Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has formally invited former Public Works Secretary and now Sen. Mark Villar to attend its next hearing on flood control project anomalies.

ICI chair Andres Reyes requested Villar to appear before the body in Taguig City at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct 7.

The former Supreme Court justice told the senator that he would be asked ‘to testify under oath to discuss and shed light [on] the planning, budgeting, execution, supervision, and monitoring of flood control and other infrastructure projects under your jurisdiction during your tenure as Secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is the subject matter under inquiry/investigation by the Commission.’

Villar headed the DPWH from 2016 to 2021, during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

‘Feelers’

On Wednesday, ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka said in a chance interview that Villar, as well as former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez and recently resigned Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co, would be summoned to attend the next hearings.

The Senate blue ribbon committee, chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, also has an ongoing probe of flood control projects.

It has so far heard from Villar’s successor, former Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan, and from other department officials who had served during Bonoan’s term.

Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla on Thursday said he had received ‘feelers’ from the Villar family a day after he confirmed they were also being investigated for possible ‘prohibited interest’ in government infrastructure projects.

‘There was an effort to set the meeting, but I haven’t responded yet. Because I’d rather it be done officially . Transparently and officially across the board, so there won’t be any ‘he said, she said,” Remulla told reporters.

‘Nothing to hide’

Earlier on Wednesday, the justice secretary said the Department of Justice was also investigating the Villar family, beginning with Senator Villar, over media reports citing their relations to a contractor that secured P18.5 billion worth of projects in Las Piñas City, the family’s bailiwick.

Villar on Thursday said he welcomed the investigation mentioned by Remulla as well as that being conducted by the ICI, stressing he had ‘nothing to hide and believe[s] firmly in accountability and due process.’

In a statement, Villar maintained he had no direct or indirect ownership or controlling interest in any company participating in DPWH projects.

‘The official record will confirm that none of my relatives acquired any contracts from 2016 to 2021,’ said Villar, whose sister Camille is also an incumbent senator and whose parents, Manny and Cynthia, are former senators. -With reports from Jane Bautista and Charie Abarca

ACEN Corp. is injecting P900 million into its wind power project, seen to be the biggest such facility in the Philippines straddling the provinces of Quezon and Laguna.

In a disclosure on Thursday, the listed energy arm of the Ayala Group said it had executed a loan deal with its subsidiary Giga Ace 6 Inc. for the Quezon North Wind Power project.

Giga Ace 6 is the group’s special purpose vehicle for the development of the 553-megawatt (MW) onshore wind park.

Earlier this year, the unit had also obtained P34.4 billion from the Bank of the Philippine Islands, BDO Unibank, Inc. and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

A total of P70 billion of investment is needed to develop the major wind project, according to ACEN.

2 phases

The company said it had also previously extended infrastructure and transmission asset support for the project’s Phases 1 and 2.

Phase 1, which is expected to be finished by late 2026, has a generating capacity of 344.5 MW. Phase 2, meanwhile, will involve 208 MW and completion is seen by the end of 2027 or early 2028.

The project is located in the towns of Mauban and Real in Quezon as well as Paete and Kalayaan in Laguna.

With a series of renewable energy projects sprouting here and in its foreign markets, ACEN has an ambitious goal to hit 20,000 MW of capacity by 2030.

Portfolio

ACEN’s clean energy portfolio currently stands at 7,000 MW.

Overseas, the company has projects in Australia, Vietnam, Laos, India and Indonesia.

In the first half of 2025, the firm saw a sharp drop in its net income, reaching P763 million from P6.3 billion, blamed on a one-time loss from its Vietnam wind parks.

Thirty years ago, Disney and Pixar’s Toy Story introduced audiences to the unforgettable friendship between Woody and Buzz Lightyear, forever changing the animation industry as the first computer-animated feature film and capturing hearts across generations. To commemorate this milestone anniversary, the Levi’s® brand has collaborated with Disney and Pixar to create a limited collection that celebrates the Western frontier spirit behind Woody’s character and the adventurous heart of the Toy Story films. The new Levi’s® x Toy Story 30th Anniversary collection is inspired by beloved characters and moments into wearable art, blending Western authenticity with the whimsical magic of Andy’s toy box.

