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AFP rebukes Barzaga for misleading public By Rex Espiritu, Vince Lopez, and Pot Chavez THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) yesterday castigated Cavite 4th District Rep. Kiko Barzaga for falsely claiming online that
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. had threatened to remove the pensions of all military personnel. In a statement, AFP Public Affairs Office Chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the post circulating on social media was “baseless, malicious, and
intended to mislead” the public. He emphasized that there has been no such directive, statement, or policy from President Marcos or any government agency. “The AFP strongly condemns the Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 247 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2025
30 biz groups urge PBBM, ICI to act fast Seek decisive action vs. corruption for real justice By Othel V. Campos
T
HIRTY-FOUR major industry associations, representing a broad spectrum of businesses, have issued a joint resolution appealing to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to take swift and decisive action against what they described as “historic, massive, and unprecedented corruption” in flood control and infrastructure projects. The organizations, which include the Philippine Chamber of Commerce
and Industry (PCCI), Makati Business Club (MBC), and Management As-
RAMIL’S DELUGE. Rescue workers, left photo, retrieve the
bodies of a family of five, including two children aged two and 11, who were crushed to death when a tree fell on their house at daybreak yesterday as tropical storm ‘Ramil’ passed through Pitogo, Quezon. In Daram, Samar, the Jacopon River, top right, swelled and spilled over its banks while flooding made roads impassable in several barangays in Roxas City, in Capiz. Joe Patente, Region 6 - DPWH
SEVEN people have died after Tropical Storm Ramil (international name: Fengshen) ploughed yesterday across the Philippines’ main island Luzon, police and disaster officials said. A family of five, including two chil-
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Filipina beauties win titles in Bangkok, KL THE Philippines once again made its mark on the international pageant stage after two Filipina beauty queens brought
pride to the country over the weekend. Emma Tiglao of Pampanga was crowned Miss Grand International 2025 at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand on October 18.
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Survey: DPWH, Congress, COA trust ratings sharply drop By Katrina Manubay THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), along with Congress and other government line agencies, suf-
Seven killed as storm ‘Ramil’ sweeps through the Visayas By Rex Espiritu
sociation of the Philippines (MAP), called on the President to restore public trust and protect national security by immediately addressing reports of ghost projects, substandard works, and inflated contracts. “Trillions of pesos supplied and intended to protect our communities from disasters have been squandered. This is more than financial loss. It is a fatal breach of public trust that leaves our people vulnerable and outraged,”
WINNERS ALL. Emma Tiglao of Pampanga, left, is crowned Miss Grand International 2025 by reigning queen CJ Opiaza at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand on October 18. In neighboring Malaysia, Mutya ng Pilipinas Christine Eds Enero, bottom photo, also carried the Philippine flag high as she bagged the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International title at the Miss Tourism International 2025 pageant held at Resorts World Genting, also on October 18.
fered drastic declines in approval and trust ratings as shown in the latest popularity survey by PUBLICUS Asia. The Pahayag poll, conducted Sept. 23 to 30, indicated that the DPWH had the worst
setback from 33 percent during the Second Quarter to a mere 12 percent in the Third Quarter, basically on account of the flood control projects scandal and questionable Next page
Comelec flags 21 contractors in 2025 polls
dren aged two and 11, were crushed to death when a tree fell on their house at daybreak, police official Sonny Ombajino told Agence France-Presse (AFP) by telephone. The incident occurred in a village near the town of Pitogo, about 153 Next page
THE Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Sunday said 21 contractors were believed to have donated to eight candidates’ campaign funds for the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. Comelec Chairman George Garcia said the findings were based on the
42,000 statements of contributions and expenditures (SOCEs) screened by their legal department. “Until last Friday, we saw 21 contractors who gave to the politicians. We said 21, but it doesn’t mean 21 candidates also. At least eight candidates were involved,” Garcia told
ABS-CBN News. “For instance, several contractors gave to a single candidate,” he added. Garcia also said their probe would be finished in less than two weeks as they await the confirmation of the Department of Public Works and Next page