Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

At least 52 anomalous flood control projects were implemented in 30 of 51 barangays in this city by the Bulacan 1st Engineering District of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from 2022 up to this year, according to an audit conducted by local officials and residents.

Based on the findings of the Malolos City People’s Audit Team (MCPAT), out of the 106 projects they inspected, only 54 were either completed (27) or ongoing (27). The rest were considered nonexistent or ‘ghost’ projects, as they could not be located, while others were either found to have substandard materials, incomplete or with a reduced project scope. Mayor Christian Natividad, who leads the MCPAT, said they already submitted to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) the 1,800-page ‘Summary of Flood Control Projects Inspection Report’ report that compiled the descriptions, narratives, and photos of all 106 flood control projects in the city.

MCPAT, which Natividad created through Executive Order No. 39 on Aug. 29, is composed of the legal and engineering heads of the Malolos City government, along with over 1,000 volunteers, including business leaders, professionals, residents, and even law enforcement units. The audit was completed on Oct. 3.

Full support

They were assisted by all 51 barangay captains who, with the help of residents, inspected rivers, irrigation sites, and other prospective flood control project locations.

Natividad said that among the contractors for the projects the MCPAT inspected were Wawao Builders and SYMS Construction, which had been blacklisted by Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon for their involvement in anomalous flood control structures, mostly in Bulacan. Natividad said that one of the things that stood out in their audit involved the small coastal barangay of Calero. Despite having only 100 households, there were 13 flood control projects in the area with a combined cost of P1.4 billion.

According to the mayor, he ordered all suspected ghost and incomplete projects to be declared ‘crime scenes,’ as he also directed all village officials to ban all construction activities, which would just be attempts to cover up suspected anomalies.

‘We are expecting that after this, all those behind the projects will face the necessary charges and that this becomes a precedent so that no similar offenses, crime or violations will be committed again. The findings of the people of Malolos through our MCPAT can serve as sworn affidavits in filing the necessary charges, as Justice Andres Reyes of the ICI informed us,’ said Natividad.

Detained indefinitely

Henry Alcantara, the former head of the DPWH Bulacan 1st Engineering District, along with assistant engineers Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza, is currently detained by the Senate after they were cited in contempt for lying during the hearings conducted by the blue ribbon committee.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in an interview on dzBB on Sunday, said that the three, along with private contractor Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya, might end up staying in the Senate’s custody until June 2028.

‘The Supreme Court decision says that as long as the investigation of Congress, whether Senate or House, remains active, we can take into custody those we held in contempt until we adjourn sine die,’ he said.

‘In other words, if nothing is happening, we will be forced to release them when June 2028 comes, based on the Supreme Court ruling,’ he added.

But should a court order their arrest, ‘of course, that’s another story,’ Sotto said. The three DPWH officials had admitted to conspiring with some lawmakers and private contractors, including Discaya, to siphon off billions of pesos in funding for government infrastructure projects, mostly flood control structures. -With a report from Tina G. Santos

Rain-soaked learners from seven elementary schools in this city, wearing smiling masks and costumes in vibrant colors, danced to festive MassKara Festival music on Saturday despite a heavy downpour spawned by Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen).

Estefania Elementary School, with a performance aptly dubbed ‘Dancing in the Rain, Through a Child’s Eye,’ bagged the grand champion title in the MassKara Festival 2025 arena and street dance competition school category.

Mayor Greg Gasataya, in his speech during the awarding rites, congratulated Estefania Elementary School for its inspiring victory and joyful dancing despite the rain, calling their performance ‘a testament to Bacolod’s creativity, teamwork, and the enduring MassKara spirit.’

MassKara Festival, which this year carried the theme ‘One smile, One city, One heart,’ began in 1980 to lift the spirits of Bacoleños grieving the loss of about 78 of their kin who died or went missing in the sinking of the Bacolod-bound MV Don Juan on April 22, 1980, which collided with oil tanker MT Tacloban City in Tablas Strait, off the coast of Mindoro.

Switched up

This year’s competition began with arena performances at the Paglaum Sports Complex before the contingents brought their performances to the streets. It also marked the return of the arena and street dance competition school category after six years.

Festival director Rodney Ascalon said the decision to switch up by starting first with an arena performance before the street dance was meant to create a more engaging showcase for both performances.

Estefania Elementary School went home with P750,000 from the city government and another P20,000 from Dito Telecom for the championship title.

The 1st runner-up was Paglaum Village Elementary School, which won P300,000 plus P10,000 from Dito Telecom, while the 2nd runner-up Asuncion L. Lizares Elementary School (ALLES) won P200,000 plus P5,000 from Dito Telecom.

