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Marcos appoints Justice secretary as ombudsman

JESUS CRISPIN C. REMULLA — PHILIPPINE STAR/JOHN RYAN BALDEMOR

By Chloe Mari A. Hufana, Reporter

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has appointed Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla as ombudsman, filling a key post that has been vacant since the retirement of Samuel R. Martires in July.

“The administration remains firm in its commitment to fight corruption wherever it exists,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said in a statement on Tuesday. “There will be no sacred cows, no exemptions and no excuses.”

Mr. Marcos said Mr. Remulla’s appointment reaffirms his administration’s dedication to transparency, fairness and the rule of law in public service.

The appointment comes as the government intensifies efforts to root out corruption, particularly in infrastructure projects. In August, Mr. Marcos created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to investigate questionable public works deals.

The commission is tasked with filing cases before the Office of the Ombudsman, which handles administrative, civil and criminal complaints against government officials.

Mr. Remulla’s appointment followed his recent clearance from kidnapping and arbitrary detention complaints filed by Senator Imee R. Marcos in connection with the controversial arrest of ex-President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

The Justice chief was later included in the Judicial and Bar Council short list for the ombudsman post, submitted to Malacañang on Oct. 7.

At a press briefing, acting PCO Secretary Dave M. Gomez defended the President’s choice, saying the nominee “underwent a very rigorous selection process provided for by our Constitution and laws.”

A former Cavite representative, Mr. Remulla also served as Cavite governor before joining the Marcos Cabinet in 2022. As Justice secretary, he was known for supporting the government’s drug rehabilitation framework and the cleanup of the Bureau of Corrections after several high-profile scandals.

The Office of the Ombudsman is constitutionally mandated to promptly act on complaints against government personnel, including officials of state-owned corporations. Under the law, it must prioritize cases involving senior officials, grave offenses and those concerning large sums of public funds or property.

Political observers said Mr. Remulla’s appointment could reshape the administration’s anti-corruption agenda.

Justice Undersecretary Fredderick A. Vida will serve as officer-in-charge of the Justice department, Mr. Remulla told reporters after his appointment.

Ms. Marcos told reporters his appointment could be used to imprison Vice-President Sara Duterte Carpio.

“It seems like everything is ironed out,” she told reporters in mixed English and Filipino. “I have already expected this with how the ombudsman has dismissed [Mr. Remulla’s] cases so quickly.”

Gary D. Ador Dionisio, dean of the De La Salle–College of St. Benilde School of Diplomacy and Governance, described it as “one of the most pragmatic and consequential moves” of the Marcos administration so far.

“At a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, the decision raises both hope and doubt — hope that a seasoned lawyer and former legislator can strengthen the fight against corruption, and doubt that his political proximity could undermine the very independence the office is sworn to uphold,” he said in a Facebook Messenger chat.

Mr. Ador Dionisio said Mr. Remulla is expected to take decisive measures in carrying out his office’s mandate, which could put him on a collision course with the Dutertes and other administration allies as he pursues the government’s campaign against corruption.

The Vice-President has a pending case before the Ombudsman following allegations of her misuse of public funds when she was Education secretary.

Earlier this year, she faced impeachment raps before the Supreme Court ruled the articles of impeachment were unconstitutional.

Hansley A. Juliano, a political science lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University, said Mr. Marcos had long intended to appoint Mr. Remulla to the post, viewing him as a political counterweight to the Dutertes.

“The Remulla family is nothing but a pragmatic political dynasty,” he said via Messenger chat. “They’re not known to be ideologically loyal to anybody, if how they ran Cavite is any indication.”

Mr. Remulla is likely to act based on shifting political tides — aligning with the Marcos administration for now but remaining open to reconciling with the Dutertes if their influence grows again, he added. — with Adrian H. Halili and Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Probe body assures no cover-up in flood scandal

MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL PROVINCIAL POLICE

By Erika Mae P. Sinaking

THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on Tuesday assured the public that it would not tolerate any cover-up in its investigation of irregularities in flood control projects.

“The ICI is after the truth, so definitely the commission will not allow any whitewashing,” ICI Executive Director Brian Keith F. Hosaka told reporters in a Viber message. “It is very crucial that the commission carefully untangles this web of corruption. This is not a simple modus.”

The statement followed strong calls from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines for transparency and accountability in the probe, warning that any attempt to conceal wrongdoing could further erode public trust.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has also pressed for transparency, saying the Senate’s own budget process would be “open in all stages.”

Despite growing pressure for openness, the ICI continued to hold closed-door hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those summoned this week included former Public Works Secretary and Senator Mark A. Villar, along with contractors Pacifico F. Discaya II and his wife Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya.

