HREE more lawmakers have expressed belief that former president Duterte, his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte and Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, and others could be held liable for allegedly coddling and obstructing the arrest of then fugitive pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
1Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, House Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre, and House Assistant Majority
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Leader Paolo Ortega V said the triumvirate were allegedly instrumental in hiding the evangelist-leader of the
Kingdom of Jesus Christ for several months from authorities.
“The way that we see it, if indeed it is true
that they have prior knowledge on his whereabouts, and then they intentionally hid him, there will be criminal liabilities for that,” Gutierrez, a member of the Bar, told newsmen specifically mentioning harboring a fugitive and obstruction of justice.
“Whether or not they are liable, we leave it to the Department of Justice to properly seek if there is indeed probable cause, and the proper cases would be filed,” he explained further.
TWO lawmakers on Sunday told Sen. Joel Villanueva to respect inter-parliamentary boundaries and not interfere in matters that are solely within the discretion of the House of Representatives, such as the chamber slashing by almost P1.3 billion the 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President (OVP).
Deputy Majority Leader Jude Acidre and Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon both issued statements censuring Villanueva for publicly attacking the decision of the House Committee on Appropriations to reduce to P733 million the budget of Vice President Sara Duterte for failure to address lawmakers’ concerns.
Acidre underscored the need for maintaining proper focus during the ongoing budget debates, saying Villanueva should just “concentrate on fortifying his arguments on the Senate floor, where the real discussions on the national budget will take place.”
“Rather than casting aspersions on the House for fulfilling its sworn duty, Sen. Villanueva should just allow us to craft the budget on our own terms and in the way we see fit. Darating din naman ito sa Senado so pwedeng doon niya ipahayag ang kanyang mga saloobin,” Acidre said.
“Kasi pag ngayon siya magsasalita laban sa desisyon ng House, baka maparatangan pa siya na ‘di niya kayang depensahan ang kanyang posisyon sa mga kapwa niya senador. Pangit po tingnan and we ask our dear senator to refrain from making statements to the media,” Acidre added.
Acidre noted that budget deliberations are central to the responsibilities of both chambers of Congress, stressing that the House has always exercised diligence in scrutinizing every aspect of the budget.
“It’s ironic that Sen. Villanueva criticizes the House for its handling of the OVP budget while failing to acknowledge that the Senate is also reviewing the same budget, including sensitive items,” Acidre added.
Villanueva recently criticized the House of Representatives for cutting the OVP’s-
THE failure of the Department of Education (DepEd) to utilize P2.08 billion or more than one-half of its 2023 Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) funds amounts to criminal negligence as it exposes young Filipino learners and public school personnel at risk, House Assistant Majority Leaders Paolo Ortega and Jay Khonghun said Sunday.
Under the agency’s 2023 budget during the administration of Vice President Sara Duterte, Congress allocated P2.14 billion for Disaster Preparedness and Response Program (DPRP) and P2 billion for Quick Response Fund (QRF) or a total of P4.14 billion.
The said amount was in addition to P2.24 billion DRRM Funds still unused from prior years at the beginning of 2023.
Despite the availability of these huge amounts, Ortega and Khonghun said the DepEd failed to ensure that proper facilities and equipment are in place in government schools to mitigate the impact of disasters and reduce risks to the health and lives of students, teachers and school support staff.
“In Mindanao, there are hundreds of learners in public elementary schools who had no choice but to attend classes in school buildings that were already weakened and rendered unsafe by a recent Magnitude 6 earthquake. Millions in taxpayers money was already spent on Temporary Learning Spaces (TLS) but these were not put to good use,” Ortega said.
The COA report said in Region 11, under the Schools Division Office (SDO) of the Island Garden City of Samal, cracks were found in classrooms and school buildings that were still being used. The report identified the Libertad, Guilon and Cogon elementary schools.
In San Jose National High School still in the same SDO, the TLS could not be used
because the electricity was not transferred so that despite the present hazard, students went back to using the old building.
“The students cannot use the newly-built TLS because the equipment being used for their classes were not moved. Teachers were understandably worried the televisions, projectors and other equipment would be lost. These are basic stuff that should have been anticipated and properly addressed,” said Khonghun.
The DepEd Department Order No. 024, series of 2021, states that TLS were built to minimize interruptions of classes in the event of disasters or emergencies while providing safe learning facilities.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has earned the trust and confidence of local officials for his untiring efforts to extend financial assistance and other government services to Filipinos affected by calamities.
In a speech, Navotas City Rep. Tobias Tiangco said the fisherfolk and residents of the city who were affected by the oil spill in Bataan and Typhoon Carina are thankful to President Marcos for personally looking into their condition.
“Dahil sa kaniyang [President Marcos] personal na ‘pag bisita, Nakita ninyo naman isang buwan pa lang ayos na ‘yung ating navigational gate. Maraming, maraming salamat po, Mr. President,” Tiangco said.
The Navotas lawmaker was referring to the order of President Marcos for the immediate repair and improvement of a navigational gate that was struck and damaged by a passing barge.
He said the President issued the order to immediately repair the damaged floodgate due to his awareness of its potential impact on fisherfolk as well as his proactive and preventive measures against typhoons.
“At ngayon po sinabihan niya ko dahil pinakita ko po ‘yung navigational gate dahil over 20 years old – alam ng mga mangingisda ‘yan, ‘di ba umaapaw na minsan ‘yung tubig, kaya sabi niya [President Marcos] ipaayos kaagad para sa mga susunod na panahon ay nakahanda siya,” Tiangco said.
