Week 16 of Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial

Week 16 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial saw the beginning of the her defense. The man scheduled to be the first witness dropped out the previous week. That left Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin to fill his shoes. He did not make a good impression on the Senator-judges. First of all he tried to claim a restaurant can be a residence. 

https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/11/09/2568988/resto-residential-land-defense-witness-answer-draws-senator-judges-ire

Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo accused Vice President Sara Duterte's first defense witness of "lying through his teeth" Monday, November 9 after he sought to explain why a property declared as residential could be a restaurant.

Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin was questioned about a property marked "910" on the city's property identification map that is occupied by Prime Bistro, a commercial establishment.

Adalin testified that the property covered by a Transfer Certificate of Title ending in 775 was the same property declared in Duterte's Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth.

The vice president's SALN describes the property as a "residential lot," but the actual property is occupied by the restaurant.

Asked about the apparent discrepancy, Adalin said a building may appear commercial while actually being used for residential purposes.

"There are times when a building is commercial but its use is residential," Adalin said.

The explanation drew a sharp response from Tulfo.

"It's clearly stated that Prime Bistro is commercial... He said it was commercial, but it's being used as residential. He's lying through his teeth, making it look as though he's taking us for fools,"Tulfo said

"So you set up a dining area, you put up a sign, just so you could sleep there? That seems to be what this witness is implying."

Prime Bistro is a Davao City restaurant on a property registered under Duterte's husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

The National Bureau of Investigation previously cited the property among assets it was examining for alleged discrepancies in the couple's SALN declarations.

Records presented during the impeachment trial show that the property includes land with an assessed value of about P82,000 and a separate building. Tax declarations placed the combined market value of the land and building at roughly P9 million, while Duterte's SALN listed an acquisition cost of P10 million.

Adalin was called by the defense to testify about tax declarations and tax maps involving the Matina Crossing property and to support its position that the property had been disclosed in Duterte's SALN.

This exchange led Senator Raffy Tulfo to call him a lair. 

Second of all Adalin's tone was apparently flippant and joking which irked some Senators. He was also evasive when asked if he traveled to China as part of a contingent of LGU officials paid for by the Chinese consulate.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2338362/defense-witness-answers-in-sara-duterte-trial-irk-erwin-tulfo

A Davao City assessor testifying for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team in her impeachment trial was warned on Tuesday that he could be cited for contempt after evading questions about whether he had traveled to China in 2025.

Engineer Jaime Adalin was presented by the defense in connection with allegations that Duterte had unexplained wealth and failed to truthfully declare all her assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

Noting that Adalin was evasive during cross-examination, private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. asked probing questions to test his credibility.

Tolosa initially asked Adalin when he was appointed city assessor. Adalin said he was appointed in 2017, when Duterte was the city mayor.

“So she (Duterte) gave you the permanent position,” the prosecutor quipped.

“You would also admit that sometime in November 2025, you were one of the LGU (local government unit) officials of Davao who went to China on an all-expenses-paid tour sponsored by the Chinese consulate. Is that correct?” Tolosa further asked.

Defense lawyer Lindon Miguel Bacquel objected to the question on the grounds of relevance, but presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero directed Adalin to answer.

“I think that is irrelevant,” Adalin replied, drawing laughter from the courtroom.

“You’re being funny there, Engineer Jimmy. You’re being funny there,” Escudero said.

“Actually, I really can’t recall,” Adalin said.

Tolosa expressed disbelief that Adalin could not recall the trip, which supposedly took place only last year.

Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III later took the floor, stressing that the question was important to “gauge the credibility of the witness.”

Sotto said the court could obtain the information from the Bureau of Immigration if Adalin did not want to answer.

Escudero then pressed Adalin on whether he could not recall the trip itself or merely the date it took place.

“Perhaps the date, Sir,” Adalin said.

“But you did travel to China around that date, around that time?” Escudero asked.

“Ah, perhaps? Again, I don’t have the records. I can’t possibly remember all your trips, can I?” Adalin answered.

Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo did not find Adalin’s answers funny and reminded him that the court could cite him for contempt.

“Mr. Presiding Officer, it seems this witness is making a fool of us. Sir, may I remind you that you are under oath. You cannot make a mockery of your testimony. We can cite you for contempt,” he said.

“Just to remind you, Sir, we are conducting a serious proceeding here. You are being asked whether you went there, but you refuse to say. You cannot even recall the date. If you really don’t know, then just say you don’t know,” he added.

 “Mr. Presiding Officer, I just want to remind the witness that he is under oath. Whether he chooses to lie is up to him, but there are consequences for doing so,” Tulfo also said. 

After much grilling Adalin eventually did admit he traveled to China.

Another issue for Adalin was his confirmation of a certain property not explicitly listed in Duterte's SALN was actually listed in her SALN.  Through questioning it was revealed he used Google maps to superimpose the property map. This dumbfounded Rep. Tolosa who noted that none of the information used to identify the property as Sara's are in the SALN.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2338540/assessor-quizzed-why-confirm-property-when-vps-saln-has-no-details

After claiming that lawyer Manases Carpio’s property matched the item declared by Vice President Sara Duterte, the Davao City land assessor was questioned how he was able to make that connection when Duterte’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) did not contain details.

Counsel for the prosecution Benjamin Tolosa Jr. raised this question on Monday, at the resumption of Duterte’s impeachment trial, after Davao City Assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin claimed that the Carpio’s 379-square-meter parcel of land in Davao City’s Matina Crossing is the same as the property declared by his wif, particularly the residential lot in Barangay 74-A.

Adalin, the defense’s first witness for the impeachment trial explained that he used a property identification map to confirm that Matina Crossing is the same with Barangay 74-A, and the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) and tax declarations to match the assessed value and fair market value of the two properties.

"It was based on the property identification map, if you will overlay that property identification map with Google, you can see where it is located.  And as far as the term 74-A, again, as I mentioned in our comprehensive land use plan, 74-A is the term used there," Adalin said.

"So to clarify, what you’re stating is that you were able to identify, specifically, using this property identification map where the lot is shaded in red, the one with ending numbers 910.  This is the property, you’re pertaining to the property location based on the TCT, right, because we can see the coordinates there through the TCT," Tolosa added, which Adalin confirmed.

But Tolosa pressed Adalin how he came to that conclusion when there are no coordinates, exact block and lot numbers, for the property that Duterte declared in her SALN.

"When you check the tax declaration, there is a block number, lot number, street, et cetera.  Correct?"' Tolosa asked. "But all of this information is not in the SALN, right?  Other than the barangay, you cannot see what coordinates the property is, correct engineer?"

“What was stated in the SALN and as per the document is 74-A,” Adalin said.

"Exactly, so what was mentioned is only the barangay, and the exact coordinates of the property are not in the SALN, correct?"  Tolosa asked again, which Adalin confirmed.

