Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines-Juan Gomez de Liano sizzled for 32 points as Converge downed Barangay Ginebra, 106-96, in the PBA Philippine Cup on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The rookie guard made 12 of 15 shots sparked by a first-half onslaught, as the FiberXers finally beat one of the perennial contenders in the Gin Kings to go 5-2 in the standings, joining four others in a tie for second.

Gomez de Liano also got plenty of help, with Schonny Winston finishing with 21 points off the bench for the FiberXers.. Justin Arana added 13 points and 13 rebounds, and Justine Baltazar 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

Ginebra fell to 2-4 after losing the first of two games in three days, and the frustration got the best of coach Tim Cone.

Cone later voiced his frustration at Converge counterpart Delta Pineda and lead assistant Franco Atienza after Gomez de Liano scored a layup before the buzzer with the outcome already settled.

Stephen Holt and RJ Abarrientos scored 24 points apiece but the Gin Kings continued their struggles in the inner half of the eliminations.

The Gin Kings actually tied the count at 70-all at the end of the third, but Gomez de Liano led the FiberXers on a breakaway in the final period.

Justin Brownlee is finally in the country to join Gilas Pilipinas’ preparation for the first window of the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers.

Jun Atienza, who does utility work for Barangay Ginebra and Gilas, first posted a photo of himself and Brownlee shortly after the naturalized player emerged from Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas later confirmed Brownlee’s arrival on its social media accounts, posting an artcard with the words ‘Welcome Home!’

Brownlee’s arrival should give Gilas a massive boost going into the home-and-away matches against Guam on the road on Nov. 28 and on Dec. 1 at Blue Eagle Gym inside the Ateneo campus amid concerns of his availability.

The long-time Ginebra import has yet to suit up for Meralco in the East Asia Super League in what was supposed to be a rare alliance with rival Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.

The first window is the start of Gilas’ bid to qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Doha, Qatar.

Gilas is in Group A which also has Australia and New Zealand. The top three teams will advance to the next round of qualification.

House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III has turned down the Senate’s request for nearly 20 House members – including his predecessor, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez – to participate in its blue ribbon committee probe into anomalous government projects by invoking the ongoing investigation by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI).

In a letter dated Nov. 12 and addressed to Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Dy said that while the House of Representatives ‘respect(s) the oversight function of the Senate blue ribbon committee,’ the House members whose presence he requested for the Nov. 14 hearing already subjected themselves to the ICI investigation into the same issue.

‘As such, it is in the best interest of the Filipino people that these House members must first fulfill their duty to cooperate with the independent investigative body directly tasked by the Executive on the matter,’ Dy said.

‘Subjecting them to a simultaneous legislative inquiry on the identical subject could potentially prejudice the findings of the ICI,’ he added.

Lacson, who was reinstated as chair of the blue ribbon committee tasked to investigate malfeasance of government officials and offices – resumed its hearings into the massive flood control scandal implicating many politicians and public works officials.

Ahead of the hearing, Lacson requested the attendance of former Speaker Romualdez, former appropriations chair and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, and 17 other lawmakers implicated in a massive kickback scheme from ghost or substandard infrastructure projects in collusion with contractors.

Romualdez and Co were also implicated in a previous hearing by surprise witness Orly Guteza as receiving bags of cold cash, allegedly as kickbacks, that were delivered to their residences.

Romualdez has already presented himself before the ICI, but Co has remained overseas supposedly for medical treatment, and because he feared returning amid public outrage over the corruption scandal.

However, a Manila court has since ruled Guteza’s affidavit that he used as basis for his testimony as having falsified the signature of a notary lawyer.

The 17 others meanwhile were accused by contractor couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya, whose firms are involved in suspect public works projects, of supposedly demanding kickbacks in exchange for contracts.

The Archdiocese of Cebu on Friday announced the death of one of its ordained priests, confirming that he died by suicide following a collapse in his mental health.

