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The Philippine National Police (PNP) welcomed the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) approval of the P3.3-billion performance-based bonus (PBB) for qualified police personnel for fiscal year 2023.

In a statement on Thursday, the PNP said its Finance Service is finalizing the guidelines for the payout to ‘ensure a transparent and orderly process.’

‘Acting Chief PNP Police Lieutenant General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. welcomed the development, noting that the release of the PBB reflects the administration’s commitment to reward merit and performance in the public sector,’ the agency said.

The DBM announced the approval of the P3.3-billion bonus on Thursday. More than 225,000 PNP officials and personnel will benefit from the PBB, giving them a bonus equivalent to 45.5 percent of their monthly basic salary as of Dec. 31, 2023, according to the department.

To qualify, PNP personnel in the first, second, and third levels must have achieved at least a ‘very satisfactory’ rating under the Civil Service Commission-approved Strategic Performance Management System or the equivalent rating required by the Career Executive Service Board.

The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), with the help of various government agencies, is now eyeing the forfeiture of at least P5 billion worth of assets contained in 2,800 bank accounts frozen by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC).

The move is part of a whole-of-government initiative aimed at bringing faster ‘restitution’ amid the ongoing probe into anomalous infrastructure projects. ICI executive director Brian Keith Hosaka admitted that criminal charges may take time, given the need for due process.

‘Each agency will be helping each other on how we can recover the assets that are in possession of people who might be responsible for these anomalous flood control projects or infrastructure projects,’ he said in a press briefing on Thursday.

‘You heard what Chairman Andy Reyes said in the morning, that ‘justice will be served or can be served better if there is restitution,’ meaning public funds will be returned,’ he added.

Hosaka shared that at least 16 government agencies had met on Thursday to form a technical working group that will ‘exchange ideas’ on how to quickly recover assets that came from stolen public funds.

READ: AMLC freezes P5B assets from flood control mess – Hosaka

‘How much do we want to recover? We can’t say for now, because it’s a moving target. What I can share with you is a rough estimate, according to AMLC, that the amount of frozen accounts would be roughly around P5 billion, comprising around 2,800 accounts,’ he said. According to Hosaka, the forfeiture will be part of ‘civilian and administrative remedies’ and will be filed separately from any possible criminal charges against corrupt officials.

‘On broad strokes, I was discussing this with the Solicitor General [Darlene Berberabe] and she said that there’s going to be an application before the Court of Appeals. As the forfeiture proceedings or application are being heard . these assets will remain frozen,’ he explained.

‘This is administrative and civil remedies, which in a way is shorter, because as I said earlier, it will not be going through the more thorough process of judicial proceedings,’ he said.

On top of this, Hosaka said the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will be auctioning off 13 luxury cars that it confiscated from the contractor couple, Pacifico ‘Curlee’ and Cezarah ‘Sarah’ Discaya, in the coming weeks. ‘Earlier, Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno shared to us that the 13 luxury cars with them, they found that there were some missing documents, which now gives them the right to auction these off,’ he said.

‘So, in a couple of weeks, according to Commissioner Nepomuceno, they are just going through the process of approvals from the DOF (Department of Finance). so in that case, there will be an immediate recovery,’ Hosaka added.

Aside from these luxury cars, Hosaka said the ICI will also be studying the recovery of other assets, but admitted that ‘definitely, there’s going to be a challenge on that because these people might not have actually put their names in those titles.’

The ICI will also be checking the documents of the luxury cars surrendered by former Department of Public Works and Highways engineer Brice Hernandez before deciding if these can be auctioned off as well, Hosaka said.

Among the agencies present during the meeting on Thursday were the AMLC, BOC, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Commission on Audit, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center and Department of Justice. Also present were the Department of Public Works and Highways, Insurance Commission, Land Registration Authority, Land Transportation Office, Maritime Industry Authority, Office of the Solicitor General, Philippine Competition Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Philippine National Police.

Illegal drugs worth an estimated P88.54 billion were seized or confiscated from July 2022 to September 2025, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on Thursday.

In a statement, the PDEA said it seized 145,023 pieces of ecstasy tablets; 11,837.59 kilograms of shabu (crystal meth); 7,796.59 kilograms of marijuana and 103.51 kilograms of cocaine during the said period. The agency said it arrested 170,535 drug suspects, including 10,631 ‘high-value’ targets.

It also dismantled 1,621 drug dens and five clandestine laboratories in 127,417 operations from July 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2025.

PDEA further said 29,677 of the barangays across the country were ‘drug-cleared’ as of last September.

The Supreme Court has announced the schedule for next year’s Bar Examination.

In Bar Bulletin No. 1 dated October 16, next year’s examination will be on September 6, 9, and 13, covering six core subjects.

On the morning of Sept. 6, Political and Public International Law (15%) and Commercial Law and Taxation (20%) will be offered in the afternoon.

