Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The death toll from Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) has risen to 188, with 135 others missing and 96 injured, Office of Civil Defense (OCD) deputy spokesperson Diego Mariano said Friday morning.

Mariano emphasized that the figures are based on a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and the reported deaths remain subject to validation and may change.

According to Mariano, Cebu – which bore the brunt of Tino, triggering rains and massive flooding – accounted for 139 fatalities. The remaining deaths were reported in Cebu province (24), Negros Occidental (24), Negros Oriental (9), Agusan del Sur (6), Capiz (3), Southern Leyte (2), and one each in Antique, Iloilo, Guimaras, Bohol, and Leyte.

He also said that most of the 96 people reportedly injured were also in Cebu (84), followed by Negros Occidental (7), Surigao del Norte and Leyte with two each, and one in Surigao del Sur.

According to NDRRMC’s situation report, a total of 2,258,782 persons were affected by Tino. At least 397,634 are still in evacuation centers.

To date, the disaster management council has also logged P10.6 million in damage to agriculture and P6.3 million in damage to infrastructure.

A total of 9,585 houses nationwide sustained damage (9,321 partially, 264 totally damaged).

Before exiting the Philippine area of responsibility on Thursday, Tino made landfall eight times and devastated many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao./dm.

Severe Tropical Storm Uwan (International name: Fung-wong) slightly intensified as of Friday afternoon, latest forecasts from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) showed.

Pagasa said Fung-wong was given a local name even before it entered the PAR because tropical cyclone wind signals have been raised.

Pagasa’s weather update showed that Uwan was now packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gustiness of up to 135 km/h. It remains outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), located 1,175 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas.

It was moving west at a speed of 25 km/h, and may enter the PAR between Friday night and early Saturday morning.

As of now, the following areas are under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1:

Luzon:

southeastern portion of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco), the eastern portion of Romblon (Cajidiocan, San Fernando, Magdiwang)

Camarines Norte

Camarines Sur

Catanduanes

Albay

Sorsogon

Masbate

Visayas:

Northern Samar

Eastern Samar

Samar

Biliran

Leyte

Southern Leyte

northern and central portions of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Asturias, Cebu City, Balamban, City of Talisay, Toledo City, Minglanilla), including Bantayan and Camotes Islands

northeastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Buenavista, Trinidad, San Miguel, Ubay, Alicia, Mabini, Bien Unido, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia)

northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Manapla)

northeastern portion of Capiz (President Roxas, Pilar, Panay, Pontevedra)

northeastern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Estancia, Balasan, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Sara, Ajuy)

Mindanao:

Dinagat Islands

Surigao del Norte

‘The wind signals warn the public of the general wind threat over an area due to the tropical cyclone. Local winds may be slightly stronger/enhanced in coastal and upland/mountainous areas exposed to winds. Winds are less strong in areas sheltered from the prevailing wind direction,’ Pagasa said in its weather update.

‘Minimal to minor impacts from strong winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal No. 1,’ it added.

Pagasa also reiterated that they expect Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 5 to be raised as Uwan is seen to intensify into a super typhoon-category cyclone.

As of Friday afternoon, Uwan is expected to intensify into a typhoon-category cyclone by 2 a.m. on Saturday. Pagasa’s forecast track shows that Uwan will eventually turn west-northwestward and head for Isabela province.

By Sunday morning, Uwan would have intensified already into a super typhoon. Pagasa said the cyclone may reach its peak during that time, packing maximum sustained winds of 185 km/h near the center, while it is 305 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes.

It is still expected to make landfall over Isabela province or northern Aurora between Monday morning and Monday afternoon.

‘Uwan will move generally westward in the next 24 hours, then west-northwestward for most of the forecast period. On the track forecast, this TC is forecast to enter the PAR tonight or early morning tomorrow (Nov. 8),’ Pagasa said.

‘Furthermore, Uwan is forecast to make landfall over the southern portion of Isabela or the northern portion of Aurora on Sunday (Nov. 9) late evening or on Monday (Nov. 10) early morning. After landfall, Uwan will traverse the mountainous terrain of Northern Luzon and emerge over the West Philippine Sea on Monday morning or afternoon,’ it added.

