Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) will file criminal complaints against public officials and contractors allegedly involved in flood control anomalies who are found to have committed tax violations.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said this in an ambush interview with reporters after meeting with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) at its office in Taguig City on Tuesday. According to Lumagui, the BIR is coordinating with the ICI and other government agencies to investigate the government officials and contractors named in the flood control probe for possible tax evasion.

‘As far as the BIR is concerned, we are looking at the tax angle here, which includes possible tax deficiencies and tax evasion as a criminal case. So for this particular criminal case, we will be the ones to file it. That’s why we will gather all the information involved in the ongoing investigations,’ Lumagui said in Filipino.

According to the BIR commissioner, the first criminal complaint may be filed this week or next, as the agency continues compiling comprehensive evidence on certain personalities.

‘Maybe this week or next, we will file some initial criminal cases. But again, these are not yet complete; we will only be filing cases on specific issues for now,’ he said. Lumagui also mentioned that there are already certain personalities who could serve as complainants in the cases they plan to file. ‘Even before, we had already checked the tax compliances, other information, and reported revenues. We are also conducting lifestyle checks on the contractors and other personalities being mentioned,’ he explained.

‘Billions of taxes being chased’

When asked how much in taxes the BIR is pursuing from personalities allegedly involved in flood control anomalies, Lumagui said, ‘Definitely in the billions.’

‘Because in a particular case, in just one taxable year for a single taxpayer, we already found a billion in tax evasion,’ the BIR commissioner noted.

‘As for the total amount, we still don’t know yet because our examination and collation of information and data from other government agencies are still ongoing,’ he added.

‘Pay for deficiency tax, be rotten to jail’

According to Lumagui, those found liable for tax evasion will face penalties, including payment of deficiency taxes, and may also face imprisonment depending on the amount evaded.

‘First, we will collect the deficiency tax-the amount they were supposed to pay,’ Lumagui said in Filipino. ‘Second, if it is found that there was criminal intent, such as fraud, a criminal case for tax evasion will also be filed. So they will pay the deficiency tax and face a criminal complaint.’ ‘If the Department of Justice prosecutes the case, the penalty could include imprisonment,’ he added, noting that those who evade billions in taxes may face more than 10 years in jail.

Nearly 1,000 Bulacan State University (BulSU) students staged their ‘Kick Back Kontra Korap’ protest on Tuesday (Sept 30), marching through government sites in this city despite heavy rain.

The rally began at the BulSU campus, passed the Bulacan Capitol and Malolos City Hall, but was cut short before reaching the office of First District Rep. Danilo Domingo.

Students urged Gov. Daniel Fernando and Mayor Christian Natividad to support calls for justice for flood victims, citing ‘ghost’ flood-control projects allegedly involving corrupt officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Last Saturday, nearly 1,000 residents, mostly young professionals and students, held a parallel protest in Paombong dubbed ‘Tindig Paombong.’ Convenor Alfredo Punzal demanded that Domingo personally explain the alleged P5 billion corruption in flood-control projects, saying his Facebook denial was not enough.

The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee earlier heard testimony from former DPWH officials linking Domingo and other Bulacan lawmakers to questionable projects. His district, which includes Malolos, Paombong, Hagonoy, Bulakan, Obando, and Calumpit, received nearly P9.5 billion in flood-control funds from 2022 to 2025.

Domingo has denied any involvement, insisting he neither participated in project implementation nor benefited from it.

Protest leaders, however, vowed to sustain their campaign, saying corruption worsens flooding and deprives communities of basic services.

At last week’s hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee on anomalous flood control projects, Orly Regala Guteza, a witness presented by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, testified that he delivered suitcases containing money to the residence of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and Rep. Rizaldy Co.

Shortly after he submitted his affidavit to the committee, lawyer Petchie Rose Espera, whose signature and notarial seal were in the document, issued a statement denying ‘.notarizing, signing or participating in the preparation of the said document.’

