Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

‘You are barking [up] the wrong tree.’

These were the words used by Sen. Christopher ‘Bong’ Go when he addressed on Tuesday the plunder case and other charges filed against him by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

In a press conference, Go said Trillanes’ filing of complaints against him and ex-President Rodrigo Duterte is a mere diversionary tactic to take the public’s attention away from the anomalous flood control scandal.

‘To Trillanes: You are barking at the wrong tree. If you are really serious, why don’t you file a case against corrupt officials? Why don’t you file a case against your financiers? Those contractors. You know that. We’ve been holding hearings here in the Senate about that for months now,’ said Go.

‘The truth is already coming out, and it has been revealed who the contractors were, who the owners were, who had contractors, and who earned. They are the contractors; they are also the congressmen. Go after them, Trillanes. You don’t want to go after them because they are your financiers,’ the senator pointed out.

Go then proceeded to allege that Trillanes’ funds, when he investigated Duterte in the past, might have come from flood control kickbacks as well.

‘Don’t act as if you’re clean. Do not divert the public’s attention from the truth. Let’s stay here in the truth. Seek the truth, not the script, not the playbook,’ Go said.

‘This is just old music from an old script. This is a recycled issue, and they are trying to revive it so that they can paint me black. My conscience is clean, unlike him,’ he added.

In the same forum, Go presented news items showing Trillanes’ repeated filing of cases against him. Go said this has been going on since 2018.

He even joked about the former senator’s white polo, which he called ‘rehashed.’

‘Today, the polo he wore bore the same color he used last year. Even his polo is rehashed. He used it again, and similarly, he’s using old topics to taint my name. To make himself appear clean, he used a white polo, and yet his intentions are very dirty,’ Go observed.

Trillanes filed plunder and several other criminal complaints against Go and Duterte before the Office of the Ombudsman on Tuesday.

The former senator is accusing Go of funneling nearly P7 billion worth of government infrastructure projects to firms owned by the senator’s family. /apl

Bargain hunting snapped the local bourse’s three-session losing streak on Tuesday, with the benchmark stocks index approaching the elusive 6,100 barrier.

By the closing bell, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index added 0.16 percent or 9.46 points to end at 6,093.53.

Meanwhile, the broader All Shares Index shed 0.11 percent or 4.07 points to close at 3,657.85.

A total of 1.31 billion shares worth P5.24 billion changed hands, stock exchange data showed.

Luis Limlingan, head of sales at stock brokerage house Regina Capital Development Corp., said investors mostly hunted for lower-priced blue chips as a result of the bourse’s recent stay in the red territory.

Selling pressure

However, he noted there was still some selling pressure as the peso depreciated against the US dollar.

International Container Terminal Services Inc. was the most actively traded stock after bouncing back by 2.04 percent to P550 per share. It was followed by Ayala Land Inc., down 2 percent to P22; JG Summit Holdings Inc., up 3.75 percent to P24.90; BDO Unibank Inc., down 0.43 percent to P138; and Manila Electric Co., up 1.93 percent to P581 each.

Others were SM Investments Corp., down 1.34 percent to P735; SM Prime Holdings Inc., up 0.65 percent to P23.25; DigiPlus Interactive Corp., down 3.72 percent to P22; Bank of the Philippine Islands, up 1.01 percent to P109.70; and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc., down 2.4 percent to P28.50 per share.

Losers outnumbered gainers, 127 to 84, while 47 companies closed flat, stock exchange data also showed. INQ

The ongoing controversy over anomalous flood control projects may have sparked a silent, but potentially damaging, taxpayer revolt.

Last week, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. said ‘.there was definitely a slower collection because of the issue, because of the DPWH.’

Finance Secretary Ralph Recto agreed with that observation. Earlier, he said that if billions of pesos were not lost in that scandal, the economy might have grown by around 6 percent to 6.2 percent and revenue collections would have been higher.

Tax payments

The decline in tax payments should not come as a surprise. It may even be described as late in coming, considering the magnitude of the plunder and the manner by which it was committed.

It was a gut reaction by taxpayers to undeniable reports that some lawmakers had conspired with private contractors in funding ‘ghost’ and substandard flood control projects and pocketing the bulk of the money.

