Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Seven passengers were killed when a 10-wheeler truck rammed a UV Express van along the national highway, particularly at the intersection of Barangay Libod in this town on Wednesday, authorities said.

Based on CCTV footage obtained by the Inquirer through the Philippine National Police via Issa Llegado, the truck was seen traveling at high speed before the driver appeared to lose control and crash into the van, which was heading toward Legazpi City.

The impact sent both vehicles plunging near a river, with the truck landing on top of the van that was carrying 14 passengers.

The van was crushed almost flat, making rescue and retrieval operations difficult for personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and other responders who worked for hours to extricate eight passengers pinned inside.

‘The operation took time due to the weight of the truck and how it pinned the van,’ said Fire Supt. Jeck Miraflor, BFP Albay director, who supervised the rescue and retrieval operations.

In a Viber message to the Inquirer, Police Col. Noel Nuñez, Albay police chief, said the UV Express was traveling from Guinobatan to Camalig when the truck driver, Recson Zamora, allegedly lost control of his vehicle while heading in the opposite direction toward Guinobatan and slammed into the van.

Nuñez said police are continuing their investigation into the incident

Miss Universe 2025 Fatima Bosch lamented the hate she has been receiving since she won the pageant, but declared that it will not break her as her ‘values and self-esteem are strong.’

The newly-crowned beauty queen spoke through a statement released on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, Nov. 25.

Prior to sharing her statement, Bosch showed screenshots of the hate messages sent to her online, with some even including profanity and death wishes.

‘What must be in a person’s heart to wish harm on someone they don’t even know? Thank God my values and self-esteem are strong, and this won’t break me,’ she said in Spanish.

Bosch nonetheless acknowledged that while she is strong, these attacks could hurt other people and affect their mental and emotional stability.

‘Today I want to raise my voice not as a beauty queen, but as a woman. In recent days, I’ve received insults, attacks, and even death threats for one reason only: because I won. Because a woman with dreams, preparation, and heart decided to stand up and fight for what she loves,’ she wrote.

‘And although these attacks hurt, they don’t define me,’ she added.

Then addressing those who ‘fabricated slander’ against her, she continued, ‘My victory is not a threat. I will not back down, I will not hide, and I will not ask permission to shine. Because when a woman stands firm in the face of hatred, she paves the way for thousands more.’

Bosch also gave a message to all women who share the same experience as her, saying she will use her voice to defend and speak for them.

‘Because violence will never prevail against a woman who knows her worth. My voice will not be silenced,’ she said. ‘There is much work to be done, and my commitment is and will continue to be to use this crown for good.’ In a separate post, the Mexican beauty queen showed photos of herself wearing her crown, adding the caption, ‘What God knows about you is more important than what others think about you. God knows your heart.’

Bosch’s Miss Universe victory has been hounded by controversies after French-Lebanese musician Omar Harfouch, who said he resigned as the tilt’s judge, claimed that the competition was rigged.

Harfouch even suggested that the beauty queen and Miss Universe Organization head Raul Rocha allagedly had a personal relationship.

Rocha denied the rigged claims, even noting that ‘no judge resigned.’ He also announced that legal action will be made against an ‘opportunist’ musician whom he did not immediately name. /edv

Tiu family-led Repower Energy Development Corp. (REDC) has begun testing and commissioning its 18.2-megawatt (MW) run-of-river hydropower facility in Bukidnon, its first operating plant in Mindanao.

In a disclosure on Wednesday, REDC said its wholly owned subsidiary, Cabanglasan Hydropower Corp., had switched on the plant located along the border of Valencia City and San Fernando, Bukidnon.

The project forms part of the company’s expansion in renewable energy development across the country.

The P4-billion facility sits along the Pulangi River. It has engaged more than 900 construction personnel throughout its round-the-clock build.

Once it reaches commercial operations, the plant is expected to generate an average of 130 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually-enough to supply over 54,000 households in the province with clean power, according to REDC.

IPO funds

The company likewise noted that a significant portion of the proceeds from its 2023 initial public offering (IPO) had been allocated to the Bukidnon project.

REDC now has nine operating hydropower plants nationwide.

Apart from the Bukidnon facility, REDC said it is also constructing the 4.5-MW Piapi hydropower project in Quezon province, with a target completion date of end-2027.

The firm added it is preparing to break ground on four additional hydropower projects in the coming months, representing a combined capital expenditure of P10.3 billion. INQ /dda

A Quezon City court has granted the motion of online news outlet Bulatlat to rescind a 2022 order by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) restricting access to its website and those of 26 other alternative news organizations.

