Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

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.)

As the year draws to a close, I normally present my fearless forecast for the coming year. Yet tectonic shifts in the global geopolitical balance of power compel me to frame this year’s outlook not as fearless but fearful.

Foremost among these changes is the long-anticipated transition from a unipolar world-dominated by the United States since the end of World War II-to a multipolar order. This new landscape is shaped by rising economic powers that, though less militarized, are steadily approaching parity with the US and its G7 allies, particularly the former empires of the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

The defining feature of this multipolar world is the ascent of China and the continued evolution of BRICS, the bloc originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

China’s rise has been spectacular and shows little sign of slowing.

China’s manufacturing sector accounts for roughly 26 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), driving employment, innovation, and export revenues. On the global stage, its dominance is even more striking: China contributes about 30 percent of worldwide manufacturing value-added and has held the title of the world’s largest manufacturing powerhouse for 15 consecutive years.

Beyond manufacturing, China supplies 70 percent of the rare earth minerals essential to modern technology, including advanced weaponry. It leads the world in renewable energy production, particularly solar panels, electric vehicles, and is rapidly advancing toward dominance in artificial intelligence, microchip technology, and nuclear energy. Lesser known to most, but of crucial importance, is the fact that China graduates more engineers than the US and Europe combined.

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.

Clamors for justice rang out in the coastal village of Balibago in Masantol, Pampanga, on Wednesday, following the ambush that killed barangay captain Jinqui Quiambao on Tuesday.

‘My brother did not deserve this senseless death. It’s as if the whole village had been orphaned after losing a selfless leader. He was the type who would give up his own food even if he was about to eat it,’ a crying Severino Atienza, Quiambao’s eldest sister, told the Inquirer by phone. Quiambao, 39, was widowed three years ago when his wife died of an illness, leaving him childless, she said.

A car mechanic by trade, he ran for barangay captain for the first time and won. Quiambao also supported the congressional run of former Patrol Party-list Rep. Jay Bustos.

According to police, he was alighting from his service vehicle when the suspects opened fire. He sustained seven gunshot wounds-four to his upper body, two to his legs, and one to his neck, Pampanga police director Col. Eugene Marcelo said.

Lead

Marcelo added that the Masantol police had identified an initial lead on the two gunmen but declined to give further details.

Among the four other barangay captains riding in the same van, Barangay Nigui Captain Enrique Yamat was wounded in the hand and required surgery.

The group had attended the birthday celebration of Masantol Mayor Danilo Guintu at the town proper, and the village executives were on the way home, as they all led the villages along the left bank of the Pampanga River.

On Wednesday morning, hundreds of Balibago residents filled Quiambao’s compound, waiting for his remains to arrive for the wake, Councilor Bajun Lacap said.

‘He was well-loved because he took care of his people, always finding resources even with limited means,’ Lacap said. ‘Many were mourning, and some were crying.’

The Liga ng mga Barangay in the province condemned the killing.

‘This is a brazen act. We live in a society governed by laws, and no one should take justice into their own hands. We stand in solidarity with the bereaved family and join them in mourning their loss,’ the league’s provincial head, Dr. Benjamin Angeles, said in a statement sent to the Inquirer. In a social media post, Guintu urged villagers on the left bank to ‘stay calm and vigilant,’ assuring them that the police investigation was ‘serious and thorough.’

‘The DICT (Department of Information and Communications Technology) upholds integrity amid noise and disinformation.’

DICT Secretary Henry Aguda, said this on Thursday after resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co recently claimed that the DICT was among the list of agencies that allegedly received over P18.7 billion from the supposed P100 billion worth of insertions made in the 2025 national budget.

Co, who previously headed the House appropriations committee, publicized last week a list of alleged insertions, showing that P5 billion of the supposed insertions went to the DICT’s Free Public Internet Access Program, and P1.5 billion was allotted for its eGovernment Systems Development.

According to Aguda, the allegations of Co against the DICT are ‘unfounded’ or without basis.

‘Often, this noise comes from vested interests that have been affected by reforms aimed at cleaning up and fixing the system,’ Aguda emphasized in a statement.

‘At DICT, our mandate is clear: to serve the people and ensure that every Filipino has safe, fast, and reliable digital services. Every day, that is what our officers and staff uphold,’ he noted. Aguda said the DICT will not be affected by the accusations and will instead continue to provide services to Filipinos.

‘We know that when we do the right thing, some will be hurt and some will oppose. Some will try to sabotage to protect their own agendas. That’s how it is when change is real,’ said Aguda.

‘But despite everything, the DICT public servants will remain steadfast. We will not be affected. We will not be swayed. We only have one side in mind, the interest of the Filipino people,’ he added. ‘To the public: thank you very much for your continued trust. In the face of any challenge or sabotage, our promise remains simple, clear, and direct: We will do the right thing. We will do the job. And we will do it for you,’ the DICT chief furthered.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara thanked major business and education groups on Thursday for reaffirming their confidence in the current DepEd leadership, saying their recognition of the Department’s commitment to transparency, data-driven policymaking, and collaboration strengthens efforts to advance key reforms under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s education agenda.

