Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Senate inquiry witness Orly Guteza, the former Marine sergeant who claimed that he delivered suitcases packed with public works project kickbacks to certain lawmakers, may soon face criminal charges after a Manila court found his sworn statement to be falsified or containing the forged signature of a notary public.

In an October 24 order issued by the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 18, Executive Judge Carolina Icasiano-Sison said her office had referred the falsification incident to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for further investigation and filing of proper charges against Guteza.

The court said the DOJ’s action against Guteza may cover other persons who ‘actively participated in [the] falsification.’

Guteza appeared on Sept. 25 at the Senate blue ribbon committee hearing on flood control project anomalies. He was allowed to read his affidavit for the record after being presented to the body by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who said the witness was referred to him by former Rep. Mike Defensor.

Lacson wants him back

The following day, then committee chair Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed disapproval of what happened, saying the ‘surprise witness” was introduced ‘without courtesy of notice,’ and that Guteza’s background needed further checking.

On Tuesday, Lacson, who resigned as chair three weeks ago but is expected to retake the position when Congress resumes session next month, said Guteza would be asked to again face the panel.

A subpoena will be sent to Guteza ‘through the office’ of Marcoleta and Defensor, Lacson said in a statement.

‘They had a hand in presenting (him), so we hope they know how to contact Guteza,’ he said.

According to Lacson, Senate security videos show that Guteza stayed for about 30 minutes at Marcoleta’s office before going to the session hall for the morning hearing.

In the Manila RTC order, Judge Icasiano-Sison cleared notary public Petchie Rose Espera of any liability, saying her purported signature on Guteza’s affidavit was a forgery, making her a ‘victim’ in the case.

The order cited as basis the forensic analysis conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation showing that the signature on the affidavit and Espera’s standard signature ‘were not written by one and the same person.’

‘The act of falsifying a notary public’s signature constitutes a criminal offense under the Revised Penal Code. Such falsification undermines the integrity of the notarial process and poses a threat to the credibility of legal instruments executed before notaries public,’ the court pointed out.

All other persons who made use of or uttered the sworn statement signed by Guteza ‘shall be liable for falsification,’ it said, adding that ‘in the absence of a satisfactory explanation, one who is found in possession of a forged document and who used or uttered it is presumed to be the forger.’

Incident report

Hours after Guteza’s testimony and copies of his affidavit appeared on social media, Espera issued a statement denying she signed the document.

She later filed an incident report at the Manila RTC to clear her name, saying the forgery and her being dragged into the public works controversy were causing damage to her professional reputation.

Guteza has yet to make a public appearance since the Sept. 25 Senate hearing. He also did not show up in court despite being summoned twice in connection with Espera’s incident report.

Guteza claimed he was a former security consultant of then Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, one of the lawmakers being investigated over allegedly graft-tainted infrastructure projects.

In his sworn statement, he said he delivered millions of pesos in cash to the Taguig City residences of Co and then Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The former House leader dismissed the testimony as ‘a complete fabrication’ by a coached witness

All 24 senators have bared their Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net worth (SALNs) amid calls for transparency, but a University of the Philippines (UP) professor urged on Wednesday to release past SALNs for comparison and to identify inconsistencies.

‘We should backtrace all the data to see the inconsistencies that are being pointed out. We’re already releasing SALNs, might as well go back to the previous years since they took office,’ UP College of Media and Communications Professor Danilo Arao said in a press conference.

Arao also added that a significant increase in a public official’s net worth could have reasonable explanations, while some may be questionable if not contextualized.

‘Because there are also particularities. For example, there is a senator who has a prenuptial agreement with his very rich wife. You can understand that a little bit. But with others who are not clear about the context and then they say that their assets, liabilities and net worth are this small, you really wonder why that is,’ Arao explained.

This was prompted after some netizens questioned the numbers declared by public officials, citing the cost of personal items owned by senators. Others even claimed that the listed items on the SALNs may have been ‘doctored.’

In the same press conference, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Chair Teddy Casiño said that such comments, scrutinizing the documents are ‘precisely the point’ of releasing SALNs.

‘These comments: ‘Seems lacking? It’s too little’ That’s the point. There will now be that process of checking, and it will be harder to hide ill-gotten wealth,’ Casiño stated.

