to raise as much as P150 billion in new money from the latest offering.

There’s even a little anniversary math to RTB 32: the 25-year-old program is celebrating with a 2.5-year bond, paying 6.875 percent a year until investors get their money back in April 2029.

Twenty-five years in, the Treasury seems to be taking the message quite literally: if you want more people to buy bonds, sometimes you just have to bring the bonds to where the people are. – Nyah Genelle C. De Leon

Moment boss goes the distance

One of the women behind the operator of some of the Philippines’ most recognizable restaurant brands has just made a significant stride in running. And no, we don’t mean running the pass, as we mean it quite literally this time.

Eliza Antonino, cofounder and CEO of The Moment Group, recently pulled off a personal feat after completing the 42-kilometer Berlin Marathon, which became the latest addition to the World Marathon Majors under her belt.

And Antonino didn’t go to Berlin to cross the finish line.

According to The Moment Group, she emerged as the third-fastest Filipina in her age group and the 11th-fastest Filipina overall among those who tackled the Berlin course.

She brought a little bit of home along for the run, too. Antonino tackled the Berlin course in a jersey emblazoned with ‘Iba talaga ‘pag Pinoy!’ and the logo of Manam, one of Moment’s homegrown restaurant brands.

Antonino cofounded The Moment Group with Abba Napa and Jon Syjuco in 2012 and has since helped build the operating machinery behind the restaurant group’s expansion.

More than a decade later, Antonino is still racing toward new goals.

For generations of Mangyan children from remote mountain communities in southern Oriental Mindoro, going to high school was once a difficult journey-literally.

Some had to walk for hours from their homes to reach a classroom.

At the Mangyan Education Center Inc. (MEC) in Barangay Bait-Panaytayan, Mansalay, that long journey has, for nearly four decades, been met by teachers who see education as more than lessons, examinations, and diplomas.

They see it as a way for Mangyan children to understand who they are, to value their heritage and gain the confidence to serve their own communities.

Born from a need

As the country marks World Teachers’ Day, MEC principal Nemia Gareza said the school continues to carry the mission on which it was founded in 1987: to make education accessible and meaningful to indigenous children.

Today, all of its students are indigenous people, with 13 licensed indigenous teachers in the faculty.

The MEC was established in 1987 by Fr. Ewald Dinter, SVD, in Bait-Panaytayan at a time when secondary education remained largely inaccessible to many Mangyan youth from Mansalay and Bulalacao.

For children living in farflung upland communities, the problem was not simply whether they wanted to study. Reaching a secondary school could itself be a formidable obstacle; for some, a five-hour walk just to make it to class.

Community leaders

In MEC’s early years, tuition was free. Families and communities also contributed what they could-rice, chicken, fruits, vegetables-to help sustain the school and its students.

The arrangement reflected a shared view of education as something not separate from everyday life but a collective investment in the future.

Over the years, the school produced hundreds of Mangyan graduates, many of whom went on to become professionals and community workers.

Education became a preparation not just for employment but also for leadership-to help the local population understand and defend their rights and protect their culture.

Some of those who once sat in MEC classrooms returned to pay it forward. Among them is Fr. Gabayno Calinog Oybad, a Hanunoo Mangyan and the school’s first indigenous priest who now serves as its school director.

Under Oybad’s leadership, MEC remained true to its founding goal: to help Mangyan youths become professionals without having to shed their cultural identity.

The 13 licensed indigenous teachers currently at MEC attend to children who share their heritage and understand the realities faced by families in remote communities.

Loving, tireless work

Shirley Alda, a 35-year Mangyan mission worker, said: ‘We especially remember and thank Fr. Dinter for all his loving and tireless work for MEC. This will be the first time we celebrate his birthday on Oct. 16 since he passed away last November. He also taught at MEC and was awarded the Many Faces of the Teacher Award in 2008 by the Bato Balani Foundation and Diwa Learning.’

According to Alda, Fr. Oybad, on the other hand, chose to serve his fellow Mangyans in the mountains rather than in a lowland parish. Oybad also taught at MEC when he was still a seminarian.

