Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III led the formal turnover of a fully equipped Mobile Clinic at the Senate Grounds on Wednesday.

The Mobile Clinic, equipped with an X-ray machine, blood testing facilities, and other diagnostic tools, will serve as a medical unit on wheels under the Senate Public Assistance Office (SPAO) to provide healthcare services to communities in need.

Also present were Mrs. Kathryna Yu-Pimentel, representing former Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, who initiated the project’s funding through the Department of Health, Senate Spouses Foundation Executive Director Kath Pimentel, SPAO Director General Lino Ong, Senate Medical Bureau Chief Dr. Renato Sison, and DOH Director Dr. Lester Tan.

‘This project embodies our commitment to public service that goes beyond the walls of the Senate. The Senate Mobile Clinic will bring healthcare closer to the people-bringing hope, compassion, and assurance that public service is alive and mobile,’ Senate President Sotto said.

Four groups of business executives and justice advocates condemned the lack of transparency in the former Ombudsman’s ‘secret’ decision to reverse a 2018 dismissal of now-Senator Joel Villanueva from public service.

In a joint statement released Wednesday, the groups said that the 2019 decision by then Ombudsman Samuel Martires cast doubt on the integrity of the Philippine justice system and dampened public hopes for accountability.

‘In this case, public disclosure was clearly warranted. Not doing so deprived the public of access to vital information, and the parties involved of their lawful remedies,’ read the joint statement by the Makati Business Club, the Justice Reform Initiative, the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines and the Management Association of the Philippines.

‘Such secrecy undermines confidence in the justice system and sends a dangerous signal that decisions affecting public accountability may be quietly undone, and the people can be kept in the dark,’ it continued.

Call for action

To promote transparency within the government, the groups also pushed for the creation of a public registry of decisions and resolutions that involve public officials.

‘Democracy and public accountability can only work if there are consequences to violating the law. The Ombudsman, by standing by its sworn duty, can stop the impunity of corruption, be a champion of justice, and deliver on the promise of a government for the people,’ they said.

The dismissal that Martires had overturned pertained to Villanueva’s alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) in 2008, when he was still a member of the House of Representatives.

The reversal was only made public when the new Ombudsman, Jesus Crispin Remulla, took office.

Priscilla Merielles and Drita Ziri have won Miss Earth close to two decades apart, but the two queens share a common belief for the international pageant that aims to help protect the planet.

Speaking with Inquirer Entertainment at a recent event with the reigning queens, Meirelles shared how amazed she was to see how the candidates get better every year.

‘We can see that the level goes up, and up, and up. I honestly don’t know where it’s gonna stop,’ said the first Miss Earth winner from Brazil, who was crowned 21 years ago in Manila in 2004.

‘When it comes to speaking your mind, and have a beautiful heart, I think that’s a universal language. And I do think that all the Miss Earth winners, and majority of the candidates do carry that kind of trait,’ Meirelles continued.

Ziri, Albania’s first Miss Earth winner who was crowned in Vietnam in 2023, is back in Manila and talked about the pageant’s legacy at the recent preliminary judging.

‘I think that each queen has brought someting different, but every queen stood to the core of Miss Earth, which is environmental awareness,’ the host and model told Inquirer Entertainment.

She also said that the Miss Earth pageant has held onto its purpose ‘in the best way possible,’ contributing its platform for the ladies to serve as ‘beauties for a cause.’

Meirelles shared the same sentiment when she said, ‘The most significant legacy of the Miss Earth pageant is actually to empower women with brains to come forward and advocate for what matters, which in my opinion is really Mother Earth.’ She looked back on her childhood in Brazil, growing up surrounded by greeneries and breathing fresh air, and how today’s reality no longer reflect that environment.

‘The way that it can actually make an impact being a beaty pageant, being this kind of platform that attracts a lot of eyes because of the beauty of the girls, but what they bring home are much more than that. It really is the power of changing people’s hearts, and make them act and do something about it,’ Meirelles explained.

She also expressed her gratitude to Carousel Productions, the organizer of the Miss Earth pageant, for treating her like family. ‘Thank you for embracing me, for believing in me. It’s very important as a reigning queen that you have that support, and you have kindness around you. And that’s what made it possible for me to stay in this country, to love this country,’ she said.

