Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has conducted a cleanup operation at the Lagarian creek in Brgy. Kalusugan, Quezon City, to mitigate flooding problems in the city during the rainy season.

The clearing operation, which is in coordination with the Quezon City Government, was inspected by MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana and Quezon City Engineering Department Chief Mark Dale Perral on Thursday.

In an interview with reporters, Lipana emphasized that the 4-kilometer-long Lagarian Creek must be cleared of waste and desilted to enhance water flow and prevent the accumulation of floodwaters during heavy rains.

‘The houses here are almost submerged (in the flood). A lot will be affected by flooding if we don’t desilt this creek,’ he said.

Meanwhile, Perral noted that the Lagarian creek is a critical waterway, since it is upstream of the San Juan River, adding that as for the Roxas District alone, the estimated flood volume can reach around 30,000 cubic meters.

‘If we can desilt it, the capacity of the creek will increase. It will be a big help,’ he said.

The QC engineering chief, meanwhile, noted that they observed that aside from the dumped garbage, the waste found along the creek are mostly belongings of residents that were washed away due to the flood.

Nonetheless, Perral and Lipana appealed to the public to stop dumping waste in wrong places, such as canals and creeks.

Perral affirmed that the Quezon City government has been implementing the resolution recently passed by the Metro Manila Council, where the maximum penalty standard fine for those caught illegally throwing garbage in public places is P5,000.

The Initiatives for Dialogue and Empowerment through Alternative Legal Services (IDEALS) on Wednesday denounced the Senate resolution asking the International Criminal Court (ICC) to place former President Rodrigo Duterte under house arrest, calling it ‘an act of betrayal.’

‘Calling for his house arrest’ is not an act of mercy. It is an act of betrayal. It endangers families still fighting for justice. It would prove, once again, that in this country, the powerful are protected while the powerless are left to suffer,’ the statement of the human rights lawyers group read.

The group further slammed the resolution citing the Rome Statute, which does not allow interim release if the accused may still pose risks to the proceedings, victims or witnesses.

‘In the past, the ICC has denied the request for interim release because the accused possessed influence and power that may endanger victims and witnesses. The Senate’s resolution today is living proof of Duterte’s continuing influence and his allies’ ability to use institutions of government to interfere in proceedings pending before the ICC,’ IDEALS continued.

IDEALS warned that the approval of the resolution is a sign of the dangers of Duterte’s ‘enduring grip on power’ should he be granted any freedom in the middle of his trial.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted 15-3-2 to adopt a resolution to place Duterte under house arrest should medical findings prove that regular detention will worsen his medical condition.

The former president has been under the ICC’s custody at the Scheveningen prison in The Hague awaiting trial for accusations of crimes against humanity during his administration’s ‘war on drugs’ from 2016 to 2022.

IDEAL also pointed out the irony behind the Senate’s ‘plea in the name of ‘humanitarian’ concerns,’ pointing out that the same ‘compassion and mercy’ were not present for the ‘thousands of Filipinos [who] were slaughtered in Duterte’s so-called war on drugs.’

‘The Senate has undertaken no concrete measures to assist the families of victims: failing to investigate, failing to provide pathways for access to remedies, failing to protect and ensure the safety of surviving family members,’ IDEAL stated.

‘Yet for Duterte-the man facing not just one but three counts of crimes against humanity for orchestrating systematic killings of civilians under his watch-the Senate suddenly finds its voice. Is this compassion or privilege at work?’ IDEAL added.

The group further pressed that the Senate must instead show compassion to the victims of the drug war.

‘True compassion should belong to the families left behind: the mothers who lost children, wives who lost their husbands, families who lost fathers and loved ones-not to the man who enabled their deaths and still wields power through his children and political allies,’ the group declared.

Two more eruptions were observed at Taal Volcano in Batangas province within the past 24 hours, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

In its daily bulletin issued at 5 a.m., Thursday, Phivolcs reported a five-minute phreatic eruption and a 13-minute phreatomagmatic blast, although it did not specify the exact times of the events.

On Wednesday, a minor phreatomagmatic eruption from Taal’s main crater occurred from 2:02 a.m. to 2:15 a.m.

