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Two senators in tussles with lawyer vlogger, radio host By Ram Superable SENATOR Francis Escudero has asked the Supreme Court to disbar lawyer Jesus Nicardo Madarang Falcis III, accusing him of repeatedly mak-
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 227 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2025
ing defamatory and baseless social media posts that violated the Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability (CPRA). In a copy of a verified complaint sent Next page
Zaldy Co quits House; A Return unlikely—DOJ
By Maricel V. Cruz, Charles Dantes, Pot Chavez and Vince Lopez
Still ICI recommends graft raps; House drops ethics complaint
Speaker Bojie Dy III accepted the resignation, and said the House will no longer pursue an ethics complaint filed against Co by Navotas Rep. Tobias Tiangco. “Since Congressman Co has resigned, the House lost the right to make him face an ethics complaint,” Dy said in a press conference Monday evening. Co’s move, however, will not stop ongoing investigations into corrupt practices that led to substandard and even “ghost” flood-control projects. But Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said Co, whose current location remains unconfirmed, is not likely to return to the country amid his resignation. “I don’t expect him (Co) to come home.. I mean the way that everything is right now – I don’t think he will just go home,” Remulla said.
WALKOUT. Undeterred by the rain, over 1,000 students from various institutes of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) in Manila, walk out of their classes yesterday to show their protest against corruption. Norman Cruz
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BPI TO CHARGE P15 INSTAPAY FEE
VP Sara, Chiz, Marcoleta hit Romualdez over corruption issues By Maricel V. Cruz and Ram Superable VICE President Sara Duterte and Senators Francis Escudero and Rodante Marcoleta took turns at hitting Leyte
KO Bicol partylist Rep. Zaldy Co resigned as member of the House of Representatives on Monday amid accusations of insertions in the national budget and alleged corruption in the implementation of floodcontrol projects.
Ex-Speaker: Allegations linked to DDS 2028 script
Rep. Martin Romualdez, linking him to illegal gambling as well as deflecting the flood-control mess narrative to target the Senate – accusations
that the for mer Speaker said were baseless and part of a plan to prop up certain politicians ahead of the 2028
presidential polls. Romualdez said Escudero’s accusation that he orchestrated a “script” to shift the blame to senators was “not an exposé but a DDS script,” referring to the Duterte Next page
Two solons urge ICI to livestream proceedings
BUSINESS / B1
TRUMP TO PUSH GAZA DEAL WORLD / A6
PBBM vows to smoke out tainted inserts
By Maricel V. Cruz, Charles Dantes
By Charles Dantes and Ram Superable
TWO solons yesterday called on the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to reconsider its earlier pronouncement not to livestream its proceedings. “This is very disappointing and frustrating—a body with limited powers to investigate anomalous flood control projects, and which is merely a recommendatory board, is not fully accessible to the public,” House Deputy Minority Leader and Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said. “When everyone is fully engaged on the issue of corruption as revealed by the Congressional hearings, here comes ICI denying what the public wants. Where is transparency there?” she added in a mix of English and Filipino. According to the Bicolana lawmaker, the commission must open its hearings to the public for full Next page
FLOOD PRONE. Residents of Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City wade through floodwaters and debris while attempting to clear floating trash following yesterday’s heavy rains. Edd Castro
MALACANANG on Monday said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was not initially aware of the alleged P100-billion worth of individual insertions in the 2025 national budget, but is now determined to uncover questionable allocations, particularly those tied to flood control projects. Next page
Court orders arrest of Garma, four others in Barayuga murder By Joel E. Zurbano AN ARREST warrant has been issued against former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) general manager Royina Garma and four other individuals in connection with
the killing of PCSO board secretary Wesley Barayuga in 2020. Garma, former National Police Commission commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and police officers Jeremy Causapin, Santie Mendoza, and Nelson Next page
The Netherlands eyed for Rody release, says Conti By Rex Espiritu THE Netherlands is being considered as a host country for former President Rodrigo Duterte if the International Criminal Court (ICC) granted him in-
terim release, according to lawyer Maria Kristina Conti. Conti, who serves as ICC assistant to counsel, noted that such arrangement was reflected in court records. “The Netherlands, obvious as it will
be a transit country en route to a second or third country. But the defense said that Duterte will be released first into Dutch territory,” Conti said in a mix of English and Filipino during an Next page
ANTI-RABIES. A pet owner hugs her dog as a Quezon City vet gives it an antirabies shot during a house-to-house campaign in celebration of World Rabies Day. Manny Palmero