In a 23-page decision issued on Nov. 18, Judge Catherine Manodon of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 104 declared ‘void’ the NTC memorandum dated June 8, 2022, ruling that it was issued ‘without legal authority.’

Alipato, Bulatlat’s publisher, filed the complaint for nullification a month after the NTC issued the memo.

The NTC memo was issued in response to a letter from former National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who had asked the agency to block the websites of Bulatlat and Pinoy News Weekly, both of which report on issues affecting marginalized sectors.

In ruling in favor of Alipato Media Center, Inc., the RTC said the NTC had no authority to block, restrict, or ‘limit access’ to websites because its mandate covers only the regulation, supervision, and adjudication of ‘matters relating to telecommunications services and facilities.’

These matters include the approval of rates, issuance of certificates of public convenience, and settlement of disputes between operators and subscribers, the court noted.

The court also said the NTC could not invoke Section 46(m) of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 as the legal basis for its memo against Bulatlat, as any action restricting access to online media would require due process, including a hearing or the issuance of a notice.

‘To interpret Sec. 46(m) as granting such power would unduly expand the scope of the law and sanction acts beyond the statutory limits,’ the RTC said. ‘The NTC treated the letter from defendant Esperon as something it had to follow as a ministerial task.’

The RTC also affirmed through witness testimonies that access to Bulatlat was indeed restricted, even when readers used different internet service providers and devices.

‘Their testimonies show that even if a complete blockage did not occur, the assailed memorandum still resulted in a real and perceivable sense of restriction, as certain users were intermittently or persistently unable to access the site,’ it said.

The court added that the NTC’s action violated the freedoms of the press, speech, and expression guaranteed by the 1987 Constitution.

‘In this case, the blocking of various websites. falls squarely within the ambit of prior restraint because it constitutes ‘government censorship of publication,’ noting that defendants NTC and Esperon failed to justify the existence of any ‘clear and present danger’ posed by the Bulatlat website, the RTC said.

‘No competent proof was presented to show the plaintiff’s publication or operation posed an imminent threat to national security or public order,’ it added.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bulatlat said the ruling was a ‘big win’ for press freedom but emphasized that it would remain vigilant.

‘The local court’s decision unblocks all the 27 websites, making this a victory against state censorship, and against the use of ‘anti-terrorism’ rhetoric to justify the violation of free speech and expression,’ it said.

The National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), which represented Bulatlat, said the ruling is a ‘clear statement on the limits of administrative power and the continuing need to guard against censorship disguised as regulation.’

‘Bulatlat’s reporting, like that of any media organization, may be contested, criticized, or challenged in the arena of public debate. What the Constitution does not allow is for the state to shut down that discourse,’ NUPL said in a statement.

It urged the public to view the court’s decision as a reminder that the press must be treated as an institution ‘that can report and publish without fear of being taken down.’ /mcm

ProVolley Academy’s stint in the Spikers’ Turf Invitational Conference semifinals also served as a chance for one of its spikers, Jude Michael Amber, to check an item off his bucket list.

Amper, once a rookie sensation for Southwestern University in Cebu almost a decade ago, found his way back home to the Philippines and fulfilled a dream he had thought to be unattainable. ‘I actually gave up on the idea of playing at a high level again,’ Amper told reporters in Filipino. ‘And as you can see in my performance, age really shows now. It’s different. When I was 19 or 20, I could keep up defensively and offensively.’

‘It’s harder. Still, the competitive mindset is there. I don’t want to give up. I just fight and give my best, not just ‘try,’ but really give everything I can. That’s my mentality now,’ he added.

Amper, now 29 and based in Australia, got a chance to play with his idols from the UAAP, NCAA, and other club leagues after ProVolley offered him to be part of its campaign as one of the two guest teams in the Spikers’ Turf.

‘It’s because of Aaron Quizon, I really want to thank him. I was actually with a different club in Australia. But when ProVolley got the chance to represent Australia in Spikers’ Turf, Aaron contacted me and asked if I wanted to join,’ he said.

‘I already knew the kind of players I’d be playing with: UAAP stars, NCAA standouts, even former teammates from Visayas. Of course, that added pressure, but I told myself that if I don’t take this opportunity, it won’t happen again.’

The outside spiker for the Australian-based team played for the University of Bohol for three seasons before transferring to SWU, but only to leave the sport and the country to take care of his ailing mom back in 2016.

