Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

September marked the last month for boat rides in Burnham Lake, the century-old centerpiece of the city’s premier public park, before the local government closed it on Wednesday to begin long-delayed upgrades put on hold for five years by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closure has disappointed local families who spend weekends on the lake and left boat concessionaires unable to operate until summer next year.

Still, lawyer Rhenan Diwas, chief of the City Environment and Parks Management office, said the shutdown meant that the long-awaited redevelopment of the city was finally moving forward.

At a briefing on Wednesday, Diwas reiterated that Burnham Park was overdue for a makeover.

Boat docks began to be dismantled as early as Sept. 21, and on Sept. 30, a tilapia and carp fishing competition played out while concessionaires packed up.

Colonial roots

Designed in 1903 by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham for the American colonial government, Burnham Park was envisioned as the ‘lungs’ of the mountain city. Baguio, like the hill stations of British India, was developed as a cool refuge from the tropical heat.

As one of the country’s top tourist draws, Baguio was paired with Boracay in 2013 for a Malacañang-led redevelopment program. While Boracay closed for six months in 2018 for a massive overhaul of its drainage and waste systems, Baguio’s plans languished.

In 2019, a modern perspective of Burnham Park was drafted by architects Mylen Yaranon and the late Joseph Alabanza, along with the University of the Cordilleras, as part of a P480-million rehabilitation program under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza).

But when the pandemic struck in 2020, funds were diverted to COVID-19 response, and Tieza-dependent on travel fees-was forced to rebuild its finances.

First phase

This year, the city was informed that the Burnham project was back on track. Tieza earmarked P100 million for the first phase, which covers new retaining walls, four 12-meter boat decks to serve nine concessionaires, lakeside benches and a new fountain.

Diwas said the plan also took into account the lake’s role as a natural spring,

Three more phases, each with P100 million in funding, will modernize the children’s playground, rose garden and skating rink. City officials are also weighing whether to remove two elephant statues that became fixtures of the children’s playground in the 1970s.

‘They don’t belong there,’ Diwas said, stressing that they have ‘sentimental and not historical value.’

Meanwhile, the Melvin Jones football ground is being lined up for a public-private partnership to elevate the playing field and install rainwater harvesting and underground parking facilities.

Council petition

Landscaping is ongoing at the Ibaloy garden beside the Orchidarium, funded by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, while other sections of the park like the Athletic Bowl have been upgraded through joint efforts of the city and national agencies.

Not everyone welcomed the closure. Four of the nine boat operators petitioned the city council on Monday to reschedule the project, citing losses during the peak tourism season.

‘September to February is the most crucial period for tourism-related businesses, which affects not just our livelihood but the city’s economy as a whole,’ said concessionaires Vevian Celso Vincoy, Anthony Agustin Balana, Germain Saroltimango and Osorio Celso.

They added: ‘This seasonal influx of tourists provides the income needed to sustain our families and provide for our financial obligations.’

But Diwas said delays would disrupt the timetable for the rest of the park’s modernization. He assured that concessionaires and their 119 workers would receive cash assistance during the shutdown.

Beyond Burnham Park, Tieza had supported Baguio’s bid for a $46-million (P2-billion) Asian Development Bank loan to rehabilitate the city’s wastewater system and a Japanese-built sewage treatment plant.

But that loan was later removed from the government’s priority list due to delays and is now ‘on 2026 standby (awaiting) further confirmation,’ said Jose Dado, Cordillera assistant regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development.

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin has defended his colleague, former lawmaker Elizaldy Co, against Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong’s insinuations of corruption, saying that such allegations have not yet been proven in court.

In a statement on Friday, Garbin said he ‘respects’ Magalong’s views but emphasized that the mayor should also ‘be fair.’ He was referring to Magalong’s description of Co as having stolen public funds during a Senate hearing on proposed budget reforms.

Garbin also explained that his remark about Co ‘making a sacrifice’ referred to the former lawmaker’s decision to relinquish his post despite the absence of a final court ruling on possible cases against him.

‘If we immediately say that he is a ‘thief’ and call him out for alleged ‘hypocrisy’ even without a judgment, that will be painful for our democracy and the principle of due process. This is not setting aside the bases of allegations, but enforcing the spirit of the Constitution: that anyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty,’ Garbin, a lawyer by profession, said in Filipino.

Garbin also said that Magalong’s statements may be considered ‘justice that strikes before it hears,’ which he described as a ‘flawed system’ since public judgment is made ‘without proper consideration or hearing of all parties.’

