Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Japanese and US governments on Tuesday announced investment projects worth up to US$400 billion involving Japanese and US companies, including the construction of advanced nuclear power plants.

The projects could fall under a framework outlined in a document signed by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, which confirmed that Japanese investments in the United States agreed upon in the two countries’ tariff deal will be implemented.

Multiple Japanese companies, including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. and SoftBank Group Corp., have expressed interest in a total of 21 projects, including the construction of next-generation nuclear power plants and large-scale power infrastructure.

‘We’re going to do tremendous trade together,’ US President Donald Trump said at a meeting in Tokyo with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the same day.

Tokyo has pledged to invest some US$550 billion in the United States through a government-affiliated financial institution, as part of its tariff agreement with Washington. The specific projects will be decided by a US government panel at a later date.

The latest announcement is apparently aimed at demonstrating progress in implementing the tariff deal.

After traveling to the US Navy’s Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, Trump said that Toyota Motor Corp. plans to construct plants across the United States, totaling over US$10 billion. Later that night, he told Japanese corporate leaders in Tokyo that the United States will not let them down.

According to the two governments’ announcement, Mitsubishi Heavy and Toshiba Corp. are considering possible involvement in a project led by US firm Westinghouse to build next-generation nuclear plants, which is worth up to US$100 billion.

SoftBank Group is considering investing US$25 billion in the design and operation of large-scale power infrastructure.

In the field of artificial intelligence, Panasonic Holdings Corp. intends to spend up to US$15 billion to supply energy storage systems, including batteries as well as electronic devices and components.

Regarding critical minerals, a Japanese company is mulling participation in a project to build a copper production and smelting facility in the western United States.

The 21 projects span four areas-energy, development of power sources for AI, strengthening AI infrastructure and critical minerals. All four areas are considered key for economic security.

Japan and the United States plan to strengthen their cooperation in these fields to better compete with China.

Over a month since violent incidents during the Sept. 21 anti-corruption rallies, at least six individuals so far have been identified as respondents to subpoenas by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) probing the riots.

Here’s what we know about the subpoenas:

Who has been subpoenaed?

CIDG public information officer Maj. Helen dela Cruz first confirmed the issuance of the subpoenas in a press briefing at Camp Crame on October 6.

Though pressed by reporters on multiple occasions since then, Dela Cruz has consistently declined to identify the respondents, citing ‘data privacy’ and ‘human rights.’

However, the following individuals identified themselves as respondents:

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

In their letter to the CIDG, Kitsune’s legal counsels said police tried to serve him his subpoena last Sept. 30, but he previously told the Inquirer that he was unable to receive it personally since he was with human rights groups assisting protestors detained during the riot. He only managed to access an electronic copy the following weekend. He could not immediately say when the subpoena was issued and when he was scheduled to appear before the CIDG.

Park Alamada Pangawilan – Vlogger, also known as Kuya Park

On his social media, Pangawilan did not immediately say when his subpoena was issued and when exactly it was served. However, he posted photos of parts of the subpoena last Oct. 2. He was scheduled to appear before the CIDG last Oct. 6.

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

In his letter to the CIDG, Baluyot said his subpoena was dated Oct. 3. He previously told the Inquirer that police tried to serve him the subpoena at his Manila home last Oct. 7, but he was in class and his relative received it on his behalf. He was scheduled to appear before the CIDG last Oct. 10.

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

In his letter to the CIDG, Buenaflor said his subpoena was dated Oct. 21. UP Diliman student publication Philippine Collegian reported that police tried to serve him his subpoena last Oct. 22, but his uncle refused to receive it while Buenaflor was away from home. Nonetheless, police managed to serve him his subpoena at around 10 a.m. on Oct. 24, but Buenaflor was supposedly scheduled to appear before the CIDG earlier that morning.

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

In her letter to the CIDG, Brillante said her subpoena was dated Oct. 21 and served to her on Oct. 22. She was scheduled to appear before the CIDG last Oct. 27.

Meanwhile, a copy of the sixth subpoena sent to reporters was addressed to:

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

The subpoena showed that it was dated Oct. 21. It is not clear whether Angping has already been served his subpoena, but he is scheduled to appear before the CIDG on Oct. 29.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, citing intelligence reports, previously hinted that rioters ‘may have been paid’ and instigated by a Filipino-Chinese politician and lawyer.

What gives the CIDG the power to issue subpoenas?

Dela Cruz cited Republic Act No. 10973, which grants the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief; and the CIDG director and deputy director for administration, the authority to administer oaths, and issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum.