His life changed in Australia, but his love for the sport never faded. He even managed to form his own team in the land down under.

‘When I got to Australia, I had a culture shock. I love volleyball, back home I was training seven hours a day. Then suddenly, nothing. From seven hours a day to two hours a week. to nothing again,’ Amper said. ‘I still tried to stay conditioned and even formed my own club, Momentum Volleyball Club. I became more of a mentor and coach there.’

Despite losing their first four games in the semifinal round, Amper is still grateful for the experience that made his dream come true.

‘It gave us a new perspective, that if we ever join a tournament like this again, we need months of preparation,’ Amper said. ‘Solid team chemistry comes from repetitive training and hours and hours of practice.’

From watching the league where his idols Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, Josh Ybañez, and Jude Garcia took Philippine men’s volleyball to greater heights, it wasn’t too late for Amper to fulfill one of his life goals.

He may not be able to meet Alas Pilipinas’ stars, who are currently in Taiwan for their Southeast Asian Games buildup, but it’s already a memorable stint taking pictures with three-time MVP Garcia, Norwel Sanama, Dux Yambao, Jau Umandal, and other Spikers’ Turf players.

‘It feels so good. I only used to see them on TV. They’re really famous nationwide, and suddenly God gave me this opportunity, even if it came late. I’m 29 now, so for me, this is already a huge achievement,’ said Amper. ‘A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you can’t buy with any amount of money. I’m super thankful and super happy.’

‘I actually take pictures whenever I get the chance-because who knows? I might not be able to come back next year. So I’m making the most out of it.’

Property giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. is channeling P3 billion into developing an eco-resort community in Batangas province.

The group said in a stock filing on Tuesday that the project would be led by its leisure resort residences developer Costa Del Hamilo Inc.

Dubbed M Village, the 12-hectare flagship eco-integrated development at Hamilo Coast’s Marina Estates is located in Nasugbu.

Even as the turnover is set in late 2028, the group has already witnessed ‘strong’ traction from potential buyers.

Open space

The company said more than 60 percent of the property would remain as open space and natural systems. More than 4 hectares, meanwhile, will be used to build shared amenities, such as a clubhouse, bi-level pools, a rain garden, family parks and a wide lawn for gatherings.

The initial phase of the project would offer more than 170 residential lots, also designed to allow owners to dock 4- to 6-meter boats and jet skis just steps from their homes.

‘M Village is a unique property because it combines upscale coastal living with seamless access to both nautical adventure and nature,’ said Shirley Ong, executive vice president and business unit head at SM Leisure Resort Residences.

For this project, SM Prime has tapped Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo (WATG) Singapore as concept planner and Joel Luna Planning and Design as master planner.

Bottom line

WATG is known for Regent Bali Canggu, Nobu Residences Los Cabos and several Four Seasons properties.

SM Prime, the property arm of the SM Group, is a real estate giant focused on the development of malls, residences, offices, leisure resorts, hotels and convention centers.

In the first nine months, the firm saw its bottom line improve by 10 percent to P37.2 billion from P33.9 billion a year ago.

Total revenues inched higher by 4 percent to P103.4 billion from P99.8 billion, with its mall business accounting for 59 percent of the top line.

During the period, the group spent P59.3 billion amid the rollout of more mall and residential projects. INQ

How is ‘flood gate’ going to end? Someone asked me in despair. Another remarked, ‘Everyone is a villain. There’s no good guy left.’ Yet another added that, in the ‘Hello Garci’ or other scandals, there used to be good guys and bad guys. Finally, someone else recounted that at the end of a board meeting, this parting observation was made: ‘There are no good guys left.’ And so the common question became: Where will all this go, and who benefits in the end?

We have a situation where the discredit is not only widespread but also afflicts the three branches of government. In Congress, the Senate is facing the prospect of close to a third of its membership ending up in detention here or abroad, either for crimes against humanity or various acts of omission or commission with regard to official records and official funds; the House, never high in the public’s estimation, has sunk to its lowest standing since the days of the Batasang Pambansa; and even the Supreme Court seems collectively committed to winning a race to the bottom.

I wonder who, exactly, would lift either their voices or even a finger in protest if Congress-both the House and the Senate-were padlocked tomorrow, or even do more than shrug their shoulders if the members of the Supreme Court were instantly dismissed and sent home. No one would display grief or the slightest regret if the upper echelons of our bureaucracy were to be rounded up and placed in a concentration camp in Corregidor, and a similar indifference might greet the dismissal of most (though not all) provincial and local executives.

