Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

An additional P86.24-million worth of allegedly smuggled cigarettes has been recovered from two boats intercepted by authorities in the waters off Zamboanga City, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

The PNP previously noted that it intercepted the boats near Santa Cruz Island on Wednesday, initially finding 300 master cases of cigarettes worth P21 million.

‘The progress report now confirms that a follow-up inventory, carried out at 8:00 a.m. on the same date, uncovered a much larger shipment on the Jungkung M/B Zhyryne,’ the PNP said in a statement.

‘The vessel was found carrying 800 master cases of Soda Red and 382 master cases of Soda Menthol, amounting to P86,240,000.00,’ it added.

The PNP further noted that the total number of confiscated master cases from the two intercepted boats is now 1,532, worth a total of P107 million – ‘one of the most substantial cigarette-smuggling interceptions in Zamboanga City this year.’

The boats were intercepted during a seaborne police patrol operation, according to the PNP.

Seven men aboard the boats were arrested and brought to the Zamboanga City Police Station for proper disposition. The PNP did not identify the individuals nor provide details about their backgrounds.

Mugshots shared by the PNP show the suspects awaiting charges for violation of Republic Act No. 12022 or the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act.

The private lawyer who filed graft and other criminal complaints against Sen. Francis Escudero said his fight against alleged corruption is personal but not motivated by any axe to grind, emphasizing that the case is about justice.

Lawyer Eldrige Marvin Aceron said this in an interview with reporters on Friday after he filed a complaint against Escudero and other officials of the Sorsogon provincial government, accusing them of orchestrating ‘systematic corruption’ and financial irregularities amounting to more than P352 million during the senator’s tenure as the province’s governor.

‘It’s my personal fight, but I am not alone. I have at least 370 people with me, and we will make this happen. We will continue until we get justice. He’s the senator with many anomalies. So we are filing charges against him,’ Aceron said.

‘I don’t even know him. I never met him. I’ve never been in a room with him. So there’s nothing personal. He’s the senator with many anomalies, and we are filing charges against him. No personal axe to grind. I don’t care who he is,’ he added.

Escudero was named as a respondent for possible violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act No. 3019) and provisions of the Revised Penal Code, including technical malversation, fraud against the public treasury, and falsification of public documents.

Other respondents include members of the Bids and Awards Committee, Acting Provincial Accountant Rena Garcia, Provincial General Services Officer Rosalina (surname not provided), and the provincial treasurer, whose name has yet to be determined.

Sen. Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa and his legal team turned to the Supreme Court Thursday to reiterate their plea for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and prevent the government from arresting him in connection with the charges he faces at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

They took the preemptive step five days after media reports quoting Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said the ICC had already issued an arrest warrant against Dela Rosa. The former Philippine National Police chief is accused of being a co-perpetrator responsible for the thousands killed in the so-called drug war waged by then-President Rodrigo Duterte.

They went to the Supreme Court even though Remulla’s statement remained unconfirmed by other concerned agencies, including the Department of Justice, which he formerly headed.

In a 25-page, very urgent manifestation, Dela Rosa and Duterte – both represented by lawyer Israelito Torreon – cited the media reports about the supposed issuance of the ICC warrant, as disclosed by the Ombudsman on Nov. 8.

The pleading said Remulla is a high-ranking official who previously served as justice secretary, making his statement credible enough to trigger the ‘operational machinery of law enforcement agencies that may construe such information as authorization to coordinate with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) or execute the warrant.’

It also told the high court that Dela Rosa and Duterte received information on Nov. 9 that the ICC had issued a ‘diffusion order’ against the senator, which is a direct request from an international entity to share intelligence or seek assistance in criminal investigations, but one that does not require legal scrutiny.

‘Cautionary precedent’

‘The petitioners respectfully submit that the risk of petitioner Dela Rosa’s illegal arrest, surrender, or turnover to ICC authorities has now become imminent and real,’ the pleading said.

The arrest of Duterte by Philippine authorities and his turnover to ICC custody on March 11 were done without court approval and should now be viewed as a ‘cautionary precedent,’ it said.

The executive branch, it said, could once again act unilaterally under the guise of comity or cooperation with the ICC.

Aside from seeking a TRO, the petitioners urged the Supreme Court to take judicial notice of Remulla’s statement about the ICC warrant, as well as the DOJ’s continued cooperation with the ICC.

