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The Department of Education (DepEd) has launched nationwide field visits to participating public and private schools to strengthen local support networks and sustain long-term academic gains, according to a statement it issued on Wednesday.

DepEd wants to build on the Philippines’ historic performance in the 2025 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

Last Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led a national recognition ceremony f to honor the efforts of educators, students, families, local government units (LGUs), and multi-sectoral partners responsible for that achievement.

On Wednesday night, DepEd staged PISA 2025: A Night of Excellence and Shared Achievement at Novotel Manila, Araneta City, Quezon City, during which Angara recognized school heads, teachers, and education leaders from 20 participating Metro Manila schools.

The event also gathered local chief executives, division superintendents, and private stakeholders.

In the 2025 PISA cycle, the Philippines emerged as the world’s fastest-improving nation in reading performance while recording significant score increases across all three domains of reading, science, and mathematics compared to 2022.

‘PISA does not only measure where a country stands across different domains; it reminds us of what we can achieve when everyone takes part in moving education forward and helping every Filipino learner reach their dreams,’ Angara said.

He stressed that sustaining this progress requires a deep, long-term commitment.

‘Under the leadership of President Bongbong Marcos Jr., we will continue building on this momentum. But sustaining progress will require more than one program, one administration, or one assessment cycle. It will require all of us,’ he said.

To achieve that goal, DepEd has started conducting field dialogues and monitoring visits across regions.

In the Soccsksargen Region, local dialogues among school heads, assessment coordinators, teachers, and parents highlighted strong community involvement and heightened digital testing readiness.

International assessments like PISA, DepEd said, can provide crucial insights for refining classroom instruction, and collective support ensures that students can have the environment needed to demonstrate their full potential.

‘The support of parents is valuable in strengthening the confidence of their children during testing,’ said Victor Emmanuel R. Baliao, a parent from Alabel National Science High School in Sarangani.

Leilann Gerlie T. Marzo, International Large-Scale Assessment (ILSA) Coordinator at Matutum View Academy in South Cotabato, noted a marked shift in student confidence during computer-based testing.

‘These learners are no longer the shy students who used to shy away from computers. In just a few days, we saw a remarkable change – they became more comfortable, more confident, and even started coming to the review room ahead of the PISA-trained teacher,’ she said.

In the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), participating schools, including Baguio City National Science High School, and Cordillera Regional Science High School, hosted stakeholder appreciation programs to honor the educators, parents, and community partners whose collaboration drove assessment readiness.

In Eastern Visayas (Region VIII), regional monitoring teams and division leaders conducted a series of school-level monitoring sessions to ensure data-driven literacy programs and support structures are firmly established.

The visits showcased how global assessment insights are being directly translated into localized learning strategies.

A total of 8,702 students from 208 public and private schools nationwide represented the Philippines in the 2025 PISA cycle.

DepEd is leveraging these field visits to anchor academic gains into permanent systems through core learning recovery initiatives, including the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program.

The legacy of the Balangiga Encounter, one of the most significant episodes of the Philippine-American War, continues to shape the identity of Eastern Samar and offers lessons on unity, courage, resilience and service, Cabinet Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. said on Monday.

Speaking during the 125th anniversary commemoration of the historic encounter in Balangiga, Eastern Samar that day, Abalos said the town’s famous bells should continue to serve as a reminder of the strength that communities can draw from standing together for a common purpose.

‘The bells of Balangiga remind us of a call to resistance. Today, the lesson of this shrine is our unity. Not for war, but for unity, courage, preparedness and service,’ Abalos said.

Determination

Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent ‘RV’ Evardone, meanwhile, urged Estehanons, particularly young people, to understand how the province’s history helped shape the character, values and resilience of its people.

The Balangiga Encounter took place on Sept. 28, 1901, during the Philippine-American War, when Filipino fighters and residents of Balangiga attacked American troops stationed in the town.

The attack resulted in the deaths of dozens of American soldiers and triggered a punitive campaign by American forces in Samar, making the encounter one of the most consequential and painful episodes of the war in the region.

