Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A fund drive has been launched for the family of a 29-year-old woman who died saving her 2-month-old baby boy and her mother in Barangay Mabigo, Canlaon City, Negros Oriental, during a massive flood spawned last week by Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).

Frances Angela Garilao Pecson, a chemical engineer who worked at the Universal Robina Corp.-Southern Negros Development Corp. (URC Sonedco), a sugar mill in Kabankalan City, lost her life in a flash flood that hit their community in Canlaon City on Nov. 5, according to her sister-in-law, Joniah Idyll Pecson, who has initiated a GoFundMe drive at gofund.me/851f79851.

‘Angela tragically lost her life during the onslaught of Typhoon Tino in Canlaon. Even in her final moments, she displayed extraordinary courage-doing everything in her power to protect her 2-month-old baby and save her mother before being swept away by the strong floodwaters. Her selflessness and love will forever be remembered,’ a post on Facebook also said.

Angela was one of the 20 people who died in the city at the height of the typhoon, as rapidly rising floodwater overwhelmed homes.

‘In her final act of love and courage, she managed to keep her baby safe-but sadly, she was swept away by the strong current and did not survive,’ her sister-in-law Joniah wrote on GoFundMe.

‘She was a loving wife to my brother, Jasper, and a devoted new mother who only wanted to give her child a good life. Now, my brother is left to raise their baby alone while trying to recover from the loss of his wife and the devastation caused by the flood,’ she said.

Unimaginable tragedy

Joniah said she created the GoFundMe drive to raise funds to help cover funeral expenses, provide for the baby’s needs, and help support her brother and her sister-in-law’s family, who were trying to rebuild their lives after the unimaginable tragedy.

‘Any amount, no matter how small, will mean so much to our family during this painful time. If you can’t give financially, please help us by sharing this page or keeping our family in your prayers,’ she added.

Jasper said the baby was their first child.

As of Monday, the death toll on Negros Island attributed to Tino has climbed to 75, while 39 were missing, the Office of Civil Defense-Negros Island Region (OCD-NIR) reported on Monday.

Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Yulo appealed to residents with drones to help in the search for the missing in his badly hit district.

Search and rescue dogs and drones were being used to locate the missing in Isabela and other parts of the 5th District, he said.

Three K9 teams have been deployed, Yulo said.

According to Yulo, there could be about 60 people still missing in the 5th District, he said, pointing out that poor communication from remote areas has hampered their gathering of exact figures.

The OCD-NIR said the death toll in Negros Occidental was 14 in Moises Padilla, La Castellana-10, Bago City-7, Isabela-6, Ilog-6, San Carlos City -3, La Carlota City-3, Murcia -2, Himamaylan City-1, Hinigaran-1 and Binalbagan-1.

Negros Oriental counted 21 dead, 20 in Canlaon City and one in Vallehermoso, the OCD reported

At least three people were confirmed dead and several others injured following landslides in the towns of Tinoc in Ifugao and Besao in Mountain Province, after days of heavy rain and strong winds brought from Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong).

The Cordillera office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-CAR) reported the fatalities on Tuesday.

So far, only one victim has been identified – John Paul Herman Felix, a 30-year-old gardener from Diffun, Quirino, who died in Tinoc, according to DSWD-CAR.

Authorities continue to verify the identities of the other casualties and assess the extent of damage in the affected areas

National University reclaimed the title it lost last year, emerging on top after three days of competition to capture the UAAP Season 88 men’s athletics crown on Sunday at New Clark City Athletics Stadium in Capas, Tarlac.

The Bulldogs tallied 298.5 points for their second championship in three years, marking NU’s second UAAP title this season after its women’s chess triumph.

‘We really worked hard for this season,’ said head coach Fernan Dagasdas. ‘Last year, our back-to-back dream ended because of injuries and eligibility issues. This year, we prayed to stay healthy and strong enough to regain the championship.’

With key veterans back and boosted by new recruits, NU regrouped after a slow start and never looked back once it took the lead on Saturday. The Bulldogs piled up 100 points on the final day, highlighted by golds in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the decathlon.