A subpoena duces tecum requires the respondent to produce specific documents.

And if the respondents do not comply with the subpoena? Dela Cruz cited a provision in RA No. 10973, stating: ‘Failure to comply with subpoena and subpoena, duces tecum shall authorize the filing of a case for indirect contempt under the Rules of Court with the Regional Trial Court.’

What is the CIDG’s objective in issuing the subpoenas?

Asked why the CIDG was subpoenaing the individuals, at the Oct. 6 press briefing, dela Cruz said, ‘They are invited to appear to shed light on the facts and circumstances surrounding the violent incidents that occurred.’

National Police Commission (Napolcom) Vice Chairperson and Executive Officer Rafael Calinisan likewise defended the CIDG subpoenas at a forum with the media at their office in Quezon City last Oct. 24.

‘We all saw what happened on Sept. 21. It was a peaceful assembly turned into a violent assembly, from a rally to a riot. So, if the Philippine National Police is supposed to investigate it, then the Philippine National Police should investigate as they must investigate,’ he said.

How have the respondents answered the subpoena?

In a phone interview with reporters later on Oct. 6, Pangawilan confirmed that he appeared before the CIDG at his set time and denied involvement in the riots.

He maintained that he was not involved in the riots and that lighters they were carrying from a program held at Liwasang Bonifacio were for a candlelight vigil originally scheduled at Mendiola.

‘There was no intention to burn anything. There was no intention to cause chaos. I was even scolding the young people who were causing trouble. I told them the police and the military were not our enemies,’ Pangawilan stressed.

For their part, Baluyot answered the CIDG in a letter on Oct. 10. Buenaflor, Brillante, and Kitsune followed suit on Oct. 27.

All four student-leaders also denied their involvement in the violence but declined to participate in the CIDG investigation, invoking their constitutional rights and maintaining that the probe constituted a ‘custodial investigation,’ thus treating them not as witnesses but as suspects.

Buenaflor and Brillante, in particular, stressed: ‘[We] respectfully urge the CIDG to direct its investigative and prosecutorial efforts toward those accountable for corruption. instead of targeting youth leaders and ordinary citizens exercising their democratic rights and fulfilling their civic duties.’

‘[We] sincerely hope that the CIDG would be one with the youth and the Filipino people in their quest for a corruption-free government,’ they added.

As for Angping, the Inquirer is still working to reach him for comment.

However, in a DZRH interview aired on September 24, Angping also denied involvement in the riots.

‘I am not a financier. I will never be a financier of any movement that seeks to destabilize our government or plunge our society into anarchy. I do not have ties, direct or indirect, to those who caused the riot,’ he said in Filipino.

Rights

In light of the four student-leaders’ subpoena, last Oct. 23, the National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL) issued an advisory for possible other respondents.

The group urged respondents to formally notify the CIDG that they are invoking their constitutional rights, including the rights to refuse to participate in the investigation; to remain silent; to have legal counsel of their choice; and to protect themselves from self-incrimination.

‘The subpoena powers of the PNP may not be used to harass, intimidate, or threaten anyone for exercising their right to free expression, peaceful assembly, and redress of grievances,’ the NUPL said.

‘Any violation of these rights by law enforcement officers is a criminal offense punishable under Republic Act No. 7438, which protects the rights of persons under custodial investigation,’ it added.

The Philippines, currently the third largest geothermal producer, will need more government support to ensure it will not get displaced by other geothermal giants, an executive of First Gen Corp. said.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, First Gen vice president Jay Joel Soriano admitted that since the country considered geothermal as an ‘old technology,’ the sector was not seeing ‘broad government support.’

He said that it was only recently that geothermal was included in the fourth round of the green energy auction program, a government initiative meant to attract more renewable projects through fixed rates to winning bidders.

Soriano, who also heads the group’s strategy and planning, is hopeful about the realization of the planned rollout of the initial $250-million de-risking fund for geothermal developers, as firms solely shoulder hefty upfront capital in exploring possible sites.

Renewable energy

First Gen is a leading renewable energy producer in the Philippines, with the bulk of its capacity sourced from geothermal facilities.

‘I think if they can help us de-risk that upfront investment, you know, then it will pave the way to more and more developments in the Philippines,’ Soriano said on the sidelines of the Asia Clean Energy Summit 2025 in Singapore.

‘The sooner help comes, the better,’ he added.

Sought for her reaction, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin, who was also at the event, said they were already finalizing the deal with Landbank of the Philippines for the de-risking facility.