At the center of that history are the Balangiga bells, which were taken from the town by American forces following the encounter and brought to the United States.

Their removal became a long-standing issue between the Philippines and the United States, with Filipino officials, local leaders and communities repeatedly calling for their return.

After more than a century in the United States, the bells were finally returned to the Philippines in December 2018 following years of efforts by Philippine officials, historians, local communities, religious leaders and other advocates.

Their return was widely regarded as an important moment in Philippine-American relations.

The event was also attended by House Minority Floor Leader Marcelino Libanan, other provincial officials and Balangiga municipal officials led by Mayor Dana Flynch De Lira.

Japan Tobacco International (JTI) has supported the Department of Finance’s (DOF) proposed unified tax rate on e-cigarette products, saying the measure could curb misdeclaration and plug tax leaks from illicit trade.

Shaiful Mahpar, director for corporate affairs and communications at JTI Philippines, said the proposal would close a loophole in what he described as ‘technical smuggling,’ where traders misdeclare products to take advantage of lower tax rates.

‘The new proposal to increase the tax rate for e-cigarettes in the Philippines is a timely thing. The position of JTI Philippines is that we support this unification of the tax rate, because it is to prevent smuggling and also to allow the government to gain its fair share of revenues,’ Mahpar told visiting journalists.

Currently, e-liquids are subject to different tax rates depending on whether they contain salt nicotine or freebase nicotine. The DOF is proposing a unified excise tax of P72.93 per 2 milliliters or 2 grams on e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, plus a P150 excise tax per device.

The proposal will generate an additional P8.26 billion in annual revenues if implemented.

‘The reality of it is that there is no way at ports for you to distinguish between what’s freebase and what’s salt-liquid by sight. You need to go to a lab to know that,’ Mahpar said.

‘They have been misdeclaring salt-liquid to be freebase liquids because the tax rate for salt-liquid versus freebase is eight to ten times less. Basically, you’re paying very little tax for something that is highly taxed. There’s a lot of technical smuggling happening,’ he added.

Meanwhile, JTI’s position comes as illegal cigarettes and vapes continue to account for a significant share of the Philippine market. Latest data showed that one in every four cigarettes sold in the country is illegal, equivalent to a 26.4 percent illicit incidence, above the Southeast Asian average of 16 percent.

Illicit vapes, meanwhile, accounted for 86.7 percent of the market, or nearly nine in every 10 products sold. This is equivalent to a P141-billion revenue loss from illicit trade in 2024 and 2025.

On enforcement, Valentin Dinca, regional director for JTI Anti-Illicit Trade Operations, said efforts should cover the entire supply chain, including small-scale retailers involved in domestic distribution.

‘This movement at the regional level is very well organized. And it arrives at a certain point where it has to do with rather domestic distribution channels,’ Dinca said.

One of the country’s leading premium automotive brands is bracing for the anticipated impact of a House bill that seeks to raise taxes on luxury cars to as much as 75 percent in a bid for a ‘more equitable distribution of wealth.’

Specifically, House Bill No. 11465 proposes a 50-percent ad valorem tax on cars priced above P4 million up to P8 million, while vehicles priced above P8 million would be taxed at 75 percent.

The bill, filed by Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, could generate P3.91 billion in additional annual revenue for the government and is meant to impose higher taxes on Filipino consumers who have ‘greater disposable income.’

‘The proposed measure aims to achieve greater tax progressivity and promote a more equitable distribution of wealth since luxury and high-value goods are generally purchased by consumers with greater disposable income and capacity to pay,’ said Quimbo, who chairs the House Committee on Ways and Means.

‘This measure would enable the government to tap revenue sources that are readily identifiable and administratively accessible, while ensuring that goods and assets used for essential, livelihood, public transportation or productive sources are not unduly burdened,’ he added.

Should the bill come to fruition, Mercedes-Benz Philippines anticipates an across-the-board rise in premium car prices.

