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A PHOTOGRAPH showing Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo M. Lacson with the Discaya couple is likely meant to discredit his chairing of the Senate Blue-Ribbon committee’s investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

Lacson, who chairs the Blue-Ribbon committee, said the photo was taken during the 2025 campaign period, for an invitation to a political rally that he declined, and nothing more.

‘The fact that it is being circulated only means that it intended to besmirch my reputation and credibility in chairing the Blue-Ribbon committee on the flood control project anomalies,’ Lacson said.

One of those who shared the photo was controversial Cavite Rep. Kiko Barzaga.

Lacson stressed: ‘I did not know the Discayas and that was the first and only time outside of the Blue-Ribbon committee hearings that I met them. That meeting took around 15 to 20 minutes but not before that group photo was taken.

Lacson said that during the campaign period, a Davao City-based campaign supporter, Fred Villaroman, brought them to his office in Taguig City. Villaroman’s father, the late Police Brig. Gen. Francisco Villaroman, had served under Lacson in the National Police (PNP) and headed the security detail of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte until 2016.

During the meeting, Lacson was invited to a political rally of the Pinoy Ako party-list group, where the Discayas’ son was running as a nominee. Cezarah and Pacifico Discaya II were at the meeting.

But Lacson said he begged off from the invitation out of respect for his friend, now Senate President Vicente Sotto III. Sotto’s nephew Vico was running for reelection as Pasig City Mayor against Cezarah.

Also, Lacson said there were other party-list groups who were including his name in their sample ballots, ‘and I thought it was not a smart political decision to join a rally of any party-list group.’

Lacson, likewise, stressed that they did not discuss any campaign contribution. ‘I did not receive, nor did the Discayas offer any campaign contribution in whatever form,’ he said.

‘I hope this clarifies whatever insinuations are being attached to this said photograph,’ he added.

NEWLY-INSTALLED Cebu Archbishop Alberto Uy has ordered the suspension of masses and other parish activities in the northern towns of the province following the strong earthquake that struck Cebu on Tuesday night.

In an advisory, the Archdiocese of Cebu said Uy directed all parishes to immediately undergo structural assessments of their churches and rectories before these can be used again.

‘To the parishes in the North that have been gravely affected, you are asked to refrain from using your churches for the celebration of the Holy Mass until the proper experts have carried out the assessment and declared the structures safe for use,’ the advisory said.

The directive came after the 6.9-magnitude earthquake left several heritage churches badly damaged.

The Archdiocesan Shrine of Santa Rosa de Lima in Daanbantayan, built in 1886, partially collapsed.

In a Facebook post, the shrine said the retablo image of Santa Rosa de Lima remain unscathed after it was ‘wrapped around some unused plastic bags.’ It noted that the image was one of the few icons that was not damaged by the earthquake.

Meanwhile, in Bantayan, portions of the outer facade of the Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol, which was completed in 1863, also gave way during the tremor.

The Cebu archdiocese urged the faithful to place their trust in God during this period of uncertainty.

‘We continue to pray to our Loving Father for calmness and strength in the midst of these trials. We entrust ourselves, our families, and our communities into His merciful hands. May the Lord shelter us under His wings, protect us from every harm, and guide us to safety and peace,’ it said.

The low-pressure area east of Southern Luzon has developed into a Tropical Depression and is now threatening to bring hazards in land areas and coastal waters in the region, the state weather bureau said.

Paolo, the 16th weather disturbance to affect the country, is less likely to directly affect the weather conditions in the next 24 hours but it is expected to bring heavy rains on Friday, threatening Northern Luzon and portions of Central Luzon.

According to the weather bureau, the eye of the storm was spotted 760 km East of Virac, Catanduanes, and is moving westward at 25 km/h.

It is packing maximum sustained winds of 45 km/h near the center and gustiness of up to 55 km/h.

