Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas did not grant an interview, while QC 6th District Rep. Maria Victoria Co-Pilar managed to elude the press after testifying in yet another closed-door hearing of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

Vargas and Co-Pilar requested an executive session during their testimony on Thursday at the ICI.

According to contractor Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya, Vargas and Co-Pilar allegedly solicited money from his firm after it won a government project bid.

Discaya identified 18 lawmakers who allegedly asked for a cut, and six of them, including Vargas and Co-Pilar, already went to the ICI. Also tagged by Discaya, Caloocan City 3rd District Rep. Dean Asistio, and Quezon City 1st District Rep. Juan Carlos Atayde already appeared before ICI on Tuesday, while Quezon 3rd District Rep. Reynante Arrogancia and Occidental Mindoro Rep. Leody Tarriela also followed suit on Wednesday.

Yielding to mounting pressure from the public and with critics saying it could cast doubt on the commission’s findings, the ICI allowed live streaming of hearings, but with a tricky loophole, as those summoned could still request an executive session.

So far, all six lawmakers have requested their hearings to be a closed-door one

The Quezon City government announced on Thursday that all of the 14 lechon (roasted pigs) establishments that were temporarily closed in La Loma, Quezon City, are already free from African Swine Fever (ASF).

‘The local government is pleased to announce that there is no longer any [ASF] Virus in 14 lechon establishments in La Loma, Quezon City,’ the city’s government unit said in a statement. The local government unit noted that after it issued a temporary closure order on November 13, the establishments conducted daily disinfection for a week, in compliance with the memorandum of the Bureau of Animal Industry.

Aside from the inspection, which was conducted in collaboration with the City Veterinary Department and QC Health Department, the 14 establishments were also directed to comply with the required sanitary, safety and health protocols. The local government added that it ‘will continue to assist entrepreneurs to ensure that all of them follow protocols and maintain the quality of products coming from La Loma.’

On November 13, the 14 establishments in the city’s ‘lechon capital’ were temporarily closed after several pigs tested positive for ASF.

After this, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) recently noted that the ASF cases in La Loma remains an ‘isolated’ case and ‘poses no threat to other markets in the city.’

The DA likewise earlier clarified that the ASF virus cannot be transmitted to humans. /

The Pasay City regional trial court (RTC) has denied the petition of two individuals recently arrested for charges of qualified trafficking in persons and syndicated illegal recruitment.

In the court’s four-page resolution, Pasay City RTC Branch 112 Judge Geoffrey Llarena dismissed the motion of the accused, identified as Jagmohan Singh Tamber and Jayson Panginen Andasan, to post bail for the syndicated illegal recruitment case.

But the RTC granted them to post bail amounting to P250,000 on the charge of qualified trafficking in persons.

‘At this juncture, and without prejudging the merits of the case, the evidence presented thus far supports a strong inference of guilt in Criminal Case No. R-PSY-25-01254-CR (Syndicated Illegal Recruitment) but not in Criminal Case No. R-PSY-25-01253-CR (Qualified Trafficking in Persons),’ the resolution read.

The court’s decision stemmed from the charges filed by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) Mary Joy Lozada and Cristine Ocampo.

Lozaga and Ocampo alleged in their complaints that Tamber and Andasan, along with four others, conspired to offer them employment as domestic helpers or workers in Hong Kong ‘by means of fraud, deception, threat, or other forms of coercion, and by taking advantage of their vulnerability, for the purpose of subjecting them to prostitution and sexual exploitation.’

The four individuals also charged for qualified trafficking in persons and syndicated illegal recruitment were Marie Antonette Lumanlan Ng, John Paul Aguilar Sia, Ma. Teresa Clavaton and Shagopta Bashir Punzalan.

Of the six accused, only Tamber and Andesan have been arrested and placed under the jurisdiction of the Pasay RTC to date, while the four others remain at large.

The penalty for charges against the accused is life imprisonment.

