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Halting MILF decommission may impact on poll gun ban–Comelec By Rex Espiritu
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 186 • 4 SECTIONS 20 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025
preparation for the Oct. 13 Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections, the ComTHE decision of the Moro Islamic Lib- mission on Elections said. “We are closely monitoring the situeration Front to halt decommissioning activities could have an impact on the ation,” Comelec chairperson George Next page gun ban that took effect last week in
Ghost projects haunt Bulacan
DPWH: Validation underway; reshuffle of district engineers eyed By Ram Superable, Vito Barcelo, Katrina Manubay and Fraye Cedrick Anona
T
HE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee escalated its investigation Tuesday by ordering subpoenas against contractors who skipped its first hearing on flood control projects. The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee tackled reports of “ghost projects,” substandard works, and the concentration of contracts among a few favored contractors as it opened Tuesday its inquiry into alleged anomalies in multibillionpeso flood control projects. Committee chairperson Sena-
tor Rodante Marcoleta said the motu proprio investigation, dubbed “Philippines Under Water,” was prompted by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent disclosure that at least 15 contractors cornered a disproportionate share of flood control projects worth Next page
EMPTY CHAIRS. The Blue Ribbon Committee, chaired by Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, formally opened its inquiry on Tuesday into alleged
irregularities in flood control projects. However, only seven of the top 15 contractors listed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. showed up at the hearing. PRIB
14k patients enjoyed zero-billing since July July—PBBM By Charles Dantes THE new policy mandating zero-billing by state-run hospitals across the country gains traction as more than 12,000 patients in Eastern Visayas alone have benefited from the program. Meanwhile, the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City has served about 2,000 patients under the zerobilling scheme, according to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. Nationwide, at least 83 hospitals have participated in the program, Herbosa disclosed. President Marcos credited the success of the initiative to health workers, praising their dedication and service even beyond their regular duties. “We must thank our healthcare
SELFIE. President Ferdinand R.
Marcos Jr. obliges a child patient with a selfie during his visit at the East Avenue Medical Center to check on the implementation of the Zero Balance Billing Program. Revoli Cortez
SC orders gov’t, Congress, Comelec to comment on BSKE petition THE Supreme Court (SC) yesterday directed the executive and legislative branches of the government to comment on the petition challenging the law that moved the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) to the first Monday of November 2026. In a statement, SC spokesperson
Camille Ting said the high court en banc asked the Senate, House of Representatives, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to comment on the petition “within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice.” Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal
LEYTE SOLON HITS ‘NOISY’ LOCAL DAD
BILL SEEKS 14TH MONTH PAY FOR PRIVATE SECTOR
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A4
Acquittal of Ampatuan son-in-law in Maguindanao massacre upheld By Pot Chavez THE Supreme Court (SC) First Division upheld the acquittal of Datu Akmad “Tato” Ampatuan Sr., who was among those charged with 58 counts of murder in connection with the 2009 Maguindanao massacre. In its 10-page decision penned by SC Associate Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, the High Tribunal exempted him from
liability but emphasized that this cannot be taken as proof of his innocence. “Even assuming that Datu Akmad could be deemed an accessory to the crimes, as the son-in-law of one of the principal accused, Datu Andal Sr., Article 20 of the Revised Penal Code [RPC] exempts him from liability. This by no means signifies his innocence. Rather, the law acknowledges Next page
filed the petition challenging the constitutionality of Republic Act (RA) 12232, the law that postpones the BSKE that was originally scheduled on Dec. 1, 2025. The law, which President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed on Aug. 13, also fixed the term of office of village and
SK (youth) officials at four years. In his petition, Macalintal cited a 2023 SC ruling that states that postponing the BSKE must be justified by “sufficiently important, substantial or compelling reasons to safeguard the right of suffrage.” Next page
GIRLS CAN.
Bb. Pilipinas International 2025 Katrina Anne Johnson speaks at World Vision’s #GirlsCan campaign held at PageOne Headquarters in Makati City. The campaign empowers young girls to overcome barriers, pursue their dreams, and promotes equal opportunities in education, leadership, and community participation. It also seeks to break gender stereotypes, highlight role models, and create safe spaces for girls to shape their future. Norman Cruz
workers. They are always there when needed, even outside of their duty hours. That is the heroism we saw during COVID, and we continue to see it today,” the President said, adding that he himself was a beneficiary of the medical workers’ service during the pandemic. He urged the people to spread the word about the program so that more patients would benefit from it. “Let’s spread the word, let’s instil it in everyone so they won’t hesitate to get checked, get treatment, and get well,” Marcos said. During an inspection at East Avenue Medical Center, Marcos said the initiative, rolled out after his State of the Nation Address last month, is gaining Next page
DICT monitors messaging apps, e-shopping sites over e-gambling THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is now monitoring messaging apps and online shopping platforms that may be involved in online gambling. The agency also warned that these apps may be banned if gambling activities are detected. DICT Secretary Henry Aguda said that after e-wallet apps unlinked online gambling sites from their platforms, the department is now looking into reports that operators may be shifting to messaging and shopping apps. Next page
Padilla told: Clean your own backyard first By Maricel V. Cruz A LEADER of the opposition in the House of Representatives on Tuesday urged his colleagues to uphold the dignity of the Office of the President as he rejected suggestions to compel President Marcos to undergo mandatory drug testing. House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan issued the statement in light of a bill filed by Senator Robinhood Padilla seeking annual drug tests for government officials Next page