She further said the signature and notarial details attributed to her were falsified and unauthorized.

That disclaimer raised serious doubts about the truthfulness of Guteza’s statements, including the integrity of the people who had a hand in his sudden appearance in the hearing.

In an obvious effort at damage control, his handlers said that even if the notarization was falsified, his statements deserve consideration because he was sworn to by the committee before he read his affidavit.

Credibility

It is apparent that the attempt to make it appear that his statements were made under oath before a notary public was aimed at giving them the credibility usually accorded to or is enjoyed by notarized documents.

The common perception of those documents is that their contents are truthful or worthy of belief because their affiants know that they could be held liable for perjury if their statements were later proven false.

The unabashed falsification of a notarial certification submitted in a proceeding that had drawn and continues to draw public attention has added to the already diminished level of confidence in the trustworthiness of documents submitted to government offices and business establishments, in particular, banks and financial institutions.

In earlier times, when official and commercial papers that bore the signatures of the parties were submitted, the genuineness of the signatures was presumed and no additional documents were needed to authenticate them.

Not anymore.

The proliferation of fake and falsified documents, which has been made easy through the use of computer-generated signatures and other AI (artificial intelligence) techniques, no longer makes that trusting attitude acceptable.

Today, it is standard operating procedure that signatures in commercial or business documents must be accompanied by a photocopy of a government-issued identification card (or sometimes two depending on the significance of the document) of the signatory that bears his or her signature.

Signed thrice

And below that, the signatory must sign three times and indicate the date of his or her signing. These requirements are aimed at ensuring that the document was really signed by the person whose signature appears on it.

These requirements apply even if the document is notarized by a notary public or sworn to before a government employee who is authorized to authenticate documents.

With that incident in the Senate hearing, notarization may cease to be looked at as a reliable measure of the truthfulness or credibility of statements made in notarized documents. It looks like the threat of being held liable for perjury or making false statements under oath no longer makes telling the truth an essential element in the preparation and submission of sworn statements.

This would be unnerving for transactions that, for example, involve huge amounts of money or require compliance with some obligations in long-term contracts that are based on commitments made under oath.

In light of the misuse of the notarial process, some businesses cannot be faulted if they adopt stricter rules in the submission of documents that are required to be duly notarized.

That may include giving a copy of the notary’s notarial commission to make sure he or she is authorized to perform the notarial act and, like the signatories, a photocopy of a government-issued identification that bears his or her signature.

Aside from non-existent flood control projects, the Marcos administration will also look into the alleged ‘ghost’ farm-to-market roads (FMR) implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

In a briefing on Tuesday, Palace press officer Claire Castro said Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon is already doing his investigation about the FMRs.

Dizon told Malacañang that the DPWH is ‘also closely monitoring this issue because it really needs to be addressed at the soonest possible time.’

According to Castro, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Independent Commission on Infrastructure not to limit its investigation to flood control projects, but to all of government infrastructure.

Lodged under the budget of the Department of Agriculture (DA), FMRs are agricultural infrastructure designed to connect agricultural production areas to markets and major roads for efficient delivery of goods, and reduce transportation costs.

The DPWH is responsible for commissioning, bidding and constructing the FMRs identified and validated by the DA.

For 2026, the DA proposed a budget of P16 billion for FMRs.

On Sept. 18, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ordered a ‘sweeping audit’ of all FMR projects constructed in the past four years, amid the controversy surrounding flood control projects.

More than a week after, the DA discovered anomalous FMR projects in two provinces in Mindanao, based on the initial findings of its audit.

In an interview on dzBB on Tuesday, Tiu Laurel said two FMR ghost projects were found in Davao Occidental, and these structures were built in 2021 and 2022. /apl

Lip Sync Assassin walked away as one of the big winners at the recently concluded CinePride Film Festival in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Precious Paula Nicole, star of the short film, bagged the award for Best Lead Performance, while Jon Galvez was honored as Best Director. Nicole also got a Special Citation for Best Performance at the Sinag Maynila 2025 Awards Night. The win was celebrated as they returned to The Philippines through a press conference that featured a special screening of Lip Sync Assassin.