The winners of the minor awards were; best in community dance-Paglaum Village Elementary School-P30,000; most disciplined contingent-Paglaum Village Elementary School-P30,000; best in theme and concept-Estefania Elementary School-P30,000; best in music-Estefania Elementary School-P30,000; best in mask and costume-ALLES-P30,000; and best in introduction video-Paglaum Village Elementary School-P30,000.

Special Awards winners were: Kapuso choice award-Estefania Elementary School-P30,000; Sunsilk Hairkada head-turner award-Paglaum Village Elementary School-P25,000 and Pocari Sweat ‘Be at Your Best Moment’ award-ALLES-P30,000.

Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya also announced that participating contingents would each receive P150,000 as an incentive, on top of the P500,000 they each got from the city government to cover production costs.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas will house those who may be indicted in the multi-billion-peso flood control scandal.

DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla inspected the facility on Monday, saying the jail was the closest and ‘most convenient’ for anti-graft special court Sandiganbayan.

In a press briefing ahead of the inspection, Remulla said the new facility had 80 unoccupied rooms, capable of housing 10 persons deprived of liberty each.

The facility also had a bathroom, a shower, a toilet, purified drinking water, an area for exercise, and private quarters where those accused may confer with their legal counsels, Remulla added.

He said visitors may bring detainees cooked and packed food five times a week, except for Mondays and Fridays.

The DILG chief further noted that cellphones, tablets, and all communication devices will not be allowed – save for a landline in the facility that can only be used upon a request to the warden.

‘The rules of the jail will apply to the rich and to the poor the same,’ Remulla stressed.

‘We are preparing regular jail cells. If a thief of P100 at SM, if a thief and a shoplifter of lotion are jailed here, those who steal billions, in my opinion, should also be jailed here,’ he added speaking mostly in Filipino.

According to Remulla, the first round of indictments in the flood control scandal can be expected within the next three weeks and that at least 200 individuals will face charges.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has suspended for 90 days the driver’s license of a pickup driver caught on camera beating an elderly bus driver during a traffic altercation.

Arny Jose Montes was filmed allegedly assaulting the older bus driver on a highway in Silang, Cavite, a video shared by the DOTr on Sunday showed.

‘It is clear in the video how he hurt the elderly driver,’ said DOTr acting chief Giovanni Lopez in a Facebook post. ‘We will not tolerate such behavior.’

Montes was not immediately available for comment.

Citing the Silang Municipal Police Station, the DOTr said Montes’ Toyota Hilux made a right turn and collided with the bus.

Montes has been ordered to appear at the Land Transportation Office (LTO) headquarters in Quezon City on Oct. 24 to submit a verified sworn statement explaining the incident.

‘Failure to appear and submit the required statement will be construed as a waiver of your right to be heard, and the case will be decided based on the evidence at hand,’ said the LTO show-cause order, signed by Intelligence and Investigation Division Chief Renante Melitante.

The DOTr also said Montes must surrender his license upon appearing before the LTO. His Toyota Hilux will be flagged to prevent any transactions while the investigation is ongoing.

Lopez added that the DOTr will continue suspending driver’s licenses of individuals involved in road rage incidents./mcm

The possibility of losing the support of the majority bloc – even the Senate presidency – was raised amid discussions of Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson’s return as chairman of the Senate blue ribbon committee (BRC).

When Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III broached the idea of giving back the committee chairmanship to him, Lacson said he told him that they should be ready ‘for any and all consequences of my actions and decisions, including losing some members of the majority bloc and consequently, his Senate presidency.’

‘In retrospect, a simple, practical question crossed my mind when I decided to resign last October 6: What BRC chairmanship are we talking about if we lose the majority to the current Cayetano-led minority bloc?’ Lacson said in a message to reporters.

He was referring to Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, who currently heads the 9-man minority group in the Senate.

‘Having said all that, if I decide to get back the BRC chairmanship, that question will no longer be a factor,’ Lacson added.

Lacson himself disclosed the ‘disappointment’ of ‘a number’ of his colleagues with the direction of the blue ribbon panel, which he previously headed.

His resignation prompted the suspension of the panel’s investigation into the flood control projects scandal allegedly involving some lawmakers, government officials, and private contractors.

Sen. Erwin Tulfo, vice chairman of the blue ribbon panel, was later named its acting chairman.

Sotto, meanwhile, expressed readiness to lose the Senate presidency if that is the price of bringing Lacson back as BRC head.

‘I’m confident that the people will be supportive of any move we will take to curb corruption in government, and whatever it takes! So, our posts in the Senate are subject to the support of our peers,’ he said. in a separate message.

When asked if he is not afraid of losing the Senate presidency as a result of Lacson’s possible return, Sotto answered: ‘Fear is a word I have already disregarded a long time ago.’