As things turned out later, the embezzlement of taxpayers’ money appears to have also involved health centers, farm-to-market roads and public schools and counting. The greed was simply overwhelming.

To aggravate matters and in a clear display of entitlement, some of the children of those lawmakers publicly flaunted the ‘fruits’ of their parents’ plunder.

Seeing hard-earned money paid as taxes squandered and made to pay for the lavish lifestyle of corrupt lawmakers and government officials is sufficient reason (if not justification) for distressed taxpayers to look for and resort to ways and means to push back and be less diligent with their tax obligations without running afoul of the law.

Corruption

Participation in mass demonstrations denouncing corruption in government was not enough. The disgust over the abuse of legislative power had to be expressed by sending a strong message of protest to the national leadership.

Refusing to pay taxes is out of the question because it could result in civil and criminal liabilities. And our courts have consistently deferred to the BIR in its strict enforcement of revenue laws on the ground that ‘taxes are the lifeblood of the State.’

But tax avoidance (or the practice where taxpayers avail of provisions in the law to minimize their tax obligations) is perfectly legal. It is a virtual science in tax courses.

Accountants and tax lawyers with keen eyes and minds can easily spot areas in business that, after compliance with proper documentation, can legitimately claim tax deductions or tax credits.

It is a zero-sum game that makes the BIR squirm with discomfort because loopholes in tax laws cannot be closed through the issuance of memorandum circulars or revenue regulations.

And rather than go through a lengthy court process it is not sure of winning, and pressed to meet its annual revenue quota, the BIR is often forced to compromise to reduce the adverse effects of a tax avoidance scheme allowed by law.

If that approach is unavailable, a taxpayer agitated by the waste of his or her money could hold in abeyance his or her payment until the deadline date or close to it or, where permitted, pay in installments over a fixed period of time.

In the latter case, that means (tongue in cheek) less money is made available to be touched by the sticky hands of government personnel entrusted with the management of that money.

Taxpayer dissatisfaction

Although no losses are incurred by just-on-time payment, a subliminal message is being sent to the government about the taxpayer’s dissatisfaction with the way his or her money is being openly stolen by corrupt government officials.

There is no question that it is the patriotic duty of every Filipino to pay his or her taxes to the government, but it is equally his or her patriotic duty to protest and push back if his or her money is being squandered for the benefit of lawmakers who consider it their birth right to take advantage of their position at the expense of the public welfare. INQ

Interment services in public cemeteries and columbarium in Quezon City will take a break from October 30 to November 2, 2025, in preparation for the Undas 2025, the Quezon City (QC) Civil Registry said on Tuesday.

The three public cemeteries in the city are the Bagbag Cemetery, Novaliches Public Cemetery, and Baesa Columbarium.

‘We will suspend interment on October 30 and normal operations will resume on November 3 in e public cemeteries, in Quezon City, in Bagbag, Baesa, and Novaliches,’ QC Civil Registry head Salvador Cariño said in Filipino in a forum organized by QC journalists.

Cariño also said that the Baesa Columbarium and Bagbag Cemetery will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. from October 31 to November 2.

Cariño shared that as of September 2025, there are 104,400 interred bodies in Bagbag Cemetery; 23,053 in Novaliches Cemetery and 216 in Baesa Columbarium.

He noted that from October 27, 2024, to November 3, 2024, a total of 265,000 visitors flocked to Bagbag Cemetery and 59,802 in Novaliches Public Cemetery.

Baesa Columbarium was only opened to the public six months ago. Cariño said that they are expecting around 400,000 visitors this year.

Regarding visitors who have a hard time locating the tombs of their deceased loved ones, Cariño said: ‘We have a designated operations officer who can address their concerns,’

Cariño warned that bringing prohibited items into the cemetery, such as sharp and bladed weapons, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, and vapes, and even gambling materials, will not be allowed.

He also encouraged adult visitors to not bring their children to the cemeteries as a precautionary measure amid the flu season.

He added that he will recommend the wearing face masks in the cemetery.

‘Undas’ security

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) chief of District Operations PCol. Vicente Bumalay said that the QCPD will deploy 1,646 police officers, along with force multipliers, in cemeteries, columbaria, and transport terminals to ensure safety and security for Undas 2025.

Bumalay also said that police personnel from stations one to 16 will monitor situations in the different neighborhoods to avoid incidents of theft.

