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‘CLOSE OF A CHAPTER IN COUNTRY’S HISTORY’: ENRILE DIES AT 101 JUAN Ponce Enrile, a tenured statesman and political operator who spent nearly six decades and the better half of his lifetime in public service, has passed away at the age of 101, his daughter said. Enrile, who was being treated for pneumonia, died at home at 4:21 pm "surrounded by our family," Katrina Ponce Enrile said on her Facebook
page, adding there would be a public viewing. "It was his heartfelt wish to take his final rest at home, with his family by his side…We were blessed to honor that wish and to be with him in those sacred final moments," she said. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. paid tribute to his late chief legal counsel, describing Enrile as one of
the most enduring and respected public servants in Philippine history. "For over 50 years, Juan Ponce Enrile dedicated his life to serving the Filipino people, helping guide the country through some of its most challenging and defining moments The President lauded Enrile’s intellect and unwavering commitment Next page
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 266 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2025 • Juan Ponce Enrile
Xmas jail for infra mess culprits PBBM: Happy days over for those involved in flood control corruption By Charles Dantes and Maricel Cruz
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RESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed on Thursday that those behind bogus flood control projects will be arrested before Christmas, days after deadly back-toback typhoons left swathes of the country underwater and nearly four months after he first exposed the scheme in his 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA). “Before Christmas, many of those named here, I think their cases will be concluded, their cases will be built, and they will be imprisoned. There will be no ‘Merry Christmas’ for them. Before Christmas, they will be jailed,” Mr. Marcos said in a press conference Thursday. “And those people who are involved there – these shameless ones who steal the people's money – your happy days are over. We will chase you down,” he added. Scores of construction firm owners, government officials, and lawmakers have been accused of pocketing funds for substandard or so-called ghost infrastructure projects. The Department of Finance has estimated the economy lost up to P118.5-billion from 2023 to 2025 due to corruption in flood control projects. Criminal cases against most of the people implicated were nearly completed, Mr. Marcos told reporters. Asked if his cousin—former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez—will also face charges, Next page
PROGRESS REPORT. President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. answers
a question during a press conference at Malacanang Palace after reporting on the progress of the investigation on the wholesale corruption in flood control projects which he exposed during his State of the Nation Address in July. Inset shows the President visiting a village hard hit by super typhoon ‘Uwan’ in Catanduanes. PCO
ICI to charge 3 more incumbent or ex-senators By Joel E. Zurbano THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) has said it intends to initiate legal proceedings against
three incumbent or former senators next week in connection with the flood control projects scandal. "We will be filing cases at least against three sitting or former sena-
tors next week,” ICI chairman Andres Reyes Jr. told reporters but did not identify them. He said this would bring to five the number of sitting and former senators
to be charged in the corruption mess. The ICI recommended to the Ombudsman last Oct. 29 the filing of administrative and criminal charges Next page
Mendoza is BIR chief; Vida is acting DOJ head By Charles Dantes
BIR Commissioner PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Charlito has appointed Charlito Mendoza as Mendoza commissioner of the Bureau of Inter-
nal Revenue (BIR), replacing Romeo Lumagui, Malacañang confirmed on Wednesday. Meanwhile, acting Justice Secretary Frederick Vida on Thursday confirmed his appointment as the
INC welcomes non-members to Nov. 16-18 rally at Luneta By Vince Lopez IGLESIA Ni Cristo (INC) spokesperson and Minister of the Gospel Brother Edwil Zabala said that even non-members of the church are wel-
come to join the INC rally scheduled from November 16 to 18 in Manila. ‘‘This November 16-18 rally is not meant to interfere in politics but to express our sentiment and lend the Next page
Secretary of the Department of Justice (DOJ), a post vacated by now Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla The appointment paper, signed by the President, directs Mendoza to assume office and perform the duties of BIR commissioner upon taking his oath and submitting copies to the Office of the President and the Civil Service Commission. Mendoza’s appointment marks
another key change within the Department of Finance as the administration continues to pursue fiscal reforms and enhance revenue collection efforts. Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Dave Gomez also confirmed the changes in BIR, but did not specify the reason why
Acting Justice Secretary Frederick Vida
Next page
Rody joins Bato in filing TRO vs. ICC arrest warrant By Pot Chavez and Katrina Manubay A MANIFESTATION was filed before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to prevent government agencies from implementing
a warrant against Senator Ronald ‘‘Bato’’ Dela Rosa. Aside from Dela Rosa, former President Rodrigo Duterte was also listed as a petitioner in the 25-page manifestation filed by lawyer Israelito Torreon and shared by SMNI with Manila Standard. The petitioners also asked the High
Tribunal to issue a writ of preliminary injunction enjoining the respondents from coordinating the implementation of the red notice and surrender request against Dela Rosa. They further prayed that the SC direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Foreign Affairs Next page