Passing over Luzon’s mountainous areas is seen to weaken Uwan, as it may emerge over La Union’s waters as a typhoon category cyclone.

Uwan’s threat looms over Luzon, just days after Typhoon Tino battered through Visayas, along with parts of Southern Luzon and Northern Mindanao. As of Friday morning, the death toll due to Tino is at 185, with 135 individuals still missing.

Several local government units have announced class suspension or a shift to alternative learning modes as early as Friday, in anticipation of Uwan’s impact on the country over the weekend.

In the halls of learning, our teachers are the true architects of our nation’s future. It is a profession of continuous growth, and for many, that growth culminates in a master’s or doctoral degree. But what exactly are our educators studying, and is it truly preparing them for the challenges of tomorrow’s classroom?

The Teacher Education Council (TEC) recently conducted an analysis of teacher data drawn from the Department of Education (DepEd) School Form 7 (SF7): School Personnel Assignment List and Basic Profile. This analysis of our public school teachers with graduate degrees reveals a vivid, if slightly concerning, picture regarding their specialization.

We found that among over 128,000 public school teachers holding master’s degrees, a more popular focused specialization is not a core subject like math or English, but educational leadership and management, accounting for 12.4 percent of the total. A similar pattern appears at the doctoral level, where educational leadership and management is also the top focused track (14.8 percent).

While general education accounts for the largest share of graduate degrees (50.4 percent at the master’s level and 33.2 percent at the doctoral level), such programs do not directly enhance teachers’ subject-matter expertise in fields like mathematics, science, or language-areas that are crucial for improving student learning outcomes. For instance: master’s degrees in educational leadership (15,956) significantly outpaces English (11,557), math (9,177), and science (5,612). Likewise, doctorate degrees in educational leadership (1,276) eclipse English (1,064), math (692), and science (494). This SF7 data analysis clearly signals a sustained interest in supervisory and administrative roles-a pathway to the principal’s office or the coordinator’s desk.

While we commend the ambition and drive that propel teachers toward leadership, this prevalent focus on management comes at a critical time when our national education indicators-from learner assessments to research data-are loudly signaling an urgent need to strengthen classroom instruction and subject mastery.

Graduate studies should be a powerful crucible for teachers to deepen their content and pedagogical expertise, not merely a default path toward a nonteaching career. Not every exceptional teacher aspires to become a school head, nor should they feel obligated to do so. The nation needs specialists-experts in teaching fractions, deconstructing literature, or conducting science experiments-now more than ever.

When our teacher education institutions (TEIs) prioritize and promote programs in education management, they risk repeating the very specialization gaps that currently challenge hundreds of thousands of generalist teachers. Graduate school is the ideal opportunity for teachers to strengthen competencies that many, especially generalists, could not fully develop during their initial preservice years.

This makes it imperative to revisit and discuss the Civil Service Commission rules that mandate or heavily favor graduate degrees as a prerequisite for promotion. Teaching is unique; practice and classroom experience are as vital as theoretical knowledge. DepEd must, in turn, become more critical and nuanced in its promotion requirements, ensuring that career advancement genuinely rewards subject mastery and instructional excellence, rather than defaulting to general management degrees.

We must now see the full and decisive implementation of Commission on Higher Education’s recent quality assurance mechanism. This mechanism, as outlined in amendments to CHEd Memorandum Order Nos. 74 to 80 and 82, series of 2017, is designed to issue a notice of immediate program closure to TEIs that are consistently nonperforming in the licensure examination for teachers and noncompliant with minimum quality standards. The reality is that many institutions continue to operate despite consistently poor performance, including those with zero passing rates. CHEd must close these poor-performing and noncompliant programs to stop the flow of unprepared teachers and compel all TEIs to raise their standards.

Lastly, we implore TEIs to pivot their graduate offerings. Let us shift the mindset, placing improving learner outcomes at the front and center. Let the next wave of graduate students become content specialists and master pedagogues, ready to ignite curiosity in every classroom. True leadership in education begins not in the office, but at the front of the classroom, where content mastery inspires a generation.