In an official statement titled ‘Hope Against Hope: A Death Announced,’ Archbishop Alberto ‘Abet’ Uy said an in-depth investigation into the death of Rev. Fr. Decoroso ‘Cocoi’ Olmilla found that the priest had suffered a severe mental health breakdown that led him to take his own life.

Olmilla, 68, was a resident priest of St. Therese of the Child Jesus Parish in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

He was discovered inside a condominium in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, on Wednesday morning. He was found unconscious in the unit at around 10:40 a.m., reportedly with a self-inflicted wound to his neck.

The Archdiocese thanked authorities for assisting in the investigation and ensuring a careful examination of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy ‘in the spirit of truth and justice.’

The faithful were invited to pray for the eternal rest of Olmilla, with the Archdiocese expressing hope that he had ‘found peace with his Creator.’

An appeal was also issued to the public to respect the privacy of the priest’s family as they grieve.

‘We appeal, on behalf of his family members, for everyone to respect their privacy at this time of such tragic loss and so allow them to grieve in dignity and peace,’ the statement read.

Archbishop Uy acknowledged the pain the incident may have caused among the faithful and asked for understanding and forgiveness.

‘In humility, we can only continue to trust that God’s mercy may remain greater than our human failures,’ he said, quoting Scripture: ‘For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things’ (1 John 3:20).’

The Archdiocese also reiterated its firm moral stance on the sanctity of life, emphasizing that ‘no one has the right to take away what God has alone given.’

‘Every life is sacred,’ Uy said

Two former political prisoners and Indigenous Peoples rights defenders have filed a joint position paper against five Philippine National Police (PNP) officers before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged illegal arrest, detention, and other criminal and administrative violations.

Former political prisoners Julieta Gomez and Niezel Velasco lodged the document on Friday, reinforcing the initial complaint they filed last August 11.

Gomez and Velasco named five PNP officers who allegedly committed violations of Articles 180 (false testimony against a defendant), 183 (false testimony in other cases and perjury in solemn affirmation), and 269 (unlawful arrest) of the Revised Penal Code; Section 38 of Republic Act No. 10591 (liability for planting evidence); and Section 4-A of Presidential Decree 1866 as amended by RA 9516.

In a statement released by Katribu Kalipunan ng Katutubong Mamamayan ng Pilipinas, the group said the two complainants were allegedly illegally arrested in a joint military and police operation in July 2021. They were acquitted on April 8 this year due to lack of evidence.

‘Our imprisonment is part of a broader system of repression against those who speak the truth, so we will continue to stand for justice and accountability,’ Gomez said in Filipino.

‘By filing these cases, we are asserting that it is the state-including its agents and institutions-that violates our rights and should be held accountable, not the people who are fighting back,’ Velasco said in Filipino.

Aside from Katribu, Indigenous Peoples and human rights organization Sandugo joined the two in a solidarity picket outside the Ombudsman’s office during the filing of the position paper.

‘The Marcos Jr. administration’s refusal to punish corrupt and abusive officials allows impunity to persist,’ the groups said.

‘Until those responsible for illegal arrests, red-tagging, and corruption are held accountable, there will be no true justice in this country. [President] Bongbong Marcos must be held accountable for presiding over a system that criminalizes activism while protecting corruption,’ they added in Filipino.

Brie Larson and Benny Safdie join Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jack Black in the voice cast of ‘The Super Mario Galaxy Movie,’ a CGI animation set for release in April 2026.

Super Mario fans got a first look on Nov 12 at the sequel to the mega-hit movie based on Nintendo’s top video game franchise that turned 40 in 2025.

The official trailer for the sequel shows Mario cavorting with his friends and nemeses in a colourful intergalactic universe. It was viewed nearly three million times on YouTube in just over 12 hours.

It follows the huge success of ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’ – the second-highest-grossing film of 2023 behind fantasy film ‘Barbie.’