And there lies the problem for the vast majority who might actually enjoy the thought of mass unemployment for our elected and appointed officials: What would come next?

A problem with public opinion is that even if no one would weep over the mass firings in Congress and the Supreme Court, there is high anxiety over the necessary prerequisite, which would be for a similar fate to befall the president or the vice president; here, it might be like many other upheavals in many other nations: a third loyal, a third hostile, and a third indifferent but anxious not to get dragged down by the two opposing sides.

Aside from that, even if the top two were somehow convinced to vacate their offices, what might happen next suggests the strong possibility of the outcome being a blunder worse than the initial crimes.

For some reason, it’s been reported that some business types and retired military officers find the idea of having the head of the San Miguel Corp. act as a ‘consensus caretaker’ attractive, while the radical left, for its part, wants a vague because unnamed clique to take over.

The solution we have at present is the one identified and put in place by the President: round up the usual suspects and throw the book at them, but do it in a staggered manner and with lots of advance notice so that the momentum-and the spotlight-remains focused on the Palace and its allies with everyone else reduced to wringing their hands or raising their fists, while the real action remains restricted to institutional arenas still under official control.

People can and will complain that it’s selective justice with plenty of opportunities for the scapegoats of today to receive executive clemency tomorrow, but it’s still a lot more, sadly speaking, than many other presidents were willing to do, and many more are getting enmeshed in the web of investigations and charges than might have been expected under (more normal) circumstances.

To be sure, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is no late President Ramon Magsaysay, who fired then Executive Secretary Fred Ruiz Castro for doing a minor favor for one of the former president’s relatives. But if, indeed, charges end up filed against former Speaker Martin Romualdez, it might be said with some justice that it would be as astounding as the late President Corazon ‘Cory’ Aquino throwing the book at former Tarlac Rep. Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco (everything being purely public speculation; I am merely referring to the, shall-we-say, low regard both enjoy from the public).

Yet, is there anything more normal than institutions and the people holding positions of authority in them eventually rising to their own level of incompetence and sinking in the eyes of the public? It has happened before; it can even be matched, if you look hard enough, to the expiration of the social contract that gave birth to constitutions. Thirty-seven years separated the convening of the 1934 and 1971 Constitutional Conventions, each an attempt to forge a lasting social contract; 38 years separate the convening of the 1987 Constitutional Commission and Congress, finally, after three stubborn decades of refusing to do so, proposing an elected constitutional convention, the only method that has consistently met with public acceptance as legitimate.

While the improvement in the education sector’s budget for next year is a welcome development, this remains ‘far below’ the required resources to repair the ‘collapsing’ education system, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) said on Wednesday.

ACT Chair Ruby Bernardo commended the increase in the education budget, but said the figures do not guarantee that this could immediately solve the education crisis in the Philippines.

‘Historic does not mean sufficient,’ Bernardo said in a statement. ‘Although it is the biggest allocation in history, it still has to meet the minimum requirements to solve all the shortcomings and significant problems faced by our education system.’

Most senators backed the P1.044-trillion budget for the Department of Education (DepEd), with the agency marking it as a ‘historic’ increase on their end and hoping to utilize the funds to construct more classrooms.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara was also hopeful that the DepEd’s lion’s share for the 2026 annual budget would also help them in addressing the recommendations raised by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2).

For Bernardo, however, the 2026 budget would still fall short of the international standard of at least 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

She also pointed out that the recent earthquakes and typhoons have also left thousands of classrooms either destroyed or damaged, displacing learners and teachers.

‘The shortcomings are just getting worse with the recent calamities that hit our country. Data from the DepEd itself showed that more than 14,000 classrooms either suffered heavy amounts of damage and destruction because of the typhoons, flooding and earthquakes,’ Bernardo said.

Shortages in teachers, learning resources, support personnel and safe learning spaces are also faced by the education sector, which Bernardo said cannot be solved by any ‘single budget increase,’ if without a long-term and structural approach from the government.

Rampant corruption is also a factor, according to her, stressing that it will also contribute to the growing problems faced by the education system, as well as social services.

‘We must protect this additional budget nevertheless, from any possible anomalies and corruption that can worsen our education crisis,’ Bernardo said. /mr

A Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforcer was wounded after a driver allegedly shot him during an anti-colorum operation in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday morning, a police report from the Southern Police District (SPD) said.