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon on Thursday filed two complaints of bid rigging against two contractors and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) personnel over ‘ghost’ and ‘substandard’ flood control projects in La Union and Davao Occidental.

The complaints he filed before the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) were against St. Timothy Construction Corp. of contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya, Silverwolves Construction Corp., and DPWH officials and employees from the two provinces.

The DPWH noted that the cases are for the PCC’s preliminary inquiry.

‘The President said that those responsible for [the project anomalies] must be held accountable and jailed and the stolen public funds must be recovered. As long as we have evidence, we will continue to recommend filing of charges,’ Dizon said in Filipino.

He added that penalties as high as about P3.13 billion worth of penalty may be imposed on those proven to have violated Chapter III , Section 14 of the Philippine Competition Act, which prohibits anticompetitive agreements such as bid rigging. Fully paid

Together with price fixing and market allocation (where competitors agree to divide the market by volume, territory, type of goods or customers), bid rigging is prohibited from the outset without further inquiry into their effects. The DPWH recently signed a memorandum of agreement with PCC to fast-track the referral of fines against contractors involved in bid rigging and other violations under the Philippine Competition Act.

On Oct. 23, the DPWH also filed complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman against the same contractors and several DPWH officials for malversation of public funds through the falsification of public documents on separate flood control projects in the two provinces.

The filing of separate cases came after Dizon inspected what he described as ‘substandard’ and ‘ghost’ flood mitigation structures in La Union and Davao Occidental.

On Sept. 16, Dizon visited two flood control projects along the Bauang River Basin in La Union worth P89.7 million each, both awarded to Silverwolves Construction.

He said he also found out that the projects were already fully paid by the DPWH.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla earlier tagged Benguet lone district Rep. Eric Yap as the ‘person of interest’ behind Silverwolves Construction.

Remulla said that while Yap divested from it years ago, ‘there’s still reason to suspect that he’s still the beneficial owner of the company. So there’s clear conflict of interest punishable under Republic Act 3019,’ the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Yap had denied any involvement in alleged kickbacks in government infrastructure projects.

But Remulla noted that Yap had served as House appropriations chair from 2020 to 2022.

‘Conflict of interest’

It was in the same period when the Discayas were awarded the La Union flood control project.

Remulla said the connection became clear when the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) found that the Discayas transmitted some P70 million to the bank account of Yap’s brother Edvic, also a lawmaker.

‘So we saw that there is really a pattern-they were clearly involved because the money was transmitted from the Discayas,’ Remulla noted, adding that this constituted a ‘clear case of conflict of interest’ against the Yaps punishable under RA 3019.

Dizon also personally assessed what he described as a ‘ghost’ flood-control work in Davao Occidental worth P96.5 million.

More areas have been placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 as Typhoon Uwan (International name: Fung-wong) entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), starting its move toward the country’s landmass.

Weather updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on 11 p.m. showed that Uwan is packing maximum sustained winds of 120 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, and gustiness of up to 150 kph.

It was last spotted 1,045 kilometers east of Eastern Visayas, and is moving west northwest at a speed of 20 kph. As of now, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:

Luzon

eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue, San Mariano, San Guillermo, Echague, Jones, San Agustin)

eastern and southern portions of Quirino (Maddela, Nagtipunan)

southeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Alfonso Castañeda)

Aurora

southeastern portion of Rizal (Tanay, Pililla, Jala-Jala)

eastern portion of Laguna (Luisiana, Mabitac, Liliw, Majayjay, Paete, Pagsanjan, Rizal, Pangil, Santa Maria, Siniloan, Nagcarlan, Cavinti, Kalayaan, Lumban, Magdalena, Victoria, Pakil, Santa Cruz, Pila, Famy)

eastern and southern portions of Quezon (Tagkawayan, Guinayangan, Calauag, Lopez, Buenavista, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Narciso, San Andres, San Francisco, Pitogo, Lucena City, Pagbilao, Infanta, Unisan, General Luna, Plaridel, Quezon, Alabat, Lucban, Sampaloc, Padre Burgos, City of Tayabas, Macalelon, Mauban, General Nakar, Perez, Agdangan, Gumaca, Atimonan, Real, Sariaya, Candelaria) including Polillo Islands

