Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Authorities will soon impound electronic bikes and tricycles (e-bikes, e-trikes) caught operating on main thoroughfares, according to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao gave this commitment to the Senate on Thursday as it tackled in the plenary the proposed budget of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for 2026.

‘Our new LTO head, Assistant Secretary Lacanilao, has committed that by December 1, all e-trikes on the streets will be apprehended,’ Sen. JV Ejercito, budget sponsor of the DOTr’s budget, said after conferring with the LTO and DOTr officials.

‘There you go, e-bikes and e-trikes-starting December 1, refrain from plying your route,’ said Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who brought up some issues raised against these vehicles.

Unlike the traditional tricycles, Tulfo pointed out that e-trike and e-bike operators and drivers are not only not registered with the LTO, but they also do not have a license and insurance. And yet, they are allowed to operate.

Ejercito explained that these e-bikes and e-trikes are supposed to be prohibited from using the main thoroughfares, but some were able to get franchises from local government units (LGUs). Tulfo then suggested that the LTO and LGUs come up with an agreement to regulate e-bikes and e-trikes, but without ‘killing’ the business of traditional tricycles.

‘So maybe it’s about time we consider requiring these e-bike drivers and operators to get a driver’s license. If not, they should be apprehended, or the LGU should be warned,’ he said.

It was at this point that the LTO vowed to strictly enforce the ban on e-bikes and e-trikes by impounding those caught on major roads starting Dec. 1.

‘According to LTO, and DOTr, automatic impound na,’ Ejercito said when asked what kind of ticket would be issued to violators if they don’t have a license.

‘That’s what the LTO says: from now on, especially on main thoroughfares, they will automatically impound them,’ he added.

While commending this move, Tulfo advised the transportation agency to conduct an information drive first before apprehending violators.

The DOTr agreed with the suggestion.

‘According to our Secretary, by December 1, they will first conduct an information drive. They will go around just to inform everyone they see,’ Ejercito said, referring to Acting DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez. ‘So they will first give everyone a chance to be informed. There will be an information campaign before they start apprehending anyone,’ the senator said.

The appearance of Ilocos Norte First District Rep. Ferdinand ‘Sandro’ Marcos III before the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) is likely to be livestreamed, the body’s executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said Thursday.

If that is the case, it will be a contrast to the appearances of four lawmakers tagged in the flood control scandal who attended the ICI hearings.

The four members of the House of Representatives all requested a closed-door session.

‘Right now, if you read the request of Sandro Marcos, it was not stated there. So based on our rules, unless there is a formal request for an executive session, the default would be livestream,’ Hosaka said in an ambush interview when asked if Marcos’ appearance will be shown live to the public.

Due to mounting pressure from the people, and with critics saying that closed-door proceedings can cast doubt on the commission’s findings, the ICI allowed livestreaming of hearings, but those summoned can still request an executive session.

Hosaka, who confirmed that the ICI received Marcos’ letter Thursday morning, also said the commission will convene to determine when the lawmaker will attend the proceedings.

In a letter addressed to ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr., dated Nov. 26 (Wednesday), made public Thursday, Marcos said he is ‘ready to cooperate, answer questions, and provide any clarification needed to move this investigation forward.’

Marcos’ letter did not indicate any request for an executive session.

This letter came after resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co alleged that Marcos inserted at least P50 billion worth of public works projects in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 national budgets.

This was the first time that Marcos, who was House senior deputy majority leader in the 19th Congress and currently the majority floor leader in the 20th Congress, was named in Co’s videos.

Insertions generally refer to any change made from the National Expenditure Program prepared by the Department of Budget and Management in the crafting of the general appropriations bill, which is eventually enacted into law

Rufa Mae Quinto is set to spend her Christmas in the Philippines for the first time in 10 years following the absence of her husband, Trevor Magallanes, who died last July.

Quinto told select members of the press at her latest brand endorsement on Wednesday, Nov. 26, that she and her daughter Athena will be spending their holidays in the country after years of spending them abroad.

