Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

With the former President’s namesake and grandson, Davao City Councilor Rodrigo S. Duterte, taking his oath as vice mayor here before the year ends, supporters of the Duterte political family are floating the name of his aunt, Veronica ‘Kitty’ Duterte, as his possible replacement.

The 21-year-old Kitty is the youngest daughter of the former President.

The acting vice mayor, also known here as Rigo, said that his oath-taking, along with that of his uncle, Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte, would take place towards the end of November or early December this year, prompting the public to ask: Who would fill the council seat that he would vacate?

Rigo is the son of Rep. Paolo Duterte, who is in turn the eldest son of the former President. Davao City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said Kitty would be eligible for the post should the Duterte-led Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (HTL) political party decide to nominate her.

Both Dayanghirang and Councilor Alberto Ungab also cited during a press forum here a provision of the law on succession through political nomination, which says that the appointee to the vacated post should come from the same political party as the councilor who caused the vacancy.

They were referring to HTL, the party that launched Rigo Duterte, who will move up as vice mayor.

Dayanghirang said Kitty had been a member of HTL, a political party chaired by her father. However, her nomination, should it be made, must be decided and endorsed by the party leadership.

If this pushes through, one more Duterte would be added to the helm of the local government here, where the key positions of mayor, vice mayor, congressmen, and even city councilors are held by the Dutertes and their allies.

Ungab, who chairs the city council committees on appointments and government reorganization, said that several committee posts currently held by Rigo Duterte would automatically become vacant once he moved up. ‘Certainly, there will be some changes,’ he said. ‘If the acting vice mayor officially assumes the post, the committees he currently chairs will be vacated.’ He noted, however, that the city council would address it when the time comes.

Ungab said he was not yet aware of the possibility that the former President’s youngest daughter could be a nominee for the vacant seat. Still, he added that when it involved HTL party endorsement, the discussions would be internal.

He added, however, that the mayor would have to approve the party’s recommendation before endorsing it to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The former President, who won as mayor of Davao City in the last elections, has been unable to serve his term, as he is currently detained in The Hague, Netherlands, for crimes against humanity charges filed at the International Criminal Court by families of victims of his administration’s bloody war on drugs.

As a result, his youngest son, Sebastian, who won as vice mayor, would have to take over as mayor, and his grandson, Rigo, who won as the number one councilor, would have to move up as vice mayor. Aside from Vice President Sara Duterte and her brothers Paolo and Sebastian, other Duterte family members in politics include 2nd district Rep. Omar Duterte, who is the son of Paolo, and Paolo’s wife, January Duterte, who holds a seat at the Davao City Council as president of the Association of Barangay Captains.

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.

Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza on Thursday said they are looking into the P30 million donation made by Centerways Construction and Development Inc. President Lawrence Lubiano for the 2022 senatorial bid of Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero. Mendoza, in a press conference at the Department of Justice (DOJ) said the focus of their investigation is the donor’s tax compliance and declared assets to see if they are aligned.

‘He is saying that he donated P30 million. This means he has an asset of P30 million that he gave. So, we will cross-reference this with the tax returns that he filed. If the taxes that he paid are commensurate with that asset,’ Mendoza said.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has declared that there was no violation of the Election Code when Sen. Francis Escudero received the P30-million campaign donation from Lubiano.

But for the BIR, Mendoza said their primary angle of investigation is to determine if the taxes paid by Lubiano are commensurate with the P30 million asset he donated.

Eight Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials linked to an anomalous flood control project in Oriental Mindoro pleaded not guilty to their graft charge before the Sandiganbayan.

The eight DPWH – Mimaropa officials currently under the government’s custody entered their plea as the charges were read to them during their arraignment before the anti-graft court’s Seventh Division on Thursday.

Below is the list of officials who pleaded not guilty:

OIC-Chief, DPWH 4B Quality Assurance and Hydrology Division; Regular Member, Bidding and Awards Committee (now OIC-Chief, Planning and Design Division) Dennis Pelo Abagon

Department of Public Works and Highways Mimaropa (DPWH 4B) Regional Director Gerald A. Pacanan

Assistant Regional Director (now Director of DPWH Bureau of Maintenance) Gene Ryan Alurin Altea

Assistant Regional Director Ruben delos Santos Santos Jr.