"If the tax declaration is attached to the SALN, that could be very easy to identify.  Because the deed of sale as presented, what is reflected there is the title or formal title.  So again, this SALN is a document that we did not produce," Adalin admitted, when quizzed by Presiding Officer Francis Escudero and Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson.

While there are different descriptions for the lot purchased by Carpio and the one declared under Duterte’s 2024 and 2025 SALN, Adalin pointed out that both had the same assessed value of P82,046 and a current fair market value of P2,051,150.00.

However, the acquisition cost of the two properties differed: the lot was supposedly bought by Carpio for P6 million while Duterte declared an acquisition cost of P10 million — leading the prosecution to believe that these are two different properties, and one of them was not declared by Duterte in her SALN.

Also, Tolosa pointed out that Barangay 74-A or Matina Crossing is a big area, and there is a possibility that there are other properties inside the said barangay.

"It’s not only this property ending in TCT 0775 that is inside (this barangay), right?" Escudero asked. "That is the question of Atty. Tolosa, this is a big barangay, and how did you know that this is the same property as declared by the vice president in her SALN when only the barangay was named."

"Even in the province, only barangays are mentioned in the address, even us, our address only refers to the barangay.  So how can you support your claim when there is no lot number, no street, indicating where the property mentioned in the SALN is located," Escudero added.

During the hearing last October 1, two property registrars presented by the prosecution as witnesses testified that two parcels of land in Davao City purchased by Carpio were not reflected in Duterte’s SALN.

According to Davao City Register of Deeds IV Kathy Florence Baldonado, Carpio supposedly purchased a 379-square-meter parcel of land located in Juna Subd., Matina Crossing, Talomo, Davao City, Davao del Sur. 

However, even Escudero himself said during that trial day that he was not able to find this property in Duterte’s SALN.

Aside from Baldonado, Samal Deputy Register of Deeds III Marco Pineda said that another parcel of land measuring 751 square meters was purchased by Carpio in Matanos, but was not declared in Duterte’s SALN.

According to Pineda, the records of the registry show that Carpio acquired the land on March 15, 2018 for P3,453,849.  But the defense has maintained that these properties were declared by Duterte in her SALN

Adalin said the information was in the tax return and if that was attached to the SALN that would make identification easier. However, Duterte's tax return is not her SALN. That is a huge evidentiary gap he is attempting to leap. 

Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo tore into defense witness and GenCorp corporate counsel Suzette Balucanag-Punay, accusing her of being either completely unprepared or simply playing dumb during her testimony. The confrontation centered on a massive financial discrepancy regarding more than two million pesos paid to Vice President Sara Duterte between 2022 and 2025.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2339777/raffy-tulfo-witness-not-ready-to-explain-vp-dutertes-gencorp-earnings

The witness was either “not ready” or “nagmamaang-maangan” (playing dumb) for failing to fully explain the P2 million allegedly received by Vice President Sara Duterte from GenCorp Industries Inc., Senator-judge Raffy Tulfo said on Wednesday.

Tulfo made the remark during the Senate impeachment trial after defense witness and lawyer Suzette Balucanag-Punay revealed that the vice president received a total of P2,142,369.14 as a supposed “return of capital.”

According to Balucanag-Punay, in-house corporate counsel of GenCorp, Duterte is not listed as a shareholder of the company but has a “loose investment” in one of the Jollibee branches owned and operated by GenCorp.

She said Duterte’s “loose investment” in the Jollibee Times Square branch dates back to when it was supposed to be operated by Davao Bounty Times Food Corp.

This “loose investment” was then carried over to Great Jolly Times then to Time Square Bee Foods Corp. to GenCorp when these companies acquired the branch.

The witness also testified that Duterte received P337,500 in 2022; P555,750 in 2023; P612,419.14 in 2024; and P636,700 in 2025; hence the P2.1 million total of “return of capital.”

However, during the cross examination of prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan, the articles of incorporation of Davao Bounty Times Food Corp. showed that Duterte only had a paid up capital of P46,875 only, with a subscribed amount of P187,500.Asked to explain why the supposed “return of capital”–-which was understood to be just giving back the initial investment as opposed to “return on capital” which was understood as profit for the investment made—reached more than P2 million, the witness said she cannot find other documents to explain the nature of the supposed investments.

"I have been wondering about this for a while. She knows why she was called as a witness today—to address Vice President Sara Duterte’s unexplained wealth and explain the unexplainable—yet there are so many things she does not know, Tulfo said.

According to Tulfo, the witness could have asked GenCorp to explain and check whether it was return of or return on investment.

"It seems to me that despite being a lawyer for 15 years, you are not ready, or you are just playing dumb,” the senator-judge said further.

Balucanag-Punay was presented to debunk the prosecution’s claim that Duterte did not divest her business interests during her tenure as vice president.This allegation forms part of Article II which also alleges that Duterte amassed unexplained wealth and did not fully or truthfully disclose all her assets, liabilities, and net worth on her Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net worth.

Balucanag-Punay claimed the payouts were merely a return of capital from an unlisted investment in a fast-food franchise. However, prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan exposed corporate filings showing Duterte's actual paid-up capital was just under forty-seven thousand pesos. When asked to explain how a minor initial stake yielded over two million pesos in returned capital without accounting for actual profits, the witness admitted she could not produce any supporting documentation.

The trial ended early this week to accommodate the ASEAN meeting.  It will resume on November 19th. 

A Spaghetti Wires Probe Will Be A Waste Of Money

On this blog I have written many articles about the dangers posed to the community by dangling spaghetti wires. They are death trap waiting to close in on anyone who happens to accidentally touch them. Now Senator Tulfo is seeking a probe into several recent deadly accidents caused by these wires. 

 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/article/tulfo-seeks-probe-into-deadly-spaghetti-wires-accidents

Senator Raffy Tulfo has filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into hazardous overhead utility wires following a series of electrocution incidents and road accidents that have killed or seriously injured pedestrians and motorists.

In a news release on Friday, Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Services, said Senate Resolution No. 776 aims to identify those responsible for dangling, low-hanging, and poorly maintained electrical and telecommunications cables, commonly known as "spaghetti wires."

“The continued occurrence of such incidents demonstrates the need to identify the owners of hazardous lines, determine the respective responsibilities of utility companies and public authorities, establish clear inspection and reporting mechanisms, and ensure prompt removal, repair, relocation, or securing of unsafe facilities,” Tulfo said.

Among the cases cited in the resolution was the electrocution of a Grade 3 pupil on April 28, which reportedly resulted in the amputation of both hands.

Tulfo also cited the death of a 12-year-old boy in Imus, Cavite, on Jan. 4, 2025, after reportedly touching an energized light post that allegedly lacked adequate warning signs. 

In Cebu, a motorcycle rider died while another was injured after their vehicle became entangled in cables hanging across a national highway in San Fernando town on June 13, 2025.

A similar incident in Catmon, Cebu, on Jan. 22 left another motorcycle rider dead after a truck struck low-hanging telecommunications wires, causing cables and utility poles to fall onto the roadway.

