Week 12 of Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial Part 1

Week 12 of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial focused once more on her unexplained wealth. This time the prosecution zeroed in on her business holdings. According to the SEC Sara Duterte remained a company director even after she was elected Vice President. It is not allowed for elected officials to have any business dealings while in office. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/21/sara-durterte-remained-on-company-board-retained-20-stake-despite-vice-presidency-sec-witness

Vice President Sara Duterte stayed as a director of Metro City Chow Foods Corporation during her vice presidency and retained a 20-percent ownership stake in the company, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official Gerardo del Rosario testified Monday, Sept. 21.

Del Rosario, director of the SEC’s Company Registration and Monitoring Department, testified on corporate filings identifying Duterte as a member of the company’s Board of Directors and as a shareholder during day 27 of Senate impeachment trial.

“The GIS for 2022 to 2024 shows that VP Sara Duterte was still a member of the Board of Directors," Del Rosario said.

Asked about the company’s 2025 filing, witness confirmed: “She was still a member of the Board of Directors in the 2025 GIS."

The SEC records discussed before the Senate impeachment court listed Duterte as a director in Metro City Chow’s General Information Sheets (GIS) for 2022 to 2024 and again in 2025.

The earlier filings from 2018 to 2021 also identified the respondent as a board member.

Matib also questioned Del Rosario about Duterte’s committee membership. The entries identified her as a member of the compensation committee, and the witness said she remained listed as a committee member in the 2025 filing.

The witness explained that a GIS updates the SEC on a corporation’s structure, composition and officers. The court had noted the parties’ stipulation that the corporate documents covered by the agreed identification were certified true copies of submissions held by the SEC.

Matib also asked Del Rosario about the responsibilities of a corporate board. “So ito siya po ang inatasan ng batas na mag-exercise ng corporate power, mag-conduct ng mga negosyo ng kumpanya, at mag-control sa mga properties ng kumpanya,” he said.

(So, it is tasked by law to exercise corporate power, conduct the business of the company, and control the properties of the company.)

The prosecution then examined Duterte’s ownership in Metro City Chow. The company’s initial subscribed capital was ₱250,000, while Duterte’s subscription was ₱50,000, or 20 percent of the total.

Asked what shares represent, Del Rosario said: “She has an interest or equity in the company."

Duterte’s initial payment against her ₱50,000 subscription was ₱12,500. Del Rosario distinguished the amount subscribed from the amount actually paid, explaining that the difference represented an unpaid subscription under the incorporation records.

For the 2022 to 2024 entries, the witness said the reported payment had increased to cover the entire ₱50,000 subscription.

Asked whether Duterte’s ownership percentage had changed, he answered: “That is correct, it was still 20 percent."

Presiding officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero later pointed out that the amended 2025 GIS showed the paid-up amount returning to ₱12,500 from ₱50,000. Del Rosario said the summary followed the information reported in the amended filing. He did not explain the reason for the change during the exchange.

Matib also asked whether or not a vice president could remain on a corporate board. After an objection, Escudero allowed Del Rosario to answer, saying he wanted to know whether the SEC had flagged the matter.

The prosecutor read Article VII, Section 13 of the Constitution. Escudero then distinguished its wording on participation in business from the witness’s broader reference to business interests. Del Rosario acknowledged the correction to his explanation in Filipino

Earlier, when Matib described Duterte as repeatedly winning elections to the board, Escudero clarified that the company had only five stockholders forming its board. The examination proceeded on the positions and figures reported in the corporate filings.

On the board’s role in conducting the company’s business, Del Rosario told the court: “It cannot conduct business without a Board of Directors."

The prosecution also examined Metro City Chow’s financial statements and GIS to determine whether the company had declared dividends.

Asked to read the dividend entries in the company’s 2018 GIS, Del Rosario identified the categories for cash, stock and property dividends. “None for cash, none for stock and none for property."

The entry covered dividends declared during the immediately preceding year. Matib also asked the witness about dividend information in the company’s financial statements.

Escudero clarified that a dividend becomes income for a shareholder when it is declared. Until then, the amount remains with the company rather than becoming the shareholder’s property. The SEC official agreed.

Del Rosario also explained that a shareholder who was a director may receive a reasonable per diem, while a shareholder who also works for the company may receive a salary.

He did not identify in that exchange a salary or per diem paid to Duterte.