Chief, DPWH 4B Construction Division Dominic Gregorio Serrano

Project Engineer III Felisardo Sevare Casuno

DPWH 4B Bidding and Awards Committee Account IV Lerma Dotado Cayco

DPWH 4B Planning and Design Division officer-in-charge Engr. Montrexis Tamayo.

During the arraignment, the anti-graft court revealed that DPWH-4B maintenance division head Juliet Calvo was not present and will be arraigned on December 2. She is currently detained in Camp Karingal.

The proposed 2026 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) breezed through the Senate’s plenary on Thursday, gaining approval in less than five minutes.

The OVP budget was immediately approved, with no questions asked, in view of parliamentary courtesy given to a co-equal branch of the government.

It was Sen. JV Ejercito who made the motion. No objections were made upon Ejercito’s move.

But prior approval of the budget, known-Duterte ally Sen. Robinhood Padilla stood up to manifest his support for the OVP’s proposed funding.

‘Ako po ay natutuwa sapagkat dito sa ating bulwagan ay atin pong hindi binawasan ang budget ng ating Pangalawang Pangulo bagkus ay dinagdagan. Sapagkat alam niyo po, sa akin pong karanasan sa tuwing may darating na kalamidad, kalungkutan, kamatayan [ay] nandyan po lagi ang ating Pangalawang Pangulo upang makiramay, tumulong-kahit saan pong lupalop sa Pilipinas makikita po natin ang opisina ng pangalawang Pangulo,’

(I am pleased because here in our chamber, we did not reduce the budget of our Vice President; instead, we increased it. Because, as you know, in my experience, whenever calamities, sorrow, or death occur, our Vice President is always there to offer condolences and help-wherever in the Philippines you may be, you will see the office of the Vice President present)

‘Ako po ay masaya at nagpapasalamat sa ating mga kasama. Maraming salamat po at hindi po nagmula sa ating bulwagan ang pang-iipit sa ating pangalawang Pangulo,’ he added.

(I am happy and grateful to our colleagues. Thank you very much, and I am glad that the constraint or pressure against our Vice President did not come from this chamber)

The proposed 2026 budget of OVP amounts to P889 million. It can be recalled, however, that the House of Representatives has already passed a reduced budget of P733.2 million.

Vice President Sara Duterte personally attended the Senate’s session when her office’s budget was presented.

‘Next year na’

Shortly after the presentation of the budget in the plenary session, Duterte herself faced the media for a press conference. She, however, refused to answer media queries and opted to dodge political questions.

‘Thank you, next year na,’ she simply told reporters when she was asked to comment on resigned Zaldy Co’s statements supposedly linking President Bongbong Marcos to the anomalous flood control scandal.

This was also her answer when she was pressed to disclose whether or not her readiness to become Marcos’s successor as president was a political destabilization.

Instead of addressing media queries, Duterte wished the media a merry Christmas and a happy new year. ‘And I wish you good health in the year 2026. We’d like to thank the Senate of the Philippines for approving the OVP year 2026 budget,’ she said.

Following the recent official trip of the Philippine Fleet (PF) delegation to Yokosuka, Japan, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) destroyer arrived at the Naval Operating Base here for a three-day goodwill visit.

In a statement on Thursday, the PF said the arrival of JS Harusame (DD102) on Wednesday (Nov. 26) further strengthens navy-to-navy ties with the JMSDF. READ: PH, US and Japan end fresh exercisesDestroyer Commander Makoto Ozawa, together with Assistant Defense Attaché Cdr. Kawahata Noriyuki and two other JMSDF officers paid a courtesy call on Rear Admiral Joe Anthony Orbe. Both navies discussed their engagement last August, as well as Orbe’s recent visit to Yokosuka, in preparation for the official PF-JMSDF staff-to-staff talks to be held in the Philippines

Orbe assured the visiting JMSDF delegates of the Fleet’s readiness to provide any assistance they may require, while both sides exchanged insights based on their experiences as ship commanding officers, the statement added.