‘Higher taxes would translate to higher prices and, of course, revenue to the government. And once that’s decided, it impacts all of the premium brands. So, again, it levels the playing field,’ Mercedes-Benz Philippines business unit head Jun Cajayon said in a television interview with Bilyonaryo.

HB 11465 seeks to amend Sections 149 and 150 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Under the proposal, only cars priced at P4 million and below will retain their existing tax rates.

Apart from luxury cars, the proposed measure also seeks to raise the excise on nonessential goods to 25 percent from 20 percent and expand the classification to include yachts, jet skis, speedboats, sailboats, motorboats, aircraft, planes, jets and helicopters acquired for pleasure, private use or sport.

A former Ohio music pastor who once appeared on ‘American Idol’ was convicted of murder Tuesday in the killing of his wife while he was having an affair.

Prosecutors said Caleb Flynn, 40, staged a home invasion in February after shooting his wife, Ashley Flynn, a 37-year-old schoolteacher and volleyball coach.

Flynn, who claimed his wife was killed by a burglar, could get up to life in prison without the chance of parole when he’s sentenced on Monday.

Flynn closed his eyes, shook his head to the side and fought to maintain his composure as the judge read the guilty verdicts on charges of murder, felonious assault and tampering with evidence. He began sobbing while the judge dismissed the jury. His attorney called the verdicts ‘disappointing’ and said he expects to file an appeal.

Flynn appeared on ‘American Idol’ in 2013, telling TV viewers about how his wife had encouraged him to chase his dreams on the singing competition. He sang before judges Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj but did not advance to the main competition in Hollywood.

Prosecutors told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday that Flynn wanted out of his marriage when he shot his wife at their home in Tipp City, a suburb north of Dayton. Flynn and the couple’s two daughters were home when police arrived.

The night before the fatal shooting, he sent a text to his lover saying: ‘I choose you. I’m free. Actions will come tomorrow,’ said Matthew Joseph, an assistant Miami County prosecutor.

Flynn didn’t want to lose his daughters, his high-paying job at his wife’s family business or his position in the church, prosecutors said.

‘He wanted to keep his mistress and have his daughters all to himself,’ Joseph said.

Prosecutors didn’t find the gun used to kill Ashley Flynn, but they said his fingerprints and DNA were all over the scene. They also said his devices showed that he was moving about the house even though he told investigators he was sleeping when his wife was shot.

During the trial, the woman who said she was having an affair with Flynn testified that he said he hated his wife and had thoughts of killing her.

Flynn’s attorney told the jury Tuesday that investigators never found evidence that Flynn fired a gun that day.

‘His being unfaithful doesn’t equal murder,’ said Patrick Mulligan. ‘The issue here isn’t, ‘Was he a good husband?”

Text messages Flynn sent to his lover complaining about his wife were meant to make her feel good, Mulligan said.

Alleigha Botner testified she met Flynn in 2022 while she was a 20-year-old intern at his church and had an affair with him for more than a year. Botner read some of her text messages with Flynn.

The National Food Authority’s recent announcement that P4 billion can purchase 173,913 metric tons of palay at P23 per kilogram for wet palay bought directly from threshers, or P27 per kilogram for clean and dry palay, highlights a disconnect between government pronouncements and conditions in the agricultural sector.

While the announced buying price of P27 to P30 per kilogram suggests stronger support for farmers, the procurement volume represents only 1.7% of the expected 10 million metric tons of wet-season harvest.

At that scale, the intervention is unlikely to stabilize farmgate prices or significantly affect retail rice prices. Most farmers also lack dryers, trucks and storage facilities needed to meet the NFA’s clean-and-dry requirement, leaving many dependent on traders who buy palay at lower prices.

Palay prices in Tarlac are currently at about P17 per kilogram for fresh palay, below the stated breakeven level of P18 to P20 per kilogram.

Harvesting has only begun, and as volumes peak from mid-October through November, the increase in supply could push farmgate prices even lower.