The ICI has rejected calls to livestream its sessions, citing the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and avoid “trial by publicity.” Mr. Hosaka said confidentiality was necessary to build solid cases for possible criminal, civil and administrative action.

Meanwhile, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Estrada has filed a perjury complaint against a former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official who accused him of seeking kickbacks from flood control projects in Bulacan.

In a complaint-affidavit submitted to the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on Tuesday, Mr. Estrada charged Brice Ericson D. Hernandez, a former assistant district engineer in Bulacan, with making “malicious and fabricated statements under oath” before both the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the House Committee on Public Works and Highways.

Mr. Hernandez, who is under “provisional acceptance” to the Department of Justice’s Witness Protection Program, allegedly gave false testimony linking Mr. Estrada to a 30% “kickback” from P355 million worth of flood control projects for 2025.

The senator said the claim was made on Sept. 9, a day after the Senate cited Mr. Hernandez in contempt — a motion Mr. Estrada himself supported.

The case adds another legal dimension to the government’s widening probe into alleged anomalies in DPWH’s flood control projects, which has drawn scrutiny from both houses of Congress and the ICI.

“These malicious statements were deliberate lies made under oath, intended to destroy my name and reputation,” Mr. Estrada said in a separate statement. “The evidence presented in subsequent hearings completely disproves his baseless accusations.”

The ICI and Congress are conducting separate investigations into corruption involving public works projects, including claims of budget manipulation and contractor collusion.

Mr. Hernandez earlier claimed in televised hearings that several lawmakers demanded kickbacks from project allocations — accusations that have roiled the DPWH and prompted denials from several senators.

The Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office is expected to evaluate the complaint and determine whether probable cause exists to pursue charges.

UNICEF: Child marriage persists in Bangsamoro

UNICEF.ORG

CHILD MARRIAGE remains widespread in parts of the southern Philippines despite a law prohibiting the practice, exposing thousands of girls to lifelong risks, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

In Jolo, Sulu, and Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, one in six girls is married before turning 18, the report found, the UN body said in a report released on Monday.

“Child marriage and early unions can interrupt education, compromise health and place girls in roles they are not yet ready for, including motherhood,” Patricia Lim Ah Ken, UNICEF’s child protection chief, said in a statement.

The Philippines ranks 12th globally in the total number of child marriages. The Bangsamoro Women Commission earlier estimated that about 88,600 girls had married before reaching adulthood.

A separate study by Plan International and the Women’s Refugee Commission showed that in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 15 of every 100 girls marry before age 18, and two before 15 — rates significantly above the national average.

UNICEF cited cultural norms, poverty and weak enforcement of protection laws as key factors behind early marriage in the Bangsamoro region.

In some Muslim communities, early marriage is viewed as a way to prevent what is considered haram, or forbidden, such as premarital sex or pregnancies outside marriage. Economic hardship also pushes families to marry off daughters to ease financial burdens.

“At the age of 16, I already had a child — the greatest blessing in my life,” said a woman from Sulu interviewed for the study. “But it was also difficult, because I had to face so many challenges. I didn’t have a job, so I had to rely on my parents for everything.”

These practices persist despite the passage of Republic Act No. 11596, the 2022 law that bans and criminalizes child marriage. The law penalizes those who facilitate or solemnize underage marriages, but enforcement remains weak in the Bangsamoro region due to limited government reach and sensitivities around religious customs.

Local officials said the law remains poorly understood. “I don’t think there’s any law yet prohibiting marriage below 18. We haven’t heard of it yet, and we haven’t had any training about it,” the report quoted a local official in Tawi-Tawi.

A social worker in Sulu said awareness must be strengthened: “Before it was passed, it probably wasn’t spread in the community.”

UNICEF urged more targeted interventions, including scholarships and alternative learning programs to keep girls in school, livelihood support to reduce economic pressure on families and closer engagement with religious leaders to challenge harmful traditions.

The report said child marriage in the Bangsamoro reflects deep governance and cultural gaps, showing that “laws alone cannot undo centuries-old norms.” — Erika Mae P. Sinaking

Open access law IRR out next week

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the Konektadong Pinoy program will be published as early as next week, after the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) completes its final round of consultations with telecommunications companies this week.

Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda on Tuesday said the DICT initially aimed to release the IRR in the first week of October but opted to extend the timeline to accommodate feedback from key industry stakeholders.

“The final consultation was completed in the first week of October. Publication will happen at the earliest next week,” he said at a Palace briefing in mixed English and Filipino. “Publication will take about 15 days, so before the end of this month, the law will already be in effect.”

The Konektadong Pinoy Act aims to expand internet access and improve digital services across the country, particularly in underserved and remote areas.

Mr. Aguda said the DICT prioritized listening to stakeholder concerns to ensure that the rules are “fair” to both consumers and telecommunication operators.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., he added, directed the agency to make sure Konektadong Pinoy enhances connectivity nationwide while maintaining fair treatment for existing telco players. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

5 senators eyed for Blue Ribbon panel

BW FILE PHOTO

SENATE President Vicente “Tito” C. Sotto III on Tuesday proposed five senators that could be appointed as the new chairperson of the Blue Ribbon committee, after the resignation of Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson.

In a Viber message to a reporter, Mr. Sotto said that Senators Joseph Victor “JV” G. Ejercito, Rafael T. Tulfo, Pilar Juliana S. Cayetano, Francis N. Pangilinan, and Ana Theresia Hontiveros-Baraquel could be considered for the chairmanship.

The Senate chief added that the majority bloc is set to meet during a caucus to discuss the appointment of a new head.

On Monday, Mr. Lacson resigned as the chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee following criticism from other senators over his handling of the investigation into anomalous flood control projects.

“In the course of the current investigation, which has implicated some senators in the flood control mess, a number of our colleagues have expressed disappointment with the ‘direction’ of the Blue Ribbon Committee, which this representation chairs,” he said in his resignation letter.

He was also criticized for alleged political bias during the flood control probe, which he has since denied.

“Some senators publicly and secretly pursue the narrative that I am zeroing in on several of my colleagues while purportedly protecting those members of the Lower House perceived to be the principal actors in the budget anomalies related to the substandard and ghost flood control projects,” he added.

Mr. Lacson, who held the Blue Ribbon Committee chairmanship for a month, took over following a leadership shakeup in the Senate due to concerns about former Senate chief Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero’s links to the flood control controversy.

The Senate is investigating irregularities in multi-billion-peso flood control projects, following reports that lawmakers and officials received kickbacks from infrastructure funds allocated since 2022. — Adrian H. Halili

QC ends projects with Discaya firms

A car was submerged in flood water near the corner of Mother Ignacia and Sgt. Esguerra street in Barangay South Triangle, Quezon City after a heavy downpour, Aug. 30. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Quezon City (QC) government has terminated four infrastructure projects awarded to firms owned by the Discaya family, following a resolution from the Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) revoking their licenses over procurement law violations.

“The Quezon City Government has always observed transparency in all its procurement processes, including adherence to competitive bidding, publication, and posting,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to its statement, the Quezon City government immediately conducted a review of its infrastructure projects which found that four projects awarded to the Discaya family or joint ventures linked to them were all terminated.

These projects are the proposed construction of a six-story with deck multi-purpose building; proposed construction of reinforced concrete canal at Ermitaño Creek; proposed construction of Housing 32-Balingasa high-rise housing phase 1-A; and the proposed construction of Housing 32-Balingasa high-rise housing phase 2.

“This is the reason all our infrastructure projects are publicly posted on our website. The Quezon City Government has nothing to hide. We welcome all good-faith examinations of competent legal authorities of our projects and processes,” it said.

“We condemn any and all malicious insinuations that only seek to distract from the actual schemes and perpetrators that have victimized our City and our Country.”

Among the top 15 flood-control contractors earlier identified by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. were Alpha & Omega Gen. Contractor & Development Corp. and St. Timothy Construction, both reportedly linked to former Pasig mayoral candidate Cezarah Rowena C. Discaya.

The PCAB has issued a resolution on Sept. 1, revoking the licenses of nine construction companies owned by Ms. Discaya that were tagged in ghost projects. — Ashley Erika O. Jose

Customs sends documents tied to flood control scam to ICI

PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE Bureau of Customs (BoC) has turned over documents to the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) to aid its investigation into the billion-peso flood control scam, including those linked to the Discaya family.

In a statement on Tuesday, the BoC said the Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno met with former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Rogelio “Babes” L. Singson, Supreme Court Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes, Jr.

Customs said the documents include reports on enforcement actions, copies of search warrants and warrants of seizure and detention (WSD), lists of importation documents, and progress reports connected to the investigations.

“The BoC fully supports the Commission’s efforts to establish the facts in all pending inquiries. This initiative reflects our continuing commitment to transparency and cooperation with oversight bodies,” he said.

He also directed all concerned offices within the BoC to provide full cooperation to the ICI and other investigative bodies to “ensure a fair, comprehensive, and evidence-based review process.”

Mr. Nepomuceno earlier said the 13 cars owned by the Discaya may be auctioned to raise at least P200 million.