‘Rep. Co’s resignation clearly shows delicadeza. He did this to ensure that there would be no influence or preference in whatever investigation would be done against him,’ he explained.

‘He did not cling to his post, unlike what some other politicians did, even though they were already accused of several things. For him, the integrity of the process is more important than power,’ he added.

During a joint hearing of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Finance on Senator Bam Aquino’s Senate Bill No. 1330, or the Philippine National Budget Blockchain Act, Magalong was invited to share his concerns regarding the budget.

In his speech, Magalong touched on his short-lived stint at the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), before tackling Co’s recent resignation and Garbin’s description of it as a ‘sacrifice.’

‘They did not even think of the people. It’s even insulting because lately someone said this about the involved Congressman Zaldy Co that ‘he did not abandon it, it was a sacrifice.’ My God, you stole (from the fund) of the people and you will say it was a sacrifice on your part? And it is not an abandonment?’ Magalong asked.

‘Is that how low our standards in Congress are, Mr. Chair? Is that how shameless we are right now? Are we numb, extremely callous, and hypocrites that we insult the mentality of the Filipino people?’ he added.

According to Garbin, if that is how Magalong speaks, he should also address accusations that a company owned by the Discayas-allegedly involved in the kickback scheme and substandard infrastructure projects-was able to secure projects in Baguio.

‘And if that is the standard Mayor Magalong wants, he should also be ready to answer for the P110 million Discaya project, which many directly accuse him of being responsible for,’ the lawmaker said in Filipino

‘It is not right to be strict with others but remain silent when your own name is implicated. So before he judges and speaks harshly against others, it would be better for him to face and clear that issue first,’ he added.

Last Monday, Co announced on his Facebook page that he is stepping down from his post with a heavy heart, attaching copies of his letter to Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III.

According to Co, he is leaving the House of Representatives due to threats to his and his family’s lives and the alleged denial of due process.

He added that the party-list will inform the House who will replace him to fill one of the two seats allocated for the group.

Co is currently out of the country for what he said was a health procedure in the United States. However, Dy officially revoked Co’s travel clearance on September 18, asking Co to return within 10 days to answer allegations linking him to questionable budget insertions and contractors handling public works projects.

Co is facing issues regarding the 2025 national budget and the infrastructure project scandal.

At a Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing, contractor couple Pacifico ‘Curlee’ Discaya and Sarah Discaya named several lawmakers who allegedly requested and received kickbacks from infrastructure projects after their firms secured government contracts.

Curlee Discaya also claimed that lawmakers demanded a 25 percent cut for Co and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Co and Romualdez denied the accusations.

Last Tuesday, Henry Alcantara and Brice Hernandez, former officials of the Bulacan First District Engineering Office, also implicated Co and other lawmakers in the alleged kickback scheme for infrastructure projects.

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco, meanwhile, accused Co, former chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, of masterminding insertions and realignments in the 2025 national budget, much of which allegedly went to flood control.

Tiangco also filed an ethics complaint against the former Ako Bicol lawmaker.

Co disputed the allegations, saying he will respond to them in the proper forum./mcm

We are now officially in October, in fact, a few days in, and you know what this month is also known for? Halloween, what else! And, it is during this time of the year that I get to write, talk about, and discuss my picks of the all-time-best horror movies that fit the tone, theme, and mood of the month, and finally, I get to discuss one of my absolute favorites ever, in ‘Freddy vs. Jason.’ This has been one of the most entertaining horror movies I have ever seen in my life, and I was lucky enough to have watched it in cinemas during its premiere night here. The other reason I wrote this is so that I can have a head start on all the other mainstream news media outlets, especially the local ones! Haha..

Seriously, without sounding like I am bragging or sounding like I am full of myself, you shady guys, especially the ones who don’t write for this website who keep bashing me yet hypocritically keep plagiarizing and/or clearly imitating, shadowing and copying how I would write my entertainment articles for thirteen years (even the old ones, years in the archives), I have all the evidence documented (digital and printed), you guys stand no chance against me when I feel like I am in my writing prime again! If you continue to choose to do things the underhanded, unethical, and illegal way, because plagiarism is a crime, and think you can still get away with it, fooling your readers and ultimately, yourself, then I will treat this as a professional competition, and it will be my pleasure to ‘kick all of your butts’ through my entertainment articles. Good luck still being able to copy any of them. This feels like the late 2000s all over again in terms of my writing output, creativity, and intensity. Keep that in mind.

