Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it has been meeting the cash requirements of banks operating in Masbate, after the province was battered by Severe Tropical Storm Ompong.

In a statement on Thursday, the central bank said its Legazpi branch has been coordinating with local financial institutions to ensure the availability of banking services. It also informed banks that it can accommodate emergency withdrawals if necessary.

While some bank branches have yet to reopen, residents can still access funds through alternative channels, including money service businesses offering cash-out services.

‘The BSP will continue to closely monitor the situation to meet the cash and banking needs of the people,’ the central bank said.

Ompong (international name: Bualoi) carved a deadly path through the Bicol and Visayas regions last week, forcing thousands of storm-weary families to flee homes and huddle on school floors. The storm left at least 14 people dead, as it triggered widespread flooding, landslides and power outages. /dda

With 15 voting in favor, 3 opposing it, and 2 abstaining, the Senate adopted on Wednesday a resolution requesting the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest for humanitarian reasons.

Proposed Senate Resolution No. 144, which was signed by Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, emphasized that because of the advanced age and deteriorating health of Duterte, the ICC should designate a physician or medical doctor to examine the former president and ascertain if he is fit to withstand regular detention.

But should the medical findings prove that detention will further worsen his medical condition, the court should allow the former president to be placed under house arrest.

According to the resolution, ‘such house arrest, or a similar appropriate arrangement, will be subject to conditions restricting liberty to be imposed by the ICC, presenting no risk to the integrity of the ongoing trial.’

Subject to conditions

The senators also argued in the resolution that under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.

‘The Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the ICC allows persons being tried there in interim release, subject to conditions restricting liberty, including staying at a particular address, not contacting directly or indirectly victims or witnesses, and responding when summoned by an authority or qualified person designated by the ICC,’ they said.

In his sponsorship speech, Cayetano said the wheels of justice were already moving, whether it be in the country or in The Hague, where the ICC is based.

‘It is not against the tenet of human rights to allow any person, especially a former president, to be under house arrest or to be under a country supervised under ICC, especially in the condition of President Duterte, who is 80 years old,’ he added.

Duterte faces three counts of murder before the ICC for the thousands killed in his drug war.

Not about politics

Zubiri, for his part, said his personal stand on the issue does not have anything to do with politics. He said it is only based on his point of view as a son to a father who is now 85 years old and ailing.

‘For me, this is not politics. This is not DDS (term used for Duterte supporters) or Marcos. I am speaking as a son to a father who has the same illnesses as the [former] president right now. Mine is more of a humanitarian, compassionate request,’ said Zubiri.

‘That’s why we toned down the resolution-just in view of his deteriorating health . we’re just appealing to the ICC to allow it within the rules,’ he added.

Aside from Zubiri and Cayetano, the other senators who voted in favor were Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Erwin Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Panfilo Lacson, and Mark Villar.

Those who opposed the resolution were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Francis Pangilinan.

Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III and Sen. Raffy Tulfo abstained from voting.

At least 17 people were injured when a public utility jeepney plunged into a six-meter ravine in Calauag town, Quezon province, on Wednesday.

Police said the driver, identified only as ‘Luisito,’ 45, lost control of the steering wheel after the jeepney’s brakes failed while negotiating a descending and curved section of the road in Barangay Pinagsakayan at around 2 p.m.

The jeepney, carrying 16 passengers – three of them elderly – veered off the road and fell into the ravine.

The driver and all passengers sustained injuries and were rushed to different hospitals for treatment.

Authorities said an investigation into the accident is ongoing.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong ‘has only himself to blame’ for his short-lived tenure as special advisor to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), a lawmaker said Thursday, after it was revealed that the controversy-dogged Discayas built a project in his city.

In a statement, House infrastructure committee chair Terry Ridon said Magalong’s failure to disclose that St. Gerrard Construction Company – owned by big-time contractor Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya – had undertaken a ?110-million Baguio tennis court project ‘does not speak well of his actual commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance.’

Curlee and his wife Cezarah are accused of enriching themselves through ghost and substandard projects implemented by their nine-company empire and of colluding with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officials to secure lucrative contracts.