For men, the collection offers the standout Levi’s® x Toy Story All Over Print Vest with quilted zip construction with contrast black interior lining. The back features a large Disney and Pixar’s Jessie and Woody riding Bullseye graphic with kangaroo pockets and flour sack print fabric throughout. The Levi’s® x Toy Story Type III Trucker features patch and repair detailing using printed pocketing fabric and massive Woody Saddleman graphic on the back with ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me’ stitching. The Levi’s® x Toy Story

Western Shacket reimagines the Western shirt with full zip front and streetwear sensibility, crafted from midweight indigo denim with sawtooth pocket flaps and mother-of-pearl snaps.

Men’s bottoms include the Loose Jean with matching patch details, and the Carpenter Jean in flour sack print. All bottoms feature custom pocket bags with Andy’s handwriting and Saddleman graphics. Each pair features authentic Western construction details including reinforced stress points and contrast stitching that echoes the craftsmanship of frontier workwear. The custom Andy’s handwriting pocket bags pay homage to the film’s story ,while the Saddleman graphics serve as collectible Easter eggs.

The women’s offerings emphasise Jessie’s spirited independence through empowering silhouettes and authentic Western detail. The standout Levi’s® x Toy Story Type II Jacket is offered in rinse indigo with Western silhouette, ‘Yodelayheehoo’ chain stitch embroidery, and ecru collar contrast. Meanwhile the Ribcage Bell transforms the popular silhouette with Western smile pockets, cow print waistband, and ‘Howdy’ embroidery.

Graphic tees capture key characters and moments: the Boxy Tee featuring Disney and Pixar’s Woody riding Bullseye in black, and the group Boxy Tee with an Alien in cowboy hat in white. The blue vintage wash Long Sleeve Tee features a Woody-Buzz back graphic with ‘You’ve Got a Friend in Me.’ The chocolate brown Hoodie showcases the Woody Saddleman lockup on the back.

Accessories round out the expansive collection. The denim Logo Hat features Toy Story lockup and embossed Pixar ball clasp, while the All Over Print Tote combines denim and flour sack canvas with exterior arcuate detailing. The 3-Pack Bandana set includes yellow with Woody Saddleman, red with Buzz Lightyear, and white with Jessie designs.

Throughout the collection, variable patches featuring Disney and Pixar’s Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, Rex, and Aliens add collectible value, allowing fans to showcase their favourite characters while building personal connections that mirror the bond between toys and owners in the films.

The Levi’s® x Toy Story 30th Anniversary collection will be exclusively available from 3 October 10:00am to 4 October 9:59am for early access on levi.com.ph and from 4 October, available in-store at Levi’s® Okada Manila, Shangri-La Plaza, Robinsons Manila, SM Mall of Asia, SM North Edsa, and levi.com.ph.

RCBC has stood as a pillar in Philippine banking for 65 years, serving as the financial partner of Filipinos in achieving their dreams. From its beginnings as a small development bank, it has grown into a universal bank, fueling individual milestones and national progress.

Its journey started in 1960 when its founder, Alfonso T. Yuchengco, established the Rizal Development Bank. Operating with just 15 employees from a one-room office in Ayala Avenue, which was then part of Rizal, the bank set out to deliver financial solutions to the fastest-growing province at the time.

In just three years, it became Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, one of the first commercial banks outside of Manila. By 1963, its assets had reached ?41.3 million, deposits totaled to ?18.2 million, and already turned a profit-a rare feat for such a young player.

Even during turbulent times, like the liquidity crisis among commercial banks in the 1970s, the political turmoil in the 1980s, and the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s, the bank remained resilient and steadfast in its commitment to provide uninterrupted service to every Filipino.