On Wednesday, Senators Imee Marcos, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Bato de la Rosa released their SALNs-the last three of the 24 to do so.

Senator Mark Villar declared the highest net worth amounting to P1.2 billion, followed by Senator Raffy Tulfo whose joint net worth with his wife CT-CIS party-list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo is P1.052 billion.

On the other hand, Senator Francis Escudero declared the lowest net worth of over P18.8 million as of December 31, 2024.

The Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will offer free rides to children under 18 on Monday, November 3 as the nation marks National Children’s Month, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, the DOTr said the free rides will be available from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

‘This is MRT-3’s response to the request of the National Council for the Welfare of Children for the special occasion, and serve as the line’s tribute to Filipino youth,’ MRT-3 management said.

Under Republic Act No. 10661, November is designated as National Children’s Month, an annual observance that seeks to raise awareness and uphold the rights and welfare of children across the nation.

Real estate giant DMCI Homes is banking on the resilience of the premium residential segment in expanding its upscale portfolio, this time targeting buyers looking for a new property or investment in Makati City.

The Consunji-led developer on Tuesday officially topped off the P10-billion Fortis Residences along Chino Roces Avenue, signaling the completion of the project structure. Unit turnover is scheduled in December 2027.

While the company has sold only 80 units of the total 576 available, DMCI Homes vice president for marketing Jan Venturanza said the premium residential segment had high potential.

‘We believe that even in the upscale segment, we can still offer the best value and quality. We felt that our strengths were there, we have our capabilities in design, engineering and construction,’ Venturanza noted, adding that they usually recorded higher sales once a project’s amenities were unveiled to potential buyers.

Middle income

DMCI Homes, whose core projects are in the middle income segment, is selling Fortis units at around P13 million to P38 million each. The price includes an air conditioning unit, digital door lock, water heater, and rain chute, among others, differentiating it from the developer’s projects in other segments.

The 37-story condominium features one-bedroom to three-bedroom units spanning 55 square meters (sq m) to around 150 sq m.

Apart from the residential tower, the project will also have One Fortis Plaza, an office building.

Fortis is the second project under DMCI Homes Exclusive, the developer’s luxury residential brand launched in 2016.

The two-tower Oak Harbor Residences along Jackson Avenue in Parañaque City is the first project under the brand.

Baguio City

DMCI Homes chair Isidro Consunji confirmed they were all set to launch a third luxury residential project in Baguio City, this time a low-rise, seven-story condominium.

‘We’re just waiting for permits . It’s very low density,’ Consunji said, adding that it would be located near Baguio Country Club and launched next year.

Units will also be priced higher than Fortis, especially since there will be fewer available, according to Consunji.

Richard Gomez couldn’t help but get emotional as he saw the faces of entertainment reporters moments before the media con of his upcoming film ‘Salvageland,’ which also stars Elijah Canlas.

‘Namiss ko na kayo. Naiiyak ako. I missed you guys. Namiss ko kayo talaga. Siyempre ang tagal kong artista, diba? Masarap bumalik sa home turf (I missed you all. I feel like crying. I missed you guys. Of course, I’ve been an actor for a long time, right? It feels so nice to be back at your home turf),’ he told the entertainment press, including Inquirer Bandera, while wiping off his tears.

The actor-turned-politician is one of the lead stars of the Lino Cayetano-helmed ‘Salvageland,’ which tells the story of a veteran policeman (Gomez) and his rookie son (Canlas). While the veteran has thoughts of leaving his post for good, the rookie still has the excitement to prove himself in his chosen field.

‘Na-interview ako sa labas. Na-overwhelm ako noong nakita ko ang old faces ng mga kaibigan ko, may emotions na lumabas sa’kin, I’m so happy to be back in the circle. Ito ‘yung kinalakihan ko eh,’ Gomez explained during the media con, when asked why he became emotional upon seeing the faces of the entertainment press.

(I was interviewed outside. I was overwhelmed when I saw the old faces of my friends. There were emotions that rushed from me, I’m so happy to be back in the circle. This is where I grew up.)

Since ‘Salvageland’ marks Gomez’s first film in seven years since ‘Three Words to Forever,’ he admitted that he was nervous when he got back into the grind of filmmaking after a long hiatus.

