Hi, My Name is...76

Trees! They are the lungs of the planet. We need them but they don't need us. Here are a few people who were killed by trees. Whether by falling on people or by mishaps during trimming or family disputes over them, trees can be just as deadly as they are life-giving. 

Hi, my name has been with held. I am a 51-year-old man from Sampaloc. A van owner asked me to trim the dried leaves off a coconut tree so they wouldn’t fall on his parked vehicle. Four other guys had already turned the job down. I climbed up with a rope. Moments later I lost my balance, hit my head on the concrete, and died. The ambulance took nearly an hour. The van owner and the tree owner later offered to pay for my wake and burial. My wife said we were supposed to have lunch together that day.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/2/6/man-dies-after-falling-from-tree-he-was-trimming-in-sampaloc-manila

A 51-year-old man died after falling from a coconut tree that he was trimming on Honradez Street in Sampaloc, Manila.

According to officials of Barangay 437, the victim was asked by a van owner to trim the dried leaves from the tree to prevent them from falling onto his parked van.

In closed-circuit television footage, the van owner moved his vehicle forward to make room for the victim to do his task. 

The victim was seen adjusting his rope as he climbed the tree to begin cutting the leaves.

Moments later, the victim suddenly fell, hitting his head on the ground.

Barangay authorities stated that the victim was still alive after the fall, but it took nearly an hour for the emergency vehicle to arrive, delaying his transport to the hospital.

They said the owners of the van and the tree owner have agreed to cover the costs of the victim's wake and burial. 

Hi, my name is Vilma. I evacuated to my cousin’s place the onslaught of severe tropical storm "Opong". While we were sleeping, a coconut tree collapsed onto the house and killed me.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/09/26/woman-killed-by-falling-coconut-tree

A woman died after a coconut tree fell on a house in Purok 3, Barangay Malajog, Tinambacan District, Calbayog City, during the onslaught of severe tropical storm "Opong" Friday.

A report filed by the Calbayog City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) Rescue Team with the Calbayog City Police Station (CPS) said the incident occurred at approximately 3 a.m.

Initial investigation revealed that alias “Vilma” evacuated to her cousin’s live-in partner's residence around 7 p.m. on Thursday as a precautionary measure against the typhoon.

While they were asleep, an adjacent coconut tree collapsed onto the house, fatally striking Vilma. 

Vilma’s body was taken to Bornec Funeral Services. Police are coordinating with the City Health Office for a post-mortem examination.

Hi, our names are Alberto Anoche Bueno, Jean Andrea Bueno Pena, Alvin del Mundo Pena, Nazareth Eussef Bueno Pena, and Noeh Isaiah Bueno Pena. We were asleep in our house made of light materials when a giant buri palm tree, one that people had already tried to burn down, toppled during the storm and crushed us. Well did except for the eldest son, who was near the door. He tried to pull us out but said the tree was too big.

https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/19/family-of-5-killed-as-tree-topples-hits-house-in-quezon

A family of five was killed when a buri palm tree fell on their house while they were sleeping at the height of tropical cyclone "Ramil" in Barangay Cawayanin, Pitogo town, Quezon province on Sunday morning, Oct. 19.

Police identified the victims as Alberto Anoche Bueno, 66; Jean Andrea Bueno Pena, 35; Alvin del Mundo Pena, 35; Nazareth Eussef Bueno Pena, 11, and Noeh Isaiah Bueno Pena, five-months-old.

Nazareth and Noeh were the children of Jean and Alvin and Alberto was the father of Jean.

Investigation said the victims were sleeping inside their house made of light materials when a big burned buri palm tree suddenly toppled and crushed them.

They died on the spot, police said.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council extracted the victims' bodies.

The victims' house was totally destroyed.

The couple's eldest child survived and is now receiving assistance from authorities.

Hi, my name has been withheld but I am a 40-year-old woman from Sulu. During heavy rains an acacia tree fell on top of the tricycle in which I was riding or standing near or driving or something. Anyway, I died. 

https://mb.com.ph/2025/10/23/woman-killed-5-hurt-as-2-trees-topple-in-sulu

A 40-year-old woman was killed while five others were injured after they were hit by two acacia trees that toppled at the height of heavy rains on Wednesday, Oct. 22, in Barangay San Raymundo, Jolo, Sulu.

Alhakin Alpapara, chief of the Barangay San Raymundo Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said the first tree collapsed at around 11 a.m., hitting a tricycle passenger and the victim who later succumbed to her injuries.

At 1 p.m., part of the San Raymundo barangay hall was hit by another acacia tree, injuring four more persons.

Emergency responders quickly transported the victims to a hospital. The five injured victims are reported to be in stable condition.

Hi, my name is Winche Baño. I was a 21-year-old cum laude graduate on my way to a review class with my father on the motorcycle. A huge branch from a long-dead fire tree snapped, shattered my helmet, and killed me. My father only got minor injuries. If only the barangay had gotten rid of this known hazard of which "it was only a matter of time before the branch gave way" I'd still be alive. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/11/falling-tree-branch-kills-cum-laude-graduate-in-abra

A falling tree branch killed a 21-year-old cum laude graduate bound for a review class in Barangay Siblong here on Tuesday, July 7.

