Monday, August 10, 2026
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Must Watch: Super El Niño’s Imminent Wrath

Marcus Aquino
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Must Watch: Super El Niño’s Imminent Wrath

(CLICK THE ABOVE TO VIEW THE VIDEO)

The writing on the wall is very clear: The 2026-2027 El Niño event is expected to be the strongest in many years.

Scientists have called the upcoming El Niño event as “Super” or “Godzilla.”

Meanwhile, the weather bureau PAGASA has labeled the upcoming El Niño as “Very Strong.”

On July 6, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warned of the possible effects of the upcoming El Niño.

This is what the WMO said over its website: “El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are forecast to strengthen rapidly over the coming months, increasing the likelihood of heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and other extreme weather events in many parts of the world.”

No More Queuing Under eBayad Act

Angel F. Jose
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No More Queuing Under eBayad Act

EVERY WASTED MINUTE while waiting for a taxpayer’s turn to be served in government offices translates to missed opportunity to raise revenue.

At the Senate, a legislative proposal had just been filed in an apparent effort to digitalize payments in all government offices.

In filing Senate Bill 2330, or the proposed eBayad Act, the proponent — Senator Bong Go cited the urgent need to make government transactions faster, more accessible, and more accountable through the wider use of secure and interoperable digital payment systems.

By expanding digital options for government payments and collections, the proposed measure aims to reduce long queues, unnecessary travel, and delays experienced by people paying government fees or receiving salaries, assistance, and other public funds.

Go however clarified that cash payments would remain available, giving citizens more ways to complete their transactions based on needs and circumstances.

The proposed measure also seeks to improve public service delivery, strengthen transparency, reduce reliance on cash, and expand financial inclusion through digital technology.

“Marami na pong Pilipino ang gumagamit ng online banking, e-wallets, at iba pang digital payment platforms. Kailangan nating tiyakin na ligtas, maayos, at madaling gamitin ang mga sistemang ito, lalo na sa mga transaksyon sa gobyerno,” Go was quoted in a statement sent to the media.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that digital payments accounted for 52.8% of retail payment transactions by volume in 2023, exceeding the BSP’s 50% target under its Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap. The continued growth of electronic wallets, online banking, QR payments, and other financial technologies reflects the increasing public use of digital services.

Under the bill, national government agencies, government corporations, local government units, state universities and colleges, local universities and colleges, and other covered institutions would be required to use digital disbursement for payments involving goods, services, salaries, wages, allowances, honoraria, cash assistance, and other government expenditures.

Government entities would be allowed to credit funds directly to a recipient’s transaction account through interoperable electronic fund transfers and other appropriate facilities.

The bill also provides a recovery mechanism for failed digital disbursements. During calamities or emergencies when electronic transactions may be disrupted, non-digital payout channels may still be used to ensure continuity in the delivery of assistance and other government payments.

For government collections, covered agencies would be required to offer digital payment options alongside cash for taxes, fees, tolls, imposts, and other public revenues. These systems must use secure and interoperable payment solutions compliant with the National Retail Payment System Framework and the National Payment Systems Act.

“Hindi po nito inaalis ang cash payment. Ang layunin natin ay dagdagan ang pagpipilian ng mamamayan at gawing mas mabilis at convenient ang pagbabayad, habang pinoprotektahan ang kanilang pera at personal na impormasyon,” Go said.

To strengthen accountability, covered government agencies and merchants accepting digital payments would also be required to issue electronic official invoices, receipts, or equivalent digital proof of payment. These documents would be recognized as valid proof of payment, subject to applicable accounting, audit, and tax regulations.

The digital trail generated by these transactions is also intended to improve record-keeping, reduce opportunities for errors and irregularities, and make it easier to verify how public funds are collected and disbursed.

The measure also directs local government units to develop monetary and non-monetary incentives encouraging merchants to adopt digital payment systems. Particular consideration would be given to small and micro-merchants such as market vendors, sari-sari store owners, tricycle operators, and food stall owners who may need technical assistance and capacity-building support.

Go said financial digitalization must remain inclusive and should create more opportunities for small businesses without imposing unnecessary burdens on merchants and ordinary consumers.

“Dapat hindi mapag-iwanan ang maliliit na negosyante, vendors, drivers, at iba pang ordinaryong manggagawa. Kailangan may sapat na tulong, training, at abot-kayang sistema para makasabay sila sa digital economy,” he said.

The bill authorizes graduated pricing or the removal of service charges for micro-payment transactions, subject to rules to be determined by the BSP after consultation with merchants and the payment services industry. It also directs concerned agencies to improve internet availability and affordability to support the digitalization of financial transactions.

To address cybersecurity and privacy risks, the proposed law requires payment systems to integrate security and data protection into their design and operation. Payment service providers would be required to protect personal and sensitive information, respond to customer concerns, comply with reporting obligations, and cooperate with COA audits involving public funds.

The proposal retains the constitutional authority of the COA to examine, audit, and settle accounts involving government funds, including funds handled by private payment providers. All digital government transactions under the bill would remain subject to post-audit.

The bill provides a tiered transition period based on the operational readiness of each government agency, with full transition not exceeding three years from the issuance of implementing guidelines. Agencies capable of adopting the system earlier may do so within a shorter period.

Violations of the proposed law and related BSP regulations may be punishable by a fine ranging from PhP200,000 to PhP2 million, imprisonment of two to ten years, or both, without prejudice to penalties under existing laws.

“Ang digital payment system ay dapat mabilis, transparent, at ligtas. Kapag naging maayos ang pagpapatupad nito, mababawasan ang pila, mapapabilis ang serbisyo, at mas magiging madali para sa mamamayan ang pakikipagtransaksyon sa gobyerno at mga negosyo,” Go quipped.

Objection, Your Honor: What Courtroom Objections Really Mean

Eduard M. Riparip, Esq
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Objection, Your Honor: What Courtroom Objections Really Mean

THE THIRD QUARTER of 2026 started with the Philippines’ most controversial political issue—the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the first high-ranking official to be impeached twice by the Lower House.

And if you’ve been following the impeachment trial, one thing has become impossible to miss. The three-word lawyer utterance: “Objection, Your Honor.”

During direct examination and cross examination, almost every important question asked by the private prosecutor or the defense counsel seems to be interrupted by the said courtroom expression. At times, lawyers even exchange successive objections before a witness can finish answering a single question.

This is very frustrating and exasperating for a lot of Filipinos watching the proceedings. 

“Bakit ba laging may objection?”

“Pinapahaba lang ba nila ang paglilitis?”

“Why can’t the witness simply answer the question?”

The answer lies in one of the most salient features of our judicial system, i.e. the right of parties to object to evidence. While the constitutional design of impeachment trial is “sui generis” or a class of its own— meaning that the proceeding is political rather than strictly judicial in nature— the Senate, when sitting as an impeachment court, still observes the fundamental rules on the admissibility of evidence and the examination of witnesses.

An objection is not meant to obstruct justice. Ironically, it exists to protect it. To put simply, an objection is a formal protest made by a lawyer during trial, asking the judge to disallow a question, answer, testimony, document, or piece of evidence presented because it is not allowed by the Rules of Court, particularly the Rules on Evidence.

Objections are like the game’s referee blowing the whistle whenever a player commits a foul.

Without objections, counsels could ask misleading questions, introduce unreliable evidence, intimidate witnesses, or place before the court information that the rules, the laws, or the Constitution does not allow.

The province of an objection is to operate as a legal checkpoint. It warns the court that a rule of evidence may have been violated or infringed. The judge then decides whether the objection should be sustained, meaning the objection is correct, or overruled, meaning the questioning may continue.

As a matter of fact, the authority for making objections is found in the Rules of Court, particularly the 2019 Proposed Amendments to the Revised Rules on Evidence, specifically Rule 132, Section 36 governing the offer of and objection to evidence presented and questions propounded. It states that “[o]bjection to offer of evidence must be made orally immediately after the offer is made. Objection to the testimony of a witness for lack of a formal offer must be made as soon as the witness begins to testify. Objection to a question propounded in the course of the oral examination of a witness must be made as soon as the grounds therefor become reasonably apparent. The grounds for the objections must be specified.”

The Rules recognize that not every question asked inside a courtroom is legally proper. Some questions violate the rules of evidence. Others seek irrelevant information. Some are unfair. That is precisely why objections exist.

Among the most common objections is “Objection, irrelevant.”

Suppose the accused is being tried for qualified theft. The lawyer suddenly asks the witness:

“Isn’t it true that you failed mathematics in high school?”

Unless the answer has some legitimate connection to the issues in the case, the question is irrelevant.

Courts decide cases based on relevant facts—not personal trivia.

Another familiar objection is “Leading question.” A leading question suggests its own answer.

For example, “You saw the accused stab the victim, didn’t you?”

