Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

Two Philippine Army officers took center stage at Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Tuesday as they testified about military certifications that the Department of Education (DepEd) used to support its liquidation of P112.5 million in confidential funds in 2023.

Col. Manaros Boransing II told the Senate impeachment court during Day of the impeachment trial that the Army did not receive any funds from Duterte’s offices-whether regular or confidential-to finance the 2023 Youth Leadership Summit (YLS) or the Information Education Communication (IEC) campaign.

Boransing, however, said DepEd could have used its own regular budget for the programs, although he had no knowledge of whether confidential funds were used.

Col. Magtanggol Panopio, meanwhile, testified that a certification he issued for the youth summit was not a valid supporting document for liquidation before the Commission on Audit (COA).

Panopio said he was shocked to learn that DepEd had used the certification to justify its expenses and told Sen. Joel Villanueva that he personally believed the use of the document was improper.

The two officers were presented by the House prosecution to shed light on how military certifications were obtained and used by DepEd under Duterte’s leadership.

Their testimonies are expected to form part of the prosecution’s case on the alleged misuse of confidential funds under Article I of the Articles of Impeachment.

Meanwhile, Presiding Officer Sen. Francis Escudero issued a blanket prohibition on Tuesday barring witnesses at the impeachment trial from possessing or accessing earpieces, mobile phones, smartwatches, and similar communication devices while testifying.

Escudero made the announcement to correct misinformation about previous witness, OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, after the court determined that a viral image allegedly showing Ortonio wearing an earpiece during his testimony was AI-generated and false.

Sen. Vicente Sotto III also weighed in on the ongoing debate over suspicious names on OVP confidential fund acknowledgment receipts, stating that a name may be considered an alias only if there is an actual person behind it.

Sotto said that if no real person exists behind a name, it must be treated as fictitious or fake, not merely an alias.

Signatories on the receipts included names resembling food brands, fruits, and local politicians, such as Mary Grace Piattos, Miggy Mango, and Kristine Applegate Estrada.

After the session, public prosecutor and Manila Rep. Joel Chua said the prosecution may have three or four witnesses remaining under Article I, covering the confidential fund allegations, with defense lawyer Michael Poa set to take the stand next.

Poa, who stepped aside temporarily from his role as defense spokesperson out of deference to the court, is expected to face questions about military certifications he helped obtain for DepEd.

Chua said the prosecution would decide on its next set of witnesses after Poa’s testimony, estimating about one week before they rest their case on Article I.

Malacañang on Tuesday urged government officials to be sensitive about what they wear in public while acknowledging that some may opt for designer clothes simply because these attires are what they are accustomed to wearing.

The remarks came after Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, her son – Vice Governor Dennis ‘Delta’ Pineda, and San Fernando City Mayor Vilma Balle-Caluag faced backlash for wearing luxury designer clothes while inspecting communities devastated by flooding caused by monsoon rains.

Social media users were quick to identify and call out the Pinedas and Caluag over their designer pieces during the flood inspection, including a Balmain set, a Prada T-shirt, Burberry jackets, and Calvin Klein leggings.

‘Public service is not measured by what leaders wear. It is seen in their actions-whether they are visible and present to help,’ Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said at a briefing when asked whether Malacañang has a message for local officials on the issue.

The Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees states that public officials and employees and their families shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income and shall not indulge in extravagant displays of wealth.

In what appeared to be a defense of the officials’ choice of clothing, Castro said that while the public may find the items expensive, they may be relatively inexpensive for the officials themselves.

‘Hindi natin alam kung ang pagsusuot ng branded na iyan ay mura na sa kanila,’ she said.

(We don’t know whether wearing those branded clothes is actually inexpensive for them. It really depends on their circumstances.)

‘So, depende, depende sa kanila. Baka iyan ay-kung sa atin na ordinaryong tao ay napakamahal, baka sa kanila ay mura lang iyan dahil yan ang kanilang nakagawian,’ she said.

(What may be very expensive for us ordinary people may be relatively cheap for them, especially since that may simply be what they are accustomed to wearing.)

‘But still, siguro kailangan din maging sensitive kasi lalong-lalo na, kung iyong mga kababayan natin ay nakakaramdam ng hirap, trauma at kalungkutan,’ Castro continued.

(But still, I think they need to be sensitive, especially when our fellow Filipinos are experiencing hardship, trauma and grief.)

Castro also said there were officials who dressed simply but were unable to serve the public.

‘Mayroon pong mga iba, napakasimple ng dating – t-shirt, pants. Yung iba, nagpapaulan pa, pero wala namang natutulong,’ she said.