‘Almost all Mangyan licensed teachers at MEC are committed to the implementation of IP-ED (Indigenous Peoples Education) under Department Order No. 62, series of 2011,’ Gareza said.

The school’s location in Panaytayan is significant. The community has long been associated with Hanunuo Mangyan life and culture, including the preservation and study of ambahan and the traditional Mangyan writing system.

This cultural setting gives the school a particular responsibility: to ensure that education does not require children to choose between learning and being Mangyan. Instead, the two can reinforce each other.

A bomb threat against three universities in Bohol circulated online Monday, prompting security inspections and the suspension of classes at Bohol Island State University (BISU) as the province marked World Teachers’ Day.

The anonymous post named Holy Name University (HNU), University of Bohol (UB), and BISU.

Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap said authorities had not confirmed whether the threat was genuine, as Tagbilaran police chief Lt. Col. Joey Bicoy led the investigation.

Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said authorities were closely monitoring the situation and investigating the reported threat.

‘Let us inform everyone that, together with our police, we are on top of the situation regarding the bomb threat spreading online targeting various universities, and we are currently conducting an investigation,’ Aumentado said.

BISU suspended classes and academic activities in all its campuses in Tagbilaran, Candijay, Balilihan, Bilar, Calape and Clarin for the remainder of Monday to allow security inspections.

The Provincial Bomb Squad, in coordination with BISU security personnel, was set to conduct a thorough inspection of university buildings and facilities. Personnel were instructed to leave after students had safely exited the campuses and to deposit office keys with the University Security Office to facilitate the inspection.

Meanwhile, HNU said it had implemented appropriate security measures following the reported security concern.

‘The Administration has already issued an all-clear following the initial security assessment and has proceeded with all necessary safety and security checks throughout the campus,’ HNU said in a statement.

It said relevant personnel and security teams continued to closely monitor the situation and ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.

HNU urged students, faculty, and personnel to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative and to follow safety protocols and instructions issued by the administration and authorized personnel.

‘The Administration remains committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment. Further updates will be provided as necessary,’ it said.

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Monday disclosed several transactions by Vice President Sara Duterte and her spouse, Atty. Maneses Carpio, that were flagged for allegedly being related to the flood control scandal and drug trafficking.

During the 33rd day of Duterte’s impeachment trial, AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura disclosed several suspicious transaction reports (STRs) before the Senate Impeachment Court while being questioned by private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia.

STRs refer to reports filed by covered institutions on transactions that exhibit specific red flags or irregularities under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, regardless of the amount involved.

Among the STRs revealed during the trial were premium payments made to The Mercantile Insurance Co. on July 4, 2019, and Nov. 15, 2019.

‘Based on records, as reported by the covered person, the reason indicated is graft and corrupt practices,’ Buenaventura said.

Asked what the narrative was, or the explanation behind the suspicion, Buenaventura said the following:

‘Several news outlets recently released a list of individuals and corporations identified as being involved in the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) flood control issue, prompting the filing of an STR.’

Meanwhile, another STR, dated Aug. 1, 2024, linked Duterte’s husband, Mans Carpio, to drug trafficking, particularly PSBank accounts under his name, which were flagged following criminal complaints tied to a 2017 P6.4-billion shabu smuggling case.

Among the accused in the said case, based on the STR narrative, was Carpio, who owned two separate PSBank accounts, one peso and one dollar account.

‘Both accounts were still active, with average daily balances for the past six months amounting to P519,787.44 and USD6,411.05, respectively,’ the narrative read, which was likewise based on press accounts.

Another STR, dated Dec. 5, 2024, also flagged transactions Duterte allegedly committed for malversation of public funds and property.

‘The client is alleged to have misappropriated confidential funds to her office,’ Buenaventura said in reading the STR explanation, which also directly cited various news reports.

A college professor who also makes music on the side has launched a book that compiles choral arrangements of lesser-known folk songs from Bicol to preserve the region’s musical heritage.