‘Dito muna sa Pinas. For 10 years, first time. Anak ko, first time niya at all sa Philippines. At least buong buhay ko dito, siya hindi,’ she said.

(We’ll be here in the Philippines. First time in 10 years. My daughter, it’s her first time in the Philippines. At least me I spent my life here, she did not.)

Quinto noted that she has been spending her Christmas abroad even before marrying Magallanes, so it has been a really long time since she felt the Philippines’ holiday spirit.

‘Siguro nga 12 years pa. Matagal din. Kasi bago ko pa matagpuan ang asawa ko, kapag Pasko, umaalis ako talaga kasi ayun lang vacation ko. So ngayon, excited din ako,’ she shared.

(Maybe 12 years. It’s a long time. Because even before my husband and I met, during Christmas, I would really leave because that was my only vacation. So now, I’m excited too.) The ‘Super B’ actress added that while she is considering going to the US for the holidays, she’s afraid that she and her daughter ‘might just feel sad’ given that it’s their first Christmas without her husband.

Magallanes, who was based in the US at the time of his death, was confirmed dead by Quinto on July 31. The actress later shared that her husband died of natural causes.

Meanwhile, to kick off the holiday spirit, Quinto released a Christmas song ‘Ho Ho Ho’ in collaboration with beauty queen Dia Mate. The new single was made to ‘offer listeners a mischievous holiday story with hot girl beats, flirty energy, and festive camp,’ according to an official press release.

Aside from her new single, Quinto also shared that she is set to reunite with director Joyce Bernal for an upcoming comedy film set to be released next year. Quinto and Bernal previously worked on the hit comedy films ‘Booba,’ ‘Masikip sa Dibdib,’ and ‘Super B.’

The Philippines is officially hosting a Women’s Tennis Association tournament in January 2026.

The Philippine Women’s Open has been officially confirmed as part of the WTA 125 calendar for next year. The tournament is set for January 26 to 31 in Manila.

Article It offers a $115,000 purse, with 32 players vying in the singles and 16 seeing action in the doubles division on hard court.

A coordination meeting, led by the Philippine Sports Commission, involving key agencies was held recently, according to the government arm in sports. All eyes are on whether Alex Eala, the country’s top tennis bet, will be suiting up in the first WTA event in Manila. Her participation is unconfirmed yet.

The Australian Open coincides with the Philippine Women’s Open. The first Grand Slam tournament takes place from January 18 to February 1.

Eala had expressed her excitement about the Philippines’ possible hosting of a world-class tennis event.

‘If it were to happen, I would be so, so happy, and it’s just such a milestone for Philippine tennis,’ Eala said in an interview earlier this month.

‘Not just obviously for me but for everybody there because growing up, we never had these kinds of tournaments. As long as I can remember, we didn’t even have a 15K in a professional international tournament, so to come in with a 125 is such a big step, and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come.’

To commemorate National Reading Day (Araw ng Pagbasa) today, November 27, Sen. Loren Legarda renewed her push to further encourage reading among the youth, especially during their formative years.

Legarda said reading, particularly for ages 6 to 12, can help the younger generation develop cognitive skills and strengthen critical thinking.

‘We think that reading should be pushed, especially at a time when the minds of the youth are still forming, because being able to read and understand are crucial skills needed for the rest of their lives,’ Legarda said. ‘Being able to read also makes us more human; it adds a layer of emotion, depth, and empathy that can only be obtained by stimulating the mind,’ she added.

This year’s theme, ‘Tulay ang Pagbasa sa Bukas na Puno ng Pag-asa’ (Reading is the Bridge to a Future Full of Hope), emphasizes the power of reading in bridging generational gaps and fostering understanding among people of all ages.

‘Being able to read and understand well is a critical skill needed for the future so we can have a generation of Filipinos that is discerning, knowledgeable, and responsible for the development of our beloved nation,’ she emphasized.