Though Lacson has yet to finalize his decision, the Senate chief noted in an earlier interview that most of his colleagues want Lacson back as the panel head.

‘We’ll discuss it in a meeting. It’s okay with Erwin,’ he added when asked how his conversation with Lacson ended.

A total of 20 families, or 77 individuals, were evacuated on Monday (Oct. 20) in the Cagayan Valley region as Tropical Storm ‘Ramil’ (international name: Fengshen) brought heavy rains, causing widespread flooding, according to the Cagayan Valley Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CVRDRRMC).

The evacuees are from two villages in Divilacan, Isabela, and one village in Sta. Fe, Nueva Vizcaya.

In addition to the evacuations, 10 overflow bridges were closed to motorists due to swollen rivers across the region, particularly in Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino.

The storm’s impact also disrupted air travel, with twelve flights to and from Cagayan, Isabela, and Batanes canceled due to adverse weather conditions.

As of today, a red alert status remains in effect for Cagayan, Isabela, Quirino, and Nueva Vizcaya, while Batanes continues to be under a blue alert.

In Batanes, a flash flood occurred in Sitio Malayo, San Antonio, Basco, on the afternoon of October 20, sweeping away a motorcycle in its path.

Ramil exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Monday morning, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

Tindig Pilipinas, a coalition of pro-democracy groups and civil society organizations, has urged Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla to conduct a thorough investigation into Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds in her office and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure.

Tindig Pilipinas spokesperson Kiko Aquino Dee, along with members of the coalition, submitted a letter to the Office of the Ombudsman on Monday.

‘The Vice President must also fully explain how the confidential funds under the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education were used – just as we demand accountability from those involved in the ghost flood control projects that plundered the nation’s coffers,’ the group said in a statement distributed to the media.

With these, the group claimed that Duterte committed betrayal of public trust, malversation, as well as graft and corruption.

The coalition also cited Duterte’s supposed ‘admission’ of plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Tindig Pilipinas claimed that Duterte committed culpable violations of the Constitution and/or committed high crimes in contracting an assassin and plotting to assassinate the President and his relatives.

‘Such reckless words from the country’s second-highest official echo the violence and impunity that have stained our nation’s past,’ the group said.

‘The threat she made is not far removed from the bloody legacy of her father’s so-called war on drugs, which claimed thousands of lives from the poorest sectors of our society,’ it added.

On July 25, the Supreme Court (SC) unanimously ruled that the impeachment complaint against Duterte is unconstitutional for ‘lack of merit,’ effectively halting the Senate’s scheduled trial.

SC spokesperson Camille Ting said the high court ruled that the impeachment complaint against the Vice President ‘is barred by the one-year rule and that due process or fairness applies during all stages of the impeachment.’

‘Therefore, the Senate could not acquire jurisdiction over the impeachment proceedings,’ Ting, at that time, said.

Over a week later, the House of Representatives filed a motion for reconsideration (MR), which seeks to overturn the SC decision, which is still pending.

On the other hand, Duterte has asked the SC to reject the MR. In a 27-page comment, the vice president argued that the SC’s ruling on the impeachment complaint required no factual corrections, contrary to the claims made in the MR.

On February 5 this year, Duterte was impeached after 215 members of the lower chamber from the 19th Congress filed and signed a fourth complaint.

The complaint was based on allegations of misuse of confidential funds in her offices, threats against ranking officials, and other possible violations of the Constitution.

The articles of impeachment were immediately transmitted to the Senate on the same day, in accordance with the 1987 Constitution, which mandates that a trial must begin promptly if at least one-third of all House members-or 102 out of 306-endorse the complaint.

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte’s latest remarks mocking Filipinos who use ‘made in China’ products despite their negative sentiments with the country did not escape the attention of a Philippine Coast Guard official for the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Responding to those who call him ‘pro-China’, Duterte said that Filipinos who don’t like Beijing should not use all made in China products ‘before you open your mouth.’

‘I’m leaning towards economic cooperation, not military practices,’ Duterte said in his podcast a few months ago which resurfaced online on Sunday.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, PCG spokesperson for the WPS affairs, said such remarks are fallacious.

‘Mayor Duterte’s suggestion that everyday Filipinos using Chinese-made goods (such as clothing or electronics) should somehow accept economic cooperation as a substitute for confronting China’s aggression in the WPS is a false equivalence,’ Tarriela said in a post on Facebook on Sunday.

‘Standing firm against China’s illegal claims and aggressive actions in the WPS is not an ‘either-or’ choice between commerce and confrontation,’ he added.

Tarriela also addressed this remark of Duterte, who said: ‘It’s not about us against China, because China will always be there, and the United States will always be there, they are the ones fighting, and both countries want control over this territory.’

