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Since his ouster as Senate president, Francis Escudero has largely kept to himself. Until last Monday, when he came out swinging – against resigned House speaker Martin Romualdez.

What got Senator Chiz in a fighting mood, it seems, was Romualdez being spared (so far) from recommendations for criminal indictments in connection with the mangling of the national budget and flood control corruption.

Romualdez has also not been mentioned among the lawmakers who are being probed by the Commission on Elections for receiving campaign contributions from contractors doing business with the government.

Pro-Duterte senators have complained that a witness presented at a Senate Blue Ribbon committee hearing by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta (reportedly without the courtesy of a heads up to panel chair Panfilo Lacson) has not been taken seriously by probers.

The witness, ex-Marine bodyguard Orly Guteza, had tagged both Romualdez and Zaldy Co in alleged massive kickbacks delivered to their homes in cold cash. Guteza was reportedly introduced to Marcoleta by former Quezon City congressman Michael Defensor, a Cabinet member during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, no fan of Romualdez.

Guteza must face state prosecutors or the National Bureau of Investigation to assess his testimony for possible criminal indictments against those he implicated. But he was a no-show at the NBI last week, and has made himself scarce.

Both Escudero and Romualdez are casualties of the flood control mess. Before their fall from their leadership posts in Congress, the two had already been pointing fingers at each other’s chambers in the scandal over the ‘most corrupt budget ever,’ the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Escudero, in his fighting speech last Monday, sounded petulant in the theme of his message: why single out senators? Why only me?

He’s not alone though in wondering aloud why Romualdez has not been questioned, at least in connection with the mangling of the national budget during the 19th Congress.

The House speaker at the time can’t pin the blame for this mainly on Co, the chairman of the committee on appropriations, who has been conveniently missing in action since the start of the 20th Congress.

Rubbing salt into Escudero’s wound must have been Lacson’s disclosure over the weekend that ‘almost all’ senators in the 19th Congress had budget insertions totaling over P100 billion in the 2025 GAA.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III had to undertake some damage control within the chamber, pointing out that such insertions are part of the normal budget process and are not all tainted with corruption.

Lacson, who has been likened to a suicide bomber in his anti-corruption crusade, agreed with his former running mate Tito Sen. To further assuage those who were hit by his bato-bato sa langit statement, Lacson also clarified that the House budget insertions in the GAA were far greater, with more lawmakers involved.

And just to dispel accusations of singling out his fellow senators, Lacson announced yesterday that the Blue Ribbon committee would invite Romualdez and Co to its hearing on the flood control anomalies. Romualdez can decline; Co, now a civilian who is believed to be looking for a safe haven abroad from prosecution, can be subpoenaed if he fails to show up.

The Blue Ribbon chaired by Lacson will be one step ahead of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), which has yet to summon Romualdez.

People wanted Congress to stop its probes on the budget and flood control anomalies once the ICI started its work, since lawmakers are seen to be deeply involved in the scandal.

But now that ICI proceedings have turned out to be top secret, defying the avowed push toward transparency, accountability and all that blather, people are back to relying on Lacson and the Blue Ribbon for peeling the layers of corruption for all to see.

Deals are struck and justice is influenced or bought behind closed doors. This is not just perception; it is often the reality in our looted country. This valid concern is what ICI chair Andres Reyes Jr. can’t get in the clamor to open its proceedings to the public. Reyes seems to think he’s still working as an associate justice in the Supreme Court. The ICI executive director, Brian Hosaka, is also a former spokesman for the SC.

Incidentally, there’s a scuttlebutt that the SC has decided to stand firm on its invalidation of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, never mind if a critical argument used in the decision is based on fake news. It’s a self-serving decision that rewrites the rules and makes it nearly impossible to impeach the impeachable including SC members.

If this turns out to be true, it could intensify perceptions of institutional damage in the judiciary, which even a former head of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines has described as ‘part of the problem’ in endemic corruption.

