Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

A 44-year-old woman listed as a high-value individual (HVI) was arrested in a police anti-drug operation early Wednesday, with authorities seizing over P400,000 worth of suspected ‘shabu’ (crystal meth), according to the province’s top police official.

Police Col. Heryl Bruno, director of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office, said the suspect – a resident of Barangay Pias, General Tinio – was caught during a buy-bust operation around 1 a.m. in Barangay San Mariano, San Antonio town.

She was apprehended after allegedly handing over a sachet of suspected shabu to an undercover operative in exchange for a P1,000 marked bill.

Upon her arrest, operatives from the San Antonio Municipal Police Station reportedly confiscated 55.75 grams of shabu, valued at approximately P379,100, from her possession. The marked money used in the transaction was also recovered, Bruno confirmed.

The suspect will face charges for violating Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

‘The HVI has been subjected to a weeklong series of surveillance operations, which eventually led to her arrest. We are conducting further and thorough investigations to identify and arrest other drug traders connected to her network,’ Bruno said

Responding to public outcry, Sen. Erwin Tulfo has proposed an ‘extraordinary measure’ granting a one-month income tax holiday amid the multi-billion-peso flood control projects scandal rocking the government.

‘The exposure of alleged anomalies in flood control projects, involving billions of pesos in public funds, has gravely eroded public trust in government fiscal stewardship. The Filipino people have raised a clear and resounding clamor-‘Return the people’s money. Lower the taxes,” Tulfo said when he filed Senate Bill No. 1446 on Tuesday.

‘The welfare of the people is the supreme law. It is therefore just and necessary that the State respond by providing tangible relief to the very taxpayers who sustain it,’ he added.

Under the bill, all individual taxpayers receiving compensation income may enjoy a ‘one-time, one-month income tax holiday,’ which will be reflected in the first payroll month immediately following the bill’s approval.

For mixed-income earners, only the portion classified as compensation income will be exempt from tax.

‘Towards this end, the state shall, as an extraordinary measure, grant a one-time, one-month tax holiday on compensation income, without prejudice to existing social security contributions and benefits,’ according to the bill.

It states that the proposed tax holiday will not cover the mandatory contributions to the Government Service Insurance System, Social Security System, PhilHealth, Home Development Mutual Fund, and loan amortizations and other payments voluntarily authorized by the employee.

The bill also includes a non-diminution clause, which will ensure that employers cannot reduce employee wages during the tax holiday month.

‘While taxation is recognized as the lifeblood of the State, we must equally recognize that this lifeblood flows from the people themselves,’ Tulfo said.

‘At a time when public confidence has been shaken, this bill provides a fair, extraordinary, and immediate form of relief that returns benefits directly to the people,’ he added.

Various protest rallies were recently held in parts of the country following revelations of alleged massive corruption in the government’s flood control projects.

Separate investigations in Congress also revealed the alleged involvement of some senators and congressmen, who were accused of receiving kickbacks in exchange for these infrastructure projects. /mcm

Senator Erwin Tulfo will automatically assume the chairmanship of the Senate blue ribbon committee if no one takes the post vacated by Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson.

Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto earlier named Sens. Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Francis Pangilinan, Pia Cayetano, and Risa Hontiveros as candidates for the post.

So far, Sen. Raffy has officially declined, while Ejercito is still contemplating, Sotto told reporters in a message late Tuesday night.

‘Erwin could be a good choice. If no taker, automatically the vice chairman steps in,’ he added when asked about the possibility that no one would be interested in taking Lacson’s place.

Sen. Erwin is the only vice chairman of the blue ribbon committee, according to Sotto.

‘He has expertise and experience in investigative journalism. Matapang pa! (He is also brave!)’ The Senate chief added in a separate message to reporters.

At present, Sen. Erwin heads two committees: games and amusement, and social justice, welfare, and rural development.

His brother, Raffy, already said on Tuesday that he would humbly decline if offered the blue ribbon panel chairmanship, as he does not want to lose focus on his three committees. He currently chairs the committees on labor, migrant workers, and public services.

While grateful to be considered for the post, Ejercito said he is aware of his limitations.

‘There are others who are more capable of chairing this important committee,’ he said in Filipino.

Pangilinan, meanwhile, said it would be ‘unwise to accept a fourth committee’ as he now chairs the committees on agriculture, justice and human rights, and constitutional amendments.

‘I have championed the country’s food security and agriculture sector for the last 15 years. I believe it is in helping address the serious and dire challenges of the agri sector that I can best serve our country with my utmost,’ he said in another statement.

He was also hoping that Lacson would change his mind, but the latter is firm with his decision.

Lacson resigned on Monday as chairman of the blue ribbon panel amid its investigation into corruption allegations hounding the government’s flood control projects.