As part of the visit, Orbe and his staff toured the JMSDF destroyer to familiarize themselves with the vessel’s equipment and technology, promoting knowledge-sharing and enhancing mutual appreciation of each other’s maritime assets and operational procedures.

The visit will conclude with a send-off ceremony on Saturday, marking the completion of the goodwill engagement and reaffirming the enduring ties between the PN and the JMSDF./coa

The Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature marked its 73rd year of honoring Filipino writers with an awarding ceremony on Nov. 26 that recognized 54 winners across various categories.

Among this year’s esteemed judges in the country’s longest-running literary competition was Philippine Daily Inquirer Executive Editor Voltaire Contreras, who evaluated submissions in the Kabataan Essay and Kabataan Sanaysay categories.

From a historic high of 2,359 entries across all divisions, 57 judges narrowed the field to 58 winning works by 54 authors, who took home the highly coveted distinction.

Criselda ‘Dang’ Cecilio-Palanca highlighted the need to draw on creativity and fresh imagination ‘to forge literature that keeps in step with the times.’

‘And we must remain confident that it remains as progressive as heroic efforts to do battle with the illusions and conflicts and complexities that lie ahead,’ Cecilio-Palanca said during the ceremony in Makati City.

Professor Emeritus Dr. Ruth Elynia Mabanglo, a poet, playwright, translator, and educator whose award-winning works have uplifted women’s voices and social justice, graced the evening as guest of honor.

Established in 1951, the Palanca Awards is named after businessman and philanthropist Don Carlos Palanca Sr. and is aimed at promoting education and culture in the country.

Following is the list of winners:

Kabataan Sanaysay

First prize – Joshua Manio – ‘Tamang Pagluto ng Sinigang’

Second prize – Jhanna Louise Amado – ‘Enter Prompt: Ma, Sorry Po!’

Third prize – Euna Oraiz – ‘Suki Ako ng Pagod’

Kabataan Essay:

First prize – John Carl Guardian – ‘The Salt Sermon’

Second prize – Charisse Mae Gonzalo – ‘Everything is Made Up’

Third prize – Celestin Nicole Facistol – ‘Ctrl + V? No Thanks’

Maikling Kwento

First prize – Lee Joseph Castel – ‘Isang Kahong Cassette Tapes’

Second prize – Gilbert Baldoza – ‘Myra, Aso’

Third prize – Ronaldo Vivo Jr. – ‘Ang llusyon sa Kulay ng Ating Budhi’

Maikling Kwentong Pambata

First prize – Elyrah Loyola Salanga-Torralba – ‘Ginoong Buwan’

Second prize – Genaro Gojo Cruz – ‘Problema Ko Si Nanay’

Third prize – Dawn Gabriela Emmanuele Dela Rosa – ‘Si Tala Sa Mahiwagang Pila Ng Jeep’

Sanaysay

First prize – John Brixter Tino – ‘Ari’

Second prize – Filliffe Rae Anthonie Anorico – ‘Si Richard Gappi at Ako’

Third prize – Angela Cabanes – ‘Ang Apat Kong Ina’

Tula

First prize – Ronald Atilano – ‘Paghimbing sa Templo’

Second prize – Alvin Ursua – ‘Guho’

Third prize – Karl Isaac Santos – ‘Doomsaying’

Tula Para Sa Mga Bata

First prize – Christopher Rosales – ‘Mga Minatamis na Taludtod’

Second prize – Genaro Gojo Cruz – ‘Unang Tibok ng Pusong Musmos’

Third prize – Klara Domagtoy Espedido – ‘Ang Salita ay Isang Ugat’

Dulang May Isang Yugto

First prize – Aldrine Anzures – ‘Anino ng Pagtubos’

Second prize – Dustin Edward Celestino – ‘Elehiya’

Third prize – Rochelle Dinglasan – ‘Dantay sa Patay’

Dulang Ganap ang Haba

First prize – No winner

Second prize – No winner

Third prize – Dustin Edward Celestino – ‘A.NI.MAL’

Dulang Pampelikula

First prize – Christopher Cabahug – ‘Ang Birheng Ipinagkanulo’

Second prize – Rodolfo Vera – ‘Watsonville’

