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Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said he continues to support the leadership of Senate President Vicente Sotto III.

Asked whether the leadership of Sotto remains stable after former and incumbent lawmakers were implicated in an ongoing investigation of public works corruption, Lacson said: ‘I don’t know, that’s what’s in my colleagues’ minds.’

‘But if you will ask me, I’ve already experienced his being a Senate president for the longest time, in the past Congress. His system of management is good; he has good leadership. He always goes for consensus, he doesn’t dictate and and he doesn’t decide alone. So if you ask me, I’ll continue to support him,’ he said. ‘Now, if in the views of my colleagues, he is also lacking in leadership.that’s how it goes in the Senate, whoever has the majority, whoever has at least 13. whoever is sitting can be replaced by whoever has at least 13 (votes),’ Lacson added.

Lacson’s statement came following Sen. JV Ejercito’s recent remark that he, along with four other senators, planned to leave the majority bloc after several former and incumbent senators were dragged into the investigation of anomalous flood control projects by the Senate blue ribbon committee.

Sen. Sherwin ‘Win’ Gatchalian, however, said on Saturday that he believes Sotto’s leadership is ‘very stable.’

Tuesday Vargas expressed her dismay after she was accused of allegedly ignoring requests for photos during a Hong Kong trip, reiterating that the claim was ‘made up’ to make her look bad.

Vargas took to her Facebook page on Saturday, Oct. 4, to voice out her concerns about an unnamed netizen who accused her of being a ‘total b****’ on Reddit, after the actress-comedian allegedly ignored photo requests at Hong Kong Disneyland.

‘Bakit po may mga ganitong tao sa mundo? Lahat po ng nag ask nicely sa akin ay pinagbigyan ko po magpa picture. Nakaka lungkot po na may ganitong mapag gawa ng kwento (Why do these kinds of people exist? I entertain photo requests from people who ask me nicely. It makes me sad to see that people would make up such stories),’ she said, claiming that the netizen made up stories about her.

Vargas also clarified that if ever she passed up someone’s photo request, it might have been due to factors beyond her control. ‘Kung nalampasan ko po kayo, napaka daming tao at napaka init po noong araw na yon.’

‘Wala akong maalala na nang irap ako at nag taray sa kahit sinong MAAYOS akong nilapitan at nagpa picture,’ she continued. ‘Please lang po, huwag naman po tayong ganyan. Nakaka sakit po kayo ng damdamin.’

(If I passed you by, there were a lot of people, and it was very hot at the time. I don’t remember rolling my eyes at someone and becoming mean to them, no matter how many times people would approach me for photos. Please don’t be like this. It hurts my feelings.)

In separate posts, Vargas shared screenshots of comments from netizens defending her, saying the ordeal has been ‘overwhelming.’ She also hoped to find the person behind the false claims that were made against her.

‘Kung maayos na nag sabi, lumalapit nang naka ngiti at hindi demanding o entitled, bakit naman hindi pag bibigyan magpa picture? Sana alam ko kung sino ka na naninira sa akin para pwede tayong mag harap at nang masabi ko sa iyo na kahit kelan ay hindi ako madamot sa oras ko at sa mga taga hanga ko. Kung talagang matapang ka ay sana sinabi mo sa akin doon mismo ang saloobin mo at di ka naka tago sa Reddit,’ she said.

(If you say things nicely, approach me while smiling without being demanding or entitled, why should I not entertain your photo requests? I wish I knew who you were so I could tell you face to face that I don’t deprive people of my time. If you’re brave enough to make these claims, tell it to me face to face and don’t hide behind your Reddit profile.

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck off Bogo City in Cebu on Sunday morning, according to the state seismology bureau.

In its earthquake bulletin, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said that the epicenter of the earthquake was located 14 kilometers east of Bogo City in Cebu.

The Phivolcs added that the earthquake was tectonic in origin and had a depth of 10 kilometers. It also said that Reported Intensity II was recorded in Daanbantayan, Cebu while Instrumental Intensity I was measured in Villaba, Leyte, Abuyog, and Carigara in Leyte. The agency also noted that the earthquake was an aftershock of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the city last September 30. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on Sunday reported 71 deaths from the strong quake.

Meanwhile, the agency said that no damage to property and aftershocks were expected from the magnitude 4.4 earthquake.

Despite public clamor to immediately jail all personalities involved in the flood control mess, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said he does not want a rushed and haphazard investigation, as that may backfire on his administration’s anti-corruption campaign.

For the President, mere accusations and testimonies, even in congressional hearings, would not hold up in court in the absence of proof.

‘We know many of these people are not innocent. But if you’re going to bring them to court, you must have a very strong case,’ Marcos said in an interview with Philip Cu-Unjieng of the Manila Bulletin and his childhood friend as part of his BBM Podcast.