Mario, the chirpy red-capped Italian plumber, is voiced by Pratt, while Princess Peach is voiced by Taylor-Joy.

Black voices the antagonist Bowser, while American actor Charlie Day is the voice of Mario’s brother Luigi. Larson will voice Rosalina in the sequel, while Safdie is the voice of Bowser Jr.

In September, Japan’s Nintendo marked four decades since the release of the first ‘Super Mario Bros.’ game with its platforms, pipes and scowling enemies.

The ‘Super Mario Bros. Movie’ earned more than US$1.3 billion (P76.55 billion) at the box office, part of a video game adaptation craze that has also brought hits for the likes of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ (2020 to present) and ‘A Minecraft Movie’ (2025).

Nintendo is also planning a live-action film based on ‘The Legend of Zelda’ franchise, due for release in May 2027.

Sen. Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson on Friday expressed doubts on the revelations of former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, deeming it has no ‘probative value’, but the resigned lawmaker urged the senator to examine the documents first.

Co dropped a bombshell allegation that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted P100 billion worth of insertions in the 2025 national budget, an accusation the Malacañang has denied.

But Lacson appears skeptical of Co’s claims.

‘I’m not defending the President,’ Lacson said in Filipino. ‘Why would he insert 100 billion in the Bicam? While in the National Expenditure Program, he can do that. Second, why did he veto it?’

Co urged Lacson to cross-check the National Expenditure Program for 2025 to verify if the same line items appear there.

Marcos Jr. has actually vetoed flood control projects in the 2025 national budget which is included in the P194-billion line items deemed inconsistent with the administration’s priority programs.

Lacson further said Co’s statements don’t hold much water without an oath.

‘As of now, it has no probative value because it was not done under oath,’ Lacson said in an ambush interview, partly in Filipino, after the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing.

‘I suggest that before making statements that may unfairly prejudice the issue, the Senator should examine the documents in full,’ Co said. ‘The public deserves a fair, complete, and evidence-based investigation, not conclusions drawn without first seeing the whole picture.’

Questions surrounding flood control projects began when Marcos, during his State of the Nation Address in July, said that 5,500 flood-control projects have already been completed under his term, with his critics casting doubt on such figures amid persistent flooding during that time.

After this, Marcos ordered the investigation of all of the almost 10,000 flood control projects completed in the past three years, and he himself revealed that P100 billion-or about 20 percent of the entire P545-billion budget for flood mitigation projects undertaken by his administration from July 2022 to May 2025-was awarded to only 15 contractors, which includes the companies linked to the Discaya couple.

Marcos’ move served as a floodgate for further revelations that several flood control projects are found to be either overpriced or non-existent due to the alleged collusion of lawmakers including Co, private contractors and DPWH engineers and officials to embezzle billions of pesos worth of funds.

To quell mounting public outrage that led to a nationwide September 21 protest and rumors of a military takeover, the government formed an independent commission that would investigate and recommend charges for those involved.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has since conducted a closed-door probe of this major corruption scandal, raising concerns on transparency which critics say could tarnish the credibility of its findings.

Facing mounting pressure from the public, the ICI then promised to livestream the proceedings, but it still refused to release the recordings of its previous hearings.

Influential sect Iglesia ni Cristo will also hold a three-day gathering from Nov. 16 to 18 to call for transparency in the ongoing flood control probe.

Another nationwide rally is slated on Nov. 30, which is the culmination of anticorruption protests held every Friday since Oct. 10

Charoen Pokphand Foods Philippines Corp. (CPF) is investing $1 billion over five years to scale up its hog production and help restore local swine production to pre-African swine fever (ASF) levels by 2028.

In a statement on Thursday, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said the local business of Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Foods PLC unveiled its plan to raise its hog production capacity to 7 million head by 2030 from the current 1.3 million.

Of the total, 4.8 million will be in Luzon, 1 million in the Visayas and 1.2 million in Mindanao.