During direct examination, lawyers are generally prohibited from asking leading questions because witnesses should narrate facts from their own recollection rather than merely agreeing with counsel’s suggestion.

Another common objection is “Hearsay.”

Suppose a witness testifies: “My neighbor told me that the accused committed the crime.”

Ordinarily, that testimony is inadmissible because the witness has no personal knowledge of the alleged fact. The actual neighbor should testify, subject to cross-examination.

This is the popular Hearsay Rule, which generally excludes out-of-court statements offered to prove the truth of what they assert, unless covered by recognized exceptions.

Another frequently heard objection is “Argumentative.” Instead of asking questions, counsel begins arguing with the witness. An argumentative question or remark does not seek additional facts but instead challenges or debates with the witness.

A recent example occurred during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. During the cross-examination of the prosecution’s witness, National Bureau of Investigation Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, he said that the “evidence is clear” regarding the alleged grave threats made by Duterte against the President Bongbong Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Former Speaker Martin Romualdez. Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan responded, “According to you,” prompting private prosecutor Atty. Amando Virgil D. Ligutan to object the remark of the defense counsel for being argumentative.

Basic is the rule of trial practice: lawyers should ask questions to elicit facts, not argue with the witness. 

Another objection is “Asked and answered.” If a witness has already clearly answered a question, repeatedly asking the same question merely to obtain a different answer or confuse the witness is improper.

The Rules also prohibit questions that are misleading, compound, vague, speculative, or that assume facts not yet established by evidence.

The purpose of each objection is to make sure that the evidence received by the court is competent and relevant—requirements for the admissibility of evidence.

Interestingly, objections are not raised only to stop improper questions.

Sometimes, lawyers object to preserve issues for appeal. If a lawyer fails to object when inadmissible evidence is offered, the objection may be deemed waived. This is why trial lawyers are trained to listen carefully—not only to the answers, but also to every question being asked.

Good litigators often prepare objections long before trial begins.

It is worth emphasizing that online series and TV dramas often portray objections as dramatic interruptions or clever tactics to embarrass opposing counsel. This is not the case in real litigation.

Lawyers are officers of the court. When they object, they are not necessarily trying to hide the truth or delay the proceedings. More often than not, they are insisting that the truth be established according to the rules that guarantee fairness to all parties.

The impeachment trial has once again brought courtroom procedure into our living rooms.

Whether one supports the prosecution or the defense, every Filipino can appreciate one important lesson: Justice is not determined merely by what evidence is presented.

It is also determined by how that evidence is presented.

Because in the courtroom, the search for truth is governed not only by facts—but also by rules.

Class dismissed!

Gov’t Selling Assets To Write Off Debts?

Rose de la Cruz
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Gov’t Selling Assets To Write Off Debts?

AFTER SUCCESSFULLY disposing state-owned properties at the Atrium of Makati–which includes 24 condo units and 21 parking slots for a meager P1.billion to Sanpiro Realty Development of the Yabut family of Makati–the government is now packaging the sale of three more assets apparently to raise funds for priority projects but more importantly to settle a portion of its current debt stock of P18 trillion.

Among the properties being packaged for sale at the Food Terminal Inc., the Mile Long Properties in Makati and its stake in the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), Business World reported yesterday.

The Privatization and Management Office headed by Michael Peter A. Alejandro said “the successful sale of our Atrium of Makati units reflects the PMO’s continued efforts to bring idle government assets to the market through well-planned and competitive transactions.”

“We will build on this momentum as we pursue other properties for disposition in the pipeline,” he added.

The transaction raised the PMO’s collections to P1.87 billion in the first half, matching its full-year collections in 2025. It also exceeded this year’s P753.64-million target under the 2026 Budget of Expenditures and Sources of Financing by nearly 150%.

PMO is targeting to sell three more major assets before yearend, including the FTI property currently estimated at about P20 billion and the Mile Long property worth P10 billion.

The government is also preparing to dispose of its stake in South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), although its valuation is still being finalized.

Alejandro said the estimates remain preliminary because these assets have yet to undergo appraisal. The minimum bid price will also have to be approved by the Privatization Council before they can be auctioned.

“Those are rough estimates and that is based on zonal (value), roughly. As far as right now, that is kind of the valuation just to give an estimate. But again, it depends on the market,” he added.

Alejandro said that the government still has a long list of assets that it plans to dispose of, with prioritization given to bigger assets.

“But I think, what is important for PMO now is to prioritize the ones that are really idle and that would really spur economic activity,” he added.

“We are hoping for the end of the third quarter for Mile Long, and then the fourth quarter for FTI. Those are our targets, hopefully, we are able to sell it,” he said.

For SLEX,  Alejandro said the auction could be held in the early part of the fourth quarter.

The planned sale of the FTI and Mile Long properties, together with the government’s shares in SLEX, would be key to achieving the P101-billion privatization revenue target this year.

“That is our target, so we are endeavoring to hit that P101 billion. But obviously, a lot of things have to happen,” he said.

He explained that the revised guidelines issued by the Privatization Council last year have helped spur interest in public assets.

“We have actually been getting a lot of unsolicited offers from the private sector, which is good, since there is interest. I think that is one very positive thing, we are getting the market to actually initiate some of these offers,” he said.

Despite priority given to the bigger assets, the smaller transactions would also help the government achieve its privatization revenue target, Alejandro noted.

“They do add up… The value of these transactions does not matter, we just have to make sure that it is fair for the government so that we can reach our target,” he added.

The revised guidelines, issued in March 2025, allow the government to entertain unsolicited offers from the private sector, adopt alternative modes of disposition, and accredit brokers for privatization transactions.

Unjust Verdict On The Talaingod 13

Boni Macaranas
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Unjust Verdict On The Talaingod 13

IN JULY 2024, thirteen individuals, including parliamentarians, educators, and activists, were unjustly convicted of child abuse in connection with their efforts to protect Lumad schoolchildren from military harassment. This case exemplifies the broader criminalization of human rights defenders in the Philippines and reflects a disturbing trend, if not a Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) of state-sponsored repression.

The Lumad, a collective term for 18 ethnolinguistic indigenous groups in Mindanao, have endured centuries of marginalization and exploitation. The Talaingod Manobo, a significant Lumad group have long resisted the encroachment on their ancestral lands by commercial interests and state-led initiatives. 

Despite the establishment of culturally relevant education systems like the Salugpongan schools, these communities continue to face severe repression. With the support of NGOs, they established their own schools to provide culturally relevant education and assert their right to self-determination. But these schools have become targets of the Philippine government and military, which view them as obstacles to state-led extractive industries.

CRITICAL STRUGGLE

This case of the convicted teachers and advocates highlights a critical struggle to preserve the culture, identity, and legitimate noble aspirations of Indigenous peoples. 

Addressing the issue requires a broad coalition committed to advocating for human rights, environmental protection, and social justice, with a particular focus on indigenous rights to education and self-determination. 

The fight to overturn these convictions is part of a larger struggle for indigenous rights and civil liberties in the Philippines. Continued support advocacy, and international solidarity are crucial for achieving justice for the Talaingod 13 and ensuring that indigenous peoples’ rights are respected both nationally and globally.

CLIMATE JUSTICE

The fact is this unjust verdict on the Talaingod 13 highlights the need for government to recognize what may be termed as “Climate Justice” which is deeply connected with inequality and human rights, particularly among the indigenous peoples, farmers and fisherfolks in Mindanao. The lands and ways of life of marginalized communities must be protected by the government, given that they are especially embedded in the margins of highly developed towns and urban centers. 

Mindanao is a vital region rich in biodiversity, cultural heritage, and economic potential. Yet, it faces pressing environmental and social challenges that call for urgent, community-led action, and more vitally and effectively by the LGU officials concerned. Diverse communities populate Mindanao, home of the Lumad, Moro, and Christian settlers, whose rich histories and cultures shape its identity. The region is resource-rich, as it produces 40 percent of the country’s food and hosts endangered species and unique biodiversity. 

But there are climate threats – rising seas, extreme storms, droughts, and higher temperatures disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations and landscapes. 

Moreover, social inequities belabor the Indigenous peoples, farmers, and coastal communities as they face the greatest risks from destructive industries like mining, logging and militarization. 

Climate justice in Mindanao is not only protecting the environment – it is a fight for human rights, equity, and the empowerment of communities to take control of their futures amid challenges of climate change. Their struggles are faced by the realities of marginalized populations worldwide. 

SYSTEMIC INEQUALITIES

The resourcefulness in overcoming systemic inequalities offers invaluable lessons and hope for global action. The Indigenous peoples, farmers, and fisherfolk in Mindanao have boldly led the way in defending their lands, livelihoods, and dignity. 