Today, its RCBC Plaza headquarters remains an icon in the Makati skyline and a hub for culture, business, and community.

Empowering Generations

RCBC has been a constant presence in the lives of every Filipino family. It has financed cars, homes, education, businesses, and created opportunities for Filipinos working locally or abroad – reflection of its commitment to create deeper value, impact, and trust with its customers that spans generations.

Today, these banking relationships continue to live on as parents give the reins of their businesses to their children and grandchildren, as the previous generation transfers its wealth to the next, and as next-gen leaders create and pass on their legacies.

‘This speaks volumes about the deep trust and loyalty we’ve built across generations,’ said RCBC President and CEO Reggie B. Cariaso said.

For decades, RCBC has stayed true to its mission of empowering Filipinos. In its early years, banking only meant giving people access to savings and checking accounts. This has since evolved into a partnership that empowers businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities with a more comprehensive suite of financial solutions and purposeful innovations.

Credit cards, for instance, have become a powerful financial tool in enhancing everyday life in practical and meaningful ways. More than just spending, the use of credit cards has become about enabling smarter choices and achieving their life goals.

Innovation without Boundaries

RCBC believes that addressing the changing needs of the clients means anticipating their challenges and opportunities.

When technology significantly changed the financial landscape, RCBC was quick to innovate. It was one of the first to introduce automated teller machines (ATM) in the 80s, phone banking in the 90s, and later mobile and online platforms that provided Filipinos easier access to managing their finances.

Today, RCBC is a leader in digital banking solutions. It continues to invest in sustainability and global banking standards to ensure its products and services are at par with international best practices while being relevant to ordinary Filipinos. Millions of Filipinos, especially the unbanked and underbanked now use these platforms to open savings accounts, pay bills, and get loans, all from their mobile devices.

‘Innovation and a customer-centric mindset must go hand-in-hand,’ Cariaso said. ‘That is the only way we will be able to provide relevant solutions at every lifestage,’ he added.

A look at the next 65 years

RCBC’s legacy is about leadership, resilience, and innovation. More than just adapting to change, RCBC is shaping the future of banking with its innovative financial solutions that enable Filipinos to dream bigger and pursue their passions.

It sees a future where banking and financial growth are integral to enhancing the lives of the communities it serves. As customer needs evolve, RCBC will continue to develop solutions to make their financial journey smoother, more meaningful, and memorable.

‘The trust and partnership we’ve forged over the decades have brought us to this moment. For the next 65 years, we remain committed as ever to delivering relevant and impactful solutions for every Filipino,’ Cariaso said.

From a one-room office in 1960 to being a partner of millions today, RCBC has come a long way. As it turns 65, one thing remains true: the bank is fueling Filipinos to live out their passion, and build legacies for generations to come.

The massive protest rallies in September said it all: people are clamoring for accountability for the substandard and ghost flood control projects that had submerged entire provinces in murky waters after several typhoons. Enough! People raged, demanding an end to the corruption abetted by complicit officials and greedy contractors.

That such unconscionable misuse of public funds was shielded from public scrutiny for so long-no thanks to opaque budget deliberations and congressional insertions-has now pushed enraged citizens to demand more transparency in government affairs.

This includes the ongoing investigation by the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which was created to investigate anomalies in multibillion-peso public works projects.

Unlike the Senate and House hearings on corruption, the ICI deliberations will not be live streamed, maintained its executive director Brian Hosaka. ‘The ICI is avoiding trial by publicity and will not allow itself to be used for any political leverage or agenda by any individual or group,’ he explained.

The commission’s initial hearings, Hosaka added, ‘are for purposes of case buildup for criminal, civil, and administrative action’ from the appropriate government agency. The ICI has so far submitted its first interim report to the Office of the Ombudsman, recommending the possible filing of graft, malversation, and falsification charges against former Ako Bicol party list Rep. Zaldy Co and several public works officials over a failed dike project in Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.