The US Geological Survey defines phreatic eruptions as steam-driven explosions that occur when water beneath the ground is heated by magma, lava, hot rocks, or newly formed volcanic deposits.

Phreatomagmatic eruptions, on the other hand, occur when magma and water interact, leading to the ejection of steam and pyroclastic fragments.

During its observation period, Phivolcs also detected 10 volcanic earthquakes, accompanied by four volcanic tremors that lasted two to four minutes.

The agency clarified that volcanic earthquakes originate from active volcanoes and exhibit distinct patterns characterized by their ‘mode of arrivals, periods, and amplitudes.’ Volcanic tremors, meanwhile, are continuous seismic signals with either regular or irregular wave patterns and low frequencies.

In the latest monitoring period, Phivolcs reported that Taal emitted 1,892 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, which rose 600 meters into the air. The agency classified the emission activity as ‘weak.’

No upwelling of hot volcanic fluids was observed in the main crater lake of Volcano Island, which sits at the center of Taal Lake. No volcanic smog or ‘vog,’ was also detected.

Alert Level 1, or low-level unrest, remains in effect over Taal Volcano.

Phivolcs warned that sudden steam-driven or phreatic eruptions, minor phreatomagmatic activity, ashfall, and the release of volcanic gas may still occur.

Authorities continue to prohibit entry into Volcano Island, Taal’s permanent danger zone, particularly within the main crater and the Daang Kastila trail. Aircraft are also discouraged from flying over the area, as ash from sudden eruptions may pose hazards.

Nadia Montenegro filed separate complaints against a Senate employee and certain media publications in relation to the incident of alleged marijuana use inside the Senate building.

Montenegro, who was a political affairs officer for Sen. Robin Padilla, was dragged into the matter after her name was included in the incident report filed by a Senate security personnel. In the report, the security staff member said he was informed of an odor that resembled that of ‘marijuana’ in the area where allegedly only Montenegro was present at the time.

The actress lodged complaints for unjust vexation and violations of the Safe Spaces Act against the security staff before the Pasay City Hall, stating that the latter pulled her toward the wall and grabbed her by the arm while confronting her for allegedly smoking marijuana.

Montenegro said the staff member did not immediately let her go despite denying the accusation and showing the content of her bag that included her vape. She added that he even allegedly warned her to be careful.

She further stated in her complaint that the staff member still issued an incident report addressed to the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms despite having confirmed that Montenegro did not smoke marijuana.

Such action, the actress said, made her feel ‘violated, harassed, annoyed, intimidated and confused.’

Libel case

Montenegro also filed libel cases before the Caloocan Regional Trial Court against two publications for their supposed false article and report.

In the actress’ complaint, she claimed that the publications falsely reported that she was the individual caught smoking marijuana inside the Senate premises.

Montenegro further noted that the articles subjected her to ‘misjudgments, bashings and grave humiliation’ which prompted her to go through series of mental and psychological therapy.

At first blush, it sounded as though outgoing Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian was just being pleasant when he addressed Vice President Sara Duterte during China’s 76th founding anniversary and his farewell reception, ‘At this moment of parting, I bid farewell to VP Sara Duterte. Madam Vice President, thank you for your support and dedication to China-Philippines friendship. Hope our bilateral relations will get back to a sound and healthy track soon,’ he said.

But nothing is accidental in the geopolitical arena and in diplomacy. Every word is deliberate. And in the context of Philippines-China relations, especially our current rejection of the latter’s expansionist stance and its gray-zone tactics, the outgoing ambassador’s message is rife with meaning.

Huang’s words were not just polite farewell words of any ambassador about to leave his post. He looked upon and addressed the Vice President fondly and with effusive praise. Under the administration of the VP’s father, the Philippines adopted a policy of appeasement toward China. Between 2016 and 2022, Manila leaned away from its traditional partners toward accommodation of China, despite the maritime tensions it initiated. In fact, the former President Rodrigo Duterte declared that Philippine relations with China were at their best during his time.