Based on his presentation, the United States continues to be the dominant player with 3,794 megawatts (MW), while Indonesia comes second with 2,356 MW.

The Philippines, meanwhile, has 1,935 MW of geothermal capacity. Turkiye is closing in with 1,682 MW.

War chest

With adequate support from the government, the official said producers could boost their war chest in investing in new technologies, which can bolster their capacity to unlock more capacity.

‘The traditional geothermal technology still makes sense. But to expand, to retain our leadership position, I think we need to start looking at other technologies, technologies that are still quite nascent, technologies that have potential in the Philippines,’ he said.

Asked about how much more geothermal resource could be tapped, Soriano said the country’s true potential could be estimated once new technologies are introduced in the market.

For First Gen’s part, he said they have been exploring possible partnerships abroad for the deployment of new technologies

Reading Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ (1897) in high school was a revelation. First, the novel did not translate accurately into the many film versions I have seen. Second, the novel was presented in epistolary form, or through a succession of letters and diary entries. Third, the blood-sucking, shape-shifting, 19th-century Transylvanian Count did not resemble the same character depicted in films: from Max Schreck in ‘Nosferatu’ (1922), to Bela Lugosi in ‘Dracula’ (1931), and Christopher Lee, who appeared in seven vampire films from 1970 to 1976. Fourth, the vampire is killed with a wooden stake in the heart, exposure to sunlight, or falling onto a cross with a sharp point that pierces the heart from the monster’s back. In the novel, Dracula is trapped in a circle formed with pieces of the consecrated host. Dracula’s head is cut off by one character, then another stabs him in the heart with a gleaming Bowie knife to ensure the undead remains dead.

Aside from ‘Dracula,’ I also read Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus’ (1818). To put things in context, I read erudite commentary and academic annotations on both works, because I planned to teach a comparative course on the Victorian vampire and the vampire in Philippine folk belief and folklore. The Filipino vampire is usually disguised as a woman, who doesn’t kill her prey right away; she takes on a husband and sips a little of his blood nightly until the victim dies. Coroners or forensic doctors then declare anemia as the cause of death. Sometimes the husband is not feasted on, but his home is used as the vampire’s base of operations. The Pinoy vampire does not hunt or feed near its home; it travels elsewhere to avoid detection. While the Western vampire uses two sharp fangs to draw blood from the victim’s neck, the Pinoy one is neater; it uses a pointed tongue to draw blood, then sucks fresh blood from the source. One would think the modern vampire need not hunt for food, because it’s easier to rob a blood bank.

In the 1969 article ‘The Aswang Syncrasy in Philippine Folklore,’ Maximo D. Ramos classified ‘aswang’ into three types: vampires (‘mandurugo’ in Tagalog, ‘amalanhig’ in Visayan and ‘danag’ in Isneg. I used to think the correct term was ‘vampira’); Viscera-suckers (aka ‘laman luob’ or ‘manananggal’ in Tagalog, ‘naguneg’ in Ilocano, ‘kasudlan’ or ‘abat’ in Visayan. The Pinoy version of the European werewolf or ‘loup-garou’ is a weredog (‘kiwig’ in Aklanon, ‘malakat’ in Visayan, and ‘aswang na lakaw’ in Tagalog. I would think ‘askal’ is a better term; however, the Pinoy weredog can also take other shapes like a boar or a cat: witches (‘mangkukulam’ to Tagalogs and Kapampangans, ‘mambabarang’ in Bikol) and last but not least, the ghoul (‘balbal’ in Tagalog, ‘kagkag’ in Romblon, ‘segben’ in Visayan and ‘wirwir’ in Apayao). Then there are other creatures: ‘tianak,’ ‘kapre,’ demons, ‘bangungot,’ etc., that are kept in our consciousness through film, komiks, and our yayas.

I read ‘Aswang Syncrasy,’ an academic text, together with Ramos’ ‘Creatures of Midnight’ (1967), a children’s book that instructed the reader on how to classify, evade, and dispatch 85 different types of aswang. What made ‘Aswang Syncrasy’ terrifying to me were the ethnographic reports from different places in the archipelago. Most of these reports carried the names of the informants, making everything sound real. For example, one of the footnotes reads:

‘The story is told of an American Fulbright researcher whose host begged him to sleep with his entire family, including unmarried maidens, instead of elsewhere on the floor. He was told that the family liked him too much to consign him to a separate bed. He could not understand why until he learned about the viscera sucker’s method of attack.’