‘In the course of the current investigation, which has implicated some senators in the flood control mess, a number of our colleagues have expressed disappointment [over] the ‘direction’ of the blue ribbon committee, which this representation chairs,’ he said in his letter to Sotto.

‘Furthermore, some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,’ he added.

Finally returning to action, Kat Tolentino is grateful to be able to contribute again to the Choco Mucho Flying Titans in the PVL.

Tolentino has been sidelined for most of the year due to a ruptured appendix but she hardly missed a beat, pouring in 15 points in their 33-31, 26-24, 25-23 sweep of Capital1 in the PVL Reinforced Conference opening day.

‘I think I’m just thankful to be back and be able to play alongside the team,’ said the veteran opposite spiker. ‘That in itself is already a blessing for me. Being able to contribute is also a plus but I know there’s still more I can give and it was really a team effort.’

It was not the first time that Tolentino had dealt with health issues after also missing a chunk of the 2024 season due to an auditory problem, but the struggles have not dampened her determination to return to action.

‘I was thankful to coach Dante and the team that they welcomed me back with open arms,’ said the former Ateneo Blue Eagle. ‘It took a long time, but I had to make sure that I was mentally and physically healthy and ready to come back 100%. I didn’t want it to be something that I felt forced to do.’

Tolentino’s first game back after a long layoff impressed Choco Mucho coach Dante Alinsunurin.

‘I’m really impressed and I salute Kat. Every time something happens to her, she’s so patient and determined to come back,’ said Alinsunurin in Filipino. ‘I’m super proud of how she performed-she really gave her best.

‘At first, I was nervous since it was her first game back, but once I saw how she was moving in the first set, it felt like her usual self again, and I had full trust in her from that point on.’

Tolentino and Choco Mucho, though, will have to replicate-or even surpass-their Tuesday’s efforts when they meet Capital1 again after the PVL decided to replay all the opening games due to the dispute over International Transfer Certificates.

A retired Army soldier and two others were killed in an ambush that also wounded two other companions in Salunayan village in Midsayap town, Cotabato province, around 8 a.m. on Tuesday.

Lt. Col. Oliver Pauya, chief of Midsayap police station, identified the fatalities as Udin Indaila Dalgan, 31, an escort and a resident of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, and Madron Sumlay Endaila Jr., 48, a retired member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines from Barangay Kapinpilan, Kadayanang town in the Special Geographic Area (SGA) of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Also killed was Rahib Mamental Wahab, 35, a tricycle driver from Kadayangan who was caught in the crossfire during the ambush.

Pauya stated that the primary target of the attack appeared to be the retired soldier.

Authorities believe that retaliation may have been the motive behind the attack.

‘There was no other possible target in the attack except for the retired soldier, possibly because of his previous work in Army intelligence,’ Pauya said.

Surviving the attack were the victim’s wife, Saida Felmin Endaila, a town councilor of Kadayangan, and Lani Endaila Yusop, 20, also a resident of the same place.

According to Pauya, the four victims were aboard a black Toyota Fortuner with plate number NDC 3579 when they were ambushed by suspects riding in a gray minivan.

‘There were three suspects inside the minivan who positioned themselves in the area just minutes before the victims passed along the highway,’ Pauya said.

Pursuit operations are ongoing to locate and apprehend the suspects.

Pauya has already ordered a deeper investigation to ensure justice is served for the victims./coa

Consumer prices climbed in September at their fastest pace in six months, driven by surging food costs after a series of storms that flooded farms and destroyed crops – a setback seen to make the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) more guarded in its next policy steps.

Inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, quickened to 1.7 percent in September from 1.5 percent in August, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.

It was the strongest reading since March, when inflation stood at 1.8 percent. Even so, the figure came in better than the 2-percent median forecast of economists polled by the Inquirer last week.

September also marked the seventh consecutive month that inflation remained below the BSP’s 2- to 4- percent target range.

Prices pressures

Transport prices, which reversed seven straight months of decline after posting a 1 percent gain in September, emerged as the top driver of inflation.

State statisticians flagged mixed price movements of diesel and gasoline last month, though most of the weekly adjustments were upward.

Food prices also nudged inflation higher, rising 1 percent in September from 0.9 percent in August. The increase was driven by a spike in vegetable costs, which jumped 19.4 percent, the fastest in eight months.

The PSA said storms had disrupted harvests and pushed up prices of staples like cabbage, chilies, peppers and pumpkins.

Rice prices, meanwhile, posted a milder decline of 16.9 percent from 17 percent previously, extending their slump despite the ongoing import freeze.