‘It is the height of hypocrisy for a public official who styles himself as a champion of transparency, accountability, and good governance to reject public scrutiny of projects within his own local government,’ Ridon said.

This, after Magalong claimed in a Senate hearing on Thursday that he might have ‘struck a nerve or several nerves’ during his stint at the ICI, which is tasked with investigating anomalous infrastructure projects over the past 10 years.

Tennis court project

This, he said, might be the reason for the ‘sudden below-the-belt accusation’ tagging the tennis court project as anomalous.

Magalong maintained that the tennis court project followed proper procurement and denied any irregularities, and that it was unfair to suggest he was corrupt ‘just because the Discayas have a project (in Baguio).’

The anti-corruption group Mayors for Good Governance (M4GG) likewise rallied behind Magalong, whom it said ‘cannot be bought, bullied, or swayed by favors or threats.’

Magalong resigned from the ICI last week after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a review of his role in light of the controversy. He was then replaced by former Philippine National Police chief Rodolfo Azurin.

Ridon, however, argued that the scrutiny was justified given the Discayas’ track record of poor infrastructure projects.

At the same time, the Bicol Saro lawmaker said, this would have ‘directly test(ed) Mayor Magalong’s integrity and commitment to transparency, as he himself, as the city’s Head of Procuring Entity, has engaged a contractor linked to ghost and substandard projects.’

He noted that Magalong had more than a month – from Marcos’ Aug. 11 disclosure of the Discayas’ role in anomalous projects to the family’s Sept. 2 admission that they controlled multiple firms, including St. Gerrard – to reveal the Baguio project, but kept silent until a news report surfaced on Sept. 20.

‘To be clear, there is no allegation at this point that the ?110-million Baguio City tennis court project is tainted with corruption, or that city officials received kickbacks from the Discayas. There is, however, a legitimate allegation that the project may be substandard-giving the public every reason to ask questions,’ Ridon said.

‘And more importantly, even the loudest champions of good governance should never reject scrutiny of their own projects,’ he added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has not received any reports of violence or looting in Central Visayas following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the region.

The tremor hit 19 kilometers northeast of Bogo City in Cebu province on Tuesday night.

‘Fortunately, there have been no reports of gender-based violence or looting incidents in the aftermath of the earthquake,’ PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations Deputy Chief Brig. Gen. Antonio Marallag Jr. said during a briefing at Camp Crame on Thursday.

Marallag also said that the Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) increased its deployment from 1,356 officers on Wednesday to 2,250 officers on Thursday to support recovery efforts.

He added that the PNP’s Reserve Standby Support Force also deployed 312 personnel from PRO 7, 116 from PRO Eastern Visayas, and 112 from PRO Negros Island Region to strengthen the police response.

According to the latest situational report from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) on Thursday morning, at least 72 people have died and 294 were injured.

The NDRRMC said these casualty figures are yet to be validated.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release P150 million from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for the province of Cebu, in addition to P74 million allocated for the municipalities of San Remigio, Medellin, and Bogo City, which were severely affected by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake that struck on September 30.

The President stated that the funds are part of an ‘initial release,’ noting that a full assessment is still being conducted to determine the additional financial support needed in the province’s recovery.

On top of the DBM allocation, the Office of the President will provide P50 million in direct aid. Of this amount, P20 million each will go to Bogo City, San Remigio, and Sogod, while Daanbantayan, Madridejos, and Tabuelan will receive P10 million each.

Marcos visited Bogo City on Thursday to inspect the extent of the destruction and to assure quake-hit communities of immediate government support.

The September 30 earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 6.9, left at least 72 people dead and injured dozens more. The tremor also caused widespread damage to homes, schools, churches, and public infrastructure across northern Cebu.

It was strongly felt in neighboring provinces, including Negros Oriental, Bohol, and Leyte, and prompted thousands of residents to rush out of homes and establishments.

Authorities continue to conduct rescue and relief operations while structural assessments are being carried out to ensure public safety.

Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Cebuana Lhuillier, once again brought disaster preparedness to the forefront through the Disaster Resilience Forum (DRF) 2025. With the theme ‘#ResilientPilipinas, #LahatHandaAtLigtas: A Vision Forged by Action, Fueled by Collaboration,’ this year’s forum served as a national platform to elevate awareness, shape policy dialogue, and mobilize collective action for a more resilient Philippines. The introduction of the ‘Big Wave’ framework is CLFI’s bold move to spotlight emerging threats such as storm surges, sea-level rise, and Manila Trench tsunamis. These hazards, often overshadowed by the ‘Big One,’ now demand equal urgency and coordinated response. Through this initiative, CLFI reaffirmed its commitment to empowering communities and driving proactive preparedness.

At the helm of this advocacy is Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, emphasized the critical role of barangays in disaster resilience. ‘Resilience begins in every barangay. To truly build a Resilient Pilipinas, we must empower local communities with the tools, knowledge, and partnerships they need to withstand the Big One, the Big Wave, and every challenge in between. Our vision is simple but urgent: lahat ligtas at handa,’ Lhuillier said.

The forum unfolded in three dynamic sessions:

Vision: Shaping a Resilient Future – Led by DOST, PHIVOLCS, DILG, and ARISE, this session called for stronger leadership and barangay-level capacity building.

Action: Empowering Local Champions – Featuring MMDA, OCD-NDRRMC, DSWD, and grassroots leaders, it showcased scalable, life-saving community solutions.

Collaboration: Strengthening Solidarity for Impact – A convergence of voices from the government, academe, NGOs, and the private sector, reinforcing the need for unified efforts.

CLFI Executive Director Jonathan Batangan highlighted the forum’s purpose: ‘More than just heightening awareness and networking among stakeholder-participants, the DRF2025 is a call to action. By placing the ‘Big Wave’ on the agenda, we challenge communities and leaders to look beyond immediate risks and prepare for the realities ahead. True resilience happens when vision, action, and collaboration come together.’

To translate advocacy into impact, CLFI launched a nationwide donation campaign under its Tulong sa Pagbangon program, enabling Filipinos to contribute via digital wallets, QR codes, and coin canisters. CLFI also donated E2G food bars to the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), reinforcing its commitment to humanitarian aid. The donation was made possible through Lhuillier’s role as Philippine Ambassador of E2G, a global partner known for its ready-to-eat, nutrient-packed food bars for crisis response.

By sparking dialogue and delivering tangible support, the Disaster Resilience Forum 2025 advanced one shared goal: a #ResilientPilipinasand#LahatHandaAtLigtas.

Not only does Phoenix await the Aces in the WNBA Finals, but so does history.

Las Vegas has the opportunity to become champions for the third time in four years, a feat surpassed only by the Houston Comets, who won the league’s first four titles in 1997-2000 The second-seeded Aces, who won championships in 2022 and 2023, open the best-of-seven Finals by hosting the No. 4 Mercury on Friday.

But minutes after getting past No. 6 Indiana 107-98 in overtime on Tuesday night, coach Becky Hammon wasn’t ready to think about the potential history the Aces can make.

‘I haven’t thought about it,’ Hammon said. ‘We’re just trying to make it through a quarter at a time. Look, we have a special group here. I’m not surprised that they’re here because I know who they are. I know how they’re built.’

The Aces beat the Mercury in three of their four meetings this season, including both in August when Las Vegas was in the midst of compiling its 16-game winning streak to close the regular season. It’s tied with the second-longest streak in league history with the 2014 Mercury. The Aces are making their fourth Finals appearance in six years. They lost to Seattle in the COVID-19 bubble Finals of 2020, but then defeated Connecticut in 2022 and New York in 2023, securing both clinching victories on the road.

In defeating the Liberty, the Aces became the first team since Los Angeles in 2001-02 to win back-to-back titles.

Then this year, A’ja Wilson became the first four-time MVP. She was key to lifting the Aces out of a rut with that late charge in the regular season.

‘When you’ve been in the trenches and you really don’t know what is the problem or you don’t know what’s wrong, you’re trying to figure out answers,’ Wilson said. ‘At the beginning of every season, we write out our goals and our goals are always to win a championship. That’s everybody. But to get there, the road, we weren’t expecting it to look like it is.

As Congress finishes deliberations on the 2026 budget, Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste is proposing that the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) cancel or re-price P1.6 trillion of ongoing and upcoming projects to save P400 billion or over P1 billion per day so the government can fund its priority health and education programs.