Meanwhile, retail rice prices remain at P58 to P60 per kilogram, widening the gap between farmers’ earnings and consumers’ expenses.

The divergence illustrates the limitations of the NFA’s procurement program in bridging the farm-to-market chain, leaving both producers and consumers exposed to market pressures.

Policy failures and structural weaknesses

The NFA’s limited procurement capacity reflects broader problems in the rice sector.

Policy measures such as the Rice Tariffication Law have allowed import surges that, according to the report, pushed farmgate prices down to P10 to P12 per kilogram in previous seasons, well below production costs.

The expected benefit of cheaper imported rice has also not been fully reflected in consumer prices, with retail prices remaining high while farmers continue to face lower incomes.

The Inquirer analysis cited in the report states that the decline in rice output is not merely cyclical but is linked to policy, market and climate-related problems.

RELATED STORY: PH rice imports seen at 5.7M MT in 2027-USDA

Market conditions further compound the problem.

Small farmers who lack postharvest facilities are often forced to sell wet palay at lower prices to traders. The NFA’s requirement for clean and dry palay also limits the ability of many farmers to sell directly to the agency, reinforcing their dependence on middlemen.

This arrangement leaves many farmers unable to directly access government procurement support.

Climate resilience has also weakened.

Irrigation systems have come under pressure from El Niño, while land conversion continues to reduce productive agricultural areas.

The Inquirer analysis notes that rice accounts for 45% to 70% of Filipino calorie intake, making declining production and greater import dependence significant concerns for affordability and food security.

Questions over procurement capacity and government messaging

The gap between the NFA’s announced buying prices and its available procurement funds raises questions about the agency’s capacity to intervene meaningfully in the market.

The P4 billion allocation is far below the P130 billion procurement requirement cited in the report as necessary for meaningful price stabilization.

Announcing higher buying prices without sufficient logistical and fiscal capacity may create expectations among farmers that the government can purchase large volumes of palay at P27 to P30 per kilogram.

In practice, however, only a fraction of the harvest can be procured under the available budget.

The report argues that this gap may weaken farmer confidence and contribute to decisions to reduce rice cultivation because of unprofitable returns.

The way the program is communicated is also important.

Emphasizing buying prices without clearly explaining the volume that can actually be purchased may give an incomplete picture of the program’s reach.

Such messaging does not address structural pressures in the rice market, including climate-related yield declines, rising input costs and trader dominance.

Impact on farmers and consumers

For farmers, the immediate concern is continued pressure on incomes.

At P17 per kilogram for fresh palay, many are already selling below the stated breakeven level.

As the harvest peaks, additional supply could drive prices lower, increasing indebtedness and discouraging future planting.

Without expanded procurement, farmers are likely to remain dependent on traders, affecting the long-term viability of rice production.

For consumers, persistently high retail rice prices despite low farmgate prices point to inefficiencies in the value chain.

The difference between P17-per-kilogram palay and rice selling for as much as P60 per kilogram reflects the widening gap between producer and retail prices.

The NFA’s limited procurement capacity has little effect on retail prices, leaving households exposed to food inflation.

Policy options for reform

The report identifies several policy measures that could strengthen government intervention in the rice sector.

Scale up procurement funding. Increase the NFA’s budget to cover at least 20% of seasonal harvests to allow more significant market intervention.

Invest in postharvest infrastructure. Provide dryers, trucks and storage facilities so small farmers can meet procurement requirements and sell directly to the NFA.

Recalibrate import policy. Balance rice imports with domestic production requirements to support farmgate prices and domestic food production.

Protect rice lands and irrigation. Limit land conversion and rehabilitate irrigation systems to improve climate resilience.

Diversify calorie sources. Promote root crops, corn and vegetables to reduce dependence on rice and provide a buffer against climate-related disruptions.

Improve transparency in public communication. Align public announcements with actual fiscal and procurement capacity so farmers have a clearer understanding of the scale of government intervention.