NU swept the steeplechase podium with Noli Torre (9:28.24), 10,000-meter winner Rico Jay Patanao (9:39.93), and Renz Cruz (9:40.21).

Larry Taripe Jr. sealed the title with a strong finish in the decathlon, scoring 5,779 points. FEU’s Ronel Juntilla (5,522) and Rolly Royo Jr. (5,444) took silver and bronze.

The Tamaraws, seeking to end an eight-year drought, finished second with 272.25 points. Ernie Calipay topped the high jump (2.05m), while Jazzpeer Arcenal ruled the 400-meter hurdles (53.44).

UP, last season’s champion, placed third with 213.25 points, behind Labita’s bronze in the hurdles and Neil Jasper Salvador’s silver in the discus.

Co-MVP Russel Ricaforte broke his own meet record in the discus with 52.62 meters and also ruled the shot put. He shared the MVP honor with UST’s Hokett Delos Santos, who won the 110-meter hurdles (14.80).

UST added another gold from Jhon Laurenze Ballelos in the javelin (47.33). Ateneo’s Hussein Lorana bagged Rookie of the Year honors, following his twin brother Hassan’s win last year. Hussein won two golds and a silver, including the 4×400-meter relay (3:14.85) with the Lorana twins, Matthew Angeles, and Er Yako Mengorio.

‘Every event had someone guiding the team,’ said Dagasdas. ‘With focus, teamwork, and God’s blessing, everything came together.’

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is investigating an enforcer in Trento town in Agusan del Sur, accused of extorting ‘grease money’ from a truck driver.

LTO Chair Markus V. Lacanilao has issued a show-cause order (SCO) directing the personnel of the LTO Trento Extension Office to submit a written explanation about the allegation that he asked for a P1,000 bribe from a truck driver for violating LTO rules.

Lacanilao’s statement posted on the LTO’s social media page stemmed from a viral post by a user identified as Bondoc Ricardo, who showed a truck driver complaining that the LTO personnel allegedly demanded P1,000 to spare him from being cited for a supposed violation he committed.

The Tagalog-speaking truck driver told a local radio station here that the LTO enforcer demanded a P1,300 fine from him for not wearing a company uniform.

He pleaded to pay only P300, but the enforcer allegedly demanded P1,000 but did not issue a citation ticket.

‘I was so angry about that experience that I posted what I felt (on social media),’ the driver said.

In the video that went viral on social media, the driver could be heard protesting what he described as fabricated violations by the apprehending officers. The alleged incident reportedly occurred along a highway in Trento, Agusan del Sur.

But LTO Trento head Greg Patrick Pabilonio denied in a radio interview that the LTO personnel asked any ‘grease’ money from the truck driver.

He said the personnel found out that the driver was only wearing slippers and shorts, a violation of LTO rules.

Lacanilao said the bribery act, if proven, constitutes a clear violation of the 2025 Rules on Administrative Cases of the Civil Service.

He warned the concerned LTO personnel that failure to respond within the prescribed period would be deemed a waiver of his right to answer or contest the allegations and that the agency would decide the case based solely on available evidence

House of Representatives Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III has vowed to focus on other topics – including a possible Anti-Political Dynasty Bill – as the chamber has approved its version of the proposed 2026 national budget.

In his speech at the resumption of session on Tuesday, Dy said that the House will expedite discussions on the proposals to institutionalize the Independent Commission for Infrastructure, or the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption Bill, as the people have zero tolerance for corruption.

After this, Dy mentioned a proposed Anti-Political Dynasty bill, which he said would fulfill the 1987 Constitution’s provisions stating that Congress should define what constitutes a political dynasty.

‘Our message is clear, there will be zero delays in the passage of these measures, because our people have zero tolerance for corruption. That’s why our directive regarding this is also clear, we will pass this before we adjourn this December,’ he said in mixed Filipino and English.

‘Second, regarding the proposed Anti-Dynasty Bill filed here. It is time to face another point of discussion stated in our Constitution, the passage of a law against political dynasties,’ he added.

Dy admitted that his statements may be met with raised eyebrows, as his family has been considered a fat dynasty in their home province of Isabela.

Last October 22, Dy released his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), which indicated that he has a total net worth of P74 million. However, what caught netizens’ eyes were the 16 relatives that Dy indicated to be in various government posts.