Huge conspiracy

But while the congressional hearings have indeed been used by unscrupulous politicians for grandstanding to advance and protect their personal interests, the ICI’s stance has been slammed by some quarters who believe that transparency would help build trust in the newly formed body. ‘How else would we know if the details gathered during the initial congressional hearings match those gathered by the ICI? How would Filipinos be assured that this won’t be a cover-up and that its investigation would not protect anyone?’ Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima asked.

‘Now that Filipinos are aware of a huge conspiracy and corruption in flood control and other government projects, we should not deprive them of the chance to understand details and join the discussions,’ she pointed out.

Added Akbayan party list Rep. Percival Cendaña: ‘There’s no real accountability without transparency. Let the people in. It is the right of the people whose funds worth billions have been stolen to watch the proceedings of the ICI,’ he said. As for the risk of ‘trial by publicity,’ People’s Budget Coalition co-convener Ken Abante suggested that ‘well-organized hearings with clear questions [could] prevent witch hunts or politicking by rival camps.’

Heavy cloud of doubt

With the anticorruption hearings stirring up widespread public interest, a more accessible ICI probe would also allow people to focus not just on the accused but on the investigators as well, De Lima said.

The ICI is headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Andres Reyes Jr., an appointee of former President Rodrigo Duterte, under whose term most of the dubious contracts were signed. Similarly laboring under a heavy cloud of doubt, ICI special adviser Benjamin Magalong recently resigned over a possible conflict of interest in his dual role in the ICI and as concurrent mayor of Baguio City, where a tennis court project was found to have been awarded to a Discaya-owned firm. The Discayas are among the contractors being probed for their alleged involvement in defective government projects.

Making ICI proceedings accessible to the public could de-escalate matters as well, said Sen. Kiko Pangilinan. ‘Do not test the people’s desire to know the truth, lest ICI members wake up to find protest rallies in front of their homes,’ he warned.

Piecemeal revelations

The ICI is unfazed by the misgivings, it seems. Its investigation is a ‘process’ that cannot be defined by piecemeal revelations, Hosaka said, adding: ‘We want the people to trust the system and (know that) in the independent commission, we will be doing our jobs fairly, objectively, and independently.’

While livestreaming may be out of the question at the moment, Hosaka said the ICI will look for a solution that would ‘both balance the request for more transparency and the protection of individual rights.’ Surely, the ICI can consider giving regular media briefings or allowing a pooled coverage of its hearings.

While the public should give the ICI the benefit of the doubt and ‘trust’ its proceedings, transparency will help make their investigations more credible.

Andi Eigenmann is one proud mom as she cheered for her six-year-old daughter Lilo who competed for the first time in a national surfing competition held in Siargao.

The celebrity mom documented the 2nd Pacifico National Surfing Competition in which Lilo competed in the junior girls category, as seen in a vlog on the family’s YouTube channel Happy Islanders on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Andi’s fiancé and Lilo’s dad, celebrity surfer Philmar Alipayo, was also part of the contest.

‘We entered Lilo in this competition just for the experience. She just turned six years old, and she is really the one who wanted to be part of the competition so why not make her try,’ Andi said. ‘All that matters to us is that she enjoys.’

Lilo made it to the semifinals and finished third overall.

While this is Lilo’s first national competition, she had already joined a local competition in 2024 where she was given the youngest surfer award. She was only 5 at the time.

Aside from Lilo, Andi and Philmar has a son named Koa, 4, who also surfs. Lilo and Koa have an older sister named Ellie, Andi’s daughter with actor Jake Ejercito.

The Philippines cannot achieve food security, climate resilience, or inclusive development without radically rethinking how it treats its farmers.

For decades, agricultural policy has been fragmented, underfunded, and misaligned with the constitutional mandate to protect subsistence producers.