They also cited Remulla’s earlier interview when he was still justice secretary, where he said the ICC had contacted three to four drug war witnesses who were under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program.

Confirm or deny

Dela Rosa and Duterte also asked the tribunal to require, within 72 hours, sworn certifications from the DOJ and the Department of Foreign Affairs confirming or denying any ICC-related warrant or communication.

The pleading submitted on Thursday was a reiteration of their main petition filed on March 11, the day of Duterte’s arrest, a last-ditch effort to keep the ex-president from being flown to The Hague in the Netherlands.

On Tuesday, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon said the DOJ would await the Supreme Court’s resolution on the petitions questioning Duterte’s arrest before acting on the reported warrant against Dela Rosa.

‘We want to be more careful because the circumstances then and the circumstances now are quite different. At that time, there was no petition yet that was raised or filed before the Supreme Court,’ Fadullon said.

There’s something quite magical about spending Christmas in the uplands.

The air is cool and crisp, laughter carries farther, and the scent of pine makes the season linger a little longer. And just beyond the mist and music of the holidays, that magic takes shape at Crosswinds Tagaytay, which once again transforms into a twinkling Alpine village for its much-awaited Trail of Lights.

Alpine Villas

This year, this festive holiday attraction opens on November 15 at the Lausanne Open Grounds, inviting guests to a magical evening of lights, music, and holiday cheer.

Families can send letters and meet Santa, toast marshmallows at the S’mores Station, and enjoy a taste of Filipino Christmas before the night culminates in a grand fireworks display. Add to that the soft flurry of the Snow Blast, the soul-stirring serenade of the Vocalismo Chorale Group, and the spirited performances of Soundbank PH and the Madison Christmas Musical-and you have a celebration unfolding beneath the pine-scented skies of Tagaytay’s rolling hills.

It’s these kinds of evenings that will make this year’s Christmas celebration with friends and loved ones even more magical and meaningful.

Joe’s Tavern

A holiday that lasts year round

In Crosswinds though, this feeling doesn’t fade with the season.

This is how life unfolds each day in this Swiss-inspired community, surrounded by pine-scented air and beautiful horizons. And while it feels worlds away, it’s closer than you think.

Just a short drive from Metro Manila, Tagaytay has long been the city’s favorite escape, with its cool breeze, lush landscapes, and sweeping views of Taal Lake.

This experience, however, can go beyond a weekend getaway. Here, 35,000 towering pine trees embrace a 124-hectare Swiss-inspired estate, made distinct by its chalet-style architecture, sloped roofs, and timber accents.

Residential neighborhoods are tucked within lush landscapes, offering individuals and families a private, serene yet sophisticated sanctuary. Its retail and dining village meanwhile evokes the spirit of a quaint European town, with cozy cafés and restaurants like Windmill Lausanne, Napa, Balustre, Joe’s Tavern, among others.

Windmill Lausanne

Its retail and dining village meanwhile evokes the spirit of a quaint European town, with cozy cafés and restaurants like Windmill Lausanne, Napa, Balustre, Joe’s Tavern, among others.

Exclusive enclaves

For those wanting to make this escape a part of their everyday life, Crosswinds presents an exclusive collection of residences that embody its signature Alpine charm. It offers move-in-ready homes that combine rustic elegance and modern comforts; spacious lots for bespoke Swiss-inspired homes; and low-density condominiums for those who crave quiet sophistication. Each neighborhood has been positioned for privacy, views, and connection with nature.

At Alpine Villas for example, life will feel intimate and elevated. Mid-rise buildings are nestled gracefully into the forested slopes, surrounded by pools, scenic walking trails, and pocket gardens that invite you to slow down.

At the crest of the estate, Lausanne meanwhile commands sweeping views of Tagaytay’s ridges, Laguna de Bay, and even the Manila skyline on clear days. Each lot in this neighborhood is an opportunity to create a legacy, an heirloom home that reflects your lifestyle and aspirations.

Within Lausanne, Deux Maison introduces a refined concept in paired residences-reimagining mountain living through chalet-style townhomes infused with modern design sensibilities. Inspired by the French term for ‘two homes,’ this exclusive collection is defined by sloped roofs, natural textures, timber accents, and expansive windows that frame the surrounding pine-covered slopes.

Deux Maison at Crosswinds

Life beyond the lights

The Crosswinds Trail of Lights may illuminate the mountains for a season, but the true distinction of Crosswinds lies in its year-round character, defined by tranquility, refinement, and harmony with nature.

Each day offers a balance of calm and vitality amid pine-lined landscapes and cool mountain air. Beyond its natural appeal, Crosswinds Tagaytay stands as a sound choice for discerning homeowners and investors, offering an address that combines lifestyle and long-term value.

For more information on Brittany’s collection of luxury properties, visit www.brittany.com.ph. You may also follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

With 41 days left before Christmas, Cedrick Juan shared that his wish for this year, aside from more family time, is for corrupt officials to face jail time.

Juan shared his wish with select members of the press on Thursday, Nov. 13, in Quezon City during the story conference of his upcoming film ‘Andoy.’

‘I really hope may makulong na sa mga corrupt officials kasi greatly affected na mga taong bayan. We deserve a better treatment from our government. Lalo na yung mga nasa laylayan na sila ‘yung pinaka apektado,’ he said.

The ‘GomBurZa’ actor emphasized that it’s important for celebrities to use their platforms to speak up against anomalies, even if it means they may get canceled.

‘I think it is very important as an artist to speak up. I think more than acting, ‘yun ang trabaho din ng mga artist. Ever since, centuries ago, ganyan naman. We do storytelling, pero ano ba yung mga kwento na ‘yun? Kwento ‘yun ng taong bayan. So very important na we don’t really think about being canceled,’ he stated.

Juan noted that it’s not only celebrities’ roles to speak up about what’s happening around them, but everyone’s.

‘Everyone has their own opinion, pero opinion din ‘yun hindi lang dahil para sa akin. Opinion ‘yun para sa kung ano yung nangyayari sa sitwasyo sa bansa natin. And being political naman there’s nothing wrong with that. As long as hindi ka fake news peddler,’ he explained.

Meanwhile, the upcoming psychological horror film ‘Andoy’ also stars Jennica Garcia, Albie Casiño, Aya Fernandez, Paolo Gumabao, Ivy Nuqui, Victor Relosa, Angelica Lao, Vic Romano and Harly Daria.

Things look rough for the peso after it tumbled to a new record low, but the currency may recover some ground on the back of seasonal remittance inflows and as authorities’ efforts to deepen the local capital market begin to show greater payoff.

On Thursday, the peso appreciated by 17 centavos to close at 59 against the US dollar, recovering from the record low of 59.17 set in the previous session.

Michael Wan, a senior currency analyst at MUFG Global Markets Research, said in a note that the peso’s weakness has been driven by foreign investors’ retreat from Philippine equities and waning confidence in local assets amid a widening corruption probe that has already weighed on economic growth.

Overvalued

Even so, Wan said the US dollar appears slightly overvalued against the peso at current levels, suggesting room for the local currency to appreciate later on.

Factors that could strengthen the peso, he noted, include the usual surge in remittances during the holiday season, as well as the Philippines’ potential inclusion in a key debt gauge for emerging markets. The lagged impact of the central bank’s previous rate cuts should also help stem the peso’s weakness.

‘We think at current levels USD/PHP looks a little bit rich even as we acknowledge uncertainty surrounding how the impact of the graft scandals could play out,’ Wan said, adding that past experience suggests the economic turmoil from such scandals could persist for 15 months or longer.

Purchasing power

A weak peso cuts both ways for the Philippines. It can lift remittance inflows from migrant Filipino workers, fueling purchasing power in the consumption-reliant economy.

But it also risks fanning import costs and reigniting inflation. Prolonged currency weakness, meanwhile, could inflate the peso value of foreign debts held by both the government and private companies.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has signaled it would let market forces largely determine the exchange rate, intervening in the foreign exchange market only if a prolonged depreciation threatens to fuel imported inflation, rather than smoothing out daily volatility.

Trade deficit

Jason Tuvey, deputy chief emerging markets economist at Capital Economics in London, said the Philippines’ wide trade deficit has left the peso vulnerable, while the country’s traditional sources of dollar inflows may not be as strong as in the past.