The Chinese thus likely hoped that with the election of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., Sara Duterte’s running mate, their happy days would continue. Sara Duterte as Vice President provided some hope that even with the change in administration, the Philippines would still accommodate China’s bullying. They expected a foothold in Philippine politics that can secure its strategic interests beyond the Duterte presidency.

But Marcos Jr. had a different policy altogether, even declaring that the Philippines would not surrender even a square inch of territory to any foreign power.

Getting back to a ‘sound and healthy track’ tells us that China sees the current relationship as unsound and unhealthy. The Marcos administration has visibly pushed back and resisted China’s attempts to assert its unfounded claims on our sovereignty, even going to the extent of spreading disinformation on the matter.

In pursuit of its own interests, China may be seeing this stance by the Philippines as offtrack, an aberration. It may be longing for the Dutertes as their preferred partners in Manila. For the Chinese, the healthy path means returning to the Duterte-era policy of preferential engagement and turning a blind eye to Chinese incursions into the West Philippine Sea.

The words are a thinly veiled criticism of Mr. Marcos’ firmer stance in defending Philippine sovereignty, reinvigorating defense ties with like-minded partners.

With the arrival of a new Chinese ambassador, there is little reason to expect a change in Beijing’s posture. Its pattern of aggression reflects a long-standing strategy that transcends personalities in the embassy. Diplomats may change, but China’s objectives remain the same: to expand its hegemonic control in the entire South China Sea.

But equally telling was what VP Sara Duterte said during the event. She described Philippines-China ties in language uncannily similar to Beijing’s script: ‘mutual respect, sovereign equality, and a shared commitment to peace,’ even claiming that cooperation was ‘anchored in international law.’

Such statements are far removed from the lived reality of Filipinos in the West Philippine Sea, where China has ignored international rulings, harassed fishermen, and undermined Philippine sovereignty. Sara Duterte should not deny the depth of the Filipino people’s opposition to Beijing’s influence: in a September 2024 survey held by Pulse Asia, 72 percent of Filipinos said they would support an anti-China candidate, while only 17 percent favored a pro-China candidate. The decisive margin underscores that any political figure openly aligned with Beijing risks losing the confidence of a clear majority of voters. These results confirm that defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea is not just a foreign policy imperative but also an important issue in the country’s electoral politics.

With Filipinos overwhelmingly rejecting pro-China candidates, defending sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea has become a defining political issue.

And our leaders must listen.

China is pursuing its expansionist ambition, even if that means disregard for international law and baseless claims regarding its own and other countries’ sovereignty. But Philippine leaders-acting on China’s behest and adopting a policy of appeasement and accommodation when they should be the first ones to defend our country from persistent acts of aggression-are another story.

We must be extremely wary of them, see through their crafty messages, and refuse to let them represent us again.

Maynilad Water Services Inc. has reduced the maximum price for its initial public offering (IPO) to P15 per share, valuing its stock market debut at P34.33 billion from as much as P45.8 billion previously.

Maynilad president Ramoncito Fernandez told reporters on Wednesday they opted to trim their maximum offer price from P20 initially after the company had secured the commitment of two cornerstone investors.

These are International Finance Corp. and Asian Development Bank, both of which committed to invest up to $245 million combined at a subscription price of up to P15 per share. Fernandez said there were other cornerstone investors, although he stayed mum on the details.

Maynilad, which is jointly owned by Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Consunji-led DMCI Holdings Inc. and Japan’s Marubeni Corp., will announce its final offer price on Oct. 20.

Oct. 23-29 offer period

The offer period will run from Oct. 23 to Oct. 29 before these are listed on the main board of the Philippine Stock Exchange on or before Nov. 7 under the ticker ‘MYNLD.’

This is the second time that Maynilad has adjusted its IPO timetable, citing the need to give investors more time to assess its business model in order to make ‘informed investment decisions.’

Fernandez likewise said this would be their final adjustment. The West Zone concessionaire is required to offer to the public at least 30 percent of its outstanding capital stock on or before January 2027 as part of its agreement with the government.

