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P348b more may be slashed from DPWH budget—senator By Ram Superable, Darwin Amojelar and Vito Barcelo AS MUCH as P348 billion may be slashed from the proposed budget of
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 249 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2025
the Department of Public Works and Highways for 2026, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said. Gatchalian said while the DPWH already reduced its initial proposed Next page
ICI to file more cases with OMB Fact-finding body vows won’t be used for political agenda
By Joel E. Zurbano
ONE RFID. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. congratulates businessman Manny Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, which operates NLEx and other tollways of Easytrip, as SMC Infrastructure chief Ramon S. Ang and DOTr Secretary Giovanni Lopez look on during the launch of the One RFID for all tollways project. PCO
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HE Independent Commission on Infrastructure said it will file dozens of cases with the Office of the Ombudsman in the next three to four weeks in connection with ghost and botched flood-control projects.
PBBM launches One RFID for Luzon tollways
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It will be hard and sometimes, it will be painful, but it will be worth it because what we are fighting for is a country that our children will inherit – a nation they can be proud of.
By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Tuesday formally launched the Toll Collection System Interoperability Project, introducing a single RFID sticker that can be used across all major toll expressways in Luzon. Speaking during the event in Calamba City, Mr. Marcos said the “One RFID, All Tollways” initiative aims to simplify toll collection and end the confusion brought by multiple RFID systems. Next page
DOJ wants flood control whistleblowers in its protective custody
–President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on corruption purge during yesterday’s ceremony for the 2025 recipients of the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos Award “We will be filing at least 15 referrals with the Ombudsman in the next three to four weeks. We are targeting that and we Next page
THE Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said it would seek responsibility over the protection of witnesses in the flood control scandal who are currently in the protective custody of the Senate.
While the Senate gives the DOJ access to the witnesses, they “are only allowed to go to NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) or to the DOJ for the fact-finding.” “But they are claiming that we need
to go to this place to get documents. We need to go to our homes to get these documents. We need to talk to some people to strengthen our position. But we cannot do that,” DOJ Undersecretary Jesse Andres said.
“That’s why…we will soon file something formally that once we have accepted all of these whistleblowers as protected witnesses, without according them state witness status, we may be alNext page
Sotto confident Trillanes files plunder complaint Lacson will be vs. Rody, Go with Ombudsman back as Blue Ribbon head By Rio N. Araja and Ram Superable
By Ram Superable
CHRISTMAS IS AT SM. It’s officially the Christmas season in SM Supermalls as SM Aura unveiled the 30-foot Christmas Tree centerpiece, the first in 89 malls, that transforms the mall into a world of festive elegance. Leading the Christmas tree lighting are (L-R) Tim Yap, SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano, Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Special Events Hanna Carinna Sy, and Executive Vice President for Marketing Joaquin San Agustin.
SENATE President Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said Senator Panfilo Lacson is almost certain to return as chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee. However, Lacson, currently Senate President Pro Tempore, cautioned that such a move could cost the majority bloc some members and even undermine Sotto’s leadership. Sotto said Lacson was open to reassuming the contentious position after reflecting on his earlier decision to step down amid criticisms over his handling of the flood control investigation. Next page
Palace hands off VP Sara’s case with Ombudsman By Charles Dantes MALACAÑANG said Tuesday that it will let the Office of the Ombudsman handle the alleged misuse of Vice President Sara Duterte’s confidential funds. “It’s in the hands of the Office of the Ombudsman,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire
Castro said in a message. Akbayan Party, together with progressive coalition Tindig Pilipinas, called on the Ombudsman to look into the alleged irregular use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President, citing the need for transparency and accountability in the handling of public money.
“We are calling on the Ombudsman to take the cases against VP Sara Duterte seriously, investigate the articles of impeachment because the trial we expected in the Senate did not happen,” Tindig Pilipinas convenor Francis “Kiko” Aquino Dee said. The controversy stems from the Next page
FORMER senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Tuesday filed plunder and graft complaints against former president Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go before the Office of the Ombudsman over alleged irregularities in government infrastructure projects amounting to ₱6.95 billion. Trillanes named Go as the “central figure” in the complaint, accusing Duterte of acting as his enabler. Go quickly fired back, accusing Trillanes of reviving old, baseless allegations to damage his reputation and divert attention from those truly responsible for corruption. Next page
A LOAD OF TROUBLE. Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV submits a trolley loaded with documents on the plunder complaint against former president Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Bong Go, and Go’s father and brother filed yesterday with the Office of the Ombudsman. Manny Palmero