After relinquishing her crown to Venezuela’s Alexandra Braun in Manila in 2005, Meirelles embarked on a career in the Philippine entertainment industry and later established her own family in the country.

The Miss Earth pageant is marking its 25th year of promoting environmental awareness. Reigning queen Jessica Lane of Australia is set to crown her successor tonight, Nov. 5, at the Cove Manila club of Okada Manila in Parañaque City.

Event host and development consultant Joy Barcoma is hoping to post the Philippines’ fifth Miss Earth victory, following Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015) and Karen Ibasco (2017).

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. Antonio Tinio has called for an investigation into the flood control projects in Davao City’s first district, citing alleged ‘red flags’ discovered by his team in 80 out of 121 projects.

These allegedly anomalous public works cost P4 billion.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, Tinio reported the findings of his team’s analysis of projects within Davao’s first district – under Rep. Paolo Duterte – after checking documents requested from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the agency’s website, and the National Expenditures Program and General Appropriations Act from 2019 to 2022.

The analysis spanned flood control projects along the Davao River and the Matina River.

According to Tinio, his team found a pattern of irregularities – like overpricing, duplication of projects, and even ghost projects – that merit an investigation.

‘Our analysis reveals a pattern of irregularities that demands explanation and accountability. There are indicators that point to ghost projects, double funding, location changes, gross overpricing, and contracts awarded without clear specifications,’ Tinio said.

Tinio gave five categories for classifying the red-flagged projects:

Total Overlap: Two contracts worth P135.14 million funded construction on identical river sections, with one 2019 project covering a section of the Davao River, while a 2020 project covered the same section plus additional areas.

Double Funding: Two contracts worth P115.09 million were awarded to different contractors for the exact same project location (‘revetment [facing of barriers like stones or concrete slope to protect a wall] Davao River at the Davao River Bridge upstream section’)

Changed Location and Shortchanging: Nine contracts worth P484 million were implemented at different locations than specified in the General Appropriations Act (GAA), often with significantly reduced coverage.

For example, one GAA item allocated P30 million for 375 meters of revetment , but the actual contract covered only 120 meters-a shortfall of 255 meters while charging P161,250 per meter, instead of the budgeted P80,000.

Awarded Contracts Without Details: A staggering 62 contracts worth P3.4 billion were awarded without proper specifications (such as exact location and length) in official records, making verification and accountability difficult.

Awarded Contracts Not in GAA: Ten contracts worth P622.5 million were implemented despite having no corresponding line items in the approved national budget.

Tinio said the team flagged 54 of the 68 implemented projects along the Davao River, which was worth P2.6 billion, while 26 out of the 28 implemented projects near the Matina River worth P1.7 billion allegedly showed irregularities as well.

‘So basically, we saw through a scan of flood control projects in Davao – and this is just partial – that there are disturbing indications of irregularity. And there is a huge possibility of ghost projects [.] Clearly there is overpricing, and other indications of anomalies,’ Tinio said.

‘That’s why we need a deeper probe on these projects, especially since the people are calling for accountability for everyone, and this includes the Dutertes and their use of public funds, in this case, flood control and other infrastructure projects,’ he added.

Inquirer has reached out to the office of Rep. Duterte for his response regarding Tinio’s allegations, but it has not issued a statement as of posting time.

Dutertes vs Tinio

Aside from claims of irregularities, Tinio noted that some of the projects were constructed by companies linked to the controversial Discaya couple, while contracts were supposedly awarded to allies and relatives of Senator Bong Go and Vice President Sara Duterte.

Rep. Duterte and Vice President Duterte are the children of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who was a long-time Davao City mayor before his rise to national prominence.

Go, meanwhile, has been an aide of the older Duterte up to the first half of the latter’s presidency.

Tinio said he will file a resolution calling for a congressional investigation into these anomalies.

‘The Filipino people deserve answers about how P4.66 billion in public funds was spent-or misspent,’ he said.

‘This is about ensuring that every peso of public funds meant to protect our communities from flooding actually serves that purpose. Transparency and accountability must apply equally, whether in Bulacan, Davao, or anywhere else in our country,’ he added.

Tinio and Rep. Duterte have been engaged in a verbal feud since the ACT Teachers solon backed the House committee on public accounts’ looming investigation into the Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project.