The resolution also cited an August 2026 incident in Valenzuela City, where a senior citizen working as a street sweeper was dragged several meters after a delivery truck became entangled in a cable.

Tulfo said these incidents exposed serious gaps in the inspection, maintenance, and enforcement of safety standards governing overhead utility infrastructure.

“There is likewise a need to assess the adequacy of existing laws, regulations, local ordinances, permit requirements, safety standards, inspection mechanisms, penalties, procedures, as well as remedies available to victims of accidents and electrocutions caused by unsafe electrical and overhead utility infrastructure,” he said.

The proposed inquiry will examine the accountability of electric distribution utilities, telecommunications companies, internet and cable service providers, contractors, and concerned government agencies.

It will also assess coordination among local government units, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Energy, Department of Information and Communications Technology, and other regulatory bodies.

Under the resolution, the Senate committee will also examine measures to compel the removal of hazardous installations, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and hold negligent individuals and companies accountable for accidents involving unsafe utility infrastructure.

The issue of dangerous spaghetti wires is a long standing one in the Philippines. The poor state of the Philippines electrical grid is one of slow attrition encompassing decades. From time to time LGUs will order a clean up of these wires and for a few days crews are out clearing wires. Then it's over and it looks like nothing was done. A thick tangle of wires remains. 

The fact that these wires are regularly culled indicates the owners of the wires are known. The real problem is the LGU's lack of will to enforce the law and their orders to the fullest extent. Any new legislation passed into law due to Tulfo's investigation will face the same problem all laws face in the Philippines: the lack of will by the authorities to enforce it. 

The God Culture: Death of The God Culture Philippines

In 2025 Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture launched a new blog. That blog was was titled The God Culture Philippines. Here is the announcement from The God Culture's Youtube page. 

https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxBLFUUuqGDZtJky9VXn77dtlJxEJX3TMH

📢 Introducing Our New Official Blog: The God Culture Philippines 

🌐 Visit now: https://thegodculturephilippines.com 

We are pleased to announce the launch of our third official website, The God Culture Philippines, now joining TheGodCulture.org and TheGodCulture.com. This site serves as a dedicated Biblical History Library and Blog, offering deeper insights into ancient geography, prophecy, and forgotten truths—organized in an easy-to-navigate, topical format. 

🔎 Why a Third Site? This platform was developed to provide an expanded blog-based format for articles, in-depth analysis, fact checks, and more. It is designed to complement our videos, books, and existing research across our network. As always, we remain committed to restoring Biblical truth with academic rigor, historical accuracy, and spiritual integrity. 

🚨 A Note on Impostors and Misinformation We want to caution our readers: there are impersonators misusing our name, logo, and brand—spreading misinformation and engaging in defamatory behavior. These actions are not only unethical but may also constitute legal violations. 

We encourage everyone to always verify the legitimacy of content using our official channels listed above. 

Unfortunately, one blogger in particular continues to spread false, defamatory claims while harassing members of our team, our families, and even unrelated individuals. This individual has crossed multiple legal lines—both in terms of cyber libel and harassment—and has already been reported to the proper authorities. Steps are being taken to ensure accountability. We do not make these statements lightly, but the record must be set straight. 

✅ Our Commitment We remain focused on the mission: Restoring the truth of Scripture, correcting centuries of distortion, and providing a platform where research and revelation meet. We invite you to explore the new blog, engage with the content, and be part of the journey to reclaim Biblical history.

📘 New articles are now live—come take a look: 

➡️ https://thegodculturephilippines.com

As can be seen in the highlighted paragraph and by the name of this new website it was all a dig at me and my blog thegodculturephilippines.blogspot.com. Tim even wrote several articles responding directly to my criticism of his blatantly shoddy and fallacious "research." 

The most active part of Tim's new blog was a section titled The Smoking Quill.

https://thegodculturephilippines.com/the-smoking-quill-series/

EXPLOSIVE NEW SERIES

THE SMOKING QUILL

Torch the Fog. Reclaim the Truth.

Purpose: To systematically document and expose examples of entrenched colonial bias in academic literature, historiography, archaeology, linguistics, theology, and geography. This new series will provide evidence of omission, redirection, or reinterpretation that favors Western paradigms while suppressing alternative, often indigenous or Eastern, understandings. 

For a while Tim was publishing at a furious pace. The amount of information he was publishing was enormous and much of it was new research attempting prove the Lequios Islands (Ryukyu Islands) are actually part of Northern Luzon. It was so overwhelming that I was able to publish a rebuttal every day for 3 and a half months. It was a sustained salvo back and forth between the both of us. Most importantly it revealed not only much about Tim's personal character but it also unveiled his research methods for all the world to see in real time!  

This blog is filled with many articles rebutting Tim's unscrupulous new research methods. One example is that Tim claimed a certain document was a mere two pages, gave a summary of it, and published that authoritatively. However I found the full 29-page document within about five minutes of looking for it. When I published a link to the full text and called Tim out for his shoddy research he only doubled down and said I proved him right which was far from the case. He also claimed the document had suddenly "resurfaced" when in fact it had been online since 2018. You can read the full article here: The God Culture: The Ginés De Mafra Deception Proves The Poor Research Skills of "The God Culture Research Team."

Well, I do not know when it happened but The God Culture Philippines has been deleted and the URL now reroutes to thegodculture.org. That means, for the moment anyway, every bit of new research Tim published in 2025 is unavailable to the public. Therefore all the links on this blog which refer to that website are now dead.  Likewise, all the links to that website on his Facebook and Youtube pages are now dead.

This deletion was done with no fanfare or notice to his audience. Neither his Facebook page nor his Youtube page alert his audience that he was deleting the blog. 

Surely, the "research" Tim wrote about is stored on his hard drive and he will be publishing it as a part of a book. Otherwise what would be the point? He would be conceding that I was correct and everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, he wrote about on The Smoking Quill was pure nonsense and lies.  Perhaps he will republish it on his other website. Speculation is fruitless because there are other plausible scenarios. The one thing that can be known for sure is that this blog remains a repository for and witness to all the ridiculous "research" published on The Smoking Quill  by Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture. 

Retards in the Government 495

It's your weekly compendium of foolishness and corruption in the Philippine government.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2337043/municipal-employee-shot-dead-in-bukidnon-manhunt-on-for-suspects

Colleagues and peers are in profound shock following the killing of a 37-year-old municipal government employee who was gunned down while riding home at dawn on Friday.

The incident happened around 2:30 a.m. in Purok 4, Barangay Libertad here.

According to the initial investigation by Quezon Police Station, led by Lt. Col. Erwin Naelga, the victim was allegedly tailed by an unidentified motorcycle while traversing the road.

Upon reaching the area near a sugarcane plantation, the suspects waylaid and flagged him down, forcing him to stop his motorcycle before shooting him once at close range in the neck.

