Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

From being a ‘typhoon’, Paolo has weakened and is now under the category of ‘severe tropical storm’ while traversing Mountain Province, according to the state weather bureau.

In its latest update released around 3:45 p.m., the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said that as of 2 p.m., Paolo was last located in the vicinity of Tadian, Mountain Province.

It is packing a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center and gusts of 165 km/h.

The severe tropical storm is moving west-northwestward at 35 km/h.

Pagasa advised the public to monitor its 5 p.m. bulletin for further details on severe tropical storm Paolo, including the updated tropical cyclone wind signal and the forecast track of the cyclone.

Taylor Swift has officially entered her showgirl era on Friday, Oct. 3 as she released her 12-track album ‘The Life of a Showgirl.’

‘I can’t tell you how proud I am to share this with you, an album that just feels so right. A forever thank you goes out to my mentors and friends Max and Shellback for helping me paint this self portrait,’ the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter said via her Instagram page, referring to her collaborators.

‘If you thought the big show was wild, perhaps you should come and take a look behind the curtain. The Life of a Showgirl is out now,’ she added.

The album includes the earlier announced titles ‘The Fate of Ophelia,’ ‘Elizabeth Taylor,’ ‘Opalite,’ ‘Father Figure,’ ‘Eldest Daughter,’ ‘Ruin The Friendship,’ ‘Actually Romantic,’ ‘ Wi$h Li$t,’ ‘Wood,’ ‘CANCELLED!’, ‘Honey’ and the title track ‘The Life of a Show Girl,’ which features American pop star Sabrina Carpenter.

‘I care about this record more than I can even overstate,’ Swift said, describing the release as full of ‘bangers.’

Prior to its release, the album became the most pre-saved album on audio streaming platform Spotify. It surpassed five million pre-saves on their platform and dethroned the previous title holder, Swift’s 2024 album ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’

Allein Maliksi is determined to stay healthy and remain a key piece for Meralco after injuries sidelined him for all but two games last season.

Maliksi had more time playing the role of cheerleader than being on the hardcourt after undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs in his knee before being bothered by a back injury.

But Maliksi has shown signs of being a key contributor for the Bolts going into the 50th season with his performances in tune-up games, particularly against Converge and Rain or Shine.

‘I’m just trying to be efficient in terms of my movement while keeping myself fresh during the games, especially with my age,’ said Maliksi, who recently turned 38.

His absence was a big setback for Maliksi after a season in which he played an important role in Meralco’s breakthrough championship in the 2024 Philippine Cup.

With Maliksi out, the Bolts couldn’t get past the quarterfinals in all three conferences of Season 49.

‘I thought the momentum we had from that run would put us in a position to have another shot at the championship,’ Maliksi said. ‘But then I had surgery, and then during rehab I got another injury that prevented me from making a full recovery.

‘But I’m happy to be back to help the team. Like I said, I hope I can be efficient so that I can contribute this conference.’

The Bolts are not only focused on the Philippine Cup but are also set to compete in the East Asia Super League, reinforced by PBA Best Imports Justin Brownlee and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, third import Israel Romero, and naturalized big man Ange Kouame.

Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte wants to disbar the justice secretary and other high-ranking officials for their role in the arrest and turnover of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in March.

In a complaint filed on Thursday, the younger Duterte, through his lawyer Israelito Torreon, sought the disbarment of Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Prosecutor General Richard Fadullon, and Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Felix Ty.

Torreon declined to discuss the details of the case, citing the confidentiality provision of the Rules of Court. He only said that the complaint was related to the ‘kidnapping’ and ‘expulsion’ of the former president to The Hague, where he is facing charges of crimes against humanity over his bloody war on drugs before the ICC.

Torre explained that Mayor Duterte’s complaint pertained to a ‘different subject matter’ compared to the criminal and administrative cases the latter filed last month before the Office of the Ombudsman against Remulla and the other government officials, including some police officers.

Lawyers only

‘This case for disbarment is concentrated only against lawyers because, as you know, we also have Canons of Professional Responsibility that we have to comply with and observe,’ he said.

When asked if the disbarment case was meant to block Remulla’s application to become the next Ombudsman, Torreon repeatedly said: ‘Hopefully,’ before adding, ‘I do not have any qualms on the matter nor would I hide that that is one of [the reasons why] Mayor Duterte filed this case.’

But when asked to further clarify his answer, Torreon took back his initial statement, saying they aimed to make Remulla ‘principally . liable for the violations that he committed under the code of professional responsibility.’