‘As a knowledgeable nation, our country can flourish to globally competitive levels and uplift many from poverty,’ she continued.

‘This will also help shape policy that will lead the Philippines toward a flourishing and sustainable economy.’

Legarda pushed for the passage of several key pieces of education legislation, such as the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013, the Integrated History Act of 2016, and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, among others.

Minimum wage earners and domestic workers in Eastern Visayas are set to receive an increase in minimum wage starting December 2025, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Thursday.

The DOLE said that the wage increase will cover an estimated 114,126 minimum wage earners and 57,081 domestic workers. This new pay hike will be effective starting December 8, 2025, based on the Wage Orders Nos. RB VIII-25 and RBVIII-DW-06.

All sectors will get a P35 daily wage increase, which will bring the daily minimum wage at P440 (or P11,477 monthly) for the agriculture sector, cottage and handicraft and retail and service establishments with fewer than 10 employees. Meanwhile, the daily minimum wage for non-agriculture sector and retail and service establishments with more than 10 employees will now receive P470 a day, or P12,259 monthly. The domestic workers, or kasambahays, will also receive a monthly increase of P400 for those based in chartered cities and first-class municipalities, which will bring their monthly salary to P6,400. Those who are in other municipalities will get a P300 monthly wage increase, which will raise their monthly pay to P5,800.

The DOLE also said that about ‘162,501 full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage are also expected to indirectly benefit from wage adjustments at the enterprise level in the said region, arising from the correction of wage distortions.’

Meanwhile, the agency noted that retail and service establishments with not more than 10 employees and enterprises affected by calamities can apply for the exemption of the wage increase until February 5, 2026.

It added that barangay micro business enterprises with valid Certificates of Authority from the Department of Trade and Industry are not covered by the minimum wage law.

‘In deciding the amount of minimum wage increases in the region, RTWPB-VII [Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board] balanced the rights of workers to be protected from unduly low pay and of employers to reasonable profits, as well as the overall development objectives of promoting employment and productivity and preventing inflation,’ the DOLE said.

Around 3,000 exhumed remains of people who were mercilessly killed in the drug war during the Duterte administration have yet to be examined, cremated and brought to the cemetery.

Father Alan Bondoc, the spiritual director for Program Paghilom (healing), told the Inquirer that around 3,000 victims of the so-called war on drugs have yet to find their place at the site dedicated for them.

The spot has been dubbed ‘Dambana ng Paghilom’ (shrine of healing) built in May 2024 at the La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan City.

Since then, a total of 116 urns have been placed at the Dambana, including the five additional remains of victims of extrajudicial killings that were transferred in a ceremony held on Thursday.

Bondoc has been leading the psycho-spiritual sessions, where the families and relatives of the victims share their trauma and release their pent-up anger.

‘Through their sharing, they become empowered and mustered enough courage to voice out their stories,’ he said in an interview. ‘That’s why the others are only reporting their story to us. Then, we invite them if they want the [remains] to be transferred.’ Under the program established by Ramon Maysaysay Awardee Father Flaviano ‘Flavie’ Villanueva at the onset of the drug war, the bodies of the EJK victims are exhumed after their initial interment.

The corpses are then autopsied before they are finally cremated so their loved ones can finally mourn their deaths, something they were not allowed to do back when the victims were killed.

Such was the case of Jeremy, a 19-year-old who was killed in 2021 after being suspected to be involved in drug trade.

He went missing for four days before his family learned that he was kidnapped and forced into a van, based on eyewitness accounts, according to his father Bernard.

‘We later found out what happened to him on social media, and later, we weren’t even allowed to enter the mortuary,’ he told the Inquirer.

The police put the official deaths under the anti-narcotics campaign at about 6,000, but human rights watchdogs put the death toll much higher at around 30,000. Duterte has been under the custody of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is held at its facility at the Scheveningen prison in The Hague.

