The Philippine Star
Senate to tackle party-list reforms, anti-dynasty bill
The Senate is set to take up proposed party-list reforms and an anti-political dynasty bill ꟷ both seen as having a strong chance of passage ꟷ when session resumes tomorrow after the chamber’s recess, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said...
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2 Pinoys dead as vessel capsizes off Scarborough China Coast Guard rescues 15 crewmen; 4 still missing
Two Filipino sailors were reported dead while four are still missing after a Singapore-flagged cargo vessel with 21 all-Filipino crew members capsized yesterday near Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal, the Chinese embassy confirmed. The Chinese People’s...
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Marcos after ailment: Don’t get too excited
President Marcos was brought to hospital Wednesday night after experiencing “discomfort,” but returned to work a few hours later, even teasing his critics who want him out not to get “too excited” because his condition is not serious. Speaking at a...
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After Bong Revilla, Villanueva next?
Following the arrest and detention of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. in connection with the flood control scandal, could Sen. Joel Villanueva be next? According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), Villanueva is facing three malversation...
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Sandiganbayan sends Bong Revilla to QC jail
The Sandiganbayan Third Division has ordered the temporary detention of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. at the Quezon City Jail male dorm in connection with the malversation case against him over a P92.8million ghost flood control project in...
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Marcos bares major Malampaya gas find
President Marcos yesterday announced the discovery of natural gas at the Malampaya East-1 (MAE1) well, the first in over a decade. Located five kilometers east of the existing Malampaya gas field, the reservoir is expected to significantly boost the...
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Ex-DPWH secretary Bonoan back in Phl
After more than two months in the United States, former Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH) secretary Manuel Bonoan returned to the country yesterday. The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said Bonoan arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International...
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‘ICI has done its part, let ombudsman take over’
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has already fulfilled its mandate and may now have to give way to the Office of the Ombudsman in the investigation of corruption in flood control projects, according to Deputy Speaker and Antipolo...
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P10-M reward offered for arrest of Atong Ang
Any information that will lead to the arrest of businessman Charlie “Atong” Ang nets a bounty of P10 million, the Department of the Interior and Local Government announced yesterday as the DILG chief tagged the gaming tycoon as the No. 1 most wanted...
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Phl, UAE sign trade agreement
The Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have forged a free trade pact seen to widen market access for goods and services and generate more opportunities for Filipino workers in the Middle Eastern country. The signing yesterday of the...
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Senate flood control probe resumes Jan. 19
The Senate Blue Ribbon committee will resume its flood control hearings next week to address alleged witness retractions, enforce attendance through subpoenas and begin scrutinizing public works documents known as the “Cabral files,” its chairman...
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Traslacion held amid outrage vs corruption
A massive crowd of devotees joined the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene in Manila yesterday, with some using the gathering to express outrage over a corruption scandal related to flood control projects. After a midnight mass at the Quirino...
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Budget can withstand legal scrutiny – Palace
Malacañang yesterday expressed optimism that this year’s P6.793-trillion national budget would withstand legal scrutiny, after a lawmaker vowed to challenge the constitutionality of its unprogrammed appropriations. House senior deputy minority leader...
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BBM signs P6.793-T nat’l budget for 2026
Acknowledging concerns over last year’s national outlay, dubbed the “most corrupt budget ever,” President Marcos yesterday vowed to prevent state funds from going to corruption as he signed this year’s P6.793-trillion outlay, the first to bar...
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Trump: US will run Venezuela
WASHINGTON ꟷ Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in a New York jail Saturday, hours after American special forces seized and flew him out of his country ꟷ which Donald Trump said would come under effective US control. The US president’s...
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Ombudsman calls for graft watch on all gov’t branches
Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla yesterday urged the public to remain vigilant over all branches of government, saying graft and corruption are rampant not only in the executive and legislative branches but also in the judiciary. “All of us, the entire...
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Ping hopes BBM won’t waver vs corruption
Amid perceptions that the anti-corruption crackdown is losing steam, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday urged President Marcos not to waver in the fight against graft. Lacson expressed hope that Marcos would not lose his momentum...
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Pope: Examine your consciences honestly
Pope Leo XIV called on the faithful on New Year’s Eve to give thanks for the past, “examine our consciences honestly,” seek forgiveness and entrust the journey ahead to God’s mercy. During his final general audience for the year, Vatican News reported...