Reading Ramos again for Halloween this year, I was struck by an angle of sympathy rather than fear of the aswang:

‘A youth who finds that the pretty girl (or vice versa) he plans to marry, or has married, is a viscera suck or weredog can help her disgorge the chick [inside her body that makes her an aswang] by one or two standard procedures: (1) making her sit on a swing suspended from a high branch, winding the rope, then letting the rope undo itself, thus dizzying her, and repeating the process until she retches and expels the parasite from her stomach; or (2) lashing her upside down to a tree and smudging her till the smoke makes her regurgitate the parasite.’

Urban life has made life difficult for the aswang-the habitat is different, people are different-and consequently, the aswang has slowly become extinct and irrelevant to Gen Z. Aswangs still figure in some Filipino films like the ‘Shake, Rattle, and Roll’ franchise. One might think there are other things that scare Filipinos today, like American slasher films, Japanese horror films, Pinoy romantic comedies, policemen involved in the drug war, and corrupt government officials.

Authorities arrested three suspected members of a private armed group (PAG) in Maguindanao del Sur on Tuesday night, linked to the shooting of a trader in Rajah Buayan town, a police official said.

Capt. Joel Lebrilla, Rajah Buayan municipal police chief, stated in a report on Wednesday that the three individuals were implicated in the attempted murder of businessman Anton Mamalinta, a resident of Barangay Dapantis.

‘The incident occurred around 7 p.m. while Mamalinta was in Barangay Baital, also in Rajah Buayan. The trader, however, escaped unharmed,’ Lebrilla said.

He said the trader immediately alerted the police about the attempt on his life, prompting a pursuit operation that led to the suspects’ arrest.

Police identified the arrested PAG members by their aliases: Bronson, 60; Ranky, 46; and Norodin, 37, all residents of Barangay Baital.

Lebrilla said two other PAG members evaded arrest and are the subject of a manhunt.

Mamalinta told police that one of the suspects, whom he identified as alias Den, shot him, but his .45-caliber pistol malfunctioned, allowing him to run for his life.

The suspects then fled to a safehouse where other PAG members were hiding.

‘Police asked the group to surrender Den peacefully, but they refused. The Rajah Buayan police, with troopers from the Army’s 33rd Infantry Battalion, forced their way into the house and arrested three gunmen,’ Lebrilla said

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was among the sizable crowd for the golden celebration of ‘Thrilla in Manila’ Wednesday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Marcos sat ringside beside his wife and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.

Marcos returned to the country early Wednesday morning after a three-day trip in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the 47th Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and Related Summits.

Then-President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and First Lady Imelda Marcos were also at ringside at the same venue for the Thrilla in Manila on Oct. 1, 1975, where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier battled for 14 brutal rounds in what’s widely considered the greatest fight in boxing history. Ali won by TKO at the end of the 14th round.

Pacquiao, the sport’s only eight-division champion who is in the same conversation for the greatest boxer of all time along with Ali, and other legends, made the move to stage Thrilla’s 50th anniversary in Manila.

Marcos and Pacquiao showed up in time for the fight of Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali-Walsh, against Thai Kittisak Klinson.

The presidential couple immediately left the venue after the bout that ended in majority draw in favor of Klinson.

Jeff Lumbo gutted out a bogeyless five-under-par 67 on a course that befuddled the big guns on Tuesday to take a three-shot lead after the opening round of the P3.5 million ICTSI South Pacific Golf Classic in Davao, where ladies play saw a familiar name atop its leaderboard in Chanelle Avaricio.

The relatively unknown rookie Lumbo solved the greens of the wide-open layout and will head into Wednesday’s second round leading a tournament for just the second time in his career, even as Avaricio rescued a 68 despite two late bogeys to lead Princess Superal and Sarah Ababa by a stroke.

‘I didn’t expect to play this well,’ Lumbo, who was discovered by ex-pro Gary Sales in Sarangani province, said in Filipino. ‘Somehow my putting clicked. I went out there just to enjoy the round.’

But lurking behind are some of the best in the circuit, like Jonel Ababa and Reymon Jaraula, who shot 70s, and Apo Golf winner Fidel Concepcion, and two-time champ this year, Keanu Jahns, another stroke back after firing 71s like six others.

Both Ababa and Jaraula rued bad days on the greens for failing to close the gap.

‘The greens played super tough,’ Ababa, also in Filipino, said as he tried to atone for failing to defend his title in nearby Apo last week.

Concepcion, who broke through as a pro at Apo, was working on a three-under card only to double the par-5 18th. INQ

Ogie Diaz clarified he has no ill feelings toward Sarah Lahbati after she slammed his ‘hanash’ (story) about her supposed involvement in the rumored breakup of her friend Ellen Adarna and Derek Ramsay.

