Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

No major untoward incidents were recorded in this year’s commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, or ‘Undas,’ according to the Philippine National Police (PNP).

‘Nationwide monitoring showed 1,345,116 visitors across public and private cemeteries, with no recorded violations, arrests, or disorder,’ the PNP said in a statement Sunday night.

‘The Undas 2025 commemoration remained generally peaceful with zero major untoward incidents recorded across the country,’ it added.

The national police force, however, noted that seven ‘minor, isolated’ incidents were recorded, including a drowning case in Central Luzon, an illegal gambling case and a grave threat case in Calabarzon, a physical injury incident in the Bicol Region, a theft case, and an illegal drug use case in Metro Manila

‘All incidents were immediately responded to by concerned police stations and did not affect the overall peaceful situation,’ the PNP maintained.

It added that crowd movements in both memorial parks and transport hubs were smooth.

The PNP previously said it was on heightened alert for the commemoration of Undas from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, adding that over 50,000 police officers were deployed nationwide.

Police are searching for three men who shot dead an Indian national on Sunday afternoon in front of a variety store in Sultan Kudarat town in Maguindanao del Norte.

Lt. Colonel Jopy Ventura, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), said Jagmeet Singh, an Indian moneylender and resident of Barangay Rosary Heights 10 here, was collecting money from his borrowers about 3:30 p.m. on Sunday when three men on board a motorbike arrived and shot him in the head three times.

Ventura said the attack happened in front of a roadside store in Barangay Limbo, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte.

The victim died on the spot and the suspects, based on witnesses’ accounts, took the victim’s sling bag that contained an undetermined amount of collection.

Police said that money could be the motive of the attack as the suspects took away the victim’s sling bag containing his collections.

Some local government units and schools across the country suspended classes on Tuesday, Nov. 4, amid the effects of Typhoon Tino (international name ‘Kalmaegi’).

Tino was last spotted 170 kilometers (kms) east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar while moving westward at 25 km per hour (kph).

Many places in Visayas and Mindanao are now already at Signal No. 4, as Tino is expected to make landfall in Homonhon Island or Dinagat Islands by Monday evening.

Below is the list of areas that have declared suspension of classes for Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Eastern Visayas

Samar – all levels (public and private)

Northern Samar – all levels (public and private)

Eastern Samar – all levels (public and private)

Southern Leyte – all levels (public and private)

Leyte – all levels (public and private)

Biliran

Culaba – all levels (public and private)

Cabucgayan – all levels (public and private)

Almeria – all levels (public and private)

Maripipi – all levels (public and private)

Caibiran – all levels (public and private)

Naval – all levels (public and private)

Central Visayas

Cebu province

Alcantara – all levels (public and private)

Alegria – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Aloguinsan – all levels (public and private

Argao – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Asturias – all levels (public and private)

Carcar City – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Carmen – all levels (public and private)

Compostela – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Consolacion – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Cordova – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Daanbantayan – all levels (public and private)

Dalaguete – all levels (public and private)

Ginatila – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Liloan – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Malabuyoc – all levels (public and private)

Naga City – all levels (public and private)

Poro – all levels (public and private)

Ronda – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

San Fernando – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public only)

San Francisco – all levels (public and private)

Sibonga – all levels (public and private)

Talisay City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Cebu City – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Lapu-Lapu City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Bohol – all levels (public and private)

Western Visayas

Aklan

Balete – all levels (public and private)

Ibajay – all levels (public and private)

Kalibo – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Malay – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

New Washington – all levels (public and private)

Libertad – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Antique

Caluya – face-to-face classes only, preschool to senior high school (public and private)

Libertad – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Pandan – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Patnongon – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

San Jose de Buenavista – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Sibalom – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Anini-y – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Barbaza – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Bugasong – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Culasi – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Hamtic – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Tibiao – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Tobias Fornier – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Valderrama – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Capiz

Maayon – preschool to senior high school (public and private)

Panitan – all levels (public and private)

Pontevedra – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Roxas City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Dumarao – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Ivisan – all levels (public and private)

Jamindan – all levels (public and private)

Iloilo province

Batad – all levels (public and private)

