Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Tropical Depression Wilma is moving slowly while maintaining its strength as it approached Eastern Samar and Northern Samar on Saturday morning, the state weather bureau reported.

Nineteen (19) areas in Luzon and Visayas were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 1.

In its 11 a.m. update, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said that Wilma was last spotted over the coastal waters of Sulat, Eastern Samar.

It was still moving slowly in a westward direction and is forecast to continue moving generally westward for the majority of its forecast period.

It maintained its strength as it was carrying a maximum wind speed of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Wilma is forecast to make landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar on Saturday.

It is expected to traverse Visayas until Sunday and will merge over Sulu Sea, and then, approach Northern Palawan by Monday.

Signal No. 1 is hoisted over the following areas:

Luzon

Sorsogon

Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Romblon

Southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong)

Southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan)

Northernmost portion of Palawan (Aracelli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay) including Cuyo, Calamlan and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Hindang, Baybay City, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)

Northern and central portions of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, Bogo City, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Talisay City, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Pinamunganhan, Naga City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands

Northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, Guihulngan)

Northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, Escalante City, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, Victorias City, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, Talisay City, Silay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Isabela, Hinigaran)

Guimaras

Iloilo

Capiz

Aklan

Antique including Caluya Islands

Pagasa warned that under this wind signal, with wind speeds ranging from 39 to 61 kph, may potentially bring ‘minimal to minor threat to life and property.’ /apl

Ellen Adarna responded to claims circulating online that she does not have savings, with the celebrity mom hinting that her ‘assets are protected.’

The actress, who has been making headlines amid her separation from her estranged husband Derek Ramsay, spoke about this during a question-and-answer session with her Instagram followers on Friday, Dec. 5.

‘Got rumors that you don’t have savings?’ one netizen asked, to which Adarna briefly replied, ‘Who said?! Who said?!’

It can be noted that Ramsay earlier took to his social media page to dismiss a social media post that claimed he and Adarna are in a legal battle involving ‘a disputed P500-million conjugal property.’ The post further stated that the actress ‘has no savings and no work’ during his marriage with Ramsay.

Meanwhile, in another clip recently shared by Adarna, an Instagram user made a followup question, ‘If someone says you don’t have savings, maybe your assets are protected?’

‘Yea, I guess it’s safe to say that – it is under a corporation so it is safe to say that it is protected,’ Adarna answered.

During the question-and-answer session, Adarna also said she has been busy and doing good after her separation from Ramsay.

The celebrity mom, who shares her firstborn Elias with John Lloyd Cruz and her daughter Lily with Ramsay, noted as well that she does not depend and demand financial support from the fathers of her children.

Adarna and Ramsay’s breakup was confirmed to the public in November, with the former accusing the actor of infidelity and of gaslighting her and terrorizing her helpers. /ra

Kim Chiu filed a qualified theft complaint against her older sister Lakam Chiu, citing the ‘serious financial discrepancies discovered within [the actress’] business operations.’

‘After careful consideration and months of internal review, l have made the difficult decision to file a legal case for qualified theft against my sister, Lakambini Chiu, in relation to serious financial discrepancies discovered within my business operations,’ Kim said in a statement.

‘This decision did not come easily. It is one of the most painful steps I have ever taken in my life. As many know, I built my business ventures-with hard work, passion, and trust in the people I love. Unfortunately, substantial amounts connected to my business assets were found missing. These discoveries forced me to take formal action to protect not just my company, but also the livelihoods of the people who work with me and the integrity of everything I have built,’ she lamented.

Chiu further underscored that she has chosen to take legal action not only for herself but for the brand and the community who have been supporting her.

‘Despite this painful situation, I remain committed to my work, my supporters, and the continued growth of my business ventures. Also, continue to pray for healing and resolution for everyone involved,’ she added.

The siblings’ feud seemed to have taken a toll on the actress-TV host as she recently reflected on ‘taking a hit’ and being ‘exhausted by strength.’ /ra

Coach Topex Robinson believes that La Salle’s UAAP Finals rematch against defending champion University of the Philippines will be an unpredictable series.

Which is odd, considering that Wednesday’s Game 1 marks the third straight time Robinson’s Green Archers and the Fighting Maroons will meet in the championship round. ‘I really don’t know what’s going to happen this time but one thing is for sure, we’re happy to be here,’ Robinson said after steering La Salle to a dramatic 78-73 win over top seed National University in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Final Four on Saturday at Araneta Coliseum.