Nicole and Galvez shared the victory with the local film, LGBTQIA+, and drag communities. Nicole said that the role was something meant for her as she got the call from Galvez two weeks after she manifested the opportunity. Galvez, on the other hand, always thought that Nicole would be perfect for the movie while he was writing the script. ‘Complex nga ‘yung character ni Sampaguita pero kailangan puno siya ng puso kasi willing siyang ibigay ang lahat lahat para sa pamilya. And meron din akong nakitang parang magic kay Precious even when I was following her career in Drag Race na ‘yun eh all heart lagi ang binibigay niya.’

Lip Sync Assassin follows the story of Sampaguita, a drag queen who also works as a contract assassin so she can earn extra for her daughter and ill mother. Galvez tags it as a breadwinner story which partly resonates with his previous experience as an OFW based in Singapore. The movie also features Star Magic’s Argel Saycon plus drag queen favorite Hana Beshie. At the press conference, Nicole reflected on how she never says no to a challenge and hopes her recent milestone as an actress encourages more people to dream big. ‘Mahirap siya talaga, ako nga po after 20 years nangyari sa akin yung pag-arte, pero hindi ko binitawan.’ Lip Sync Assassin was screened at select movie houses all throughout the metro until the end of September thanks to Sinag Malaya 2025.

CinePride Film Festival was held last September 11-14, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. It serves as a global celebration of LGBTQIA+ stories through film debuts, workshops, and panel discussions. This year’s films featured international drag legends BenDelaCreme, Monét X Change, and Jinkx Monsoon.

Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon are expected to experience cloudy skies with chances of rain on Tuesday due to the effect of the easterlies, according to the state weather bureau.

Based on its morning forecast, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the easterlies, or the warm winds coming from the Pacific Ocean, are forecast to bring cloudy skies with scattered rains and thunderstorms to the following areas:

Metro Manila

Bicol Region

Bulacan

Rizal

Quezon

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms may persist in the rest of the country, also due to the easterlies.

Meanwhile, Pagasa weather specialist Obet Badrina said they are monitoring a cloud cluster outside the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) but noted that it currently does not have any direct effect on any part of the country.

‘We are monitoring it to see if it could possibly become a low-pressure area (LPA) in the next few days,’ Badrina said.

Aside from the cloud cluster, no cyclones or LPAs are currently being monitored inside or outside the PAR. /das

A Japanese company focused on providing assisted reproductive technology or fertility treatments will expand its services in the Philippines. This is through its upcoming facility housed within the Filinvest Group’s office building in Muntinlupa City.

Filinvest REIT Corp. (FILRT), the real estate investment trust unit of Filinvest Land Inc., on Monday, announced the entry of Conceive IVF Manila in its Filinvest One Building.

Conceive IVF is under Japan’s Kato Medical Group. It also has another fertility facility in Makati City.

‘This marks a significant step in further expanding and diversifying our tenant portfolio to include the sphere of health and wellness,’ FILRT president and CEO Maricel Brion-Lirio said in a statement.

‘This collaboration also reflects our dedication to offering spaces that cater to the evolving needs of various industries,’ Lirio added.

Conceive IVF managing director Kenki Okumura said the new facility would enable the company to ‘deliver enhanced fertility care and create a supportive environment for individuals and families in South Metro Manila.’

The Kato Medical Group has been offering assisted reproductive technology services for over 30 years, the company said on its website.

This comes as part of FILRT’s goal of diversifying its tenant mix.

In June, FILRT welcomed the Qatar Airways Group. It will set up its first Philippine office, also within Filinvest One.

