Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus, Author at newswatchplus.ph https://www.newswatchplus.ph Fri, 16 Oct 2026 16:19:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.11 /wp-content/uploads/2025/08/cropped-logo-nwp-32x32.png Sophia Sioco, NewsWatch Plus, Author at newswatchplus.ph https://www.newswatchplus.ph 32 32 Senators seek more funds for tutoring program https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/16/senators-seek-more-tutoring-program-2027-budget/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 15:59:03 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718678 Metro Manila, Philippines – Senators are seeking more funds for the Department of Education (DepEd) program that provides extra tutoring in reading, mathematics, and science to struggling learners. While Congress provided ₱8.9 billion for the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) this year, the same item has zero budget in the proposed 2027 National Expenditure

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]]> Ombudsman files 3 graft charges vs. ex-Pampanga lawmaker over ₱611-M flood control projects https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/16/ombudsman-3-graft-charges-vs-ex-pampanga-dong-gonzales-611-m-flood-control/ Fri, 16 Oct 2026 12:38:03 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718673 Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Ombudsman filed three counts of graft against former Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. over his alleged financial interest in a construction company that secured more than ₱611 million in government flood control contracts. The cases stemmed from two complaints filed in July and August

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]]> Witness says he took part in delivery of over 100 suitcases with ₱1B to Romualdez https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/15/witness-took-part-delivery-over-100-suitcases-1b-romualdez/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:43:26 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718643 Metro Manila, Philippines — A prosecution witness estimated that more than 100 suitcases containing cash worth around ₱1 billion were delivered to an address linked to Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, saying he took part in the alleged deliveries, during Thursday’s, October 15, Sandiganbayan bail hearing for the former House speaker’s ₱7.44-billion plunder case. Rodante Orbillo,

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]]> Orbillo claims cash-filled suitcases delivered to Sotto, Trillanes, Quimbo https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/15/orbillo-claims-cash-filled-suitcases-delivered-to-sotto-trillanes-quimbo/ Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:30:55 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718641 Metro Manila, Philippines – A self-confessed bagman and former aide of resigned congressman Zaldy Co claimed he delivered suitcases containing money to Sen. Tito Sotto, former senator Sonny Trillanes, and former Marikina representative Stella Quimbo. Prosecution witness, Rodante Orbillo, made the allegations during Thursday’s bail hearing of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez before the Sandiganbayan,

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]]> House passes ₱7.2T 2027 budget despite pork barrel allegations https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/13/house-passes-7-2t-2027-budget-despite-pork-allegations/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:45:11 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718576 Metro Manila, Philippines — The House of Representatives approved the proposed ₱7.2-trillion national budget for 2027 on third and final reading on Monday, October 12, despite allegations of pork barrel allocations, political patronage and skewed spending priorities. House Bill No. 10858, or the General Appropriations Bill, received 281 yes votes, 13 no votes and one

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]]> Impeachment court allows withdrawal of 3 articles vs. Duterte https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/13/impeachment-court-allows-withdrawal-3-articles-vs-duterte/ Tue, 13 Oct 2026 10:45:36 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718574 Metro Manila, Philippines – The Senate Impeachment Court accepted the prosecution’s withdrawal of three of the four impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, Oct. 13, leaving unexplained wealth as the sole charge to be decided by the senator-judges. The withdrawn articles cover the alleged misuse of confidential funds (Article I), bribery (Article

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]]> Prosecution seeks impeachment court guidance on evidence filing in Duterte trial https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/10/prosecution-seeks-impeachment-court-guidance-evidence-filing-duterte-trial/ Sat, 10 Oct 2026 05:44:19 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718509 Metro Manila, Philippines — The House prosecution panel is seeking guidance from the Senate Impeachment Court on when to formally offer its exhibits on the unexplained wealth allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte, as the court has yet to close Article I pending a court decision on whether to call its own witnesses. Lead prosecutor

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]]> Financial expert says Duterte, husband undeclared assets, income top ₱817M https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/09/financial-expert-duterte-husband-undeclared-assets-income-817-m/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 14:38:55 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718505 Metro Manila, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s true wealth overwhelmingly exceeds her declared net worth, said a financial forensic expert who detailed the alleged undeclared assets and income of the vice president and her husband, Manases “Mans” Carpio, from 2022 to 2025 valued at over ₱817 million on Day 37 of the impeachment trial

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]]> LRA witnesses identify 2 properties tied to Carpio in impeachment trial https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/01/lra-identify-carpio-properties-impeachment-amlc-deferred-no-trial/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:00:14 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718326 Metro Manila, Philippines – Two Land Registration Authority (LRA) officials testified Thursday, Oct. 1, about properties registered to Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Manases “Mans” Carpio, as the Senate Impeachment Court heard the prosecution’s evidence on allegations of unexplained wealth and non-disclosure of assets. One such asset is a 379-square meter property in Matina, Davao

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]]> Prosecution drops Trillanes as witness in Duterte impeachment trial https://www.newswatchplus.ph/2026/10/01/prosecution-drops-trillanes-as-witness-in-duterte-impeachment-trial/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 03:56:25 +0000 https://www.newswatchplus.ph/?p=718284 Metro Manila, Philippines — The House prosecution panel has dropped former Sen. Sonny Trillanes as a witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte under the charge of unexplained wealth. Trillanes was supposedly next to Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte, but the Senate Impeachment Court, in particular Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero, noted that

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