‘When everybody was doubting us or pushing us away, it gave us the motivation to show that we’re capable. As long as we stick together and as long as we keep on thinking about staying together.’

A lot has changed too since the Maroons beat the Archers in Game 3 of the Season 87 Finals.

There’s no Kevin Quiambao or CJ Austria for La Salle and no JD Cagulangan, Francis Lopez, or Quentin Millora-Brown for UP.

This time, La Salle will be led by dynamic guard Jacob Cortez, who delivered a season-high 29 points to eliminate the Bulldogs.

‘I’m just excited. It’s a blessing to go against those guys, especially in the Finals. Playing UP is always exciting for me because there’s that respect factor that makes us play our best,’ said Cortez, who led San Beda to an NCAA title before transferring to La Salle.

Lawyers must be protected from any form of harassment that may threaten their legal profession, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said on Saturday, as it expressed its support for lawyers from the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL) who have been subjected to courtroom Red-tagging.

In a statement, the IBP said it stands in solidarity with the NUPL’s letter to the Supreme Court seeking protection mechanisms for lawyers under threat and guided by international standards such as the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of Lawyers.

The NUPL, in its letter filed on Friday, also sought the high court to convene a national dialogue between the bench, bar and civil society groups to formulate institutional safeguards for members of the legal profession facing threats.

The lawyers cited the instance wherein they were Red-tagged within the courtroom during a case pending before a regional trial court in Metro Manila wherein a counsel for one of the defendants submitted a supposed list of ‘underground mass organizations and front organizations’ of the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People’s Army and the National Democratic Front.

The list explicitly named the NUPL as one of the supposed organizations, according to the lawyers, an accusation they had since debunked.

‘The IBP stands in solidarity with the prayer to the Supreme Court, as we believe that lawyers are the guardians of fundamental human rights, such as the right to a fair trial, freedom of speech, and association,’ the IBP said.

‘Protecting lawyers ensures they can fearlessly defend these rights against infringement by governments or other powerful entities,’ it also said.

The IBP also pointed out that an attack on any lawyer, considered as an ‘agent of justice,’ would risk undermining the entire justice system, as well as ‘curtailment of truth and justice.’

‘An attack on one of us is an attack on the administration of justice,’ it said. /mr

Letran hasn’t been in the NCAA Finals for three years. And for some schools with lesser basketball pedigree, that seems like a lifetime.

‘When you’re in a basketball school with a lot of championships, you always have to work for success,’ coach Allen Ricardo told the Inquirer after Letran rallied for a 74-70 win over Perpetual Help in Game 2 of the Season 101 men’s basketball semifinals at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday that sent the Knights back to the title series.

Letran completed a three-peat the last time it was in the Finals. That was in 2022 and the Knights hope to touch off another championship string as they await a foe in the best-of-three series between San Beda and College of St. Benilde, which will clash in the rubber match of their semifinal series on Sunday.

And the road back to the Last Dance in the Grand Old League wasn’t easy, as the Knights had to overcome a twice-to-win disadvantage against Arellano in the quarterfinals before taking on the top-seeded Altas here.

Ricardo shared the drive he and his Knights have for the season.

‘We ended up as the sixth seed last year, so I told myself, this can’t happen again,’ Ricardo said. ‘From the coaching staff down to the players, we (know we) have to work hard and play smart.’

Two who stood out

Jonathan Manalili and Jimboy Estrada played hard and smart for the Knights, who erased a 68-60 deficit in the last 6:48 to get Letran to where it’s at.

Manalili scored 16 points and dished out 14 feeds, while Estrada was big in the stretch to finish with 11.

Meanwhile, the Blazers took their series with the Red Lions to a decider after an Ian Torres basket gave Benilde a 77-75 win in the first game.

Torres, who finished with 17 points, threw up a floater at the buzzer over the outstretched arms of Nygel Gonzales as Benilde will have some sort of a psychological edge over the Lions in their no-tomorrow match.

Tony Ynot led Benilde with 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals. Justine Sanchez registered a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Southeast Asian Games-bound Allen Liwag also chipped in big with nine points and 15 rebounds.

San Beda played without star swingman Agjanti Miller due to a knee contusion, but guards Gonzales and Bryan Sajonia carried the offensive load in the loss with 17 and 16 points, respectively.

But the day truly belonged to Letran and Ricardo, who had a lot of success as the Squires’ coach.

‘College ball is new to me,’ Ricardo said. ‘It’s different from high school. There’s a big difference. There were frustrations from losses, but it’s all a learning experience for me.’