Carles – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Estancia – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Oton – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Pavia – all levels (public and private)

Sara – all levels (public and private)

Balasan – all levels (public and private)

Leon – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Concepcion – all levels (public and private)

Pototan – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

San Dionisio – all levels (public and private)

Iloilo City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private) until Nov. 5

Negros Island Region

Negros Occidental

Bago City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Don Salvador Benedicto – all levels (public and private)

La Carlota City – all levels (public and private)

Manapla – all levels (public and private)

Moises Padilla – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Pulupandan – all levels (public and private)

Sagay City – all levels (public and private)

Toboso – all levels (public and private)

Cadiz City – all levels (public and private)

Enrique B. Magalona – all levels (public and private)

Sagay City – all levels (public and private)

Toboso – all levels (public and private)

Victorias City – all levels (public and private)

San Carlos City – all levels (public and private)

Calatrava – all levels (public and private) until Nov. 6

Silay City – all levels (public and private)

Talisay City – all levels (public and private)

Murcia – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Valladolid – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Pontevedra – all levels (public and private)

San Enrique – all levels (public and private)

Isabela – all levels (public and private)

Hinigaran – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

La Castellana – all levels (public and private)

Binalbagan – all levels (public and private)

Himamaylan City – all levels (public and private)

Cauayan – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Ilog – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Kabankalan City – all levels (public and private)

Candoni – all levels (public and private)

Hinoba-an – all levels (public and private)

Bacolod City – face-to-face classes only, all levels (public and private)

Caraga Region

Dinagat Island – all levels (public and private)

A driver and his helper were severely injured after their truck with hazardous materials rammed a tree in Barangay Old Cabalan, Olongapo City, on Monday.

Reports said the truck went out of control, crashed into parked vehicles, and eventually collided with a tree.

The front portion of the truck was destroyed, and the victims were trapped inside until rescuers pulled them out and rushed them to a hospital.

Cleanup operations are ongoing at the site, and containment measures have been initiated as the truck was carrying soda ash, also known as sodium carbonate. The hazardous chemical is commonly used in glass manufacturing, detergents, and chemical production. It poses health risks due to its alkaline properties, which can cause eye, skin, and respiratory irritation or burns upon exposure

The annual commemoration of the death of local hero Apolinario de la Cruz, more popularly known as Hermano Puli, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4, at his shrine along the Maharlika Highway in Tayabas City, was canceled due to bad weather.

‘Due to inclement weather, the scheduled program at the Hermano Puli shrine has been canceled. It will instead be held as a Holy Mass at the Minor Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel in Tayabas City,’ the Quezon provincial government announced in an advisory in Filipino posted on Facebook Monday morning.

Authorities urged participants to attend the commemorative mass at the new venue.

‘Let us continue to unite and take part in this historic commemoration as a tribute to Hermano Puli,’ the provincial government said.

Only members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Southern Luzon Command based in Camp Nakar, Lucena City, were to conduct the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the De la Cruz monument in Barangay Isabang, Tayabas City.

Malacañang earlier declared Nov. 4 a special non-working holiday in Quezon province to mark the 184th death anniversary of Hermano Puli.

Each year, local government leaders, military and police officials, and civic groups gather to offer flowers at De la Cruz monuments in Tayabas City and Lucban town.

Apolinario de la Cruz was born on July 22, 1815, in Lucban town. Aspiring to be a priest, he was rejected by Spanish friars because he was a native ‘indio’.

At 17, he founded the Cofradía de San José, a religious brotherhood that drew thousands of followers from Tayabas and nearby provinces, including Laguna, Batangas, Cavite, and parts of Bicol.

Spanish authorities branded the movement as subversive, forcing De la Cruz and his followers to go into hiding.

On Nov. 1, 1841, Spanish soldiers attacked their stronghold. De la Cruz was later captured and executed on Nov. 4 in Tayabas.

His body was cut into pieces, and his head was displayed on a pole to serve as a warning to his followers.