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake jolted Ilocos Norte on Thursday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

It was earlier reported as a magnitude 4.0 earthquake. In its latest update, Phivolcs stated that the tremor, of tectonic origin, occurred at 11:10 a.m.

Its epicenter was detected 7 kilometers northwest of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, with a depth of 22 kilometers.

Varying intensities were reported in the following areas:

Intensity IV-Pasuquin, Burgos, Bangui, Pagudpud, and Vintar, Ilocos Norte

Intensity III-Adams, Bacarra, City of Batac, Dumalneg, City of Laoag, Paoay, and San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte

Intensity II-Marcos, Ilocos Norte; Sinait, Ilocos Sur

Meanwhile, instrumental Intensities were reported in the following areas:

Intensity III-Bacarra, Ilocos Norte

Intensity II-Sinait, Ilocos Sur

Aftershocks and damage to properties are expected from the tremor.

Jamaica’s Gabrielle Henry was allegedly blamed by a Miss Universe staff member for her fall during the pageant’s preliminary competition, as recounted by a fellow candidate.

In an interview with People Magazine, Haiti’s Melissa Sapini claimed that contestants were called together for a meeting after Henry’s fall, during which a staff member allegedly blamed Henry for the incident.

‘I don’t know that they handled that correctly. The first thing he said was it’s because she wasn’t paying attention,’ she was quoted as saying.

‘After he said that, then he was like, ‘Of course, safety is our number one priority,’ this, that. But it’s like, ‘Are you serious?’ That was really scary,’ she continued.

Sapini also confessed that Henry’s hard fall and other ‘little things’ took a toll on her and other fellow candidates throughout the pageant.

‘I’ll never forget it was before [the pageant] – because we had a day in between prelims and finals – just sitting in my room with my roommate. our only downtime, which we did not have a lot of, and I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Is this it?’ We’re looking at each other. We’re looking at these articles, and we’re not even talking,’ she recalled.

‘We’re just looking at each other with our faces drained. And you just see dreams and hopes lost. That’s so sad to me,’ she further shared.

The MUO has yet to confirm Sapini’s claims as of press time.

Henry’s hard fall has led to her withdrawal from the pageant’s coronation night to focus on her recovery. She was taken to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further care and has since been in ‘good health and nearing discharge.’

According to MUO, president Raul Rocha, he personally oversaw Henry’s medical treatments and the organization took charge of funding her and her family’s expenses as a result of the incident.

‘I personally entered the stage to assist her, coordinated urgent medical attention, and oversaw her immediate transfer to the hospital,’ he said. ‘I recommended a series of precautionary actions, some beyond standard protocol. Additional medical specialists were also brought in to provide multiple professional assessments and ensure full clarity regarding her condition.

Documents proving that his area has no projects awarded to companies owned by contractor-couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya have been submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), Quezon City 5th District Rep. Patrick Michael Vargas said.

Vargas, in a statement on Thursday, said he voluntarily appeared before the ICI to provide the body with information that would clarify his alleged involvement in the kickback scheme for infrastructure projects.

Vargas was one of the several House of Representatives lawmakers named by the Discayas during several Senate blue ribbon committee hearings.

According to the Discayas, Vargas and other House members solicited money from their companies after they won contracts for government projects.

‘I voluntarily went to the ICI to fight for the truth. I showed to the ICI documents and other proof that there are no Discaya projects in District 5, and that there are no ghost projects in our district,’ Vargas said.

‘I also gave ICI information that I wish could help the commission in carrying out their mandate,’ he added.

Vargas said he is thankful for the opportunity to clear his name.

‘I thank the ICI for the chance to clarify attempts to damage my reputation and to counter wrong information against me. We will continue to serve Novaliches residents honestly, clearly and for the people’s sake,’ he added.