He added that police assistance desks will also be established inside cemeteries to assist visitors.

‘We heightened QCPD’s alert to avoid any untoward incidents,’ Bumalay said. /gsg

After his success in Hollywood and Broadway, Filipino-American actor Conrad Ricamora is set to make his Philippine theater debut in the Manila run of Michael Bennett’s ‘A Chorus Line.’

Theatre Group Asia announced Ricamora’s Philippine theater debut in a press statement where he will take on the role of Zach. In the musical, Zach is the director and choreographer of an upcoming Broadway production, with 17 spots hoping to get a spot on the musical’s chorus line.

Ricamora expressed his excitement about performing in the Philippines for the first time, describing it as a form of homecoming.

‘Performing in the Philippines for the first time is incredibly meaningful for me because it’s my father’s homeland. To bring my work here feels like a kind of homecoming-a chance to connect with a part of my heritage that I’ve always carried in my heart,’ he said.

The actor added that he has long admired the ‘passion, talent, and heart’ of the theater community in the Philippines.

‘The Philippine theater community is known for its passion, talent, and heart. I’ve been so inspired watching artists from here make their mark globally, and I can’t wait to share the stage with them and learn from their artistry. There’s warmth and joy in Filipino storytelling that I’ve always felt connected to, and I’m honored to finally be part of it,’ he said. Ricamora shared that portraying the character of Zach is a ‘full-circle moment,’ especially that its staging in Manila will take place at the height of its golden year.

‘I’ve always loved ‘A Chorus Line’ because it celebrates the raw, vulnerable truth of being a performer. To step into Zach’s shoes, especially in its golden year, feels like a full-circle moment,’ he said.

‘I’m excited to explore how this show – written nearly fifty years ago – still speaks directly to artists today: the hunger, the heartbreak, the need to be seen. And as someone who started in musical theater before moving into television and film, it’s thrilling to return to that sense of community and truth that only the stage can offer’ he added.

Apart from the upcoming musical, Ricamora was confirmed to join the cast of ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2.’ He is best known for playing the role of Oliver Hampton in the hit series ‘How To Get Away with Murder’ and Ninoy Aquino in several runs of ‘Here Lies Love.’

The Manila run of ‘A Chorus Line’ is led by Theatre Group Asia’s overall artistic and creative director Clint Ramos, while Emmy award-winning Karla Puno-Garcia was tapped to be the director and choreographer.

It will be staged at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater from March 12 to 29.

The search for the missing sabungeros (cockfighting enthusiasts) whose remains were reportedly dumped in Taal Lake resulted in the recovery of 981 bones, with 887 confirmed as human remains, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Included in the over 800 human bones are the three sets of human remains recovered at a cemetery.

The 981 bones including the 887 human remains, were the result of the search operations conducted by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) from July 10 to October 12.

PCG conducted 60 operations, of which 35 operations yielded recoveries.

The bones were inside sacks that are attached to a sack of sand that serves as sinkers.

DOJ Spokesperson Polo Martinez, however, said conclusive DNA results are needed to confirm if any of the uncovered bones were from the missing sabungeros.

Authorities have already collected 33 reference DNA samples from families of the missing sabungeros to cross-match with the recovered bones.

Asked for any update on the cross-matching of DNA samples, Martinez said: ‘none yet.’

On Tuesday, the DOJ panel of prosecutors concluded the preliminary investigation on the criminal cases filed against businessman Charlie ‘Atong’ Ang and several others for murder, kidnapping, direct bribery, and tampering of passports.

Martinez said the panel will evaluate the counter-affidavits and the evidence at hand to determine if there is enough basis to file a case in court even while waiting for the DNA results.

‘Law enforcement and the prosecution are doing their part to ensure that may ebidensya na magagamit to proceed to trial,’ he said.

Last week, Ang submitted his counter-affidavit asking that the case be remanded to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to conduct an impartial investigation. /gsg

When filmmaker Rodina Singh announced that her film ‘Dreamboi’ received an X-rating from the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB), she didn’t post a rant; instead, she wrote a love letter to cinema, to her community, and to the messy truth of following the double standard of the Filipino film industry.