‘His attribution of WPS conflicts to ‘great power competition’ between the U.S. and China oversimplifies the issue and absolves the aggressor,’ Tarriela said.

The PCG official noted that the tensions in WPS is a ‘direct result’ of China’s excessive maritime claims ‘long before any escalation in U.S. involvement.’

‘This is not a proxy war orchestrated by Washington; it is a violation of international law by Beijing,’ he also said.

Tarriela also said that despite President Rodrigo Duterte’s ‘overt courtship’ of China, its ‘bullying’ in WPS still persisted.

‘This history underscores that concessions do not yield peace; they invite further encroachments,’ Tarriela said.

Then-President Duterte pursued closer ties with China, a move later reversed by his successor Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Marcos’ administration also greenlighted joint patrols and military exercises with the United States and other like-minded nations in the West Philippine Sea, allowed its oldest and only treaty ally access to four more military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, and the deployment of two American missile systems in northern Luzon.

These moves earned the ire of China.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea but the landmark 2016 Arbitral Award effectively dismissed this, ruling heavily in favor of Manila’s sovereign rights.

While acknowledging the call of business groups to address the massive corruption scandal involving flood control and infrastructure projects, Malacañang urged them to trust the investigations being undertaken by different government agencies to hold all those involved accountable.

In a briefing on Monday, Palace press officer Claire Castro cited the positive development in the works of the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), despite criticisms from different stakeholders on the slow pace and lack of transparency of the executive-created body.

‘Much has already been done, and many more are still under investigation by different government bodies,’ she said.

‘The President and the administration understand the concerns of businessmen, which is why investigations continue and actions are being expedited to ensure that those who must be held accountable will face the consequences,’ Castro added.

Castro cited the move of the ICI, with the help of other government agencies, to seek the forfeiture of about P5-billion worth of cash and other assets covered by freeze orders issued by the Court of Appeals (CA) upon the request of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

Upon request of the ICI, the DOJ also issued immigration lookout bulletin order against dozens of those found connected to the flood control controversy.

It also urged the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend the filing of graft charges against 18 individuals, including resigned lawmaker Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co, over the substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million.

The ICI also committed that at least 15 cases may be filed before the Ombudsman by next month in relation to the flood control mess.

It might take further for the ombudsman to formally transmit a criminal charge to the Sandiganbayan, and then for the antigraft court to possibly issue warrants of arrest against the accused.

‘Our only request to those obstructionists who keep making up stories to undermine the integrity of the ICI is to tone it down – or better yet, stop – because it does not help the economy,’ Castro said.

The Malacañang statement came a day after the country’s biggest business organizations issued a joint resolution urgently calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to immediately address the ‘historic, massive and unprecedented corruption scandal crippling flood control and infrastructure projects.’

Signed by 34 business groups and associations, the appeal called the corruption controversy as a ‘crisis that has eroded public trust and now threatens our national security.’

‘This is more than financial loss – it is a fatal breach of public trust that leaves our people vulnerable and outraged,’ they warned.

The groups urged Marcos to ‘immediately and transparently’ adopt proposed measures to confront the crisis, primarily by empowering the ICI with ‘full legal authority and independence’ to enable it to fulfill its mandate to conduct a swift and comprehensive investigation of the anomalous flood control and other infrastructure projects ‘free from political influence.’

Malacañang on Monday urged those it described as obstructionists to stop discrediting the government, especially regarding its initiatives to address the corruption controversy in flood-control projects, stressing that such actions do not benefit the country’s economy.

The statement was issued in response to a call by 34 major business organizations for immediate and transparent action on the alleged corruption scandal in flood-control and infrastructure projects.

‘Our only request to those obstructionists who keep making up stories to undermine the integrity of the ICI is to tone it down-or better yet, stop-because it does not help the economy,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said, speaking in Filipino during a briefing.

Castro highlighted the Marcos administration’s efforts to address issues hounding flood-control projects, including the launch of the Sumbong sa Pangulo website and the establishment of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI).

She added that the super body is also looking into the forfeiture of P5 billion worth of assets linked to the flood-control controversy.

In a strongly worded joint resolution on Sunday, business groups-led by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc., the Employers Confederation of the Philippines, the Makati Business Club, and the Management Association of the Philippines-expressed deep concern over the corruption issue.

They noted that businesses have long contributed to national coffers through taxes, ‘yet trillions of pesos supplied and intended to protect our communities from disasters have been squandered through ghost projects, substandard work, and inflated contracts.’

‘This is more than financial loss-it is a fatal breach of public trust that leaves our people vulnerable and outraged,’ they warned.

They even described the scandal as a ‘historic, massive, and unprecedented corruption crisis’ that has eroded public trust and now threatens national security.