Furthermore, while declaring on her SALN she was on the board of Metro City Chow Foods Corporation SEC records did not show this fact thus creating a record discrepancy. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2308845/sara-duterte-trial-sec-docs-show-saln-corporate-record-discrepancies

Vice President Sara Duterte did not appear as an incorporator or stockholder of a restaurant in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) records, despite declaring herself as such in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN).

The discrepancy was noted during the testimony of SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo del Rosario.

In her SALNs from 2016 to 2025, Duterte listed herself as an incorporator or stockholder of Gencorp Industries Inc., previously Timesquare Bee Foods Corp. and Great Jolly Times Foods Corp.

However, Del Rosario testified that Duterte does not appear as an incorporator or stockholder of Gencorp in its Articles of Incorporation and General Information Sheets submitted to the SEC from 2020 to 2025.

Del Rosario said that it is possible that a company listed as an incorporator is used by an individual to detach his or her name from a business.

“It is possible that if Gencorp has a corporate subscriber where he has a controlling interest in that corporate subscriber, he may also be exercising control over Gencorp,” he added.

The SEC records also showed that a certain Jaime Cruz was listed as an incorporator of the six businesses in which Duterte declared having stocks in her SALNs.

The SEC also recorded Jaime Cruz as an incorporator of Davao Emerging Taipans Corp. in 2004; City Hall King Chow Foods Corp. and Davao Bounty Times Foods Corp. in 2007; JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. in 2009; and Metro City Chow Foods Corp. and Davao New Royal Taipan Foods Corp. in 2016.

Davao New Royal Taipan was previously Davao Emerging Taipans Corp., while Metro City Chow Foods Corp. was formerly City Hall King Chow Foods Corp.

According to her SALNs, Duterte was likewise a stockholder of Davao Emerging Taipans Corp. starting in 2004, when she was Davao vice mayor, and declared the same in her SALNs from 2008 to 2012 and 2016 to 2023.

Duterte was also a stockholder of City Hall King Chow Foods Corp. and Davao Bounty Times Foods Corp. from 2007 to 2012 and 2016 to 2017.

From 2018 to 2025, Duterte remained a stockholder of City Hall King Chow Foods Corp., which by then was already called Metro City Chow Foods Corp.

SEC witness Gerardo del Rosario noted that it is possible for someone to exercise control through a corporate subscriber or nominee structure without their personal name appearing on the public records. This creates two conflicting official documents: the SALN (which she signed under oath) and the SEC filings. Either the SALN overstated her direct ownership, or the corporate records understated it. Both cannot be fully accurate.

Of these corporations in which Sara is a stockholder 49% of Davao City food contracts were given to just one of them. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2309588/duterte-linked-firm-got-49-service-contracts-from-davao-govt-offices

Forty-nine food services contracts were awarded by government offices in the Davao Region to a corporation linked to Vice President Sara Duterte, a Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) official said on Tuesday.

PhilGEPS Electronic Government Procurement Operations Division chief Rendell Sopeña revealed the information while testifying in Duterte’s impeachment trial.

“We searched the repository, or the procurement database based on the merchant Gencorp Industries Inc. and upon search po na ginawa namin sa procurement database, it resulted to 49 contracts awarded to Gencorp Industries Inc.,” Sopeña said.

Duterte listed herself as a stockholder of Gencorp Industries Inc. in her statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALN) from 2016 when the corporation was still named Timesquare Bee Foods Corp.

According to Sopeña, one contract was awarded by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration Region 11, 15 contracts were awarded by the city of Davao, and 33 contracts were awarded by Philippine Health Insurance Corporation- Region 11.

Oddly enough none of these corporations paid dividends. That has left several Seantors wondering where Sara's wealth originated. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/22/how-did-she-get-wealthy-senator-judges-baffled-over-vps-source-of-income

Some senator-judges on Tuesday, September 22 are baffled over the apparent inconsistencies in the contents of the Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALN) of Vice President Sara Duterte vis-a-vis the summaries of the vice president’s shareholdings that were submitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to the Senate Impeachment Court.

On Day 28 of the Duterte impeachment trial, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian sought to clarify the summaries submitted by SEC Company Registration and Monitoring Department Director Gerardo Del Rosario after noting that the corporations linked to Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, did not declare dividends.

During Gatchalian’s intervention, Del Rosario confirmed that not one of the corporations that were linked to the Vice President and her husband declared dividends.

“That’s correct; there were no information as to the dividends,” del Rosario told the Impeachment Court.Gatchalian pointed out that the growth of the vice president net worth cannot come from her corporations considering that most of these companies are already facing bankruptcy. 

“Looking at these corporations, except for GenCorp, Davao Emerging Taipans, SGT Fortune Horse and Mati Ice Plant, almost all are bankrupt,” the Senate chief noted. 

To which, Del Rosario affirmed with a yes, “Tama po (That’s right).”Gatchalian was also baffled that the Vice President was not declared a shareholder under GenCorp.’s records. GenCorp. is one of the companies that is listed in the Vice President’s SALN.

“In this particular case, with GenCorp. Vice President Sara is not a shareholder on record,” he pointed out.

He also noted that the only companies that are connected with Atty. Carpio and the Vice President were the Mati Ice Plant, Davao Emerging Taipans and SGT Fortune Horse Corp.

“These are the only ones that make money. The rest, I’m looking at it in the summary, have incurred losses,” the senator-judge pointed out.

“And therefore, they cannot declare dividends, precisely because these companies have losses,” he noted. 

Del Rosario affirmed this again, “The deficit are the retained earnings; they cannot declare dividends.”

“Correct. Because that would eat into their capital,” Gatchalian pointed out.

When Gatchalian inquired whether the SEC penalized the corporations that did not file their respective general information sheet (GIS), audited financial statements, Del Rosario responded in the affirmative.

“Yes. In fact, I have brought here the monitoring sheet about their violations when the GIS was not filed, as well as their financial statement. And the rest of the corporations in question have been revoked by us or they have either dissolved or shortened their corporate term,” he pointed out. 

When Gatchalian specifically asked which corporations were revoked, Del Rosario cited CYKNT Davao Corp. whose license they revoked in 2018 because it did not submit any financial report. 

The SEC official also pointed to SGT Fortune whose corporate term was shortened to July 29, 2017. Another is Three Kids Trucking Services Inc. which corporate term was also shortened to July 24, 2017. 

“So obviously, this cannot be a source of income in relation to the increase in the net worth of Vice President Sara?” Gatchalian asked.

“That’s correct, your honor,” Del Rosario said.

Based on Duterte’s SALNs, her declared net worth increased from around P7.25-million in 2007, when she first served as Davao City vice mayor, to P98.66-million in 2025—an increase of about P91.4-million, or roughly 1,260 percent.Her declared net worth rose to P34.90-million in 2016 and climbed to P71.66-million in 2022, the year she formally assumed the vice presidency.

Her net worth also increased further to P77.51-million in 2023, P88.51-million in 2024 and P98.66-million in 2025. From 2022 to 2025 alone, Duterte’s declared net worth also grew by about P27-million or nearly 38 percent. 

Senator-judge Paolo “Bam” Aquino IV for his part, said he believes that questions regarding Duterte’s role in GenCorp. can only be answered by the vice president herself.

But Atty. Justin Gular, defense counsel said it would be premature for the defense to discuss the matter.“I believe the impeachment court is a passive body and it should receive evidence at a timely time, which at this point is premature,” Gular responded to Aquino.

But when Aquino asked if its possible that the other persons who can shed light on Duterte’s role in GenCorp. would be the president of the company, Del Rosario affirmed this. 

“Yes, and based on the GIS of the GenCorp. Industries, the president of the company is Ms. Kimberly Cruz, the treasurer is Richie Yvette Cruz, and the corporate secretary is Girlie Dela Cruz,” Del Rosario narrated.

Obviously only Sara Duterte can say with certainty what her roles were in these corporations and how she amassed such wealth. But it's very likely she will not take the stand. 

The God Culture: What Is Fear of Yahuah?

Timothy Jay Schwab who is The God Culture is back with another Foundations article. This time he's asking What is Fear of Yahuah? Well, this would obviously tie back to the previous What is Wisdom lesson because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom. And of course Christ is our wisdom. Will Tim tie the fear of the Lord back to Jesus Christ who is our Lord and in whom all the treasures of wisdom are hid? Let's find out. 

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FOUNDATIONS – Week 37

What Is the Fear of Yahuah?

Key Texts: Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 111; Matthew 10:26–31

The phrase “fear of Yahuah” appears throughout Scripture.

But what does it mean?

Does Yahuah actually want us to fear Him?

Or does “fear” simply mean respect?

Scripture gives us a much richer answer.

Proverbs begins:

> “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

> (Proverbs 1:7)

Fear of Yahuah is not presented as spiritual immaturity.

It is the beginning of knowledge.

Psalm 111 says:

> “The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments.”

> (Psalm 111:10)

Notice the connection:

Fear.

Wisdom.

Understanding.

Obedience.

Biblical fear recognizes who Yahuah actually is.

Creator.

King.

Judge.

Father.

The One to whom we ultimately answer.

Yahusha did not eliminate this fear.

He taught it.

> “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

> (Matthew 10:28)

Those are strong words. Note: Satan has no such power.

Yahusha tells His disciples not to organize their lives around fear of men.

Why?

Because men do not possess ultimate authority.

Yahuah does.

But Yahusha does something remarkable immediately afterward.

He speaks of sparrows.

> “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.”

> (Matthew 10:29)

Then:

> “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

> (Matthew 10:30)

And finally:

> “Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.”

> (Matthew 10:31)

Do you see the distinction?

Fear Yahuah.

Do not fear the world.

The One whose authority should cause us to fear is also the Father who knows every hair upon our heads.

Biblical fear therefore isn't mindless terror.

But neither is it merely casual respect.

It is recognizing Yahuah's absolute holiness, authority, judgment, and power—and ordering our lives accordingly.

It produces reverence.

Humility.

Wisdom.

Obedience.

And freedom from the fear of men.

The fear of Yahuah does not leave us afraid of everything.

It teaches us whom we never needed to fear in the first place.

Question for Discussion

If we truly feared Yahuah above men, what fears would lose their power over our lives?

This is undoubtedly the key passage from Tim's lesson:

It is recognizing Yahuah's absolute holiness, authority, judgment, and power—and ordering our lives accordingly.

We revere God and we keep his commandments, i.e. the Mosaic Law including all the feasts and all the ceremonial laws. You know, all the stuff that Christ fulfilled and which Christians are no longer obligated to perform. See Galatians 3 and Acts 15. 

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and as with all things this fear should lead us to Jesus Christ who "is made unto us wisdom. Instead of Christ, Tim directs his audience to the dead letter of the abrogated Mosaic Law. Remember Christ has come not as an Aaronic priest but as a priest of Melchizedek.

Hebrews 7: 11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

Of course Tim's way around this is to claim the Law of Melchizedek IS the Law of Moses. An assertion not backed up by scripture. 

There is only ONE work that matters and Tim always leaves it out. Believing on Jesus Christ. 

John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

That might appear like believing is something one does completely on their own but Jesus dispels that notion further on down in this chapter. 

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

All we have and all we do is a gift from the Lord working in us to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). It's a wonder a man who has been teaching the Bible for thirty years such as Timothy Jay Schwab continues to get it wrong and direct people away from Christ and back to Moses. 

But let's hear what noted theologian Father Ted Crilly has to say about the matter. 

Ah, right… puts down the biscuit, adjusts the collar, and looks at the page like a man who’s just spotted another carefully worded trap

Week 37. “What Is the Fear of Yahuah?”

Well now. Let’s see what Tim’s done with one of the weightiest phrases in the whole Bible.

He starts where he should: Proverbs 1:7 and Psalm 111:10. Fear of Yahuah is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Fair enough. Then he leans hard into the second half of Psalm 111:10 — “a good understanding have all they that do His commandments.” And there it is. The immediate link to obedience. Reverence → wisdom → understanding → doing the commandments. Classic Tim architecture.

Then he brings in Matthew 10, which is actually a strong passage. Yahusha tells the disciples not to fear those who can only kill the body, but to fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. And then, in the same breath, He speaks of sparrows and numbered hairs and says “Fear ye not therefore.” That’s a proper biblical tension: holy dread of the Judge, and simultaneous confidence in the Father who knows every detail of your life. Tim handles that part reasonably well. Credit where it’s due.

But — and you knew there was a but — look at what never appears.

You said it yourself, lad. The fear of Yahuah is the beginning of wisdom. And the New Testament is crystal clear about where that wisdom is found:

“But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” (1 Corinthians 1:30)

“In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

Tim can quote the Proverbs and the Psalm until the cows come home, but he never takes the step the apostles took. The fear that is the beginning of wisdom is meant to drive us to the One who is the wisdom of God. Instead, in this series, “ordering our lives accordingly” and “obedience” almost always mean the same thing they’ve meant for thirty-odd weeks: keep the commandments, walk in the ways, live inside the Torah framework as Tim understands it.

So the fear of Yahuah produces reverence, humility, wisdom, and obedience… and the discussion question asks what earthly fears would lose their power if we feared Him above men. All true as far as it goes. But the deepest answer a Christian can give is never just “I would stop fearing men.” It is “I have been brought to the One who bore the judgment I deserved, and in Him I find both the fear of the Lord and the perfect love that casts out terror.”

Tim never gets there. He leaves the Man who is Wisdom outside the room while he polishes another definition that ends with us examining our own obedience.

sighs, reaches for the teapot again

Go on. Make it strong.

We’re still watching the same gravitational pull — law as the centre, Christ as the supporting actor.

Careful now.

Down with this sort of thing… still firmly in place.

Retards in the Government 488

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

 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2307143/duero-mayor-steps-down-after-ombudsman-dismissal-order

Duero Mayor Al Cadorniga Taculad stepped down from office on Sept. 16 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal for grave misconduct arising from his financial interest in municipal projects awarded to his construction firm.

Vice Mayor Hernes Bajao assumed the mayoralty following Taculad’s departure.

In a Sept. 1 decision, the Ombudsman found Taculad administratively liable for violations of Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, with related provisions of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and Republic Act No. 7160, or the Local Government Code.

The case involved two municipal projects—the river control project and the rainwater collector system—which were awarded to Altacs Construction, a company owned by Taculad while he was mayor.

The Ombudsman said Altacs Construction received a total of P76.2 million in payments for the two projects.

It also found that Taculad failed to divest his interest in the company after assuming office, which the Ombudsman cited as a conflict of interest and basis for the finding of grave misconduct.

The dismissal carries the forfeiture of retirement benefits, perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility and a ban on taking civil service examinations.

The Ombudsman also found sufficient basis for a criminal complaint against Taculad over alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and the Local Government Code.

Taculad denied responsibility for some of the documents cited in the case, claiming that his signatures on several bidding documents were forged. The Ombudsman said the issue of the alleged forged signatures would be more appropriately resolved during trial.

Taculad said he voluntarily stepped down to comply with the Ombudsman’s order.

In a farewell message to municipal employees posted on Facebook, Taculad said the administrative complaint had been filed by his political opponents nearly two years ago.

He said he faced the complaint but acknowledged that the outcome was unfavorable.

“I will tell you that these decisions are really difficult to accept, knowing that we did nothing wrong. We did not steal any money,” Taculad said in Cebuano.

He also said he believed the case was intended to derail his public service and political career.

“This is intended to destroy us. They want us to stop serving the people and to leave politics,” he said.

Duero is a fourth-class municipality about 73 kilometers from Tagbilaran City, with a population of around 19,000.

Duero Mayor Al Cadorniga Taculad stepped down from office on Sept. 16 after the Office of the Ombudsman ordered his dismissal for grave misconduct arising from his financial interest in municipal projects awarded to his construction firm.

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/338589/nbi-nabs-immigration-officer-allegedly-involved-in-human-trafficking

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested an officer of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) in Pasay City for allegedly being involved in a human trafficking scheme.

In an interview on Thursday, NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the BI officer is supposedly connected to illegal recruiters who offer jobs abroad to applicants with insufficient documents.

"The immigration officer, he is the one called the gunner. So that will go through him. But there will also be someone who will brief. Those who are supposed to be brought in for human trafficking will be briefed. Then those who book flights. Then there will be a recruiter," Matibag told reporters.

He said the recruitment was being done on social media or in person.

Matibag also said the BI officer earns around P500,000 daily from the supposed modus operandi.

The investigation into the supposed scheme started after a woman filed a complaint with the bureau’s Dangerous Drugs Division, noting that she was being recruited through Telegram as a customer service representative in Thailand.

The complainant said she was promised to pay P50,000 monthly for the position, and when she attempted to withdraw from the offer, she was allegedly threatened by a recruiter and compelled her to pay P20,000 in processing fees.

After verifying the information, NBI agents coordinated with the complainant and arrived at the Naia Terminal 1, where she was instructed to proceed for her supposed flight to Thailand.

After one of the supposed recruiters gave her all the documents needed for her flight, another accomplice allegedly provided her a “map” that directed her specifically to the counter where the immigration officer was assigned.

The NBI said the immigration officer only asked the complainant for the date she would return to the Philippines. She was immediately allowed to proceed even though she only presented her passport and boarding pass, and despite having no return ticket at the time.

After establishing sufficient grounds that the immigration officer was part of the alleged trafficking operation, NBI agents arrested him along with the illegal recruiters.

The immigration officer is currently in NBI custody and would face charges for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The NBI likewise recommended filing charges against the four other illegal recruiters for supposedly violating the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act.

Matibag said the bureau will coordinate with the BI to determine whether the arrested immigration officer also has accomplices in the supposed scheme.

A Bureau of Immigration officer has been arrested for human trafficking. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2307516/ombudsman-files-graft-charges-vs-villars-local-water-districts

Two counts of criminal and administrative cases against Sens. Mark and Camille Villar, parents and former Sens. Manny and Cynthia Villar, and businessman Paolo Villar, and officials for alleged questionable joint venture agreements entered into by Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC).

Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano said that the Ombudsman received a report from the Office of the Government Corporate Council that 75 local water districts entered into a joint venture agreement with Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation (PWIC) from 2015 to 2022.

He described this as “grossly disadvantageous”.

Of the figures, 19 from the local water districts issued notices of pre-termination due to the PWIC’s inability to provide its obligations, he added.

“It has reportedly failed to supply uninterrupted water resources and has instead provided poor drinking water standards, among other complaints against it,” Clavano said during a press briefing.

The Commission on Audit likewise flagged the PWIC’s P65,650,708.07 total unpaid obligations, such as the local water districts’ utilization or consumption of materials and supplies inventory.

The cases were now under preliminary investigation, he said.

Two counts of criminal and administrative cases against Sens. Mark and Camille Villar, parents and former Sens. Manny and Cynthia Villar, and businessman Paolo Villar, and officials for alleged questionable joint venture agreements entered into by Prime Water Infrastructure Corporation.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2307917/cop-surrenders-after-fatal-shooting-of-village-exec-in-northern-samar

A police officer surrendered to authorities after allegedly shooting to death a barangay councilor in Palapag, Northern Samar, on Friday afternoon, Sept. 18.

The victim, a 50-year-old resident of Barangay Mapno, was found behind a waiting shed across the barangay auditorium after the shooting at 2:53 p.m.

Police identified the suspect as a 40-year-old patrolman residing in Palapag.

According to the Palapag Municipal Police Station, the victim was sitting at the waiting shed when the suspect approached and shot him several times before fleeing the area.

Five empty 9mm cartridge cases and one slug were recovered from the scene.

Initial police investigation indicated that the shooting stemmed from a personal grudge involving the two men, who reportedly had a history of animosity and an ongoing family dispute.

Barangay Captain Lope Macayayong reported the incident to the Palapag police at 3:15 p.m. Police personnel immediately responded to the area.

A hot-pursuit operation was launched by Palapag police personnel.

The suspect, however, later voluntarily surrendered to the Palapag police and turned over his PNP-issued Taurus 9mm pistol, three magazines and 23 rounds of ammunition.

The victim’s remains were initially brought to the Palapag Rural Health Unit for post-mortem examination due to the absence of the municipal health officer. The body was later transferred to G.B. Tan Memorial Hospital in Laoang.

According to the police, the suspect was also brought to the same hospital for a medical examination.

Police said further investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

A police officer surrendered to authorities after allegedly shooting to death a barangay councilor in Palapag, Northern Samar.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/19/qc-cop-relieved-over-motorcycle-plate-violation

A Quezon City Police District (QCPD) officer was relieved after allegedly riding a private motorcycle without a license plate in Barangay Socorro, Cubao.

The officer, in full police uniform, was riding at the intersection of P. Tuazon Boulevard and EDSA on Friday, Sept. 18, when the alleged traffic violation was reported on social media.

The QCPD verified the report and identified the officer involved.

He was ordered to submit a written explanation regarding the reported traffic violation and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The officer was turned over to QCPD Traffic Sector 3 for appropriate action.

Following assessment, he was issued traffic citation tickets, while his motorcycle was impounded pending the required verification, documentation, and procedures for its proper disposition and release.

The QCPD stressed that all police personnel are required to comply with traffic laws, rules, and regulations at all times, emphasizing that being a police officer does not exempt anyone from following the law.

The police district said it remains committed to accountability, discipline, and adherence to the law and will continue to take appropriate action on reported violations involving its personnel, consistent with due process and existing rules and regulations.

A Quezon City Police District officer was relieved after allegedly riding a private motorcycle without a license plate.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/20/ombudsman-suspends-tayabas-city-vice-mayor-for-6-months

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Vice Mayor Rosauro Dalida here following an administrative complaint filed against him by a retired ambassador.

The suspension was implemented by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Region 4-A (Southern Tagalog) led by Regional Director Ariel Iglesia.

Dalida was suspended for six months and one day without pay for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

His case stemmed from a complaint filed by retired Ambassador Fortunato Oblena who received a report that his coconut trees and other vegetation were damaged due to a road construction project initiated by Dalida in February 2024.

Oblena said he visited his property and confirmed that a 200-meter-long road was being constructed and noted that he had not been informed about the project prior to its commencement.

He also discovered that the project was intended to provide access to a property purchased by Dalida, which was being developed into a commercial housing project to attract buyers.

To justify the construction, Dalida reportedly urged the Barangay Council of Camaysa, Tayabas City, to pass a resolution approving the project, even though it lacked the necessary approval from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of Public and Highways.

Oblena maintained that a road was unnecessary on his property as there was already an existing path used by others to access their lands.

He asserted that Dalida’s actions constituted a clear violation of the Revised Penal Code, specifically RA 3019 and RA 6713, as well as Presidential Decree 705 (Revised Forestry Code of the Philippine).

Councilor Dino Romero was installed as acting vice mayor and concurrent presiding officer of the city council.

The Office of the Ombudsman suspended Vice Mayor Rosauro Dalida here following an administrative complaint filed against him by a retired ambassador.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2309236/cagayan-vice-governor-starts-90-day-preventive-suspension-over-graft-case

Cagayan Vice Gov. Manuel Mamba began serving his 90-day preventive suspension on Monday, Sept. 21, after the Regional Trial Court in Batac, Ilocos Norte, denied his motion for reconsideration.

Mamba said he respected the court’s order, stressing that the suspension was “not a penalty but a procedural requirement.” He said he would exhaust all legal remedies and remained confident that justice would prevail.

He also expressed confidence in Acting Vice Gov. Randy Ursulum, the highest-ranking member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, to oversee its affairs during his absence.

The suspension stems from a graft case involving alleged irregularities in the payment of about P40 million for provincial infrastructure projects during Mamba’s tenure as governor.

The complaint was filed by JLL Pulsar Construction Corp., which sought payment for completed projects. 

Mamba denied the allegations, saying his withholding of payment was part of a policy requiring payments to be released to registered project owners.

The case was transferred to Batac after prosecutors sought to move the proceedings from Cagayan to prevent possible influence-peddling.

The Commission on Audit has separately upheld JLL Pulsar’s claim for P40.34 million, citing a final arbitration award for completed and accepted projects.

Cagayan Vice Gov. Manuel Mamba began serving his 90-day preventive suspension on Monday, Sept. 21, after the Regional Trial Court in Batac, Ilocos Norte, denied his motion for reconsideration.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/22/sandiganbayan-orders-90-day-suspension-of-uswag-ilonggo-rep-jojo-ang

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. while he faces graft charges over his alleged financial interest in a construction firm that secured government contracts.

In a four-page resolution promulgated on Monday, Sept. 21, the anti-graft court’s Sixth Division ordered Ang’s suspension from the House of Representatives.

“ACCORDINGLY, the Court hereby orders the SUSPENSION pendente lite of accused James Ang Dit Ang Jr. as member of the House of Representatives, and from any other public position he may now or hereafter hold for a period of 90 days from receipt of this Resolution,” the Sandiganbayan ordered.

As such, the anti-graft court ordered that the Speaker of the House of Representatives be furnished a copy of the resolution for the implementation of Ang’s suspension.

“The House Speaker is requested to inform this Court, within 15 days from receipt of this Resolution, of the action taken thereon,” it said.

“The suspension of accused Ang shall automatically be lifted upon the expiration of the 90-day period from the implementation of this Resolution,” it added.

Ang is facing two counts of violation of Section 3(h) of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, before the Sandiganbayan Sixth Division.

The Sandiganbayan said Section 13 of RA 3019 requires the suspension of an incumbent public officer facing criminal prosecution under a valid information for violation of the anti-graft law.

“As pointed out by accused Ang, suspension under the said provision is not automatic. However, it is mandatory,” the court said.

During a hearing on Sept. 1, the court directed Ang to explain why he should not be preventively suspended over the pending cases.

In his manifestation, Ang argued that preventive suspension was unwarranted because his alleged financial or pecuniary interest in Allencon, on which the charges were based, no longer existed.

He said he had completely divested himself of his shares and interests in the company and maintained that the alleged violation was not a continuing offense.