It took time before he adjusted to the working environment, but it was the professionalism of Cayetano and his co-stars that reminded him why he missed doing movies in the first place.

‘Kinakabahan ako kasi ang tagal ko nang hindi gumagawa ng mga pelikula,’ he said. ‘Very realistic, this story. I just came from being a mayor and kay Direk Lino na nag-mayor din dati. Alam na namin ang galawan nito and ang organization, alam namin ang trabaho ng isang pulis.’

(I’m nervous because I haven’t been making films in a long time. This story is very realistic. I just came from being a mayor and Direk Lino became a mayor in the past as well. We know the workings of the organizations involved, including the job of a policeman.)

Delving into the storyline, Gomez shared that the film talks about the things that policemen have to do at some point in their careers.

‘There are things na kailangang gawin ng isang pulis, and noong binigay sa’kin ang character, sakay na sakay [ito] sa’kin, and especially bilang mayor, meron kaming mga pulis na gusto mag-retire na. So alam na namin bakit gusto na nila mag-retire from the service. it’s very realistic,’ he said.

(There are things that policemen need to do, and when the character was given to me, I connected so much with it. Being a mayor once, we had policemen who wanted to retire. So we understand why they want to retire from the service. It’s very realistic.)

When asked if ‘Salvageland’ marks Gomez’s comeback in the entertainment industry for good, he said that it would come down to the script, director and potential co-actors.

‘I really enjoyed doing movies. I love the cinema. Ang lagi ko lang hinihintay is magandang script, magaling na director, magandang production, and magagaling na artista (What I’m waiting for is a good script, a good director, a good production, and great actors),’ he said.

The film – set for a Nov. 26 release – also stars Mon Confiado, Cindy Miranda, McCoy de Leon and Angela Morena.

More senators have disclosed the extent of their wealth following the Ombudsman’s decision to reverse the previous policy by lifting restrictions on public access to statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) of government officials.

Sen. Mark Villar declared the highest net worth among the 24 members of the chamber, at P1.26 billion as of Dec. 31, 2024. His younger sister, Sen. Camille Villar, reported a net worth of more than P362 million as of June 30, 2025.

Both siblings, whose family has grown a diversified business empire primarily in real estate and retail, listed no liabilities. The Villars own the publicly listed property developer Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc.

Sen. Raffy Tulfo and his wife, ACT-CIS party list Rep. Jocelyn Tulfo, declared a joint net worth of P1.052 billion in their SALN as of December 2024, putting them among the wealthiest lawmakers in the 20th Congress.

Among their listed assets were real estate worth over P376.8 million, bank accounts amounting to more than P288 million, and several vehicles, some of which were bulletproofed, including a 2024 Cadillac Escalade, a 2020 Lexus LX450D, and a 2016 Mercedes-Benz AMG G63.

Tulfo also declared business interests in production firms RW Productions Inc., Idol Network Philippines Inc., and Raffy Tulfo in Action Foundation Inc.

The Tulfos listed no liabilities in their joint SALN.

Tulfo’s brother, Sen. Erwin Tulfo, declared a net worth of P497 million.

His total assets, including cash in banks, shares of stocks, vehicles, and firearms, amounted to P656.3 million, while his liabilities were at P159.3 million.

Varied businesses

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has a total net worth of P431.77 million as of Dec. 31, 2024.

His total assets amounted to P631.78 million, while his liabilities amounted to a little over P200 million.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson declared a net worth of P244.9 million as of June 30, 2025.

He had total assets amounting to P256.7 million, while his liabilities amounted to P11.8 million.

Lacson has business interests in Megastar Agri-farming Corp., San Pedro Calungsod Medical Center, Solarestate Marketing Corp., and Southseas Agri-Aqua Ventures Inc.

Sen. Manuel Lapid disclosed that he has a net worth of P202 million, with assets at P294.3 million and liabilities at P92.3 million.

He has financial connections with Walmart Construction Supply, MTL Enterprises, Marissa Hall, and Capital Win LLC.

Sen. JV Ejercito declared a net worth of P137 million as of Dec. 31, 2024.

His assets, including real properties, motor vehicles, investments in club shares, and shares of stocks, were valued at over P179 million, while his liabilities were worth P41.9 million.