Historians say De la Cruz’s defiance and martyrdom inspired the later nationalist awakening that led to the martyrdom of priests Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora – whose deaths further ignited the Filipinos’ fight for freedom from Spanish rule

Ten towns in this province were placed under Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal No. 1 on Monday due to Typhoon Tino.

These towns are Bulalacao, Mansalay, Roxas, Bongabong, Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, Socorro, Pola, and Victoria, according to the latest advisory from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

Boat trips at the Calapan City Pier remain in normal operation, but the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has advised shipping companies to stay on alert for a possible upgrading of the storm signal.

Fastcraft vessels, however, have already suspended their operations as a precautionary measure

Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon has formally signed an order seeking to lower the prices of various construction materials used in government projects, which he said will bring an estimated P60 billion worth of savings in the 2026 budget.

In a press conference on Monday, Dizon announced that prices for asphalt, steel sheet piles, gravel, sand, reinforced steel bars grade 60 and grade 40, cement, and ready-mix concrete will now be lowered and aligned with current market value prices, following the directive given by President Marcos.

He revealed through a presentation that for certain government projects, some materials were found to be priced higher than the market value by as much as 75 percent.

Dizon explained that this was based on the findings of a team led by Public Works Undersecretary Lara Esquibil who examined the prices of various construction materials in the market by checking with accredited suppliers, among other methods.

For asphalt, he noted that the average cost was P13,863.85 per metric ton when used in government projects. However, upon checking the market value, it was found that the material costs only P6,961 per MT, meaning that prices were raised by as much as 50 percent.

These prices vary per region, although most areas had prices higher than the market value, Dizon noted, with Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) having the highest variance between the cost of asphalt in government projects and the actual market price.

‘In Region 4-B, for example. in the projects we saw in Mindoro, P23,650 was the price of asphalt per metric ton. But based on what we saw in the market, it was less than P6,000. The variance was 75 percent,’ Dizon said.

Given a market price of P5,937, he noted that projects in Central Luzon had asphalt that cost P14,006.81 per MT. For projects in the National Capital Region, asphalt costs P13,938 per MT, while in Calabarzon it costs P13,525, and in the Bicol region it was priced at P12,731, all higher than the market value by more than 50 percent.

For steel sheet piles, the average cost in public works was P62 per kilogram, but it was found that the actual market value was only P40 per kg. Caraga posted the highest price for steel sheet piles at P85, which was 57 percent higher than the market price of P36.61.

Also higher than the stated market price were the steel sheet piles in Soccsksargen, which cost P76 per kilogram, Davao (P69), Northern Mindanao (P63), and Zamboanga (P61).

Gravel, another construction material, costs P1,014 per cubic meter when used in government projects, but its market price was found to be only P690. Caraga similarly had the highest price for gravel, costing P1,605.90 per cubic meter compared to the market value of P601.

Also higher than the market value were the prices of gravel in Mimaropa, where it costs P1,436 compared to the market price of P606; NCR, P1,138 compared to P590; and Western Visayas, P1,344 compared to P714.

Sand used in government projects had an average price of P951 per cubic meter, but it was found to only cost P650 based on current market value.

The material was most expensive in NCR, where it costs P1,314 compared to its market value of P450. This was followed by Caraga, with sand priced at P1,406, compared to the market value of P556, and Mimaropa, at P1,538, compared to P620.

On average, reinforced steel bars, grade 60, were priced at P54 per kg in government projects, while their market price was P37. On the other hand, reinforced steel bars, grade 40, was priced at P51.65 per kg when its market price was only P36.

Moreover, cement was priced at P236 for each 40-kilo bag when its market value was only P213, while ready-to-mix concrete cost P5,781 per cubic meter when its market price was P5,402.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Morico on Monday said charges were filed last Tuesday before the Department of Justice against at least 97 individuals over violent incidents during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rallies.

The cases were for violations of the Revised Penal Code, particularly Articles 136, 139, and 142, which pertain to conspiracy and proposal to commit rebellion or insurrection, sedition, and inciting to sedition, respectively, Morico said in a press briefing at Camp Crame.

Who are the respondents? The CIDG director answered, ‘The instigators, including yung mga nagfu-fund and those who are behind the planning. Ongoing yung investigation natin. Walang sisinuhin.’