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Leviste asked to keep silent on P2 M ‘bonus’
Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste said he was asked by fellow lawmakers not to publicly disclose the P2 million “Christmas bonus” given to them. “When I saw the checks, I took a picture of them, which I have. And then they started panicking...
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Cabral computer readied for forensic examination
The Office of the Ombudsman is set to conduct a digital forensic examination on the hard drive of the computer of former Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral to determine the authenticity of the files supposedly...
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Bicam signs report on 2026 nat’l budget
The Senate and the House of Representatives signed yesterday the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed P6.79- trillion 2026 national budget, marking the first time that a reconciled enrolled copy was printed and shown to lawmakers...
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Ombudsman ready to take on ICI tasks
The ombudsman is ready to take on the task that the Independent Commission for Infrastructure ( ICI) has started, should the latter cease operations following the successive resignations of two of its commissioners, assistant ombudsman Mico Clavano...
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Fajardo steps down as ICI commissioner
Commissioner Rossana Fajardo has resigned from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure effective Dec. 31, leaving its chairman as the lone ICI commissioner threshing out massive flood control anomalies. Fajardo, the country managing partner at...
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Palace: Cabinet links to insertions hearsay
Documents related to the flood control mess are mere “hearsay” unless validated by the Department of Public Works and Highways, Malacañang said, after Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste released what he described as DPWH files linking executive officials to...
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Cabral files on budget proponents released
After announcing that he had the flood- control project files provided by the late undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Leviste released yesterday the list of project proponents of the Department of Public Works and...
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DILG on Cabral: All signs point to suicide
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla yesterday said “all signs point to suicide” in the death of former public works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral. Remulla said an extensive investigation, including a reconstruction of...
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‘Cabral left complete list of budget insertions’
The late Department of Public Works and Highways undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral left behind a “complete list” of budget insertions for DPWH flood control projects, a neophyte congressman said yesterday. Batangas first district Rep. Leandro...
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It’s her: Cabral died of injuries from fall
It was former public works undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral whose body was found with injuries consistent with a fall at the bottom of a ravine along Kennon Road in Tuba Benguet on Thursday, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said yesterday, citing...
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Ex-DPWH exec dead: Foul play or suicide?
TUBA, Benguet ꟷ Former Department of Public Work and Highways ( DPWH) undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral ꟷ one of the key figures in the ongoing investigation on anomalous flood control projects ꟷ was found dead in a ravine along Kennon Road, Camp 4,...
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Bicam OKs higher P63.8-B ‘pork’ aid
The bicameral conference committee has more than doubled the funding for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations ( AICS), to P63.8 billion from the amount proposed by Malacañang, despite concerns over the program’s vulnerability to political...
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72 medical groups want health ‘pork’ scrapped
Warning that it entrenches patronage politics and undermines the country’s health insurance system, at least 72 medical and health professional organizations have denounced the P51.6-billion allocation for the Medical Assistance to Indigent and...
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Deadlock on DPWH budget stalls bicam
Bicameral talks on the proposed 2026 national budget hit a deadlock and were postponed yesterday after senators refused to back down on P45 billion worth of cuts to what they described as overpriced public works items, Senate finance committee chair...
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Bicam raises health aid ‘pork’ to P51.6 B
Senators and congressmen approved a P51.6billion allocation for the Department of Health ( DOH)’ s controversial health care program, which has been criticized as a “discretionary fund” vulnerable to political patronage. The funding for the Medical...
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Phl fishermen hurt, boat damaged by China in WPS
Another water cannon attack by the Chinese has injured three Filipino fishermen and caused “significant damage” to their vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard reported yesterday. In a statement, the PCG said the latest water cannon incident occurred in...
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Plunder raps filed vs Sara, 15 others
Vice President Sara Duterte is facing plunder, bribery, malversation and graft complaints over the alleged misuse of P612 million worth of confidential funds, which were allegedly diverted, misused and concealed across the Office of the Vice President...
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ICI chair Reyes: We’re good for two years
The chair of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure ( ICI) is seeing its work stretched for two years, contrary to one to two months as predicted by the ombudsman. "We will work very hard until whatever is the date of our existence," ICI head...
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Sarah Discaya surrenders to NBI amid looming arrest
Contractor Sarah Discaya surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation ( NBI) yesterday, hours after President Marcos announced that an arrest warrant against her was expected to be out this week in connection with alleged anomalies in flood...
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Malversation, plunder raps eyed vs Bong Revilla
It’s a “low- hanging fruit” and there is “enough evidence” to warrant the indictment and arrest ꟷ possibly before Christmas ꟷ of former senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. for malversation or plunder in connection with flood control projects, Ombudsman...