This includes his son Faustino ‘Inno’ Dy V, former Isabela 6th District representative and now Echague town Mayor; son Francis Faustino Dy, former Echague mayor and now Isabela Vice Governor; brothers Victor Dy and Manuel Faustino Dy, who are both Board Members in Isabela, and daughter-in-law Alyssa Sheena Tan-Dy, Mayor of Santiago City.

‘I know that many would raise their eyebrows regarding such discussions, and I must admit that a lot of attention would be fixed on me because my family, like many others, has had a long tradition of being in public service,’ he said.

‘I won’t deny that, because I believe public service positions should not be inherited, but entrusted by the people. To be honest, I have many relatives in various positions, but many also lost during the elections. In the end, it’s the people who have decided who they want to lead their local governments,’ he added.

Dy urged his colleagues in the House to join him in discussing this measure as the proposal is not meant to limit chances for candidates seeking elective posts, but to urge more individuals to run for office.

‘Join me in pushing for a proposed bill that gives a clear and just definition of a political dynasty – a definition that is true to the spirit of our Constitution which is geared towards strengthening our democracy,’ he said.

‘The goal of this measure is not to block anyone, but to increase the chances for more Filipinos to serve and partake in governance. My colleagues, let us prove not only in words, but also in action, that we are ready to listen to our people,’ he added.

Several bills seeking a ban on political dynasties have been filed before the House of the 20th Congress. Last July, one of the first bills of the Makabayan bloc was House Bill (HB) No. 209 or the proposed Anti-Political Dynasty Act.

The proposed Section 4 under the bill prohibits dynasties by placing these two provisions:

No person shall hold or run for any elective national or local office simultaneously with another within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood

No person within the prohibited civil degree of relationship to an incumbent elected official shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter

The bill, should it become a law, will be applicable for the subsequent elections.

In the bill’s explanatory note, Tinio and Co explained that the 1987 Constitution’s Article II, Section 26 explicitly prohibits political dynasties, but leaves it to Congress to define how a dynasty should be considered.

However, Makabayan said Congress has repeatedly ignored bills seeking to ban dynasties.

Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, despite being part of a political family, also filed a similar bill as he believes it is time for Congress to pass a measure that defines and bans political dynasties.

Flores said last July 4 that he filed the bill banning immediate relatives from succeeding an incumbent elected official even if it was against his own interests, in order to level the playing field.

According to Flores, a candidate who has relatives in a specific position could already gain several advantages – like as simple name recall – that other candidates do not have.

Juan Ponce Enrile, the chief presidential legal counsel, is now in an intensive care unit suffering from pneumonia and has ‘slim chances of surviving,’ Sen. Jinggoy Estrada announced on the Senate floor on Tuesday.

‘I have just received very, very sad information that our former colleague, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, is currenty in the intensive care unit of an undisclosed hospital suffering from pneumonia,’ Estrada said.

‘And I heard from a reliable source, very, very reliable source that he has slim chances of surviving,’ he added.

On Estrada’s request, Sen. Joel Villanueva led a prayer for Enrile, who turned 101 years old last February.

‘At this moment, we humbly pray and lift up to You the life of our colleague, mentor, Senate President, fellow public servant, who has dedicated his life in service to our countrymen – Senator Juan Ponce Enrile,’ Villanueva said in Filipino.

Political career since 1987

Enrile was first elected to the Senate in 1987 and served as the lone minority until 1992, the same year he became a member of the House of Representatives until 1995.

After one term in the House, he ran again and won a Senate seat from 1995 to 2001.

He became Senate president in November 2008 until he resigned in June 2013 following his public spat with some of his colleagues over an alleged additional budget and ‘Christmas bonus’ given only to his allies.

Enrile was appointed to his current post shortly after Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. assumed the presidency in 2022.

Before joining politics in 1987, Enrile served as defense minister during the administration of Marcos’ father and namesake, then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

He gained prominence when he later withdrew his support from Marcos Sr. and became one of the key figures in the 1986 Edsa People Power revolution.

Gilas Pilipinas mainstays AJ Edu and Dwight Ramos helped their respective teams preserve their winning streaks in the B.League.

