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resident Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has released a total of PHP130 million to local government units (LGUs) in the Bicol Region that were heavily affected by the recent onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami).
According to the Presidential Communications Office, Marcos released PHP50 million to acting Albay Governor Glenda Ong-Bongao and PHP30 million to Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion from the Office of the President.
Another PHP50 million was extended to Camarines Sur.Although Kristine exited the Philippine Area of Responsibility on Friday, President Marcos said the distribution of assistance will continue and that systems are already in place to help those affected.
“Mayroon naman tayong sistema para tulungan lahat ‘yung mga naging biktima (We have a system to help the typhoon victims). And all of that is in place,” Marcos told reporters after leading a situation briefing at Naga City Hall on Saturday. He also visited evacuation centers.
“Iyong mga food pack natin, ‘yung mga hygiene kit, na-in place lahat ‘yan. Sapat naman ‘yung ating (Our food packs, hygiene kits, everything are in place. We have ample) supply so far,” he said.
The Chief Executive ordered all relevant government agencies to ensure that all affected residents receive the necessary assistance.
“Mayroon naman tayong sistema para tulungan lahat ‘yung mga naging biktima (We have a system to help the typhoon victims). And all of that is in place,” Marcos
The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, often regarded as the counterpart of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, may consider recommending a plunder case against Vice President Sara Duterte if she fails to account for P112.5 million in confidential funds encashed as cash advances by one of her close aides during her tenure as Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd).
During the October 17 hearing, Gonzales directed a series of questions to DepEd Undersecretary for Finance Annalyn Sevilla regarding the disbursement of the confidential funds and Fajarda’s role in encashing them.
Sevilla confirmed that Fajarda issued and encashed the checks in accordance with the standard procedures for cash advances involving confidential funds.
“Nakita ko lang po itong mga dokumento. Itong tatlong tseke ba ay tig-P37.5 million at naka-issue sa pangalan ni Mr. Edward Fajarda?” Gonzales asked, to which Sevilla responded, “Opo, tama po. Siya po ang authorized SDO po natin.”
Sevilla explained that her role as Undersecretary for Finance was limited to processing the disbursement of the funds, as outlined in the joint circular governing the release of confidential funds.
However, she noted that the DepEd Finance Office needed to oversee the funds' spending. “Wala pong record na makikita sa accounting or budget on the utilization or liquidation,” Sevilla said.
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Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. said this on Sunday as he continued to press for answers regarding the questionable disbursement uncovered during the October 17 hearing of the committee, chaired by Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua.
The funds in question were withdrawn through three separate checks, each worth P37.5 million, issued to DepEd Special Disbursing Officer (SDO) Edward Fajardo. The cash advances were made during the first three quarters of 2023 when Duterte led the department.
“Pera ito ng taumbayan, at kailangan nating tiyakin na ito ay nagamit ng tama,” Gonzales, who is the representative of Pampanga’s third district, said.
He added: “Kung ang Bise Presidente, bilang pinuno ng DepEd noong panahong iyon, ay hindi makapagbigay ng malinaw at sapat na paliwanag kung paano ginamit ang perang ito, tungkulin namin na ituloy ang kinakailangang mga legal na hakbang, kabilang ang kasong plunder, upang maprotektahan ang interes ng publiko.”
While past Congresses allocated funds to support former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs, there was never any line item budget that endorsed or incentivized extrajudicial killings (EJKs), according to a co-chair of the House Quad Comm.
Santa Rosa City Rep. Dan Fernandez, chair of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, clarified this after the mega-panel uncovered testimonies from critical witnesses, confirming long-held suspicions of a covert reward system that incentivized deadly anti-drug operations beyond the law.
“No cash to kill! There is no line item budget for murder. Walang pong pondo para pumatay ng walang kalaban-labang mga tao. Congress provided the necessary resources to fight the drug menace, not to fund a cash reward system that encouraged the killing of individuals without due process,” Fernandez said.
He noted that the national budgets passed under the Duterte administration earmarked billions for the war on drugs, aimed at eliminating the illegal drug trade and reducing crime. Still, these were not intended for a violent and lawless approach.
“Let it be clear—Congress provided billions of pesos in resources to combat the scourge of illegal drugs, but at no point did the national budget authorize funds for EJKs,” Fernandez said.