Indeed, the unjust conviction of the Talaingod 13 mirrors a heartless prioritizing profit over people by the PBBM/VPSD regime. It should instead, by its mandate, give justice forthwith to the Talaingod 13, to strengthen the broader movement for a sustainable and equitable planet.

More Than a Century of Crowned Culture

Gem Suguitan
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More Than a Century of Crowned Culture

MIRROR, MIRROR on the stage, she wins who has more than just a pretty face!

It is not uncommon these days to see young girls on high heels training for the pasarela, or the catwalk. Which makes me wonder, are we really that drawn to beauty contests that we train children how to walk on the runway even before they could dream what they want for themselves in the future?

Starting them young would probably make it more natural for them to move and walk like a queen. Maybe there is really nothing wrong with that, as long as they do not get injured. Poise, walking, public speaking, proper way of answering questions, talent, confidence, learning about a lot of things to be able to talk eloquently on various topics, these things take time to master, so parents prepare the children early.

However, they should always be protected and trainings must be healthy; they have to play, study, and be given the rights that they are entitled to, being children. No pressure.

In the Philippines, we have all sorts of muses for all ages. There are beauty title competitions among day care children up to the elderly. The moment we enroll the child to formal school, classmates elect muse and consort.

During sportsfests, there are Miss Intrams. During fiestas, they are major attractions. On Mayflower Festival and Santacruzan, we give the major title to the fairest (well, supposedly). There were Carnival Queens in early years of our history. It’s practically everywhere. In churches, in communities, in organizations, in barangays, and up to the country’s major beauty contests. Then we compete internationally in almost all available “beaucons”. 

So far, we have four Miss Universe titleholders: the first is 18-year-old Gloria Diaz (1969), followed by 19-year-old Margie Moran (1973). The country hosted the first Miss Universe in 1974. Our bet did not make it then, and after 42 years, Pia Wurtzbach reclaimed the crown for the Philippines in 2015. Catriona Gray captured the fourth crown in 2018. 

Megan Young is the only Filipina who got the Miss World Crown (2013) since its inception in 1951 but Evangeline Pascual (1973) and Gwendoline Ruais (2011) both finished second to the major title. 

Six Miss International crowns have so far been garnered by the Philippines: Gemma Cruz (1964), Aurora Pijuan (1970), Melanie Marquez (1979), Precious Lara Quigaman (2005), Bea Rose Santiago (2013), and Kylie Verzosa (2016).

For Miss Earth, the country has four queens: Karla Henry (2008), Jamie Herrell (2014), Angelia Ong (2015), and Karen Ibasco (2017). 

Miss Grand International has two Filipina titleholders: CJ Opiaza (2024) assumed the position, and Emma Tiglao (2025).

For Miss Supranational, we have Mutya Datul (2013).

There’s a lot more, and we can go on and on. There’s a ton of other international crowns like Miss Intercontinental, Miss Globe, Miss Tourism International, Miss Asia Pacific International, Miss Eco International, Miss World Tourism Ambassador, Reina Hispanoamericana, Miss Multinational, Miss Tourism Queen of the Year, and Face of Beauty International.

What is noteworthy on the evolution of these beaucons is that some are now more inclusive as to age limit and civil status, even mothers can join unlike before. Looks alone are not enough. There are advocacies, as social impact matters. It’s not mere vanity but also service. 

The Philippines is a pageant powerhouse. There are even similar competitions for men and still excel in those. That’s why pageants are such a big deal here, we actually win.  Beauty contests give honor and pride not just to the winner but to the whole country. 

Is there a pre-colonial explanation for our pageant culture? Well, Bai was expected to be eloquent, graceful, and represent the community, similar to the ambassadress role of a pageant queen today. The most respected woman in a village had to be articulate, diplomatic, presentable, speaking for women in disputes, rituals, and trade; like the Q&A and advocacy part of the pageants.

There was already a culture of presenting oneself beautifully to represent her people. These are the reasons why beaucons don’t feel foreign to us. It feels like an upgraded version of something that we already had been doing before the coming of the Spaniards. 

On July 21, 1974, the Philippines first hosted the Miss Universe competition. How we prepared for this event is both interesting and controversial, but that would mean another topic for this column. 

Congress Should Pass OFW Pension Act

Domingo P. Herras
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Congress Should Pass OFW Pension Act

FOR DECADES we have called our Overseas Filipino Workers Bagong Bayani. We put their photos on airport billboards and we thank them in every State of the Nation Address. 

Yet when they come home for good, tired and aging after a lifetime abroad, we leave them with almost nothing to live on. That contradiction is a national shame.

That is why the National Government, through the Senate, should immediately re-enact into law Senate Bill No. 252, the OFW Pension Act. No more delays. No more studies. Our retired and returning OFWs have waited long enough.

Let us be honest about what OFWs have done for this country. For more than forty years, their remittances have kept the Philippine economy afloat. 

Nearly 11 percent of our GDP comes directly from their sacrifice. Their dollars built houses, sent children to college, paid hospital bills, and funded small businesses in every barangay in the nation. They did not just support their families. They sustained the Republic.

And what did we give them in return? OWWA gives repatriation and livelihood training. The DMW gives legal aid. SSS gives a pension that is often too small because contributions were voluntary for years for land-based OFWs. None of these provide what an aging worker truly needs: a guaranteed monthly pension that arrives every month with dignity.

Senate Bill 252, authored by Senator Erwin Tulfo, finally corrects this historic injustice. It creates a dedicated retirement pension exclusive to OFWs, separate from SSS, and built for the realities of overseas work. Any OFW who reaches 60 years of age and has accumulated at least 15 years of overseas employment will qualify. The proposed amount of P5,000 a month is not a fortune, but rather a foundation. It is food on the table. It is maintenance medicine. It is independence.

Why is a dedicated pension necessary? Because overseas work itself makes saving almost impossible. 

An OFW driver in Saudi, a domestic helper in Hong Kong, a technician in Singapore does not keep his salary for himself. Every peso is divided. Tuition for the eldest, rice for the family, hospital bills for parents, debt payments at home. After 20 or 30 years abroad, many come home with empty hands. We call them heroes, but we allow them to grow old in poverty.

The nature of overseas work also makes it unpredictable. Contracts are short term. Employers change. Global crises happen. Age discrimination is real. Past 50 or 60, many OFWs can no longer get hired abroad, yet they are too young to be dependent and too old to start over. Without a pension, reintegration is a hollow word.

The OFW Pension Act makes reintegration real. The Department of Migrant Workers was created not just to deploy workers, but to bring them home with security. A pension under the DMW completes that mandate. It tells every OFW that the country has a plan for you beyond departure.

This is not charity. This is justice. This is debt repayment. We have collected the benefits of their labor for generations. It is time we return a fraction of that sacrifice in the form of law.

To the Senate, the call is clear. Fast track the review of Senate Bill 252. Re-enact it into law. Implement it immediately. Millions of retired and returning OFWs are watching and waiting. They endured loneliness, danger, and long separation from their families for us. The least we can do is ensure they do not spend their old age begging from their own children to survive.

Enough Basis to Jail Former OWWA Boss

Domingo P. Herras
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Enough Basis to Jail Former OWWA Boss

FORMER OVERSEAS Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) Administrator Arnell Ignacio is likely to spend some time behind bars after the Office of the Ombudsman found probable cause to file charges arising from an unauthorized land acquisition in 2024.

In a resolution dated June 19, and received by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on July 7, 2026, the Ombudsman ruled that Ignacio signed the contract to sell, the deed of absolute sale and its addendum, and approved the disbursement of public funds for the transaction without authority from the OWWA Board of Trustees.

According to DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, the Ombudsman hinted at filing charges of usurpation of authority against Ignacio before the proper court.

“The findings of the Ombudsman is to charge the former administrator with usurpation of official functions under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code,” Cacdac said.

ONE-MAN RULE

According to the resolution, Ignacio “acted under the pretense of authority from the OWWA Board of Trustees, despite knowing he had no such authority, an act that transcends mere administrative non-compliance and directly constitutes the crime of Usurpation of Official Functions.”

The Ombudsman emphasized that the failure to secure Board approval was not a mere technical lapse. 

It stated that the act bypassed the institutional oversight and transparency required under the OWWA Charter and involved performing functions outside the former administrator’s lawful mandate.

IMMINENT JAILTIME 

Usurpation of official functions is a criminal offense punishable by six months to four years of imprisonment under Article 177 of the Revised Penal Code. 

The law penalizes any person who shall knowingly and falsely represent himself to be an officer, agent or representative of any department or agency of the government, or who, under pretense of official position, performs any act pertaining to any person in authority or public officer without being lawfully entitled to do so.

The P1.4-billion transaction at the center of the case has been under scrutiny since last year. Ignacio was removed as OWWA administrator in May 2025 due to loss of trust and confidence, after the DMW discovered that the land deal did not have the required authorization from the OWWA Board.