A teaser of the latest episode of the podcast was released by the Presidential Communications Office on Sunday.

‘Look, what would happen if we rushed the investigation? We would have incomplete and unclear evidence. But we still pursued the filing of cases. The result: We lost the cases. Can you imagine that right now?’ the President said.

‘I think that would be much, much, much worse,’ he added.

The President created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to investigate all the anomalous government infrastructure works, most especially flood control projects, in the past 10 years. The results of its inquiry would be used to recommend the filing of charges against all those involved.

Almost a month after the fact-finding body’s three members were appointed, the ICI has conducted numerous closed-door hearings and summoned different government officials and contractors involved in the flood control mess.

However, it has only publicized one interim report, which urged the Office of the Ombudsman to recommend the filing of graft charges against 18 individuals, including resigned lawmaker Elizaldy ‘Zaldy’ Co, over the substandard flood control project in Oriental Mindoro worth P289.5 million. The public, including lawmakers, also urged the ICI to open its hearings to the public for the sake of more transparency and accountability. The ICI, however, was hesitant to accept the proposal, stressing it wanted to ‘avoid trial by publicity and will not allow itself to be used for any political leverage or agenda by any individual or group.’ In a previous episode of his podcast, the President said he was committed to going after the ‘big fish’ behind the corruption-tainted flood control projects once the ICI investigation concludes.

For him, the rotten system could be fixed only by jailing the contractors and government officials involved in numerous irregularities surrounding publicly funded infrastructure projects over the years.

Adamson escaped Far Eastern University, 57-56, to earn its first win in the UAAP Season 88 women’s basketball tournament Sunday at Mall of Asia Arena.

After losses to UP and Ateneo, the Lady Falcons leaned on Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 standouts Elaine Etang and Cheska Apag to give new coach Jed Colonia his maiden victory.

‘Lahat ng games namin boiled down to the dying seconds. It’s a great feeling,’ said Colonia. ‘We’ve been giving ourselves chances to win, and it’s the effort and heart in the last few possessions that decide the game.’

Adamson nearly lost a 14-point lead before Apag hit a free throw and Etang buried a clutch triple for a 57-51 edge. FEU answered with free throws and a three-pointer by Victoria Pasilang to cut it to one, but Apag’s steal sealed the win.

Apag finished with 18 points, six steals, five rebounds and two assists. Etang added 12 points, six boards and four assists.

Adamson improved to 1-2, tying FEU for fifth place. The Lady Falcons face defending champion National University next on October 8, still at MOA Arena.

Amyah Espanol and Pasilang had 15 points apiece for FEU, which plays UP on Oct. 12 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion.

June Mar Fajardo captured a record-extending ninth Most Valuable Player award which he received in Sunday’s PBA Leo Awards at Novotel Manila in Cubao, Quezon City.

The San Miguel Beer star garnered 3,041 points compiled through statistics and votes from the media and players to beat out NLEX’s Robert Bolick and former NorthPort gunner Arvin Tolentino for the league’s most prestigious honor. June Mar Fajardo receives his record-extending ninth PBA Most Valuable Player during the Leo Awards @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/kRlwKKaVkr Bolick was second in the race with 1,914 points followed by Tolentino with 1,901.

Fajardo, Bolick and Tolentino also secured membership to the Mythical First Team alongside San Miguel’s CJ Perez and TNT’s Calvin Oftana.

Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson and Japeth Aguilar, Magnolia’s Zavier Lucero, Converge’s Justin Arana and TNT’s RR Pogoy. June Mar Fajardo and Ramon Fernandez pose for photos after the PBA Leo Awards at Novotel Manila @INQUIRERSports pic.twitter.com/tyF7M5gHVS

– Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) October 5, 2025

Fajardo was also included in the All-Defensive Team with Lucero, Ginebra’s Stephen Holt, NorthPort’s Joshua Munzon and TNT’s Glenn Khobuntin.

Other winners were Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos as the Rookie of the Year, Munzon as the Most Improved Player and Rain or Shine’s Gian Mamuyac, who won the Sportsmanship Award.

Fajardo has more than doubled the MVP awards each won by Alvin Patrimonio and Ramon Fernandez, who was on hand to witness the event.

In the twilight of the 19th century, José Rizal penned ‘Noli Me Tangere’ and ‘El Filibusterismo,’ novels that exposed the moral decay and institutional corruption of the Spanish colonial rule.

His words were razor-sharp, dissecting the cancer that infected Philippine society-greed, abuse of power and the betrayal of the Filipino spirit.

His death in 1896 became the spark that ignited a revolution, not just against Spain, but against the idea that Filipinos were powerless. More than a century later, Rizal’s diagnosis remains tragically relevant. The cancer he described has not been cured but has metastasized. Today, the Philippines faces a new reckoning, not against foreign colonizers, but against itself.