‘Dreamboi is not pornography; it is a story about being seen,’ she said in her statement. ‘We believe that visibility is not obscenity, that desire is not a sin, and that stories like ours belong in the cinema.’

‘Dreamboi’ is a CineSilip entry under the Vivamax Film Festival, the same platform known for its erotic and adult-oriented titles. This is the same stage that regularly releases films filled with heterosexual intercourse and fantasy, most of which pass with R-16 or R-18 ratings. But when a trans woman’s sexual imagination takes center stage, the system suddenly decides it’s ‘inappropriate for public viewing.’

So while the board praised ‘Dreamboi’ as a ‘mature, artistically driven exploration of sexuality, identity, and desire,’ they still silenced the film.

The dream to be seen

Written and directed by Singh, ‘Dreamboi’ tells the story of Diwa, a trans woman who becomes entranced by the voice of an underground audio porn star. Torn between fantasy and reality, she drifts through the neon haze of Quezon City on a journey of desire, pain, and self-discovery.

It’s not the kind of film made for comfort. It’s meant to make you ask yourself what it means to long for something and what happens when the world tells you that you longing for something out of the norm should not exist.

‘Desire, especially for trans women, is often messy, fractured, and shameful,’ Singh wrote. ‘But it is also ours.’

That single line captures what makes ‘Dreamboi’ more than a film. It’s a sense of belonging. But dreaming of a sense of belonging is not enough to break MTRCB’s ruling.

Because when you look at the way the MTRCB has treated films that show queer sexuality versus those that center cishet male desire, the double standard becomes obvious.

A usual straight intercourse is considered romantic, but for a trans woman, it is ‘obscene.’

Visibility is not obscenity

Following the MTRCB’s ruling, student filmmakers and directors flooded social media in support of ‘Dreamboi.’ The UP Cinema released a strong statement condemning the censorship.

‘Tinatatakan ng X-Rating ang mga queer na katawan bilang malaswa-mga katawan na hindi dapat makita ng publiko. Sa pagdidikta kung aling mga anyo ng pagnanasa ang ‘katanggap-tanggap,’ ipinapakita lamang ng MTRCB na hanggang ngayon, binubura pa rin ng mga institusyon ang mga karanasang hindi nila kayang unawain.’

Director Antoinette Jadaone also shared her support on social media, describing ‘Dreamboi’ as a film that’s ‘moving, messy, and beautiful,’ adding that while the MTRCB called the film explicit, it was actually a thought on ‘longing, intimacy, and what it means to be seen.’

A change of heart

But after two heartbreaking rejections from the board, Singh’s ‘Dreamboi’ is finally making it to the big screen after MTRCB’s change of heart.

On Tuesday, the board gave ‘Dreamboi’ an R-18 rating, allowing it to screen publicly, just in time for the CineSilip Festival on Oct. 22. This decision marks the end of the film’s uphill battle for visibility and a beginning for trans filmmakers and queer storytelling in local cinema

Living the dream

In the glow of ‘Dreamboi’s’ world, cinema becomes more than just a screen; it’s a sanctuary. A space where trans women, so often erased or misrepresented, finally get to breathe, to want, to exist without apology.

It’s more than a request for a rating change. It’s a demand for equality in storytelling and the right to exist in full color, not as an afterthought or an exception.

No bettor won the P29.7-million prize in Monday night’s Grand Lotto 6/55 draw, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office said.

The winning combination for Oct. 20 draw was 50-51-18-12-15-23.

Similarly, no one bagged the P17.09-million prize in Monday night’s Megalotto 6/45 draw, where the winning numbers were 20-06-40-24-29-41.

A lone bettor last won the Grand Lotto 6/55 in the Oct. 6 draw with a P223.58-million prize.

Another lone bettor won the Megalotto 6/45 in the Oct. 8 draw with a P13.25-million prize.

The next draw for the Grand Lotto 6/55 and the Megalotto 6/45 will be on Wednesday night, Oct. 22. /mcm/abc

The Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) on Tuesday assured the safety and comfort of an expected 2.1 million travellers this coming All Saints and All Souls Day or ‘Undas.’

‘Based on our estimate, we are expecting around 2.1 million passengers in the PITX from the week of October 27 up to after Undas. They include those who will go to provinces, and those who will visit Metro Manila,’ Salvador said in Filipino at a forum organized by Quezon City journalists.