The incident occurred after the enforcer flagged a van suspected to be colorum (operating without a license) along Filinvest Exit in Barangay Ayala-Alabang, according to the police report.

‘As the vehicle stopped, the suspect requested that he be allowed to drop off his passengers first because two elderly passengers were feeling dizzy. The enforcer agreed and temporarily boarded the said van,’ the police report explained.

‘Upon reaching the above-mentioned place, the driver suddenly pulled out a firearm, which resulted in a struggle between him and the victim. During the scuffle, the suspect accidentally pulled the trigger of the gun that resulted in the suspect ‘s and victim’s wounds to their thighs,’ it added.

Both the suspect and the victim were taken to the Ospital ng Muntinlupa for treatment.

The police report said authorities recovered the caliber .45 pistol allegedly used in the incident and the suspect will be subjected to inquest proceedings for frustrated homicide. /mr

The appointment of two economic experts to even greater positions of influence is heartening. Secretary Frederick Go, who is now secretary of finance, takes on his new assignment with solid credentials and formidable experience both in the private and public sectors. His most recent post was special assistant to the President for investments and economic affairs, an office tasked to harmonize, coordinate, complement, and synergize efforts to address, among others, inflation, food security, and the increasing prices of commodities to improve the economy and the quality of life of Filipinos.

At the same time, former Sen. and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto’s designation as executive secretary could only be positive for the country. He can help ensure a steadier political and economic landscape given his history of championing economic reform and job creation. We are even more hopeful that the economy is in capable hands despite its current troubles.

——

According to the recent PricewaterhouseCoopers Philippines and Management Association of the Philippines survey, an overwhelming 91 percent of CEOs believe that the country is falling short in addressing corruption.

This is not just a governance concern. It is an economic concern, a competitiveness concern, and ultimately a national development concern. Corruption weakens institutions, raises the cost of doing business, and pushes investors toward safer environments. It blurs accountability and creates uncertainty. It keeps our people from enjoying the inclusive growth they deserve.

In the Stratbase Institute’s Pilipinas Conference held last week, the direct link between governance and economic growth was one of two major issues discussed among representatives from the government, the private sector, the diplomatic community, and civil society. For a decade now, the Pilipinas Conference has gathered leaders from government, business, civil society, and the international community.

Stratbase will continue this work for as long as it is needed. We will keep providing a platform where ideas are tested, where data guides decision-making, and where collaboration drives action. We do this because we believe the Philippines can choose a better direction, and because we know that reform is possible when citizens and institutions move with purpose.

The conversation was made even more timely and urgent because of the current political scandal engulfing the government. What started as an exhortation by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his State of the Nation Address last July has now developed into a massive and yet still-unfolding crisis that has exposed how widespread and deep corruption is in the country. The plunder of taxpayer money is also not limited to flood-control projects alone; nor is it confined to any one geographic area or any single political administration.

For too long, governance and economic growth have been treated as separate conversations. In truth, they cannot be separated. Good governance drives economic confidence. Economic confidence drives jobs, innovation, and opportunity. When governance fails, people pay the price. And the cycle repeats.

Despite the temptation to give in to despair, we choose to imagine a different future. A future where transparency is the norm. Where public institutions earn trust. Where investors find stability in rules, not personalities. Where citizens, especially the youth, understand that their voices shape the kind of country they inherit.

We are not blind to the uncertainty that governance challenges create. Yet we also see something important. More Filipinos are demanding accountability. More sectors are speaking plainly about the kind of leadership our future requires. This is a sign of democratic resilience, not decline.

And throughout these shifts, the private sector has remained a steady partner in pushing for reforms, investing in communities, and believing in the long-term potential of the Philippines. Their commitment is indispensable to national progress.

During the conference, no less than the Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla, acknowledged that economic security begins with honest, transparent, and accountable governance as he emphasized that strengthening transparency today means securing economic transparency tomorrow.

For his part, Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon shared the three goals of the Marcos administration’s fight against corruption. First, those responsible must be held accountable. Second, whatever was taken from the people must be returned. Third, there must be genuine reform.

Ultimately, only tangible results, and certainly not mere rhetoric, would indicate just how serious the government is in pursuing anticorruption measures. From these, investors will take the cue as they gauge whether the Philippines is truly a good place in which to put their capital.

The potential of Filipinos and of the economy is undeniable. If we get governance right, growth follows. If we ignore it, the cost will be carried by generations