Romblon

Marinduque

entire Bicol Region (Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Catanduanes, Sorsogon, Masbate including Ticao and Burias Islands)

Visayas:

Entire Eastern Visayas (Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte

northern and central portions of Cebu (Medellin, Daanbantayan, City of Bogo, Tabogon, San Remigio, Tabuelan, Borbon, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Consolacion, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Cordova, Asturias, Cebu City, Balamban, City of Talisay, Toledo City, Minglanilla) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands

northeastern portion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Buenavista, Trinidad, San Miguel, Ubay, Alicia, Mabini, Bien Unido, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia)

northern portion of Negros Occidental (City of Escalante, Toboso, Sagay City, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Manapla, City of Victorias, Enrique B. Magalona, Silay City, City of Talisay)

northern portion of Iloilo (Carles, Estancia, Balasan, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Sara, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Lemery)

northeastern and western portions of Capiz (President Roxas, Pilar, Panay, Pontevedra, Ma-Ayon, Cuartero, Dumarao, Dao, Panitan, Roxas City, Ivisan, Sigma, Sapi-An, Mambusao, Dumalag, Jamindan)

Aklan

Mindanao:

Dinagat Islands

Surigao del Norte

Pagasa’s latest forecast track still shows that the areas of Isabela and Aurora are still the most probable landfall sites for Uwan, between Monday morning and Monday afternoon.

However, the cone of probability remains huge, which means that a southward nudge would mean that Uwan’s trajectory would be towards Bicol Region and Southern Luzon, while a northward movement would direct it towards Cagayan and the extreme northern Luzon.

In terms of intensity, Pagasa expects Uwan to reach its peak strength by Sunday morning, packing maximum sustained winds of 195 kph. During this time, it would be 435 kilometers east of Infanta, Quezon.

By Sunday evening, Uwan is seen to keep this strength, as it moves over the coastal waters of Casiguran, Aurora.

Earlier, Pagasa Assistant Weather Services Chief Chris Perez said that while Uwan is expected to make landfall over Isabela and Aurora on Monday, other eastern provinces in Luzon should prepare for a possible landfall scenario as the cone of probability still shows that the cyclone may deviate from its current path. Perez noted that Pagasa’s cone of probability is still huge – which means a southward change would put Bicol Region, particularly Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, Southern Luzon, and even Metro Manila in its crosshairs.

Uwan’s eye entered the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) on Friday, 10:00 p.m., right after intensifying into a typhoon-category cyclone.

Most areas in the country can expect fair weather from Friday night to Saturday morning, with Uwan only starting to affect eastern parts of the country by afternoon.

Several areas, however, would be under rainfall warnings from Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon – particularly Bicol Region provinces of Camarines Sur, Albay, and Catanduanes, which are all under a red rainfall warning.

A red rainfall warning means these areas would receive more than 200 millimeters (mm) of rain.

By Sunday afternoon to Monday afternoon, the concentration of rains would be over Northern Luzon and some provinces in Central Luzon, particularly Aurora and Nueva Ecija.

Bank lending in the Philippines grew at its slowest pace in 14 months in September, as business borrowing lost momentum amid a corruption probe that has unsettled investors and prompted companies to scale back expansion plans.

Outstanding loans from big lenders, excluding their short-term placements with the central bank, rose by 10.5 percent from a year ago to P13.7 trillion, latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed.

That was the weakest growth since July 2024, when lending climbed 10.4 percent. Month-on-month, credit growth was nearly flat, edging up just 0.3 percent.

The slowdown came as authorities continued to investigate alleged irregularities in state-funded infrastructure projects-a probe that has shaken local financial markets and chilled investment sentiment.

The central bank, seeking to steady confidence, cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 4.75 percent in October, while signaling further easing ahead.

Figures showed business loans, which make up the bulk of the banking sector’s portfolio, grew 9.1 percent to P11.6 trillion, the slowest increase since July 2024.

Credit to real estate firms-the largest borrower group-rose 9.2 percent, the slowest pace in four months.

Lending to construction companies, many of which have been conserving cash as payments for government projects are delayed amid the graft investigation, grew by just 3.5 percent, the weakest expansion in six months.