The devolution of the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the 1991 Local Government Code was intended to empower local governments. Instead, it hollowed out technical capacity, created fiscal disparities, and left farmers exposed to climate shocks, market failures, and institutional neglect.

Across rural barangays, the technical vacuum is staggering. In Northern Mindanao, there is only one Agricultural Extension Technician (AET) for every 150 barangays-far below the international standard of one technician per 1-2 barangays.

This gap undermines climate-resilient farming, pest management, and market access. Local governments, constrained by limited Internal Revenue Allotments (IRA), rely on Local Farmer Technicians (LFTs) who receive a mere ?4,000/month-hardly a substitute for a professionalized extension corps.

Global models offer a way forward. Vietnam and Ethiopia have re-centralized agricultural extension under national agencies while preserving local coordination.

These hybrid systems-where the national government provides personnel and training, and LGUs offer logistical support-have improved service quality and accountability.

The Philippines must learn from these successes and re-establish a centralized Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DAFW) to ensure real-time deployment of technicians, centralized data systems, and integrated disaster response.

But this is not just a technical issue-it is a constitutional imperative. Article XIII, Section 5 of the 1987 Constitution mandates the State to ‘protect the rights of subsistence farmers and fisherfolk.’

Yet current arrangements focus narrowly on production, neglecting social protection, grievance redress, and income security.

Farmers face rising input costs, climate shocks, and market volatility without adequate safety nets. Fragmented systems failed to respond effectively to African Swine Fever and recurring typhoons. A re-nationalized DAFW would enable coordinated crisis response and uphold farmers’ rights.

The proposed DAFW bill introduces structural reforms that re-center farmer dignity, technical support, and agroecological transition.

It establishes Regional Agricultural Extension and Technical Support Units (RAETSU) and a National Agricultural Extension Corps (NAEC) to restore centralized, science-based extension services.

A Farmers’ Welfare Bureau (FWB) institutionalizes social protection-including insurance, pensions, and health coverage-while Farmers’ Councils at barangay to national levels embed participatory governance and budget oversight.

These reforms are not symbolic-they are systemic corrections to decades of exclusion.

Budgetary neglect compounds these structural failures. From 1985 to 2020, the DA’s share of the national budget declined from 3.57% to just 1.58%.

Even in 2020, amid food insecurity and climate shocks, agriculture received less than 2% of the national budget. In contrast, Malaysia and Thailand allocate nearly 3% or more, while Vietnam exceeds 4%. Bhutan (9.5%), India (6.9%), and Mali (7.8%) approximate the FAO-recommended 10% benchmark for agrarian economies.

South Korea, though allocating only 1.75%, compensates with high per capita spending-nearly $85-due to its smaller farming population and advanced agri-biotech investments.

Filipino farmers receive just ~$13.50 per capita-far less than their regional counterparts. Malaysia ($38.20), Thailand ($45.00), and Vietnam ($49.50) all outpace the Philippines, despite its greater vulnerability to climate shocks and land degradation.

This fiscal injustice undermines food sovereignty, climate adaptation, and rural justice.

To match Thailand’s and Vietnam’s per capita funding, the Philippines must raise its agricultural budget to ?296 billion and ?324 billion respectively-about double the 2026 proposal of ?176.7 billion.

This recalibration is not just about numbers-it is about justice. It means halting land use conversion of prime irrigated ricelands, tripling investments in irrigation and post-harvest infrastructure, expanding access to credit and insurance, and embedding parity funding in national development planning.

The DAFW also proposes a National Agroecology Transition Framework (NATF) and Agroecology Incentive Program (AIP) to shift farming systems toward climate resilience and biodiversity-based production.

Agroecology Transition Zones (ATZs) will be established in priority provinces, supported by decentralized grain silos, composting hubs, and farmer-led seed systems. These zones will serve as living laboratories for participatory research and convergence of support services from LGUs, SUCs, and civil society.

Palay farmgate prices-currently at ?8 -?13/kg-fall far below production costs of ?20-?22/kg, pushing farmers into chronic indebtedness.