FILE PLUNDER TOO

While the Ombudsman found grounds for the usurpation charge, it dismissed the DMW’s separate complaints for graft, malversation of public funds, and plunder against Ignacio and the private seller.

However, the DMW is set to challenge that part of the ruling. On July 10, Cacdac said during a press briefing that the agency will file a Motion for Reconsideration, asking the Ombudsman to review evidence that the Department believes was not fully addressed in the resolution.

“What we plan to do is to file a Motion for Reconsideration because, in our view, the Resolution did not pass upon details that we submitted to the honorable Office of the Ombudsman,” he said.

Cacdac said the motion will focus on two key elements: the alleged undue advantage given to the seller and the damage or prejudice caused to the government.

51 CONDO UNITS

He also raised a more alarming discovery — 51 condominium units valued at approximately P97 million were included in the P1.4-billion purchase price. 

Titles covering the units were issued in the name of the Republic of the Philippines through OWWA. However, when the current OWWA administration conducted an ocular inspection of the property, the condominium structures were nowhere to be found.

“The point here is the government paid for condominium units that no longer exist. That is the damage. That is the prejudicial part,” Cacdac said.

He stressed that the DMW is duty-bound to exhaust all available legal remedies to protect public funds, uphold accountability in the use of government resources, and safeguard the welfare funds of overseas Filipino workers, from which OWWA’s trust fund is sourced.

The case now proceeds to the courts for the usurpation charge, while the DMW awaits the Ombudsman’s action on its forthcoming motion for reconsideration on the dismissed graft and plunder complaints.

Prolonged Debates Favoring VP Sara

Ernesto Reyes
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Prolonged Debates Favoring VP Sara

A HUMAN RIGHTS lawyer warned that prolonged procedural debates during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could trigger what he aptly referred to as “impeachment fatigue.”

According to Atty. Dino De Leon, the impeachment court will have to be cautious against efforts designed to turn the impeachment proceedings to an ordinary criminal trial.

In a news dispatch sent to the media, De Leon also hinted at the possibility of an unnecessarily protracted proceedings, where lengthy technical motions and procedural disputes often consume months or even years.

Hence, the public may start to get bored — and eventually lose interest.

“Nagbabala ako sa posibilidad ng impeachment fatigue. Kapag masyado nating pinahaba ang paglilitis dahil sa mga procedural issues na karaniwan naman tinatalakay sa regular na hukuman, unti-unting mapapagod ang publiko at mawawala ang kanilang interes sa isang napakahalagang constitutional process,” De Leon said.

He stressed that while due process and adherence to the rules of the impeachment court must always be respected, senator-judges should remain focused on the core constitutional issues rather than allowing repeated technical arguments to delay the proceedings.

“Importante ang due process. Ngunit hindi dapat maubos ang oras sa paulit-ulit na teknikal na argumento na hindi naman tumutugon sa pinakapuso ng kaso. Ang tanong sa impeachment ay hindi kung may nakitang krimen lampas sa makatwirang pagdududa. Ang tanong ay kung nananatili pa bang karapat-dapat sa tiwala ng publiko ang isang mataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan,” he said.

According to de Leon, unlike criminal cases where the objective is to determine criminal liability, impeachment is a constitutional mechanism designed to protect public office and preserve public trust.

“Habang tumatagal ang paglilitis dahil sa mga usaping procedural, tumataas ang panganib na mawalan ng pasensya ang publiko. Kapag nangyari iyon, hindi lamang ang interes ng taumbayan ang naapektuhan kundi pati ang kredibilidad ng proseso ng impeachment mismo,” he added.

De Leon urged both the prosecution and the defense to present their evidence efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays so the impeachment court could fulfill its constitutional duty without losing the confidence and attention of the Filipino people. 

Million-Worth Talent Fee That Stunned Snooky

Boy Villasanta
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Million-Worth Talent Fee That Stunned Snooky

DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER Ben Yalung was the first producer to have paid actress Snooky Serna a whopping one-million-peso talent fee in her entire career as a movie star.

“Si Direk Ben po ang nakapagbigay sa akin ng isang milyong pisong (He was the only one who was able to pay me one- million-peso) talent fee,” said Snooky as echoed by entertainment writer Mell T. Navarro during the 80th birthday bash of Ben at the Rockwell Events Hall in Makati City recently.

Snooky was one of the special guests in the event as a former star of Cine Suerte, Inc., the movie outfit of Yalung who was and still referred to as M-7, his business code name.

The movie Serna did for Ben was “Zuma,” a 1985 genre film adapted from comics or Filipino komiks authored by Jim Fernandez which no-nonsense and award-winning Jun Raquiza directed.

The fantasy outing was topbilled by action star Max Laurel.

Snooky has so many unforgettable experiences filming the action caper. “Noon, parang hindi lang isa ang ginagawa kong pelikula na tungkol sa ahas (That time, I think I was doing a lot of movies about snakes),” chuckled Kookie, Snooky’s pet name.

The actress was the titular lead in another supernatural film, “Madonna Ang Babaing Ahas (The Snakewoman)” (1991) for Regal Films.

During its shoots Kookie would recall that she was like bitten by a snake or she was feeling almost dizzy and breathless one night after scenes with the small reptiles slithering, climbing and descending a well was shot with her in the middle of these venomous although cultured creatures. “Ewan ko, baka nakagat talaga ako ng ahas. Hindi ko alam, ang dami nila (I didn’t know if I was really bitten by a snake. I really don’t know, there were plenty of them),” she quipped.       

Serna appeared in the M-7 affair with her hair fixed in a “fly away” style, not unlike the snake-like curled coiffures.     

In the same occasion, actress and TV personality Louella de Cordova who was also part of “Zuma” narrated her memorable experience in another Cine Suerte, Inc., “Basag ang Pula,” an action movie that starred the late Original Bad Boy of Philippine Cinema, Ace Vergel.

“Ang eksena kasi, sasampalin ko si Kuya (a term of endearment to an older brother or man by blood or by affinity) Ace. Ang sabi sa akin ni Direk Ben, totohanin ko ang sampal! Nang take na, talagang sinampal ko nang todo so Kuya Ace. Naku, pagkatapos ng take, ipinatawag ako ni Kuya Ace. ‘Naku, lagot, sabi ko.’ Nang humarap ako sa kanya, takot na takot ako. Tapos, sinabi niya, ‘halika.’ So, lumapit naman ako. ‘Yong lapit ko, nakayuko ako, nanginginig ako sa takot. Tapos, hinila niya ako at niyakap. Sabi niya, ‘okay lang ‘yon (The scene was that I would slap Ace. Director Ben, I should make it realistic! During the take, I really slapped him hard. Oh! After the take, I was summoned by Kuya Ace. ‘Oh, I’m in trouble,’ I told myself. When I came face-to-face with him, I was very afraid. Then, he dragged me slightly as he said, ‘come here.’ Of course, I went near him. While I was approaching him, my head was bowed, I was trembling out of fear. Then, he pulled me to his side and he hugged me. He said, ‘it’s okay),” recalled Louella.

Other stars who were around to greet Ben were director Jose “Kaka” Balagtas, Dindo Arroyo, Lloyd Samartino, Rey “PJ” Abellana, Giselle Sanchez, Sheena Abellana, Lindsay Custodio, Monsour del Rosario, Amanda Amores, Myrna Castillo, Aris Adina, among others.

The event was supposed to be a surprise party for the celebrator.

It was entertainment writer Navarro who sent us an invitation. “Hi, you’re warmly invited to the “SURPRISE”/secret 80th Birthday celebration of Direk BEN ‘M7’ YALUNG, one of our legendary movie producers and directors! This is a ‘super secret invitation’ that Direk Ben has NO idea at all, planned and organized by his loving Yalung family,” the invite delineated.

It was an awards-night-themed b-day event titled “The 80th Annual M-7 Awards” at the Rockwell Events Center in Makati City.

I was advised to come in my best semi formal or formal attire of Filipiniana motif. But since it was raining hard at the time, I settled to put on my Muslim-inspired Barong on top of my brown demin pants.

I also brought along a blazer that made my own concoction of my outfit eclectic.

At the fourth floor of the building, a red carpet was rolled out at the elevator step.

On both sides of the panel aligned on the opposite sides of the wall were tacked with posters or mini-sized reproductions of ad layouts of some Cine Suerte, Inc.’s movie productions like “Partida” (1985), “Target Sparrow” (1987), “Anak ni Zuma” (1987), “Kristo” (1996), “Divine Mercy sa Buhay ni Sister Faustina” (1993), among others.

I wondered why films like Lino Brocka’s “Cain at Abel” (1982, Marilou Diaz-Abaya’s “Karnal” (1983) and other titles were not displayed when they were also made by the outfit.