Consumer loans take up the slack

Consumer lending, by contrast, remained brisk, rising 23.5 percent to P1.8 trillion, only slightly slower than August’s 23.9-percent increase.

‘This can be due to the current corruption scandal as business confidence plummeted,’ Leonardo Lanzona, an economist at Ateneo De Manila University, said.

John Paolo Rivera, a senior research fellow at the state-run Philippine Institute for Development Studies, shared the same view but added that the lag effects of the previous interest rate cuts were keeping financial conditions tight for borrowers.

‘Even if inflation has eased, borrowing costs remain high after the BSP kept policy rates elevated, discouraging both firms and consumers from taking new loans,’ Rivera said.

Looking ahead, Jonathan Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong and Co., warned of further weakness in lending.

‘Expect lending to stay soft through year-end unless confidence picks up,’ Ravelas said. ‘For bankers and investors, it’s time to balance prudence with strategic positioning.’

Mark Bautista revealed that he once tried to court Sarah Geronimo early in their careers but that his attempt did not succeed.

In an interview on ‘Fast Talk with Boy Abunda’ aired Thursday, Nov. 6, Bautista confirmed that he once pursued Geronimo when they were both newcomers in the entertainment industry.

‘Nag-attempt (I attempted), but I failed,’ Mark said candidly when host Boy Abunda asked about the rumored courtship. Abunda recalled that the courtship may have happened around 2007 or 2008.

Bautista and Geronimo both started in show biz through the 2003 reality singing competition ‘Star for a Night,’ hosted by Regine Velasquez.

Geronimo emerged as the grand winner, while Bautista finished as one of the finalists. The show marked the beginning of their respective successful music careers.

In the same interview, Bautista also admitted that he is currently dating a celebrity but did not disclose their identity.

‘I think dumating [na] (I think it came now). And I felt like, ‘Ay, shucks. Ito ‘yung taong komportable ako (Oh, shucks. This is the person I feel comfortable with), I can be myself,” he said. ‘My heart is in the right place.’

Bautista noted that this new person came into his life at a time when he had almost lost faith in love. ‘Matagal akong napu-frustrate. I kept asking myself, ‘Ako ba ang may problema? Masyado ba akong choosy? O hindi na ba ako marunong magmahal?” he shared.

(I was frustrated for a long time. I kept asking myself, ‘Am I the one with the problem? Am I too choosy? Or do I no longer know how to love?’)

In 2018, Bautista revealed in his book ‘Beyond the Mark’ that he had an ‘intimate relationship’ with a male friend. He publicly came out as bisexual around the same time.

In a 2024 interview, Bautista also shared that he never had a romantic relationship with a woman before but that he was still considering the idea of getting married and having his own family.

Casa de Memoria, the country’s premier European auction house under Palacio de Memoria, marked the holiday season with a special press preview for its ‘Casa: The Holiday Auction 032’ held on November 6, 2025, at Palacio de Memoria, Roxas Boulevard, Parañaque City. The event showcased the much-anticipated pieces featured in its holiday auction later in the month.

The afternoon gathering welcomed members of the press, art patrons, and collectors for an exclusive first look at the curated collection personally chosen by Casa de Memoria Director and General Manager Angelique Lhuillier and Camille Lhuillier-Albani, who led guests through a narrative of craftsmanship, heritage, and timeless artistry.

‘This season’s collection was inspired by the idea of thoughtful giving – pieces that were not only beautiful but meaningful,’ shared Angelique Lhuillier, noting that the auction embodied Casa’s signature mix of European elegance and historical depth. ‘Each lot was a story waiting to be rediscovered and passed on as a gift of legacy.’

Camille Lhuillier-Albani added, ‘We wanted this auction to feel like unwrapping history – where every piece, from a handcrafted frame to a fine silver set, held both beauty and sentiment. It was our way of bringing the spirit of the holidays into the world of collecting.’ The Holiday Auction 032 featured an array of exceptional pieces, including a Louis XV Cabinet adorned with intricate marquetry, a Louis XVI-style Secrétaire, and a 19th-century French Rococo gilt mirror, each reflecting the refined artistry of its time. Other highlights included a set of Swan Porcelain Planters from Antonio Zen, a Chinese Imari Charger depicting clashing dragons, and a pair of sterling silver pheasants symbolizing craftsmanship and luxury.