Ramil ‘Plok’ Chavenia, 59, launched the book on Saturday, Oct. 3, saying it was the product of a decade of collecting and researching Bicolano folk music.

He said the book, ‘Bicol Folksongs’ believed to be the first collection of choral arrangements in Albay, would serve as an accessible reference for teachers, singers and cultural workers.

‘This is where we fall short, we need to do more to promote local songs. Popular music has increasingly overshadowed local music, and hopefully, this will encourage more people to recognize the importance of appreciating and supporting our own local music,’ Chavenia told the Inquirer during the book launch at a mall in this city.

The book presented 11 choral arrangements, including eight folk songs and three songs which were written by other known Bicolano writers with whom Chavenia has collaborated.

Some full renditions of folk songs were ‘Buhay Istambay,’ a folk ballad; ‘Rosdos na Duli-duli,’ a children’s song; ‘Baston Bantolinaw,’ a novelty song; ‘Katurog na Nonoy,’ a lullaby; and ‘Igwa akong Manok,’ a metaphorical song about courtship.

Chavenia said most of the songs in the book reflect the stories, experiences and culture of Bicolanos, explaining that their ‘rhythm and harmony were carefully considered to preserve the integrity of the original material.’

Adrian Aguilar, dean of the Bicol University (BU) College of Arts and Letters in Albay, said the book would help preserve folk songs and pass them down from one generation to the next.

Many folk songs containing stories about Bicolano identity remain undocumented, Aguilar said.

National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, who wrote the book’s foreword, described Chavenia as one of the dedicated students who attended his music workshops.

‘I warmly welcome this worthy contribution to our nation’s choral repertoire and to the preservation and celebration of our collective musical heritage,’ the foreword reads.

During the launch, Cayabyab congratulated Chavenia on the event through a recorded video message, while some of the folk songs were performed by the BU Chorale led by Apple Rubio and the Bicol Voices Choral by Jim Rey Baloloy.

Chavenia started his career as a music and arts teacher, and handled children and teacher’s choir at the Department of Education in 1990.

Bad loans approach P600 billion, despite the nonperforming loan ratio remaining steady at 3.35%.

This was the latest data by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), reporting that bad-loan ratio held steady in August. But while this may seem good for Philippine banks, it hints at a deeper issue affecting Filipino borrowers today.

What does the 3.35% nonperforming loan ratio actually mean?

In simple terms, 3.35% of the total value of debt held by Philippine banks was classified as nonperforming, generally meaning principal or interest payments have remained unpaid for at least 90 days. These include consumer loans such as credit card debt, car and housing, as well as debt taken out by businesses.

But here’s the catch: the ratio looks relatively stable not because the amount of bad debt has fallen, but because banks are lending more.

Bad loans increased from P550.1 billion in August 2025 to P596.3 billion in August this year, or 8.4%. Over the same period, banks’ overall loan portfolio grew even faster-by 13.2% to P17.78 trillion. In other words, bad debt grew, but total lending grew faster, keeping the percentage relatively low.

Banks still have a sizable cushion against these losses, with P555.6 billion set aside as allowances for potential credit losses. However, if repayment problems continue to worsen, banks could become more cautious about extending credit.

This could mean stricter loan approval criteria, higher borrowing costs, smaller approved loan amounts, or tougher collateral requirements. Borrowing money from the bank to purchase your dream home or that car you’ve always wanted could therefore become more challenging if the trend worsens.

Why are people struggling with their debt?

Economists have linked repayment pressures to inflation, slower economic growth, and higher borrowing costs. Inflation has also eroded household purchasing power, while high levels of debt and the cost of servicing those debts can eat into disposable income and limit how much consumers can afford to borrow later.

Among consumer loans reported by the BSP, housing loans accounted for the largest amount of nonperforming debt as of June 2026 at about P76 billion, followed by credit card receivables at nearly P69 billion. Motorcycle loans, meanwhile, had the highest NPL rate at 15.64%.

So, what now?

Whether or not banks eventually tighten their requirements, Filipinos need to carefully assess how much debt they can genuinely afford. This is true whether a loan is being used to purchase a new asset, fund a business, or cover household expenses.