Third prize – Arjanmar Rebeta – ‘Mga Kalapating Matayog ang Lipad’

Short Story – Cebuano

First prize – Jose Alenogene Limpangog – ‘Ang Kataposang Bato sa Isla Pangaea’

Second prize – CD Borden – ‘Unglo’

Third prize – Kenjiro Mitsui – ‘Samin’

Short Story – Hiligaynon

First prize – Keft Sina-On Sobredo – ‘Anaw’

Second prize – Rex Menard Cervales – ‘Binakol’

Third prize – Al Jeffrey Gonzales – ‘Bagat’

Short Story – Ilokano

First prize – Freddie Masuli – ‘Ni Inang Cion ken ti Panagur-urayna’

Second prize – Lito Hilidon – ‘Ti Bannuar Ti Bario Tabueng’

Third prize – Prudencio Padios – ‘Fireplace’

Short Story

First prize – Al Ryanne Gatcho – ‘Goat’

Second prize – Enrico Miguel Perez – ‘Golgotha’

Third prize – Christopher Gabriel – ‘Milked For Milk’

Short Story For Children

First prize – John Bryan Balolong – ‘Captain Crayon and the Doodle Pirates’

Second prize – Manuelita Contreras-Cabrera – ‘That’s What I Said’

Third prize – Bryan Mari Argos – ‘Kapid’

Essay

First prize – Joan Saga-Oc – ‘Echoes of Life in a Kalinga Village: Past and Present’

Second prize – Catherine Babao – ‘The Cemetery Playlist’

Third prize – Mark Alden Arcenal – ‘Autoethnography of a Hermit Crab’

Poetry

First prize – Jan Dennis Destajo – ‘Translocation’

Second prize – Alfonso Manalastas – ‘Strange, Black Silhouettes’

Third prize – Ryan Paul Caidic – ‘Exodus 15’

Poetry Written for Children

First prize – Cyne Jarvis Zarceno – ‘All The Worlds I Know’

Second prize – Junard Duterte – ‘Wonders In The Whirlwind: Poems to Make You Think, Dream, and Do’

Third prize – Salvacion D. Tandoc – ‘Words That Wiggle and Dance’

One-Act Play

First prize – Russell Stanley Geronimo – ‘Repatriation’

Second prize – Nicolo Ricardo Magno – ‘The Field of Forgotten Dreams’

Third prize – Debbie Ann Tan – ‘One-Winged Butterfly’

Full-Length Play

First prize – Dustin Edward Celestino – ‘Fidelity’

Second prize – Rafael Paolo Jimenez – ‘LVNA’

Third prize – Salvacion Tandoc – ‘The President’s Therapist’

Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 27 points, Jaylen Wells added 25 and the Memphis Grizzlies outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans 133-128 in overtime Wednesday night in NBA Cup play.

Zach Edey had 21 points, 15 rebounds and two blocked shots for the Memphis, which improved to 2-1 in West Group B, while the Pelicans completed in-season tournament play at 0-4. The Grizzlies outscored New Orleans by 39 points during the 35 minutes Edey was on the court. Jose Alvarado scored 24 for the Pelicans, who dominated when Edey was on the bench. They went up by 17 in the first half and led for most of regulation. Saddiq Bey had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Zion Williamson scored 17 for New Orleans, which snapped a nine-game skid on Monday night.

After Alvarado’s sixth 3-pointer tied the score at 128 late in overtime, Jackson found Wells behind the New Orleans defense for a dunk that gave the Grizzlies the lead for good. Jose Alvarado scored 24 for the Pelicans, who dominated when Edey was on the bench. They went up by 17 in the first half and led for most of regulation. Saddiq Bey had 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Zion Williamson scored 17 for New Orleans, which snapped a nine-game skid on Monday night.

After Alvarado’s sixth 3-pointer tied the score at 128 late in overtime, Jackson found Wells behind the New Orleans defense for a dunk that gave the Grizzlies the lead for good. New Orleans had three more possessions, but Williamson turned the ball over on one and missed a 3 late in the shot clock on another. Alvarado could not connect with Williamson on an inbounds pass in the final seconds.

The Grizzlies were on the brink of winning in regulation, but Williamson hit a difficult driving scoop off the glass with 0.9 seconds left to tie it at 122.