Closing the gap between policy and implementation

The NFA’s announcement of P27 to P30 per kilogram buying prices, backed by a P4 billion procurement budget, highlights the gap between announced support prices and the actual scale of government intervention.

Taken together with the analysis cited in the report, policy decisions, import surges, trader dominance and climate-related pressures have combined to weaken the country’s rice sector.

Unless procurement capacity is expanded, postharvest infrastructure is improved and farmer confidence is restored, the impact of the P27-per-kilogram procurement program will remain limited.

The current situation in Tarlac, where fresh palay sells for about P17 per kilogram while retail rice remains at P58 to P60 per kilogram, illustrates the widening gap between producers and consumers.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday emphasized the need to strengthen preparation and development in teachers’ careers, as some educators remain assigned outside their specialized subjects and training sometimes does not reflect classroom realities.

In his speech at the 2026 Teachers Awards at the Manila Hotel in Manila, Marcos said his administration would address gaps in teachers’ preparation and professional development to foster secure learning environments in schools.

‘We want our teachers to have better preparation even before they enter the classroom, to have meaningful opportunities to continue learning throughout their careers,’ the president said.

He also noted that his administration supports the career development of Filipino teachers through its Teacher Education Roadmap 2035 and the Teacher Education Centers for Excellence.

These programs, together with the newly launched My Teacher Education Commons Portal, enable educators to upskill throughout their careers.

‘The most important part of our education system is the teachers,’ he said, underscoring that the education system will succeed if teachers receive proper support.

Marcos also assured the public that the government would reinforce school safety and student support by making schools more secure and better suited to learners’ needs.

‘Because teachers do more than just teach lessons. For many of our children, they become second parents in school, helping create environments where learners feel safe, supported, and cared for,’ he added.

Your smartphone already knows where you are, what time your next meeting starts, and which apps you use. Alibaba now wants it to do something with all that information.

The company is betting on that idea with Qwen Intelligence, a platform designed to help smartphone makers build AI agents directly into their devices. Instead of asking an AI a question and waiting for an answer, users could give it a task and let it handle the steps.

Ask the phone to arrange a business trip to Shanghai, for example, and it could book a flight, find a hotel, update your calendar, and build an itinerary. If the flight is canceled, it could adjust the plan and look for alternatives.

From answering to acting

Alibaba introduced Qwen Intelligence at the Apsara Conference in Hangzhou as a full-stack system covering mobile-optimized foundation models and specialized agents.

The Mobile Planner Agent breaks complicated requests into tasks, chooses the tools it needs, and adjusts when circumstances change. The Mobile-Use Agent carries out those tasks across apps, using APIs where available and graphical interfaces when necessary. The Mobile Creative Agent handles image generation and editing.

Alibaba is also developing personalized memory, proactive assistance, multimodal interaction, and other specialized agents.

Alibaba has built MobilePA-Bench to test that capability, covering more than 1,000 real-world mobile tasks and more than 200 tools. Other evaluations focus on long-running, cross-app tasks and interactions with real devices.

HONOR gets there first

HONOR is Qwen Intelligence’s first smartphone partner, with the two companies working together on AI models and solutions for next-generation devices. HONOR’s Magic9 Series and HONOR Robot Phone are the first announced devices incorporating the platform.

Alibaba and HONOR are also positioning Qwen Intelligence and MagicOS as the foundation for an ‘agentic OS,’ where AI operates across the phone instead of being confined to a single assistant or app.

Alibaba says HONOR’s AI smartphones can reach 91.8% task accuracy and handle workflows involving more than 100 steps. Those are company-reported results from its evaluation system, rather than a guarantee of what every device will accomplish.

There is also a practical question around how much access users will want to give an AI that can actually operate their phones. Qwen Intelligence includes security and privacy measures, but an agent that can navigate apps, access information, remember preferences, and carry out tasks necessarily has more access to your digital life than a chatbot that simply answers questions.

That may be the real change Alibaba is proposing. The smartphone is no longer just the place where you ask AI for help. It becomes the device that can use your apps and information to get the job done.

Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte faced sustained prosecution questioning on Tuesday over 19 city government contracts worth P33.2 million awarded to GenCorp Industries Inc., a company his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, declared as a business interest in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Baste was declared a hostile witness as the impeachment court scrutinized his knowledge of GenCorp, his responsibility as Davao City’s head of the procuring entity, and his business ties to businessman Jaime Tan Cruz.

Separately, the court ruled that Sara could not be compelled to authenticate subpoenaed bank and financial records because of her constitutional right against self-incrimination.

Under questioning by prosecution counsel Theodore ‘Ted’ Te, Baste said he did not know GenCorp before it was discussed in the impeachment trial, despite the company securing multiple city contracts during his tenure.

‘When it has been raised in this court, but before that, no,’ Baste said when asked if he was familiar with GenCorp.

Te pressed him on whether he knew Sara had declared GenCorp twice in her 2024 and 2025 SALNs.

‘No,’ Baste answered.

On cross-examination, he said he had no personal knowledge of his sister’s stockholdings, investments, or beneficial ownership.

‘We simply do not discuss this. I didn’t ask. It’s her privacy,’ he said.

‘It’s not my responsibility to know [them],’ he added.

‘I would not allow it’

Presiding Officer Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero intervened and asked whether Baste would have allowed GenCorp to transact with Davao City had he known Sara owned shares in the company.

‘Now, if she was the stockholder of GenCorp and you knew about it, you would not allow any contract in Davao, right?’ Escudero asked.

‘I would not allow it,’ Baste replied.

Te then asked whether Baste would likewise reject a contract involving a company in which the mayor himself had an interest.

‘As head of the procuring entity, if you yourself mayor has a conflict of interest, of course you would not allow the award, right, sir?’ Te asked.

‘Yes sir, yes sir,’ Baste answered.

Baste nevertheless maintained that he was unaware of Sara’s interest and that the city’s transactions with GenCorp were ‘above board.’

He clarified that there were 19 contracts worth about P33.2 million, not the P14.3 million previously cited. Thirteen had been completed, and six were ongoing.

Baste admitted he did not personally examine GenCorp’s corporate records before the awards.

‘So you did not personally examine the corporate records?’ Te asked.

‘Most of the submissions for procurement, I cannot look at all of these,’ Baste replied.

The contracts were signed by Assistant City Administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo, whom Baste authorized to represent him.

‘I named him as my representative,’ Baste said.

Asked if he was aware of all contracts signed by Domingo, Baste said, ‘Not all,’ but added, ‘If it comes to my table, yes, I would be aware of it.’

He maintained that delegating signing authority did not remove his accountability as mayor and head of the procuring entity.

Why so many contracts?

Senator-Judge Sherwin Gatchalian pressed Baste on GenCorp’s repeated contracts with Davao City from 2022 to 2026, including instances when it was the sole bidder.

‘Didn’t you ask Atty. Domingo why GenCorp had so many consecutive contracts with the LGU from 2022 all the way to 2026?’ Gatchalian asked.

Baste said Domingo told him GenCorp was qualified and had complied with requirements. But he admitted he did not review the abstracts of quotation to determine who participated in the procurement.

Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo raised a possible issue involving GenCorp’s five-year operational track record.

The company’s General Information Sheet (GIS) showed it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2020 to operate a restaurant and food service business.

‘So, if it was modified in 2024, GenCorp should have been disqualified from receiving contracts under the five-year rule. Therefore, are you not aware that there was an irregularity in accepting contracts with GenCorp?’ Tulfo asked.

Baste said the local Bids and Awards Committee could have modified procurement guidelines and that he would verify whether the changes were valid.

Earlier, Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System division chief Rendell Sopeña testified that only four of 15 Davao City food-service contracts awarded to GenCorp went through public bidding; the rest used ‘negotiated small-value procurement.’

Ties with Jaime T. Cruz

The questioning also established Baste’s business ties with Cruz, whose name has surfaced repeatedly in the impeachment proceedings.