‘And on the side, if that would cause the blocking of his appointment, then that is one of the consequences of his actions,’ he added.

Speaking to reporters at the Department of Justice, Remulla brushed aside the latest filing from the Duterte camp, again dismissing it as forum shopping.

‘That’s already expected . They can’t hide their displeasure with what we’ve done or what we have sought to do for the ends of justice,’ he said.

Those applying to become the next Ombudsman should have no pending cases before the agency. Remulla, however, said he has already been issued a clearance from the Office of the Ombudsman, making him qualified for the post.

Following the impact of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck off Cebu on September 30, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has called on government agencies and the private sector to ensure that assistance for members of vulnerable sectors is ‘well-considered, culturally sensitive, and timely.’

The CHR issued the statement on Friday amid the government’s distribution of aid to affected communities in the province.

‘The Commission calls on government agencies and the private sector involved in humanitarian efforts on the ground to ensure that responses for persons with disabilities, the sick, children and youth, the elderly, and the socio-economically disadvantaged are well-considered, culturally sensitive, and timely,’ it said.

‘Let us allow the human rights lens to guide our disaster relief for vulnerable groups in particular, so that we, as a society, can truly claim that we are keepers of even the less privileged,’ it added.

The CHR likewise pointed out the insufficiency of early warning systems and preparedness for vulnerable groups during disasters, noting that they are often ‘left behind to fend for themselves.’

The Commission emphasized that the United Nations Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement (UNGPID) ‘provide that persons displaced by natural disasters have the right to protection, assistance, and durable solutions that respect their dignity and human rights.’

It also noted that the UNGPID ‘assigns the State the primary duty to provide assistance during displacement and to ensure support through the stages of return, resettlement, and reintegration, in shared responsibility with other humanitarian actors.’

Moreover, the Commission extended its condolences to the families of those who died in the earthquake in Cebu and nearby provinces.

‘As we stand in solidarity with government agencies and civil society organizations in their gargantuan efforts of rescue and relief, we particularly support all relief and rehabilitation for vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, the sick, children and youth, the elderly, and the socio-economically disadvantaged,’ it said.

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) on Thursday reported that it has already handed out millions worth of evacuation kits and relief goods to families impacted by Typhoon ‘Opong’ in Masbate, and the devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake in Cebu. 6

Covering daily deliveries through C130 flights, and the Philippine Coast Guard vessel ‘Gabriela Silang,’ a larger wave of assistance is set to follow by land with a PCSO caravan scheduled to leave Manila Sunday morning on October 5, delivering further aid to both regions.

The caravan will transport substantial quantities of relief supplies to the affected provinces.

Among the resources being dispatched are 11 patient transport vehicles (PTVs) for Cebu, alongside five dump trucks from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) dedicated to carrying essential relief items.

To ensure a steady supply of aid, the convoy will also include at least five wing vans and one bus filled with crucial necessities for the families in need.

Masbate is currently under a state of calamity as it grapples with the aftermath of the typhoon, which has displaced thousands, destroyed homes, and severely impacted agricultural lands.

In Cebu, the magnitude 6.9 earthquake has left over 20,000 individuals displaced, with Bogo City, Medellin, and San Remigio among the most severely affected areas.

Thousands of residents remain in evacuation centers or have been forced to sleep outdoors due to ongoing aftershocks, highlighting the urgent need for immediate assistance.

‘We can not turn away from the suffering of our fellow Filipinos in Masbate and Cebu,’ stated PCSO General Manager Melquiades Robles.

‘Our duty is clear: to respond and continue helping until aid reaches every corner of these communities.’

He added that they are committed to supporting those affected by these calamities.

‘Through these efforts, we uphold our principle of ‘Hindi Umuurong sa Pagtulong.’

The Philippine government awarded more than ?5.72 trillion in contracts from 2000 to 2021 across its top 10 procurement categories. An overwhelming ?4 trillion – or 81 percent – went to construction projects, yet floods continue to cripple communities nationwide.

This is according to an analysis of PhilGEPS procurement data by Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao, INQUIRER Metrics data scientist and associate professor at the University of the Philippines.

‘Trillions have already sunk into concrete, yet the waters keep rising,’ Panao wrote. ‘[D]espite this torrent of spending, floods continue to paralyze communities, exposing how concrete often serves politics as much as public need.’

Construction dwarfs other spending

The data shows how construction has dominated government spending, dwarfing other vital sectors. Construction projects accounted for ?4.65 trillion, while an additional ?96.4 billion went to construction materials – together making up the vast bulk of procurement across two decades.