Beyond décor, Casa’s holiday auction celebrated art as a bridge between generations. The catalogue featured treasures such as ‘Inks and Waxes’ by Latvian artist Gerry Eckhardt, a metal sculpture of ‘Passarola’ by Clara Menéres, and Spanish and Portuguese silverworks, offering collectors pieces that embodied both cultural history and festive allure.

Guests at the preview also enjoyed a guided tour of Palacio de Memoria’s heritage spaces, where they experienced how European artistry continued to thrive within the Philippine setting. The atmosphere combined old-world grandeur with holiday warmth – echoing Casa de Memoria’s philosophy of ‘art with purpose and provenance.’

As the only auction house of its kind in the country, Casa de Memoria continued to position itself as a hub for meaningful acquisitions – where collecting became both a personal passion and a preservation of history. The Holiday Auction 032, powered by Invaluable, offered an opportunity for bidders to take home pieces that encapsulated the essence of fine living and enduring artistry.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday said the government is eyeing the relocation of Cebuanos who were displaced due to Typhoon Tino (international name: Kalmaegi).

This came after the discovery that the residents were able to build their houses in an area classified as a ‘no-build zone.’

‘We have people to relocate because many of the victims were in the no-build zone, and they were able to build houses in the no-build zone,’ Marcos said.

‘So they need to be relocated. So, that’s another thing we’re doing. We talked to the local government units here in Cebu, including the provinces, the municipalities, and the cities. We talked about how, where we’re going to put them because we’re relying on the LGU to find land, to house those who are going to be relocated,’ he continued.

Meanwhile, families whose houses were partially damaged and completely damaged received P5,000 and P10,000, respectively.

In the same statement, Marcos renewed his vow that the government will ensure that Cebu recovers from the typhoon and that all assistance will be given.

‘I made the same promise to Cebu, your Governor and your Mayor, that as long as the government, the national government, is needed, we will be here. We are not leaving. As long as your lives are well and we are no longer needed for the help we bring, then we will remain here,’ he said.

Marcos also reminded the local government of Cebu to always prepare for calamities going forward.

‘I also warned our local executives that there is a typhoon coming. Right now, we don’t think it will pass through the Visayas [looming Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong)], but everyone should still be careful. And we don’t know because sometimes it may move (to a different direction),’ he said.

Before the briefing, Marcos conducted an aerial inspection in the province to assess the destruction to properties caused by Typhoon Tino.

He then visited the Tiltilon Elementary School in Barangay Cotcot, in Liloan, and the Talisay Sports Academy in Talisan City to oversee the distribution of assistance to evacuees.

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has ordered the dismissal of a Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) instructor found guilty of grave misconduct over a sexual assault complaint filed by a cadet.

Police Maj. Anthony France Ramos was dismissed after the commission found him liable for grave misconduct and conduct unbecoming of a police officer, Napolcom said in a decision released Thursday.

The case arose from a July 31 incident inside Ramos’ quarters at the PNPA in Silang, Cavite.

The cadet accused Ramos of forcing him to perform oral sex. Responding officers, Police Maj. Jay Zamora and Police Capt. Mark Daniel Maraquilla said they found the cadet visibly distressed at the scene.

‘Despicable’

The commission said Ramos abused his authority to obtain sexual gratification, violating Article 336 of the Revised Penal Code on acts of lasciviousness and breaching police ethical standards.

‘The Napolcom will never condone any act of sexual misconduct by anyone in the police force, regardless of rank,’ Napolcom Commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan said in a statement.

‘Major Ramos’ acts are despicable and should be strongly condemned and punished. He is unfit to continue wearing the police uniform,’ he added.

Calinisan said the ruling underscores the commission’s zero-tolerance policy for immorality and abuse of power in the police service.

The PNPA, which trains future officers of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Bureau of Fire Protection, has faced scrutiny in recent years over misconduct cases involving cadets and instructors.

Napolcom said it would continue enforcing strict accountability within the academy.