Duterte on Monday night claimed that Tinio has been ironically silent on corruption within the current administration despite his calls for a probe on the controversial Manila Bay Dolomite Beach project – which was implemented during the term of former President Duterte.

According to Rep. Duterte, such silence shows that Tinio’s political bloc Makabayan is subservient to the current administration.

But Tinio on Tuesday said it appears Rep. Duterte is ignorant of what Makabayan has stood for, telling him that the use of Google as a search engine is free of charge – so that Rep. Duterte can check his group’s previous statements and initiatives against corruption.

A quick search on social media and search engines would show that Makabayan has called out the government, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate, over issues involving the 2025 budget – and even voted against the budget bills.

After claims of possible issues in the then-proposed 2025 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), the former roster of Makabayan – former ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, former Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and former Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel – said that the bicameral conference committee should convene again to address alleged allocation issues.

In December 2024, Makabayan – particularly Castro and Tinio – said that the 2025 budget failed to give priority to the education sector, contradicting provisions in the 1987 Constitution.

Castro and Tinio said Marcos’ veto of P194 billion line items in the budget was just a ‘deceptive maneuver to create an illusion of constitutional compliance.’

Inflation held steady at 1.7 percent in October as food price increases slowed across the country, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Wednesday.

The latest figure stayed within the 1.4 percent to 2.2 percent forecast range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

With inflation remaining subdued, it reinforces expectations for additional policy rate cuts through the rest of the year and into 2026, as the BSP is seen maintaining a pro-growth stance to jolt the economy.

Based on the PSA report, softer price pressures on food, beverage and transportation made up for the increases in other consumer essentials.

On the other hand, prices of clothing, housing, communication and personal care increased at a faster pace in October.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Monday said the chamber is planning to approve a budget lower than the executive-proposed National Expenditure Program (NEP) for 2026.

The recommended NEP for 2026 amounts to P6.7 trillion.

‘Yes. lower budget, lower than the NEP. We saw a lot of items that can be removed. And the president also agreed that they can be removed,’ Sotto told reporters on the sidelines of the turnover of a fully equipped Mobile Clinic to the Senate on Wednesday.

Asked about the amount, Sotto said, ‘it’s very difficult to say at this point.’

The Senate leader stressed that the ‘single most important piece of legislation’ that the upper chamber needs to pass is the 2026 budget.

‘That’s the most important. We need to pass a clean 2026 budget under my watch as far as the Senate is concerned. That’s my primary objective now,’ he emphasized.

‘I don’t allow (other issues) to stymie the work of the Senate, especially the Office of the Senate President,’ he said.

He added that senators intend to hold budget deliberations from Monday to Friday when plenary session resumes next week.

‘That’s our plan. As a matter of fact, as we speak, I’m about to meet Senator Sherwin Gatchelian to discuss that, to discuss certain matters,’ Sotto mentioned.

Gatchalian, the Senate Committee on Finance chair, earlier said he plans to sponsor the budget bill in the plenary on November 12.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday said the chamber will block any ‘alien’ provisions that may surface during the bicameral conference committee’s discussions on the proposed P6.7-trillion national budget for 2026.

According to him, there is already an agreement in the Senate to make the budget process open and transparent all the way to the bicameral level and to the enrolled bill.

It is now a matter of figuring out how to go about it, Lacson said. ‘But the initial step is that no ‘alien’ provision can be inserted into the disagreeing provisions.’

‘For easier monitoring, we’ll just limit ourselves to preparing a matrix or juxtaposing the House version against the Senate version, and we’ll confine ourselves to synchronizing or reconciling the disagreeing provisions,’ he said.

‘So at least along that line, we’re in agreement, and that’s a good step toward making the passage of the budget transparent – all the way to the bicam and up to the enrolled bill,’ Lacson added.

He also vowed to scrutinize further the 2026 budget once it reaches the plenary, particularly the P255 billion cut from the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the earlier reported doubling of allocations for farm-to-market road (FMR) projects.

University of Santo Tomas’ woes from the free throw line continued Wednesday.

UST shot itself in the foot again with 24 missed shots from the charity stripe in a heartbreaking 89-88 loss to University of the Philippines for its fourth consecutive loss in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

‘Regarding our free throws, I know my teammates work on it but it’s been our problem for the past games,’ UST guard Amiel Acido said after the Growling Tigers lost on a game-winner for the second straight time.