The ICI was created because there were doubts about the impartiality of government prosecutors under the Department of Justice, which is part of the executive branch. But now with its secrecy, the ICI is looking like a redundant body, simply duplicating the work of state prosecutors.

Already there are speculations swirling that the body is merely out to throw several expendables under the bus while protecting untouchables, among them Romualdez.

As of yesterday, the Palace position was that it would not interfere in the ICI’s decision to conduct its proceedings behind closed doors. But at the rate the ICI is going, it might soon find itself facing mass protests for its lack of transparency.

The Discaya couple faced the ICI yesterday and, according to their lawyer, gave a ‘tell-all plus plus.’

‘Wala na kaming tinatago’ – they are not hiding anything anymore, lawyer Cornelio Samaniego III told reporters, but declined to give details. ‘Tell all na kami ng lahat (We’re telling everything).’

Only the ICI is doing the hiding this time.

Let’s just wait for the next Blue Ribbon hearing.

After months of renovation for next year’s Asean Summit, the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City has been reopened.

‘We recognize the PICC as a symbol of Filipino resilience and creativity. That is why, with the PICC’s golden anniversary in 2026 and, coincidentally, our hosting of the ASEAN Summit, we reaffirmed our commitment to preserving and modernizing the PICC for many generations yet to come,’ President Marcos said yesterday.

Closed for renovation in March, the PICC will showcase a newly curated art collection and key pieces from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), he noted.

Owned by the BSP, the PICC was opened to the public on Sept. 5, 1976, during the term of Marcos’ father and namesake.

Among the historic events held at the PICC were the Miss Universe pageant in 1994 and the 2017 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

Health expert and nutritionist Dr. Hash Flores stressed that the public must be educated on the dangers of consuming imported frozen products, saying that it poses health risks.

Flores said a platform for food and safety must be put in place.

‘I think there are more inherent problems but the only solution at the moment would be to educate the public properly and that stems from a platform that consumers can trust,’ Flores said.

‘This will allow you to be more informed and empowered as a consumer,’ he added.

Flores warned that imported frozen and chemically treated chicken could lead to illnesses and hormonal imbalances.

He said that since such products are ‘not done in its natural form,’ women can get polycystic ovary syndrome and men can do a ‘flip switch’ because of ‘too much estrogen.’

He further encouraged the public to consider the health benefits of local, natural and organic chicken and to exercise caution when purchasing imported frozen poultry.

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has seized nearly P35 billion worth of smuggled goods from January to August, underscoring the agency’s intensified border control operations and continuing efforts to curb illicit trade and protect government revenues.

Carrying out 653 seizure operations, the border patrol bureau said it has confiscated P34.73 billion worth of smuggled goods during the eight-month period.

The collection on seized items is only 41 percent of last year’s full year record of P85.16 billion.

BOC Assistant Commissioner Vincent Maronilla explained that last year’s figures were largely driven by letters of authority, which have now been suspended, noting that many of the operations involved were conducted outside the bureau.

‘Now we look at the complaints, when that is back, we are not keen on catching up. I think whatever the figure is, what’s important for us is the industry feels we’re doing something and there’s a reduction of the effect of smuggling in their fields,’ Maronilla said.

Letters of authority are official BOC directives that empower customs officers to carry out specific enforcement actions, such as requesting proof of duty and tax payments on imported merchandise.

In July, BOC Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno halted the execution of all previously approved letters of authority that had not yet been served.

Maronilla said they are reviewing and streamlining safety measures for the issuance of letters of authority to prevent potential abuse based on intelligence reports.

‘Especially in the intellectual property, most particularly agriculture and the tobacco and vape industry,’ he said, referring to stronger patrols in several industries.

According to the report, the top five highest-valued seized commodities were various goods worth P20.16 billion and wildlife and natural resources at P4.78 billion.

