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By Tracy Cabrera Billions of pesos worth of “ghost” flood control projects in Bulacan have been uncovered, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan admitted before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. Pressed by Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Bonoan conceded that irregularities indeed marred projects supposedly carried out from 2021 to 2022. “In all honesty, I think so,” he said when …

As investigations on alleged irregularities in flood control projects continue, Navotas Rep. Tobias “Toby” Tiangco urged the government not to lose sight of the urgent need to protect flood-prone communities like his city. Speaking at the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, Tiangco stressed that while anomalies must be probed, officials should also push ahead with effective flood mitigation programs.  “Flood …

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has relaunched its Command Center at Camp Crame, Quezon City, equipping it with an advanced analytics system to boost emergency response through the nationwide 911 hotline. PNP Command Center chief Col. Ramon Pranada said the upgrade strengthens the agency’s push for a three-to-five-minute response time by institutionalizing real-time monitoring and rapid situational analysis.  “The PCC …

Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III on Friday said he supports proposals to lower the age of criminal liability — provided the measure is backed by scientific research. Torre explained that his office will formally submit its position to Congress as part of its legislative agenda.  “We do support the lowering of the age of discernment, but it should be …

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has launched a motu proprio investigation into the campaign finance records of candidates in the May 2022 polls, zeroing in on possible contributions from private contractors involved in government projects. Comelec Chair George Garcia said Friday the probe will cover Statements of Contributions and Expenditures (SOCEs) of both national and local candidates, amid allegations linking …

Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) Chair Francis Saturnino Juan on Friday stressed the need to reset key components of electricity bills, saying rates for transmission, distribution, and generation charges have not been reviewed in more than 10 years. Speaking on Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon, Juan explained that generation charges take up the largest portion of consumer bills.  These were opened to competition …

The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former vice president Jejomar Binay, his son and former Makati mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr., and several others of graft and related charges stemming from the controversial ₱2.2-billion Makati City parking building project. In a 202-page decision promulgated Friday, the anti-graft court’s Third Division ruled that the prosecution failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, clearing …

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros said Friday the Philippines has clear legal grounds to temporarily surrender Kingdom of Jesus Christ leader Apollo Quiboloy to the United States, where he faces serious criminal charges. Citing Article 11 of the PH-US Extradition Treaty, Hontiveros explained that a person facing prosecution or serving a sentence in the country may be surrendered for …

The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has destroyed five containers of illegally imported agricultural products at the Port of Subic, reinforcing its crackdown on food smuggling. Condemned on August 15 in a Subic, Zambales facility, the shipments contained frozen meat, fish, preserved fruits, vegetables, and other perishable goods.  The cargo was forfeited to the government for lacking a phytosanitary certificate, violating …

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. has urged lawmakers to amend the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), warning that the measure in its current form has failed to protect local farmers and left the rice industry vulnerable to volatile global markets. In a presentation before the House Committee on Agriculture and Food, chaired by Quezon Rep. Wilfrido Mark Enverga, Tiu-Laurel described the …