“So, pinapataas niya na po ‘yung navigational gate at pinapa-improve na po,” the lawmaker added.
President Marcos tasked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and the local government unit (LGU) of Navotas to immediately repair the navigational floodgate to address the flooding in the city.
“Batid din namin ang pagsubok na dala ng pagbaha sa inyong lungsod, kaya naman, nagtulungan ang DPWH, ang-
MMDA, at ang LGU upang agad na maisaayos ang Navotas navigational gate para sa [mas] organisadong pagdaloy ng tubig lalo na sa panahon ng tag-ulan at high tide,” President Marcos said.
Guimba Mayor Jesulito Galapon also expressed his gratitude to President Marcos for his swift response to their request for the repair of the Sta. Ana Bridge in a bid to develop and boost tourism, trade, industry, and the agriculture sector in the Nueva Ecija town.
“Batid at dama po namin na ang Bayan ng Guimba ay napakapalad sa araw na ito dahil kayo lamang po ang Pangulo ng Pilipinas na dumalaw at naghandog ng biyaya sa ating magsasaka sa panahon ng iyong kaarawan,” Galapon said to President Marcos.
Mayor Galapon made the remarks during the launch of the “Agri-Puhunan at Pantawid Program” on Friday.
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SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go played a significant role in the transition of controversial former Police Col. Royina Garma from a career in law enforcement to becoming the General Manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) during the time of former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.
This came to light during the fifth hearing of the House Quad Committee, which is investigating alleged extrajudicial killings tied to the Duterte administration’s brutal war on drugs and its connections to illegal Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) and drug trade.
During her interpellation, House Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Pammy Zamora questioned Garma about the process of her application to the PCSO, uncovering the key role played by Go, who was then the Special Assistant to the President.
“I submitted my application... to now Sen. Bong Go,” Garma told Zamora. “I wrote a letter addressed to the President applying for the position.”
Zamora probed further into Garma’s relationship with Go, asking if the former police colonel knew him personally.
“Lahat po ng police sa Davao kilala si Sen. Bong Go…Wala pong police na hindi nakakakilala sa kanya, lalo na po officers,” Garma replied.
Her response highlighted the deep familiarity law enforcement officials in Davao had with Go, largely due to his close association with Duterte.
Garma shared that after submitting her application to Go, she was informed that the former President would review it.
Zamora then remarked, "Babasahin ni President, and obviously nabasa niya kasi ikaw ang napiling General Manager, tama po ba?" Garma confirmed this with a yes.
She also confirmed that former President Duterte personally gave her instructions during her time as PCSO General Manager.
The Philippines can expect Australia to join more maritime cooperative activities (MCA) in its waters, Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu said, as she reiterates Canberra’s commitment to helping Manila bolster its maritime security.
“In terms of MCAs, you can expect to see more into the future. This is what we do when you have (a) very close defense cooperation relationship,” she said in a media reception at her residence over the weekend.
MCAs, conducted within the Philippine exclusive economic zone, are billed as a show of “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific” between Manila and its partners.
In April and August, Australia participated in two separate joint sails with the naval forces of the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Canada.
These MCAs come in the wake of increased Chinese presence and incursions into the country’s jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea, actions that several countries have repeatedly called out.
In the same reception, Yu reiterated that the situation in the South China Sea is a regional issue that nations like Australia have a stake in.
“You will notice that even many countries that are outside the region are passionate about this issue —it's because the South China Sea is a very important-
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos are expected to grace the concert along with Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin and Secretaries Bienvenido Laguesma of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE); Maria Esperanza Christina Frasco of the Department of Tourism (DOT); and Amenah Pangandaman, of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Secretaries Ivan John Uy of the Information and Technology, as well as Arsenio Balisacan of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) will also attend.
Fabio Azevedo, General Manager of the FIVB and Ramon Suzara, President of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) are also expected to attend the concert along with over 800 guests including members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, and other government officials.
Some representatives from the private sector will also attend the concert.
The concert will showcase performances from the medalists of the World Championships of Performing Arts Team Philippines with an audio-visual presentation on the “Alas Pilipinas,” the country’s squad for the men’s and women’s indoor volleyball, sitting volleyball, and beach volleyball.
President Marcos will be presented with commemorative gifts by Azevedo and Suzara to symbolize the official turnover
A concert for the one-year countdown to the Philippine hosting of the Fédération Internationale De Volleyball (FIVB) Volleyball Men’s World Championship 2025 will be held at the Malacañan Palace Sunday evening.
of the 2025 Volleyball Men’s World Championship hosting to the Philippines and as a token of appreciation to the Philippines for formally accepting the hosting.
The Philippines secured the hosting rights for its proven track record of hosting major volleyball events and passionate fanbase. The FIVB Volleyball Men’s World will be held from September 12 to 28 next year at the SM Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum.
It is expected to attract significant global sports enthusiasts, boosting tourism. The Philippines is the first Asian country to secure the hosting duties after Japan in 1998 and 2006. At least 32 national teams will compete for the championship title, including Alas Pilipinas of the Philippines.
The FIVB is a sole global volleyball regulatory body responsible for all forms of volleyball and its development. It was established in 1947 and located in Lausanne, Switzerland. It’s committed to supporting the growth of national teams and athletes across the globe through development programs.
It is also part of the Olympic Movement contributing to the success of the Olympic Games.
The PNVF, on the other hand, is a sole national federation volleyball in the Philippines formed in January 2021. It’s affiliated to the FIVB. It’s headed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano as Honorary Chair. Ariel Paredes is chairman while Suzara is president. PND