Now, back to the matter at hand, what is more important than them, because I continue to do this for all of you good people out there, so, this ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ lookback, retrospective, and throwback piece could not have happened at a more appropriate time besides the reasons I have mentioned in my previous two paragraphs, because it lines up with everything that has currently transpired and will continue to take place in the horror genre and its future, as a matter of fact. Meaning, this is an important, relevant, and timely piece on horror pop culture. Despite it celebrating a historical achievement in giving longtime fans of their respective IPs what they have been wanting to see.

As we find ourselves in the midst of a slasher renaissance – fueled by the recently released ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’ (2025), semi-prequel/sequel and soft reboot of the ‘Final Destination’ IP in ‘Final Destination: Bloodlines’ and the active in development of ‘Scream 7’ – now more than ever is the perfect time to revisit, remember and dust off a truly special piece of horror pop culture history: 2003’s crossover fright fest spectacle, ‘Freddy vs. Jason.’

For me, this was far from being a simple, money-grabbing gimmick; this special horror film stands tall as a masterclass in understanding its genre and delivering pure, unpretentious fun. It’s a nostalgic, enjoyable, and surprisingly clever throwback on all levels that still holds up remarkably well over two decades later.

In fact, upon looking back, I can still remember where I was when this happened and seeing the official movie poster for ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ in cinemas. I could not wait to watch this on its premiere night. I was so happy that, indeed, 2003 was going to be the year that we finally got Freddy and Jason to face off against each other, and no one knew who would have the clear-cut advantage between the two of them.

But one thing is for sure, the movie studios in charge of this knew this was at the top of the bucket list for all horror enthusiasts, hardcore fans of each respective franchise, and casual fans to fall in line to watch, and they have waited long enough to see it.

So, historically, it no longer mattered how long it was in ‘developmental hell’ due to all the failed scripts, postponed filming schedules, and budgetary reasons to get any major studio to back this ultimate battle between the two most infamous horror icons was a struggle in the late ’90s; this had to be the best they could do at any given notice nearly 11 years after their impending crossover was teased. In reality, I have a feeling they just had to pick one of the shelved screenplays and develop it at that point. As they say, it was now or never. Fortunately, this became a box-office hit.

And why wouldn’t it be? For many years, Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees were not only the icons of their genre but, more importantly, they were the foremost titans of terror; however, by the late ’90s, their respective franchises were running on fumes with repeated failed sequels that had lower box-office incomes. ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ was the logical, if not slightly desperate, conclusion.

The idea was to bring these two horror IPs together and see what happens, but what moviegoers got was much more than just a dream fight between the two said horror titans. Instead of taking itself too seriously, director Ronny Yu and the creative team delivered a film that fully embraced its own ridiculousness, absurdity, and campiness.

Here are my reasons why, in 2025, it’s worth dusting off your DVD – or streaming it for the first time – and rewatching this horror heavyweight battle:

It understands its own world

While many slasher films of the era leaned into postmodern meta-commentary, ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ takes a more direct approach, which I have always liked in films, anyway. The premise is surprisingly simple: Freddy is powerless because the adults of Springwood have erased his memory. He resurrects Jason to kill for him, believing the ensuing fear will restore his once all-mighty power. Of course, Jason, being Jason, doesn’t take orders well. This huge dude, despite being silent, has a mind of his own, leading to the ultimate clash of supernatural forces we’ve all waited and paid to see.

The film knows the humans are just bodies for the two icons to fight over, a competition of sorts on who can get the most body count, and it has fun with the spectacle for all the moviegoers to enjoy.

Their clash of styles is genuinely entertaining

This isn’t just a clash of horror titans; it’s a collision of visual aesthetics. On one side, you have Freddy Krueger – the wisecracking, supernatural predator who haunts dreams. He’s at his usual theatrics, mind games, and psychological torture. On the other hand, there’s Jason Voorhees – the silent, hulking brute defined by his unstoppable muscle-bound force and signature rusty machete. The film masterfully pits these two opposing and contrasting styles against each other.

Freddy’s nightmarish reality-bending powers are no match for Jason’s pure physical aggression, and the resulting fight choreography is a series of gloriously over-the-top, practical effects-heavy spectacles that are far more satisfying than modern CGI battles that you see nowadays on the big screen. Seriously, the fun exists in their over-the-top fights and how I wish the incoming new horror franchises/entries would learn a thing or two from this film when it comes to the clashing of styles.