Also among the most confiscated smuggled goods were illegal drugs valued at P4.6 billion, cigarettes, tobacco, and vape products worth P2.1 billion, along with counterfeit items amounting to P1.4 billion, according to the BOC.

Still in the eight-month period, the BOC has revoked the accreditation of 40 erring importers and customs brokers as part of its crackdown on trade law violators.

American basketball pros Sam Vincent and Taj McWilliams-Franklin are visiting the Philippines to participate in a series of engagements that will showcase American excellence in basketball and empower young Filipino athletes and leaders as part of the US Department of State’s Sports Envoy Program.

The initiative strengthens people-to-people ties between Filipinos and Americans through their shared love for sports, while inspiring the next generation of leaders.

Vincent is an NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in 1986 while McWilliams-Franklin is a two-time WNBA champion with the Detroit Shock in 2008 and the Minnesota Lynx in 2011. Both players transitioned to coaching following their successful professional careers as players.

During their visit, Vincent and McWilliams-Franklin will lead basketball clinics and leadership seminars in Alaminos City in Pangasinan, organized in partnership with the local government.

The visiting US sports envoys bring their professional and collegiate coaching experiences to train young athletes in basketball fundamentals while fostering the values of leadership, dedication, and teamwork that will help participants succeed in their professional lives.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged Cebu citizens to remain alert as rescue and relief efforts continue following the killer quake.

A 6.9 quake last Tuesday night killed at least 26 people in the province, injuring dozens more and destroying vital infrastructure.

‘Hinihikayat ko ang lahat na manatiling alerto at makinig sa abiso ng inyong lokal na pamahalaan. Sama-sama nating itatawid ang ating mga kababayan at muling itatayo ang mga komunidad na naapektuhan,’ Marcos said.

(I urge all to remain alert and to listen to the local government. Together, we will get through this and uplift the affected communities.)

Marcos said the Department of Public Works and Highways has been tasked with inspecting road and bridge quality, while the Department of Energy is working to restore power to affected regions.

The Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are also on the ground providing aid, Marcos said.

Both the Bureau of Fire Protection and the Philippine National Police are assisting in rescue and recovery efforts, the president said.

The death toll from the earthquake is still rising, with reports on the ground saying at least 50 have been reported dead.

The Philippines reaffirmed its commitment to work closely with World Trade Organization (WTO) members in ensuring the effective implementation of the agreement on fisheries subsidies.

The landmark agreement represents a historic step forward in curbing harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing and the depletion of marine resources.

Recalling the deposit of its instrument of acceptance at the sidelines of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Feb. 27, 2024, the Philippines recently joined fellow WTO members in celebrating the entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.

As an archipelagic nation of more than 115 million people, with millions depending on fisheries for their food and livelihood, the Philippines attaches great importance to this milestone. The agreement strengthens global efforts to safeguard marine biodiversity, ensure food security and protect the livelihoods of fisherfolk, particularly those in small coastal communities.

To support implementation, the WTO has established a Fisheries Subsidies Fund to provide technical assistance and capacity-building support to developing members such as the Philippines. This includes Category 1 Grant Projects of up to $50,000 and Category 2 Grant Projects of up to $300,000. Through this mechanism, the Philippines will be better equipped to implement the agreement effectively, enhance sustainable coastal management, and deliver tangible benefits to rural fishing communities across the archipelago.

The Philippines said the effective implementation of the Agreement will strengthen the country’s capacity to manage its ocean resources sustainably, secure the future of coastal communities, and uphold its responsibility as steward of one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems.

Ambassador Manuel A.J. Teehankee, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the WTO, welcomed the entry into force of the Agreement.

‘The entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies marks a collective victory for global sustainability and for millions of fisherfolk whose lives and livelihoods depend on healthy oceans,’ Teehankee said.

As the WTO’s first sustainability-focused agreement, it demonstrates that trade rules can serve as powerful tools for environmental protection and development.