Still, Tuvey said the broader external position offers some reassurance, pointing to the Philippines’ robust dollar reserves, which the central bank could use to defend the peso from speculative attacks.

‘Even if the currency does come under pressure, we doubt that there would be a sharp adjustment,’ he said. ‘What’s more, the central bank could step in to prevent excessive volatility.’

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is moving swiftly to resolve by mid-December the preliminary investigation into five criminal cases relating to anomalous flood control contracts in Bulacan.

On Friday, a preliminary investigation was conducted, attended mostly by lawyers of the involved officials from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), for the purpose of receiving their copies of the complaints.

DOJ spokesperson Polo Martinez said that all respondents have until November 24 to answer the complaint via a counter-affidavit and submit supporting evidence.

‘So, today starts the conduct of preliminary investigation. We held our very first hearing, at which time the complaints were issued to the respondents for the filing of their counter-affidavit, which is scheduled on Nov. 24,’ Martinez told reporters.

After the filing of counter-affidavits and replies, if there are any, he said: ‘Evidence will be assessed based on what was presented. and by around mid-December, we will have a resolution.’

Key figures implicated across the five complaints include current and former DPWH officials, including Bulacan-District Engineer Henry Alcantara and former Assistant District Engineer Brice Ericson Hernandez, while one of the complaints has over 20 respondents.

Former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co is surprised as to why President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. allegedly claimed that he was unable to recognize the then-proposed 2025 national budget from Congress when the insertions were supposedly the idea of the chief executive himself.

Co finally broke his silence over the budget mess and the flood control controversy through a video statement on Friday, saying that everything started after Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman called him to inform that Marcos allegedly wanted P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget.

He said Pangandaman had asked him to confirm the president’s order with Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin.

After confirmation, Co said he told House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez about this instruction.

‘This started when (Budget) Secretary Mina Pangandaman called when the bicam process started last year – 2024. She said, her meeting with the president had just ended and there were instructions to insert or put P100 billion worth of projects in the bicam,’ the former lawmaker said.

‘And Secretary Mina even said, ‘You can confirm (the order) with Usec. Adrian Bersamin’ because she and Bersamin were together in the meeting with President BBM (Marcos) on that day,’ Co recalled.

‘I immediately called Usec. Adrian Bersamin and I asked if during their meeting, there was really an instruction from the president to insert P100 billion. He said that was true,’ he continued.

‘Right after our conversation, I called up former Speaker Martin Romualdez and I reported to him the instruction of the president to insert P100 billion worth of projects, and he (Romualdez) told me, ‘What the president wants, he gets,’ Co narrated.

According to him, he believed that the orders came from Marcos because Bersamin said that the list of projects was placed in a brown leather bag, which he remembered to be the same bag that Marcos spoke about when he (Co), the president and Romualdez returned from a trip to Singapore.

The resigned lawmaker said that Marcos ordered the Presidential Security Command (PSC) to fetch the bag when it was left, with the chief executive saying that everything else could be left behind, but not the brown leather bag.

‘During the meeting, Usec. Adrian Bersamin gave the list worth P100 billion. I asked Usec. Adrian where the list came from. His answer was ‘from PBBM (Marcos) himself and he gave this from the brown leather bag,” Co said.

‘When Usec. Adrian Bersamin mentioned the brown leather bag, I remembered when we were in Singapore, after the election of May 2022 in Hilton Hotel, former Speaker Martin, PBBM (Marcos) and I, we were returning and going back to the Philippines,’ he noted.

‘The PSG (Presidential Security Group) chased the brown leather bag, and the president had uttered, ‘Everything can be left behind, except the brown leather bag.’ So I believed that the president really ordered this,’ he concluded.

Co also said that he even appealed to Pangandaman and Bersamin to just put half of the P100 billion to unprogrammed funds so that funds for the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) would not exceed the allocation for the Department of Education (DepEd), which would contravene constitutional provisions.

‘I informed former Speaker Martin Romualdez, Secretary Mina Pangandaman, Usec. Adrian Bersamin and Usec. Jojo Cadiz that if it was alright, only P50 billion would be put into the unprogrammed funds because the DPWH funds were excessive compared to DepEd,’ the former lawmaker remarked.

‘In practice, it is not allowed that the budget of DPWH is bigger than education. And then, the balance of P50 billion, just place it in the unprogrammed funds for the 2025 budget because it is also the Office of the President that releases it,’ he explained.

‘After one day, Secretary Mina called me and relayed the message from the president – ‘Insert it because Speaker Martin has promised that to me and that cannot be changed anymore,” the former lawmaker said in the video.

‘It was like – the king’s order cannot be bent. Again, I informed the speaker and asked for clearance about the instructions of the president, and he (Romualdez) said, ‘We can’t do anything,’ he pointed out.

This is the reason why Co is surprised with Marcos saying that he cannot recognize the 2025 budget.

‘That is why I am wondering why he could not recognize the budget when in fact, in all that were deducted and added to the agencies of government, Secretary Mina Pangandaman had asked for his approval,’ he said.

Questions have surrounded the 2025 budget ever since the budget bill was finalized by the bicameral conference committee. In January 2025, Davao City 3rd District Rep. Isidro Ungab and his ally, former President Rodrigo Duterte, both claimed that the budget was illegal since there were blanks in the bicam report that the House ratified.

Former Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo, who was then the acting chairperson of the House committee on appropriations, said that the blank items in the bicam report already had exact figures, insisting that the blanks were only left for final calculations.

Quimbo also said back then that it was the Senate committee on finance’s technical staff which prepared the bicam report on the General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

Furthermore, she noted that the adjustments could be seen on the Senate committee report.

Co, meanwhile, is facing several issues regarding the 2025 national budget and the infrastructure project scandal.

At one of the Senate blue ribbon committee hearings, contractor-couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya named several lawmakers – including Co – who allegedly asked for and received kickbacks from infrastructure projects, after their firms were able to bag government contracts.

Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, former officials of the Bulacan – First District Engineering Office, tagged Co and other lawmakers as allegedly involved in the kickbacks scheme for infrastructure projects.

Co is also accused by Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco of mangling the 2025 budget, claiming that party-lists affiliated with Co received more than P4 billion worth of allocations from DPWH – P2.23 billion for Ako Bicol, P2.06 billion for Barangay Health Workers which is represented by her niece, former Rep. Natasha Co, and P13 billion under Elizaldy Co himself.

As early as August, Tiangco has been asking Co to reveal all the amendments made by the small committee for the 2025 budget, to show that the House leadership is truly serious about its push for reforms.

INQUIRER has reached out to Malacañang but it has yet to respond as of posting time.

A resounding call for inclusive growth filled Novotel Manila, Quezon City as Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) led the National Financial Inclusion Summit 2025 (NFIS 2025), co-presented by the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC), and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF). The landmark event brought together the country’s leading educators, policymakers, and industry partners under the theme #LahatKasama: Strengthening Financial Inclusion through Education, a collective movement to make financial literacy a national life skill.

Education has long been recognized as the cornerstone of financial inclusion. In a country where nearly half of adults remain unbanked and only 27 percent of youth aged 15 to 19 hold a formal financial account (BSP, 2021), CLFI emphasized that inclusion must begin in the classroom. Teachers, administrators, and learning institutions serve as powerful gateways to equip young Filipinos not only with access to financial tools but with the wisdom to use them effectively.

‘Access opens the door, but education teaches people how to walk through it and build new ones for others,’ said Jean Henri D. Lhuillier, President and CEO of PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies. ‘When teachers integrate budgeting, saving, and planning into everyday lessons, they are not only shaping smarter learners-they are cultivating financially resilient citizens.’

The Summit underscored that financial literacy is not just about understanding money. It is about enabling individuals to make informed choices, plan for emergencies, and recover from setbacks. By embedding financial education across basic, higher, and technical-vocational systems, CLFI and its partners aim to ensure that no learner is left behind in the country’s journey toward resilience and empowerment.

The Summit opened with welcome remarks from Dr. Manuel M. Muhi, President of PUP, followed by messages of support from Shem Jose W. Garcia, Chairperson of LCF and Senator Paolo Benigno A. Aquino IV. Representing Secretary Angara, Assistant Secretary Janir T. Datukan delivered the keynote address, ‘Educating for Inclusion: Turning Schools into Gateways of Financial Empowerment for Every Filipino.’