Pioneering mark

This development also comes alongside Maynilad’s receipt of the country’s first Philippine Green Equity label.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) wrote to Maynilad on Sept. 26, saying it had ‘sufficiently established and demonstrated’ its compliance with the regulator’s newly issued guidelines.

Last week, the SEC launched Southeast Asia’s first Green Equity Guidelines, in a bid to attract more capital toward businesses that champion sustainability. The SEC said the distinction would ‘enhance the visibility and attractiveness’ of companies that actively engage in green activities.

Companies interested in this mark need to be listed on the PSE or are preparing to go public. More than 50 percent of their revenues and investments must be earned or directed toward green activities, while fossil fuel-related revenues must make up less than 5 percent of their top line.

Billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is nearly halfway to becoming the planet’s first trillionaire, Forbes magazine reported Wednesday.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO became the first person to achieve a net worth of $500 billion, briefly, as the shares in his electric vehicle company rebound from his clumsy stint in politics, amid other gains.

The 54-year-old’s net worth hit $500.1 billion Wednesday before dipping back to $499.1 billion, the publication’s ‘Real-Time Billionaires’ tracker reported. Ranked after him are Oracle CEO Larry Ellison with a net worth of $350.7 billion, followed by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg with a net worth of $245.8 billion on the Forbes list.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and dropping out of Stanford University, Musk banked his first millions when he sold an online publishing software company to US computer maker Compaq for more than $300 million in 1999.

His next company eventually merged with PayPal, and after leaving that venture, the South African-born tech entrepreneur founded space rocket company SpaceX in 2002 and became the chair of electric carmaker Tesla in 2004.

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who recently resigned as special adviser to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), believes that the commission tasked to look into anomalous flood control projects remains credible.

‘Yes, yes. I still believe that the investigation by ICI will still be fine. Secretary (Rogelio) Babes (Singson), (retired Supreme Court Associate Justice) Chairman (Andres) Reyes (Jr.) are still there. (Former Philippine National Police chief) General (Rodolfo) Azurin (Jr.) is coming in,’ he said in a chance interview at the sidelines of the Budget Blockchain hearing in the Senate on Thursday.

‘I believe that as long as the investigation continues, just don’t reign over it, it will remain credible,’ Magalong added.

He said that prior to his resignation from ICI, its investigation had not received ‘pressure’ from outside forces.

‘When I was still there, there was no pressure,’ he said, adding that the ICI probe should be transparent and open.

‘It should be open so there would be no doubts. But I myself could say that I didn’t see anything being covered up there. I was attending its hearings. I go around but I also attend hearings. Is there any anomaly? Nothing, I would know,’ the Baguio mayor said.

Magalong’s role as special adviser to the ICI was placed in jeopardy over a tennis court project built by the Discaya-owned St. Gerrard Construction Company in Baguio City.

At a recent Palace briefing, Press Officer Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a review to determine whether Magalong should remain as special adviser to the super body currently investigating anomalous public works projects in the country.

‘The President said that his case will be referred to the legal team to determine where he may be included, or where he should be properly inserted, so that the independence of the ICI will not be compromised and there will be no violation of any law,’ Castro said.

The issue stemmed from a P110-million tennis court project in Baguio City awarded in 2022 to St. Gerrard Construction Company, one of nine firms owned by contractor couple Cezarah ‘Sarah’ and Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya.

The couple is under investigation for alleged involvement in problematic flood-control projects and for cornering a large share of these projects across the country.

Labor groups have recently questioned Magalong’s role in the ICI, stressing that he cannot wear two hats-as Baguio City mayor and as special adviser to the commission.

‘The mere fact that it was mentioned ‘you’re not an investigator, you’re just a legal adviser’. it simply means they didn’t want. stop investigating. That’s the message behind that. That message was simple. Don’t investigate. What’s my purpose then? Then I’ll just resign,’ said Magalong.

Magalong said he has not received any further instruction from the President since his resignation .

The government can save around P400 billion should it decide to reprice or outright cancel Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) existing projects worth P1.6 trillion, Batangas Representative Leandro Legarda Leviste said on Thursday.

Leviste, in a statement, cited the case of the DPWH Regional Office IV-A’s decision to terminate a P95.99 million flood control project in Lemery, Batangas, even if it was awarded to a contractor last June 2025.