Police identified the victim as Winche Baño, a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Science graduate of the University of Abra-Lagangilang Campus.

Investigation said Baño and her father were riding a motorcycle near a when a huge branch from a fire tree suddenly snapped and crashed onto them.

Police said the victims were wearing helmets, but the impact shattered Winche’s helmet and sustained fatal head injuries. Her father suffered only minor injuries.

Police Capt. Miguel Cawi Jr., chief of the Bucay Municipal Police Station, said the fire tree had long been dead and leafless and was vulnerable to collapse. “The tree was already weakened, and it was only a matter of time before the branch gave way,” Cawi said.

Baño was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead.

Friends and classmates mourned the death of the aspiring teacher who was described as a consistent honor student.

Authorities were urged to inspect and remove hazardous roadside trees to prevent similar tragedies. 

Hi, my name is Anton. My nephew Wiwi was cutting some trees on my property when I told him to stop and threatened him if he continued. We got into a very heated argument. He came back later with a bolo and hacked me to death. My brother found me later in the morning.   

https://mb.com.ph/2026/06/21/man-hacked-dead-by-nephew-over-cut-trees

A 55-year-old man was allegedly hacked to death by his teenage nephew due to cut trees in Barangay Minoyan, Murcia, Negros Occidental on Tuesday, June 16.

The body of the victim Anton was found in his house by his younger brother when he visited him on Wednesday, June 17.

Investigation showed that the victim and the suspect Wiwi had a heated argument about the trees reportedly cut by Wiwi.

The victim allegedly threatened the suspect if he continues to cut  trees. The suspect, armed with a bolo, returned to the victim's house, waited for him, and killed him.

The victim’s younger brother reported the incident to the police in neighboring Don Salvador Benedicto in Negros Occidental.

Police arrested the suspect in a pursuit operation.

The victim's family decided not to file any charges against the suspect.

Hi, my name is the eight-year-old boy in Sagay City. I had just come home from school. A decades-old buri tree with almost no living roots left suddenly collapsed onto our house. I was inside browsing on my phone. Rescuers took hours to free me. I didn’t make it.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/06/toppled-palm-tree-kills-8-year-old-boy

An eight-year-old boy was killed after their house was hit by a fallen palm tree in Purok Fire Tree, Barangay Bulanon, Sagay City, Negros Occidental on Wednesday, Aug. 5.

Investigation said the victim was browsing on a phone inside the house along with his mother and female twin sibling when they heard the sound of cracking branches. 

A large palm tree 10 meters away from their house suddenly toppled and hit their home. 

The victim failed to get out and the palm tree struck his head. His mother and twin sibling managed to escape. 

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

Police said the tree measured approximately 60 feet in length, was nearly 60-years-old, and may have collapsed due to deteriorating roots.

Hi, I am an unnamed the motorcycle rider. While driving down Don Quijote Street in Manila strong winds and rain brought a tree down on me. I was immediately assisted by responders and taken to the hospital. The road stayed blocked while they cut the tree apart.

https://mb.com.ph/2026/08/09/motorcycle-rider-hurt-after-tree-falls-on-him-in-manila

A motorcycle rider was injured after a tree fell on him along Don Quijote Street in Sampaloc, Manila, on Sunday night, August 9, as strong winds and heavy rains swept through the city.

The rider was traversing the road when the tree suddenly collapsed, striking both him and his motorcycle. 

He was immediately assisted by responders and brought to a nearby hospital by ambulance for medical attention.

Firefighters responded to the scene and began cutting and clearing the fallen tree to reopen the affected portion of the road. 

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) coordinated with the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (MCDRRMD) for the removal and hauling of debris.

As of Sunday night, Don Quijote Street remained impassable to vehicles while clearing operations were ongoing. 

Motorists were advised to avoid the area and take alternate routes.

The incident occurred amid strong winds and continuous rains affecting Manila, prompting authorities to heighten monitoring in areas prone to flooding and falling trees. 

Despite the weather disturbance, no power outages were reported in the city as of posting.

Hi, my name is the eight-year-old girl in Leyte. I was on my way to buy fish when two men cutting a coconut tree lost control of it. The tree fell on me. I was declared dead on arrival. The men surrendered the chainsaw.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2131004/8-year-old-girl-killed-by-falling-coconut-tree-in-leyte

An eight-year-old girl died after being accidentally struck by a falling coconut tree in Sitio Manipis, Barangay Bagaba-o, Leyte, Leyte, on Monday afternoon.

The victim, identified as MJP, a Grade 3 pupil and resident of the barangay, was reportedly on her way to buy fish when the coconut tree—being cut by two men—suddenly fell and hit her.

The men, identified only as “Pino,” 42, married, a chief tanod, and “Pabs,” 38, married, a farmer, both residents of Barangay Mataloto, were cutting the tree when the accident occurred.

According to police, they received a call around 1:30 p.m. from a police auxiliary of Barangay Mataloto, reporting the incident. Responding officers immediately proceeded to the scene and found the child lying unconscious on the ground.

With the assistance of the police, the victim’s family rushed her to the Leyte Rural Health Unit, but she was declared dead on arrival at around 3:45 p.m. by the attending physician.