I found this to be a perfect end to an era

Released in 2003, ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ served as a fitting send-off for two horror legends and, most notably, for veteran actor Robert Englund, who retired from his iconic Freddy role after the film. This was before the age of reboots, retcons, and cinematic universes took over horror and turned it into what it is now.

It was a far simpler time when a definitive crossover could still be what it was supposed to be, which is to be definitive, allowing the original sagas to conclude on a memorable, if not utterly ridiculous, note. The point is, there was an ending. I mean, there has been no follow-up to Freddy and Jason’s battle, despite the final moment of the last scene teasing that there would be one.

Their kill counts are semi-practical, but always fun

While the dialogue, acting, and character development are far from Oscar-worthy, the special effects hold up impressively. In a world now dominated by slick but often weightless CGI gore, ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ was and always will be a delightful blast from the past, full of realistically convincing practical effects. Limbs are severed, bodies are brutally torn apart, and the blood flows freely, all in a way that feels tangible, meaningful, and genuinely impactful as a moviegoer.

The infamous ‘bed-folding’ kill alone is worth the rewatch because it is a prime example of the ridiculousness, absurdity, and campiness I was alluding to earlier in the previous paragraphs. Nowadays, many horror movies are plain brutal and difficult to watch when it comes to their ‘kills.’

It does deliver on its promise beyond its tagline

You know what, the film’s tagline isn’t a lie. This isn’t a slow-burning horror film that teases a final confrontation. It’s a cinematic fast-food meal that is all greasy, unhealthy, and satisfying. While the teen protagonists are a necessary bridge to move the plot along, we all know what we’re there for. Oh, without question, ‘Freddy vs. Jason’ knows its moviegoers and gives them exactly what they have been waiting for and want: two supernatural psychopaths beating, cutting, and pounding the absolute stuffing out of each other.

And honestly, isn’t that what horror pop culture is all about sometimes? Giving the fans what they have been clamoring for for decades. Nope, this is not mere fan service. It is about giving them what is long overdue.

In closing, as the cinematic landscape awaits the next generation of slashers, for me, it’s refreshing to look back at a film that understood the assignment plain and simple and delivered with gruesome, hilarious, and unapologetic glee. So, grab some popcorn, invite your friends, and dive back into the cornfields of ‘Camp Crystal Lake’ and the nightmares of ‘Elm Street.’ You won’t be disappointed with this one at all. Haha..

A. Soriano Corp. (Anscor) has divested its minority stake in The Bistro Group (TBG) for P1.91 billion after less than a year, realizing high gains from its investment in the restaurant group.

In a regulatory filing on Thursday, Anscor said it had executed a deed of sale with Inoza Business Holdings Inc. for its 22-percent stake in TBG Food Holdings Inc.

Inoza is a newly established holding firm affiliated with Progeny Global Holdings Inc. The latter operates Bounty Fresh and limited-service restaurants like Chooks-to-Go and Uling Roasters.

According to Anscor, it realized gross annualized returns ‘greater than 25 percent’ on its investment in TBG.

Not too long ago

Anscor bought a minority stake in TBG in November 2024 for P1.61 billion. This entailed a profit of more than P300 million.

‘Anscor extends its best wishes to the Bistro and Inoza teams,’ the company said. ‘We are confident they will continue delighting Filipino consumers with their quality dining experiences for many years to come and we look forward to seeing their continued success.’

The Philippine Competition Commission approved Inoza’s plan to acquire a majority stake in TBG in August. This, after considering the impact of the deal on the nationwide supply of chicken meat, table eggs, pork and beef.

Multiple brands

The Bistro Group currently owns and operates over 200 full-service restaurants across 33 brands. These include Italianni’s, TGI Fridays and Texas Roadhouse, all of which have a strong presence in the Philippines.

In the first semester of 2025, Anscor’s net income plunged by 65 percent to P1.19 billion. This was attributed to the decrease in market value of its investments. The firm’s revenues likewise slipped by 17 percent to P7.9 billion.

This is the second time Anscor has sold its minority shareholding in companies it had invested in.

Being better than the last time is the bare minimum for Kevin Alas as he aims to play a bigger role for NLEX in the season-opening PBA Philippine Cup.

The 2024-25 campaign was a period of adjustment for Alas, who was coming off a third ACL injury. Now fully healthy, he is eager to do more, especially with the Road Warriors having come so close to a semifinals berth in last year’s Philippine Cup.

‘I told myself that I should not have any excuses from hereon not to play at a better level,’ Alas said.