In the movie ‘Heneral Luna’ (2015) Gen. Antonio Luna tells the Cabinet, ‘Brothers, we have an enemy bigger than Americans: ourselves.’

This is an acknowledgment of the fact that Filipinos are, indeed, fighting themselves amid this floodgate scandal.

The floodgate scandal: Anatomy of a betrayal

The floodgate scandal is not merely a case of corruption; it is a revelation of systemic state capture. Billions of pesos allocated for flood control projects were siphoned off through ghost infrastructure, substandard construction and collusion among contractors, government officials and lawmakers.

Whistleblowers like engineers Brice Ericson Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza have testified that up to 70 percent of the flood control budget vanished, amounting to over P1 trillion in losses over 15 years.

This is not just theft; it is betrayal. Communities in Bulacan, Metro Manila and Central Luzon remain vulnerable to floods, while the funds meant to protect them were funneled into luxury cars, shell companies and political war chests.

The scandal has triggered the ‘Trillion-peso March,’ with over 50,000 Filipinos marching in Metro Manila, demanding transparency, accountability and governance.

President Marcos Jr. has created an Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI), but skepticism remains. Will this be another Agrava commission? Another PCGG (Philippine Commission for Good Government)? Symbolic but toothless?

Economic fallout: A nation bleeding

The economic implications are staggering.

Direct losses: The Department of Finance estimates P42.3 billion to P118.5 billion in economic losses from 2023 to 2025 alone, equivalent to 95,000 to 266,000 lost jobs.

Investor confidence: Foreign investors are pulling back. South Korea backed out of a $503-million loan, and ESG (environment, social and governance)-aligned capital is fleeing due to governance risks.

Currency depreciation: The Philippine peso has weakened past 58 to the dollar, reflecting political instability and capital flight.

Interest rates: While the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) recently cut rates to 5 percent, the scandal may force a reversal if inflation spikes due to lost infrastructure and weakened investor sentiment.

Stock market decline: The Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) has dropped below the 6,000 psychological support level, with a 4-percent decline in less than a month.

The scandal has created a toxic mix of political risk, fiscal uncertainty and social unrest. It threatens the Philippines’ investment-grade rating and undermines its medium-term fiscal framework.

Forex and interest rates: Fragile stability

The peso’s depreciation is not just a technical issue; it reflects a deeper erosion of trust. Traders cite political unrest and the fear of contagion arising from US tariff uncertainty as reasons for the sell-off.

Risks toward the 60:$1 levels are highly probable in the coming months. If the BSP is forced to raise rates to defend the currency, it could choke off growth and worsen unemployment. Meanwhile, the government’s debt servicing costs are rising. With 16 percent of national revenues dedicated to interest payments, any increase in rates could derail fiscal consolidation efforts.

What is worrisome is that the trend of interest rates since 2020 has been on the rise. With upside risks to inflation medium-term bias for interest rates remains tilted to the upside.

Stock market sentiment: A crisis of confidence

The PSEi’s decline is not just about numbers-it’s about sentiment. Investors are pricing in risk, not waiting for verdicts.

The scandal has triggered persistent selling pressure, with foreign outflows and tepid trading volumes.

Property stocks have been hit hardest, reflecting fears that infrastructure spending by the government will stall. Mining and oil have shown resilience, but the broader market remains bearish.

We are in a holding pattern. Growth is slowing; confidence is shaky, and corruption is clouding the outlook.

The fundamentals are there-but we’re not firing on all cylinders.

The steep discount to our peers reflects doubt. If no real reforms are implemented that would provide transparency, accountability and governance, growth downgrades will continue.

The index could deteriorate further towards the 5,500 levels.

The current technical patterns are already pointing to a downtrend. Clearly, the charts paint that pattern precedes politics. Will the Philippines recover?

Recovery is probable-but not guaranteed.

The creation of the ICI is a step forward, but its success depends on transparency, accountability, prosecutorial power and political will. The swift filing of charges by Secretary Vince Dizon is encouraging, but systemic reform is needed to restore public trust.

The Philippines must:

Purge the corrupt networks: Dismantle collusion between lawmakers and contractors, enforce conflict-of-interest laws and prosecute not just scapegoats but kingpins.

Rebuild public trust through whistleblower protection, citizen oversight platforms and independent audits.

Restore fiscal discipline: Redirect funds to genuine climate resilient infrastructure, social programs, climate resilience and adhere to good governance.

Signal to investors that the Philippines is serious about reform, through credible governance and ESG compliance.

The revolution within

Rizal once wrote, ‘There are no tyrants where there are no slaves.’

Today, the tyrants are not foreign; they are Filipinos. And the slaves are not bound by chains, but by apathy.