Vargas and Quezon City 6th District Rep. Maria Victoria Co-Pilar went to the ICI earlier. Vargas declined to give an interview as to why he visited the commission. Last September 8, Curlee Discaya named 17 past and present lawmakers who allegedly got kickbacks after they bagged government contracts:

Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo

Uswag Ilonggo party-list Rep. Jojo Ang

Quezon City Rep. Vargas

Quezon City Rep. Rep. Juan Carlos ‘Arjo’ Atayde

Agap party-list Rep. Nicanor Briones

Marikina Rep. Marcelino Teodoro

San Jose del Monte Rep. Florida Robes

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Madrona

Laguna Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr.

Former An-Waray party-list Rep. Florencio Noel

Quezon Rep. Reynante Arrogancia

Former Quezon City Rep. Marvin Rillo

Occidental Mindoro Rep. Tarriela

Aklan Rep. Teodoro Haresco

Former Zamboanga Sibugay Rep. Antonieta Eudela

Caloocan Rep. Dean Asistio

Quezon City Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar Then, last November 14, during another blue ribbon hearing, Discaya again name-dropped Vargas as one of the House members in his payoff ledger, aside from Romulo, Rillo, Asistio, Co-Pilar and Ang. Last September 8, Madrona and Teodoro separately stated that their districts had no projects implemented by the Discaya-linked companies while they were sitting lawmakers.

The country’s big business and civil society groups have called for mandatory lifestyle checks of all government officials to validate their Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).

In a collective statement on Thursday, the Makati Business Club, Management Association of the Philippines, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, Justice Reform Initiative and Institute for Solidarity in Asia lamented that without rigorous verification, SALNs would remain ‘symbolic records rather than effective tools against corruption.’

‘Lifestyle audits are much easier to do now with accessible digital footprints that show spending patterns, travel, social media activity and ownership of luxury assets of public officials and their family members,’ the groups said. ‘They are essential to uncover if declared wealth aligns with actual living standards.’

They noted that the Constitution (Article XI, Section 17) already mandates every public official, both elected and appointed, to submit a sworn SALN upon assuming office. Republic Act (RA) No. 6713 further extends SALN requirements to spouses and minor children living in the same household and mandates annual updates.

‘The Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act imposes penalties, including disqualification and imprisonment, while the Plunder Law punishes with lifetime imprisonment those who amass ill-gotten wealth of at least P50 million, a low benchmark given what we now know,’ they said. Transparency isn’t sufficient

But while the recent Ombudsman decision restoring public access to SALNs is welcome, the groups said transparency alone was ‘insufficient.’

‘Lifestyle audits enable this legal presumption. Discrepancies uncovered through these checks must trigger immediate, impartial investigations and prosecutions under the Ombudsman’s constitutional mandate,’ they said. The collective also called on the public to remain vigilant and report signs of excessive or unexplained wealth among officials.

‘The corruption we now see, we cannot unsee. We can no longer allow pilferage to prosper under the cover of pretense, political patronage, and public indifference,’ the groups said. /dda

Cote d’Ivoire’s Olivia Yace has yet to issue a statement following Miss Universe Organization (MUO) president Raul Rocha’s claim regarding her alleged weak passport, however, she nonetheless expressed her admiration for Michelle Obama and Oprah for being an inspiration.

Yace, who relinquished her title as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania 2025, has been making headlines after Rocha claimed in a video that her alleged weak passport is one of the reasons behind her loss in the Miss Universe 2025 pageant. This sparked backlash among pageant fans, including Guadeloupe’s Ophely Mezino, who rallied behind the Ivorian beauty queen.

In an Instagram post on Wednesday, November 26, Yace spoke of how Obama and Oprah’s ‘grace, resilience, and wisdom’ helped her become the woman that she is today.

”When they go low, we go high’ @michelleobama. ‘Where there is no struggle, there is no strength’ @oprah. Two women whose grace, resilience, and wisdom have shaped the way I move through the world. Their words remind me every day to rise above, stay rooted in my values, and transform every challenge into strength,’ she said.

The Ivorian beauty queen said she hopes to meet them in the future, while urging her followers to help her in getting her story across to them.