(There are others who come across as very simple-wearing just a T-shirt and pants, or even braving the rain, yet they don’t actually contribute anything.)

‘So mas maganda po na tingnan ang lider sa trabaho, sa gawa. Hindi po sa damit,’ she added.

(So, it is better to judge a leader by their work and actions, not by their attire.)

Governor Pineda apologized for the incident, calling it a ‘wake-up call,’ given the public’s suffering from the floods.

Leading online stock brokerage COL Financial is bullish on the earnings prospects of listed companies for the rest of the year after second-quarter results proved more resilient than expected despite inflation and higher raw material costs.

April Lynn Tan, chief equity strategist at COL, said corporate earnings could sustain their momentum in the second half as consumer demand remained steady even amid price pressures.

‘We’re quite hopeful that it will continue in the balance of the year,’ Tan said.

One of the major surprises in the second quarter, she said, was that the impact of the US-Iran war on businesses was not as severe as initially feared.

Raw material prices climbed during the period, while elevated inflation threatened to weaken household spending.

But consumers continued to spend, albeit with a greater focus on essentials.

Companies selling food and cheaper products were, therefore, relatively resilient, Tan said.

‘Demand didn’t collapse. It wasn’t as affected as it would have been if prices went up much higher,’ she added.

Another factor was the movement of oil prices. After rising sharply in March and April, oil did not climb beyond $100 per barrel, helping limit the increase in raw material costs.

Companies were also able to implement price increases to cushion the impact of higher costs on their operations.

These factors helped corporate earnings perform better than COL had anticipated during the second quarter, according to Tan.

For the second half, the brokerage is banking on relatively stable oil and commodity prices to support both corporate profitability and consumer demand.

‘We’re quite hopeful that the price of oil and commodity prices will stay relatively stable in the second half of the year, allowing the companies to continue earning good profits and allowing demand to remain stable,’ Tan said.

The haze possibly linked to ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia may be swept over the western portions of the country due to strong winds brought by the southwest monsoon, or ‘habagat,’ the state weather bureau said.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration weather specialist Benison Estareja said during the 5 p.m. weather advisory that, based on its satellite image, the haze may affect the western section of Visayas and Mindanao, as well as Mimaropa.

He explained that the air particles came from Kalimantan in Indonesia and are being pulled by the southwest monsoon.

‘Itong mga papupusaw na kulay galing po dito sa may Kalimantan sa may central part ng Sabah dito sa may Indonesia ay inaasahan pong kikilos dahil unti-unting tinutulak nga nitong southwest monsoon or habagat patungo dito sa western side ng ating bansa,’ he explained.

(‘These fading colored areas-originating from the Kalimantan region in the central part of Sabah, Indonesia-are expected to move, as they are gradually being pushed by the southwest monsoon toward the western side of our country.’)

Estareja advised the public to constantly monitor the air quality index (AIQ) of their respective areas in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) issued advisories.

The DENR-NCR reported early Tuesday that several areas in Metro Manila recorded high PM2.5, which refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter, wherein AIQ reached up to ‘acutely unhealthy levels’.

The San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam will start releasing water from its reservoir at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 2, the National Power Corporation (Napocor) announced on Tuesday.

The open gates will discharge water at 300 cubic meters per second down towards the Agno River, it said, because the dam’s water elevation reached 283.68 meters above sea level (masl) as of Tuesday noon.

The Napocor advised the municipalities of San Manuel, San Nicolas, Asingan, Tayug, Sta. Maria, Rosales, Sto. Tomas, Alcala, Bautista, and Bayambang, which are along the Agno River, to remain alert and take preparatory measures.

A group of businessmen has earlier called on the National Power Corporation to slowly release water into the Agno River when the dam’s water elevation was almost 283 masl.

Rosendo So, president of the Pangasinan Chinese-Filipino Chamber of Commerce, said the dam should have started releasing water before it even reached the mandatory spilling level of 280 masl, given that the country is expecting more typhoons.

In 2009, when Typhoon Pepeng brought a tremendous amount of rain to northern Luzon, Napocor opened the gates when water elevation was about to reach the crest of 290 masl. It ended up inundating 36 towns and cities in Pangasinan, said So.

‘Affected parties pursued legal action against Napocor and San Roque Power Corporation over the massive flooding and alleged improper and sudden release of water from the dam,’ he said.

Napocor has since ordered pre-emptive gate openings before the water elevation had reached 280 masl. On July 30, 2025, the reservoir level was 277.10 meters when multiple gates were opened, while in 2024, floodgates were opened when the San Roque water level was 276.27 meters.