Vaccination

The DA said CPF’s expansion plan would help the agency achieve its target of restoring the domestic hog population to pre-ASF levels within the next three years, which involves vaccination and the distribution of breeders.

Citing government data, the DA said the population has declined to about 8 million head from 13 million in 2019, when the first case of ASF was reported.

CPF is also considering nine locations nationwide for agro-industrial complexes, with each spanning roughly 20 hectares.

Each site will feature feed production and hog processing facilities.

The DA said feed plants were expected to produce around 10,000 tons per month, which would require corn output from 5,000 hectares.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. encouraged the company to consider constructing some facilities near major tourist hubs to alleviate food costs.

‘This CPF expansion aligns perfectly with President Marcos Jr.’s vision of a zero-kilometer food system-producing food where it’s needed-and advancing agricultural investment to create jobs and ensure food security,’ Tiu Laurel said.

Meat imports

CPF announced its significant investment as the country’s meat imports rose by 13.5 percent to 1.18 billion kilograms (kg) in the January to September period from 1.04 billion kg a year prior, data from the Bureau of Animal Industry showed.

As in the past reporting periods, pork cornered 53.4 percent of the total with 632.99 million kg. It reflects a 22.2-percent increase.

Chicken came next with 368.08 million kg, 6.4 percent higher. It captured a market share of 31.1 percent.

Beef, meanwhile, went up by 4.3 percent to 150.15 million kg, equivalent to 12.7 percent.

Brazil is still the country’s leading meat supplier with 39.1 percent, followed by the United States (16.4 percent) and Spain (11.1 percent).

ASF-free zones

The DA recently issued Administrative Circular No. 12, recognizing ASF-free zones within accredited exporting countries, seeking to ensure the safe importation of swine and pork products while protecting the country from ASF.

This means an accredited exporting country may apply for an ASF regionalization, allowing imports from areas free of ASF within their jurisdiction. The accord is valid for two years, subject to regular evaluation.

The applicant country needs to submit an official request addressed to the chief veterinary officer of the Philippines, along with documents and reports, including detailed reports on ASF surveillance, control measures, and boundaries of ASF-free regions.

It won’t be a Merry Christmas for at least 37 people linked to the flood control scandal, including several lawmakers, as far as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is concerned.

‘They will be locked up. They will not have a Merry Christmas,’ Marcos said on Thursday.

He said that he was certain of this following the conclusion of the investigations of corruption in the multibillion-peso flood control projects.

Marcos declined to give a complete list of names of those he believed would be jailed soon. But his cousin, former Speaker Martin Romualdez, will not be among them-at least ‘not yet,’ he said.

At a press briefing, Marcos gave a rundown of what the government had accomplished since he exposed the irregularities in flood mitigation projects in his State of the Nation Address on July 28.

He also made fresh warnings against all of those allegedly involved.

‘So everyone who colluded in this corruption scandal, these shameless people who steal the people’s money, your days of enjoying yourselves are over! We will go after you!’ he said.

The President said the first batch of case referrals by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) transmitted to the Office of the Ombudsman implicated 37 individuals, including lawmakers, former officials, and current officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and contractors.

Among them were Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada; resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, former House appropriations chair; former Caloocan Rep. Mitch Cajayon-Uy; and Commission on Audit Commissioner Mario Lipana.

Also on the list were former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan; Public Works Undersecretaries Roberto Bernardo and Maria Catalina Cabral; officials from the DPWH Bulacan First District Engineering Office and DPWH Mimaropa regional office; and private contractors.

Asked why Romualdez, who allegedly received millions of pesos in kickbacks, was not included, the President said that the evidence against his cousin that came mostly from the Senate blue ribbon committee hearings was not sufficient to build a case to send him to jail.

‘No, with the Speaker, no. Not as yet. Not as yet,’ he said. ‘If something else comes out, then he might have to be answerable for something.’

‘We don’t file cases for optics. We file cases to put people in jail or to make people answer,’ Mr. Marcos added.

