manilastandard.net
@ManilaStandardPH
@mnlstandardph
@manilastandard
@ManilaStandardYT
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
ISRAEL, HAMAS AGREE TO TRUMP PEACE DEAL
5 PH HOTELS LISTED IN 1ST GLOBAL MICHELIN KEYS
BSP DELIVERS 4TH INTEREST RATE CUT
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A2
BUSINESS / B1
421 DPWH projects nationwide are non-existent, says Dizon By Vito Barcelo and Ram Superable PUBLIC Works Secretary Vince Dizon yesterday confirmed that at least 421, or over 5 percent, out of some 8,000 infra-
structure projects nationwide do not exist, making them “ghost projects.” This was gleaned from inspections on supposed project sites, currently being jointly conducted by multiple Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 237 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025
Ombudsman readies graft raps Remulla: Flood control cases won’t spare anyone, ‘high or low’ By Rio N. Araja and Pot Chavez
N
EWLY-appointed Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said he will file graft charges before the Sandiganbayan “in the next few weeks” against those behind anomalous flood control projects. “That’s for sure. Just like the flood control project, that is an open and shut case. That’s not rocket science. We really can hold those involved liable,” Remulla said in a television interview. “We have already gathered many pieces of evidence. We will really do our best to build up (the cases) because we do not want to be the cause of delay,” he added. He said filing of cases will be based on the evidence and will not be personality-based. “Within the next few weeks when we have filed (the cases), we would then be ready for trial so it would (start with a) preliminary investigation but that would continue to go on,” Remulla said. “It is not about who but what the case is all about, what evidence would there be…We will not look at personalities if they have high (positions) or low,” he said.
EXPANDED ACCESS. President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. engages representatives of pharmacy chains and community-based medicine distributors after the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement on the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies, an initiative that will expand citizens’ access to essential medicines especially in areas with a shortage of licensed pharmacists. Inset shows the President and Paolo Borromeo, Private Sector Advisory Council (Healthcare) representative. Revoli Cortez
Telepharmacy to widen public access to medicines—Marcos THE Marcos administration on Thursday unveiled a pilot program aimed at expanding access to essential medicines among underserved communities by allowing more flexible supervision of pharmacies through telepharmacy and remote oversight. President Marcos witnessed the
signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies, a partnership among the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and
Next page
Mild tremor shakes Region 1, forcing class suspensions
Next page
More asset freeze orders forthcoming—AMLC THE Anti-Money Laundering Council on Thursday announced more asset freeze orders are forthcoming in connection with ongoing investigations on anomalous flood control and other government infrastructure projects.
AMLC executive director Matthew David said the council has so far secured five freeze orders from the Court of Appeals (CA) against questionable bank accounts and assets worth P4.4 billion. The freeze orders covered 1,632
QUAKEREADY.
Teachers and students of Crystal Cave Integrated School gather yesterday at the designated evacuation area when a 4.4 magnitude earthquake rocked Baguio City. Chloe Ann Villanueva
By Rex Espiritu and Katrina Manubay LOCAL government units (LGUs) across La Union, Benguet, and Pangasinan issued class and work suspensions Thursday after a magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck the town of Pugo, La Union, at 10:30 a.m. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) confirmed the reported intensities following the seismic activity but clarified that no aftershocks or property damage are Next page
bank accounts, 54 insurance policies, 163 pricey motor vehicles, 40 real properties, and 12 e-wallet accounts. “Sa ngayon hindi muna pwedeng sabihin yung mga personalities involved Next page
Garma helping ICC build case vs. Sen. Go, claims Trillanes By Ram Superable FORMER Senator Antonio Trillanes IV yesterday claimed that former Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Royina Garma is cooperating with prosecutors of the International Criminal Court in building a case against Senator Christopher Go. Trillanes said Garma, a former police colonel appointed by then-President Rodrigo Duterte, has agreed to testify on the administration’s bloody war on drugs. “She’s in a safe place at the moment, and she will testify against Duterte, and also, she’s part Next page
SEC chief sorry over fake stock market report after Sec. Go denial SPECIAL Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go on Thursday dismissed as “fake news” a viral social media post claiming that the recent flood control corruption scandal wiped out ₱1.7 trillion in stock market value. In a Palace press briefing, Go said the figures being circulated were “falsely sensationalized” and not based on official market data. “The attributed source confirmed it was fake news and did not
come from them,” he said. He issued the statement after Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman Francisco Lim earlier said that the ghost projects issue had wiped out ₱1.7 trillion in market value of listed firms over the past three weeks. Lim earlier said investors were fleeing because of weak integrity, reiterating that corruption is a weapon of mass wealth destruction. Next page
TERNOCON, PALARO. Six visionary designers – Hannah Adrias, Glyn Alley Magtibay, Jo Ann Bitagcol, Len Cabili, Renz Reyes, and Carl Jan Cruz – show off their ‘reimagined’ modern ternos at the Ternocon, Palaro event at the FIFA-certified MOA Sky Football Pitch. (From left to right) Cultural Center of the Philippines President Kaye Tinga, Suyen Corporation Vice President for Business Development Bryan Lim, SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan, Bench CEO and Founder Ben Chan, SM Supermalls Assistant Vice President for Special Events and Leasing Hanna Carinna T. Sy, and Regional Operations Head Perkin O.