Likewise, Ang argued that there was no showing that his continued exercise of legislative functions would allow him to influence Allencon’s officers or employees, interfere with its records, or otherwise affect the proceedings.

He further claimed that the evidence of guilt was not strong and that his suspension would deprive Uswag Ilonggo of representation in the House.

The court, however, said Ang had already been given the opportunity to challenge the validity of the criminal informations.

His motion to quash, which questioned the court’s jurisdiction over the cases, was denied on Aug. 24. He later pleaded not guilty to the charges on Sept. 1.

“Any remaining objection to the validity of the Informations has been deemed waived,” the court said.

“In fine, the requisites for suspension under Sec. 13 of Republic Act No. 3019 have been met,” it added.

The resolution was penned by Sixth Division Chairperson Associate Justice Sarah Jane T. Fernandez, with Associate Justices Kevin Narce B. Vivero and Lord A. Villanueva concurring.

On July 25, Office of the Ombudsman (OMB) announced that it Ang with 14 counts of graft before the anti-graft court for allegedly retaining an interest in a construction firm that secured P214 million in Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contracts while he was in Congress.

“While sitting in Congress, Rep. Ang holds a stake in a construction firm that won ₱214 million in DPWH contracts — and was paid nearly ₱199 million for them,” Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic “Mico” Clavano IV said.

Per the OMB, the Constitution bars members of Congress from holding any financial interest in government contracts while serving their terms.

The Sandiganbayan has ordered the 90-day preventive suspension of Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. James “Jojo” Ang Jr. while he faces graft charges over his alleged financial interest in a construction firm that secured government contracts.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/23/former-brgy-kagawad-arrested-in-pinili-buy-bust-suspected-shabu-seized

A 46-year-old former barangay kagawad, identified by police as a regional high-value individual (HVI), was arrested during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Aglipay, Pinili, Ilocos Norte on Sept. 21, 2026.

Personnel of the Pinili Municipal Police Station reportedly arrested the suspect after he allegedly sold one heat-sealed sachet containing suspected shabu to a police poseur-buyer.

Police recovered a total of 1.9 grams of suspected shabu, with an estimated standard drug price of P12,920.

The suspect was placed under police custody following the operation for proper documentation and filing of charges.

Authorities said the suspect will face chrages for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11, Article II of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The operation was conducted as part of the police's continuing campaign against illegal drugs in the province.

A former barangay kagawad has been arrested on drug charges. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2310417/angeles-city-cop-nabbed-for-firing-his-service-firearm-in-tarlac

Policemen arrested a patrolman for firing his service firearm into the air during an argument with his father before midnight on Tuesday in Victoria, Tarlac. 

The incident took place at 11:50 p.m. in Rigor Compound, Barangay San Nicolas, the Central Luzon police said in a report on Wednesday.

“Initial investigation showed that the 26-year-old patrolman, who is assigned to the Angeles City Police Station, was allegedly under the influence of liquor when he figured in an argument with his father over a family land dispute,” police said.

During an altercation, the patrolman allegedly drew his government-issued pistol and fired a shot into the air.

Alarmed residents immediately reported the incident to the Victoria police. 

Policemen who responded to the distress call arrested the patrolman and confiscated his service firearm. They also recovered a fired cartridge case in the area. 

“The officer remains in the custody of Victoria Municipal Police Station while requests for ballistic examination and paraffin testing, as well as documents for the filing of appropriate charges, are being prepared,” according to the Central Luzon Police Office. 

The uniform does not place anyone above the law. If one of our personnel is involved in an alleged violation, we expect our units to act promptly and according to procedure. Due process will be observed, but misconduct that may endanger the public or damage the integrity of the organization will not be ignored,” said Police Brigadier General Jess Mendez, Region III police director,

He said appropriate criminal and administrative action will proceed based on the investigation’s outcome.

A cop has been arrested for firing a gun during an argument with his father. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/09/23/village-chair-gunned-down-in-negros-oriental

A barangay captain was gunned down in Barangay Kansumandig, La Libertad, Negros Oriental on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region said gunshots were heard as the victim was driving a motorcycle on his way home. People found the victim lifeless on the road.

Police recovered three spent shells and four slugs of a .45 caliber firearm and a cellular phone near his body.

Police Brig. Gen. Rudecindo Reales, PRO-NIR director, proceeded to the area to supervise police response.

Follow-up investigation is ongoing.

A barangay captain has been assassinated.