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OMB: Davao ‘epicenter’ of flood control works; Pulong: Prove it By Rex Espiritu and Maricel Cruz
VOL. XL • NO. 193 • 3 SECTIONS 16 PAGES • P20 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2026 •
THE Office of the Ombudsman is probing possible corruption in flood control projects in Davao City, prompting Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte to challenge Ombudsman Je-
Palace sees enough evidence to convict VP
Says testimonies showed Duterte controlled confi funds
sus Crispin Remulla to release Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) records covering all such projects in the city. Remulla made the observation Tuesday during the House Committee on Appropriations’ deliberations on Next page
Ex-Speaker to OMB: Apply the rules of evidence in my case By Maricel V. Cruz FORMER Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has challenged the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) to be more straightforward and precisely apply the rules of evidence in handling the charges against him. In the 25-page supplemental counterNext page
By Charles Dantes, Maricel Cruz, Katrina Manubay and Joel Zurbano
M
ALACAÑANG on Monday said the prosecution has "in a way" presented enough evidence to support the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte on the impeachment article involving the alleged misuse of confidential funds. “According to the Palace, in a way, yes,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said when asked if the prosecution has already presented sufficient evidence to convict Duterte for Impeachment Article One. She said based on the testimonies of witnesses presented, the House prosecution team has proven that the Vice President and Col. Raymund Lachica were “the ones who controlled the confidential funds.” ‘VP had command and control’ Castro cited the testimony of former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta, who said that while she never personally saw Duterte take or keep the confidential funds, it was the Vice President who ordered the release of the entire P125 million to her security officer, Col. Lachica. “This only means that the one who had the command and control was none other than VP Sara,” the Palace official said. She, however, acknowledged the final decision rests with the senators sitting as impeachment judges.
HEALTH PARTNERSHIP. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. applauds as key DOH, Philhealth and St. Luke’s Medical Center officials present the signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between St. Luke’s Medical Center (SLMC) – Global City and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) yesterday at the Henry Sy, Sr. Auditorium, SLMC in Taguig City. With the President are PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Beverly Ho, Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Edwin Mercado, St. Luke's Medical Center President and CEO Dr. Dennis Serrano, and 1st Vice Chairman Atty. Cirilo Noel. Inset shows the President visiting a patient in the hospital. PCO
Private hospitals now part of govt's health network—PBBM By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said his administration is including private hospitals in government health programs to make specialized medical care more accessible to Filipinos who cannot afford it. Mr. Marcos made the statement after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of agreement between PhilHealth and St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, describing
the partnership as a step toward expanding the government’s Universal Health Care program. "This is a very simple ceremony, belies the importance of what we mark today, because we mark a partnership that strengthens our shared commitment to ensuring that Filipino patients have easier access to quality and affordable health care services and benefits that they all deserve,” President Marcos said. The initiative complements the Next page
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HOSTILE WITNESS. New witness Lemuel Ortoni, assistant chief of staff of the Office of the Vice President, looks at a document shown to him on Day 18 of the Senate Impeachment Trial at the Senate. Lino Santos
Marcos: Gov’t to equip domestic makers of e-trikes and e-jeepneys By Charles Dantes PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said the government is working to equip local manufacturers to produce fully Filipino-made electric tricycles and jeepneys as part of efforts to reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products. Mr. Marcos made the statement during a visit to the MD Juan factory in Caloocan City, where he inspected
the company’s facilities and assessed the equipment and government support needed for local electric vehicle manufacturing. “We are here to look at what needs to be done so they can eventually fabricate all-Filipino electric tricycles and electric jeepneys, if we reach that point,” the President said. Mr. Marcos said the government is assessing the plant’s existing Next page
‘No bail for illegal use of loose firearms’ Trump to impose $100k fee on firms By Vince Lopez hiring foreigners DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday pushed for a stricter law on loose firearms, saying the offense should be non-bailable and punishable by up to 20 years jail term in order to curb violent crimes involving unlicensed guns. Remulla told reporters that stronger penalties are necessary to deter the illegal possession and use of firearms.
The DILG chief’s call comes on the heels of the Zamboanga City and Tacloban school shootings, where minors gained access to legally-owned firearms. Remulla said the incident underscores the need to review and strictly enforce firearm policies, particularly those involving uniformed personnel entrusted with government-issued weapons.The DILG chief said the current penalty does not provide a sufficient deterrent because the offenders Next page
US President Donald Trump's administration on Monday moved to impose a more than $100,000 fee on employers hiring foreign workers through a highly-skilled visa program, after facing a legal setback in an earlier effort. Curbing immigration—both undocumented and lawful—has been a Next page
EYEING ‘OBET’ AND HABAGAT. Project NOAH staff at their work
stations monitoring typhoon Obet at their office in UP DIliman. Manny Palmero