‘I would love to meet them, I want to share my truth with women who have inspired the way I stand, speak, and rise. Family, help me tag Michelle Obama and Oprah so my truth can reach them,’ she said.

Yace, however, has yet to directly respond to Rocha or the MUO, as of this writing.

The Ivorian beauty queen is named as one of the favorites to win the Miss Universe 2025 crown after her strong performance at the coronation night, particularly the question-and-answer segment.

Mexico’s Fatima Bosch is named the reigning titleholder. Despite this, her win has been facing allegations of rigging due to having the same nationality as Rocha, as well as the MUO president’s alleged ties to her father.

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday condemned the killing of a barangay captain in Digos City and vowed to ‘protect the rights’ of all Filipinos to voice out their criticisms.

In a statement, Duterte expressed her condolences to the loved ones and the community left by Oscar ‘Dodong’ Bucol Jr., the barangay captain of Tres de Mayo in Digos City who was shot dead in the middle of his daily Facebook live at the garage of his residence while interviewing a person over a lost and found ID on Tuesday night. ‘Captain Dodong only utilized his right and freedom to speak out against corruption and about politics, and he was silenced with a gun and a bullet,’ said Duterte, whose father’s presidency was also marked by alleged rights abuses and multiple killings and silencing of critics.

The administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, now under the custody of the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, was highly known for its approach on critics by filing criminal charges against them and eventually, sending them behind bars. The vice president said she was firm in protecting one’s right, especially in speaking out and questioning the wrongs of the government.

‘In honoring his memory, we are reminded to uphold our stand to protect the rights and freedoms that have always paved the way for us to speak out, question and participate without fear,’ Duterte said.

After taking a single shot on his body, Bucol was rushed to a hospital in Digos City, but he was eventually declared dead.

Bucol had 300,000 followers on Facebook and has been known in his community for voicing out his hard-hitting criticisms against local politicians and even top police officials in his area.

Both Davao del Sur Gov. Yvonne Cagas and former Gov. Marc Cagas raised a P1 million reward to go after Bucol’s killers and the mastermind behind his death.

The legal counsel of the Bucol family, lawyer Israelito Torreon, said Duterte had offered another P1 million reward that would lead to the killers of the village chief.

‘We are deeply honored to receive the People’s Choice Favorite Brand award, together with six other major recognitions at the 2025 PANAta Awards. These honors are a testament to the unwavering trust of our clients nationwide and the dedication of every Ka-Cebuana who brings our mission to life. Each campaign we deliver is built with purpose-to uplift, support, and empower Filipinos-and it is truly meaningful to see that commitment celebrated on such a prestigious stage,’ said Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier.

‘Every award we earned affirms the impact and intention behind our campaigns-from Pasasalamat to Money Guro, Iponventure, and our Gold Bar initiatives. These wins reflect the power of insight-driven storytelling and purposeful engagement. Being named Brand Building Team of the Year is especially meaningful, as it underscores the strength of collaboration, creativity, and strategic execution in delivering meaningful experiences for our customers,’ added Mike Sena, First Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Cebuana Lhuillier.

Cebuana Lhuillier also earned multiple Bronze Awards for standout work across several marketing disciplines. Its Pasasalamat campaign illustrated excellence in on-ground activation, strengthening grassroots engagement in communities nationwide. Money Guro showcased the company’s leadership in financial literacy education through social media, delivering accessible and engaging content for varied audiences. The Iponventure initiative demonstrated strong corporate communication by inspiring financial resilience and long-term savings among Filipinos. Meanwhile, the Cebuana Lhuillier Gold Bar was recognized for its excellence in creating new markets and driving a successful product launch, reflecting the company’s ability to introduce innovative offerings while building meaningful consumer connections.

Cebuana Lhuillier’s strong performance at the 2025 PANAta Awards reinforces its standing as one of the country’s most trusted and influential brands. As it continues to expand its services and deepen its connection with millions of Filipinos, these recognitions highlight the company’s unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and genuine customer empowerment.