Alas suited up in 23 games for NLEX last season, averaging 7.6 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 18 minutes per game as he gradually worked his way back.

Not only was he regaining his rhythm after breaking his left knee in 2023, but NLEX was also adjusting to its first season under nine-time champion coach Jong Uichico.

Under Uichico, the Road Warriors reached the quarterfinals of the Philippine Cup with a twice-to-beat advantage, only to lose to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.

NLEX is hell bent on atoning for that quarterfinals exit, which it hopes will coincide with Alas getting his groove back.

‘I’m putting pressure on myself [in getting my form back], if not, maybe close,’ Alas said. ‘But I guess the modest goal is to be better than my last conference and be better each day.’

Almost 2,000 flood victims marched through the murky roads of Macabebe and Masantol towns on Thursday, bearing mock-up coffins, placards, and streamers demanding an end to corruption in flood-control projects.

Protesters from the boundary arch of Masantol and those from San Gabriel Chapel in Macabebe merged at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Parish, also in Macabebe, for a holy Mass concelebrated by 11 priests from the Vicariate of the Blessed Trinity. In solidarity, several priests born or raised in Macabebe joined the sacrament.

Fr. Ariel Limjoco said corruption begins at home when children are paid to do tasks for the family or when they are prompted to enrich themselves instead of being encouraged to help and serve people.

The corrupt, he added, experienced hell on earth, citing the Discaya couple who are being pelted and shamed in public or hide themselves.

Limjoco echoed the calls of the vicariate to ‘return the stolen public funds.’

The vicariate also called for long-term flooding solutions to protect the people from disaster.

In the program dubbed Singsong People’s Rally (Lament of the People’s Rally), Marilou Melo of San Rafael Parish in Macabebe pointed out that children suffer in many ways. She said they have lost their playgrounds or have little interest in their studies as classrooms are used as evacuation centers or classes are suspended because of floods in the towns that last for months.

Dr. Ma. Liezl Alcoy of the San Miguel Arkanghel Parish in Masantol said the flood levels have reached the first floor of homes, endangering senior citizens by slipping, increasing the cost of transportation, and entailing a longer time to deal with health emergencies.

Like them, other speakers did not specify projects, but social media posts decry the six-year delay of the Pampanga Delta River bridge project, which connects Masantol’s left bank, where some 10,000 families were displaced when the mouth of the river was widened from 250 meters to 750 meters since 1992. Touted to be a priority project of Rep. Anna York Bondoc, the unfinished bridge received nearly P700 million.

In the same program, the Archdiocesan Council of the Laity (ACL) of the Archdiocese of San Fernando ‘strongly denounces the greed, selfishness, and corruption of our key leaders and their cohorts,’ said Renato Galang, ACP president, reading from a statement.

Signed by leaders of 24 lay organizations, the council urged ‘every Kapampangan to be courageous: to stand for the Truth, to live our faoith in action, and to demand integrity and accountability in governance

Continuous rains from Typhoon Paolo caused the collapse of a portion of a riprap beside a house in Sitio Oit, Barangay Sta. Fe, San Marcelino town, on Friday.

The San Marcelino Public Information Office reported that no one was injured, but large rocks and mud spilled onto the road, rendering it impassable.

The Municipal Engineering Office immediately deployed a backhoe to assist in clearing operations.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said Paolo intensified into a typhoon as it made landfall in Dinapigue, Isabela.

Since Friday morning, nonstop rains have drenched the whole of Zambales and nearby Olongapo City, prompting the issuance of an orange rainfall warning.

An orange warning is raised in areas where intense rainfall-typically 15 to 30 millimeters per hour-is observed or expected to persist for at least two hours./coa

The Negros Island Region (NIR) has deployed policemen, soldiers, firefighters, and local government teams to Cebu province to augment search and rescue (SAR) operations following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Tuesday night.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said the death toll was placed at 68 as of Friday morning.

The initial deployment of 80 NIR policemen began on Wednesday. The contingent included 41 officers from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and 39 from the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.

Police Regional Office-NIR director Brig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay said the policemen will remain in Cebu for ‘an initial duration of one to two weeks to support search and rescue missions, evacuation efforts, and humanitarian operations.’

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-NIR also deployed a specialized 20-member rescue force, which includes four firefighters from Bacolod City.

Philippine Army and Philippine Coast Guard personnel from the NIR have also been sent to assist in the operations.

In a parallel effort, local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental are mobilizing their technical teams and aid.