Alvarado hit four 3s and scored 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting in his first 12 minutes on the court, helping the Pelicans take a 68-53 lead at halftime.

Memphis opened the third quarter on a 13-2 run that included two 3s by Wells and one by Jackson. The Grizzlies hit six of eight 3s in the period.

The Pelicans responded by hitting seven of their next 10 from deep – three by Jordan Hawkins and two by Bey.

That helped the Pelicans maintain their lead into the fourth quarter, when neither team led by more than nine.

Seeing her teammates’ hard work to reach the PVL Finals is fuel for Anna DeBeer to deliver a dream championship for the ZUS Coffee Thunderbelles.

DeBeer dropped 30 points in straight sets as ZUS Coffee ousted two-time champion PLDT, 25-22, 28-26, 25-22, and set a winner-take-all Reinforced Conference championship game against Petro Gazz at Smart Araneta Coliseum. ‘Just seeing how much it means to them just makes it mean so much more to me,’ said DeBeer on Thursday.

‘Seeing their emotion and all the work they’ve put in over the years and to know this is the first time for this program and first time for me being here. Just not really knowing what to expect coming in, but seeing how far we’ve come from the very beginning. And this whole season we’ve worked so hard to get here and it’s finally paying off.’

Despite being the leader of ZUS Coffee in her first overseas stint, DeBeer attributed their success to her teammates.

WATCH: Anna DeBeer after leading ZUS Coffee to the finals. #PVL2025 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/1HRS1UH1A1

– INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) November 27, 2025

‘I think it’s really awesome at times, but I have everyone around me who does so much that can sometimes go unnoticed. And I just want to give them credit because the middles are holding the blocks to allow me to be able to score one-on-one,’ she said. ‘There’s just so much that goes on behind the scenes that a lot of people don’t see all the time. So I totally give credit to the teammates for passing, setting, and all-around. It allows me to be able to do what I can.’ Interestingly, DeBeer faced Petro Gazz import Lindsey Vander Weide in the Major League Volleyball finals this year with her team, Indy Ignite, losing to the latter’s Orlando Valkyries.

‘It would be awesome. I honestly didn’t think about that. We just played each other months ago. It will be fun to battle it out against her on Sunday,’ said DeBeer. With a chance to win the title, DeBeer vows to keep anchoring the Thunderbelles.

‘The stakes obviously get higher each time. And the pressure is going to get more and more intense as we get into the finals. And it can go either way. Everyone is good. And I know Petro Gazz is really good,’ she said. ‘So I think just a few steps up in those moments. And I love those high-pressure moments. So I’m really looking forward to it.’

The Philippines’ bet Myrna Esguerra has clinched a spot in global pageant observer Missosology’s final hot picks for Miss International 2025, strengthening hopes for the country’s long-awaited seventh crown.

Ahead of tonight’s final gala in Tokyo, Japan, Missosology ranked Esguerra fifth in its final list released on Thursday morning, Nov. 27, placing her among the top contenders for the crown.

Leading the prediction list is Colombia in first place, followed by the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Spain. After the Philippines, rounding out the top 10 are Canada, the Netherlands, India, Angola, and Myanmar.

Also included in Missosology’s Top 20 are Nicaragua, France, Zimbabwe, Brazil, El Salvador, the United States, Mexico, Peru, New Zealand, and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Australia, Bolivia, Ecuador, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela were noted as ‘bubbling up’ contenders.

Esguerra, this year’s Binibining Pilipinas International titleholder, represented the province of Abra in the national pageant. She is set to carry the country’s colors in the global tilt, where 80 candidates are vying for the prestigious title.

The 24-year-old beauty queen is hoping to secure the Philippines’ seventh Miss International crown, following Gemma Cruz, Aurora Pijuan, Melanie Marquez, Precious Lara Quigaman, Bea Rose Santiago, and Kylie Verzosa.

The 2025 Miss International pageant will stage its final gala at the Yoyogi National Stadium’s 2nd Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday evening. This year’s delegates aim to succeed reigning queen Huynh Thi Thanh Thuy, Vietnam’s first Miss International winner.