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Palace: IPC may be redundant
But senators say new probe body makes up for ICI shortcomings By Katrina Manubay and Ram Superable
T
HE Palace said yesterday that establishing an Independent People’s Commission (IPC) as proposed in both Houses of Congress might be redundant, noting its functions may already be covered by the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice (DOJ). In a radio interview, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro explained that the
VOL. XXXIX • NO. 296 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 • MONDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2025
Senate vows to pass 2026 GAA by Dec.17
IPC is intended to investigate not only flood control projects but also various
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HAIL MAMA MARY. Devotees accompany various Marian icons during the annual Grand Marian Procession inside Intramuros, Manila yesterday, marking the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception — one of the country’s most prominent religious traditions. Norman Cruz
By Ram Superable SENATE President Vicente Sotto III over the weekend confirmed that the Senate will ratify the bicameral conference committee report on the proposed 2026 national budget earlier or on December 17, which is also scheduled as the chamber’s last day of session. Sotto assured lawmakers and the public that the Senate will not allow last-minute insertions in the proposed budget and will adjourn for the Christmas recess only after the bicam report is ratified. “No one can add or insert anything anymore. I will not allow it,” he asserted. According to the Senate chief, no additional funds will be allocated for discretionary use in the proposed budget, except for items under unprogrammed appropriations, which depend on revenue availability. Sotto also said Senate Finance Committee chair Sherwin Gatchalian arranged for the bicameral conference to open on December 10 to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of the General Appropriations Bill. The bicam meetings were initially scheduled from December 13 to 16 but may be moved earlier to expedite the final approval, with ratification possible by December 14 and no later
PNP activates tracker teams for Discaya By Vince Lopez
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CHINA JETS LOCK RADAR ON JAPAN JETS
DA HALTS SPAIN PORK IMPORTS
NEWS / A2
NEWS / A4
PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) acting chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., yesterday mobilized intelligence and tracker teams to determine the whereabouts of Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and several other individuals accused of involvement in an alleged “ghost” flood control project in Davao Occidental. This was done in anticipation of the issuance of arrest warrants after the Office of the Ombudsman filed malversation through falsification and graft charges against those involved in the P96.5-million project before a Digos, Davao del Sur court on Friday. Pasig City Chief of Police, Col. Hendrix Mangaldan, however said his office is no longer aware of the exact location of Discaya and her husband, Pacifico. “As to your query, I cannot answer that question, but we will have to validate their whereabouts,” he told Manila Standard in a message. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier ordered Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla Next page
‘Return of P60b PhilHealth fund to boost DoH zero billing program’ By Katrina Manubay PRESIDENTIAL Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said the return of P60 billion in excess funds to Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) could bolster the implementation of the zerobalance billing program in Department of Health (DOH) hospitals. In an interview with DZBB on Sunday, December 7, Castro mentioned that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. understands the significance of these
BICAM VENUE. Senator Win Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Finance Committe, inspects the Centro de Turismo Intramuros where the Congressional bicameral committee will begin deliberations on Dec. 10 on the 2026 national budget. Win Gatchalian FB
funds, particularly as the government moves forward with the zero-balance billing initiative in DOH hospitals. “‘Yun talaga ang gusto ng Pangulo, matulungan ang lahat ng ating kababayan sa pangkalusugan na isyu (That is really what the President wants— to help all our fellow citizens with healthcare issues),” she said. Castro issued this statement after the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to order the return of the P60 billion excess funds previously Next page
Chinese fire flares vs. BFAR reconnaissance plane By Rex Espiritu and Katrina Manubay THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said Chinese vessels targeted with three flares a government plane during a reconnaissance flight over Zamora reef which spotted several Chinese and other foreign vessels operating in waters near the Kalayaan Island Group. As this developed, China’s new envoy,
Jing Quan, vowed to push his country’s interest even as he works toward improving diplomatic relations with the Philippines, the Chinese-run newspaper Global Times reported. The PCG said it sighted a Chinese hospital ship
‘Wilma’ weakens but forces 30k families to evacuate in Region 8 By Rio N. Araja
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FLASHPOINT. A China Coast Guard ship on patrol was among the Chinese fleet spotted by a reconnaissance flight conducted on Saturday by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. PCG
NEARLY 30,000 families were affected by Tropical Depression “Wilma” while more than 9,000 people were evacuated, according to the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) in Region 8. This as TROPICAL depression “Wilma” weakened into a low pressure area on Sunday. “We had preemptive evacuation of 3,164 families or 9,614 people. But
those affected totalled 29,960 families or 103,001 people in 123 barangays which encountered slight flooding,” OCD Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) officer-in-charge director Rey Gozon said in a radio interview. Gozon said the evacuees would not be allowed to go back home until authorities were convinced they are safe. Gozon said they are also focused on conducting preemptive evacuation in areas prone to floods and landslides. Next page