Irene Bel Ploteña, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), confirmed that the Talisay City Collapsed Structure Search and Rescue (CSSR) team was the first LGU unit deployed by the Office of Civil Defense (OCD).

Ploteña said only CSSR teams that are fully trained and equipped are being sent.

The PDRRMO and CSSR teams from the cities of Sagay, Sipalay, Bago, Cadiz, San Carlos, and Silay are currently on standby, awaiting deployment orders from the OCD, Ploteña said.

An Escalante City team traveled to Tabuelan, Cebu, on Thursday to deliver potable water and rice, along with a water tanker and a mobile kitchen, she said.

Sagay City will lend its Aquacube water purification system to Bogo, Cebu, Ploteña added.

Negros Occidental LGU teams continue to remain on standby to assist in other earthquake-hit areas as directed by the Office of Civil Defense.

Negros Occidental, Bacolod City, and other LGUs are also sending financial aid./coa

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Friday said it would go after the people behind ‘malicious’ claims online that the fact-finding body has tapped an anti-crime nongovernment organization in its probe into the massive corruption in government contracts for public works.

In a statement on Friday, the ICI said that the reports claiming that it has sought the help of Task Force Kasanag International, supposedly led by a certain John Chong, that have been making rounds on social media are misleading, ‘entirely untrue’ and are meant to ‘undermine’ the commission.

‘The ICI has not authorized, deputized, or engaged Task Force Kasanag International, or any group led by Mr. John Chiong, in any capacity related to its investigations,’ it said, stressing the ‘impartiality and professionalism’ the ICI observes in its work.

The investigating body, led by former Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes, Jr., said it would ask the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to find out the people responsible for the disinformation so that it could recommend the filing of appropriate criminal charges against them.

The ICI has been conducting closed-door hearings with key personalities to explain what went down in the budget process in previous years that could point to how massive funding for infrastructure, especially flood control, went to the pockets of colluding lawmakers, contractors and government officials.

On Thursday, the ICI formally called in Sen. Mark Villar to appear in the next ICI hearing on Oct. 7. ICI executive director Brian Hosaka has also said that former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualde and resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizady Co, whose names have been dragged into the anomaly, would also be summoned to the hearings.

The Sandiganbayan has rejected for lack of merit the plea of Senator Jinggoy Estrada to dismiss the graft charges filed against him over his alleged misuse of P200 million in pork barrel funds in 2014.

The resolution means that his graft trial will push through even though the court had already acquitted him and convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles for plunder over the same case, an argument he raised before the court.

In a 22-page resolution dated Oct. 1, the antigraft court’s Special Fifth Division said there was ‘no cogent reason’ to reverse its Mar. 26 resolution that denied Estrada’s demurrer to evidence because the senator was arguing for cases that differed substantially.

Estrada, in his motion for reconsideration cited by the Sandiganbayan, had argued that there should not be any prosecution for graft since he was already prosecuted for plunder based on the ‘same set of facts and the same set of transactions.’

His motion also took note of the ‘similarity’ between the two sets of indictments wherein the prosecution in both cases ‘presented essentially the same set of exhibits and the same set of witness testimonies to prove the same theory, albeit to prosecute separate sets of crimes.’

But the court rejected his argument, saying there was nothing in the Rules of Court or the laws that required the court to dismiss a separate graft case ‘on account of the charge being a predicate act in a prior case for plunder.’

Double jeopardy

‘The only reason to sustain such an argument would be if the same places the accused in double jeopardy, which is not the case herein, as shall be discussed by the court later,’ read the resolution signed by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, the division chair; and Associate Justices Maryann Corpus-Mañalac and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega.

The case stemmed from the claim of socialite Ruby Tuason, former social secretary to Estrada’s father, former President Joseph Estrada, that she personally delivered cash to the senator from Napoles, who has had numerous convictions for masterminding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Senator Estrada is accused of receiving millions of pesos in kickbacks from Napoles, who connived with some lawmakers and government officials to divert billions of pesos of PDAF funds to nonexistent or flawed livelihood projects supposedly carried out by her nongovernment organizations.

The court also rejected Estrada’s argument that the prosecution failed to prove the element of scienter, or the intent or knowledge to commit wrongdoing, because he did not know of Napoles’s criminal scheme.

The Sandiganbayan noted that Tuason had testified that she informed him of Napoles’ scheme as early as 2004 and that she personally ‘delivered amounts to him on various occasions’ at the Senate and his residence.