Following the incident, the two men voluntarily surrendered to authorities and turned over the chainsaw used in cutting the tree. They are now under the custody of the Leyte Municipal Police Station for proper disposition and investigation.

Hi, we are two tricycle passengers. We were riding along when an old and injured large tree fell on us. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2280673/falling-tree-injures-2-in-angeles-city

Two tricycle passengers were injured after a large tree fell in Barangay Pulung Cacutud, Angeles City on Saturday night.

The incident occurred along the Pulung Cacutud-Sapalibutad Road at 7:36 p.m., according to the Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (ACDRRMO).

ACDRRMO personnel responded and brought the injured men to hospital.

The road was temporarily closed to traffic while ACDRRMO personnel and Bureau of Fire Protection responders used chainsaws and other equipment to remove the large tree trunk blocking the roadway.

On Sunday afternoon, the Angeles City government urged residents to report old trees, particularly during periods of bad weather.

It also warned motorists against parking under large or old trees during heavy rains or strong winds.

Insurgency: 29 Unfinished ELCAC Projects

The NTF-ELCAC is calling on the United Nations to investigate 98 alleged killings attributed to the CPP-NPA-NDF in the name of human rights violations. Certainly those victims deserve justice but it's not the job of the UN, who has already condemned the atrocities of the NPA, to do the Philippines' police work. 

https://globalnation.inquirer.net/342744/ntf-elcac-calls-un-to-probe-insurgents-alleged-killings-of-98-civilians

The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) has called on the United Nations and other international human rights bodies to investigate 98 documented incidents of alleged murder and summary execution attributed to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).

Lawyer Liza Fidelis Cañada, NTF-Elcac National Secretariat spokesperson and Director for Stakeholder Engagement, said in Monday’s FAQCheck Press Conference that these 98 incidents were documented between 2021 and October this year.

These can be broken down into three for 2021, another three in 2022, 21 in 2024, 37 in 2025, and 34 in the first ten months of 2026.

The NTF-Elcac official said 90 of the reported killings occurred on Negros Island, underscoring the alarming concentration of violence against civilians in the region.

“These are not revolutionary acts. These are murders. No ideology, no political cause, and no armed struggle can justify the deliberate execution of defenseless civilians,” Cañada stressed.

She added the victims included farmers, laborers, women, elderly residents, barangay officials, community peacekeepers and former rebels who had already returned to civilian life.

Many were allegedly condemned as government informants or “spies” before being killed, without any lawful judicial process or opportunity to defend themselves.

“A mere accusation of being a spy has become a death sentence. The CPP-NPA-NDF cannot appoint itself accuser, judge, jury, and executioner. That is not justice. That is murder masquerading as revolutionary discipline,” Cañada stressed.

The NTF-Elcac official emphasized that civilians are protected under international humanitarian law, particularly Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and, where applicable, Additional Protocol II.

She also added that the deliberate killing of persons not actively participating in hostilities is prohibited and may constitute a war crime under Republic Act 9851, subject to the applicable legal elements and individual criminal responsibility.

“We challenge the United Nations and international human rights mechanisms to examine these killings with the same seriousness, urgency, and impartiality demanded in every allegation of human rights abuse. The lives of Filipino farmers, workers, women, and elderly villagers are no less valuable simply because their alleged killers belong to a communist armed movement,” Cañada said.

She called for an independent examination of the documented incidents, preservation of evidence, identification of those who ordered or carried out the killings and appropriate criminal proceedings against individuals found responsible.

Cañada said the violence also exposes the growing desperation of the remnants of the CPP-NPA-NDF, whose diminishing influence has coincided with the expansion of peace, public services and development opportunities in communities once affected by communist insurgency.

She added that the killings reveal the contradiction between the movement’s professed concern for human rights and the alleged execution of poor, vulnerable, and defenseless Filipinos on the strength of unproven accusations.

“Those who loudly invoke human rights cannot remain indifferent when innocent civilians are branded as spies and killed. Human rights are universal. They cannot be selectively defended according to the ideology or political identity of the perpetrators,” Cañada said.

Likewise, the task force demanded an immediate end to all targeted killings, intimidation and summary executions of civilians.

It also urged international institutions, domestic human rights organizations and concerned sectors to support impartial investigations and prosecute those responsible under Philippine and international law.

“Ninety-eight documented incidents demand 98 answers. Every victim deserves justice. Every perpetrator must face accountability. And every Filipino must be protected from the barbarity of armed groups that believe a political accusation gives them the right to take a human life,” Cañada said.

There is a lot of obfuscation and misdirection in this plea from the NTF-ELCAC. What they are really trying to do is portray the UN as having a double standard for investigating alleged abuses of the legitimate state authority and not being so rigorous in investigating the alleged atrocities of the NPA. It's a false equivalency as the NPA has been condemned by the UN and operates outside the law while the Philippine government is entrusted with protecting the population, not merely defeating its enemies. Its security forces must therefore be subject to scrutiny precisely because they exercise public power on behalf of the people.

