Day: October 20, 2025

Manila: Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday made public her 2024 Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN), reaffirming her call for full transparency and accountability among government officials. According to Philippines News Agency, based on her SALN as of Dec. 31, 2024, Hontiveros declared total assets of PHP19.88 million, liabilities of PHP897,840, and a net worth of PHP18.99 million. Her declared assets include residential properties and personal items such as cash deposits, vehicles, furniture, jewelry, and equity in installment purchases. She reported no relatives in government service and no new business interests aside from existing small shareholdings in a

Manila: Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on Monday warned contractors and suppliers that long-practiced tricks and shady schemes in government bidding would no longer work under the newly enacted New Government Procurement Act (NGPA). ‘Style n’yo bulok (Your tricks are rotten),’ Pangandaman said, referring to schemes such as ‘palit-ulo’ (head swapping), ‘palit-pangalan’ (name change), and the use of dummy company owners. ‘The shady dummy bidding schemes in government projects will no longer get through under the NGPA,’ she added. According to Philippines News Agency, a key provision of Republic Act No. 12009, signed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. in July

Geneva: Senator Erwin Tulfo has called for stronger accountability measures against fake news and disinformation during the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, warning that the spread of false information undermines democracy and public trust. Tulfo, who leads the Philippine delegation, emphasized the need for legislative action to combat misinformation. According to Philippines News Agency, Tulfo stated that fake news has eroded public confidence and distorted discourse in the Philippines. He urged parliamentarians to strengthen laws against deliberate falsehoods while protecting freedom of expression. “Our task is not to silence voices but to safeguard truth; to ensure that

Baao: Four persons yielded more than PHP2.8 million worth of suspected shabu in Baao, Camarines Sur on Sunday evening, the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) has reported. According to Philippines News Agency, PRO-5 Director Brig. Gen. Nestor Babagay Jr. on Monday identified those arrested during the buy-bust operation as alias Toti — a high-value individual — and his three cohorts with aliases Chie, Lance, and Jan, all residents of Camarines Sur. Confiscated were suspected shabu with an approximate total weight of 414 grams and an estimated standard drug price of PHP2,815,200. The suspects are facing charges for violation of

Manila: Two bettors from the provinces of Bulacan and Zamboanga Del Sur will share the PHP50.9-million jackpot from the Ultra Lotto 6/45 draw held on Sunday night. According to Philippines News Agency, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced on Monday that the winning tickets were purchased at Waltermart on McArthur Highway in Guiguinto, Bulacan, and Urro Street in San Francisco District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur. The winners correctly selected the numbers 16-09-25-17-10-15, securing the total jackpot of PHP50,952,075.80. The lucky winners have one year to claim their prize at the PCSO main office in Mandaluyong City. They must