The Rice Tariffication Law (RA 11203) dismantled the National Food Authority’s buffer stocking mandate, leaving farmers vulnerable to price shocks

We have proposed that RTL must be replaced also . The DAFW proposes restoring market stabilization mechanisms, including a ?100 billion annual procurement fund to buy 20% of national palay output and ?100 billion in warehouse infrastructure to anchor calibrated release and regional price floors.

These reforms are not abstract-they are rooted in constitutional mandates and SDG targets. They advance SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

They position agriculture not as a relic of the past but as a driver of inclusive recovery and intergenerational renewal and food sovereignty.

Conclusion

Feeding the nation begins with restoring dignity, equity, and institutional support for the farmers who grow our food. The current system-fragmented, underfunded, and misaligned with constitutional mandates-must be overhauled..

The proposed Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (DAFW) offers a blueprint for structural reform: re-centralized extension, participatory governance, agroecological transition, and fiscal justice. These are not optional reforms-they are moral and strategic imperatives.

Recommendations

1. Establish the DAFW to centralize extension services, disaster response, and farmer protection.

2. Create RAETSU and NAEC to restore technical capacity and deploy trained personnel nationwide.

3. Institutionalize the Farmers’ Welfare Bureau (FWB) to deliver insurance, pensions, health coverage, and grievance redress.

4. Recalibrate the DA budget to ?296-?324 billion by 2026 to match regional peers and meet FAO benchmarks.

5. Launch the Agroecology Incentive Program (AIP) and designate ATZs to support climate-resilient farming and biodiversity-based production.

6. Restore market stabilization mechanisms by procuring 20% of palay output and investing in decentralized grain infrastructure.

7. Establish Farmers’ Councils at all levels to embed participatory governance and budget oversight.

8. Create a Special Fund for Agricultural Extension and Welfare (SFAEW) to ensure predictable, welfare-oriented financing.

9. Halt land use conversion of prime irrigated ricelands to protect food sovereignty and rural livelihoods.

10. Expand farmer access to credit, insurance, and digitaltools to build resilience and market inclusion.

(Teodoro ‘Ted’ C. Mendoza PhD is a retired professor and UP scientist of the Institute of Crop Sciences at the University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte wants to disbar the justice secretary and other high-ranking officials for their role in the arrest and turnover of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March.

In a complaint filed on Thursday, the younger Duterte, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, sought the disbarment of Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, and Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty.

Torreon declined to discuss the details of the case, citing the confidentiality provision of the Rules of Court. He only said that the complaint was related to the ‘kidnapping’ and ‘expulsion’ of the former president to The Hague, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs before the ICC.

Torre explained that Mayor Duterte’s complaint pertained to a ‘different subject matter’ compared to the criminal and administrative cases the latter filed last month before the Office of the Ombudsman against Remulla and the other government officials, including some police officers.

Lawyers only

‘This case for disbarment is concentrated only against lawyers because, as you know, we also have Canons of Professional Responsibility that we have to comply with and observe,’ he said.

When asked if the disbarment case was meant to block Remulla’s application to become the next Ombudsman, Torreon repeatedly said: ‘Hopefully,’ before adding, ‘I do not have any qualms on the matter nor would I hide that that is one of [the reasons why] Mayor Duterte filed this case.’

But when asked to further clarify his answer, Torreon took back his initial statement, saying they aimed to make Remulla ‘principally . liable for the violations that he committed under the code of professional responsibility.’

‘And on the side, if that would cause the blocking of his appointment, then that is one of the consequences of his actions,’ he added.

Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice, Remulla brushed aside the latest filing from the Duterte camp, again dismissing it as forum shopping.

‘That’s already expected . They can’t hide their displeasure with what we’ve done or what we have sought to do for the ends of justice,’ he said.

Those applying to become the next Ombudsman should have no pending cases before the agency. Remulla, however, said he has already been issued a clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman, making him qualified for the post.