‘The slight uptick in inflation underscores the sensitivity of domestic food prices to supply disruptions,’ said Secretary Arsenio Balisacan of the Department of Economy, Planning and Development. ‘We are working closely with various agencies to stabilize supply, keep essential goods affordable, and safeguard household welfare.’

Probable pause

Separately, the BSP said it would assess the September inflation data ‘to determine the appropriate monetary policy response.’

But while inflation continued to stay below the central bank’s target range, a fresh rate cut is seen to be unlikely this week, given the peso’s weakness. The local currency has slipped to the 58-per-dollar level and could stoke imported inflation.

Ten out of 16 economists polled by the Inquirer last week expected the Monetary Board to keep the policy rate steady at 5 percent on Oct. 9.

‘Looking ahead, a potential month-on-month increase in rice prices following the suspension of rice imports, along with the impact of adverse weather, could add some upward push to inflation,’ analysts at Chinabank Research said.

‘While overall price growth is still expected to remain low for the rest of the year, increased upside risks to the inflation outlook could prompt the BSP to adopt a more cautious stance and keep interest rates on hold at Thursday’s policy meeting,’ they added.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Wednesday sent an invitation to former House Speaker Martin Romualdez and a subpoena to resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co to appear in its flood control probe hearing on October 14.

Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman was also invited to attend the hearing on Tuesday for ICI to seek authoritative guidance from the Department of Budget and Management about the National Expenditure Program and General Appropriations Act.

ICI will also inquire about programs linked to the ghost or substandard flood control projects, as well as the procedures for the release of the unprogrammed funds.

Based on the invitation to Romualdez and the subpoena issued to Co, both signed by ICI Chair Andres Reyes, the hearing set for Tuesday will be at 10 a.m. at the commission’s office in Taguig City.

Meanwhile, Pangandaman was asked to attend the hearing at 9 a.m.

Hearing invitation for Romualdez

Reyes asked Romualdez in the letter to appear before the ICI’s hearing on Tuesday to discuss his ‘familiarity and personal knowledge as Speaker of the House relative to the National Budget insertions, and as well as the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) flood control projects.’

Romualdez was included in the copy of ICI’s immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) request to the Department of Justice (DOJ) dated this Wednesday.

Along with him in the ILBO list were Senators Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva, ex-senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay, and several others.

Earlier, a former security consultant of Co said in a Senate Blue Ribbon committee that Romualdez allegedly received kickbacks from government projects. The Leyte 1st District Representative denied the allegation.

Subpoena vs Co

Meanwhile, the subpoena against Co stated that the resigned lawmaker is ‘hereby commanded and required to appear before the Commission to testify under oath relative to your personal knowledge ever since you joined the Committee on Appropriations of the National Budget insertions and your involvement in DPWH flood control projects.’

Co was directed to bring the following upon his appearance before the commission:

1. Contracts, records and reports related to any government projects, project proposals, feasibility studies and master plans for flood control projects that you or the corporation where you or your family have beneficial interest

2. Accounting forms and documents such as, but not limited to vouchers, invoices, official receipts, etc., relevant to the contracts, records and reports in No. 1

3. Incorporation and registration documents such as, but not limited to, the following:

Articles of Incorporation

Certificate of Business Registration

Latest General Information Sheet (including beneficial owner information)

Latest Financial Statement

Department of Trade and Industry (DTT) Registration

Latest Income Tax Return

License from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board

The DOJ earlier requested the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) to issue a blue notice on Co, as the resigned lawmaker has yet to be tracked down.

Recently, the ICI urged the Office of the Ombudsman to determine the appropriate charges to be filed against Co and 17 other public officials in connection with the alleged anomalies in a P289.5-million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro.

He also denied allegations that he was involved in flood control anomalies. /apl

Justice Sec. Jesus Crispin Remulla has signed the immigration lookout bulletin orders (Ilbo) requested by the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) against several lawmakers, contractors and officials linked to anomalous infrastructure projects.

Remulla signed the request on his last day as chief of the Department of Justice before taking his oath as the newest Ombudsman. ‘The Ilbo for all officials requested by the ICI has been signed by SOJ (Secretary of Justice),’ Department of Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano told reporters in a message on Wednesday.

The Ilbo requested by the ICI included former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senators Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada, and Joel Villanueva, and former Senators Bong Revilla and Nancy Binay, as well as the following:

Commissioner Mario G. Lipana

Marilou Laurio-Lipana

Undersecretary Trygve L. Olaivar

Carlene Villa

Maynard Ngu

Rep. Roman Romulo

Rep. James ‘Jojo’ Ang

Rep. Patrick Michael ‘PM’ Vargas

Rep. Juan Carlos ‘Arjo’ Atayde

Rep. Nicanor ‘Nikki’ Briones

Rep. Marcelino ‘Marcy’ Teodoro

Rep. Florida ‘Rida’ Robes

Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona

Rep. Benjamin ‘Benjie’ Agarao

former Rep. Florencio Gabriel ‘Bem’ Noel

Rep. Leody ‘Ode’ Tarriela

Rep. Reynante ‘Reynan’ Arogancia

former Rep. Marvin Rillo

Rep. Teodorico ‘Teodoro’ Haresco, Jr.