By comparison, Information Technology (?152.2 billion) ranked third in procurement, a figure that Panao noted ‘sits unusually high,’ reflecting both modernization efforts and ‘suspicions of overpriced, fragmented systems.’

Spending on health fell far behind. Drugs and medicines (?132.4 billion) and medical supplies and laboratory instruments (?74.2 billion) combined barely reached four percent of construction’s total.

The numbers, Panao explained, stress how ‘health spending, though vital, has struggled to compete with the politics of infrastructure,’ Panao said.

Other procurement categories included services (?125.3 billion), vehicles (?113.1 billion), lease and rental of property or building (?89.9 billion), and food stuff (?84.2 billion) – underscoring the heavy bias for physical infrastructure.

A recurring flood of spending

Despite the torrent of funds, floods remain one of the country’s most persistent and destructive disasters. The International Disaster Database earlier reported that storms and floods accounted for nearly two-thirds of all Philippine calamities from 2000 to 2024.

Panao warned that infrastructure-driven policies risk being ‘rich in contracts, poor in integrity’ if accountability and transparency are not strengthened.

The release of the PhilGEPS data comes as the Commission on Audit (COA) has filed a series of fraud audit reports on flood-control projects. Just in September, COA flagged multiple projects in Bulacan and Bicol as either nonexistent, duplicated, or built on mismatched sites – raising concerns over how billions in flood infrastructure are spent.

At the same time, public anger has mounted over revelations that just 15 contractors cornered more than ?100 billion worth of flood-control funds since 2022. Protesters have linked this concentration of spending to the ‘ghost projects’ scandal, which continues to fuel calls for accountability.

According to Panao, the figures show that even with trillions of pesos poured into construction projects, flooding has continued to affect communities nationwide. His analysis noted that this pattern reflects the limits of infrastructure spending when it comes to addressing recurring climate-related risks.

The Sandiganbayan has rejected for lack of merit the plea of Senator Jinggoy Estrada to dismiss the graft charges filed against him over his alleged misuse of P200 million in pork barrel funds in 2014.

The resolution means that his graft trial will push through even though the court had already acquitted him and convicted businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles for plunder over the same case, an argument he raised before the court.

In a 22-page resolution dated Oct. 1, the antigraft court’s Special Fifth Division said there was ‘no cogent reason’ to reverse its Mar. 26 resolution that denied Estrada’s demurrer to evidence because the senator was arguing for cases that differed substantially.

Estrada, in his motion for reconsideration cited by the Sandiganbayan, had argued that there should not be any prosecution for graft since he was already prosecuted for plunder based on the ‘same set of facts and the same set of transactions.’

His motion also took note of the ‘similarity’ between the two sets of indictments wherein the prosecution in both cases ‘presented essentially the same set of exhibits and the same set of witness testimonies to prove the same theory, albeit to prosecute separate sets of crimes.’

But the court rejected his argument, saying there was nothing in the Rules of Court or the laws that required the court to dismiss a separate graft case ‘on account of the charge being a predicate act in a prior case for plunder.’

Double jeopardy

‘The only reason to sustain such an argument would be if the same places the accused in double jeopardy, which is not the case herein, as shall be discussed by the court later,’ read the resolution signed by Associate Justice Zaldy Trespeses, the division chair; and Associate Justices Maryann Corpus-Mañalac and Maria Theresa Mendoza-Arcega.

The case stemmed from the claim of socialite Ruby Tuason, former social secretary to Estrada’s father, former President Joseph Estrada, that she personally delivered cash to the senator from Napoles, who has had numerous convictions for masterminding the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam.

Senator Estrada is accused of receiving millions of pesos in kickbacks from Napoles, who connived with some lawmakers and government officials to divert billions of pesos of PDAF funds to nonexistent or flawed livelihood projects supposedly carried out by her nongovernment organizations.

The court also rejected Estrada’s argument that the prosecution failed to prove the element of scienter, or the intent or knowledge to commit wrongdoing, because he did not know of Napoles’s criminal scheme.

The Sandiganbayan noted that Tuason had testified that she informed him of Napoles’ scheme as early as 2004 and that she personally ‘delivered amounts to him on various occasions’ at the Senate and his residence.

September marked the last month for boat rides in Burnham Lake, the century-old centerpiece of the city’s premier public park, before the local government closed it on Wednesday to begin long-delayed upgrades put on hold for five years by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The closure has disappointed local families who spend weekends on the lake and left boat concessionaires unable to operate until summer next year.

