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AFP flags 252 ‘ghost’ projects COA seeks tighter safeguards thru GPS-based geotagging of gov’t infra By Rex Espiritu
T
HE Armed Forces of the Philippines said it has so far identified 252 “ghost projects” during its nationwide inspection of government-funded flood control infrastructure, military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said on Tuesday. Padilla said the ongoing inspections stemmed from the directive of the Independent Commission for In-
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 291 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2025
frastructure, which tasked the AFP and the Philippine National Police Next page
ICI livestream begins; Sandro, Pulong invited to next hearings By Joel E. Zurbano THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure began livestreaming its proceedings for the first time yesterday, with Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjamin Agarao Jr. and officials from the Land Bank of the Philippines appearing before the body. The ICI released two weeks ago the guidelines for the livestream, which states that all proceedings will be streamed live on YouTube except when a resource person requests for an executive session or if the information to be discussed must be kept confidential for national defense or security reasons, among others. In yesterday’s said hearing, Agarao refuted claims he received any money as “commission” from the
LIVE @ ICI. Laguna 4th District Rep. Benjamin Agarao, Jr. (right) answers questions from the Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) led by Chairman Andres Reyes Jr., Commissioner Rogelio Singson, and Special Adviser Rodolfo Azurin Jr. during the panel’s first livestreamed public hearing aired via YouTube on December 2, 2025. ICI
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Palace: No to reenacted 2026 budget, urges Congress to act fast By Charles Dantes and Ram Superable MALACAÑANG on Tuesday urged lawmakers to speed up the 2026 national budget, saying President Ferdi-
nand Marcos Jr. wants to avoid a reenacted 2025 spending plan that has hampered program implementation for government agencies. Senate leaders however, gave assurance that the government will not oper-
ate under a re-enacted budget next year. Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro issued the call after Senator Sherwin Gatchalian his colleagues that they might be running out of time to finalize the budget, raising
the possibility of adopting the existing General Appropriations Act if deliberationed extend into next year. “Speed up the work. The study should be sped up,” Castro said in a Next page
MOST ADVANCED WARSHIP.
The Philippine Navy (PN) formally commissioned yesterday its most advanced warship, the guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang, during ceremonies held at Naval Operating Base in Subic, Zambales. The warship was built by South. Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). PN
Guided-missile frigate now Ph latest warship THE Philippine Navy (PN) on Tuesday formally commissioned its most advanced warship, significantly enhancing the country’s capability to patrol and safeguard its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). “This warship will add to the capital ships of the PN that are capable of patrolling all the way up to our EEZ and even beyond,” PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo.
SENATE President Vicente Sotto III said Tuesday that citizens who want to hold Senator Ronald dela Rosa accountable for his repeated absences should file an ethics complaint. “If we have fellow citizens who want to ask or want to hold a legislator ac-
By Katrina Manubay THE Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed criminal charges against some 200 individuals, including a retired general, a congressman, and several businessmen over violent incidents that broke out during the anti-corruption rallies on Sept. 21. In a press briefing on Monday, Dec. 1, acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said that other cases are being tried in court. “We have filed no less than 200 cases, and some of them are already Next page
Kim Chiu files theft complaint vs. sis Lakam
Trinidad was referring to the guided-missile frigate BRP Diego Silang (FFG-07), commissioned during ceremonies at Naval Operating Base Subic, Zambales. “It will be the most modern warship that we will have,” he added. The ship arrived from South Korea on Sept. 8, 2025, and shares the same specifications as its sister ship, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), which was commissioned in May. Both ships were procured from HD Hyundai Heavy
By Angelica Villanueva
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File ethics complaint vs. absentee Bato—Sotto By Ram Superable and Pot Chavez
Ex-general, solon among 200 facing Sept. 21 raps
countable, they should file an ethics complaint. That is the best remedy for us to discuss it,” Sotto suggested. Despite his statement, Sotto clarified that the “no work, no pay” rule does not apply to senators, including Dela Rosa, who has missed sessions since November 11. He also questioned why the Senate is being criticized for a two-to three-week ab-
sence when representatives from the House have missed sessions without similar scrutiny. Sotto confirmed that Dela Rosa has not personally communicated with him but noted that the senator’s office remains operational and will not face budget cuts due to his absence. Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Next page
ACTRESS-HOST Kim Chiu has filed a criminal complaint for qualified theft against her sister, Lakambini Chiu, after allegedly discovering major financial discrepancies in one of their businesses. Kim appeared yesterday before the Office of the Assistant City Prosecutor in Quezon City with legal counsels Xylene Dolor and Archernar Gregana, submitting her sworn statement along with supporting documents and evidence. “Today, nag-file si Kim ng criminal case against Lakambini Chiu. We Next page Kim Chiu