Edu made his presence felt on both ends of the floor anchor as the Gunma Crane Thunders breezed past the Akita Northern Happinets on Sunday at CNA Arena Akita.

The 6-foot-10 big man anchored Gunma’s defense with three blocks while also contributing 10 points and seven rebounds.

Gunma completed a resounding sweep of Akita, which it also whipped 81-48 on Saturday. With the win, the Crane Thunders stretched their winning run to five games for a 9-6 slate.

Ramos and the Levanga Hokkaido also continued their winning ways.

Hokkaido made it four in a row after beating the Shiga Lakes, 108-99, on Sunday.

Ramos collected 11 points, three rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and a block as Hokkaido improved to 11-4. Levanga has been on a tear, having won eight of its last nine games.

Osaka Evessa swingman Ray Parks and Yokohama B-Corsairs guard Kiefer Ravena also won.

Parks was on target from long range, hitting 3-of-4 3-pointers for 11 points in an 83-81 squeaker over the Saga Ballooners. Osaka improved to 6-9.

Ravena, meanwhile, had eight points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal as Yokohama (5-10) turned back the Toyama Grouses, 107-94 at Yokohama International Pool.

Francis Lopez’s FE Nagoya, however, wasn’t so lucky as they succumbed to an 82-64 loss at the hands of the Koshigaya Alphas at Nagoya City Nakamura Sports Center.

Lopez struggled with only four points and seven rebounds as Nagoya crashed to 5-10.

The Senate of the Philippines officially launches its redesigned and upgraded website today as part of its continuing efforts to enhance its three main purposes: transparency, accessibility, and security in providing legislative information to the public.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who led the unveiling ceremony, said the improvements were made to ensure that the public can obtain information with ease.

‘The website was redesigned with a cleaner, modern, and user-friendly interface to make information easier to find, access, and understand. It can now be accessed seamlessly across all devices. You can navigate Senate documents, bills, and resolutions with greater speed and clarity,’ Sotto said.

He further emphasized that live broadcasts of sessions and events are now available on the platform, most especially the accessibility of the whole budget process.

‘This is what freedom of information looks like in practice – giving citizens direct and convenient access to the work of their representatives,’ Sotto added.

Senate Secretary Atty. Renato Bantug Jr., in his opening remarks, affirmed the importance of the website upgrade: ‘By providing real-time information and interactive tools readily accessible to every Filipino, we are strengthening the bridge between the vital work conducted in this chamber and the citizens that we serve.’

The new website, presented by Senate IT Team Lead Ms. Lou Galban, highlights key features such as modern and user-friendly design, compatibility across all devices, a comprehensive section on Senators’ profiles and accomplishments, and the capability to host live broadcasts.

The website also places emphasis on Senate Assistance services, including medical, social, and citizen support programs, improved search functionality for laws, bills, and other services, easy access to important public information, fast and secure system performance, and consistent maintenance to ensure the site remains current and well-developed.

The platform is envisioned to serve as a reliable and accessible gateway to the Senate’s official information and legislative updates.

Thousands of passengers were stranded while a few sea vessels ran aground as Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong) battered large parts of the country, authorities said on Monday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that 7,213 passengers, truck drivers, and cargo staff remain stranded on Monday morning across 156 ports in 10 regions.

Also stranded were 3,663 rolling cargoes, 171 vessels, and 28 motorbancas, while 541 boats and 185 motorbancas took shelter, the PCG added.

Sea travel was suspended after tropical cyclone wind signals as high as Signal No. 4 were hoisted in parts of Luzon and the Visayas due to the typhoon.

The PCG said the highest number of stranded passengers was in the Bicol region, with 2,590 individuals, while hundreds of others were in ports in Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas.

In addition, four sea vessels ran aground in waters off Antique, Batangas, and Palawan.

PCG civil relations deputy commander Capt. John Barrameda said there were no casualties from the incidents or any threat of an oil spill from the vessels.

No major damage

On the other hand, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) said no major damage was reported in airports.

In a statement, Caap said only minor damage was observed in ceilings, roofs, glass panels, and perimeter fences of some airports, as well as temporary disruptions to power and connectivity.