In earlier years after the 2009 deluge, operators regularly performed controlled pre-releases when severe weather threatened, to manage incoming water volumes from upstream dams like Binga and Ambuklao in Benguet.

The water levels of Lake Lanao in Lanao del Sur and Pulangi Dam in Bukidnon have receded due to lack of rain, officials said on Tuesday.

Atty. Edgar Ramirez said on the phone that as of 12 noon on Tuesday, the water level at Lake Lanao stood at 700.7 meters and 283.9 meters at Pulangi Dam.

Ramirez is the plant manager of National Power Corporation – Mindanao Generation Group’s (NPC-MGG) Agus 6 and Agus 7 hydroelectric power plants.

The critical water level at Lake Lanao is pegged at 698 meters, Ramirez told the Inquirer.

Engr. Willy Alfeche, plant manager of NPC-MGG’s Pulangi hydroelectric power plant, said in a separate interview that the water level of the Pulangi Dam has also gone down.

He cited as reason the lack of rainfall, with silt compounding the problem.

The normal level of Pulangi Dam is 285 meters, Alfeche said, noting that the current water level of 283.9 meters is already below normal.

Meanwhile, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) Mindanao Regional Office placed the Mindanao Grid on yellow alert from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1.

The grid’s available capacity stood at 2,555 megawatts (MW) against the peak demand of 2,450 MW.

Elizabeth Ladaga, NGCP corporate public relations specialist, said that at least 766 MW are lacking in the Mindanao grid.

She said this situation is due to the forced outage or below-normal capacities of several power plants in the island in the past few months.

A yellow alert is issued when the operating margin is not enough to meet the transmission grid’s contingency requirement, the NGCP said.

Manila Water Foundation (MWF), together with Manila Water Company’s East Zone and Non-East Zone operating units, activated its Agapay: WASH in Emergencies program to address the urgent water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs of communities affected by flooding brought about by the southwest monsoon or habagat.

In response to severe flooding in Central Luzon caused by continuous monsoon rains, Manila Water Foundation, in partnership with Clark Water and the Municipal Government of San Simon, distributed 600 units of 5-gallon potable drinking water and 200 hygiene kits to evacuees across the municipality.

Each hygiene kit contained essential personal care items, including feminine pads, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, Cleene CLIO toothbrushes, and other hygiene products donated by PHILUSA Corporation. The kits were provided to help evacuees maintain proper hygiene and sanitation while temporarily displaced from their homes.

The flooding significantly affected the Municipality of San Simon, with more than 21,000 families impacted across the town. Among the hardest-hit areas were Barangays San Agustin, San Isidro, San Miguel, Santa Monica, and Sto. Niño, whose residents sought refuge in evacuation centers. Around 500 evacuees from these barangays received hygiene and hydration support through the initiative.

‘We recognize that access to clean water and proper sanitation becomes even more critical during emergencies,’ said Reginald Andal, Executive Director of Manila Water Foundation.

‘Through our Agapay: WASH in Emergencies program, we continue to work closely with our local government and operating unit partners to help protect the health and dignity of affected families. We remain committed to ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to safe water and essential hygiene supplies as they recover from the impacts of disasters. We are also grateful to our partners in local government and the private sector who enable us to respond quickly to the needs of vulnerable families.’

Representatives from the Municipal Government of San Simon expressed their gratitude to Manila Water Foundation and Clark Water for the timely assistance, emphasizing the importance of providing potable water and hygiene products to evacuees. The availability of safe drinking water in evacuation centers helped bring comfort and assurance to affected families during a challenging time.

In the East Zone, MWF, together with the Manila Water Quezon City, Taguig-Pateros, and Rizal Service Areas, provided hydration support for families affected by flooding.A total of 450 units of 5-gallon potable drinking water were handed over to evacuation centers, impacting more than 2,088 evacuees. The LGUs managing the evacuation centers expressed support to Manila Water and MWF, as safe drinking water supports the health and well-being of children, senior citizens, and other vulnerable community members.

As residents continue to recover, Manila Water Foundation will provide 1,750 gallons of potable drinking water for Barangay San Jose in Rodriguez, Rizal, impacting more than 2,466 individuals.

Manila Water Foundation underscores the vital role of clean water, sanitation, and hygiene in disease prevention and safeguarding public health through Agapay: WASH in Emergencies.

Dengue cases in the city have risen to 323 as of Aug. 26, with nearly half of the city’s 138 barangays reporting confirmed cases, prompting health authorities to intensify mosquito-control measures and urge communities to eliminate breeding sites.

The City Health Office (CHO) warned that the number of cases could continue to increase in the coming months as more frequent rains create conditions favorable for the breeding of Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit the dengue virus.