(The instigators, including those who funded it and those who are behind the planning. Our investigation is ongoing. No one will be spared.)

Last Thursday, however, Morico said the CIDG is filing charges against 40 persons.

Asked to clarify, Philippine National Police (PNP) public information chief Brig. Gen. Randulf Tuaño said the cases against the 97 individuals are apart from possible cases against the 40 persons.

‘This is just the first batch. Those who have been issued a subpoena are in batch two,’ Tuaño explained.

While the CIDG has consistently declined to identify the supposed respondents, at least six individuals have either identified themselves online or have been identified through copies of the subpoenas:

Aldrin Kitsune – film student, De La Salle University – College of Saint Benilde; officer, anti-corruption group Kabataan Kontra Korapsyon

Park Alamada Pangawilan – vlogger, also known as Kuya Park

Jacob Baluyot – journalism student, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP), Sta Mesa; associate editor, PUP student publication The Catalyst

Joaquin Buenaflor – political science student, University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman; chairperson, UP Diliman University Student Council

Tiffany Brillante – political science student, PUP Sta. Mesa; president, PUP Sentral na Konseho ng Mag-aaral

Harry Angping – former Manila 3rd District representative; former chairman, Philippine Sports Commission

All six respondents have denied involvement in the riots.

The Miss Earth pageant is celebrating 25 years of promoting environmental awareness this year, and the new queen will be crowned on Nov. 5 at the Cove Manila club of Okada Manila in Parañaque City.

Eighty-two delegates from different countries and territories are competing in this year’s pageant, hoping to succeed last year’s winner, Jessica Lane from Australia.

The ceremonies will be streamed live on the Miss Earth Facebook page and YouTube channel at 6:30 P.M. A delayed telecast is scheduled on Nov. 7 on the Kapamilya Channel.

Aside from the new Miss Earth titleholder, three more ‘elemental queens’ will be proclaimed, and will receive the Miss Earth-Air, Miss Earth-Water, and Miss Earth-Fire titles.

One delegate may get closer to the crown through the help of fans via an online poll for ‘Miss People’s Choice’ on the Eventista platform. The winner will earn a guaranteed slot in the semifinal round.

As this is the 25th edition of the Miss Earth pageant, 25 delegates will be chosen to advance to the next round of competition during the finale.

Since its inception in 2001, the Miss Earth pageant has served as a platform for promoting environmental awareness, and pushing for projects that encourage a more sustainable lifestyle.

The winners and the delegates are dubbed ‘beauties for a cause’ and are expected to champion the pageant’s cause for the environment.

The Philippines is the most successful country in the Miss Earth pageant with four winners-Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017).

Event host and development consultant Joy Barcoma hopes to post the Philippines’ fifth win in the competition this year.

Aftershocks are expected following the magnitude 5.5 earthquake that jolted parts of Negros Occidental and nearby provinces early Monday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

Phivolcs said the earthquake struck at 3:06 a.m. 16 kilometers southeast of Candoni, Negros Occidental.

It is a tectonic earthquake, with an 89-kilometer depth of focus, Phivolcs added.

Phivolcs said the earthquake was also felt at Intensity IV in the following areas:

Candoni, Negros Occidental

Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental

Sibulan, Negros Oriental

Phivolcs also recorded the following instrumental intensities:

Intensity III

Jordan, Guimaras

Bago City, Negros Occidental

La Carlota City, Negros Occidental

Sipalay City, Negros Occidental

Intensity II

Malinao, Aklan

Culasi, Antique

San Jose, Antique

Sebaste, Antique

Valderrama, Antique

Nueva Valencia, Guimaras

Argao, Cebu

Cebu City

Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte

Liloy, Zamboanga Del Norte

Sindangan, Zamboanga Del Norte

Siocon, Zamboanga Del Norte

Dumingag, Zamboanga Del Sur

Intensity I

Anini-y, Antique

Jamidan, Capiz

Roxas City, Capiz

Tapaz, Capiz

San Lorenzo, Guimaras

Bacolod City

Talibon, Bohol

Asturias, Cebu

Talisay City, Cebu