Still, lawyer Rhenan Diwas, chief of the City Environment and Parks Management office, said the shutdown meant that the long-awaited redevelopment of the city was finally moving forward.

At a briefing on Wednesday, Diwas reiterated that Burnham Park was overdue for a makeover.

Boat docks began to be dismantled as early as Sept. 21, and on Sept. 30, a tilapia and carp fishing competition played out while concessionaires packed up.

Colonial roots

Designed in 1903 by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham for the American colonial government, Burnham Park was envisioned as the ‘lungs’ of the mountain city. Baguio, like the hill stations of British India, was developed as a cool refuge from the tropical heat.

As one of the country’s top tourist draws, Baguio was paired with Boracay in 2013 for a Malacañang-led redevelopment program. While Boracay closed for six months in 2018 for a massive overhaul of its drainage and waste systems, Baguio’s plans languished.

In 2019, a modern perspective of Burnham Park was drafted by architects Mylen Yaranon and the late Joseph Alabanza, along with the University of the Cordilleras, as part of a P480-million rehabilitation program under the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza).

But when the pandemic struck in 2020, funds were diverted to COVID-19 response, and Tieza-dependent on travel fees-was forced to rebuild its finances.

First phase

This year, the city was informed that the Burnham project was back on track. Tieza earmarked P100 million for the first phase, which covers new retaining walls, four 12-meter boat decks to serve nine concessionaires, lakeside benches and a new fountain.

Diwas said the plan also took into account the lake’s role as a natural spring,

Three more phases, each with P100 million in funding, will modernize the children’s playground, rose garden and skating rink. City officials are also weighing whether to remove two elephant statues that became fixtures of the children’s playground in the 1970s.

‘They don’t belong there,’ Diwas said, stressing that they have ‘sentimental and not historical value.’

Meanwhile, the Melvin Jones football ground is being lined up for a public-private partnership to elevate the playing field and install rainwater harvesting and underground parking facilities.

Council petition

Landscaping is ongoing at the Ibaloy garden beside the Orchidarium, funded by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, while other sections of the park like the Athletic Bowl have been upgraded through joint efforts of the city and national agencies.

Not everyone welcomed the closure. Four of the nine boat operators petitioned the city council on Monday to reschedule the project, citing losses during the peak tourism season.

‘September to February is the most crucial period for tourism-related businesses, which affects not just our livelihood but the city’s economy as a whole,’ said concessionaires Vevian Celso Vincoy, Anthony Agustin Balana, Germain Saroltimango and Osorio Celso.

They added: ‘This seasonal influx of tourists provides the income needed to sustain our families and provide for our financial obligations.’

But Diwas said delays would disrupt the timetable for the rest of the park’s modernization. He assured that concessionaires and their 119 workers would receive cash assistance during the shutdown.

Beyond Burnham Park, Tieza had supported Baguio’s bid for a $46-million (P2-billion) Asian Development Bank loan to rehabilitate the city’s wastewater system and a Japanese-built sewage treatment plant.

But that loan was later removed from the government’s priority list due to delays and is now ‘on 2026 standby (awaiting) further confirmation,’ said Jose Dado, Cordillera assistant regional director of the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development.

Aiko Melendez confirmed that she and Zambales 1st District Rep. Jay Khonghun have ended their relationship after almost eight years together.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page on Friday, Oct. 3, Melendez said the decision was reached ‘after four months of reflection and careful consideration.’

‘Congressman Jay Khonghun and I, Councilor Aiko Melendez, have mutually decided to part ways and go our separate directions. This decision was not made lightly but comes from a place of respect and understanding of what is best for both of us at this time,’ she wrote.

Melendez, who serves as Quezon City 5th district councilor, clarified that no third party was involved in the breakup.

‘We want to make it clear that no third party was involved in this decision. We remain grateful for the memories we shared and for the support many of you have shown throughout our journey together,’ she said.

The actress, stressing that their priority is to focus on their public service roles, noted that the separation was mutual.

‘He in his continued public service, and I in mine, always guided by the values of respect, kindness, and dedication to the people we serve,’ she continued.

‘We ask for your understanding and privacy as we go through this transition. Thank you for your support and prayers,’ Melendez concluded.

The couple first went public with their relationship in 2018. Melendez had previously described Khonghun as her ‘answered prayer.’

Melendez was previously married to actor Jomari Yllana in 2000, but they separated after a year. They have a son named Andrei. Their marriage was annulled in 2005.

The same year, Melendez married Martin Jickain, with whom she has a daughter named Marthena.