Dr. Jaime Opinion, a city health official, said barangay officials and residents play a crucial role in preventing further transmission of the disease.

‘Our barangay officials and residents are really the main players on this. We at the City Health Office and the Tacloban City Hospital can only help in terms of interventions,’ Opinion said in an interview.

Opinion said communities should conduct regular cleanup activities in their neighborhoods and homes, particularly in areas where mosquitoes can breed.

The Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that transmit dengue commonly lay their eggs in containers and other places where stagnant water collects, including discarded tires, cans, bottles, buckets, and uncovered water-storage containers.

Densely populated

Opinion also noted that many of the barangays reporting dengue cases are densely populated, which could facilitate the spread of the disease.

Dr. Gloria Fabrigas, chief of the Tacloban City Hospital, said the facility had treated 180 dengue patients from the start of the year through the previous week.

Of the total, only six patients came from outside Tacloban, she said.

Fabregas said 34 percent of the dengue patients treated at the hospital were between 6 and 20 years old, with males accounting for most of the cases in this age group

EST Cola of Thailand sent Farm Fresh crashing to its first defeat and earned a breakthrough 25-21, 25-16, 25-22 win in the PVL Invitational Conference on Tuesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The Thai club turned to the duo of Papatchaya Phontham and setter Natnicha Saelao to bounce back from a four-set loss to PLDT on opening day.

Phontham unleashed 17 points from 13 kills, three aces and a block, while the 17-year-old playmaker Saelao dished out 22 excellent sets and scored seven points, highlighted by four kill blocks.

‘Today we are so happy because of our teamwork and I helped in everything,’ said Saelao through a translator.

‘Thank you for the experience today, thank you, fans Philippines, for [allowing us to] coming here. Thank you for everything.’

Nirarach Srikuta and Nannaphat Moonjakham chipped in nine points each, while Nattharika Wasan added seven.

EST Cola forced a four-way tie at 1-1 tied with Nxled, PLDT, and Farm Fresh.

The Thais take on the Chameleons on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

‘In the next game, we need our receive and serve and block and teamwork a lot,’ Saelao said.

Farm Fresh’s lone double-digit scorer was Trisha Tubu, who had 15 points, all from attacks. Ces Molina and Ara Galang contributed nine and seven points, respectively.

The Foxies seek a bounce-back against Creamline on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

The Sandiganbayan Fifth Division acquitted two former Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) officials and several entrepreneurs of graft charges in connection with the alleged manipulation of garlic prices.

In a decision promulgated on Tuesday, the court said the prosecution failed to prove the accused’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Among those acquitted were former BPI Director Clarito Barron, former National Plant Quarantine Services Division (NPQSD) Chief Merle Palacpac, and Philippine Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association Group of Companies (Philvieva) Director Lilia Cruz.

The NPQSD is a division under the BPI which is the Department of Agriculture’s regulatory arm for the importation, exportation and the domestic movement of plants and plant products.

Also acquitted were traders Rolando Manangan; Prudencio Ruedas; Ma. Jackielou Ilagan; Gaudioso Diato; Denia Matabang; Raffy Torres; Mary Grace Sebastian; Orestes Salon; Jon Dino de Veyra; Jose Angulo Jr.; Laila Matabang; Edmond Caguinguin; Napoleon Baldueza; Jose Ollegue; Rolan Galvez; and Renato Francisco Jr.

Fifth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses noted that the P30,000 bonds each of the accused had posted will be released and the hold departure orders against them will be lifted.

He noted that Torres, Caguinguin and Ollegue were not present during the promulgation, but the decision was nonetheless promulgated.

Meanwhile, the decision said the same case against three other co-accused-businesswomen Rochelle Diaz, Shiela Mary dela Cruz and Angelita Flores, who all remained at large-was archived.

Cruz was appointed chairperson of the National Garlic Action Team (NGAT) by then-Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala in July 2013.

In November 2013, the NGAT recommended the importation of 58,240 metric tons of garlic to satisfy the local market’s requirements up until March 2014.

A total of 8,810 import permits were approved during the same period, of which 5,022 were issued to importers associated with Philvieva, according to the information filed by state prosecutors.

It added that, from January to July 2014, the price of imported garlic soared to between P260 and P400 per kilogram; from between P165 and P170 per kilogram from 2010 to 2013.

State prosecutors earlier pointed to Barron as the approving authority; and Palacpac and then-NPQSD chief Luben Marasigan as the recommending officers for the processing and release of the import permits.

The charge against Alcala was dismissed earlier this year due to insufficiency of evidence, while the charge against Marasigan was dismissed in 2021 due to his death.