The controversy over Mo Tautuaa’s nullified dunk in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals has triggered significant rule changes ahead of the league’s 50th season.

Starting on Sunday, goaltending or basket interference calls will only be reviewable if a referee makes a call in real-time. The league is doing away with retroactive reviews like the one in Game 1 of last July’s finals between San Miguel and TNT, when Tautuaa’s go-ahead dunk was overturned by the technical committee after no whistle was initially blown.

‘If the referees do not make any call, the decision is final. The referees will be held accountable after the game,’ PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial said during Wednesday’s press conference at Shangri-La The Fort.

Tautuaa’s dunk, which came off a bounce from the rim, gave San Miguel a 97-96 lead with under a minute left. With no infraction called on the play, the basket stood-until the technical committee reviewed it during a dead ball with five seconds remaining. The play was ruled basket interference, shifting the lead back to TNT and drawing heavy criticism from the Beermen’s camp.

Though San Miguel eventually won the series and the championship, the fallout led to changes, including Eric Castro’s move from the technical committee to head of operations.

Among the other rule changes:

Corrections to two-, three-, or four-point shots cannot be made after the game.

Teams will no longer retain possession after a technical foul for excessive timeouts.

Penalty situations now apply after two fouls in the final two minutes of any period, not just the fourth.

Teams can huddle during challenges.

Players can recover their own airballs without being called for a violation.

Offensive fouls now count toward team fouls, but no free throws will be awarded if the team is already in penalty.

Technical fouls will be called for excessive elbows and for throwing the ball in plain sight of an official.

‘These rules were finalized by the competition committee composed of coaches,’ Marcial said, citing members like Rain or Shine’s Yeng Guiao, Meralco’s Luigi Trillo, and Converge’s Franco Atienza.

Lawyers of the victims of former President Rodrigo Duterte agreed on Thursday that the Senate resolution seeking house arrest for the former leader actually has ‘no bearing’ on a pending request for his temporary release and may even work against his favor in the end.

‘This is really for domestic political purposes . because the International Criminal Court (ICC) does not consider all of these political statements,’ lawyer Gilbert Andres said in a vlog of human rights advocate Carlos Conde.

‘A house arrest is not even contemplated in the ICC Rome Statute. You won’t find it in the (articles in the Rome Statute) and it is also not in the [ICC] Rules of Procedure and Evidence,’ said Andres, Center for International Law executive director.

The lawyer said that ‘house arrest’ is just a concept in Philippine politics, saying that it is meant to give ‘special treatment to politicians’ and may belie claims that Duterte has ‘failing cognitive abilities’ because he still has the acumen to muster a deliberative body’s majority from more than 10,000 kilometers away.

For lawyer Kristina Conti of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, it still shows political power even if it is also seen as ‘self-serving,’ particularly to Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, who has been named as a potential coperpetrator of Duterte in a preconfirmation brief.

With 15 in favor, 3 opposed, and two abstaining, the Senate on Wednesday adopted Senate Resolution No. 144, asking the ICC to place Duterte under house arrest.

The others voting in favor were Dela Rosa, Robinhood Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Jinggoy Estrada, Christopher Go, Joel Villanueva, Sherwin Gatchalian, Loren Legarda, Erwin Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Panfilo Lacson, and Mark Villar.

Opposing the resolution were Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Francis Pangilinan, while Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Sen. Raffy Tulfo abstained from voting.

For Cristina Palabay, secretary general of Karapatan, the Senate resolution only proved that the upper chamber is ‘packed with Duterte lackeys and apologists,’ with no less than Dela Rosa leading the pack. ‘This is a Senate bereft of integrity,’ she said.

Conti noted that the Senate ‘is not in any way involved in the ICC process,’ and the Senate resolution undermines the independence of the international tribunal and bolsters the assertions of both the prosecutors and the victims that Duterte and his family members still wield ‘significant political clout.’