He is facing three counts of murder, under crime against humanity, for allegedly perpetrating a brutal scheme that targeted suspected users and pushers in a nationwide crackdown that purportedly rewarded police officers and hired gunmen for every suspect killed. The transfer of the latest batch of victims to the Dambana comes a day before the ICC Appeals Chamber is slated to hand down its decision on the appeal filed by the Duterte’s camp to reverse an earlier denial of its bid for an interim release.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has reminded private employers that their employees’ 13th-month pay must be paid on or before December 24, 2025.

This is under the Labor Advisory No. 16, Series of 2025, which sets the guidelines for the issuance of the 13th-month pay. ‘The 13th-month pay shall be paid to rank-and-file employees in the private sector regardless of their position, designation, or employment status, and irrespective of the method by which their wages are paid, provided that they have worked for at least one (1) month during the calendar year,’ the advisory read.

The DOLE noted that the 13th-month pay should not be less than 1/12 of the total basic salary in a calendar year.

‘No request or application for exemption from payment of 13th month pay, or for deferment of its payment shall be accepted and allowed,’ DOLE stressed. The agency also added that the computation for the 13th-month pay using the basic salary shall include all remuneration and earnings paid by the employer for services rendered.

However, this does not include other monetary benefits and allowances (such as unused credited leaves, night differential, cost of living allowance), unless stated otherwise by their collective agreement or the company’s policy.

Further, DOLE said that piece-rate workers, or those who are paid based on their production or the amount of work done rather than the time employed, are also entitled to the 13th-month pay. The basis of their payment is the total earning from the production during the year, divided by 12.

Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and the Boston Celtics ended Detroit’s winning streak at a franchise record-tying 13, outlasting Cade Cunningham and the Pistons 117-114 in the NBA on Wednesday night.

The Eastern Conference-leading Pistons squandered a chance to break the record they share with the 1989-90 and 2003-04 championship teams. They are 15-3 two seasons after losing 28 in a row to break the NBA season record.

Derrick White (27 PTS, 6 3PM) credits the TD Garden crowd for their energy tonight in Boston’s W! Brown had 33 points and 10 rebounds, and White scored 11 of his 27 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes to help the Celtics overcome Cunningham’s 42-point night.

With Detroit down 3, Cunningham was fouled near mid-court just as he was about to go up for a 3-pointer. After a review, the officials ruled he was indeed in the act of shooting. Cunningham hit the first two, but missed the third. Payton Pritchard grabbed the rebound for Boston, was fouled and hit two free throws with 2.4 seconds left.

Boston stole a pass before Detroit could attempt a potential tying 3.

Pritchard added 16 points to help the Celtics win for the fifth time in six games.

On Monday, Detroit won at Indiana to match the team record for consecutive victories.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. refuted resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co.’s claims that first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos was involved in agricultural smuggling, and that she had intervened in a congressional inquiry into rising food prices.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Tiu Laurel said the former legislator’s corruption allegations were a ‘fabricated lie.’

Tiu Laurel denied allegations that the first lady had meddled with matters related to the Department of Agriculture (DA), and that his brother, Martin Araneta, had been involved in onion importation or smuggling issues. ‘Netflix series’

‘It’s total baloney. Sinabi ko nga parang scripts sa Netflix series. Talagang ang galing. puwede mo siyang tawaging mananahi e. Ang galing magtahi ng kuwento,’ the DA chief said.

(I even said it’s like scripts from a Netflix series. He’s so good. You can call him a scriptwriter. He’s great at stitching stories together.) The agriculture chief said Co’s ‘tell-all’ videos were to serve his own agenda, rather than an avowed concern for the welfare of the Filipino people and agricultural producers.

‘Zaldy Co, ang masasabi ko sa ‘yo, umuwi ka na. Harapin mo na. Iyan ang panawagan ng mamamayang Pilipino,’ he added.

(Zaldy Co, all I can say to you is, go home. Face the accusations against you. That’s the appeal of the Filipino people.)