Ejercito has business interests in Buildworth Dev’t Corp, Meiji Incorporated, and GTWJ Food Corp, among others.

Sen. Pia Cayetano declared a net worth of P128.2 million.

Her total assets were worth P151 million, while her liabilities were valued at P22.79 million.

She has business interests in Sanpil Holdings Corp., Tagaytay Midlands Golf Club Inc., Pateros Development Corp., the Palm Country Club, and Splendido Taal, among several others.

Chiz declares P18.8M

Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero disclosed that his net worth amounted to more than P18.8 million as of Dec. 31, 2024, declaring real properties that were acquired by succession and over P11.7 million in cash in the bank.

He also listed several vehicles, including a 1995 Range Rover Classic, a 1969 BMW 1602, a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle, a 1978 Mercedes-Benz 280SE, and a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SL, among his personal assets.

Escudero declared a business interest in a law firm where he was listed as a partner.

Joel’s firms redacted

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada released his SALN, showing a net worth of P221.2 million as of Dec. 31 last year.

He has total assets amounting to P252.68 million, while his liabilities are valued at P31.4 million.

Estrada has business interests in S-E-N-J-I Corp. and JELP Real Estate Dev’t Corp.

Sen. Joel Villanueva declared a net worth of P49.505 million, with assets worth P72.5 million.

Villanueva and his wife, Gladys, declared business interests in several firms, but the names of these companies were redacted from the copy released to the media.

Sen. Bam Aquino disclosed that he has a net worth of P86.55 million and listed no liabilities.

Sen. Loren Legarda has a total net worth of P79.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2024, with total assets of P100.7 million and liabilities of P21.5 million.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan has also released his SALN, where he declared a net worth of P26.738 million as of June 30, 2025.

Pangilinan has personal properties worth P20.886 million, real properties of P5.852 million, and no declared liabilities.

He has business interests and financial connections with Sweet Spring Country Farm Corp. and FRD Food and Spices Inc.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, and Robinhood Padilla earlier released their SALNs.

Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, Rodante Marcoleta, and Imee Marcos have yet to issue copies of their SALNs to the media through the Senate secretary.

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday said it will hire additional immigration officers in preparation for the Christmas season rush.

BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the initiative is in response to the projected surge in daily departures and international arrivals during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The additional personnel would help the BI strengthen its frontline services at international ports of entry and exit.

‘This initiative ensures that we have adequate manpower to provide faster and more efficient immigration services during the peak travel season,’ he said.

‘Every year, travel peaks after the New Year, and we expect these numbers to rise again, with OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and returning Filipinos heading back to their overseas destinations,’ Viado added.

Viado said successful applicants will undergo an intensive training program at the Philippine Immigration Academy in Clark on immigration laws, arrival and departure procedures, document inspection, and national security enforcement before deployment.

‘Newly trained Immigration Officers will be deployed at the frontlines in different airports and offices in the country,’ said Viado.

Those interested may visit BI’s career portal atcareers.immigration.gov.ph to submit their applications.

For several editions already, the Miss International pageant has been highlighting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations (UN), and the delegates are working on projects that aim to achieve them.

Adopted in 2015, the SDGs serve as an urgent call to action on all the countries to help attain peace and prosperity for the peoples. These goals are to be met by 2030, just five more years to go.

‘With all the ladies from different parts of the world, I think that’s a really strong point for the Miss International in fighting for all these causes,’ Binibining Pilipinas Myrna Esguerra told Inquirer Entertainment in an interview.

The Philippines’ representative to the 2025 Miss International pageant faced the media at her send-off press conference at World Kitchens at the Gateway Mall 2 at the Araneta City in Quezon City on Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 28.

‘I think Miss International has been helping achieve those goals, since they are really focused on all the 17 SDGs, and to advocate for that as a whole pageant,’ Esguerra said.

‘The fact that the ladies are from different parts of the world, I think that’s a way for them to really fight all the challenges that we are experiencing. And in a way, the 17 SDGs are the solutions to those problems,’ she continued.

Esguerra will be joining about 80 delegates from different countries and territories around the world in Japan next month for the 63rd Miss International pageant, also the 65th anniversary edition of the Tokyo-based global tilt.

‘And 2030 is the deadline, and that is when things will be irreversible. So if our goals are not met by then, it’s really important for us to keep in mind that we should not stop from doing our own initiaives,’ she shared.