‘We know that even if we make mistakes, miss free throws, we continue to fight back. That’s what we talked about after this.’

Ironically, Acido could’ve given the Growling Tigers a much-needed win after his pair of free throws put the on top, 88-87, with 27 seconds left.

But the Fighting Maroons had the final say with Harold Alarcon knocking down a jumper to win the game with 22 ticks to go.

Collins Akowe, who gave UP fits in their season-opening duel last September, had his way anew with 26 points and 16 rebounds, but he also hurt his team by going 10-of-20 at the line.

In the Tigers’ last three games, they’ve only made 49 out of 93 attempts from the free throw line. They shot 52 free throws against the Maroons and still lost. They went 17-of-27 in a 97-96 loss to Adamson exactly a week ago.

‘Sometimes, I don’t know as well, but we always have a next play mentality,’ said Acido, who actually shot well from the line, making five out of six.

‘Automatic. We need to do extra work on our free throws because those situations earlier, those were heavy. That would’ve given us the win. Hopefully, we fix it.’

Once one of the best teams in the league this season, UST is now in danger of missing the Final Four at 5-5 with only four games left in the elimination round.

Eight police officers from the Eastern Police District’s (EPD) Special Operations Unit have been granted temporary liberty after posting bail in connection with the alleged kidnapping for ransom and theft of a Chinese businessman’s P75 million in cash and valuables last April in Las Piñas.

In an order dated November 3, the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 197 granted the petitions for bail after the alleged victim, Li Jie, failed to testify in court ‘despite having been afforded numerous opportunities to do so.’

The eight officers – four staff sergeants, two corporals, and two patrolmen – were tagged in the April 2 unauthorized operation that led to the arrest of Li, which was actually a case of mistaken identity.

The policemen allegedly took around P75-million worth of cash and jewelry from Li’s house.

Li eventually executed an affidavit accusing the policemen of kidnapping for ransom and theft. However, he failed to appear and testify in court.

‘His absence on the witness stand, being the most crucial witness in this kidnapping case, substantially weakens the opposition to the petitions for bail,’ the court said.

‘It bears emphasis that from the evidence presented so far, only Li Jie can firmly testify on the circumstances surrounding the alleged kidnapping,’ the court said.

Another Chinese citizen was also supposed to testify for the prosecution; however, he also failed to appear in court.

‘Without his testimony, the prosecution’s opposition to the petitions for bail is considerably weakened,’ the court said.

The court also discounted the testimony of the prosecution’s main witness, Col. Glenn Lomogan, then EPD’s Deputy District Director.

The court said Lomogan was merely an arresting officer and ‘does not possess personal knowledge of the actual circumstances about the alleged crime.’

The accused have posted P300,000 bail each.

The court clarified that the granting of bail is a provisional conclusion and not a final pre-judgment. The trial will begin on Dec. 10, 2025.

The latest tourism numbers have not given Filipinos much reason to smile these days, with foreign arrivals at the end of September this year falling by 2.37 percent to 4.33 million.

Sports tourism, however, may give the sector a much-needed shot in the arm, thus the private sector’s warm welcome to the formation of the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee that will oversee all government efforts to promote sports tourism locally and globally.

According to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), ‘the development of sports tourism in the country will not only strengthen the Philippines’ position as a premier international sports destination, but also generate employment, attract investments, stimulate local economies and contribute to infrastructure and tourism development.’

‘The biggest tourism events in the world are sports events. Sports is a multibillion industry and the Philippines can absolutely position itself as a sports hub in the Southeast Asian Region,’ said PSC chief Patrick Gregorio, citing the successful hosting of the Fiba Men’s Basketball World Championship in 2023 and the FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championship.

This month, the Philippines will also host the Fifa Futsal Women’s World Cup and the Junior World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, with more high-profile events to follow.

Among those applauding the issuance of Administrative Order No. 38 is Lance Gokongwei, president and chief executive officer of JG Summit Holdings and lead of the Tourism Sector Group (TSG) of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).

During a meeting with President Marcos at Malacañang on Sept. 30, the PSAC-TSG recommended adopting a tourism marketing strategy anchored on sports.