Morning spotlight sessions featured Carmina F. Bayombong, Founder and CEO of InvestEd Philippines, who discussed how student financing can break barriers to access while Michael F. Rellosa, Executive Director of PIRA, spoke about inclusive and digital insurance as a tool for protection. A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Ria S. Fajilago of PUP followed, exploring how schools can make financial literacy a national strength.

In the afternoon, Dr. Tirso A. Ronquillo, President of PASUC, and Jean Henri D. Lhuillier delivered keynote addresses on linking financial literacy to educational policy and community development. Atty. Charina B. Vera-Yap of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas presented digital inclusion initiatives, while Dr. Francisco S. A. Sandejas of Xepto Education Philippines and Dr. Laarni Evelyn A. Santiago of the University of Makati shared technology-driven strategies for classroom integration.

The Summit culminated in the launch of the #LahatKasama Financial Literacy Module, the most comprehensive FinLit module in the country. The digital learning tool provides teachers with interactive materials on saving, investing, and disaster preparedness, designed to make financial education more practical and engaging.

For Jonathan D. Batangan, Executive Director of CLFI, the Summit signifies more than a one-day gathering. It is the beginning of a nationwide collaboration.’Financial inclusion is not just access. More importantly, it is empowerment,’ Batangan said. ‘Through our partnerships with DepEd, CHED, TESDA, and our academic and corporate partners, we are turning classrooms into launchpads of empowerment. Every lesson in financial education becomes a step toward a more resilient and inclusive Philippines.’

The NFIS 2025 supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (2022-2028) and aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on education, poverty reduction, and decent work.

Beyond its sessions and partnerships, the Summit stands as a national movement. By linking education with financial empowerment, it calls for every teacher to be a mentor of financial discipline, every campus to be a hub of financial inclusion, and every learner to be an advocate of resilience.

‘Inclusion begins with education,’ said Lhuillier. ‘When education and financial literacy move together, we create not only informed individuals but empowered communities capable of withstanding any challenge.’

The Summit reaffirms CLFI’s mission to build a nation where financial literacy is not optional but essential by ensuring that progress, resilience, and opportunity truly include everyone.

About Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc.

Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) is the corporate social responsibility arm of the PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies, dedicated to advancing inclusive education, financial literacy and inlusion, disaster resilience, and community development. Through programs like the #LahatKasama National FinLit Caravan, MoneyGuro, and Cebuana Rapido, CLFI continues to empower Filipinos toward financial capability, resilience, and empowerment.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) defended on Thursday its filing of criminal cases against Cavite Rep. Francisco ‘Kiko’ Barzaga, saying it had ‘nothing personal’ against the lawmaker who has been critical of the government, military, and even the Philippine Coast Guard in his social media posts.

CIDG Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico II confirmed that Barzaga was among the 97 respondents charged before the Quezon City prosecutor’s office over the violent incidents that broke out after the Sept. 21 anticorruption rally in Manila.

The CIDG official previously announced that they had charged the 97 with conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection, sedition, and inciting to sedition.

Groups of rioters clad in black and wearing ski masks destroyed public and private property and clashed with police officers in Mendiola and Recto after the Sept. 21 rally at Rizal Park. Two people were killed, dozens of police officers were injured, while more than 200 individuals, including about 90 minors, were arrested in the violence that ensued.

‘Let me just emphasize that this is nothing personal. There was a crime committed-it was a violent one. There were police officers who were injured, and government properties were destroyed in the city of Manila,’ Morico told reporters in a chance interview at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

‘Those are paid [for] by the taxes of the people,’ he added.

Another case

He said the CIDG also referred another complaint involving Barzaga to the Department of Justice (DOJ) Prosecution Service over the Oct. 12 rally he led in Forbes Park, Makati City, although the police official declined to disclose further details.

Morico said the CIDG is committed to investigating any alleged crime, adding that ‘whether you are a politician, a farmer, or a laborer, the CIDG will take action because the rule of law must be implemented.’

According to him, their investigators looked beyond those who were physically present at the Sept. 21 protest, including potential instigators and financiers.

He did not say, however, whether Barzaga was being investigated as a possible instigator or financier.

Lawful exercise of right

At the same time, Morico reiterated that their actions were in line with their mandate.

‘The CIDG is not into curtailing freedom of expression,’ Morico said. ‘But we must exercise this right in accordance with the rule of law,’ he stressed.