Despite being rushed by rescue personnel to the Quezon Health Center Infirmary, the victim was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

Nearby residents reported hearing two motorcycles approaching, followed by gunshots, before seeing one vehicle flee toward Barangay Salawagan.

Crime scene investigators recovered two live rounds, one slug, and a fired cartridge case from a .45-caliber firearm.

Following the shooting, authorities activated OPLAN SHIELD and a containment ring, launching an immediate hot pursuit.

LGU Quezon coworkers described the victim as grateful, courteous, and dedicated Civil Security Unit (CSU) frontline personnel.

He had just finished his afternoon-to-night shift and was heading home on his black Yamaha XTZ motorcycle.

Bukidnon Provincial Director PCol. Oliver Navales has ordered the Quezon Municipal Police Station to conduct a thorough, expedited investigation to bring the culprits to justice.

 A municipal employee has been assassinated while driving home on his motorcycle. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/06/manila-cop-faces-raps-after-pulling-gun-kicking-e-bike-driver

A Manila police officer faces charges of grave threats and physical injuries for allegedly drawing his service firearm and kicking an e-bike driver during a predawn confrontation in Tondo, Manila, on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The 30-year-old patrolman, assigned to the Northern Police District's District Mobile Force Battalion (NPD-DMFB), was arrested by personnel of the Manila Police District's (MPD) Raxabago Police Station following the incident.

Based on the initial police investigation, the 35-year-old victim had just arrived at the corner of Juan Luna Street and Villafojas Street in Barangay 147 at around 3:30 a.m. when the police officer allegedly became angry with him.

The victim told investigators that he tried to keep his distance from the officer, but the latter allegedly drew his service firearm, chased him, and kicked him.

The victim subsequently reported the incident to Barangay 147, where the police officer surrendered voluntarily.

Personnel of the Pritil Police Community Precinct responded to the barangay and arrested the officer at around 12:45 p.m. on the same day.

Police recovered the officer's service-issued Pietro Beretta pistol, one magazine, and 13 live rounds of ammunition.

The case was referred to the MPD General Assignment and Investigation Section.

Authorities charged a Manila police officer with grave threats and physical injuries for allegedly pointing his service gun and kicking an e-bike driver in Tondo.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2337477/maguindanao-del-sur-village-councilman-survives-ambush

An unidentified gunman tried, but failed, to kill a village councilman in Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur on Friday, Nov. 6, police said.

Capt. Steffi Salanguit, spokesperson of Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PRO-BAR), identified the victim as Abdul Manab Guialodin, village councilor of Barangay Liong.

Liong sustained several gunshot wounds from the attempt on his life.

Salanguit said responding police officers learned the village official was driving his multicab vehicle on the way to the town center at 11 a.m. when ambushed by a lone gunman in Barangay Balanaken.

Capt. Oriel Siangco, Datu Piang police chief, said the victim sustained gunshot wounds on his arm and back. 

Siangco led police in rushing the victim to the hospital.

Citing witnesses, Siangco said the suspect was seen hiding behind a coconut tree while Guialodin was traversing the village road.

After the shooting, the suspect fled to an unknown direction. 

Police found five empty shells from a still undetermined firearm.

Siangco said the victim is now in stable condition. 

 A village councilor has survived an assassination attempt.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/08/police-probe-deaths-of-village-dad-companion-in-cagayan

Police are investigating the deaths of a barangay councilor and a man whose bodies were found in a remote, wooded area in Barangay Capissayan Norte, this town, on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 7.

The Gattaran Municipal Police Station identified the victims as Jim, 52, councilor of Barangay San Miguel, Baggao, Cagayan, and Jack, 30, of Barangay Lasilat, Baggao.

Investigation said Jim’s body was found by farmer grazing his carabao and immediately notified barangay officials.

Authorities searched the area and discovered Jack’s body 35 meters away from Jim’s.

Forensics investigators processed the area and their remains were brought to a hospital for post-mortem examination. Police are awaiting autopsy results that will determine their cause of death.

Follow-up investigation and backtracking operations are ongoing. The victims’ families sought justice for their deaths.

 A barangay councilor has been found dead in the woods. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/09/dpwh-chief-sacks-4-district-engineers-over-corruption-allegations

Newly-appointed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez sacked four district engineers in Luzon and Mindanao over allegations of corruption amid the ongoing internal cleansing following the controversy brought by the anomalous flood control projects.

Lopez said three of the district engineers were relieved over corruption allegations; namely, Tarlac 1st District Engineering head Hermon Ines, Cotabato 3rd District Engineering office chief Saidale Mitmug, and Apayao 2ndDistrict Engineering Office officer-in-charge Clifton Valencerina.

In sacking the three officials, Lopez sustained the policy of his predecessor, Vince Dizon, to relieve any DPWH official even on mere allegations of wrongdoings. 

A number of district engineers were sacked from their posts before Dizon was re-appointed as secretary of the Department of Transportation.

Lopez, for his part, said that the fourth DPWH official relieved was District Engineer Amron Mitmug, of the 2ndDistrict Engineering Office of Lanao del Norte.

The DPWH chief explained that the relief of Mitmug came after he was found to have submitted certificates of implementability of projects that would have been funded under the 2027 national budget.

The issuance of that certificate means that projects stipulated in the national budget will immediately be implemented as soon as the funds are available.

Lopez said there were 59 projects that were certified by Mitmug as doable but the scrutiny of the documents and the subsequent inspection revealed that those projects cannot be implemented.

The DPWH has been scrutinizing all the projects that were submitted by their local officials in a bid to clean the image of the DPWH which suffered a big hit over a multi-billion corruption allegation.

Lopez said Dizon already wrote the Senate to immediately reject any infrastructure projects with questionable documents.

“There’s no problem in the funding of the projects for as long as there should be a basis,” said Lopez.

“Our reforms programs will continue. And this is not merely accountability, what we need right now is swift accountability,” he added.

DPWH Secretary Giovanni Lopez fired four district engineers in Luzon and Mindanao over corruption allegations tied to anomalous flood control projects.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2339876/2-manila-cops-dismissed-over-viral-traffic-incident-napolcom

Two Manila cops involved in a viral traffic incident along Taft Avenue were dismissed from service, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said Wednesday.

According to commission in a statement, the Napolcom en banc unanimously voted to dismiss Patrolmen Algrene Ar-ar Mirano Alcause and Jerome Caballa Toledo of the Manila Police District (MPD) from service after finding them guilty of Less Grave Irregularity in the Performance of Duty and Conduct Unbecoming of a Police Officer.

Their dismissal stemmed from a traffic incident along Taft Avenue, Manila, on February 5, 2026, in which the two patrolmen, aboard a marked police vehicle, allegedly cut off and blocked a motorist. 

A video of the incident—which went viral on social media—also showed that the patrol vehicle ran a red light.

With this, Napolcom en banc ruled that the officers’ admissions, the viral video, and the vehicle’s preventive maintenance report established their administrative liability. 