Diaz earlier cited in his vlog an unnamed source who said Lahbati allegedly urged Adarna to ask Ramsay to buy a house for her, which was supposedly one of the reasons behind the couple’s misunderstanding.

Lahbati and Adarna denied this, even showing on their social media pages their conversation where they just laughed off such claims.

During the conversation, Lahbati quipped that Diaz might have ill feelings toward her which was why she was being blamed for Adarna and Ramsay’s breakup.

Responding to this, Diaz addressed Lahbati in his vlog released on YouTube on Tuesday, Oct. 28. He also clarified that he did not confirm the rumors about her, Adarna and Ramsay, and that he was only seeking the truth behind the claims.

‘Wala akong galit sa’yo, Sarah. Kung willing ka, open ako for one-on-one interview with you,’ he said.

(I am not angry at you, Sarah. If you’re willing, I am open to have a one-on-one interview with you.)

‘Feeling ko ikaw ang may galit sa akin kasi ako ‘yung ni-block mo sa IG. Ako wala akong galit,’ he continued. ‘Sana bigyan mo rin ako ng pagkakataon na marinig ko ang panig mo sa mga issues na involved ka rin.’

(I feel like you’re the one mad at me because you blocked me on Instagram. I have no ill feelings toward you. I hope you give me a chance to hear your side on the issues involving you.)

Diaz added that he reached out to Adarna and Ramsay, who dismissed the rumors. The couple, however, did not respond to questions about the status of their relationship.

The faith-based organization Promotion of Church People’s Response – Northern Mindanao Region (PCPR-NMR) announced it will hold a ‘Black Friday Protest’ on October 31, mobilizing clergy, lawyers, and citizens to demand accountability and an end to corruption – especially citing bogus flood-control projects.

In a statement, the group urged ‘all Filipinos and Kagay-anons to continue the fight for justice, accountability, [and] demand corrupt officials to be imprisoned.’

The protest will begin at 4 p.m. at Iglesia Filipina Independiente’s Cathedral of Jesus the Nazarene at Pabayo-Pacana Sts., followed by a march to Velez Street where attendees will participate in a short program and candle-lighting activity.

Participants are asked to wear black: black clerical attire for clergy and any black clothing for non-clergy.

‘The Church will never be silent or blind to the plight of the Filipino people under systemic corruption in the bureaucracy. We will continue to demand accountability, transparency and good governance,’ Rev. Jefferson Palasan, PCPR-NMR general secretary, told the Inquirer.

The upcoming October 31 event builds on PCPR-NMR’s earlier ‘Prayer Rallies for Accountability and Against Corruption’ on Sept. 21 and its September 19 ‘Black Friday Protest’ in this city.

‘We will keep calling for those involved in this rampant corruption to be jailed. Silence will never be an option. By standing with the people in their struggle, we embody the living message of the liberating gospel of Christ,’ Palasan said.

The group, alongside the Union of People’s Lawyers in Mindanao (UPLM) and other civic-church organizations, has been active in mounting anti-corruption rallies in the region.

‘People are calling on us lawyers to help put the corrupt behind bars and get back what they stole – so it finally goes where it should: education, housing, health care, and environmental services,’ UPLM General Secretary for Northern Mindanao Beverly Selim-Musni told the Inquirer.

These local actions align with a national movement sometimes referred to as the ‘Trillion Peso March,’ which focuses on alleged massive corruption tied to government infrastructure and flood-control schemes that particularly affect the poor who are most exposed to flooding and with the least recourse.

By pressing the issue again on October 31, PCPR-NMR said it aims to sustain momentum and press for institutional change rather than limiting efforts to a single event.

Volcanic earthquakes and tremors continue to shake Taal Volcano in Batangas province, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported Wednesday.

In its morning bulletin, Phivolcs said the volcano recorded 18 volcanic earthquakes in the past 24 hours, up from 15 quakes the previous day.

These were accompanied by 10 and three volcanic tremor events, respectively.

The volcano has been experiencing almost daily earthquakes this month, with no seismic activity recorded on October 1, 5, 20, and 23, according to Phivolcs data.

From October 1 to 29, a total of 295 volcanic earthquakes and 36 tremor episodes were recorded. In comparison, Phivolcs documented 189 volcanic earthquakes and 129 tremors in September.

The agency explained that volcanic earthquakes are those ‘generated by magmatic processes or magma-related processes beneath or near an active volcano.’