The second day, Sept. 9, will be about Civil Law and Land Titles and Deeds (20%) and Labor Law and Social Legislation (10%), while on the third day, Criminal Law (10%) in the morning and for the afternoon session is Remedial Law, Legal and Judicial Ethics, with Practical Exercises. The examinations will have 20 essay-type questions, with each question numbered separately. Answers shall be graded from zero percent to one hundred percent or five percent per question.

‘The examination questions shall focus on critical thinking skills essential to legal practice and responsive to the modern demands of the legal profession. The questions shall likewise integrate contemporary issues and technology-related matters,’ read the bulletin. As in previous Bar examinations since Bar 2020-21, the 2026 Bar examination will be localized and digitalized, with designated testing centers across the country.

Next year’s Bar Examination Chairperson, Associate Justice Samuel Gaerlan, reminded aspiring lawyers that ‘you are here, not by chance, but by choice, because you believe in the power of your purpose.

‘Let me be clear: success in the Bar Examinations is not handed out. It is forged. It is #SuccessAchievedthroughMerit -earned through hard work, dedication, unshakeable integrity, and a refusal to settle for anything less than excellence. No shortcuts. No substitutes. No free passes. Only merit,’ Gaerlan said.

‘From my end, I give you more than procedures and protocols. I offer you a process that honors your efforts and a level playing field where only your competence and character will determine the outcome. I am and will be with you every step in your journey,’ said Gaerlan who promised an #awesomebar2026.

Two foreigners were arrested in Taguig City for allegedly carrying out medical procedures without a valid professional license, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) said on Thursday.

The suspects, identified only as ‘Zhang’ (female) and ‘Cong’ (male), were arrested at a spa facility in a condominium complex along 1st Avenue last Saturday, according to the CIDG.

‘The arrested suspects were caught while allegedly performing medical treatment, particularly administering facial injection and related medical procedures to clients, without the necessary license, permits or registration from the proper Philippine authorities,’ the CIDG explained’Confiscated from the foreign suspects were assorted vials of injectable substance, cosmetic products, hair removal machine, magnetic therapy machine, and related equipment,’ the CIDG added.

The suspects were taken into the custody of the CIDG Anti-Organized Crime Unit and were charged before the National Prosecution Service for violation of Republic Act No. 2382 or the Medical Act.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa inspected on Thursday a newly-opened super health center in Antipolo City, which was tagged as completed but non-functional by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH said that the super health center in Tanza, Antipolo only began operating on Thursday ahead of Herbosa’s visit.

It added that P11.4 million was allotted for the construction of the two-storey building and an additional P7 million for equipment, as per the request of the city government.

It also noted that the facility was constructed in 2023 and was completed in July 2024. ‘Based on a report to me, this is not functional and was padlocked. But you can see, this is being operational. I’m happy,’ Herbosa told reporters in an interview. Upon inspection, he said that the facility is ‘partially operational’ as the laboratory and x-ray room are not yet functional and would need licensing from the agency first.

But why did the super health center remain non-operational a year after its construction was completed? Dr. Concepcion Lat of the City Health Office explained that the delay was due to the arrival of equipment and lack of manpower.

‘The transfer was being planned for months. We were waiting for the materials we ordered, then the staff,’ Lat said.

Herbosa, who said that he is happy upon inspecting the super health center, said that he does not mind if it just became operational to the public on Thursday.

‘Whether they did it because I was coming to visit or not, it is okay to me, as long as it can be used by the people.’ he said.

Spotting the difference

Meanwhile, Herbosa could not help but to compare the super health center to the one the agency inspected in Marikina City on Wednesday.

When Herbosa visited Concepcion Dos Super Health Center in Marikina, he only saw the first phase of the project. Herbosa on Wednesday said that phase one was supposed to be funded with P11.5 million for a two-storey facility.

He, however, said that plans changed because the local government wanted a four-storey building with a rooftop so the funding for phase one increased to P21.5 million.

‘Ito ang what would give you if you spend P19-20 million as a super health center. Nakita nyo na yung comparison,’ he said, referring to the super health center in Antipolo.

Herbosa noted that a super health center can be completed for with P15 million for construction works, and additional P5 million for medical and other equipment.

Herbosa on Wednesday also revealed that the DOH found 297 ‘non-operational’ super health centers across the country.

The Social Security System (SSS) on Thursday said a Calamity Loan Program (CLP) is now available to members in Davao Oriental who were affected by the two powerful earthquakes that struck the province last week.

Robert Joseph de Claro, president and CEO of SSS, said in a statement on Thursday the CLP is intended to give timely financial support to SSS members living or working in the earthquake-affected areas. This followed the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) declaring all 11 cities and towns in Davao Oriental to be under a state of calamity.

Qualified SSS members can avail of calamity loans of up to P20,000 at a lowered interest rate of 7 percent per year.