“The Napolcom En Banc reclassified the charge of Less Grave Misconduct motu proprio to Less Grave Irregularity in the Performance of Duty under Rule 21, Section 2(B)(2)(e) of Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2016-002, absorbed the charge of Simple Misconduct, and imposed dismissal from the service because the incident exposed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to nationwide ridicule,” the decision read.

Napolcom commissioner Rafael Vicente Calinisan then explained that the decision forms part of the agency’s collective effort to restore public trust in the police service and end the culture of impunity. 

“Through its disciplinary and oversight functions, NAPOLCOM will continue working to ensure that police officers uphold the integrity of their uniform and remain accountable to the people they have sworn to serve,” he said.

NAPOLCOM dismissed two Manila police officers for misconduct and dishonesty after a viral traffic incident in which they blocked a motorist and gave a false explanation for their actions.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2339988/coa-flags-p62-23m-in-dmw-aid-for-ofws

The Commission on Audit (COA) has found deficiencies in the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) implementation of its aid program for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), noting that at least P62.23 million worth of disbursements had incomplete supporting documents.

In its 2025 audit report, the COA said a post-audit of the disbursements charged against the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFWs na Nangangailangan (Aksyon) Fund revealed deficiencies in the submission of supporting documents.

These deficiencies were traced to the DMW central office as well as its regional offices in Metro Manila, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro Oriental & Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao.

For the DMW Ilocos Region office, the COA flagged the disbursement of P18.69 million because the documents approving the release of funds lacked the signature of the DMW secretary or his duly authorized representative.

The COA also found deficiencies in the disbursement by the DMW Central Office of P16.22-million worth of assistance for 65 beneficiaries. Of the 65 claimants, 30 did not have a request for approval signed by the concerned fund administrator as well as proof of eligibility, billing invoice and case report.

On the other hand, 25 beneficiaries did not submit the required medical report, the COA noted. The rest either had no proof of unemployment, proof of maltreatment, proof of eligibility or medical reports.

For the DMW Mimaropa Regional Office, the COA flagged a disbursement worth P9.91 million that covered 152 beneficiaries, noting that the “claims were processed and paid despite the absence of one or more required document[s].”

Among the missing documents were an accomplished request for assistance, Philippine passport or travel documents, proof of OFW status, acknowledgement receipts and other documents relevant to the circumstances declared by the OFW.

“The grant of financial assistance despite the submission of incomplete/deficient supporting documents may result in the failure to establish the legitimacy and regularity of the expenditures,” the COA warned.

The state auditor called on the DMW to submit an explanation for the lack of documents and also revisit its guidelines to ensure that claims are supported with complete documents.

In a statement, the DMW said that it would comply with the COA recommendations while stressing that the findings should not automatically be construed as evidence of corruption or irregularities within the agency.

“These are just continuing process improvements, financial controls and safeguards that we continue to implement,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said.

He also clarified that only around eight percent of the department’s budget was under question by the COA, and that the DMW has already responded to the state auditor’s observations that were raised in July. 

COA flagged ₱62.23 million in DMW financial assistance to overseas Filipino workers because of missing or incomplete supporting documents, raising concerns about the agency’s financial controls and accountability. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2340018/random-tests-in-negros-occ-show-10-govt-workers-positive-for-drug-use

Confirmatory tests conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) revealed that 10 Negros Occidental provincial government employees tested positive for illegal drug use.

Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz made the announcement on Wednesday, Nov. 11, adding that one employee tested negative while results for three others remain pending.

The testing stems from a routine mandatory random drug testing program, during which the provincial government collected urine samples from 1,962 employees, including staff across its seven district hospitals, in October. 

Initial screenings yielded 14 positive results, all of which were submitted to the DOH for confirmation.

Diaz said they  are currently reviewing the employment status of the 10 personnel who were confirmed positive for illegal drug use to determine the appropriate administrative actions.

Job order and contract of service personnel who tested positive will face immediate dismissal from service, Diaz said.

Meanwhile, permanent employees will be given an opportunity to undergo drug rehabilitation in accordance with Civil Service Commission guidelines.

 10 government employees have tested positive for drugs. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/12/basilan-trial-court-judge-gunned-down-in-zamboanga-city

A Regional Trial Court judge of Isabela City, Basilan was killed in an ambush here on Thursday, Nov. 12.

The victim was identified as Branch 2 Judge Joseph Wee Sit, a resident of Justina Subdivision in Barangay Tumaga, this city.

Initial investigation showed that Wee was driving his Sports Utility Vehicle on Tumaga-Putik Road at around 5:50 a.m. when he was shot by unidentified assailants on board a motorcycle.

The victim was taken to a hospital by emergency responders where he was declared dead from multiple bullet wounds.

Police forensics investigators recovered eight empty cartridge cases from a .45 caliber pistol at the crime scene.

Lawmen are conducting follow-up investigation and hot-pursuit operations against the suspects.

The Zamboanga City Police Office condemned the shooting of Sit.

Police said they will form a Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) to oversee and coordinate the investigation, consolidate all available leads, and ensure the prompt resolution of the case.

“The ZCPO assures the public that this incident is being treated with utmost urgency and that all necessary lawful measures will be undertaken to bring those responsible to justice,” the ZCPO said.

“The public is encouraged to provide any information that may assist in the investigation through the nearest police station.”

Basilan Gov. Mujiv Hataman and the provincial government also condemned the killing of Wee.

The provincial government, in a statement, described the killing of Wee as a big loss to the Judiciary, the community, and the rule of law.

 A judge has been assassinated. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2340203/ombudsman-suspends-cavite-town-mayor-amid-illegal-gambling-probe

The Office of the Ombudsman imposed a preventive suspension against Rosario, Cavite Mayor Jose Voltaire Ricafrente over his alleged involvement in gambling activities at a casino in Bacolod City. 

According to the Office of Ombudsman on Thursday, the case stemmed from a complaint filed by its Field Investigation Office I after conducting an investigation into Ricafrente’s alleged gambling activities. 

“This Office finds sufficient grounds for the issuance of an Order for Preventive Suspension against respondent Municipal Mayor JOSE VOLTAIRE V. RICAFRENTE, Municipality of Rosario, Province of Cavite, considering that there is strong evidence showing his guilt; the charges against him for Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service may warrant his removal from the service,” part of the six-page order read. 

Citing the investigation conducted, the Office of the Ombudsman said that Ricafrente entered a casino at a hotel on March 14, 2026 where he was accompanied by four other unnamed individuals. 

It added that Ricafrente allegedly played at a gaming table with P30,000 worth of casino chips and won P10,000 before leaving the establishment.

The Ombudsman then noted Memorandum Circular No. 06, series of 2016 issued by the Office of the President which prohibits any government officials and employees from engaging with gambling casinos. 