‘For the Philippines, this Agreement is not only about protecting our marine biodiversity, but also about ensuring food security and building resilient coastal communities,’ he added.

The Philippines also welcomed the establishment of the Fisheries Fund, which will help developing countries translate commitments into concrete action.

‘The Philippines stands ready to work with WTO members and partners to ensure that this Agreement delivers real and lasting benefits for our people and our planet,’ he said.

In recent weeks, Filipinos have been introduced to Gen Z Rep. Francisco “Kiko” Austria Barzaga of Dasmariñas, Cavite. Formerly part of the majority, he resigned from the ruling Partido Federal Party and established himself as an independent lawmaker. He’s been the subject of many talks and insinuations, from his unusual and eccentric personality to whispers about his mental health. But it does not change the fact that this rather unusual young representative is saying the right things, stuff that ordinary Filipinos want to hear; that the corruption in flood control projects leads to former speaker Martin Romualdez.

As speaker during the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budget deliberations, Romualdez should at least have been cognizant of these anomalies. As Barzaga puts it, either Romualdez is corrupt and part of the flood control mafia, or at the very least was inept and incompetent for allowing these billions of pesos to be stolen left and right. For many lawmakers, Kiko Bargaza has indeed been a thorn in their side and sycophants of the ruling party have filed ethics complaints against the neophyte congressman.

The family name Barzaga is of Spanish origin, derived from barza (‘bramble’) + -aga (‘place of/abundance of’), meaning ‘place with brambles.’ The name is a relatively uncommon surname and is found in the Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos. Because of their thorns, brambles are often associated with wildness, difficulty, or obstacles. A very apt description of Rep. Barzaga, indeed.

The Barzagas are a political dynasty in Dasmariñas, Cavite. The modern Barzaga clan’s began with Elpidio ‘Pidi’ Frani Barzaga Jr., who served as Dasmariñas mayor and as congressman for the old 2nd and the 4th Districts. However, the family’s story goes older than Pidi. In the early 1800s, Domingo was born in Imus, Cavite. Prior to the Claveria surname decree of 1849, his family had been using ‘Bautista’ as a family name. The modern Barzaga family simply adopted the surname in accordance with the Claveria decree. Domingo Bautista would later marry Eusebia de los Reyes, and by 1850 had become Domingo Barsaga Bautista, until his family would later use Barsaga (and much later the more Spanish-sounding Barzaga) exclusively. Domingo and Eusebia had several children, including Hermogenes Barzaga, who married Manuela Enano. One of their children was Francisco Barzaga, the namesake of the current Kiko Barzaga who served as municipal president of Dasmariñas, Cavite in 1900 and then from 1922 to 1924. His son, Elpidio Barzaga, was the father of Elpidio Barzaga Jr.

A Barzaga legacy is converting Dasmariñas from a municipality into a component city, who was sponsored by then-Rep. Elpidio F. Barzaga Jr. Pidi’s wife Jennifer ‘Jenny’ Austria Barzaga, was mayor (2007-2016; 2019-present) and congresswoman (2016-2019), the first city mayor after cityhood in 2009 and has repeatedly won reelection. Their son Francisco ‘Kiko’ A. Barzaga served as city councilor (2019-2025) and became representative of Cavite’s 4th District in 2025; his brother Elpidio ‘Third’ Barzaga III became vice mayor in 2025.

Centuries ago, the first of Kiko Barzaga’s ancestors settled in what is now modern-day Cavite, first in Imus and then in Dasmariñas. The city’s name itself holds many symbolisms. Dasmariñas refers to ‘of the marinas or coasts.’ In Castilian and Galician contexts, marina didn’t just mean ‘harbor’ –it referred broadly to fertile coastal plains and maritime regions, often wealthy and strategic and connoted a sense of being tied to exploration, conquest, and commerce. In Catholic Spain, the sea was a biblical and spiritual metaphor and represented the vastness of God’s creation and the trials of life’s journey.