Angara said the renewed show of support follows the groups’ joint endorsement of the proposed P1.38-trillion allocation for the education sector in the 2026 national budget.

The Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), Makati Business Club (MBC), Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines (COCOPEA), and the Association of Foundations noted that sustained confidence in Angara’s reform is crucial to ensuring that increased investments yield meaningful improvements for learners, teachers, and schools. ‘We reiterate our confidence in Sec. Sonny Angara and the current team of DepEd, whose commitment to transparency, data-driven policymaking, and collaboration provides the stability needed to advance key reforms,’ the joint statement said.

The Department, which received PhP1.044 trillion budget in the Senate version of the General Appropriations Bill, also echoes the private sector’s call to move education spending closer to global benchmarks while ensuring stricter transparency and accountability in the bicameral conference committee deliberations.

‘The direction set by President Marcos to invest strongly in human capital provides us with the foundation to push reforms that matter,’ Angara said. ‘Our commitment is to ensure that every peso is used effectively and that learners, teachers, and parents feel the impact in their classrooms and communities.’

DepEd said it shares these priorities, noting that recent internal reforms-such as the launch of the DepEd Open Data (Project BUKAS) initiative, accelerated and flexible classroom procurement reforms, and the shift to evidence-based policy design-were all designed to improve transparency and implementation discipline.

Angara also highlighted that his leadership has placed greater emphasis on partnerships with the private sector and development organizations. Since his appointment as Secretary, DepEd has expanded collaborations on teacher upskilling, digital learning support, curriculum enhancement, and learning remediation.

These include initiatives with the business community, philanthropic groups, publishers, and international partners such as UNICEF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), UNESCO, USAID, and SEAMEO-INNOTECH to complement government efforts.

‘These partnerships help us rebuild confidence in the public school system,’ Angara said. ‘They bring expertise, innovation, and accountability into the work of improving learning outcomes.’

He added that the trust expressed by the country’s leading business and education institutions is a clear indication that the sector is moving toward a more stable, data-driven, and collaborative reform environment.

Officials have raised a P2 million reward for those who can provide information leading to the arrest of the killers and mastermind of a village official here whose killing was captured on Facebook live Tuesday night.

Barely a day after the killing of Oscar ‘Dodong’ Bucol, chairperson of Barangay Tres de Mayo here, Davao del Sur Gov. Yvonne Cagas and former Gov. Marc Cagas raised a P1 million reward to track down not only his killers but also the mastermind.

The barangay captain, a loyal follower of Cagas, was killed inside the garage of his house while interviewing on FB Live a person who turned over a lost and found ID at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday. Another P1 million reward is being offered by Vice President Sara Duterte for information that would lead to the arrest of the killers, said Lawyer Israelito Torreon, legal counsel of the Bucol family and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). Torreon said Bucol also served as the provincial chair of PDP Laban after he was chosen by PDP members and leaders of Davao del Sur for the post.

‘The killers could not move without the one ordering them, so we are also after the mastermind,’ former Gov. Marc Cagas told the Inquirer by phone.

This developed as Police Brig. General Leon Victor Rosete, director of Police Regional Office 11, announced in a press conference at the Provincial Capitol here the relief of Lt. Col. Peter Glenn Ipong, acting police chief of Digos City, who was tagged among the ‘persons of interest’ in Bucol’s killing.

The video of Bucol’s killing went viral as it showed him speaking before his phone camera when the first shot rang out, and his cry of pain was heard soon after. The video also showed the wounded barangay captain straying on camera, one of his arms bloodied, and the other holding the part of his body that was hit by a bullet.

He was rushed to a private hospital in Digos City, where attending physicians had already declared him dead.

Cagas described Bucol as a cheerful person who loved to help people and did not deserve his fate.

In fact, he said, Bucol just delivered some relief goods to the typhoon-hit Cebu province and had spent three to five days travelling by land.

But the village official, a close ally of former Gov. Cagas, also earned a reputation as a hard-hitting village chief, using his FB page as a platform. Before the attack, the village official had criticized local politicians, including the town’s chief of police.

As we enter the season of Advent-the first under our new pope, Pope Leo XIV-let us take a moment to reflect on the recent teachings of the Church regarding the world today.

When a cardinal is elected pope, he chooses a papal name that signals his mission. That name hints at the direction he intends to lead the Catholic Church, as well as the issues he believes the institution must confront.

In this case, Robert Francis Prevost, with American and Peruvian heritage, chose the name Leo, last held by Pope Leo XIII.

During his pontificate at the turn of the 20th century, Leo XIII championed the rights of workers at a time when the industrial revolution had produced what he described as ‘dehumanizing living conditions for the worker.’

