DMW prepares reintegration aid for Mary Jane Veloso after pardon
Metro Manila, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers is sending a team to Nueva Ecija to prepare comprehensive reintegration assistance for Mary Jane Veloso following her absolute pardon from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The assistance will include psychosocial counseling, livelihood support, enterprise capital and skills training as Veloso prepares to reunite with her family after more than 15 years in detention. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac ordered the DMW team to coordinate directly with Veloso’s children, parents and local stakeholders in developing a reintegration program suited to the family’s needs. “Our instructions are clear: the DMW must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mary Jane, her children, and her parents as they rebuild their lives,” Cacdac said. “Our team heading to Nueva Ecija will work directly with the family and local stakeholders to develop a tailored reintegration program,” he added. The DMW and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will provide livelihood…
No funds lost in relief operations flagged by COA – OVP
Metro Manila, Philippines – The Office of the Vice President said no funds were lost and all amounts were accounted for in the 2025 relief operations flagged by the Commission on Audit. The agency said the deficiencies involved some pre-operation documents required under its internal procedures, not requirements imposed by law or audit regulations. “The discrepancies arose from changes in circumstances and field conditions that became apparent as the operations were carried out,” the OVP said in a statement Friday, Sept. 25. “No funds were lost, and all funds are accounted for,” it added. The OVP said the relief operations were conducted and their beneficiaries were recorded and validated using available supporting documents and field records submitted to the COA team. The COA had flagged a number of deficiencies in the OVP implementation of relief operations of around ₱168 million. In its 2025 Consolidated Report on the Audit of Disaster…
Sara has no word if Baste will testify in impeachment trial
Metro Manila, Philippines – Vice President Sara Duterte said she has no information on whether her brother, Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, will appear before the Senate impeachment court after receiving a subpoena. Duterte’s defense team said it was preparing for the mayor’s possible testimony and a prosecution bid to have him declared a hostile witness. “Wala akong info kung mag-a-attend siya,” Duterte told reporters in Davao City on Friday, Sept. 25. [Translation: I have no information on whether he will attend.] The vice president said she informed her brother about the subpoena before it was publicly announced. “Sinabihan ko siya bago pa man lumabas. Sinabi ko, ‘May subpoena sa iyo,’ at sinabi niya na kausapin niya raw iyong City Legal Office,” Duterte said. [Translation: I informed him before it came out. I told him, ‘You have a subpoena,’ and he said he would consult the City Legal Office.]…
Romualdez to testify in plunder trial; defense may call recanting witnesses
Metro Manila, Philippines – Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez is expected to testify in his own defense in the ₱7.44-billion plunder case against him, his lawyer Ade Fajardo said Friday. “He wants his day to defend himself in court,” Fajardo told reporters after the Sandiganbayan Third Division formally terminated the pre-trial proceedings. The defense may also present the security aides and drivers of Romualdez’s co-accused, former Ako-Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co, who have recanted their statements, including Orly Guteza. Fajardo said Guteza claimed in his new sworn statement that his previous testimony was part of a setup. He added that Guteza was made to sign documents portraying him as the “missing link” in the alleged delivery scheme. Fajardo said the defense initially identified about 40 potential witnesses, but the list remains tentative and could change depending on the evidence presented by the prosecution. Romualdez is detained at the Quezon City Jail–Male Dormitory…
Marcos suspends excise tax on LPG, kerosene
Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has temporarily suspended excise taxes on liquefied petroleum gas and kerosene to provide relief to consumers as global crude oil prices remain high. Marcos signed Executive Order 125 on Friday, Sept. 25, after the average price of the benchmark Dubai crude climbed to $99.41 per barrel over the preceding 30 days. “The excise taxes on LPG, except when used as raw material for production of petrochemical products or used for motive power, and kerosene, except when used as aviation fuel, are hereby fully suspended,” the order stated. The removal of the tax is equivalent to ₱3.36 per kilogram, or nearly ₱37 for a standard 11-kilogram cylinder. For kerosene, the suspension removes ₱5.60 per liter from the tax component. Actual retail price adjustments may vary depending on the existing inventories and pricing decisions of suppliers and retailers. The Development Budget Coordination Committee recommended…