Leviste’s suggestion arises as DPWH Regional Office IV-A has terminated a P95.99 million flood control contract in Lemery, Batangas that was awarded to Omnicon Builders in June 9, 2025. DPWH Regional Director Jovel Mendoza wrote that the contract ‘is hereby terminated due to change in government policy on the implementation of flood control-related projects,’ and said the contractor would not be paid since it was only recently awarded and the budget could be used for other projects. In August, Leviste and the Lemery local government unit (LGU) questioned the fact the project had no coordination with the LGU, had no building permit, and was not aligned with Lemery LGU’s flood control master plan. Leviste and Lemery LGU found that certain of the project’s sheet piles that were supposed to be 12 meters measured only 6 meters. After this audit, the sheet piles were transported away from the site and the contractor abandoned the project.

The Government Procurement Reform Act (RA 9184) and DPWH contracts allow for ‘Termination for Convenience’ if the project has become ‘economically, financially, or technically impractical and/or unnecessary, such as, but not limited to, fortuitous event(s) or changes in law and national government policies,’ without any penalty to the government. DPWH contracts also allow for ‘Termination for Unlawful Acts’ if the contractor has committed unlawful acts including ‘corrupt, fraudulent, collusive and coercive practices; drawing up or using forged documents; using adulterated materials, means or methods, or engaging in production contrary to rules of sincere or the trade.’

Leviste points out that DPWH can invoke ‘Termination for Convenience’ as DPWH Regional Office IV-A did in the case of the Lemery flood control project, or ‘Termination for Unlawful Acts’, citing the testimony of former DPWH Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo that ‘almost 100%’ of DPWH bids are rigged, and the testimony of former DPWH District Engineer Brice Hernandez that ‘all’ DPWH projects in his district need to be substandard because of 25-30% kickbacks that contractors pay to win rigged bids. Leviste has also previously advocated for DPWH to recompute the Detailed Unit Price Analysis (DUPA) to decrease the approved unit prices for future DPWH projects. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon has committed to reviewing the DUPA and has agreed that the DUPA can be decreased by ‘at least 10 percent,’ with others estimating that larger decreases are possible.

Citing the example of the Lemery flood control project, Leviste suggests that DPWH Secretary Dizon can invoke the applicable grounds for termination on the over P1 trillion of DPWH projects ongoing in 2025, and lower the DUPA for new projects including the over P600 billion of DPWH projects planned for 2026. Leviste estimates that if the government saves an average of 25%, the government could save P400 billion on P1.6 Trillion in projects.

Leviste said: ‘After all the hearings and protests against corruption in DPWH, we must remember there are over P1 trillion ongoing projects and another P600 billion in upcoming projects that DPWH can still do something about: use its grounds to terminate contracts, and lower the DUPA, to save P400 billion from P1.6 trillion in projects. DPWH is continuing to spend on overpriced projects every day, losing over P1 billion per day or P30 billion per month, and it is within DPWH’s power to stop these losses now.’

Jerrick Ahanmisi finally came to terms with Terrafirma by signing a one-year contract after being acquired in a trade with Magnolia.

The four-point specialist sealed the deal alongside agent Danny Espiritu in a meeting with Dyip team manager Waiyip Chong

Both parties had been in negotiations since Terrafirma got the incoming fifth-year guard last August when it dealt the rights to Javi Gomez de Liano to Magnolia.

Terrafirma also acquired Magnolia’s second round pick in the recent Rookie Draft, which it used to select burly College of St. Benilde big man Shawn Umali.

Ahanmisi averaged 6.8 points and 1.8 rebounds in 33 games for Magnolia in the 2024-25 campaign.

It was in the same season that Ahanmisi became known for knocking down shots from the league’s new four-point line, making 28-of-72 from the longest arc for a 39-percent clip.

He’s only ranked second to then-teammate Paul Lee, who made 31, and fourth in percentage among locals.

Minutes, however, were inconsistent-something that Ahanmisi looks to change now he’s on a Terrafirma side that hopes to show semblance of being competitive despite a relatively ragtag roster anchored by Louie Sangalang, Paolo Hernandez and Brent Paraiso.