‘Wind Signal No. 1 may be hoisted over the eastern sections of Northern and Central Luzon as early as this afternoon or evening. The highest Wind Signal that will likely be hoisted throughout its passage is Wind Signal No. 3. However, since the possibility of reaching typhoon category before landfall is not ruled out, the worst case scenario is Wind Signal No. 4.,’ the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in its 11 a.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin.

Risk of coastal flooding

‘There is a potential risk of coastal flooding due to storm surge in low-lying coastal areas of Northern and Central Luzon due to the passage of Paolo,’ PAGASA said.

Paolo may also bring moderate to rough seas over the coastal waters of Northern and Central Luzon starting Friday.

Paolo is forecast to move generally west-northwestward for the entire forecast period.

Paolo may make landfall over Isabela or northern Aurora on Friday morning or afternoon.

PAGASA said a further southward shift of the track is possible depending on the strength of the high-pressure area to the north of Paolo.

Paolo will continue to intensify while over the Philippine Sea and may reach severe tropical storm or typhoon category by Friday morning.

THE Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Muntinlupa City has granted the plea of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to withdraw the motion for reconsideration that was filed by its prosecutors in connection with the acquittal of former Senator and now Mamamayang Liberal party-list Representative Leila de Lima in the conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading charges filed against her.

In a two-page order, Muntinlupa RTC Branch 204 Presiding Judge Abraham Alcantara said with the withdrawal of the motion for reconsiderations, the last remaining drug case filed against De Lima by the Duterte administration is now deemed ‘closed and terminated.’

‘Considering that this case already involves an acquittal, the Court shall exercise sound discretion and allow withdrawal of the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration,’ Judge Alcantara said.

‘Indeed, the directive of the Honorable Prosecutor General upon the panel of the prosecutors to withdraw the motion is impressed with merit,’ he added. De Lima was acquitted by the Muntinlupa RTC last May 12, 2023 but this decision was declared null and void by the Court of Appeals (CA) in a ruling issued last May.

The CA held that Alcantara committed grave abuse of discretion when it acquitted De Lima and his former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan mainly due the recantation of the prosecution’s principal witness, former Bureau of Corrections officer-in-charge Rafael Ragos.

It ruled that Alcantara violated the Constitution and the Rules of Court which mandates ‘transparency and reasonableness of the decision making-process.’

The CA said the judge failed to state the specific facts retracted by Ragos and its effects to the facts proven by the prosecution and failed to identify the specific factual statements that were purportedly retracted by the witness.

Thus, the CA ordered that the case be remanded to the trial court for it to decide the case in accordance with the rules stated in the decision.

Acting on the CA’s directive, the trial court issued another ruling last June 27, 2025 which maintained its May 12, 2023 decision in favor of De Lima and Dayan.

This prompted the prosecution panel led by Provincial Prosecutor Ramoncito Bienvenido Ocampo to file an MR seeking the reversal of the trial court’s June 27 decision.

The panel insisted that despite the recantation of Ragos, there are other pieces of evidence which are sufficient to prove de Lima’s guilt.

Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, however, ordered the withdrawal of the motion on the ground of double jeopardy.

Double jeopardy is a legal principle that an accused cannot be tried twice for the same offense based on the same conduct.

Its purpose is to protect the accused from harassment, oppression, and abuse of power by the state.

De Lima earlier accused the DOJ prosecution panel of having a political agenda in pursuing the drug charges despite her acquittal.

Alcantara also stressed that granting the motion for reconsideration of the prosecutors would be tantamount to violation of the double jeopardy rule.

‘To reiterate and emphasize, every acquittal becomes final and immediately upon promulgation and cannot be recalled for correction or amendment,’ Alcantara said.

‘With the acquittal being immediately final, granting the State’s motion for reconsideration in this case would violate the Constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy because it would effectively reopen the prosecution and subject the accused to a second jeopardy despite their acquittal,’ he added.