Public can help

The President asked the public, who has been growing impatient to see the masterminds behind the flood control scandal sent to jail, to give the government agencies, especially the ICI, more time to expand their investigation and pursue airtight cases.

‘I know that there are many, many suggestions of who else we should file cases against. Well, we’re fine with that. Provide us with the evidence, and we will file cases against them,’ he added.

Marcos urged the public to continue sending reports of questionable flood control and other infrastructure projects to the Sumbong sa Pangulo website to serve as additional evidence in pursuing cases.

‘No one is immune; no one is exempt in these investigations,’ the President said.

Asked if the government would be open to Co becoming a state witness, the President answered: ‘That option is always there, except for those who are the most guilty.’

But did he consider Co as the ‘most guilty’ among those tagged in the corruption scandal?

The President refused to directly answer, saying: ‘If I answer it, people say that I have him prejudged. Let the courts do their work. Let the judges do their work,’ he said.

Co, a central figure in the corruption scandal, was accused of receiving billions of pesos in kickbacks from contractors and DPWH officials who testified in congressional probes into flood control projects. He vehemently denied the allegations.

Co departed for abroad in August, just as the congressional inquiries started. He has refused to return home because of alleged death threats against him and members of his family.

His company, Sunwest Inc., has been linked to substandard and nonexistent flood control projects. Investigators believe his roles overlapped, allowing him to use his position as a lawmaker to secure government contracts.

Dizon assurance

It was Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon who earlier assured the public that personalities linked to flood control anomalies would be jailed before the end of the year.

‘Yes, that is for sure,’ Dizon told Inquirer in a Viber message on Thursday when asked if this would be the case.

Dizon also said two cases involving at least 41 individuals would be filed before Christmas.

On Wednesday, he said the Ombudsman’s ‘goal is to have these two cases filed this month.’

Dizon said 26 personalities in Bulacan and 15 in Oriental Mindoro would be detained over two cases that the Office of the Ombudsman would file in the Sandiganbayan.

‘So just in those two cases, [more than] 40 people-those are the first to be jailed because the cases are nonbailable,’ Dizon said.

He earlier said that they were not planning on filing plunder charges, which are nonbailable.

But bail will be discretionary for cases involving public funds amounting to over a certain amount.

The DPWH had prepared charges of violations of the antigraft law and the Government Procurement Act, and malversation and falsification in at least five flood control projects worth over P345 million in Bulacan.

Meanwhile, ICI Chair Andres Reyes Jr. said on Thursday that it would be ‘premature’ for him to say whether officials and contractors tagged in the flood control mess would be jailed by Christmas Day, saying he could not sway other government institutions building the potential cases.

‘That’s a premature statement. I cannot influence the other parts of the government. We’re only recommending. Of course, I think everybody wishes that,’ he told reporters when asked about his reaction to President Marcos’ remark about jailing those behind the scheme.

Police officers are ready to enforce arrest warrants for personalities allegedly involved in the flood control scandal upon the issuance of the proper courts, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Friday.

The PNP met with the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) and other government agencies in a command conference last Wednesday to ‘align strategies’ in the administration’s investigation into anomalous infrastructure projects.

‘Once cases have been formally filed against subject individuals and arrest warrants are issued by the proper courts, [Acting PNP Chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio] Nartatez [Jr.] emphasized that police officers are ready to enforce them immediately to fulfill the government’s promise of swift justice,’ the PNP said in a statement.

The law enforcement agency’s statement came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed that personalities in the scandal will be jailed before the year ends.

The PNP previously explained that its role in the investigation is to provide ‘technical support in the areas of engineering verification, forensic validation and information systems development.’

‘We will be extending all the necessary assistance to inspect and validate all questionable infrastructure projects, and in ensuring airtight cases against those involved,’ Nartatez stressed in the statement.

According to Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon, at least 40 people will be among the first batch of personalities to be held accountable over the alleged anomalies.