Qualifications

To qualify for the calamity loan, members must:

Reside or work in an area declared under State of Calamity;

Have at least 36 monthly contributions, with at least six posted within the last 12 months before filing. Individually paying members must have paid six contributions under their current membership type;

Have an active My.SSS account;

Have no past due loans or outstanding restructured loans;

Have not been granted any final benefit;

Be of legal age and under 65 at the time of application; and

Have not been disqualified due to fraud against the SSS.

‘We further remind our members about SSS’ benefit and loan programs that may be relevant to them during these difficult times,’ de Claro said.

He was referring to the Pension Loan Program (PLP), through which retirement pensioners may borrow up to P300,000 and survivor pensioners can borrow up to P150,000. ‘Thus, there is a loan facility for actively contributing members and for retirement or survivor pensioners,’ de Claro added.

He said the revised Calamity Loan Program guidelines, issued earlier this year, enable faster activation within seven working days. The updated rules lowered the interest rate to 7 percent per year from 10 percent. This applies to members with a good credit record.

The low-pressure area (LPA) inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) has a ‘high chance’ of developing into a cyclone in the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said Thursday evening.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the LPA was last located 1,060 kilometers east of southeastern Luzon at 3 p.m, moving westward to potentially make landfall by Saturday evening.

Once it develops into a storm, it will be named ‘Ramil,’ Pagasa said; however, as of 5 p.m., the LPA has no effect in the country. Instead, the easterlies and the northeasterly windflow are bringing rains in Luzon and Visayas.

Pagasa warned of ‘cloudy skies with scattered rains’ due to the easterlies in the following areas:

Mainland Cagayan

Isabela

Aurora

Nueva Vizcaya

Nueva Ecija

Metro Manila

Quezon

Rizal

Bicol Region

Oriental Mindoro

Marinduque

Romblon

Aklan

Capiz

Eastern Visayas.

Meanwhile, the northeasterly windflow was forecast to bring isolated rains in the northwestern section of Luzon, particularly in Ilocos Norte, Babuyan Islands, and Batanes.

The rest of the country will observe ‘generally fair weather,’ Pagasa added. /mr

A staggering P500 million-worth of insertion in the intelligence fund of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for 2025 was made by a person who also ‘requested 3,000 containers of fish,’ according to Interior and Local Government chief Jonvic Remulla.

Remulla made the revelation at a Senate subpanel on finance’s Thursday hearing on the proposed 2026 funding of the DILG and its attached agencies.

‘We returned it because it was an insertion in the budget and the insertion came from the person who requested 3,000 containers of fish,’ said Remulla. While Remulla did not particularly identify the person behind the P500-million-worth insertion, it can be noted that Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. earlier revealed that former Representative Zaldy Co tried to force him to issue a permit to import fish worth 3,000 containers for three companies-including one named ZC Victory Fishing Corporation.

His explanation came after he was asked by panel on finance chairperson Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian why the PNP had a P1.3 million intelligence fund in 2025 and only 800 million in 2026. Remulla explained that the ‘additional P500 million’ was an insertion they did not use in 2025. He said they only followed the National Expenditure Program-the so-called President’s budget.

According to Remulla, they returned the budget because they found no use for it.

‘We did not ask for it, so we returned it,’ said Remulla.

In a press briefing in Malacañang in January, Remulla disclosed that various PNP IT projects incurred significant budget cuts in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. Remulla said that while there were significant budget cuts, he noted that nearly P1 billion was allocated for the purchase of all-terrain amphibious vehicles for the Bicol Region while P500 million was added to the PNP’s intelligence fund.

The University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) and the Department of Education Schools Division Office of Manila (DepEd SDO Manila) partnered to improve mental health literacy in schools in 2026, in celebration of the National Mental Health Month.

The partnership signed on Wednesday will tackle the increase of mental health issues reported among students in high school by promoting mental health literacy.

‘One of the implementation activities of the partnership is the research project on the development of learning materials for improving mental health literacy. The project is set to be implemented in 2026,’ UPM said in a statement on Thursday.

The use of mental health-related educational modules and videos will be pilot-tested in Manila, six years after its initial conceptualization in 2019, the statement read. According to SDO Manila District Supervisor Arlen Gatpo, secondary students not only experience anxiety and depression, but also bullying.

The Philippines was previously dubbed the ‘bullying capital of the world’ following the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which found that 65% of Grade 10 students are bullied a few times a month. A study on the improvement of mental health literacy will also be used as a basis for a ‘potential broader implementation of the training initiative,’ Department of Environment and Occupational Health Professor Dr. Crystal Amiel Estrada said as quoted in the statement.

‘The modules do not teach about the diagnosis of mental disorders, but to help learners recognize early warning signs and enable them to seek help early if needed,’ Estrada continued.

Similarly, UPM Chancellor Michael Tee echoed the importance of involving parents and teachers in regards to mental health discussions.

‘In addressing mental health challenges within our schools, it is essential to actively involve the parents and teachers’ associations. The best practices we will develop through this partnership with DepEd shall serve as a model we can replicate in the entire country,’ Tee said. The Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act was signed in 2024, with its Implementing Rules and Regulations released in March 2025.