The lawmaker relayed that DPWH Regional Director Jovel Mendoza said that the contract has been terminated because of a ‘change in government policy on the implementation of flood control-related projects,’ before adding that no payments would be made since it was only recently awarded.

‘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 (Detailed Unit Price Analysis), to save P400 Billion from P1.6 Trillion in projects,’ Leviste said.

‘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,’ he added.

Leviste said he and the Lemery local government unit (LGU) questioned the flood control project, as it was supposedly implemented without coordination with local officials, without a building permit, and despite the lack of alignment with the LGU’s flood control master plan.

According to Leviste, 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 pointed out.

‘[.] (The) 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 percent’ of DPWH bids in the whole country are rigged, and the testimony of former DPWH Bulacan 1st District Engineer Brice Hernandez that ‘all’ DPWH projects in his district need to be substandard because of 25-30 percent kickbacks that contractors pay to win rigged bids,’ he added.

During the entire deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget, Leviste has been looking for ways to trim down the DPWH budget-and possibly realign it towards funding college scholarships. Last September 12, the lawmaker said a lower allocation for DPWH can be used to provide college scholarships through the Commission on Higher Education’s Tulong Dunong Program.

On August 19, Leviste said that amid concerns about corruption and substandard work in flood control projects, the over P250 billion fund allocated for such projects in 2026 should be redirected to the construction of classrooms and other more pressing matters.

Leviste said that since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself has indicated that flood control projects may have been affected by corruption, half of the funds for this purpose can be used to create more classrooms, while the other half can help in lowering taxes.

In response, Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said that it is up to Congress’s prerogative if they see that flood control funds are better off with the education sector-especially since the executive branch has made it a point to focus on education for 2026.

Eventually, the resubmitted DPWH budget was slashed by P255.5 billion, part of which was allocated towards social aid, health programs, and a higher education budget.

Last September 18, Leviste secured Secretary Vince Dizon’s approval to reduce DPWH costs to 10 percent, allowing the country to save more funds.

Leviste suggested lowering the DUPA by 10 percent. DUPA is the breakdown of costs for projects like construction materials, expense for use of equipment, and labor. According to Leviste, during the time of former Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, the DUPA was brought down by 10 percent, and he believes it can be cut down by 15 to 20 percent currently.

The Manila Police District (MPD) reported on Wednesday evening that no explosives were found in the vicinity of De La Salle University (DLSU) – Manila, after a security threat was sent to a student from an unknown source.

‘DECU-MPD (District Explosive and Canine Unit-MPD) conducted threat assessment and paneling operation within the school vicinity, including parked vehicles, comfort rooms, building corridors, and trash bins. No explosive or hazardous materials found during paneling,’ the MPD’s report read.

Despite this, the Malate Police Station will still conduct follow-up inspections on Thursday.

According to DLSU Taft Security Area Supervisor Melchor Sagun, an email in the Cebuano dialect containing a bomb threat was sent to a member of the student government, and was circulating among members of the student body.

‘Warning adunay bomba nga gitanom sa De La Salle University Manila nga makaguba ugma sa buntag, OKTUBRE 2, 2025,’ the email read.

(Warning: there is a bomb planted at De La Salle University Manila that will destroy it on the morning of October 2, 2025.)

In response to the supposed threat, the DLSU Office of the Provost announced on Wednesday evening that it tightened security measures, and shortly after announced that all classes on Thursday would shift to online.

‘Manila Campus shall be closed. To ensure the safety of the students and the whole academic community, DLSU shall continue to implement security measures accordingly,’ the Provost said.

On Thursday, the Provost announced that while the school has been cleared of the threat, it is ‘coordinating with the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) Cybercrime Division for the filing of a case against the perpetrator.)

Onsite work and classes in the university are set to resume on Friday, the Provost added.

It is worth noting that the DLSU University Student Government and the Lasallians Against Corruption have scheduled a walkout against corruption for Thursday afternoon to support the fight against corruption and injustice.

The walkout was postponed due to the temporary closure of the campus.