It also said that the preventive suspension does not constitute the finding of administrative liability. It added that the mayor’s continued stay in the office could influence the investigation “because of his access to government records and potential influence over witnesses.”

“Ultimately, it should be borne in mind that the issuance of a preventive suspension order does not amount to a prejudgment of the merits of the case. It is merely a preventive measure, a preliminary step in an administrative investigation and therefore not a penalty in itself,” the order further read. 

The Ombudsman noted that the preventive suspension without pay is ordered pending the resolution of the administrative charges for Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service. It also said that suspension is immediately executory and will be effective until the administrative case is resolved.

The Ombudsman preventively suspended Rosario, Cavite Mayor Jose Voltaire Ricafrente amid an investigation into his alleged involvement in illegal gambling activities, pending further proceedings.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/12/navy-reservist-nabbed-in-marikina-over-obscenity-cases

A 41-year-old female Philippine Navy reservist ranked ninth on Marikina City's most-wanted list was arrested over cases involving alleged obscene publications and indecent shows.

The woman was apprehended on Nov. 9 by members of the Marikina City Police Station’s Warrant and Subpoena Unit at the ground floor of the Marikina Justice Hall in Barangay Santa Elena.

Police said the arrest was carried out through a warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court Branch 165 in Marikina City.

The warrant covers three cases involving alleged violations of Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended by Presidential Decrees 960 and 969, which penalize immoral doctrines, obscene publications and exhibitions, and indecent shows.

The accused was listed as the No. 9 Station-Level Most Wanted Person for November 2026.

The court set her recommended bail at P216,000 for the three cases.

The Philippine National Police said the arrest was part of its efforts to serve court-issued warrants and bring wanted individuals before the proper judicial authorities.

PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. said the police would continue to enforce the law regardless of a person’s status or position.

 A 41-year-old female Philippine Navy reservist ranked ninth on Marikina City's most-wanted list was arrested over cases involving alleged obscene publications and indecent shows.

Coronavirus Lockdown: Staglfation, Pandemic Reinsurance, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.  

Aon and Munich Re have launched a first-of-its-kind pandemic reinsurance solution specifically designed for Indonesia and the Philippines. The product addresses the significant protection gap for non-damage business interruption losses caused by pandemics, which standard property and casualty policies usually exclude.

https://www.reinsurancene.ws/aon-and-munich-re-launch-pandemic-reinsurance-solution-for-indonesia-and-the-philippines/

Aon, a global re/insurance broker and risk adviser, and Munich Re, a leading global reinsurer, have launched a first-of-its-kind pandemic reinsurance solution for Indonesia and the Philippines. 

The solution is designed to help organisations address non-damage business interruption losses arising from a pandemic, a risk typically excluded from property and casualty insurance policies, except in areas such as medical and travel insurance.

Governments, businesses and communities remain significantly exposed to pandemic risk, which has the potential to disrupt trade, supply chains, travel, hospitality and public services on a large scale.

Through the solution, Aon can access dedicated, highly rated pandemic capacity for clients in the hospitality industry, with Munich Re providing the reinsurance capital, pricing and policy wordings.

The solution combines indemnity-based coverage with parametric triggers, aiming to provide greater clarity and confidence around coverage responses, subject to policy terms, while supporting a more efficient approach to risk transfer.

It has been developed for clients in Indonesia and the Philippines, where Munich Re and Aon teams identified specific coverage needs and designed a solution to address them.

Soeren Soltysiak, CEO of Asia, Reinsurance Solutions, Aon, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the protection gap for this peril, particularly for non-damage business interruption losses. It also reinforced the need for new solutions that help organisations build greater financial resilience and confidence ahead of potential future outbreaks. By combining specialist reinsurance capacity with a solution specifically designed for pandemic-related losses, we will help clients achieve greater clarity and confidence in how they can protect their balance sheets against possible future events.”

Hitesh Kotak, CEO, Asia, Munich Re, commented, “Pandemic risk remains one of the most significant protection gaps facing economies across Asia. This solution provides organisations in Indonesia and the Philippines with greater access to protection against pandemic-related disruption and supports their ability to recover and grow following future public health events.”

Dr. Gunther Kraut, Global Head of Epidemic Risk Solutions, Munich Re, added, “Epidemic and pandemic risk requires robust approaches to risk sharing and capital deployment. Similar to other perils, affirmative specialist insurance solutions are required to help address the challenge of global risk accumulation. Munich Re is committed to supporting solutions that help clients manage the financial consequences of these events.”

Initially providing capacity to clients in the hospitality sector, the offering blends indemnity-based coverage with parametric triggers. This mechanism aims to help organisations build financial resilience against potential future public health disruptions and supply chain crises.

Philippine economic growth fell to a post-pandemic low of 2.1 percent in the third quarter of 2026, marking the slowest year-on-year increase since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that this figure declined further from the 2.4 percent growth recorded in the preceding quarter. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/09/philippine-gdp-growth-plunges-to-new-post-pandemic-low-of-21-in-q3-2026

Philippine economic growth slowed to a post-pandemic low of 2.1 percent in the third quarter of 2026 as a sharp contraction in government construction, falling agricultural production, and weakening household spending weighed on the economy despite continued growth in services and exports.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Monday, Nov. 9, that gross domestic product (GDP) growth eased from the revised 2.4 percent in the second quarter, marking the slowest year-on-year expansion since the recession at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Government construction contracted by 15.1 percent during the July-to-September period, dragging down overall construction activity by four percent and contributing to a marginal 0.003-percent contraction in the industry sector.

Agriculture, forestry, and fishing shrank by 4.8 percent, reversing the 2.9-percent growth recorded in the same quarter last year, as palay and corn production plunged by 17.8 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively.

Household consumption, a major driver of the Philippine economy, grew by only 2.4 percent, slowing from four percent a year ago, while investment remained weak.

The PSA reported that gross capital formation, a measure of investment in productive assets, contracted by 0.2 percent, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of decline.

During a press conference, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan attributed the economic slowdown partly to elevated food and energy prices, which constrained household spending, alongside weak agricultural output and subdued investment.

The disappointing third-quarter performance has made the government’s already downgraded full-year GDP growth target of 3.5 to 4.5 percent increasingly difficult to achieve.

Balisacan said the economy would need to expand by 6.3 percent in the fourth quarter to reach even the lower end of the government’s target range.

The country’s chief economist said the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) would meet early next month to revisit its economic growth assumptions and targets.

Despite the slowdown, Balisacan said it was premature to characterize the economy as experiencing stagflation, preferring to wait for the full-year figures before making such an assessment.

“I think that it's important that we are looking at the various dimensions of the economy and not just a few indicators,” Balisacan said.

PSA chief and National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said GDP increased by only 0.1 percent quarter-on-quarter during the July-to-September period.

The services sector, which accounted for 67.8 percent of GDP, expanded by 3.7 percent year-on-year, although this was slower than the 5.5-percent growth recorded in the same quarter of 2025.