Rep. Antonieta Eudela

Rep. Dean Assistio

Rep. Marivic Co-Pilar

District Engineer Loida Busa

Bogs Magalong

District Engineer. Ramon Devanadera

District Engineer Johnny Protesta, Jr.

District Engineer Arturo Gonzales Jr.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration in a separate message also confirmed receipt of the Ilbo issued by the DOJ.

‘Their names have been immediately included in our centralized database and their travels will be strictly monitored,’ said Immigration spokesperson Dana Sandoval.

While it is good that lawmakers found a way to increase the proposed allocation for classroom construction and repair for 2026, it might be better to also consider cutting the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) project costs to address the country’s over 160,000 classroom gap.

In a privilege speech on Wednesday, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste reiterated his suggestions – to lower the DPWH’s Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) and to cut costs or outright cancel existing but unbidded or unimplemented projects – and save up to P400 billion. ‘The country lacks over over 165,000 classroom, according to DepEd. The good news is, today, the funding for 25,000 classrooms in 2026 was approved. The question, my dear colleagues is, how do we fund fund new classrooms in every school nationwide.’ Leviste said in Filipino.

‘The answer: We can save more if we reduce by 25 percent the cost pf DPWH projects. Current and planned DPWH projects cost P1.6 trillion. If we reduce the cost by 25 percent, we can save P400 billion, enough to build new classrooms in every school nationwide, without additional expenses, debts or taxes from the government,’ he added.

According to Leviste, there is a provision in the New Government Procurement Act that allows for the termination of contracts, due to the changes in government policy – just like what happened in his district in Batangas. ‘Para sa mahigit P1 trilyon na mga kasalukuyang proyekto ng DPWH, maaari pa itong kanselahin o i-reprice. Ang Government Procurement Reform Act ay may probisyon para sa Termination for Unlawful Acts at Termination for Convenience. Sa aking distrito sa Batangas, nakansela na ng DPWH ang isang flood control project sa ilalim ng Termination for Convenience ‘bunsod ng pagbabago sa polisiya ng pamahalaan sa pagpapatupad ng mga proyektong kaugnay sa flood control,’ nang walang multa sa gobyerno,’ he said.

‘For the current DPWH projects worth over P1 trillion, such can be cancelled or repriced. The Government Procurement Reform Act has a provision for Termination for Unlawful Acts and Termination for Convenience. In my district in Batangas, the DPWH cancelled one flood control project under the Termination for Convenience due to a change in government policy in implementing flood control projects,’ added Leviste.

Earlier, at the hearing of the Budget Amendments Review Sub-committee (BARSc), appropriations chairperson and Nueva Ecija 1st District Rep. Mikaela Suansing said they have found a way to increase the proposed budget under the Basic Education Facilities (BEF), from P22.5 billion to P35 billion.

The BEF includes allocation for the construction, completion, rehabilitation of classrooms, and the provision of furniture.

‘We have found the fiscal space to add more to the basic education facilities program, towards the new construction, completion, rehabilitation of classrooms. So if before what the BARSc approved is P22.5 billion, we are able to find the space to increase that to P35 billion, so that’s an additional P13 billion towards the creation of classrooms,’ Suansing said. ‘So just to clarify po, that’s in addition to what’s already there in the NEP for the BEF. So there is currently P28 billion in the NEP (National Expenditures Program) for BEF, so if we add the P35 billion, that will be P63 billion in total for classrooms,’ she added.

Palace press officer Claire Castro on Wednesday dismissed rumors circulating online that she is being eyed as the next secretary of justice, following Jesus Crispin ‘Boying’ Remulla’s appointment as the next Ombudsman.

Castro also currently serves as undersecretary at the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).

‘First of all, we don’t know where it started, so there’s no truth to that,’ she said at a briefing when asked for a confirmation on the matter.

Asked if she would accept if ever President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. offers the role, Castro only said, ‘Hypothetical question. I cannot answer.’

On Monday, Remulla designated Undersecretary Fredderick A. Vida as officer-in-charge of the Department of Justice.

At the briefing, Castro said there was no shortlist yet on who would be the next chief of the department.

Castro is a lawyer and former broadcaster. She was appointed in February, along with then PCO acting Secretary Jay Ruiz, who was replaced by Dave Gomez in early July. /apl