I realized soon enough that the films posted on the wall were only that of M-7’s directorial works.

Before the event, an emcee was reminding the guests to please refrain from applauding when M-7 was introduced as part of the surprise gig while there was an image of him in tuxedo talking with a woman in an adjacent chamber.

M-7 was oriented all along that he would be a guest speaker in a gathering of film professionals and film buffs on a given topic.

He was ready, after all, to speak before the crowd.

When M-7 was introduced, apparently, there was no deafening applause, only a handful who clapped, obviously the ones who didn’t get the advisory earlier although it was still a surprise party until he was greeted in unison.

It was the emcee and the family of M-7 who rolled in the party which he didn’t notice as he spoke to the audience after he was called as the main man of the celebration.

“This is the best ever surprise party I experienced. Before, I could easily sense. But this one, I didn’t have an inkling. Pagdating ko rito, akala ko, mag-i-speech lang ako (When I arrived, I thought I would just deliver a speech. This one, hindi nabuko (was not easily discerned). I want to impart this message soon! Sorpresa (Surprised). Loko kayo, ha (You’re playful, huh),” chuckled M-7 onstage.

As the birthday bash was like an awards night, this time the entire production of M-7 made the night more interesting with the handing out of awards, not to the stars of Cine Suerte, Inc. but the people from the ranks off-screen instead.

Some of the recipients of the awards were The Golden Friendship Award given to Josefino Yuson “M-9” de Guzman; The Best Friend Award bestowed to the late Melo Alcantara and received personally by his wife Mrs. Dolores Alcantara who travelled all the way from the US; The Outstanding Collaboration Award presented to M-7’s secretary Evelyn de Ramos; The Behind-the-Scenes Hero Award awarded to Frances Rachel Yalung; The Producer of the Year Award given to Benedict Yalung; The Beacon of Light Award handed in to Bro. Jay Gatchalian; The Faith in Action Award conferred to Most Reverend Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., D.D.; The Lifetime of Love Award bestowed to Elizabeth Yalung and The Bishop Ted Bacani, Lifetime Achievement Award unanimously given to Ben Yalung.         

Most of M-7’s children and grandchildren were around and they made their patriarch very happy on his day.   

More Harm Than Progress in Lemery

Rose de la Cruz
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More Harm Than Progress in Lemery

THE OPERATION OF the Lemery cement and fuel silos in Lemery, Batangas since 2020 has been causing great suffering for the fisherfolk in the area, whose health, environment and livelihood are negatively impacted by it.

The Inquirer reported that fisherfolk and coastal residents in Lemery, Batangas, have launched a petition campaign calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to investigate the alleged environmental, health and livelihood impacts of a cement factory operating in Barangay Sinisian West.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) announced the petition drive after residents raised their concerns during a consultation last July 13.

According to Pamalakaya, fisherfolk and coastal residents identified several issues that they attributed to the operations of the Sinisian Lemery Batangas Port & Industrial Park (SLBPIP), which hosts the cement factory and fuel depots.

Residents complained of excessive noise from machinery and heavy equipment, restrictions on fishing activities because of a no-sail zone within the industrial park’s perimeter, dust emissions that they said caused respiratory problems, and recurring oil spills.

They also alleged that the company failed to comply with the prescribed salvage zone for its seawall under DENR Administrative Order No. 2004-04. They said industrial structures in the area had also weakened an existing catch basin, contributing to flooding in nearby communities.

Since the cement factory began operating in our area in 2025, residents immediately noticed its effects on our environment, livelihood and health, said Donny Villalobos, a fisherfolk resident.

We are calling on the government agencies concerned to immediately investigate its serious effects on the community and fishing grounds. Fisherfolk and residents have long complained about the nuisance it has caused, including noise, dirt and marine pollution from the factory.

Pamalakaya Vice Chairperson Ronnel Arambulo urged the DENR to inspect the facility and investigate the residents’ complaints.

The DENR should immediately conduct an inspection into the factory’s alleged violations of environmental regulations. The government should not disregard the grievances of affected residents, who have endured the nuisance and dangers posed by the factory for more than a year.

Pamalakaya said their petition seeks government action on the residents’ complaints, including an investigation into the industrial facility’s alleged environmental impacts on nearby coastal communities and fishing grounds.

The group said Wednesday that it was urging the DENR and other government agencies concerned to act on the issues raised by affected residents.

The Inquirer tried but failed to get a comment from Lemery Cement Silo Tank Corp., which is listed on the website of Sinisian Lemery Batangas Port & Industrial Park Corp. 

On January 24,2020, the Manila Standard wrote that the Sinisian Lemery Batangas Port and Industrial Park Corp. (SLBPIPC) recently broke ground for a billion-peso, six-hectare port and industrial park, a major gateway to Southern Luzon upon its completion in 2021.

Company president/CEO Ferdinand Co informed the guests that the project will address the congestion of ports in the region and augment infrastructure demands in southern Luzon outside of the Build Build Build program of the Rodrigo Duterte administration.

Co, who is also the general manager of the Cohaco Merchandising and Development Corp. said the port and industrial park is equipped with international and domestic deep port facilities to cater to industrial port and warehousing needs for import and export distribution.

“The deep port can be up to 30 meters deep and 160 meters wide and can handle even up to a Panamax vessel, which is very rare to have in the Philippines. Locators can use that port and use our warehouse for them to be able to import or export,” he said.

“If they import, they can use that as an advantage–since we’re located in Batangas–to distribute to Southern Luzon, Metro Manila or even nearby islands. If Subic Port is strategic for Central Luzon, then we’re strategic for Southern Luzon,” he added.

Cohaco­ is one of the main stakeholders in the project and led in the groundbreaking for the two anchor locators of the port and industrial park, the Lemery Cement Silo Tank Corp. and Lemery Oil Terminal Corp.

Operations of the three projects commenced by the first quarter of 2021 and Co noted that the SLBPIP is on the lookout for oil importers for the oil terminal, which will be open to independent oil and fuel importers.

Co added that the Makati-based cement importer Cohaco itself will be one of the occupiers of the cement silo to warehouse high-quality, imported cement from China, Vietnam, Indonesia, among others.

Located in Brgy. Sinisian West, Lemery Highway in Batangas, the port and industrial park is 104 kilometers away from Manila, 68km away from the Laguna International Industrial Park and 68.4km away from the First Cavite Industrial Estate, making it a viable option for locators seeking to expand operations.

I am not against economic progress, but please not at the expense of the small people whose only recourse is to push the government into action, that is if the officials (both national and local) will listen to them and take their side.

The government must assert its regulatory power and impose sanctions for violation to the original agreement that I am pretty sure imposed safeguards to  the livelihoods, life and health of both people and environment, which the operating companies completely ignored because it is an added cost.

Will the government continue to be insensitive to the plight of the Filipino citizens? 

Vlogger Gabriel Go Puts MMDA on Spotlight

Rose de la Cruz
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0
Vlogger Gabriel Go Puts MMDA on Spotlight

AN EFFECTIVE implementation of the law should neither be whimsical nor appalling, says a partylist congressman following a viral incident that saw a government enforcer ‘shaming’ a teacher over a traffic violation.

According to ACT Teachers Partylist Rep. Antonio Tinio, what Gabriel Go did was an “overkill” even as he took a swipe at the “ulterior motive” behind posting the apprehension on social media.

Go, who heads the special operations unit of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), posted the video which has since garnered 1.1 million views (as of this writing), on his personal social media account.

The unnamed teacher, who was caught driving his motorcycle without helmet, has admitted the infraction. He however pleaded to Go not to take video, which could adversely affect his job.

In response Go said “eh alam mo pala yun. Dapat hindi mo ginawa ang bawal. Teacher ka pa naman dapat mag set ka ng good example para sa mga estudyante mo.”

FOR MONETIZATION

Go’s personal post of the incident was widely applauded by some but earned the ire of human rights advocates and teachers’ organizations.

Tinio then assailed Go’s acts as a violation of the existing laws protecting one’s privacy — for fame  and ‘monetization.’ 

The congressman also took a swipe at Go whom he claimed wasn’t wearing his uniform at the time of the MMDA operation. The video however proved otherwise.

The Teachers Dignity Coalition also lambasted Go for generalizing the education sector when he posted a comment alongside his art card of the  ticketing incident—that those in the education sector are not excused from (abiding by) the rules, which the coalition said was a direct affront to the sector. 

Tinio then demanded to MMDA chairman Romando Artez that Go be removed from his current post as head of the road clearing operations for showing no respect to ordinary citizens and teachers. 

QUICK RESPONSE

Following Tinio’s call, the MMDA Chair went on television to announce the issuance of a show-cause order to Go in relation to the controversial apprehension that resulted in public condemnation.

According to Artez, Go clearly violated the MMDA policy which is to post all activities first in the MMDA official social media page before posting in their personal account. 

