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Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net . For advertisement: email: advertise@manilastandard.net • 09173382170 / 85646229 BLOOD MOON. The
‘Blood Moon’ is pictured during an eclipse in the night sky in Shanghai on September 8, 2025. AFP
GARMA AGREES TO TESTIFY VS. RODY IN ICC CASE—DOJ By Pot Chavez THE Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed yesterday that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma is in Malaysia to meet with ICC representatives after she agreed to testify against former President Rodrigo Duterte. “I think that she is the highest-ranking police officer that can be asked to give a narrative about the drug war, the re-
ICC postpones Rody’s Sept. 23 hearing NEWS / A2 ward system, and other parts of her testimony that she already gave in the Quad Comm,” Justice Secretary Boying Remulla told reporters. Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 206 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
Chiz out, Tito in in Senate coup
Ping new Pro Tempore, Migz Majority Leader By Ram Superable, Charles Dantes and Maricel V. Cruz
S
ENATOR Francis Escudero was ousted as Senate President yesterday, with Senator Tito Sotto III again taking over the position which he previously held from 2018 to 2022. Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri moved to declare the position vacant, which was approved by Escudero. “I will do everything in my capacity to ensure that this Senate will remain
NO HURT FEELINGS. Senator Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III embraces Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero after taking his oath as Senate President yesterday at the Senate session hall in Pasay City on September 8, 2025.
Cambodia visit opens up new opportunities for PH—PBBM By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday pledged to deepen economic, security, and cultural cooperation between the Philippines and
By Ram Superable, Maricel Cruz, Katrina Manubay, Pot Chavez and Joel Zurbano
Cambodia, vowing to open new opportunities for their peoples while confronting shared regional challenges. Speaking at a joint press conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh during his state visit, President Marcos
CONTRACTOR Curlee Discaya II named at least 17 lawmakers and eight officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways whom he accused of soliciting money for government infrastructure projects. Curlee said he and his wife Sara recorded in a ledger the commissions they paid in cash as they expressed willingness to testify as state witnesses in exchange for “the protection and security of our family.” “We had no choice because if we didn’t cooperate, they would create problems for the project awarded to us
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THE Commission on Audit (COA) the flood control irregularities with new and the Department of Public Works individuals to help restore and enhance and Highways the department’s (DPWH) have public image and No new flood control recommended the reputation. filing of charges funds in ‘26 NEP—PBBM The complaints against at least would be lodged NEWS / A2 three private conat the Office of tractors in conthe Ombudsman nection with flood against Wawao control projects scandal. Builders, the St. Timothy Construction Meanwhile, DPWH Secretary Vince Corp. owned by the Diskaya couple, Dizon disclosed the impending ouster and Syms Construction Trading. of five undersecretaries implicated in Next page
Over 2k cops readied for Black Friday protests THE National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) yesterday announced that 2,250 police officers will be deployed to provide security on Black Fri-
said they have received reports that some rallies will be held in Mendiola, near the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) both in Manila, and along EDSA, as well as the Senate and House of Next page
House gives OP’s P27.28b budget swift okay (OP) amounting to ₱27.28 billion for 2026, which includes funding for the Philippines’ THE House Committee on Appropriations hosting of the 2026 Association of Southon Monday swiftly approved the budget east Asian Nations (ASEAN) summits. The panel, chaired by Nueva Ecija proposal of the Office of the President
By Maricel V. Cruz
ALLEGATIONS. Pacifico and Cezarah Discaya appear at the resumption yesterday of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on flood control projects. Senate of the Philippines
Complaints filed vs. 3 Bulacan contractors with Ombudsman
Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. holds one-on-one talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Revoli Cortez
day (Sept. 13) amid intelligence reports that protests would be staged in some areas in Metro Manila over questionable flood control projects. In a press briefing held at Camp Crame, NCRPO spokesperson Maj. Hazel Asilo
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Discayas tag 17 solons, offer to be state witnesses
ONE ON ONE. President
By Vince Lopez
cooperative but independent, balanced, transparent and sincere,” said Sotto, who was unopposed. Zubiri, who nominated Sotto whom he said was a “leader of great integrity,”
was named Senate Majority Leader, replacing Senator Joel Villanueva. Senator Ping Lacson was elected as the new Senate President Pro Tempore, replacing Senator Jinggoy Estrada. Escudero, for his part, said he is proud of what the Senate has accomplished under his helm. “I hold no grudges. I hold no ill feelings,” he said. Sotto said the so-called “Duterte bloc” in the Senate were not part of
Rep. Mikaela Suansing, approved the proposed OP budget, which represents a 72 percent increase from the current year’s ₱15.8 billion. Next page
ALL IS WELL.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin conclude their brief meeting with a warm handshake. The two officials engaged in a cordial exchange during the courtesy call of ES Bersamin at the Office of the Speaker in the House of Representatives. They were joined by other top House leaders, led by Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos.