Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed concern over the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (E-GASTPE) program, which he said is being abused by some officials. During the Senate Committee on Basic Education hearing on Monday,...
The Senate has transferred custody of Henry Alcantara, former Bulacan District Engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Shortly before 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 21, DOJ personnel fetched Alcantara from the Senate detention facility....
Senator Rodante Marcoleta believes that it is not proper for Batangas 1st district Rep. Leandro Legarda Leviste to explain the contents of the so-called Cabral files. During the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Monday, Jan. 19, Marcoleta said that the neophyte lawmaker is "not competent"...
Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bulacan Assistant District Engineer Brice Hernandez and Engineer Jaypee Mendoza were taken into custody by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday night. The arrests followed the issuance of warrants of arrest and hold departure...
A Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official on Monday, Jan. 19, admitted that the validation of alleged ghost flood control projects will have to restart after inspectors were found to have gone to incorrect locations, raising concerns over further delays in resolving the cases. ...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Monday, Jan. 19, lashed out at detractors of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, bluntly telling them to “Shut the f… up!” as he opened the panel’s eighth public hearing on the alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in flood control...
If there is one thing the energy sector can unanimously credit Secretary Sharon Garin for, it is grit: she cuts through bureaucracy, stands toe-to-toe with political power, mobilizes agencies, and brings stalled energy projects back into motion. Her record is written in resolved bottlenecks, such...
Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday, Jan. 16, issued a stern warning against any attempt to steal or misuse funds earmarked for the government’s P33-billion farm-to-market road (FMR) program. In a radio interview, Pangilinan stressed that he will pursue and hold accountable anyone...
Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson on Saturday, Jan. 17, said that the so-called "allocables"--at least those motivated by commissions and kickbacks--are no better than planned or attempted robbery. Lacson says this is why it is important for the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee to...
Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has confirmed signing and issuing subpoenas for former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan, former Congressman Zaldy Co, and other personalities allegedly involved in corruption linked to flood control projects. Sotto...
A proposed measure in the Senate seeks to mandate the reimbursement of travel expenses incurred by Filipino passengers who were deferred or denied boarding due to unjustified and prolonged pre-departure procedures of the Bureau of Immigration (BI). Senator Raffy Tulfo, who chairs the Senate...
Host communities are set to receive a three-fold increase in financial incentives from power projects as the Department of Energy (DOE) begins implementing the strengthened subsidy framework this month. In a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, the DOE said the total financial benefit for localities...