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Palace cool to bill creating another infra probe body
Malacañang is wary of the Independent People’s Commission (IPC) being proposed in the Senate to investigate anomalies in government projects, saying it might only duplicate the functions of existing agencies. Some legislators are seeking the creation...
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BBM to officials: Prioritize public interest
President Marcos reminded public officials to always prioritize public interest, as he led the traditional Christmas gift giving at Malacañang yesterday. Marcos, who was joined by First Lady Liza Marcos and son Vincent, treated thousands of children...
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SC orders return of P60 B ‘excess funds’ to PhilHealth
By a unanimous vote, the Supreme Court has ordered the return of P60 billion impounded by the government from the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), the SC announced yesterday. The high tribunal also made permanent the temporary...
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BBM: Weeding out corruption in gov’t like excising cancer
While his crackdown on corruption in flood control projects may have caused disruptions and sufferings, it can be likened to a major cancer surgery that brings pain before healing, according to President Marcos. And while the country is in anguish...
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Stressed Singson quits ICI
Rogelio Singson has resigned from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure ꟷ the second official to leave the ICI after Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Singson felt that the ICI was becoming a “punching bag” and deodorizer of Malacañang,...
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NBI raids Zaldy Co’s condo units in BGC
Brandishing a court order, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents yesterday swooped down on two condominium units owned by fugitive lawmaker Elizaldy Co in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig to search for and copy documents related to alleged bid...
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House suspends Barzaga for 60 days
Voting 249-5, the House of Representatives yesterday upheld the recommendation of its ethics committee to impose a 60-day suspension “without pay and privileges” on Cavite 4th District Rep. Francisco Barzaga for conduct unbecoming of a member of...
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Marcos urged to jail flood scam ‘big fish’
On the second installment of the Trillion Peso March yesterday, protesters dared President Marcos to jail the “big fish” before Christmas or risk losing his political capital ahead of the 2028 general elections. Around 4,000 people gathered at the...
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‘No resignation calls at Trillion Peso March’
Today’s Trillion Peso March will not dwell on the country’s political divides and instead will focus on its main goal ꟷ standing up against systemic corruption in government. That means organizers will not demand the resignation of President Marcos,...
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Mandatory lifestyle checks in gov’t urged
Business groups are pushing for mandatory lifestyle checks on public officials to strengthen accountability and make more effective the use of statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) as tool for combating corruption. In a joint statement...
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BBM: Zaldy Co resorted to blackmail to keep passport
Saying he does not deal with criminals, President Marcos yesterday said he foiled an attempt by the camp of resigned Ako Bicol party-list representative Zaldy Co to “blackmail” him to prevent the cancellation of the former lawmaker’s passport. In a...
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Coming soon: Arrest of flood scam ‘big fish’
Expect the “big fish” in the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal ꟷ including senators and congressmen ꟷ to fall into the government dragnet and get locked up in five weeks, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said...
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Accused in Mindoro flood mess now in jail
After their surrender and arrest over the weekend, eight public works officials charged with graft and malversation of public funds intended for flood control projects have been ordered detained by the Sandiganbayan at the Bureau of Jail Management and...
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Lacson: Military-backed ‘reset’ unconstitutional
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson yesterday rejected proposals circulating in the wake of the flood control corruption scandal, including a transition council and a purported military-backed “reset,” calling these unconstitutional even as he...
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Marcos launches Oplan Kontra Baha
In an effort to address the massive flooding in Metro Manila, President Marcos launched “Oplan Kontra Baha” at Balihatar Creek in Barangay San Dionisio, Parañaque yesterday. The program aims to declog waterways and drains of debris and garbage as well...
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17 congressmen invited to Blue Ribbon hearing
Regaining his chairmanship of the Blue Ribbon committee, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson is inviting members of the House of Representatives implicated in the flood control corruption scandal to attend the next hearing on the issue. In a...
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DILG to probe LGU travel ban violators
The Department of the Interior and Local Government will investigate local officials who traveled abroad despite a DILG order prohibiting such trips as typhoons approached. Malacañang is also studying possible sanctions in case such officials are...
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Over 1 M flee Uwan’s fury
Over one million people have been preemptively evacuated due to possible devastation from Super Typhoon Uwan ( international name Fung-wong), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday. Office of Civil Defense...
