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LEDAC convenes to tackle key legislation amid political noise By Maricel V. Cruz and Ram Superable LEADERS of the Senate and House of Representatives met with President Marcos yesterday for the first Legislative-Ex-
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 228 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025
ecutive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting of the 20th Congress, tackling the administration’s legislative goals amid intense political noise arising from congressional probes on corruption. Next page
AFP junks calls to intervene
Teodoro: Military action mere ‘wishful thinking’ of some groups By Charles Dantes and Rex Espiritu
T
HE Armed Forces of the Philippines remains stable and loyal to the chain of command and the Constitution, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Tuesday The President has said amid full trust in our growing concerns soldiers, that they about corruption will remain steadfast in government projects. and will follow only
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what is stated in the Constitution.
Teodoro rejected sug– Palace gestions of a military intervention as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reiterated his position that people’s anger over systemic corruption in government was “valid.” Mr. Marcos said the government must confront corruption issues head-on, including irregularities he himself exposed in flood control projects, to regain the public’s trust and end what he called the “unscrupulous abuse of power and greed.” Retired and active members of the
FIRST LEDAC MEETING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. presided yesterday over the first LEDAC (Legislative-Executive Department Development Advisory Council) Full Meeting of the 20th Congress. The meeting discussed priority bills and reforms in governance, digital, and financial systems that aim to strengthen the economy and deliver faster and more effective services to Filipinos. PCO
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Blue Ribbon summons Co, invites Romualdez By Ram Superable and Charles Dantes THE Senate Blue Ribbon Committee yesterday formally invited former House Speaker Martin Romualdez (1st
District, Leyte) and resigned Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co to its next hearing on alleged anomalous flood control projects. Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, who also leads the panel,
said the invitation for Romualdez would be coursed through incumbent House Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III in deference to interparliamentary courtesy between both chambers of Congress. Next page
BENGUET BEAUTIES. Benguet beauties vying for Miss Universe Philippines meet the press at the ‘Adivay’ Forest Wing in Camp John Hay. The event also highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between BCDA, John Hay Management Corp JHMC and Le Chefs supporting the Miss Universe Philippines, Benguet beauty pageant. Dave Leprozo
Palace stands by appointment of ex-PNP chief Azurin to ICI By Charles Dantes MALACAÑANG on Tuesday defended the appointment of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Rodolfo Azurin as special adviser to the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI), saying his selection was grounded on experience, investigative expertise, and nonpartisan background. Presidential Communications Of-
THE leadership of the House of Representatives is eyeing to extend for one week its session to make way for the plenary discussions on 2026 national budget, Speaker Faustino ‘Bojie’ Dy III said.
EALA OUTLASTS TORMENTOR IN SUZHOU OPEN
BUSINESS / B1
SPORTS / A8
New LPA forms even as ‘Opong’ death toll rises
“At the moment, we are going to hold a consultation, so that perhaps we could extend (our sessions) by another week to ensure that our budget for next year would be passed properly,” Dy said in a radio interview.
By Rio N. Araja, Alena Mae S. Flores, and Rex Espiritu
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PNP deploys tracker teams to go after Garma, 4 others THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has organized tracker teams to run after the suspects who are still at large in connection with the 2020 killing of Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Of-
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ADB SEES PH A ‘BRIGHT SPOT’ IN 2025, 2026
House eyes extension to finish 2026 budget deliberations—Dy By Maricel V. Cruz, Ram Superable
fice (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally endorsed Azurin to succeed Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who recently resigned from the post. “According to the President, the selection of Gen. Azurin was based on his experience, competence, and investigative skills,” Castro said in a press briefing.
fice (PCSO) director and retired police Brig. Gen. Wesley Barayuga. “The Philippine National Police respects and upholds the order of
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RELIEF. Relief goods are loaded into vehicles for transport to Nando-affected residents of Babuyan and Calayan, Cagayan. Nando directly hit Calayan, Cagayan on September 22, 2025, causing major damage to the area. On Monday, the Provincial Government of Batanes issued an announcement accepting donations for those who want to help Babuyan and Calayan. Dave Leprozo
A LOW pressure area (LPA) outside the Philippine area of responsibility is evolving into a tropical depression within the next 24 hours, even as the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) reported 15 additional fatalities possibly linked to Severe Tropical Storm ‘Opong’ in Bicol and Eastern Visayas, which could raise the death toll to 42. OCD Assistant Secretary Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV noted that 27 deaths have so far been confirmed from the combined impact of Opong, Next page