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PAGASA DECLARES HABAGAT FOOD, TRANSPORT COSTS END, AMIHAN NOW DOMINANT PUSH SEPT. INFLATION TO 1.7% NEWS / A4
TALKS HELD TO END ISRAEL, HAMAS TWO-YEAR-LONG WAR
BUSINESS / B4
WORLD / A6
INC calls for transparency in ICI flood control corruption probe IGLESIA ni Cristo (INC) Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo, through INC spokesperson Edwin Zabala, called on the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) to be transparent, warning that secretive
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 235 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2025
proceedings could lead to public distrust and further unrest. “The hearings in the ongoing investigation must be open and witnessed by the public,” he said. Next page
Remulla is new Ombudsman Vows to sort out corruption ‘firestorm’ of flood control funds mess
By Charles Dantes, Pot Chavez and Ram Superable
P
RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla as the new Ombudsman, Malacañang announced on Tuesday. Undersecretary Fredderick Vida will serve as acting chief of the DOJ, Remulla said.
Remulla, as the new Ombudsman, is expected to “uphold transparency, strengthen anti-corruption measures, and ensure that justice is administered fairly and efficiently,” the Presidential Communications Office said, adding the administration will ramp up further its anti-corruption drive.
NEW LGU OFFICERS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the oath-taking of the new officers
of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang Palace, Manila. Taking their oaths before the President were LCP President San Juan City Mayor Francisco Javier M. Zamora, LMP President Echague, Isabela Mayor Faustino A. Dy V, LMP President Emeritus Rep. Joseph Sto. Niño B. Bernos, and LCP National Vice Chairperson Roxas City Mayor Ronnie T. Dadivas. PCO
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THE OMBUDSMAN.
Newly-appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla. Department of Justice
Marcos urges LGU chiefs to fight corruption, rebuild trust PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday urged local government officials to help combat corruption and rebuild public trust in government institutions. Meanwhile, Malacañang rejected renewed calls to amend the 1987 Constitution to intro-
duce electoral reforms, saying what the country needs is not Charter change but a “change of heart” and “change of attitude” among public officials. Speaking during the oath-taking of the new leaders of the League of Cities of the Philip-
pines (LCP) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) in Malacañang, Marcos acknowledged the worsening public frustrations over reports of irregularities in government service. Next page
6 more senators received poll funds from contractors—Comelec By Vito Barcelo THE Commission on Elections said six more senators have received campaign donations from contractors, some of which may be involved in government contracts and are prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code from making such donations.
Poll body chairman George Garcia made the disclosure days after Comelec issued a show-cause order to Senator Francis Escudero over a P30-million campaign donation he received from contractor Lawrence Lubiano, president of Centerways Construction and Development Inc. Next page
CLIMATE ACTIVISTS. Foreign and local climate activists held a protest rally yesterday in Pasay City outside Conrad Manila where the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage (FRLD) is holding its 7th Board Meeting (B7). The protesters, joined by allies from the FRLD Board, called on Global North governments attending the meeting to scale up their financial contributions to the FRLD. APMDD Media
Sotto names 5 potential Blue Ribbon head By Ram Superable MASSKARA. It is the Masskara Festival month in Bacolod City. Masskara literally means many faces. It was coined by Ely Santiago, a painter, cartoonist, and cultural artist who depicted in his art works the many faces of Negrenses beset with various crises in the 1970s. Originally, the masks reflected the people’s grief over the loss of their numerous loved ones when, in 1979, Negros Navigation’s luxury liner MS Don Juan collided with a tanker. Edwin Ombion
SENATE President Vicente Sotto III yesterday named five senators who could potentially succeed Sen. Ping Lacson as Senate Blue Ribbon chief: Raffy Tulfo, JV Ejercito, Pia Cayetano, Francis
DFA reiterates PH control over WPS territories THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) asserted the Philippines’ “incontrovertible” sovereignty over the Spratlys (Kalayaan Island Group) and the Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc) in the West Philippine Sea as it again criticized misinformation circulating over the features.
Without dropping names, the DFA said certain states had been alluding in recent occasions to what they erroneously think is the extent of Philippine territory. “The Philippines underscores that its sovereignty over its archipelago and other territories, including Bajo de Masinloc and the high-tide features of the
Kalayaan Island Group, is incontrovertible and firmly founded on international law, legal principles, effective control, and recognition through international treaties and agreements,” it said. “Some countries have been articulating an erroneous opinion that intentionally Next page
Pangilinan, and Risa Hontiveros. Sotto said the majority bloc would hold a caucus to discuss Lacson’s resignation and decide on the committee’s new leadership. He noted that Lacson’s recommendation for a successor would carry signifi-
cant weight in the selection process. Tulfo and Ejercito however have declined the possibility of replacing Lacson. Tulfo said he was honored to be considered but would rather focus on his existing roles leading the committees Next page
Over 600k hit by Cebu quake, ‘Paolo’ agri losses at P105.39m MORE than 600,000 people across northern Cebu have been affected by the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that struck the province last week, according to the latest situation report of the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC). Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Next page