Operations in the following airports have been temporarily suspended for clearing operations: Bulan and Bacon Airports in Sorsogon, Sangley Airport in Cavite, Plaridel Airport in Bulacan, Iba Airport in Zambales and Subic Bay International Airport in Subic Bay Freeport.

On the other hand, the following airports have resumed normal operations: Bicol International Airport, Masbate Airport, Naga Airport, Virac Airport, and Daet Airport, all in the Bicol region, and Cauayan Airport in Isabela.

Caap said Baguio Airport has also reopened, although flights remain suspended until further notice due to poor visibility caused by heavy rains.

Toll-free

Private transport firms also removed toll fees for marked government vehicles routed for relief and recovery operations in affected areas. This was in response to the government’s appeal to ensure that assistance reaches typhoon victims across the Luzon and Visayas regions faster.

San Miguel Corp.’s infrastructure arm announced the waiving of tolls in the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx), Metro Manila Skyway, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAx), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR).

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. also offered free access to its expressway subsidiaries, North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), NLEx Connector, Manila-Cavite Expressway (CavitEx), and Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax). Its toll infrastructure in the Visayas region, Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corp., also raised its tolls, especially since Cebu was one of the hardest hit by the previous typhoon.

Effective Nov. 9, the Philippine Ports Authority also removed the collection of roll-on and roll-off terminal fees from rescue vehicles.

Damaged bridge

It also ordered that these vehicles be given priority in the queue and loading process.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has also called on domestic airlines to allot free cargo space to transport relief goods to areas affected by Uwan.

The DOTr has ordered the damage assessment of a Philippine National Railways (PNR) bridge connecting Barangays San Rafael and Maipon in Guinobatan town, Albay province.

The DOTr said the damage resulted in the temporary suspension of the Naga-Legazpi route, which serves around 400 passengers daily.

It instructed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to increase the number of public utility vehicles plying the area to accommodate affected passengers.

The PNR will also conduct an inspection and assessment of the entire Bicol commuter train route to ensure that no other structures were damaged.

Several roads in the City of Manila will be temporarily closed to give way to the three-day Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) rally in Rizal Park from Nov. 16, Sunday, to Nov. 18, Tuesday, calling for government transparency and accountability.

In an advisory on Tuesday, the Manila Police District (MPD) said the following roads and road segments will be closed from Nov. 16 to 18:

Southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to P. Ocampo

Northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from President Quirino Avenue to Katigbak Drive

Northbound and southbound of Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to Katigbak Drive

Katigbak Drive and South Drive

Independence Road

P. Burgos Avenue from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue

Finance Road from P. Burgos Avenue to Taft Avenue

Ma. Orosa Street from P. Burgos Avenue to Kalaw Avenue

Kalaw Avenue from Taft Avenue to Roxas Boulevard

Roundtable (Palacio Street and Gen. Luna Street)

The MPD added that the following re-routing schemes will be in place during the rally:

Vehicles coming from McArthur, Jones and Quezon Bridge intending to utilize southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard shall take P. Burgos Avenue straight to Taft Avenue

Vehicles coming from Ma. Orosa Street shall turn right to United Nations Avenue to Taft Avenue

Vehicles coming from A. Maibini Street shall turn right to United Nations Avenue to Taft Avenue

Vehicles coming from United Nations Avenue intending to utilize Roxas Boulevard shall turn left to M.H. del Pilar Street

Vehicles coming from Bonifacio Drive shall turn around at Anda Circle or may utilize A. Soriano Avenue

All vehicles coming from Intramuros Area shall utilize Magallanes Drive then turn right to P. Burgos Avenue

All trailer trucks and heavy vehicles coming from the Pasay area utilizing Roxas Boulevard northbound shall turn right to President Quirino Avenue, while light vehicles may use Roxas Boulevard service road northbound

All trailer trucks and heavy vehicles coming from Mel Lopez Boulevard (R-10) going to Roxas Boulevard shall turn left to Capulong Street, straight to Yuseco Street to Lacson Avenue (Old truck route)

The Philippine National Police (PNP) previously said it was deploying over 15,000 officers for security during the rally.