Gabby Williams had 25 points, 11 rebounds and five assists, Kiah Stokes added 14 rebounds and three blocked shots, and the Golden State Valkyries took Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals by beating the defending champion Las Vegas Aces 71-60 on Sunday.

A’ja Wilson scored 24 points while Chelsea Gray contributed 16 points for Las Vegas, which lost guard Jewell Loyd to a left leg injury early in the third quarter, and was held to its lowest point total of the season. The team said she was being evaluated and coach Becky Hammon didn’t have an immediate update afterward.

Playing to chants of ‘Gabby! Gabby!’ from the sellout crowd at Chase Center, Williams scored 18 of her points on 6-for-10 shooting in the first half, including a 3-pointer that put Golden State ahead 32-23 with 5:43 left before halftime.

That defeaning ‘Ballhalla’ home crowd turned the arena into a sea of violet-colored T-shirts and energy the Valkyries have so counted on in their first two seasons. Fans waved and cheered when the final buzzer sounded and confetti fell.

Game 2 in the best-of-five series is Wednesday night back at Chase Center.

‘The goal here is to win our home games, so yes we did well for the first game but the Aces are championship-caliber, they know what it takes to win,’ Stokes said. ‘I know in their locker room they’re not happy with how they played so their whole goal is to come to our house and still win games, so they still have the opportunity to do that. Going forward we know that we need to come out on Wednesday and make sure we set the tone again.’ Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase was well enough to coach after she went down on the sideline near Golden State’s bench with 1:40 remaining Friday night in a 77-73 comeback win to clinch the first-round series against Dallas. She was examined by a doctor during the day off Saturday.

Jackie Young’s 3-pointer with 8:25 left pulled Las Vegas within 58-53. WNBA leading scorer and reigning MVP Wilson made 6 of 11 first-half shots for 15 points for the third-seeded Aces.

It was a defensive, low-scoring game in which neither team shot particularly well – the Valkyries 37.7% to 33.9% for Las Vegas – after both went the distance in the best-of-three first round to advance.

Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton struggled on the offensive end, missing a layup and 3-pointer during one third-quarter sequence and sat down at the 7:29 mark. Nakase then went to Kaitlyn Chen for the rest of the game and she scored 11 points.

Burton didn’t have a health issue.

‘She’s amazing and she’s feeling great,’ Nakase said. ‘Kaitlyn Chen was fresh and I’m playing a fresh Kaitlyn Chen.’

Mixing and matching rotations worked out after Golden State shot just 31.4% – 11 for 35 and 5 of 15 on 3s – in the first half. Newcomer Aminata Gueye came off the bench to score nine points in 12-plus minutes for the Valkyries. She signed with the team Sept. 20 after playing with Williams and Janelle Salaun on the French team in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup.

Salaun received a rousing ovation when she entered the game with 2:25 left in the first quarter after being named WNBA Sixth Player of the Year before the game.

Kayla Thornton also pulled down 11 rebounds to go with eight points for the Valkyries, who dominated the boards with a 52-25 advantage.

‘We were really really connected tonight, I felt we were communicating, I felt like we were showing them bodies and then it came down to rebounding,’ Williams said. ‘I said after the game that KT and Kiah really won this game for us, limited them to one possession and gave us extra possessions.’

Hammon called it one of her team’s ‘most atrocious games of the season’ in which they were outhustled.

‘We lost the game on the boards, no question about that,’ Hammon said, noting all her team talked about the past 48 hours was rebounding and blocking out.

Golden State was 3 for 10 from 3-point range in the opening quarter and finished just 7 of 24 from deep, also overcoming 14 turnovers that led to 11 Las Vegas points.

Aces forward Stephanie Talbot missed the game because of a left leg injury.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank transactions of over P500,000 from 2011 to 2024, including a P55 million interaccount transfer, were reported by various banks to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), its Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura said Monday.

Private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia, during her examination of Buenaventura, pointed to the covered transaction reports (CTRs) of Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, from 2007 to 2025.