Metro Manila, Philippines — Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo revealed details on the alleged kickback scheme in flood control projects on Friday, November 14, implicating more senators in the mess. In his second supplemental affidavit during the Senate Blue Ribbon probe, Bernardo recounted his past dealings with former senators...
Manila, Philippines – Embattled former Rep. Zaldy Co has surfaced for the first time since he was tagged in the flood control scandal and budget insertions on Friday, Nov. 14. In a taped video statement, Co alleged that President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ordered a P100-billion budget insertion in the bicameral version of the 2025 national...
Metro Manila, Philippines — The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of several vloggers who claimed their free speech rights were violated during a House inquiry on online disinformation. The Court said no violation occurred because the vloggers were only invited as resource persons in a valid legislative inquiry. The petitioners earlier sought to block...
Metro Manila, Philippines – Economic managers said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is reviewing its policy limiting daily cash withdrawals to ₱500,000, admitting it was a “knee-jerk reaction” to reports of suspicious transactions linked to the flood control corruption scandal. The officials disclosed this to Senate finance committee chairman Senator Win Gatchalian on Thursday,...
Metro Manila, Philippines – Zaldy Co, the former House member at the center of the flood control corruption scandal, is in the United States for medical treatment, his camp informed the Senate blue ribbon committee as he asked to be excused from its hearing on Friday, Nov. 13. “Co’s lawyer informed the committee saying Co...
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday said the passport of former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co will be immediately canceled once criminal charges are filed against him in relation to the anomalous flood control projects. When asked why Co’s passport has not yet been revoked, Marcos said the matter...
Metro Manila, Philippines – Former House Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is not yet off the hook in the anomalous flood control projects, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday, Nov. 13. In a Malacañang press briefing, Marcos said there is no evidence implicating his cousin in the flood control scandal. “The only evidence...
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday administered the oath of office to Charlito Martin “Charlie” Mendoza as the new commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, replacing Romeo Lumagui Jr. Mendoza, a lawyer and licensed geodetic engineer, was former undersecretary of the Revenue Operations Group at the Department of Finance, which...
Metro Manila, Philippines – The president of the International Criminal Court, Judge Tomoko Akane, called on nations to defend the court’s independence and renew their commitment to the rule of law as she presented the ICC’s annual report to the United Nations General Assembly on Nov. 11. Speaking in New York, Akane said the ICC...
Metro Manila, Philippines – Three sitting or former senators will be the subject of the new case recommendation of the Independent Commission for Infrastructure next week, the investigating body’s chairperson said on Thursday, Nov. 13. In a press briefing, ICI Chairman Andres Reyes said new lawmakers will be in the recommended charge sheet over questionable...
Metro Manila, Philippines – Taking off from the recommendation of the finance committee, the Senate began deliberations on the proposed 2026 national budget on Thursday, Nov. 13, with substantial cuts in two items that have been tagged in the flood control controversy and realignments to favor priority sectors. The president’s overall recommended budget stayed at...
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday warned that several individuals implicated in the massive flood control corruption scandal could face jail time before Christmas. During a briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, Nov. 13, Marcos said investigators have built solid cases against some of those involved in corrupt practices. “Alam ko bago...