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Metro LGUs announce suspension of classes
Local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila have suspended classes tomorrow in all levels both public and private in anticipation of Typhoon Uwan. Among those that already announced class suspensions were Valenzuela, Las Piñas, Pateros, Caloocan,...
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DTI sets 60-day price freeze on basic goods
A price freeze is now in effect on basic goods, following President Marcos’ declaration of a state of national calamity, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said. In a statement yesterday, the DTI, which serves as the chair of the National...
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BBM declares nat’l state of calamity
With the death toll from Typhoon Tino hitting 142 and Cebu and parts of Negros struggling to recover, President Marcos yesterday declared a state of national calamity. “Because of the scope of problem areas that have been hit by Tino and will be hit...
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Cebu declares state of calamity
The entire province of Cebu has been placed under a state of calamity after Typhoon Tino battered the island and destroyed infrastructure, homes and sources of livelihood on Tuesday. Under Executive Order 68, Series of 2025, Gov. Pamela Baricuatro...
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Typhoon Tino leaves Cebu in deep floods
At least 48 people were killed, dozens remain missing and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as Typhoon Tino battered several parts of the Visayas with heavy rains, strong winds and widespread flooding yesterday, the Office of Civil Defense...
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Typhoon Tino maintains strength; Signal 4 raised
Meteorologists warned of intense rainfall, heavy flooding and mudslides as Typhoon Tino gathered strength yesterday, with the possibility of developing into a super typhoon. Residents were evacuated, flights canceled, and schools and office work were...
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Marcos: ICI standing on solid legal ground
BUSAN ꟷ President Marcos expressed confidence that the creation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to probe questionable flood control projects is standing on firm legal ground, days after its constitutionality was questioned before...
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Marcos, Xi at APEC: Meaningful ties vowed
BUSAN ꟷ Despite the longstanding row over the West Philippine Sea and his Chinese counterpart’s tight security, President Marcos managed to shake hands with China President Xi Jinping to congratulate him for his upcoming role as chairman of next year’s...
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Functional illiterate Pinoys reach 24.8 M
The number of functionally illiterate Filipinos has nearly doubled to 24.8 million in the past 30 years, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported. In a statement, EDCOM 2 expressed concern over the Department of Education (...
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ICI speeding up asset recovery in infra scandal
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and 16 government agencies have finalized a framework for recovering assets illegally acquired using flood control funds. After meeting behind closed doors yesterday, the ICI and the other agencies...
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ICI eyes plunder, bribery vs Jinggoy, Joel, Zaldy, others
The Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has recommended charges of plunder and bribery against six public officials, including Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, for participating in an elaborate scheme devised by Bulacan...
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Senate SALN: Mark Villar richest, Escudero poorest
Sen. Mark Villar emerged as the richest among his peers with a net worth of P1.2 billion, while former Senate president Francis Escudero appeared to be the poorest, reporting P18.8 million in net worth. Villar and Escudero were among 14 more senators...
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Senate Blue Ribbon panel to cast wider net
The public may expect a wider corruption probe that will implicate “bigger names” when the Senate Blue Ribbon committee resumes its investigation next month into alleged flood control project anomalies, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said...
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Ombudsman orders 99 officials to resign
Recently hired ranking officials of the Office of the Ombudsman have been given an ultimatum of seven days to tender their courtesy resignations. In an order dated Oct. 22, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said all officials and employees whose...
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DTI files raps vs 8 contractors
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has filed charges against eight contractors for their reported involvement in anomalies in flood control projects. In a statement, the DTI said that in the exercise of its regulatory authority under Executive...
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Flood corruption suspects jailed by Christmas – Dizon
Some of the perpetrators of the flood control scandal ꟷ including former Department of Public Works and Highways-Bulacan district engineers Henry Alcantara, Brice Hernandez and Jaypee Mendoza ꟷ could be in jail by Christmas, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon...
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8 flood mess cases filed in court next month
Seven to eight criminal cases are being readied for filing with the Sandiganbayan by next month in connection with anomalous flood control projects, according to Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. He said the cases to be filed may include malversation...
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Ombudsman orders probe into DPWH fire
Could the fire yesterday at a Department of Public Works and Highways office in Quezon City be a case of arson? This is what Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla intends to find out, as he asked the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Bureau of...
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Ombudsman: Gov’t lost P600 B in junked cases
The government has lost close to P600 billion from cases dismissed in courts due to “inordinate delay” in prosecution, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said yesterday. “It’s very alarming. This has to stop. There’s much negligence, we have to stop this...
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