Patrick Sleat and Mark Gojo Cruz provided the offense for the Altas with 17 and 15 points, respectively. John Abis’ 10 points and 11 rebounds also went down the drain in the Perpetual loss that put to naught a brilliant elimination round campaign.

A municipal councilor of Marihatag town in Surigao del Sur province was stabbed to death on Saturday morning, police said.

According to a police report, Marihatag councilor Gerry Sales Campos, who is also a radio anchor, just alighted from his pickup vehicle in a gas station in Barangay Poblacion at past 7 a.m. when the suspect, identified as Sandy Constantin Rivas, stabbed him multiple times, mainly on his abdomen.

Rivas immediately fled from the scene, leaving behind his pair of slippers and Campos lying unconscious on the ground.

Emergency responders from the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office rushed Campos to the Marihatag District Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Rivas eventually fell into the hands of policemen following a hot pursuit operation. He is now detained at the Marihatag police station while awaiting the filing of a murder charge.

Twenty-seven (27) areas across the country have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Tropical Depression Vilma slightly accelerated while moving east of Eastern Visayas on Saturday morning, the state weather bureau said.

In its 5 a.m. weather bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Vilma was located 70 kilometers east of Borongan City in Eastern Samar.

Vilma is moving westward at 15 kilometers per hour (kph). It maintains its strength as it is carrying maximum wind speed of 45 kph and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

The tropical depression is forecast to make landfall over Eastern Visayas on Saturday.

It is expected to remain as a tropical depression throughout this period.

Pagasa also hoisted Wind Signal No. 1 over the following areas, where wind speeds range from 39 to 61 kph, which may potentially bring ‘minimal to minor threats to life and property:’

Luzon

Sorsogon

Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Romblon

Southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong)

Southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan)

Northernmost portion of Palawan (Aracelli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay) including Cuyo, Calamlan and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Leyte

Southern Leyte

Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands

Bohol

Negros Occidental

Siquijor

Northern and central portion of Negros Oriental (City of Guihulngan, Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Amlan, San Jose, Dumaguete City, Valencia, Sibulan, Bacong, Mabinay, City of Bayawan, Basay)

Guimaras

Iloilo

Capiz

Aklan

Antique

Mindanao

Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands

Dinagat Islands

Northern portion of Surigao del Sur (Carrascal, Cantilan, Madrid, Carmen, Lanuza)

Northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Remedios T. Romualdez, Magallanes)

Camiguin

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon or amihan is expected to bring strong to gale-force gusts over the following areas that are not under the Wind Signal No. 1:

Saturday: Most of Luzon, Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula

Sunday: Most of Luzon, Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula

Monday: Most of Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Western Visayas /apl

President Marcos should explain the reason for the recent resignation of three high-ranking Cabinet officials, in light of his administration’s insistence that the allegations of corruption made by former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co against the executive branch carried no weight.

At an online press briefing on Friday, ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio noted that former Justice Undersecretary Jose Cadiz and former Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman were previously not mentioned in the scandal involving anomalies in flood control projects, until Co implicated them in a series of video statements last month.

Cadiz, whom Co tagged as the President’s alleged ‘bagman,’ was confirmed by Malacañang on Friday as having resigned from his post. According to Co, he received orders from former Speaker Martin Romualdez to deliver kickbacks from the flood control projects to Cadiz.

Pangandaman, meanwhile, was name-dropped by Co as the Cabinet official who allegedly directed him to place P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 budget, supposedly on orders of the President.

No value?

Given this background, ‘We are asking and daring Malacañang to give a complete and honest explanation as to why they accepted the resignation of Usec. Jojo Cadiz . There should be an explanation why he was removed,’ Tinio said.

‘At one point, Malacañang said that Zaldy Co’s testimony has no value whatsoever. But now, not only one but three officials of President Marcos Jr.’s Cabinet have been removed: ES (Executive Secretary Lucas) Bersamin, Usec. Jojo Cadiz, and Secretary Pangandaman of DBM,’ Tinio added.

He pointed out that neither Cadiz nor Pangandaman were mentioned in former Public Works Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo’s affidavits detailing the kickback scheme in the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). So if both Cabinet members left office solely because of Co’s statements, then Co’s allegations should be investigated more thoroughly.

‘There is no basis for their so-called resignation or removal other than Zaldy Co’s allegations. This is like an admission that Zaldy Co’s statements carry weight,’ Tinio said.

‘We condemn Malacañang’s outright refusal, whether [by] the President himself or his spokesperson, to explain to the public the real reason why these officials resigned,’ he added.