Whatever the deal is with Rep. Kiko Barzaga, it cannot be denied that in genealogical terms, he symbolizes defiance, strength and, as his own last name suggests, being a (very welcome) thorn to the powers that be that continue to rule the Philippines like it is their playground.

A low pressure area east of Philippine waters could develop into a tropical cyclone within the next two days, the state weather bureau PAGASA said Tuesday, September 30.

In its 5 p.m. forecast, PAGASA said the system has a medium chance of strengthening into a tropical depression and is likely to enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) by Tuesday evening.

The low pressure area was last spotted 1,070 kilometers east-northeast of Eastern Visayas at 3 p.m.

PAGASA’s tropical cyclone-threat potential report also indicated a high chance of a storm crossing Luzon this week, from September 29 to October 5.

Weather specialist Charmagne Varilla said Northern Luzon, Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Legazpi City can expect overcast skies and rain from Thursday, October 2, lasting until Saturday, October 4, before conditions improve.

A second tropical cyclone-like vortex (TCLV) may form by the second week of October. By October 6 to 12, the first storm is expected to exit PAR toward the Vietnam-Hainan area, while the second storm may enter the northeastern boundary of PAR.

The report further forecasts that tropical cyclones forming in October could make landfall in provinces across Northern, Central and Southern Luzon, as well as Visayas.

Some systems developing in the western Pacific may enter PAR but are expected to recurve northward, moving toward Japan or Korea.

More rain

Although the low pressure area has not yet directly impacted the Philippines, warm easterly winds are expected to bring cloudy skies with scattered rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday, October 1, in the following areas:

Metro Manila

CALABARZON

MIMAROPA

Bicol Region

Aurora

Pampanga

Bulacan

Zambales

Bataan

Northern Samar

The rest of the country is forecast to experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies, with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.

The Philippines is still reeling from the aftermath of severe flooding caused by the combined effects of tropical cyclones ‘Mirasol,’ ‘Nando’ and ‘Opong,’ along with the southwest monsoon.

Several provinces and cities have declared a state of calamity to prioritize rehabilitation efforts as thousands remain displaced.

PetMarra is proud to announce its participation in the annual World Animal Day and Pet Blessing event, organized by the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), happening on October 5 at the SM North Edsa Skydome.

The celebration will be a special day of love and gratitude, bringing together furparents and animal lovers. The venue will be open to the public at 10 a.m., inviting everyone in a program of fun activities and surprises.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early, as seating for the main event is on a first-come, first-served basis. Scheduled at 5 p.m., the much-anticipated annual pet blessing will commence.

During the one-of-a-kind mass dedicated for pets, each animal will be individually blessed. This symbolizes the importance of every pet in our lives and our responsibility to protect and cherish them.

This exceptional ceremony offers pet owners and their beloved companions a unique experience to be part of a community that understands the deepness of their bond. It is a truly memorable occasion that reaffirms the commitment to responsible pet ownership.

As one of the major sponsors, PetMarra will be at the forefront of the event with exciting activities and free products for furparents.

It will showcase its range of high-quality products, each crafted to help pet parents provide their furry companions with the best nutrition for a lifetime.

PetMarra’s commitment to quality is evident as its products exceed the rigorous nutritional guidelines of the Association of American Feed Control Officials and are registered with the Bureau of Animal Industry, ensuring the highest standards of safety and excellence.

In a further show of support for the animal community, PetMarra will be giving a special donation to PAWS during the event.

The funds were raised through a special live stream collaboration with Shopee in response to the series of typhoons and floods that have impacted local communities. The donation will match Shopee’s contribution, ensuring a substantial aid to animal welfare efforts.

PetMarra’s collaboration with PAWS on World Animal Day is more than a sponsorship; it is a partnership built on a shared mission to advocate for responsible pet ownership and elevate animal welfare standards.