Salvador shared that the multi-modal transport hub served around 2.4 million passengers during the same time last year. He also mentioned that the terminal welcomes an average of 160,000 passengers on a regular day.

Salvador added that the PITX coordinated with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure the road-worthiness of public transport vehicles and their drivers.

‘The public vehicles need to be in the top condition, meaning all of their components are in the right condition and can arrive safely in their destinations. In this aspect, we coordinate with the DOTr and LTO in checking their safety,’ he said.

Salvador noted that the terminal, with the help of LTO and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, conducts random drug testing of drivers.

‘Sometimes, drivers want to extend their working hours to earn more, but sadly, some of them resort to performance enhancement substances. We remind them that this is not only dangerous for their health, but also for other drivers and passengers,’ he added.

Salvador likewise said that security forces are deployed within the terminal and its peripherals with the help of DOTr and Philippine National Police.

Tips for passengers

Salvador issued three reminders for passengers for smooth and convenient travels: book tickets early, pack lightly, and avoid bringing inflammable materials.

He said that while trips are not yet fully booked for several routes, the terminal is expecting an influx of bookings starting October 27.

He added that passengers are assured of comfortable stay in the terminal as it is open 24 hours a day and many food stalls are available.

He also said that packing lightly will not only benefit the passengers themselves but also others.

He reminded passengers not to bring inflammable materials such as butane stoves, which are commonly used for portable samgyupsal sets, as they can explode.

While the Department of Health (DOH) has not ordered a mandatory use of face masks amid the flu season, Salvador urged the terminal passengers to wear face masks as a precaution.

The DOH earlier reported that it logged a total of 6,457 cases of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) nationwide from September 28, 2025 to October 11, 2025.

It noted that this is 39% lower than the 10,740 cases recorded from September 14 to September 27, 2025. /gsg

Eli Rousseaux erupted for 36 points to keep Farm Fresh unbeaten in three games with a 25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-22 win over Capital1 in the PVL Reinforced Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Belgian import continued to shine in the PVL, dropping 33 kills, two aces, and a block. Rousseaux sent the Foxies to match point with an ace, 24-20, before Ces Molina scored through the block to end the game in two hours and 18 minutes.

Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi, Eli Rousseaux, and Alohi-Robins Hardy on a 3-0 start. #PVL2025 #PVLReinforced @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/xVBnsLFxZ5

– Lance Agcaoili (@LanceAgcaoilINQ) October 21, 2025

‘I’m super happy because I didn’t know that this was like history for Farm Fresh to win 3-0, so I’m very grateful to be part of it and that I could help them with this because obviously I’m here just for a short time,’ said Rousseaux.

‘I get like really good connection with these girls and, you know, if you go to the court and you make 36 points, you do this also for your team, nobody makes that amount of points just for herself.’

Alohi Robins-Hardy also shone in front of her cousin and PBA star Gabe Norwood, earning the Player of the Game nod with 21 excellent sets on top of nine points and five digs.

Molina had 13 points and 15 excellent receptions. Trisha Tubu also scored 13 in her first PVL game against former college rival Bella Belen, who had 20 points and 19 digs.

Libero Alyssa Bertolano continued to provide a steady floor defense for Farm Fresh with 20 digs and 13 receptions to keep the Pool A lead with a 3-0 card.

‘We are a team that fights. We’re a team that never gives up. We knew that it would be a tough game, absolutely. We were prepared for it. I mean, Belen and Bytsenko are two hell of scorers, you know, and we knew that. So we knew it would be hard,’ said Farm Fresh coach Alessandro Lodi.

‘Sometimes we kind of like it to make it a little harder for ourselves with some stupid decisions, and we will need to grow if we want to be contenders at the high level. But I guess with grit, with determination, with clarity of systems and decisions in the most important parts, we managed to rally back.’

Farm Fresh faces an acid test against PVL on Tour and Invitational champion PLDT on Saturday at Ynares Center Montalban.

The Solar Spikers dropped to a 1-2 record, with Sasha Bytsenko leading the way with 26 points, but she and Belen couldn’t give the team its first winning streak of the tournament.

Capital1 has 10 days before its next game on October 31 against Cignal at FilOil EcoOil Centre.