Wholesale and retail trade, including the repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, grew by 3.5 percent, while public administration and defense expanded by 9.9 percent and financial and insurance activities increased by 3.5 percent.

These were among the largest contributors to third-quarter GDP growth, according to the PSA.

Meanwhile, manufacturing growth slowed to 0.7 percent from 1.3 percent a year ago, although the manufacture of computer, electronic, and optical products expanded by 13.1 percent.

On the expenditure side, household spending on transportation declined by 5.3 percent, while spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by only 1.6 percent.

Government consumption provided some support, growing by 6.8 percent, faster than the 5.8-percent expansion recorded in the same quarter last year.

Exports of goods and services also increased by 8.6 percent, supported by growth of 10.1 percent in goods exports and six percent in services exports.

Balisacan pointed to the strength of electronics exports amid continued global demand for artificial intelligence (AI)-related products, noting that electronics shipments had expanded by 19.4 percent.

However, imports of goods and services also increased by 7.7 percent during the quarter.

Within agriculture, fishing and aquaculture declined by 8.5 percent, while sugarcane production plunged by 48.4 percent, adding to the sector’s overall contraction.

In contrast, poultry and egg production increased by 5.2 percent, livestock grew by two percent, and coconut production rose by 1.2 percent.

The PSA also reported that construction investment contracted by 3.5 percent, mainly because of the decline in government construction, even as household construction and corporate construction recorded modest increases of 1.1 percent and 0.3 percent, respectively.

Looking ahead, Balisacan identified the recovery of public investment as a key priority, given its effects on private investment, business confidence, and domestic demand.

He said public infrastructure spending generated stronger multiplier effects than maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), making the timely implementation of government projects particularly important.

Balisacan said DEPDev had received assurances from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) that it was working to ensure the release and utilization of funds by implementing agencies.

He expressed hope that public construction projects could be executed more quickly in the fourth quarter.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed government agencies to accelerate implementation-ready infrastructure projects, resolve bottlenecks, and expedite payments to contractors, according to Balisacan.

He stressed that faster infrastructure implementation must be accompanied by stronger accountability and more efficient public spending.

“We will work with Congress to secure timely passage of the national budget,” Balisacan said.

“A credible fiscal program must protect productive infrastructure and essential social services, supported by better revenue collection and reduced waste,” he added.

Beyond infrastructure, Balisacan emphasized the need to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem to help businesses develop new products, improve competitiveness, and create better jobs.

He said government interventions through agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) were also being pursued to support affected sectors.

Balisacan also called for stronger trade and investment partnerships to help Philippine businesses move into higher-value activities and participate more extensively in global and regional supply chains.

He identified Canada, Chile, the European Union (EU), Japan, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) among the government’s key trade and investment partners.

The tourism industry likewise needed stronger support through expanded direct flights, improved airport capacity, and more effective promotions to attract additional visitors and encourage longer stays, he said.

“Our task is to turn these priorities into results: investment commitments realized, projects completed, and more Filipinos earning better incomes,” Balisacan said. 

This deceleration was primarily driven by sluggish performances in the agriculture and industry sectors, which weighed down the gains made by the services sector. Ultimately, this weak third-quarter performance underscores the persistent economic headwinds confronting the country during the post-pandemic period.

Because economic growth has plummeted to a post-pandemic low of 2.1 percent—its slowest rate of expansion since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic—global banking giant Citi declared that the Philippines can no longer deny it has officially entered stagflation. Citigroup global head of emerging market economics Johanna Chua emphasized that this stagnant GDP figure, combined with soaring 7.8 percent inflation and rising unemployment, cleanly meets the definition of a stagflationary economy. 

 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/11/09/citi-philippines-can-no-longer-deny-it-has-entered-stagflation

American banking giant Citi said the Philippines has already entered a period of ”stagflation or slowflation” as the country has suffered from persistently elevated inflation, high unemployment, and successive slowdowns in economic growth.

Johanna Chua, Citigroup global head of emerging market (EM) economics, said in a press briefing on Monday, Nov. 9, that, by definition, the Philippines is already grappling with stagflation, a label for the economy that the government has long ruled out.

“An inflation rate of 7.8 percent against the two- to four-percent target is very high. Meanwhile, the 2.1-percent economic growth is low compared with its historical growth of five to six percent,” Chua said.

“Obviously, by that definition, you can call it stagflation or slowflation,” the economist asserted.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the new post-pandemic low of 2.1 percent in the third quarter of 2026 bore the brunt of a sharp contraction in government construction, falling agricultural production, and weakening household spending.

Chua revealed that Citi had expected a rebound to 3.8 percent in the third quarter, which was more upbeat than the 3.1-percent consensus. She said these were “very, very large misses,” noting the need for the revision to close in on the actual gross domestic product (GDP) expansion.

Citi Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Banking Head Paul Favila also said the macroeconomic situation remains unfavorable, leaving the government with limited room to tackle the economic hurdles head-on.

“This just goes to show that the situation is not good,” Favila said. “Unfortunately, there is not much the government can do to correct it because much of it is driven by external factors, including overnight developments, geopolitical events, another attack on Iran, and the corresponding adjustments in oil prices. Whether justified or not, that is market sentiment.”

On prices, headline inflation in October accelerated to its fastest pace in three years and eight months, driven by soaring transport, electricity, and housing costs. This has prompted banks and think tanks to tweak their interest rate assumptions.

After the recent outsized increase in key borrowing costs to 5.5 percent, Citi continued to price in two more quarter-point hikes to reach a terminal rate of six percent before the BSP switches back to easing in 2028.

“It was kind of interesting how BSP surprised the market with a hike of 50 basis points (bps). It's a reestablishment of the independence of the central bank,” Chua said, adding that the rate hikes would come in December and early 2027.

Meanwhile, the number of unemployed Filipinos increased to 2.86 million in September 2026 from 2.77 million in August and 1.96 million in September 2025. This translated to an unemployment rate of 5.4 percent, up from 5.3 percent a month earlier and 3.8 percent a year earlier.

Looking ahead, Citi expects economic growth to recover to as high as 5.8 percent in 2027, well within the government's five- to six-percent target. This could be achieved if tensions in the Middle East ease, public investments pick up, and price pressures dissipate.

Citi executives noted that these unfavorable macroeconomic conditions leave the government with limited leverage, as the downturn is heavily driven by external forces such as Middle Eastern geopolitical tensions and volatile global oil prices. Consequently, the bank anticipates the central bank will introduce further interest rate hikes to tame price pressures before any monetary easing can occur.

Assassinated Citizens October, 2026

Assassination is normal in the Philippines not only for government officials but also for regular citizens. The most common method of assassination for both citizens and officials is a motorcycle duo riding up on the target and then blasting them away. This series will document the number of citizens assassinated on a monthly basis. These stories are to be distinguished from regular murder cases which happen on a daily basis. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/03/2-killed-in-tondo-shooting-4-gunmen-at-large

Two men, aged 42 and 45, were killed after four unidentified gunmen opened fire inside a house in Tondo, Manila, early Friday, October 2, police said.