Given his active participation in PSAC, Gokongwei may likely end up being one of the private sector representatives in the newly formed committee that was provided the exciting mandate to make sports tourism a significant contributor to economic growth. -Tina Arceo-Dumlao

Don’t get scammed

With incomes pressured by high prices and stock market investments going south, Filipinos may find themselves more inclined to chase extra high returns, leaving them vulnerable to scams.

Thus the timely warning from Ty-led Metrobank to ‘invest wisely, not hastily.’

Be extra careful of investment scams that often appear legitimate, promising high returns with little to no risk, it said.

In a message to its clients, Metrobank said scammers may pose as company representatives or investment agents through social media, messaging apps or phone calls, offering quick, ‘guaranteed’ profits to earn trust. They will sound convincing and may even ask you to invite others to invest.

But once they get your money, they will disappear.

So don’t be a victim. If the offer sounds too good to be true, save yourself from financial disaster and turn it down quick.

Ayala Corp. managing director Mariana Zobel de Ayala and Robinsons Land Corp. CEO Mybelle Aragon-GoBio landed on Forbes’ list of ‘Asia’s Power Businesswomen 2025’, a cohort feted for their achievements and proven track records.

All women listed this year are newcomers as Forbes Asia magazine expanded its network of outstanding corporate leaders making their mark across a wide range of industries.

‘The women on this year’s Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen list are not just adapting to change, but actively shaping the future of the region’s business landscape,’ said Rana Wehbe Watson, editorial director at Forbes Asia.

‘Some are forging paths in hot sectors like data centers, semiconductors and rare earths, while others are guiding their family businesses to new heights.’

Zobel and Aragon-Gobio are the only two Filipinas who made the cut this year. Both are likewise Inquirer’s ‘Women of Power’ honorees.

The list of Asia’s Power Businesswomen includes other distinguished leaders selected across the region: Kuok Hui Kwong, CEO of Shangri-La Asia; Hindustan Unilever’s first woman CEO Priya Nair; Margaret Kao, chair and CEO of Taipei-based Marketech International; HSBC Hong Kong CEO Maggie Ng; Amanda Lacaze, managing director and CEO of Lynas Rare Earths; Temasek chief financial officer Png Chin Yee; Chung Yoo-kyung, head of Shinsegae Inc., South Korea’s largest department store chain;Jane Sun, CEO of Trip.com Group and Jamie Khoo, DayOne Data Centers CEO.

‘Shaping the future of Ayala’

Zobel, 37, is seen ‘shaping the future’ of Ayala, the Philippines’ oldest conglomerate. The eighth-generation Zobel scion handles the leasing and hospitality business of the property arm, Ayala Land.

Forbes magazine cited the $1.5-billion program of Zobel’s team to refresh Ayala Land’s extensive portfolio of malls, offices and hotels. The shopping mall portfolio is expected to expand its gross leasable area by a third to 2.9 million square meters by 2028.

She is also seen on top of the $500-million project to double Ayala Land’s hotel room inventory to 8,000 by 2030.

‘There is power in the choices that the modern Filipina consumer makes, especially in today’s era of endless options,’ Zobel wrote in a commentary published by Inquirer on March 21, in celebration of Women’s Month.

‘In the workplace, I believe in the power that diversity, equity and inclusion have in an organization. Including people’s unique perspectives and backgrounds helps us unlock the very best in our people and add value to the communities where we work and live,’ she said.

Making history

Aragon-GoBio, 52, made history as the first woman and non-Gokongwei family member to lead Robinsons Land Corp.

She was handpicked to helm the property developer after long-time president Frederick Go had agreed to join the Marcos Cabinet as investment and economic affairs czar.

‘Success is, and should always be, determined by capability, vision and execution, not identity. Leadership in real estate has traditionally been male-dominated, but I don’t see my role through the lens of gender,’ Aragon-GoBio earlier said.

From establishing the high-rise buildings division to spearheading the development of mixed-use estates, her fingerprints can be found on many of RLC’s most successful ventures.

Aragon-GoBio, who has been with Robinsons Land for three decades, is now seen leading a five-year, 125-billion-peso expansion plan for the property developer.

By 2030, she aims to double net income to P25 billion, boost the number of malls to 69 from 55, and grow its office portfolio by 50 percent to 1.2 million square meters of leasable space, Forbes noted.

The road map also includes a 25-percent increase in hotel rooms to 5,300, alongside the doubling logistics capacity and building new mixed-use estates, it added.