The revolution that follows the floodgate scandal will not be fought with guns, but with truth, transparency, accountability, good governance and civic courage.

It will be Filipinos against Filipinos-but not in violence-in a battle for the soul of the nation.

If the Philippines can rise from this scandal, it will not just recover; it will transform the nation. But if it fails, Rizal’s cancer will continue to spread, and the dream of a just, prosperous and resilient republic will remain just that but a dream. -CONTRIBUTED

A church in Bantayan, Cebu is celebrating Mass outdoors after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that hit the province last Tuesday heavily damaged a portion of the church.

In an advisory, the Parroquia de San Pedro Apostol Bantayan said this was due to the declaration of building safety experts that ‘it is not yet safe to enter the inside of the church.’

‘The schedule of our Masses will remain the same as usual. We kindly ask that, if possible, you bring your own chairs or benches and umbrellas for your comfort and protection from the sun or rain,’ the church said. The church also shared that a team of experts, composed of engineers, architects, and preservation personnel from the International Council on Monuments and Sites and University of San Carlos Conservation and Heritage Research Institute for Society and its History, have assessed the condition of the church building.

‘Their visit is a vital step in determining the extent of the damage caused by the recent earthquake and in guiding us toward the proper restoration measures. With their expertise, we hope to preserve not only the structural integrity of the church but also the heritage and faith it represents for our community,’ it added.

With this, the church reminded the public to refrain from going near the church, crossing the yellow tape, and collecting debris from the damaged portion of the building. The church said the debris ‘will be preserved and used for future restoration.’ The church also said that a team from the National Historic Commission of the Philippines and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts will conduct their evaluation of the church building on Sunday.

As of Saturday, 8 p.m., the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the strong earthquake generated 5,540 aftershocks, with magnitude ranging from 1.0 to 5.1. Of these, 24 were felt while 1,083 were plotted.

In its latest report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said that the 71 deaths, along with 559 injuries are up for validation. Meanwhile, no individuals were reported missing.

The Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on Sunday issued a cease and desist order to a business process outsourcing (BPO) company in Cebu for lacking disaster response plans during natural calamities.

According to Dole, the BPO had ‘no emergency and disaster preparedness and response plan in its occupational safety and health (OSH) program.’

The government agency also urged the said company to utilize flexible working arrangements. On October 2, representatives of the BPO Industry Employees Network (BIEN) filed a complaint against 30 BPO companies for allegedly violating labor and occupational safety laws during the earthquake that hit Cebu on September 30.

According to BIEN-Cebu, employees were reported to have been forced back to their offices after the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that left over 70 individuals dead and over 100 injured.

BIEN also reported that emergency exits in some Cebu offices were reportedly blocked. Additionally, some employees reported being offered double pay to continue working after the earthquake, while others were ordered to resume work right after the earthquake, with some alleging they were asked to return to work 30 minutes after the disaster hit.

Reports of verbal threats and downplaying of workers’ concerns were also made, and some employees who went home after the earthquake were marked as unpaid, lost attendance bonuses, and were suspended from work.

Furthermore, some employees were purportedly coerced into signing memos promising not to speak about the situation on social media.

BIEN-Cebu, in their complaint, asked Dole to investigate the allegations and hold the respective employers accountable for violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Standards law.

Sean Chambers has seen this happen before.

His Far Eastern University squad would fight its way to the end, and the Tamaraws would eventually wind up with close defeats. In the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, it’s happening again.

‘I say this humbly and respectfully. We felt we let one get away against Ateneo. We felt we had a moment against [National U] and for sure, we had our moments against La Salle,’ the FEU coach said That was the Tamaraws’ first win this season and Chambers is definitely pleased.

‘[When] you finally get over [the hump], you guys know how it is, you’ll feel so much better about yourselves,’ the legendary PBA import said.

But he can’t be blamed for counting how differently his team’s record should be, not with how two of FEU’s three losses could have easily been overturned by a field goal or two.

Before FEU’s first win of the season at the expense of the Soaring Falcons, the Tamaraws lost a squeaker at the hands of La Salle, 74-72. In their season-opener against Ateneo, the Tamaraws lost by just three points, 86-83, in a game where the team held a six-point lead entering the final two minutes.

Only National U dealt FEU an 84-68 beatdown from NU seemed definitive.

Chambers and company, though, made sure they wouldn’t say ‘if only’ this time around.

Janrey Pasaol headlined FEU’s first win of the season with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

‘I only got this kind of confidence from him (Chambers) with my whole career,’ Pasaol said, crediting Chambers for another one of his all-around performances.

‘I already repaid his trust in practice, so it’s good that I got to do it in the game this time,’ he added.

Mo Konateh dominated in the paint for FEU with a monster double-double of 18 points and 21 rebounds.