The shooting occurred at around 2 a.m. inside a house along Molave Extension, Barrio Obrero Street, Barangay 194, according to the Jose Abad Santos Police Station (PS-7).

Police said two witnesses, who were inside the same residence, heard several gunshots coming from the area. When they checked, they saw the two victims lying on the ground with apparent gunshot wounds.

The victims appeared lifeless when responding police officers arrived at the scene.

The identities and motives of the four gunmen remained unknown as of the initial investigation.

The suspects fled the area after the shooting and remained at large as of the latest police report.

Responding personnel immediately secured the area and preserved the crime scene for examination.

The Scene of the Crime Operations (SOCO) team was also requested to process the scene and gather possible evidence that could help identify the gunmen.

The Manila Police District (MPD) Homicide Section has taken cognizance of the case and is conducting a follow-up investigation.

Police also launched manhunt operations for the four suspects while investigators continued to determine the circumstances and possible motive behind the shooting.

 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/03/man-shot-dead-in-batangas-apartment

A man was gunned down while he about to enter his apartment in this town on Friday night, Oct. 2. 

Police identified the victim as Jef.Investigation said the victim, accompanied by a friend, was entering his apartment when two men appeared from behind and shot him. 

 The victim died on the spot while his friend was unhurt. 

Police are investigating the crime and a murder case is being prepared against the suspects.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2316849/pro-duterte-vlogger-shot-dead-in-surigao-del-sur-reports

A known pro-Duterte vlogger, according to local media reports, was shot dead while driving along a national highway in Carrascal, Surigao del Sur Sunday morning.

The victim was identified as Philip Engbino, 48, married, a native of Minglanilla, Cebu and a manager of EZMMI GenCon, a contractor of Strong Group Mining Corp. (SGMC).

Reports said Engbino was driving a white pickup truck owned by SGMC when he was shot at about 6 a.m. in Barangay Bacolod.

He was an active social media vlogger supportive of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Company records reportedly showed Engbino’s vehicle exited Gate 2 of the mining company’s facility at 4:35 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.

As of posting time Sunday, the Carrascal police have yet to issue an official statement on the reported incident.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/04/delivery-rider-murdered-in-isabela

A 42-year-old delivery rider was shot dead in Barangay Union here on Saturday, Oct. 3.

Police identified the victim as Bitoy.

A concerned citizen reported gunshots in the area. Responding lawmen found the victim lying on the ground with multiple bullet wounds.

Investigation said that the victim was shot by two men on a motorcycle. The suspects fled toward Barangay Minanga, Naguilian, Isabela.

The victim was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead.

Police are conducting follow-up investigation and manhunt operations.

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2322387/albay-broadcaster-dies-in-gun-attack

Unidentified gunmen shot dead local broadcast journalist Adrian “Golden Boy” Loterte at his bakery in Daraga, Albay, on Monday afternoon, prompting police to launch a manhunt.

Loterte, an anchor of RBN News Television’s Rabas Cun Rabas and a resident of Barangay San Roque, was attending to his bakery at a rented shop in Purok 4 when one of two suspects allegedly opened fire at 4:10 p.m., according to Police Lt. Col. Maria Luisa Calubaquib, Bicol police spokesperson.

Calubaquib said Loterte was taken to Daraga Doctors Hospital for treatment of bullet wounds but eventually died at 5:35 p.m. The suspects, who were reportedly riding a black-and-white Honda Click motorcycle, fled toward Barangay Kimantong.

The Police Regional Office 5 has activated a Special Investigation Task Group to coordinate the probe and track down the suspects. Police are reviewing closed-circuit television footage, gathering witness statements and conducting follow-up operations. Checkpoints have also been set up in nearby areas.

Calubaquib said the motive for the shooting had yet to be established.

In a statement on Monday, the Albay Press Club condemned the attack and called on authorities to conduct a swift, thorough and impartial investigation, identify and arrest those responsible, and ensure they face appropriate legal proceedings.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2329273/student-killed-2-wounded-in-gun-attack-after-agusan-del-sur-concert

A 15-year-old student was killed while two others, including a 13-year-old boy, were wounded after an unidentified gunman opened fire in Talacogon town.

This occurred as the victims were walking home from a municipal-sponsored concert early Saturday, Oct. 24.

A report from the Agusan del Sur Police Provincial Office (ADSPPO) submitted to Police Regional Office 13 said that the 15-year-old victim was declared dead on arrival at a local hospital due to gunshot wounds.

The young man was a resident of Barangay San Agustin.

Wounded in the ambush were Leah Mea Tangkoy Budias, 23, and a 13-year-old male student, both residents of neighboring San Luis town.

The two survivors were rushed to the Talacogon District Hospital for emergency treatment.

Initial police findings showed the victims had attended a local government-sponsored Friday night concert.

They were heading home along Purok Anthurium in Barangay San Agustin when the assailant struck around 2 a.m.

The crime site is roughly one kilometer from the town’s police station.

The suspect fled toward the direction of San Luis immediately after the shooting.

Personnel from the Talacogon Municipal Police Station swiftly launched hot pursuit operations.

They also coordinated with neighboring municipal police stations and local Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) detachments to seal potential exit routes.

https://www.philstar.com/nation/2026/10/25/2565595/nurse-killed-abra-gun-attack

A 36-year-old nurse of the Abra Provincial Hospital was killed while his 10-year-old daughter was wounded in an attack by motorcycle-riding men in this town on Friday night.

Bystanders rushed Mark Kenneth Acedo and his daughter to the Assumpta Family Hospital where he was declared dead on arrival.

Acedo and his family were in a Hyundai hatchback parked in front of an event’s venue in Barangay Angad when two men on separate motorcycles opened fire at them.

Police arrested Brix Walter Barrera in a follow-up operation in nearby Tayum town and seized from him a .45-caliber pistol.

Barrera reportedly told police that the shooting was due to a traffic dispute.

 

https://tribune.net.ph/2026/10/26/working-student-sa-batangas-patay-sa-pamamaril-ng-riding-in-tandem

A 22-year-old working student was killed after being shot by tandem riders while heading home on his motorcycle in Barangay Banay-Banay II, San Jose, Batangas.

The victim was reportedly coming from a gig at a bar when the shooting happened around 9:00 in the evening.

The victim was identified as Charles Usi, a Communication student at Westmead International School.

According to the San Jose Municipal Police Station, the incident was initially thought to be an accident. However, when authorities inspected the victim, they saw that he had sustained gunshot wounds.

CCTV footage reportedly shows the two suspects tailing the victim prior to the incident.

Meanwhile, many expressed their condolences over Usi's death, especially his family and friends, who are calling for justice for the young man. In their social media posts, they shared the call, "Justice for Charles Usi."

The police are continuing to investigate the incident.