MILITARY personnel accused of espionage should be tried by a general court martial and not a civilian court, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

Teodoro made the suggestion during a Senate briefing on the planned amendment of the Espionage Act of 1941.

‘I think if it is a military individual having possessed military secrets, it is best tried under a general court martial to prevent further leakage of classified information to unauthorized people,’ Teodoro said.

In 2024, Teodoro first called for the amendment of the espionage law to make the measure applicable during times of peace amid reports of alleged Chinese spies in the country.

‘Ang mahalaga ngayon parusahan natin ang espionage sa panahon ng peace kasi ang espionage law sa Pilipinas ay epektibo lamang during times of war,’ Teodoro earlier said.

This is a call to action, our lawmakers know that they should amend the espionage law soonest so that the government can impose punishment and act to suppress it, Teodoro added.

A new era in Philippines-India connectivity took flight Wednesday as Air India inaugurated its direct New Delhi-Manila service, restoring non-stop air links between the two countries after more than a decade.

Flight AI 2362 departed from Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), carrying Indian tourists, media personalities, business travelers, and India-based Filipino expatriates-many visiting the Philippines for the first time.

The return leg, AI 2361, completes the roundtrip service, which will operate five times weekly, excluding Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The non-stop flight has a duration of approximately six and a half hours-significantly shorter than the usual 9 to 12 hours required for connecting flights via Bangkok, Hong Kong, or other hubs.

The launch ceremony was led by Philippine Ambassador Josel F. Ignacio and Air India Group Head for Governance, Risk Compliance and Corporate Affairs, P. Balaji, joined by senior officials from the Philippine Embassy, IGIA, and other stakeholders.

Ignacio and Balaji lit a ceremonial lamp to mark the occasion.

‘According to a Filipino proverb, ‘the prompt beats the industrious.’ Sincere thanks therefore go to Air India and its leadership, for this big, bold step – less a leap of faith than a show of confidence in the viability of this route.

‘It is an expression as well of Air India’s confidence in the upward trajectory of our larger relations, as expressed in tourism, business, people-to-people contacts, MICE, and other purposes that warrant direct, seamless, and comfortable air connectivity,’ Ambassador Ignacio said.

With the addition of Manila, Air India now operates to eight destinations across seven countries in Southeast Asia, further strengthening its regional footprint. The new route not only boosts direct travel between India and the Philippines but also opens new connections for Filipino travelers to access Air India’s expanding network across Europe and North America via Delhi.

Flights between Delhi and Manila are operated using Airbus A321LR aircraft, featuring a three-class cabin configuration-Business Class, Premium Economy, and Economy Class.

Air India is among the few carriers in Southeast Asia offering fully flat beds in Business Class on single-aisle aircraft.

‘The launch of non-stop flights to Manila unlocks the immense potential for tourism to the Philippines,’ Campbell Wilson, CEO and Managing Director of Air India said. ‘Indian travelers, with their growing appetite for leisure and increasing spending power, are seeking new destinations. These services will showcase the Philippines’ vibrant culture and stunning landscapes, while fostering greater trade and cultural exchange.’

The launch follows recent visa policy reforms that have made travel easier: the Philippines now offers 14-day visa-free entry to Indian tourists, while India grants gratis e-visas to Filipino visitors.

It also builds on the elevation of Philippines-India ties to a Strategic Partnership, formalized during President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s State Visit to India in July 2025.

Flight AI 2362 is expected to arrive at Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport at 10:40pm Manila time Wednesday.

The National Food Authority (NFA) is seeking about P3 billion in additional funds to rent private warehouses and buy more unmilled rice following the damage caused by recent typhoons.

NFA Administrator Larry Lacson said Malacañang is expected to issue an executive order ‘soon’ that will authorize the release of the budget under emergency procurement.

‘We already discussed this with the Department of Agriculture last week.it’s now in Malacañang. I think they’re polishing it.It’s not within the year. It’s the soonest possible time,’ Lacson told reporters on Tuesday.

