PBBM: Return PhilHealth’s P60-b excess funds
HOSPITAL VISIT. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visits Dr. Jose
Fabella Memorial Hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, to assess the implementation of the government’s Zero Balance Billing policy. Mr. Marcos inspected the hospital’s facilities and met with frontline healthcare workers and patients. PCO
By Charles Dantes, Rex Espiritu and Maricel Cruz PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday announced the return of P60 billion in excess funds to
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the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), which was previously transferred to the national treasury, to support the state health insurer’s expansion. Mr. Marcos said the funds came from savings mainly from the Department of Public Works and Highways following a review of its proposed 2026 budget. “That P60 billion will now be returned to PhilHealth,” the President said during his visit to Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila. “This is not just to ease people’s worries, but Turn on A4
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 216 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
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Flood of anger overflows amid corruption scandal
Thousands expected to flock to Luneta Park, People Power Monument By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, Katrina Manubay and Joel E. Zurbano
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S REPORTS of substandard and “ghost” flood-control projects and multi-millionpeso kickbacks have opened the floodgates of anger and discontent among Filipino taxpayers, thousands of people are expected to join anticorruption protests across the country today. Organizers said the largest demonstrations are set at 9 a.m. at Luneta Park in Manila, and at 2 p.m. at the People Power Monument in Quezon City, dubbed the “Trillion Peso March.” Some 30,000 protesters from at least 200 various groups are expected to participate at the PPM event, organizers said.
Several groups joining the Luneta mobilization are also expected to convene at various nearby areas – the United Methodist Church said they will hold first an ecumenical gathering at the Iglesia Filipina Independiente Central Office along Taft Ave. while the Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order led by Turn on A4
Be vigilant vs. ‘dark forces’ out to hijack today’s rallies By Charles Dantes ORGANIZERS of today’s mass protests have warned against “dark forces” that might attempt to “hijack” the anti-corruption rallies at the People Power Monument along EDSA and at Luneta Park in Manila. Both Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and Akbayan have expressed wariness over groups that would call for the resignation of President Fer-
dinand Marcos Jr., saying this would only benefit the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte who they said should be impeached. Political analyst Ronald Llamas, for his part, warned that “bad elements” will try to piggyback on peoples’ anger over the anomalous flood-control projects to push their own agenda. “These weeds must also be pulled out or we might find ourselves sabotaged,” Llamas said. Turn on A4
CONCRETE FORM OF CORRUPTION. Pedestrians walk past a mural of crocodiles and ‘ghost projects’ along a street in Quezon City on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. Photos below show (left) police and Coast Guard personnel near the People Power Monument and (right) Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. inspecting a police unit on standby at the Mendiola Peace Arch in Manila on the eve of today’s anti-corruption rallies. Manny Palmero, Norman Cruz and Joan Bondoc
CA freezes more Signal No. 1, storm surge warnings assets linked to up as Typhoon ‘Nando’ intensifies anomalous infra
COLLECTIVE ACTION. Over 48,800 volunteers nationwide joined the International Coastal Cleanup 2025, with thousands at SM by the BAY leading the charge for ocean protection. The event brought together families, youth, and organizations, collecting more than 200,000 kilograms of wastes—a testament to the power of collective action for an SM Waste-Free Future. This milestone also marks a meaningful part of SM Supermalls’ 40th anniversary, celebrating four decades of purposeful service and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.
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THE Court of Appeals has issued a second freeze order covering more assets of individuals and private contractors under investigation for anomalous flood-control projects, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said late Friday. “The sheer magnitude of assets involved reflects the alarming scope of corruption tied to these flood control projects,” AMLC Executive Director Matthew David said. “This freeze order marks another step toward the filing of appropriate civil and criminal cases against those found to have laundered illicit proceeds,” he added.
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By Maricel Cruz, Rex Espiritu, and Joel Zurbano
TYPHOON Nando further Saturday with 14 areas placed under Signal No. 1 and coastal areas in Batanes, Cagayan, and Ilocos Norte warned against storm surges or life-threatening coastal floods, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council. The following areas were placed under Signal No. 1: Batanes; Cagayan including Babuyan Islands; Isabela; Quirino; the northeastern portion of Nueva Vizcaya (Kasibu, Quezon, Diadi, Bagabag, Villaverde, Solano, Ambaguio, Bayombong, Bambang, Dupax del Norte); Apayao; Kalinga;
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Abra; Mountain Province; Ifugao; Ilocos Norte; the northern portion of Ilocos Sur (Sinait, Cabugao, San Juan, Magsingal, San Vicente, San Ildefonso, Santo Domingo, Bantay, Santa Catalina, City of Vigan, Santa, Caoayan); the northern and central portions of Aurora (Dilasag, Casiguran, Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Baler); and the northern and central portions of Catanduanes (Pandan, Caramoran, Bagamanoc, Panganiban, Viga, Gigmoto, San Miguel, Baras). Packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers per hour, the center of the eye of Nando was estimated at 725 km east of Casiguran, Aurora or 770 km east of Echague, Isabela as of 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
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