The MMDA chief explained that the policy allows the agency to blur the face in the video and mute demeaning words before the person being accosted.

Artez however clarified that Go is not suspended from work — but barred from joining MMDA’s road clearing operations, which however would continue without him.

MORE COMPLAINTS

Artez said he also received a complaint from Manila Teachers Partylist Rep. Maria Francesca Lacson of the incident asking him to admonish Go.

As a lawyer himself, he knows that if an incident is on a public road and that there was a clear violation. Still he would consult with the Data Privacy Commission about the matter. 

He said he allowed MMDA people to document via video their official activities to protect and defend themselves from harassment, verbal or physical assault by those being accosted and from public ridicule.

The Viral Heart Attack Lie That Could Kill You

Gwenn Canlas
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The Viral Heart Attack Lie That Could Kill You

EVERY FEW YEARS, the internet resurrects an old zombie of a medical myth. It staggers across Facebook, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Messenger wearing a fresh coat of viral paint, fooling another generation into believing it’s true.

The latest undead? “Cough CPR.”

You’ve probably seen the video. It confidently tells you that if you’re alone and feel a heart attack coming on, all you have to do is take a deep breath and cough forcefully every two seconds until help arrives.

Sounds reassuring.

It’s also dangerously wrong.

Let’s get one thing straight. If you can cough on command, follow instructions, and wonder whether this trick works, you’re not someone who needs CPR. CPR is performed on someone whose heart has stopped and who is unconscious. If you’re awake enough to perform “self-CPR,” then by definition, you don’t need CPR.

The myth also mixes up heart attack and cardiac arrest as if they were identical twins. They’re not.

A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked. A cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction that causes the heart to suddenly stop beating effectively. One can lead to the other, but they are different emergencies requiring different responses.

So where did this ridiculous advice come from?

Believe it or not, there is a tiny grain of truth buried beneath the mountain of misinformation.

In highly specialized hospital settings—such as a cardiac catheterization laboratory—a cardiologist may briefly instruct a fully monitored patient to cough during a sudden abnormal heart rhythm. The patient is connected to ECG monitors, surrounded by doctors, nurses, defibrillators, oxygen, and medications. The coughing is merely a temporary maneuver lasting only a few seconds while the medical team prepares definitive treatment.

That is not the same as coughing your way through a heart attack while alone in your car or living room.

Unfortunately, social media stripped away all that context and turned a rare hospital procedure into a miracle survival hack.

Worse, following this advice can cost lives.

Every second spent coughing is a second not spent calling for an ambulance. Deep, repeated breathing can also cause hyperventilation, making you dizzy or causing you to faint. If that happens while driving, you’ve just created a second emergency.

So what should you do if you think you’re having a heart attack and you’re alone?

Call emergency medical services immediately.

If you’re driving, pull over safely and stop. Don’t try to “tough it out” or race to the nearest hospital yourself.

If you’re not allergic and your doctor hasn’t advised against it, chew one adult aspirin while waiting for help.

If you’re at home, unlock the front door so emergency responders can reach you quickly.

Then stay as calm and as still as possible.

Notice what’s not on the list?

Competitive coughing.

Social media is a wonderful place to find recipes, cat videos, and arguments over pineapple on pizza. It’s a terrible place to get emergency medical advice.

Before you trust any health tip that promises a miracle, ask yourself one question:

Is this advice coming from cardiologists… or from your cousin who still thinks Vicks cures everything?

Your heart deserves better than internet folklore.

The Certified Prick’s Prescription: If a health tip sounds like movie magic, verify it before you bet your life on it. Your lungs are great at breathing. Your heart is better off in the hands of emergency professionals than in a coughing contest.

Bantay Kalusugan: Bringing Preventive Care to the Community

Lily Reyes
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Bantay Kalusugan: Bringing Preventive Care to the Community

QUEZON CITY — Demonstrating that healthcare is most meaningful when it reaches the people who need it most, the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM)-Quezon City Chapter successfully conducted Bantay Kalusugan: Caring for Your Health, Safety, and Wellness, benefiting residents of Barangay Roxas.

The community outreach initiative forms part of the chapter’s continuing advocacy to promote health, safety, and wellness beyond the workplace by bringing preventive healthcare directly to the grassroots. PCOM members, barangay officials led by Punong Barangay Dianne Regalado, volunteers, and partner organizations shared the commitment to building healthier and more informed communities.

This activity held last Saturday, July 4, was spearheaded by PCOM-QC Chapter officers – Drs. Neil Salarda, president; Rosalina Magnaye, vice president, and Lilibeth Joy Serrano, CSR and Advocacy Special Projects Committee chair. Also present were the medical group’s former presidents – Drs. Margaret Leachon, Marilen Cruz, and Rowena Blanco-Santos – to further underscore the chapter’s strong tradition of service, exemplifying the chapter’s enduring culture of unity, mentorship, and servant leadership. 

As the PCOM is committed to make expertise of occupational medicine physicians more accessible to the public, health education took center stage. Four practical lectures designed to equip residents with knowledge they could immediately apply in their daily lives were conducted by Dr. Neil Salarda, Tubig at Kalusugan: Simple Habits for a Healthier Day; Ma. Queenie Rose de Jesus, on Pinggang Pinoy: A Simple Guide to Healthy Eating; Jennifer Chua, Tibay ng Buto, Tibay ng Katawan, and Dr. Marieglenn Tecson on the importance of regular blood pressure and weight monitoring.

There were also health stations that provided Bantay Kalusugan Monitoring Card and underwent blood pressure, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) assessments. To complement was an SSS Information Station that provided assistance on health-related benefits, member inquiries, and benefit verification.

Throughout the program, community residents actively participated in all lectures and screening activities including an impromptu dance exercise that added energy, laughter, and a spirit of togetherness that made the event both educational and enjoyable.

More than providing free health screenings and information, Bantay Kalusugan sought to empower individuals to become active partners in safeguarding their own well-being by encouraging regular health monitoring, healthier lifestyle choices, and early disease prevention. 

Building on the overwhelming success of the initiative, the PCOM-QC Chapter envisions Bantay Kalusugan as a sustained community advocacy that will extend its reach to more barangays and underserved sectors, including vendors, tricycle drivers, street sweepers, and other members of the informal workforce. The chapter hopes to inspire healthier lives, strengthen public health awareness, and contribute to building more resilient and healthier communities—one neighborhood at a time.

To Our Filipino Children: Quo Vadis 

Tracy Cabrera
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To Our Filipino Children: Quo Vadis 

“God judges when one generation fails its responsibility to pass on righteousness to the next.”  — American Minister and theologian John Fullerton MacArthur

I RECALL, probably ten years ago, how shocked I felt (and incredulous) seeing and hearing kids, as young as three, dishing out invectives and cursing each other just because they were either winning or losing while playing violent video games, such as Mobile Legends (ML) and Defense of the Ancients (DOTA). 

The experience really unmanned me as I never realized how our young’uns today—projected by our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal as our country’s future—have become boorish, disrespectful and downright unruly. 

So, what do we really expect from them?

I guess we’ll just be frustrated as most of today’s kids have misplaced aspirations and misguided ways of acquiring them. 

And why? 

For us, the reason is because there is too much freedom for them to reach their ambitions. 

Moreover, their surroundings and environment simply gives no room for them to grow and mature as uptight human beings. Adding to this is the problem of addiction to video games, suffered both by children and adults. 

This habitual condition of millions of Filipinos playing violent online games could have long-term consequences for their mental condition. Actually, some experts are saying that it is very likely that such games can cause emotional and psychological problems. 

While others may disagree and claim there are no negative effects, research from the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that long-term exposure to violent video games can desensitize players, especially minors, and they can lose their capacity for empathy and become disconnected from their families and friends.

Minors who play high-risk, mature games online have been found to be depressed, unable to sleep well and earn low grades in school. They can be prone to aggression and bullying others, among other negative effects. 

The suspects, aged 14 and 15, in the notoriously famous Tacloban school shooting last June 22 were addicted to playing the shockingly violent GoreBox video game. This tells us that games which have players shooting or stabbing people dead are not offering good experiences for anybody, most of all children, and can cause mental health problems. 

Unfortunately, the true “call to duty” for all adults, especially parents, which is to protect children from all possible harm and promote well-being, kindness, respect for life, care and understanding for the vulnerable and compassion and love for others, have all disappeared. Most have forgotten that these basic Gospel values taught by Jesus of Nazareth make us become true Christians who embrace love of neighbor and reject violence of all kinds, including those in video games. 

A recent Senate inquiry recommended that GoreBox be blocked temporarily even as warnings were issued regarding platforms like Roblox over child-grooming risks. 

Our lady senator Ana Theresia ‘Risa’ Hontiveros-Baraquel enthused that the real enemy was adult groomers and extremist rings, like the global 764 Network, that “target, brainwash and radicalize vulnerable children into committing real-world acts of violent extremism.” 

And there are commentators and cybersecurity experts, and even some lawmakers, who point to deep-seated systemic failures of telecommunications corporations (telcos), like the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Globe Telecommunications and DITO Telecommunity, and their associated internet service providers (ISPs) that allow the proliferation of violent video games, as well as child abuse and exploitation, over their servers without obeying or implementing the law on it. 

In this aspect, it has been pointed out that our officials at the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), led by the savvy Ms. Ella Blanca Lopez, failed to monitor and implement the law to restrict the proliferation of abusive material detrimental to children.

But we are all captives of the telcos and their ISPs even when they fail to implement Section 9 of Republic Act 11930 that requires them to install robust, state-of-the-art technology, programs or software to filter and block access to child sexual abuse or exploitation materials.

What do we want our children to really experience when they play soul-crushing games full of bloodshed? Still, playing violent video games offer a virtual escape from childhood abuse and bullying. 

A United Nations Children’s Fund report says that Filipino children continue to experience alarmingly high levels of violence, abuse and exploitation, which are heavily amplified by online platforms. The Philippine Social Science Council has cited recent data showing there are systemic violations of children’s rights at home, including violent discipline and sexual abuse. Online bullying, cyberviolence and even child labor remain deeply entrenched. All of these issues need full attention.

Common sense tells us that shooting and stabbing people dead online must have some negative emotional and psychological effects on both adults and children. While experts emphasize that playing violent video games does not automatically cause a child to become a killer, social media and gaming algorithms are heavily blamed for gang violence on the streets. These algorithms repeatedly serve graphic, violent and aggressive content to minors. 

So, don’t be surprised that there are so many school shootings in the United States. Research referenced by Harvard Health and the National Center for Health Research shows studies establishing violent video games as a risk factor for aggression. It confirms that playing them can increase aggressive thoughts, feelings and behaviors, and decrease empathy. 

However, other studies show that real-world severe violence is driven by family history, genetic predisposition, mental illness, abusive environments, peer delinquency, and access to weapons. Video games, they say, do not serve as a primary catalyst for criminal actions.

The reality is that in most cases, children get involved in criminal activity because of neglect, cruelty, hunger, bullying and physical and sexual abuse by adults. 

The truth is that they are children with urgent needs and criminalizing them by lowering the age of criminal responsibility is not a solution. They need help, not punishment and more cruelty.

Acceptance, positive reinforcement, support, understanding, education, therapy and moral values taught by a caring adult will help them grow and change—in this, parents play the lead role and carry the burden of responsibility. 

* * *

FOR your comments or suggestions, complaints or requests, just send a message through my email at cipcab2006@yahoo.com or text me at cellphone numbers 09171656792 or 09171592256 during office hours from Monday to Friday. Thank you and Mabuhay! 

Poverty Forced Children To Work

Lucio Papa
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0
Poverty Forced Children To Work

LIFE in the Philippines is not getting any better — and kids as young as five years old must have realized that working is the only way they could survive.

Based on data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the number of working children, aged five to 17 years old, has been increasing on an annual basis.

According to the PSA, the estimated number of working children stood at a staggering 868,540 in 2025, surpassing 861,450 working kids recorded in 2024.

Percentage wise, the number of working kids last year represents 3.1 percent of the 2025 population. It is also slightly higher than the 2.7 percent recorded in 2024.

Interestingly, the latest figure remains comparatively lower than the 1.09 million working children recorded in 2023.

The PSA data also showed that six of 10 working kids were boys.

By age group, 73.5 percent of the total working children in 2025, were 15 to 17 years old.

The services sector employed the highest percentage of working children over the past three years, accommodating 48.7 percent of working children.

The agriculture sector was the second largest child employer which accounts for 41 percent.

A little over 10 percent of the total number of working children were employed in the industry sector.

The PSA also noted that 69.1 percent of working children reported to have worked 20 hours or less per week in 2025.

Meanwhile, children who worked 21 to 40 hours per week accounted for 18.4 percent of working children.

In a bit of “good news,” child labor in the country decreased in 2025.

The PSA defines child laborers as working children who were engaged in hazardous work or activities which are likely to be harmful to the health, safety or morals of children; work by children below 15 years of age that is more than 20 hours a week or more than four hours at any given day or between eight o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning of the following day; and work by children 15 to 17 years of age that exceeds 40 hours a week or more than eight hours a day or between 10 o’clock in the evening and six o’clock in the morning of the following day.

The PSA said the total number of working children who were engaged in child labor was estimated at 513,650 in 2025, — higher 509,160 in 2024 but lower compared to 678,360 recorded in 2023.

“Among the total children aged five to 17 years, 1.6 percent  were engaged in child labor in 2024. This proportion increased to 1.8% in 2025,” the PSA said.

“In 2023, the percentage engaged in child labor for the same age group was estimated at 2.2%,” it added.

Among working children, the PSA said child laborers comprised 59.1% in both 2024 and 2025.

This was lower than the estimated proportion at 62% of working children who were involved in child labor in 2023.

By sex, 373,650 or 72.7% of the estimated 513,650 working children engaged in child labor in 2025 were boys, while 140,000 or 27.3% were girls.

Across age groups, the PSA said child laborers 15 to 17 years old continued to account for the largest share of working children engaged in child labor at 80.5% in 2025.

This was higher than the share of child laborers 15 to 17 years old reported in 2024 at 78.6% and in 2023 at 74.4%.

The agriculture sector continued to account for the largest share of child laborers at 65.5% in 2025, followed by the services sector with 25.8% share and the industry sector with 8.7% share.

Survey: Senate Least Trusted Institution

Rose de la Cruz
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Survey: Senate Least Trusted Institution

IF THE LATEST result of a non-commissioned survey is any indication, the Philippine Senate would be the least approved and least trusted government institution in the country.

Citing Pahayag survey conducted from June 28 to 30, the senate plunged to 21 percent approval rating — and a nightmarishly dismal 12 percent trust grade, primarily attributed to the ongoing impeachment trial of charges filed against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

The survey, administered by Malou Tiquia’s Publicus Asia, had 1,509 respondents referred to as “Filipino voters.” Interestingly, Tiquia is a staunch supporter of the Vice President. 

Other government institutions dwelling at the cellar include the Department of Public Works and Highways which garnered 22 percent approval, 14 percent trust; the Department of Budget and Management with 25 percent approval, 15 percent trust; and the House of Representatives with 26 percent approval, 15 percent trust.

Incidentally, the list reflects the very same government institutions dragged into the trillion-peso flood control scandal, which the President exposed in his state of the nation address in July 2025. He is soon making his 2026 SONA this month.

In contrast, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) remained the most approved and trusted government agency, with 63 percent approval and 45 percent trust ratings; followed by the Department of Science and Technology (53 percent approval, 37 percent trust) and the Commission on Higher Education (48 percent approval, 35 percent trust), while the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas enjoys a relatively strong trust at 35 percent.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian logged 32 percent approval and 21 percent trust while House Speaker Faustino Dy III remained struggling with approval pegged at 13 percent from 11 percent and trust at 8 percent (from 6 percent), reflecting limited public visibility.

Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo received an approval rating of 17 percent, a slight rise from 16 percent while trust remained unchanged at 10 percent. 

“This suggests that while sentiment toward the judiciary has slightly improved, baseline confidence remains modest,” the survey said.

Opposition officials dominate favorable rankings with Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino led with a net favorable rating of 57 percent, including 29 percent who rated him as “very favorable.” 

Sen. Francis Pangilinan followed at 46 percent and Sen. Risa Hontiveros at 47 percent, both registering strong favorability with high “very favorable” intensities (22 percent and 21 percent, respectively).

Meanwhile, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada posted the highest net unfavorable rating at 58 percent, with 39 percent describing him as “very unfavorable,” followed by Ronald dela Rosa at 56 percent, including 44 percent who view him as “very unfavorable.”

According to Publicus Asia Inc., Pahayag is an independent and non-commissioned survey initiative under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

Web sources however described Publicus Asia as a political consultancy, campaign management, and lobby firm in the Philippines founded in 2003. It was established by Tiquia, a UP political science graduate and Lilibeth Amatong, an experienced information/ education/ communication/ mobilization (IECM) practitioner.

While Tiquia did not support the 2016 presidential run of former President Rodrigo Duterte, she is known as an outspoken supporter of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Simple But Solemn Wedding For Bea and Vincent Co 

Boy Villasanta
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Simple But Solemn Wedding For Bea and Vincent Co 

SUDDENLY, THE GRAND wedding of actress Bea Alonzo and businessman Vincent Co, initially hyped as Wedding of the Year, was reduced to a simple ceremony.