Former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) General Manager Royina Garma had submitted two affidavits exposing the alleged reward system that incentivized the killings during Duterte’s war on drugs patterned after the so-called “Davao Model.”
In her first affidavit, Garma detailed the roles of former President Duterte and his long-time aide, Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, in overseeing and coordinating the reward-driven anti-drug campaign.
Garma, a retired police colonel, said the cash rewards for drug-related killings ranged from P20,000 to P1 million, depending on the target.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday said its Calabarzon Field Office (FO-4A) has started providing psychosocial services and financial aid to families of those who perished during the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine in the region.
DSWD-CALABARZON Regional Director Barry Chua said the region recorded 24 deaths and 23 missing at the height of the tropical cyclone across the region.
On Saturday, Chua said social workers from their regional office have already provided counseling and psychosocial aid to the families of seven fatalities in Talisay, Batangas.
“We are aware of the mental stress caused by the onslaught of STS Kristine, especially to families and individuals who lost their loved ones. Our social workers are ready to provide them with counseling and psychosocial sessions to help them cope with their traumatic experiences. We also condole with the families and offer our prayers to them,” Director Chua said.
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In her second affidavit, Garma confirmed the existence of the Davao Death Squad or DDS, a group long suspected of carrying out EJKs in Duterte’s hometown.
The contents of Garma’s affidavits were later corroborated by former National Police Commission Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, whom Garma identified as the one tasked by Duterte to implement the “Davao Model,” a police reward system for killing drug suspects on a nationwide scale.
Before Garma exposed the details of the “Davao Model,” retiring police Lt. Col. Jovie Espenido, widely regarded as the previous administration’s “poster boy” for the war on drugs, was the first to reveal the existence of a reward system during his testimony before the Quad Comm.
Espenido disclosed that the scheme was funded by collections from jueteng and other illegal gambling operations, Philippine offshore gaming operators or POGOs, intelligence funds and proceeds from the PCSO’s controversial small-town lottery.
He said the money “flowed from the level of Bong Go.”
In one of the previous hearings of the Quad Comm, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro suggested that former President Duterte’s confidential funds may have been >>>READ MORE
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday reported that close to 80,000 of the expected 110,000 automated counting machines (ACMs) for next year’s polls have arrived in the country.
The ACMs will be used in the May 2025 national and local elections and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao parliamentary elections.
“As of yesterday (Friday), we have almost 80,000 machines already delivered to the warehouse of the Comelec in Biñan, Laguna,” Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said in an interview on the sidelines of the ceremonial turnover of printing machines and printing of test ballots at the National Printing Office (NPO) in Quezon City.
He said the printing of 1.2 million test ballots is expected to be completed in three days at the most.
The ballots will be used for the nationwide information campaign on the use of ACMs.
Service provider Miru Systems has completed the manufacture of 105,000 ACMs in South Korea.
“That is way ahead of our schedule. We expect to complete our production by next week,” >>>READ MORE
Demonstrating a steadfast commitment to the safety and welfare of Filipinos worldwide, Chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs and Tingog Partylist Representative Jude Acidre joined government officials in welcoming 290 Filipinos safely repatriated from Lebanon Saturday.
Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) has announced the availability of immediate financial assistance to businesses and individuals affected by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami)
Under the LandBank CARES Plus (Community Assistance and REintegration Support Plus) lending program, various sectors, including farmers, fishers, cooperatives, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large corporations, and electric distribution utilities, can access financial aid to rebuild, restore operations, and recover from disaster-related losses.
distribution utilities, can access financial aid to rebuild, restore operations, and recover from disaster-related losses. “LandBank stands ready to provide accessible, responsive, and immediate financial assistance to sectors severely impacted by the typhoon. We are fully committed to doing our part in helping our kababayans and communities recover >>>READ MORE
Following President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to evacuate Filipinos “by whatever means,” this latest batch marks the largest group returning from Lebanon, who arrived at NAIA Terminal 1 yesterday afternoon. The group of 290 repatriates, including 233 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) accompanied by 13 dependents and 21 other Filipinos with 23 dependents, was brought home through a
chartered government flight organized by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in close coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Philippine Embassy in Ankara. Their safe return reflects the solid inter-agency collaboration to ensure that all Filipinos seeking help could return home without delay. >>>READ MORE