‘Do you know Jaime T. Cruz?’ Te asked in Filipino.

‘Yes,’ Baste answered.

‘You know him because he is your business partner, isn’t it?’

Baste again answered affirmatively.

Asked about Chinese Gen Bee Food Corp., he said: ‘I cannot remember, but yes, yeah, yeah.’

Te presented the company’s GIS, where Baste confirmed that his name, Paolo Duterte’s, and Cruz’s appeared as shareholders.

During an intervention by Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros, Baste described Cruz as a friend of his father and ‘a known businessman in Davao.’

He later told Gatchalian that although he had business dealings with Cruz, he had not discussed GenCorp with him.

During his turn for interjection, Senator-Judge Erwin Tulfo urged Baste to investigate Davao officials involved in the GenCorp contracts.

‘Perhaps when you return to Davao, you should summon your chief of staff… because their lack of knowledge or failure to investigate properly could get you into trouble. It might be best to have the matter investigated,’ Tulfo suggested.

Baste replied: ‘As long as my sister’s name, the Vice President’s name, was not on the contract, then there’s nothing.’

Baste put in a bind

During a post-trial briefing, House prosecution spokesperson Zia Alonto Adiong said Baste’s claim that he was unaware of Sara’s GenCorp interest could put the mayor in a difficult position.

‘Even assuming – without conceding, for instance – that Mayor Baste was unaware that his sister, the vice president, was one of the shareholders of GenCorp, it speaks volumes, eh,’ Adiong said.

He added: ‘It speaks about her character now, because if we’re following the logic in the explanation, testimony of Mayor Baste Duterte, she’s even willing to put her brother in so much trouble as long as they manage to win contracts in Davao City.’

Adiong said that if Sara declared GenCorp in her SALN but did not inform Baste of the interest while the company dealt with Davao City, the issue could involve her obligations as a public official.

‘Because if she really declared it in her SALN-and your question is valid-was she remiss, at least in her obligation, not just as a public official, but as a sibling? After all, knowing that your sibling would be put in a precarious position, why would you do that?’ he said.

For his part, House prosecutor Joel Chua said Baste’s relationship with Cruz raised a separate conflict of interest issue because GenCorp is linked to the JTC Group of Companies headed by Cruz.

‘First of all, it has already been established that Jaime Cruz was his business partner, so why didn’t he stop him from participating in the bidding in Davao, given that it was clear he was his business partner?’ Chua said in Filipino.

‘So, even if the vice president isn’t there, there is already a conflict of interest involving him,’ he added.

Forced authentication

In a separate ruling, the impeachment court held that Sara could not be compelled to authenticate subpoenaed bank and financial records.

The prosecution had argued that her admission of their existence and authenticity would speed up the trial. Escudero said such efforts must yield to constitutional protections.

‘Any such measure to expedite the proceedings must always yield to the protection of the substantial rights of the respondents under the Constitution,’ Escudero said.

‘The Bill of Rights applies throughout the impeachment process.’

He said the civil procedure rule on requests for admission could not override Article III, Section 17 of the Constitution protecting the right against self-incrimination.

‘Being part of the Bill of Rights, the right against self-incrimination remains protected even under the impeachment process, as held in Duterte v. House of Representatives,’ Escudero said.

As National Teachers’ Month comes to a close with the celebration of National Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5, an analyst said ‘we must recognize that educators teaching our children’s first lessons are arguably doing the most economically consequential work of all.’

Dr. Alicor Panao, a data scientist for the Inquirer, pointed this out as he shared data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showing that each education establishment employed an average of 35 workers and paid an average annual compensation of P316,184 for every paid employee.

While he clarified that the data does not pertain to teacher salaries by school level and covers paid employees across the broader education industry, figures in the 2024 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry showed substantial differences across education segments.

Preschool establishments recorded an average annual compensation of P172,631 per paid employee, while primary education establishments posted P187,872. The figure rose to P277,061 for secondary education and P382,105 for higher education, more than twice that of primary education establishments.