After a planned church wedding in Spain and two separate receptions, the occasion was realized in a common civil wedding.

The reversal of the situation happened last Monday, July 13, 2026 at the office of Nancy Binay, Mayor of Makati City.

In her Facebook wall, Mayor Binay noted: “Kinasal ko na po sila (I already wedded them)” with an accompanying smiling emoji.

“Congratulations & Best wishes Vincent & Bea,” she added with a blue heart emoji.

Bea, Phylbert Angelli Ranollo Fagestrom in real life, was in a plain cream straight cut dress while Vincent, Ferdinand Vincent Pe Co, was in a short-sleeved and simple Filipiniana attire, Barong.

According to some witnesses at the Makati City Hall, the event was a very exclusive one with only approximately six to seven guests at the matrimony.

No family members of the respective parties, only business partners and friends during the ceremony.

One of the special guests was known only as Prince Joe, who according to accounts, is a close friend and business associate of Bea who is into fashion and retail industry, specifically working with local fashion brands in the Philippines. Prince Joe’s Instagram account is iprincejoe.

Prince Joe only greeted the newly-weds with “Congrats Bea & Vincent Co.”

It was a surprise event for the Makati City Hall people but entertainment writer and vlogger Ogie Diaz reported that during the civil wedding rites, he knew that finally, Bea and Vincent tied the knot.

Meanwhile, in a lull period, Alonzo was seen having a friendly pose with Mayor Binay who captioned the photo posted on her social media spaces with “Coffee with coffeemate” which wittily meant a side-by-side configuration of the two celebrities (Bea as an actress and Nancy as a politician) that jokingly illustrated a white complexioned bride and a brown Filipina marriage officiator.  

In a photo posted by Mayor Binay in her Facebook wall, Bea and Vincent hugged each other tightly, obviously after the civil rite.

The very private Fagestrom-Co nuptials was a complete opposite of the reported wedding plans about the getting hitched of the couple when there were already wedding invitations printed in May this year in Spain that Bea’s good friend Dimples Romano had allegedly received so the latter and her husband Boyet Ahmea flew to Madrid.

There were also reports that the marriage between Bea and Vincent would be held in two separate places in Spain.

By the time the scheduled wedding had circulated in the grapevine, Dimples and Boyet were already in the country.

The wedding didn’t push through allegedly because of the conflicts that arose between Bea and Vincent about the pre-nuptial agreement which Atty. Joey Garcia clarified in a story at Inquirer.net that the prenup contract was freely, knowingly and voluntarily signed by the two parties       

Meanwhile, a few days before the matrimony, Alonzo was in a contemplative mood as shown in her Instagram post which she captioned “A calm little corner of the week.”

Many netizens are happy about the union of Bea and Vincent.

P18.55T Debt Could Lead to More Crisis

Rose de la Cruz
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P18.55T Debt Could Lead to More Crisis

WITH THE NATIONAL debt hair thin shy of breaching P19 trillion as of end-May, several groups allayed fears of an impending debt crisis that could even be more difficult for the country and future generations to handle. 

Thus, a press conference held by e Freedom from Debt Coalition and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)–days before the President delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address–said that debt payments could far exceed the government’s budget allocation on health and social services.

So far the government has allotted a budget for social services of P2.599 trillion under the 2026 General Appropriations Act–to include P1.295 trillion for education, P477.3 billion for local government units and P458.4 billion for health.

Data from the Bureau of Treasury showed the government has already spent a total of P1.149 trillion on debt service as of end-May or 63.5 percent higher than the P702.968 billion it paid for the comparative period last year because of principal repayment on local debts that surged 269.92 percent year on year to P630.367 billion from P170.403 billion, according to Business Mirror.

In contrast, repayments on external debt fell by 44.13 percent to P97.847 billion from P175.164 billion.

FDC Secretary General Rovik Obanil told Business Mirror that while not inherently wrong, borrowing should serve only as one of the myriad of tools at the government’s disposal to strengthen the economy.

Obanil claimed that the government seems to use borrowing as a crutch to source funds, with Filipinos suffering the brunt “through taxes and poor healthcare and social services.”

“Debt accountability is really important. There are policies that should be implemented to ensure that the borrowed money is used to improve the economy,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

Independent Debt Audit

Obanil also urged the government to repeal the automatic appropriations law.

“We’re also advocating for an independent debt audit. We have a lot of debt, but we can’t see what they are used for. It’s crucial that we get to monitor where the debt went, and if we benefited from it,” he said.

AHF Country Program Manager Ryan Guinaran underscored the need to reform the global government debt system, as developing countries are slapped with higher interest rates compared to developed nations.

“Developing countries are really at a major disadvantage. The interest rates for these nations are about three to 10 times higher than when developed countries borrow funds,” Guinaran said.

With this, he called on the Philippines to participate in the UN-backed initiative dubbed Borrowers’ Club, established to provide developing nations a platform in global debt discussions.

“This is so that the Philippines can advocate for more just lending practices because it’s a system that abuses developing countries,” Guinaran said.

Think Tank’s Perspective

The IBON Foundation said  the surging national debt is a heavy and unnecessary burden on ordinary Filipinos and that the ‘record-breaking borrowing binge” has largely failed to translate into genuine development, robust domestic production, or substantial social assistance for struggling families. 

Its core criticism on the surging debt are:

Bloated Debt Servicing: A massive portion of scarce fiscal resources is diverted to paying off interest and principal on loans rather than funding social services like healthcare, education, and direct financial aid. 

Misplaced Priorities: Instead of subsidizing small businesses and agriculture amid inflation, the government’s borrowed funds are disproportionately allocated to massive infrastructure projects and “pork barrel” legislative insertions, which IBON claims enrich powerful interests rather than helping the poor.

Increasing Per Capita Burden: With the outstanding national debt reaching record highs (exceeding P 18 trillion), IBON this translates to a massive financial liability for every Filipino household. 

Stance on UMIC upgrade

The IBON criticized the World Bank’s reclassification of the Philippines into the upper-middle-income tier, arguing it is the “worst possible place” for the country. 

Loss of Concessional Loans: The upgrade threatens to shut the country out of low-interest concessional loans.

Higher Borrowing Costs: The government will likely be forced into stricter, market-based borrowing terms with significantly higher interest rates. 

To address the debt crisis, IBON advocates for systemic changes in fiscal policy:

Progressive Taxation: Shifting the tax burden away from indirect consumption taxes (which burden poor and middle-class Filipinos) and onto the accumulated wealth of billionaires and large corporations.

Reallocating Budgets: Directing public spending into tangible socio-economic investments—like localized ayuda, hospital facilities, and direct subsidies for farmers and local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—which have a higher multiplier effect on the economy. 

PNP Under Nartatez Pampered Marcoleta

Dody Lacuna
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PNP Under Nartatez Pampered Marcoleta

PRESIDENT Bongbong Marcos shouldn’t be taken for a ride [again] by the Philippine National Police top leaders whose acts have lately been taken as an exact affront to the PNP’s official motto — to serve and protect.

For one, the PNP General Hospital was established exclusively for active and retired police officers and their immediate family members. Allowing Senator Rodante Marcoleta  to stay at the PNP General Hospital in itself is a red flag.  

Prior to his arrest, Marcoleta was one of the busiest active members of the senate. He walked relentlessly at the Senate — joined senate hearings, addressed media queries and pulled antics during conversation with people visiting his office.

He even joined the INC rally along EDSA and spoke louder than anybody else on the stage. 

Following his arrest, the vibrant Marcoleta instantaneously transformed into a weakling — theatrically perhaps. While at the PNP General Hospital, where he has reportedly been diagnosed with pneumonia (a contagious illness), he was allowed to receive visitors like Vice President Sara Duterte and a minion whom I would rather call Robot Patilla.

Skeptical on the health condition of Marcoleta under the care of the PNP General Hospital, the Sandiganbayan ordered the PNP to explain the “lapse on the part” of the PNP Health Service in Camp Crame and to have the senator undergo an otherwise independent medical assessment at the Philippine General Hospital. 

Shouldn’t the President finally hit the roof, especially, after the apparently deliberate negligence of the PNP to prevent the huge INC rally which paralyzed traffic on EDSA, and the escape of Senator Bato dela Rosa from right under its nose. 

Robot Patilla meanwhile is portraying himself as an experienced media personality who has bestowed upon himself the right to tell media professionals on proper news reporting while covering the impeachment trial. 

He claimed expertise in evidence-gathering – something that the reporters, according to him, should learn. 

To be perfectly candid, the entertainment media where he came from is way far from the news media that he wanted to coach. His supposed reputation in the entertainment industry doesn’t sit well in a trade that embarks on truth and nothing but the truth.

No fanfare, no drama, no scripts, no stunt doubles, and blah-blah-blah!

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