But it's not as if Philippine state security forces care one whit about complaints lobbed at them. They continue to defend their actions no matter what. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/19/afp-defends-counter-insurgency-operations-after-farmers-protest-at-camp-aguinaldo

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday, Oct. 19, stood by its security and peace-building efforts following a protest staged by farmers and rights groups outside Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, where demonstrators accused the military of rights violations and militarization in rural communities.

In a statement, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said allegations of militarization and human rights violations should be examined based on verified information and evidence.

She also called for complaints to be addressed through proper legal processes to ensure accountability for any proven violations.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines respects the right of every citizen to express their views and hold peaceful assemblies in accordance with the law,” Padilla said.

“As for allegations of militarization and human rights violations, it is important that these be examined based on verified information and evidence. Any complaint should be addressed through the proper processes to ensure accountability if violations are proven,” she added.

The protesters, led by the Kilusang Magbubukid sa Pilipinas (KMP), joined forces with rights group KARAPATAN, Indigenous peoples’ organization Katribu, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), and Kabataan as they gathered at Gate 2 of Camp Aguinaldo to denounce military operations in farming and Indigenous communities.

The groups carried placards bearing the message, “Militar sa kanayunan, palayasin! (Drive the military out of the countryside!)” and called for the withdrawal of military troops from rural communities.

They also condemned the government’s National Action Plan on Unity, Peace and Development (NAP-UPD), a three-year strategic blueprint aimed at “ending the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army–National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) insurgency” and achieving sustainable peace by 2028, which the groups claimed had enabled human rights abuses under the guise of counter-insurgency.

The demonstration also marked six months since the killing of 19 people in Toboso, Negros Occidental. To recall, 19 individuals were killed in a military operation against suspected communist rebels in Toboso town on April 19, but progressive groups alleged that some of those slain were civilians. 

The protesters demanded justice for the victims, accusing the military of targeting civilians during its operations, which had previously been denied by the leadership of the AFP.

KARAPATAN secretary general Cristina Palabay said military deployments had worsened conditions in rural communities instead of bringing peace and development.

“Farmers who struggle for land and livelihood are treated as enemies of the State, while entire communities are subjected to military operations under the guise of counter-insurgency,” she said.

In response, Padilla said the AFP’s peace and development initiatives should focus on protecting communities, promoting the rights of citizens, and addressing the root causes of armed conflict.

“The goal is to bring lasting peace, especially to communities that have long been affected by unrest,” she said.

The AFP also maintained that it continued to fulfill its mandate to protect the Filipino people and the country while respecting constitutional principles and human rights.

The irony on the AFP saying the "allegations of militarization and human rights violations" need to "be examined based on verified information and evidence" while the NTF-ELCAC is demanding the UN investigate alleged NPA killings is probably lost on them.

The COA has flagged 29 of the NTF-ELCAC's Barangay Development Projects which set off a firestorm of  protest from leftist groups. The NTF-ELCAC took umbrage at these projects being called ghost projects.

https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/10/18/regions/29-unfinished-elcac-projects-in-iloilo-flagged/2447972

The Commission on Audit (COA) has flagged 29 anti-insurgency projects in Iloilo that remained uncompleted as of 2025, including eight that were completely nonoperational, with an estimated P73.892 million needed to finish the projects.

In its 2025 audit report, COA said 16 projects worth P60.931 million had not been implemented due to the lack of local funding, while 13 others had been partially implemented, leaving P12.961 million in completion costs.

The audit also found that eight projects costing P8.178 million were completely nonoperational, while the remaining 21 were partially or fully operational despite incomplete physical scope.

The projects were funded under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) through the Local Government Support Fund–Support to Barangay Development Program (LGSF-SBDP).

They covered farm-to-market roads, water supply systems, rural electrification, public facilities and agricultural livelihood projects.

The province received a P720-million national grant in 2021 for 165 projects under the program.

When the national grant validity lapsed on Dec. 31, 2022, only P214.520 million had been spent toward 68 projects that had a total contract cost of P344.938 million.

Pursuant to Department of Budget and Management (DBM) directives at the time, all unspent national funds had to be reverted to the National Treasury. This left a net unfunded balance of P130.418 million required to complete the 68 unfinished infrastructure and livelihood projects.

From 2023 to 2025, the provincial government used local counterpart funds to complete 39 projects, leaving the 29 projects flagged in the latest audit report.

Under the Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular 2023-063, local government units (LGUs) are required to provide counterpart funding and issue letters of commitment to ensure the completion of unfinished projects.

COA warned that delays and non-implementation could expose infrastructure to deterioration and deprive conflict-vulnerable communities of the intended benefits.

Inspections also found that some projects recorded as 100-percent complete had reduced scopes following the reversion of the original national grants.

Some farm-to-market roads had unpaved or unconcreted sections, while several water systems were nonfunctional or unable to serve all households because of missing distribution pipes or the lack of funds for household connections.

The Provincial Engineer’s Office attributed differences between planned and actual road lengths to rising inflation and labor costs when local budget estimates were prepared. It also committed to providing technical assistance and training to barangay water and sanitation associations to improve water distribution management.

The findings prompted criticism from left-leaning group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan)-Panay, which accused on Oct. 15 that the provincial government of “ghost” Elcac projects.

“The ghost and incomplete projects in Iloilo, as well as the substandard completed ones, echo what has been pointed out by the Filipino people for years: NTF-Elcac is among the most wasteful and corrupt government entities today,” Bayan-Panay said.

Provincial administrator Raul Banias rejected allegations of “ghost” projects, saying the COA findings were being misrepresented to accuse the government of corruption.

At a press conference on Friday, Banias said the P73.892 million flagged in COA’s audit report represented the estimated cost of completing 29 unfinished projects, not missing or stolen public funds.

“An unfinished project is not a ghost project. A ghost project means a nonexistent project where money was pocketed for zero work. The projects cited exist on the ground,” he said.

He attributed delays to the projects’ locations in geographically isolated and mountainous areas, severe weather disturbances, difficult terrain and delays in the delivery of construction materials.

The provincial government maintained that the estimated completion cost should not be equated with missing funds, stressing that COA did not declare the amount stolen or diverted.

It also cited the return of approximately P196 million in unused national allocations to the National Treasury as evidence that the province had complied with public finance rules.

Banias also clarified that the DBM releases LGSF allocations directly to implementing LGUs, which handle procurement, construction and engineering implementation.

“We take legitimate audit observations with utmost seriousness and will comply with all audit recommendations to deliver completed roads, potable water and agricultural facilities to the people of Iloilo,” he said.

“But we will not allow the legitimate work of government auditors to be hijacked by ideological groups to sabotage programs that bring basic services to communities previously neglected by conflict,” Banias added.

Perhaps ghost projects are all a matter of perspective? 

Whatever the case here the Iloilo Provincial Government has vowed to complete 19 of the 29 projects by 2028.

https://www.panaynews.net/capitol-vows-to-finish-19-stalled-projects-by-2028-iloilo-provincial-govt-rejects-ghost-project-allegations/

The Iloilo Provincial Government has committed to completing 19 unfinished development projects by 2028 using local funds, as it strongly denied allegations that 16 projects under the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) were nonexistent or involved the misuse of public funds.

Provincial Administrator Raul Banias said the province had returned approximately P196 million in unused national government allocations to the National Treasury, disputing claims by cause-oriented group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Panay that the unfinished projects were evidence of corruption.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Provincial Legal Office head Atty. Dennis Ventilacion, Banias maintained that the Commission on Audit (COA) had not established that public funds were stolen, diverted or misappropriated.

The controversy stemmed from COA’s 2025 audit findings showing that 29 projects under the NTF-ELCAC’s Barangay Development Program (BDP), with an aggregate estimated completion cost of P73.892 million, remained unfinished.

Of these, eight projects costing P8.178 million were reported as nonoperational, contrary to Section 5.2.1.b of Department of the Interior and Local Government Memorandum Circular No. 2023-063.

COA warned that the situation exposed the projects to possible deterioration and prevented communities from fully benefiting from the intended infrastructure and services.

BAYAN Panay subsequently alleged that 16 of the projects were “ghost projects,” including 10 in Tubungan, four in Leon and two in Igbaras.

The group also claimed that 13 additional projects remained incomplete by the end of 2025, questioning the implementation of projects supposedly funded since 2021.

Banias, however, emphasized that the P73.892 million cited by COA represented the estimated amount needed to complete the 29 projects, including 16 facing funding deficiencies, and not money that had disappeared from government coffers.

“Unfinished is not ‘ghost’. A ‘ghost project’ means a non-existent project where money was pocketed for zero work. The projects cited exist on the ground. As disclosed by the Provincial Engineer’s Office as early as September 2023, these sites are in geographically isolated, mountainous areas hit by severe weather disturbances, terrain bottlenecks, and contractor supply delays,” Banias said.

He explained that the provincial government received P720 million from the national government in 2021 for the implementation of 165 projects under the NTF-ELCAC program.

However, the limited implementation period, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, prevented the province from fully utilizing the allocation.

According to Banias, the provincial government utilized approximately 73 percent of the funds and returned the remaining 27 percent, equivalent to about P196 million, to the National Treasury in compliance with government financial regulations.

The funding limitations contributed to the noncompletion of 29 projects, including the 16 identified by BAYAN Panay.

“The critics allege that funds were pocketed. If that were true, why did the Iloilo Provincial Government legally and transparently return approximately P196 million in unused national allocations back to the National Treasury? Returning unspent allocations to the national coffers is the exact opposite of corruption; it is strict adherence to public finance laws,” Banias said.

The provincial administrator stressed that the return of unused allocations demonstrated compliance with public finance regulations rather than evidence of corruption.

He also challenged BAYAN Panay’s interpretation of the audit findings, accusing the group of turning legitimate observations into politically motivated allegations.

“What we firmly reject, however, is the deliberate distortion of audit findings into smear campaigns, black propaganda, and baseless claims of institutional plunder,” Banias said.

In its statement, BAYAN Panay accused the NTF-ELCAC of wasteful spending and questioned the implementation of its development programs in communities previously affected by insurgency.

The group challenged the provincial government to either complete the projects flagged by COA or join calls for accountability over the task force’s handling of public funds.

Banias maintained that the provincial government welcomed public scrutiny and recognized the importance of COA findings in promoting accountability and good governance.

He stressed, however, that audit observations concerning delayed implementation should not automatically be interpreted as proof of corruption.

“Our position is simple: An unfinished project is not a ghost project. An unspent allocation returned to the national treasury is not stolen money. A COA observation advising operational remedies is not a finding of malversation. We take legitimate audit observations with utmost seriousness and will comply with all audit recommendations to deliver completed roads, potable water, and agricultural facilities to the people of Iloilo. But we will not allow the legitimate work of government auditors to be hijacked by ideological groups to sabotage programs that bring basic services to communities previously neglected by conflict,” Banias said.

Ventilacion supported the provincial administrator’s position, stressing that the COA observations did not explicitly establish the existence of ghost or substandard projects.

“Ang ini nga mga observation regular ‘ni sa annual audit, wala ini na-graduate into suspension of disallowance,” Ventilacion said.

He also maintained that Iloilo Province had achieved a relatively high implementation rate for NTF-ELCAC projects compared with other provinces, citing its utilization of 73 percent of the P720-million allocation.

Most of that article is a repetition of the previous article but there are a few details that differ. They are going all the way back to COVID to justify some of these projects not being completed. COVID!!! And why can't they complete all 29 within the next two years? Why only 19? It should never be forgotten that the Barangay Development Program is counterinsurgency disguised as good governance. 

The AMLC has won court approval to forfeit funds linked to an ISIS financier. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/19/amlc-wins-court-approval-to-forfeit-funds-linked-to-isis-financier

The Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) has secured the forfeiture of nearly ₱220,000 in funds linked to terrorism financing in favor of the government, following a favorable decision by a Manila court.

The funds were previously held in a bank account under the name of Abdulpatta Escalon Abubakar, the AMLC said in a statement released Oct. 19. Abubakar came under the scrutiny of Philippine authorities following intelligence reports linking him to terrorism financing activities.

Law enforcement authorities reported that he facilitated the transfer of funds from Saudi Arabia to the Philippines through the wives and relatives of members of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). These reports prompted a financial investigation into his bank accounts for possible violations of the Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of 2012.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila, Branch 18, ruled in favor of the forfeiture.

The AMLC also said Abubakar had been designated a terrorist under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1267 for acting as a facilitator for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

International authorities identified him as a key facilitator who transferred $50,000 to Isnilon Hapilon, the former ASG leader who later became the recognized leader of the Islamic State in Southeast Asia. The funds were believed to have been used to acquire weapons and ammunition.

Abubakar was also linked to efforts to procure materials for manufacturing improvised explosive devices, the AMLC said.

The council said the forfeiture highlights the role of financial intelligence and asset recovery in disrupting terrorism financing by depriving facilitators of access to funds and financial services.

The AMLC added that it would continue pursuing financial investigations and forfeiture actions against funds and assets linked to terrorism financing, in line with applicable laws and international obligations.

This would seem to reason that Islamic terrorism is still being financed by foreigners. Specifically Saudi Arabia. Will the Philippine government protest this fact to the Saudis?

Recently 4 Dawlah Islamiya extremists were killed in a clash with troops.

https://pna.gov.ph/article/4-di-extremists-killed-in-maguindanao-norte-clash-with-govt-troops

Four suspected Dawlah Islamiya (DI) extremists, including a sub-leader, were killed after resisting arrest during a law enforcement operation in Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao del Norte on Friday afternoon.

Lt. Col. Eugene Balugo, officer-in-charge of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group – Regional Field Unit 15 in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region, said in a Saturday report that joint police and military forces were serving arrest warrants on DI Hassan Group sub-leader Yusa Ganoy when he and his three escorts resisted and opened fire on approaching lawmen.

“The joint operation was conducted at the suspected extremists’ safe house at around 3:30 p.m. in Barangay Tapayan,” he said.

Balugo said Ganoy, in addition to being affiliated with the DI-Hassan Group, has ties to the Alpha King Group. Both groups have been linked to bombings in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, as well as to killings, arson, and other violent acts in Maguindanao del Sur.

Ganoy was also wanted for several criminal offenses, including destructive arson, direct assault, multiple counts of frustrated murder, double murder, and direct assault with multiple attempted murders.

He was charged with violating Republic Act 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020. The warrants were issued by courts in Cotabato City, Shariff Aguak in Maguindanao del Sur, and Iligan City in Lanao del Norte.

“The suspect was also listed in the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Periodic Status Report and ranked as the No. 4 most wanted person at the provincial level in Maguindanao del Sur,” Balugo said. 

During clearing operations, authorities recovered an assault rifle, three .45-caliber pistols, and an improvised explosive device (IED).

The local police assisted in retrieving the remains of those slain and sent them to their respective families. 

Dawlah Islamiya is of course associated with ISIS. So ISIS has never gone away. The Battle of Marawi did not defeat ISIS-Philippines. 

Recess Week 1 of Vice President Sara Duterte's Impeachment Trial

Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial has been put on hold for three weeks until November 9th while the Senate deliberates on the budget. That does not mean there is no news to report.  The prosecution has filed their formal offer of evidence. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2327498/prosecutors-file-formal-offer-of-evidence-in-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial

House prosecutors have submitted their formal offer of evidence to the Senate impeachment court in the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, prosecution adviser Robert Ace Barbers said on Wednesday.

Barbers said the prosecutorial panel submitted its evidence on Tuesday evening, providing the Senate with bank, tax and corporate records.

The team also filed net worth disclosure filings to support the prosecution’s case that Duterte allegedly amassed unexplained wealth and reportedly failed to truthfully disclose her net worth.

The Senate impeachment court set an Oct. 23 deadline for the formal offer of evidence, with Duterte’s lawyers given 10 days to review the filing before mounting its defense, when proceedings resume on Nov. 9.

Barbers said the prosecution submitted its portfolio of evidence before the deadline because “that’s how prepared the panel is.”

“We just tied up some edges, some loose strings, formalized it and submitted it,” he told the Inquirer. “Why would we wait for the deadline, at the last minute?”

Prosecutors alleged that Duterte engaged in unlawful business dealings while in office and misstated her net worth. 

Forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera, a prosecution witness, testified that Duterte may have hidden at least P817 million in assets since 2022.

“It’s going to be a difficult task for the defense to be able to rebut all this information,” Barbers said.

The defense has ten days to respond to this formal offer evidence. With 3 article removed and only the article pertaining to alleged unexplained wealth in Sara's SALN that is a lot less evidence needing a response. 

The prosecution is so sure the SALN issue is a slam dunk that they are hoping the trial will be over by December rather than extending into next year. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2325633/prosec-hoping-for-sara-duterte-impeachment-verdict-by-november-december

House prosecution panel member and Manila Rep. Joel Chua is hoping that the Senate impeachment court will be able to rule on Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s case by late November or early December now that only the alleged unexplained wealth article remains.

Chua said prosecutors narrowed the case partly because they expected the defense to stretch its presentation into the following year.

“We hope they will extend the article,” Chua told the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

He warned that a prolonged trial could weaken public attention to the evidence already presented.

Chua said the defense could determine how to present its case, subject to the court’s control.

Prosecutors would raise objections if they considered the proceedings needlessly prolonged.

“If we think what we are doing is just delaying, I think the impeachment court will give us a chance to hear our case,” he said.

The defense presentation on Article II is scheduled to begin on November 9.

“Hopefully by the end of November or at least at the latest, first week of December, we will be able to make a decision,” Chua said.

The fact that the prosecution is set on hastening the end of proceedings has alarmed Senator Imee Marcos. She thinks the prosecution is running to the goal in order "improve the country’s international standing."  

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/22/hindi-maganda-yan-chua-sees-bias-in-imee-marcos-rushed-tag-on-impeachment-trial

Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua said Senator Imee Marcos may have betrayed her bias as a senator-judge after she suggested that Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial was being hastened to improve the Philippines’ image before the international community.

According to Chua, Marcos’ remarks could give the impression that she was favoring one side despite the commitment of senator-judges to remain politically neutral throughout the proceedings.

"I don't think it is appropriate for a senator-judge to make this kind of comment, considering that they had promised to remain politically impartial," Chua said in a recent press briefing.

“Because of these words, it seems she is taking sides," he added.

Chua was reacting to Marcos’ reported remarks in a Senate interview wherein she raised that the impeachment trial was being hurried to improve the country’s international standing.

Marcos reportedly cited the House prosecution’s withdrawal of three impeachment articles against Duterte, leaving article II, which involves allegations of unexplained wealth and financial disclosure violations, as the sole remaining charge.

House lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro, however, stressed that the prosecution had no control over the pace of the proceedings.

"It is the impeachment court that has the authority, or is in a position, to control the proceedings. That is not in the hands of the prosecution," Luistro said.

Chua also urged senator-judges to exercise restraint in publicly commenting on the case, citing the impeachment court’s adoption of a sub judice rule.

"I believe that the sub judice rule should not apply only to us, but also to the senator-judges," he said.

Chua maintained that the responsibility to avoid statements that could affect the proceedings should apply to both the prosecution and defense, as well as the senator-judges tasked with deciding the case.

Representative Chua who is on the prosecution team says this indicates a bias against the prosecution. Yet, neither Chua nor Marocs tell us what was meant by "improving the country’s international standing." How would a verdict do that exactly especially if it was an acquittal? Perhaps it's just rhetoric from a blowhard who has already made up her mind that Sara is innocent. 

Two new surveys have revealed rather interesting opinions form the public about the impeachment trial. In the first one the majority say they need to see more evidence to make a judgement. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2327471/octa-most-filipinos-await-evidence-vs-sara-duterte-in-impeach-trial

While most Filipinos remained undecided on whether Vice President Sara Duterte should be convicted in her ongoing impeachment trial, more Filipinos expressed support for either her conviction or acquittal, results from a survey conducted by Octa Research showed.

Based on the results of Octa’s survey conducted Sept. 28 to Oct. 4, Filipinos who said they would need to see the evidence against Duterte first dropped to 47 percent from 55 percent in July.

“Combined, 46 percent now state a preferred verdict, up from 38 percent in July,” Octa noted.