‘Change will happen if we are consistent. And we should push for all the causes that we’re fighting for even after we reach the deadline which is 2030,’ Esguerra said.

Although all the 17 SDGs are important for her, the Filipina beauty said the one closest to her heart is goal number 4, quality education. Among the youngest in a brood of 17 siblings, Esguerra was the only one to graduate from a four-year college course. She was able to sustain her studies by working part-time and joining pageants.

‘I know how it feels like to be unheard, and scared. But I also know the power of humility, of gratitude, and of a dream. I come from a place where hardships are real. I taught myself how to be strong, how to stand when life knocks you down, and how to dream,’ Esguerra said.

‘I think Miss International is someone who can connect with people not just through her words, but through her experiences. And I’m here to empower women, to bridge cultures from one nation to another, and to inspire peace through compassion and respect,’ she continued.

Esguerra is hoping to become the seventh Filipino woman to be crowned Miss International. The coronation will be held at the Yoyogi Gymnasium 2 in Tokyo on Nov. 27.

One of the notable messages that the late veteran choreographer Anna Feliciano received was from her former husband Mel Feliciano, who expressed both his gratitude and apology for the moments they shared together.

Mel took to his Facebook page on Wednesday, Oct. 29, to bid farewell to his ex-wife, adding that their breakup was for the best since they learned valuable lessons as individuals.

‘Paalam ANNA gusto ko malaman mo at sinabi ko sayo na salamat ng nagkahiwalay tayo marami akong natutunan bilang isang AMA salamat sa pag alaga kay rupert tama man o mali ang paghhiwalay natin PATAWAD,’ he wrote.

(Goodbye, Anna. I want you to know, and as I’ve told you when we broke up, that I’m thankful because I learned a lot of things as a father. Thank you for taking care of Rupert. Whether or not we did the right thing in separating, all I can say is forgive me.)

Mel further said that the end of their relationship was God’s plan, saying he and his family will be supportive of Anna until the end. He added that various dancers made an appearance at her wake to express their love for her.

‘Ang lahat ng ito ay plano ni lord mula unang araw hanggang last day nandon ako d ako nagpost ng kahit ano gusto ko MOMENT MO YON at salamat sa mga dancers nag effort para sumayaw sa wake mo MULA SA PAMILYA KO AT SA PAMILYA MO LUBOS AKONG NAKKIRAMAY [we’ll] pray for ur soul,’ he said.

(All this is part of God’s plan. From the first day [of the wake] until the last day, I was there. I did not post anything. It was your moment. Thank you as well to the dancers who made an effort to dance at your wake. From my family to yours, I want to express my deepest sympathy. We’ll pray for your soul.)

As revealed by Mel, several dancers who worked under Anna’s helm – including SexBomb member Jopay Paguia – paid tribute to the seasoned choreographer by performing an energetic routine.

‘Huling sayaw para sayo ma (This is our last dance for you, mom),’ her daughter-in-law April said while sharing a clip on Facebook.

Anna’s death was confirmed by her family last Oct. 23. She died of a heart attack at 65 years old.

She is notable for creating dance routines on television, including the now-defunct game show ‘Wowowin.’

HOW relevant the scripture is when the Lord Jesus said, ‘Unless you become like little children, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God.’ Filipinos need to become childlike to be able to discern simple truths amid mountains of fake news. Many educated people, bereft of wisdom like the Pharisees of old, cannot solve simple problems because their minds are full of inconsequential ideas.

Corruption prevails in our country because we are blind to the best practices of advanced nations that have achieved peace and prosperity. Clean countries, like Singapore, Japan, Scandinavian countries, etc., have become wealthy because a nice and clean environment makes people decent and leads to a very low crime rate. More investors and tourists will come. Dahil sa makalat na lugar, maraming magnanakaw; sa malinis na lugar, kaunti lang ang magnanakaw.

I, therefore, recommend a doable solution to the problem of corruption in our country: implement an antilittering ordinance. The cheapest form of flood control is to penalize plastic litterers.

The government can even earn a lot of money because many Filipinos are, by nature, litterers. Our humongous debt burden will be eased, and, God willing, we can become peaceful and prosperous, too.