Qatar Aviation Services said the building’s green infrastructure aligned with their ‘carbon-conscious aviation services.’ INQ

Kanlaon Volcano in Negros Island remained under Alert Level 2 on Tuesday, September 30, as the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported heightened activity over the past 24 hours.

In its latest summary observation report, Phivolcs said that Kanlaon continues to log increased unrest, with 31 volcanic earthquakes recorded from only seven quakes in the previous monitoring period.

Sulfur dioxide emissions – a colorless gas from magma releasing dissolved gases – also rose to 1,141 tons per day from 1,027 tons. Plumes reached 150 meters from the summit before drifting southwest.

Ground deformation is still inflated, which means that the ground around the volcano is swelling or bulging outward.

Alert level 2 remains raised on Kanlaon. This signifies moderate unrest with evidence of magma involvement.

Phivolcs warned of potential hazards, including sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions and possible magmatic activity.

Authorities reiterated that entry into the four-kilometer permanent danger zone is strictly prohibited, and flying any aircraft near the volcano should not be allowed. /das

After nearly two decades together, Hollywood couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have separated, despite the former’s effort to save their marriage, according to US media reports.

TMZ reported, citing close sources, that the pair had been living apart since early summer. Urban has spent much of the year on tour, while Kidman has been in London filming ‘Practical Magic 2.’

The outlet reported that Kidman has been taking care of their two daughters, Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret, stating, ‘Holding the family together through this difficult time since Keith has been gone.’

‘Keith has acquired his own residence in Nashville and has moved out of their family home,’ continued the outlet, with other reports stating that the actress has leaned heavily on her sister, Antonia, for support throughout the difficult months.

Multiple media outlets, including People magazine, also reported that the ‘Moulin Rouge!’ actress didn’t want the separation and had been fighting to save the marriage.

Kidman and Urban first met in 2005 at the G’Day USA gala in Los Angeles. They tied the knot in June the following year in a church ceremony in Sydney, Australia.

Back in June, Kidman celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary with a black-and-white photograph of herself cuddling up to Urban, captioning the Instagram post, ‘Happy Anniversary Baby.’

Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001, during which time they adopted two children, Bella and Connor.

Kidman is known for her award-winning performances in ‘The Hours,’ ‘Eyes Wide Shut,’ ‘The Others,’ ‘Practical Magic,’ and in television series such as ‘Big Little Lies.’

Urban, meanwhile, is recognized for his hits like ‘Somebody Like You’ and ‘Blue Ain’t Your Color.’ He is a multiple Grammy Award winner, a regular award recipient from the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music, and has served as a judge on ‘American Idol.’ /ra

Korean actor Lee Chae-min, star of the hit Netflix series ‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ is set to visit the Philippines, as well as other countries, for a fan meeting.

Details of his fan meet are yet to be announced, but Lee, who stars as the titular King Lee Heon in the series took to Instagram on Monday, Sept. 29, to express his gratitude to the viewers who supported the drama.

Lee also shared behind-the-scenes photos of himself with leading lady Im Yoon-ah.

‘I would like to thank everyone who has loved ‘Tyrant’s Chef.’ I am happy to see that everyone’s hard work has been receiving so much love. I hope this will remain in your memories forever,’ he wrote in Korean. Lee thanked his co-actors, director, and production team for putting the drama together. He also hoped that his character and Yeon-Ji-young (Im) would stay happy.

‘Once again, thank you very much to everyone who loved ‘Tyrant’s Chef’ and Lee Heon. And thank you to all the actors, staff, directors, writers, and those who brought this together,’ he said.

‘Lee Heon and Ji-young, please be happy forever. Ji-young, your cooking skills are the best. I will now make you bibimbap every morning,’ he added.

Achieving a double-digit rating in South Korea, ‘Bon Appetit, Your Majesty’ is currently the highest-rated K-drama on cable network tvN in 2025. A special episode is scheduled to be released on October 4, according to reports.