Of the 46 percent, 21 percent have voiced their support for conviction—slightly lower than the 25 percent who said they believe Duterte should be acquitted.

Meanwhile, 6 percent of the respondents said they were either undecided or have no opinion.

Octa noted that these figures proved that Filipinos have yet to reach a consensus on the matter, as the gap between acquittal and conviction remain unchanged since July and that either side has yet to reflect a majority.

“The gap is too small to be read as a clear national lead, and the evidence-first group remains the single largest bloc,” Octa said.

In terms of regional variance, however, support for conviction rose the highest in Metro Manila from 19 to 34 percent, while acquittal slipped from 21 to 17 percent.

In contrast, acquittal jumped from 41 to 52 percent in Mindanao—reflecting the only major area where a verdict already commands a majority.

Octa’s survey results also highlighted how the shift in beliefs moved the most among young adults (18 to 24 years old), with those waiting for evidence dropping from 50 percent to 29 percent. 

Meanwhile, those supporting conviction among the youth rose from 26 percent to 36 percent, almost as much as acquittal from 16 percent to 27 percent. 

With these results, Octa noted that the next round of surveys will be the first to capture the public’s reaction to the prosecution finishing their presentation of evidence, including their decision to narrow the case to a single article. 

“It will show whether the evidence-first group continues to shrink, and whether those who leave it move toward one verdict or continue to divide,” Octa noted.

Octa’s survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews, with a total of 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above.

It had a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95% percent confidence level, with a ±6 percent margin of error each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Plenty of evidence against Sara has been presented? What exactly are they waiting for? 

In another survey, 35% of the public said they don't believe the Senate will come to a fair verdict. 

https://mb.com.ph/2026/10/22/35-of-filipinos-have-little-trust-in-senate-to-make-fair-call-on-vp-saras-conviction-sws

More than a third of Filipino adults have little trust in the Senate to make a fair decision on whether to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial, based on a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from Sept. 21 to 27.

In the survey results released on Thursday, Oct. 22, 35 percent of respondents expressed little trust in the Senate (16 percent ‘very little trust,’ 19 percent ‘somewhat little trust’), while 28 percent expressed much trust (13 percent ‘very much trust,’ 15 percent ‘somewhat much trust’), and 32 percent were undecided.

The survey question was: “Do you have very much trust, somewhat much trust, undecided if much or little trust, somewhat little trust, very little trust that the Senate would make a fair decision as to whether or not to convict Vice President Duterte of the charges filed against her?"

The Senate’s net trust rating was -7, computed by subtracting the 35 percent who had little trust from the 28 percent who had much trust.

“In past impeachment cases, more had much trust than little trust in the Senate to make a fair decision,” SWS noted.

For then-president Joseph Estrada, net trust was +9 (26 percent much trust, 17 percent little trust) in October 2000, before the House impeached him, then rose to +17 (32 percent much trust, 15 percent little trust) in December 2000 and +21 (36 percent much trust, 15 percent little trust) in January 2001, during the trial.

For then-chief justice Renato Corona, net trust was +11 (30 percent much trust, 19 percent little trust) in March 2012 and +21 (36 percent much trust, 15 percent little trust) in May 2012.

“The 2000-2001 and 2012 questions used a three-point scale (much trust, unsure, little trust), while the 2026 question used a five-point scale, so the comparison is only indicative,” SWS said.

Net trust negative in all areas

In the September 2026 survey, SWS found that the Senate’s net trust rating was negative in all four major areas, led by the Visayas at -13, followed by Metro Manila at -8, Balance Luzon at -6 and Mindanao at -3.

By educational attainment, net trust was positive among respondents who did not finish elementary school (+7) and elementary graduates (+4).

However, it was negative among junior high school graduates (-15), those who reached senior high school or college without graduating (-16), and college graduates (-2).

Meanwhile, net trust in the Senate was -1 among respondents who said the impeachment trial gave both sides the right consideration (32 percent much trust, 34 percent undecided, 33 percent little trust).

SWS said it was lower among those who said the trial was too liberal with the lawyers of Vice President Duterte, at -12 (30 percent much trust, 28 percent undecided, 42 percent little trust), and among those who said it was too liberal with the prosecutors, at -16 (28 percent much trust, 28 percent undecided, 44 percent little trust).

Most Filipinos say trial ‘too slow’

On the pace of the trial, 39 percent said it was much too slow, 31 percent said it was moving at the right pace, and 22 percent said it was too much in a hurry. 

The remaining 7 percent did not give an opinion.

“In January 2001, a majority of 52 percent said the Estrada trial was moving at the right pace, while 35 percent said it was much too slow,” SWS said.

“Larger shares found the Corona trial much too slow: 49 percent in March 2012 and 46 percent in May 2012,” it added.

Only 12 percent in January 2001, 11 percent in March 2012, and 9 percent in May 2012 said the trial was too much in a hurry, compared to 22 percent in September 2026.

The Third Quarter 2026 SWS survey was based on face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults nationwide.

The sampling error margin was ±3 percentage points for national results, ±4 points for Balance Luzon and ±6 points each for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao.

Funny that the Senate's trust rating is down generally. But who could blame anyone for not trusting the government?