He said NFA warehouses are already ‘almost full,’ making it difficult to expand procurement without additional government support.

‘Right now, to be honest, we don’t have funds for renting warehouses because the NFA as a [government-owned or -controlled corporation] relies only on rice sales to cover expenses. And our expenses are bigger than the money coming in.’

Lacson said the situation has been compounded by recent storms that left some NFA facilities with minor damage. In Masbate, one warehouse had its doors blown off, while several warehouses in Region 8 reported leaks.

The NFA compound in Occidental Mindoro was also flooded, although no significant stock losses were recorded.

He described these as ‘minor repairs,’ but noted they added pressure to free up storage space for new procurement

To address this, NFA has instructed its field officers to identify private warehouses in every region that can be rented.

In 2024, the agency reported 288 warehouses nationwide, 136 of which underwent repairs earlier this year.

Palay purchases

With the new order, Lacson also said the NFA’s procurement of wet season palay could rise by 8 percent, higher than the 5 percent it usually manages under regular conditions.

He noted, however, that the impact on traders’ prices will be limited-‘probably in some areas’ and only ‘spot by spot.’

Still, he said ‘at least with the additional 3 percent, more farmers will benefit than if there was no intervention.’

The mandate will also allow NFA to purchase storm-damaged palay, which farmers often cannot sell.

Lacson said, however, that the agency would still prefer to buy dry palay since the agency lacks drying facilities.

NFA currently buys dry palay at P23 per kilo and wet palay at P17 per kilo, although prices can change depending on market conditions.

He assured farmers that the agency will not buy palay at single-digit prices.

‘That will not happen. The national government, the NFA in particular, will not do that. Because we would like to really help our farmers that are in distress right now. Their situation is already very difficult. We will not buy at a single-digit price per kilo, definitely not.’

Floor price

Lacson added that there is also a ‘good chance’ the executive order will include the establishment of a floor price for palay, in line with President Marcos’ directive to prevent traders from taking advantage of farmers during harvest season.

The floor price will be set per province to reflect differences in local costs.

‘The DA has already directed its regional field offices to compute the local production cost. Because each province has a different production cost. So that’s the first step-to determine the production cost of every area. And then we can set, from that production cost, what would be the acceptable floor price so our farmers won’t incur losses.’

DE LA SALLE University scrambled past Far Eastern University (FEU), 74-72, to return to the win column of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 88 men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion.

The Tamaraws had a golden opportunity to tie the game when Jorick Bautista found himself wide open for a baseline layup, but the shooting guard misfired with seven seconds left.

De La Salle burned the remaining time to snatch their second win in three games for solo fourth place in the standings and bounce back from their previous loss to UST.

‘Coming off a loss you really want to win,’ Green Archers deputy coach Caloy Garcia said.

‘We had a part in the game where we’re playing really, really well but in the UAAP, you cannot say that you’re going to have an easy win.’

‘FEU came back in the fourth and we just have to figure out our struggles in the fourth quarter,’ he added.

The Green Archers, who also went through the wringer before beating the Adamson University Soaring Falcons in their season opener, now brace for a showdown with the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday.

FEU trailed 51-64 entering the fourth but clawed back to 69-70 with 2:25 left through Mo Konateh, Janrey Pasaol, Bautista and Jedric Daa.

But Mason Amos and Doy Dungo delivered back-to-back baskets to stretch De La Salle’s lead to 74-69 with 1:32 remaining.

Bautista answered with a clutch triple at the 54.4-second mark to trim it to 72-74, only to miss what would have been the game-tying layup in the dying seconds.

‘I stepped up because the team needs everyone to do so,’ said Dungo, who delivered up in the absence of Kean Baclaan (sprained ankle).

Dungo, a former UST Tiger Cub, showed his comfort inside the Quadricentennial Pavilion by scoring 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead De La Salle.

Amos added 14 points, four assists and three rebounds, while Jacob Cortez also tallied 14 points with four assists and three boards.