During a press briefing on Friday, Palace press officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said information coming from the Department of Justice indicated that Cadiz had resigned from his post.

‘As far as we know, he has already submitted his resignation,’ Castro said in Filipino.

‘Delicadeza’

Cadiz is also allegedly involved in a major construction company that was incorporated only in 2023. The construction company, named JSJ Builders Inc., was named after Cadiz’s then 19-year-old son, and was awarded more than P200 million in projects in Ilocos Norte.

On Nov. 25, Acting Justice Secretary Frederrick Vida said Cadiz had gone on leave and was scheduled to return to office on Dec. 1. While Vida did not elaborate on Cadiz’s whereabouts, he said the latter did not apply for a travel authority.

Castro announced on Nov. 17 that President Marcos had accepted Bersamin and Pangandaman’s resignations, made supposedly out of ‘delicadeza’ amid the investigation into corruption in flood control projects.

At Friday’s briefing, Castro said the public should be glad that personalities close to Marcos who got dragged into the scandal have left their posts.

Insertion mess

‘Shouldn’t the people be happy if there are people who are allies of the President and when they get involved, even if there is no decision or judgment yet, they leave? Isn’t that a better way to look at it? It means the President does not tolerate people who might be involved,’ she said.

In the first of the video statements he released, Co said the budget insertion mess started after Pangandaman called to inform him that Mr. Marcos wanted P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget.

Pangandaman then allegedly asked him to confirm the President’s orders with Presidential Legislative Liason Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin-the former executive secretary’s grandnephew. After confirmation, Co said he told Romualdez about this instruction.

In the same video, Co said he appealed to Pangandaman and Bersamin to just put half of the P100 billion into unprogrammed funds so that the DPWH funds would not exceed the allocation for the Department of Education.

Under the Constitution, the education sector should have the highest budget prioritization. Co said the appeal was made before Pangandaman, Bersamin, Romualdez, and Cadiz.

Tropical Depression Wilma is currently moving slowly west-northwestward over the coastal waters of Eastern Samar, the state weather bureau said.

In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Wilma was last spotted over the coastal waters of Oras town.

The tropical depression maintained its strength, carrying maximum sustained winds of 45 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 55 kph.

Signal No. 1 is still in effect over the following areas:

Luzon:

Sorsogon

Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands

Romblon

The southern portion of Oriental Mindoro (Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong,Bansud)

The southern portion of Occidental Mindoro (Magsaysay, San Jose, Rizal, Calintaan,Sablayan)

The northernmost portion of Palawan (Araceli, Dumaran, El Nido, Taytay, Roxas, San Vicente) including Cuyo, Calamian, and Cagayancillo Islands

Visayas:

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

The northern and central portions of Leyte (Tunga, Pastrana, San Miguel, Mahaplag, Matag-Ob, Tolosa, Palo, Calubian, Leyte, Mayorga, Julita, Carigara, Babatngon, Dagami, Inopacan, Jaro, Abuyog, San Isidro, Santa Fe, Albuera, Villaba, La Paz, Palompon, Macarthur, Tabontabon, Tanauan, Merida, Ormoc City, Isabel, Javier, Dulag, Capoocan, Alangalang, Hindang, City of Baybay, Burauen, Tabango, Tacloban City, Kananga, Barugo)

The northern and central portions of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Sogod, Catmon, Asturias, Carmen, Danao City, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Pinamungahan, City of Naga, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova) including Bantayan Islands and Camotes Islands

The northern portion of Negros Oriental (Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, City of Guihulngan)

The northern and central portions of Negros Occidental (Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Cadiz City, Bacolod City, City of Talisay, Silay City, Salvador Benedicto, San Carlos City, Murcia, Bago City, La Carlota City, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Valladolid, Pulupandan, San Enrique, Pontevedra, Isabela, Hinigaran)

Guimaras

Iloilo

Capiz

Aklan

Antique including Caluya Islands

Pagasa said Wilma is forecast to move generally westward for the majority of the forecast period.

Its center may make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Northern Samar this Saturday evening.

‘Afterwards, it will continue to traverse Visayas until tomorrow (07 December). It will then emerge over Sulu Sea and may pass over northern Palawan by Monday (08 December) morning,’ Pagasa said.

Wilma will likely remain as a tropical depression throughout its passage over Visayas and Palawan, but there is an increasing likelihood of weakening into a remnant low-pressure area while traversing the area of Visayas due to dry intrusion from the northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan. /jpv