It was Leo XIII who issued the encyclical ‘Rerum Novarum,’ or ‘Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor,’ which sought a middle path between socialism and capitalism. Through this landmark document, he placed the weight of the Catholic Church behind the right to a living wage-one that allows workers to improve their conditions over time. He affirmed both workers’ rights to form unions and capitalists’ rights to private property.

Far-reaching influence

The influence of Rerum Novarum was far-reaching. My friend, the literary critic Jonathan Chua, notes that ‘before World War II, social action at the Ateneo de Manila drew on two papal encyclicals: Pope Leo’s Rerum Novarum (1891) and Pope Pius’ Quadragesimo Anno (1931).’ The latter served as an extension and reaffirmation of Leo XIII’s teachings amid a changing political landscape.

By choosing the name Leo, Prevost signals that he understands both his role and that of the Church as guiding the faithful through another era of transformative technological change.

In his first address to the College of Cardinals after his election in May, Pope Leo said, ‘In our own day, the church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor.’ True to this mission, Pope Leo has repeatedly reflected on AI across a range of settings. ‘There is no doubt that technological development has brought, and continues to bring, significant benefits to humanity, particularly in the fields of medicine and health,’ he said to an audience of doctors and bioethicists at the 2025 Congress of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

‘[But] in order to ensure true progress, it is imperative that human dignity and the common good remain resolute priorities for all, both individuals and public entities. Given the vast economic interests often at stake in the fields of medicine and technology, and the subsequent fight for control, it is essential to promote a broad collaboration among all those working in health care and politics that extends well beyond national borders.’ Call for prudence

He also spoke with American high school students at the National Catholic Youth Conference. In response to a question from a student about how best to use ChatGPT, the Pope responded: ‘Use it in such a way that if it disappeared tomorrow, you would still know how to create, how to act on your own, how to form authentic friendships. Remember, AI can never replace the unique gift that you are to the world.

‘AI will not judge between what is truly right and wrong. And it won’t stand in wonder, in authentic wonder, before the beauty, the beauty of God’s creation. So be prudent. Be wise. Be careful that your use of AI does not limit your true human growth. ‘Using AI responsibly means using it in ways that help you grow, never in ways that distract you from your dignity or your call to holiness. AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence-and don’t ask it to do your homework for you!’

These are words we can convey to our students, our children, and can take to heart ourselves.

Perpetual Help became the first team to reach the NCAA Season 101 men’s basketball semifinals on Thursday after an 81-74 win over Jose Rizal University at Mall of Asia Arena.

The Altas, the top seed in Group A after finishing the eliminations at 9-4, made the most of their twice-to-beat advantage and sent the Heavy Bombers out of the quarterfinals. ‘I’m really trying to make the right read every time CoachOlsen (Racela) wants for us to take the high percentage shots,’ Perpetual star Patrick Sleat said.

Mark Gojo Cruz again led Perpetual with 23 points, two rebounds and two assists. Sleat added a double-double of 14 points and 10 assists with six rebounds. JRU, which had to survive a play-in for fourth two days earlier against Emilio Aguinaldo College, saw its Season 101 campaign end despite 18 points from Sean Salvador. Allen Laurenaria posted 16 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.

The Heavy Bombers finished with a 6-8 record.

The Altas now await the winner of the Arellano-Letran quarterfinal series, which goes to a rubber match on Friday at San Juan Arena.

‘Whatever we’re doing, it’s not enough. We have to add more to our games and put in the extra effort. We also have to grow, not just as individuals but as a team,’ Sleat said.

One becomes a full-fledged grown-up only after a parent dies. This happens no matter how old we already are when one of our parents passes on to the afterlife. Gone are the unrestrained counsel dispensed as reprimands by an ascendant who pays no heed to a descendant’s title, power, or possessions. Gone is the fallback for shelter, money, and advice, when turbulent storms upend our lives. Gone is one of our most ardent fans, who feels most proud during milestones in our lives.

For as long as our forebears are alive, we will always be children in their eyes. We will forever feel like kids in their presence. There may still be a remaining parent who survives in our midst, but without the other, the four-legged chair that has provided support and comfort in our lives would precariously stand on two legs.

My father breathed his last at the ripe age of 87 on Nov. 20. He left behind my 84-year-old mother, his five children, four children-in-law, and 11 grandchildren.

Our father put into practice his agriculture degree by cultivating our modest farm. Our mother served as a public school teacher at the local elementary school that her children attended. Despite our parents’ diligence and industry, they struggled to provide for our needs as a family. As children, we didn’t have the luxuries enjoyed by many of our cousins. Instead, my two brothers and I were exposed to the sun and the elements when we helped our father and our grandfather with farm chores, while our two sisters assisted our mother at home. As the eldest, I personally experienced the kind of hard labor required in the planting, harvesting, and drying of rice and corn. Looking back, the difficulties our father exposed us to have equipped us with grit and determination, which have proved to be the most valuable of all the lessons we gained in life.