EJ Gollena chipped in 13 points and eight rebounds, half of them on the offensive glass, while Mike Phillips, despite being limited to six points on 1-of-7 shooting, anchored the Archers with 13 rebounds and nine assists.

The Tamaraws fell to 0-3 joining idle University of the East at the bottom of the standings.

Pasaol paced FEU with 25 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Konateh contributed a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds, Kirby Mongcopa posted 13 points and seven boards and Bautista finished with 10 points.

FEU will try to break into the win column when it faces Adamson University on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

All of the 12 Filipino crew of the Dutch-flagged cargo ship, MV Minervagracht, which was damaged by an unidentified explosive device, are safe, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

In a brief social media post last Wednesday, DMW Secretary Hans J. Cacdac confirmed the status of the Filipino sailors after coordinating with their ship operator, employer, manning agency, and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

‘Two were injured and are undergoing medical treatment,’ he said.

In a separate statement, he said one of the injured sailor has minor injuries and another with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

He clarified that only the 10 crew members, including those with minor injuries, are expected to return home soon.

The DMW, in close coordination with the DFA and the shipowners, are now working for the safe transfer and repatriation of the 10 sailors.

‘So far, the families, of course, want them home,’ Cacdac said.

Last Tuesday, it was reported that the Minervagracht was set on fire after it was attacked with an explosive by suspected Houthi rebels.

The European Union maritime mission Aspides rescued the crew of the Dutch-flagged ship before they were transported to Djibouti.

Aside from Filipinos, the multinational crew of MV Minervagracht, includes Russian, Ukrainian, and Sri Lankan nationals, were moved to secure location after their rescue.

DMW earlier assured it will provide medical aid, repatriation, counseling, and legal aid to the affected Filipino sailors.

It also said it will enhance the protection and welfare of Filipino seafarers on board ships, which are passing through dangerous waters such as the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The agency also imposed stricter measures for shipowners and manning agencies, which have sea vessels with Filipino sailors passing through said area.

This after Houthi rebels attacked the ships Magic Seas and Eternity C, which have Filipino crew members.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved House Resolution 320, formally requesting the Senate’s consent to extend its plenary session until October 13, 2025, to pass the 2026 P6.793-trillion General Appropriations Bill (GAB).

The move seeks to provide lawmakers additional time to deliberate on and approve the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) on third and final reading.

‘The leadership of the House of Representatives, representing both the majority and minority, have agreed to request the consent of the Senate for the extension of its session beyond the date indicated in the adopted Concurrent Resolution on the Legislative Calendar. There is a need to conduct one additional session day on October 13, 2025, to vote on the third and final reading of the General Appropriations Bill,’ the resolution said.

‘Following the expected approval of the GAB on second reading on October 10, 2025, members of the House of Representatives will require the constitutionally mandated period of three days to study and review the final version of the bill prior to nominal voting on the third and final reading, in accordance with the legislative process and to ensure informed and deliberate decision-making,’ it added.

Under Section 26(2) of Article VI of the Constitution, ‘No bill passed by either House shall become a law unless it has passed three readings on separate days and printed copies thereof in its final form had been distributed to its Members three days before its passage, except when the President certifies to the necessity of its immediate enactment.’

Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III explained that the chamber needs more session days to ensure the passage of a ‘clean’ budget before transmitting it to the Senate. He emphasized that budget legislation remains Congress’ top priority despite ongoing controversies surrounding alleged irregular projects and insertions.

Originally, the House planned to conclude plenary deliberations this week, with October 10 earmarked for the period of amendments to House Bill (HB) 4058, or the proposed 2026 GAB.

The extension will allow the chamber to complete its work on agency budgets and finalize the measure before adjournment. The GAB will then be transmitted to the Senate, with a bicameral conference committee later convened to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions.

Under the 1987 Constitution, failure by Congress to pass the budget before year-end would result in the automatic reenactment of the previous year’s appropriations.