Discaya-owned firms were among the 15 contractors, which bagged the bulk of flood control projects since 2022, according to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue is also conducting a parallel investigation into possible tax fraud, which it said is nearing completion. — Aubrey Rose A. Inosante

DICT to remove scams by Christmas

STOCK PHOTO | Image by Rawpixel.Com from Freepik

THE Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) aims to eradicate all online scams in the Philippines by the Christmas season, Secretary Henry Rhoel R. Aguda said on Tuesday, as the agency steps up its nationwide crackdown on digital fraud.

He said the DICT has already deployed additional manpower to intensify its operations ahead of the holidays. But he stressed that the campaign’s success will depend on the participation of ordinary citizens, describing the initiative as a “whole-of-nation approach.”

“This is not just a whole-of-government effort. We need everyone’s help,” he said in a Palace briefing in Filipino.

“If you see something suspicious online, report it immediately to our Action Center hotline 1326 or e-mail 1326@dict.gov.ph.”

He said the DICT’s artificial intelligence systems will automatically classify and analyze reports of fake news, phishing attempts, and other cybercrimes submitted by the public.

“Before the end of the year, we’ll publish the service levels of each telco so the public can see how they’re performing.” — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

Stricter penalties vs agri smugglers urged

GENERAL view of a public market in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, Feb. 9, 2023. — REUTERS

A SENATOR on Tuesday called for stricter penalties for agricultural smugglers and government officials involved in the illegal entry of farm goods into the country.

“They are the ones who deserve and should be pursued, not these mere pawns. I don’t want to imprison the small ones, the accomplices, or the smaller fish. There’s no justice in that,” Senator Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan said in a committee hearing in Filipino.

“The syndicate leaders, especially those in the government, are the ones who should be held accountable,” he added.

The senator also noted that there should be severe penalties for government officials who assist and collude with smugglers.

He added that they could be punished with life imprisonment and permanent disqualification from public service, and confiscation or forfeiture of their assets.

“Those directly involved in smuggling, hiding, transporting, selling, hoarding, conspiring to forge documents, and other acts of economic sabotage, there are so many people who could be charged, but no one has been charged yet,” Mr. Pangilinan said.

Republic Act (RA) No. 12022, the Anti-Agricultural Sabotage Act, classified agricultural smuggling, hoarding, profiteering, and its financing as economic sabotage.

The law also imposed fines equivalent to five times the value of any smuggled or hoarded agricultural products, with violators also facing the prospect of life imprisonment.

The Senate Committee on Agriculture conducted a probe into the alleged “consignees for hire” who rent out their import permits to traders or brokers. — Adrian H. Halili

Marcos: Corrupt not the ‘face of government’

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. holds a press conference at the Presidential Broadcast Studio in Kalayaan Hall, Malacañan Palace on Sept. 15. — PHILIPPINE STAR/RYAN BALDEMOR

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Tuesday denounced systemic corruption in government, saying that while graft-tainted agencies such as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have drawn public ridicule, many civil servants remain committed and hardworking.

“These corrupt people are not the face of government. All they are is the face of corruption. That’s all they are. They are not typical of government,” he told a podcast posted across his social media accounts.

“I have always said, there are so many people in government who are very good, who are dedicated, who make sacrifices, who give everything that they can to their service,” he added.

He said he decided to “expose” corruption in the bureaucracy to highlight the distinction between honest officials and those who exploit their positions.

“You cannot paint everyone in government with the same brush as all of these corrupt operators that you see in government.”

The country, which experiences an average of 20 typhoons annually, is currently investigating a multi-billion-peso public works scam that has led to widespread flooding across the country. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

New Bangsamoro town gets ambulance, medical provisions

COTABATO CITY — A newly created Bangsamoro municipality on Monday received a new patient transport vehicle (PTV), medical and food supplies for pregnant women and malnourished children from the office of the Health minister of the Bangsamoro region.

Bangsamoro Health Minister Kadil M. Sinolinding, Jr. led the turnover of the ambulance and supplies, procured through the Transitional Development Impact Fund, to the Mayor of Kapalawan, Norman C. Enalang.

Kapalawan is a municipality in the Special Geographic Area in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Mr. Enalang and Engco G. Dalid, chairman of Barangay Manarapan in Kapalawan, separately told reporters on Tuesday, that the turnover of the PTV was part of the medical outreach mission of Mr. Sinolinding.

Mr. Enalang said a medical service team composed of medics and volunteers from peace advocacy groups also distributed rice and other food supplies to marginalized families in Barangay Manarapan.

The outreach team had also provided 70 elderly residents with free reading glasses and had scheduled 19 others for cataract and pterygium surgical procedures that Mr. Sinolinding will oversee.

“We are grateful to their team. The patient transport vehicle we now have will boost the emergency response capability of our virtually infant local government unit,” Mr. Enalang said.

A 39-year-old mother, Sepe D. Atong, and her 15-year-old daughter, Farhata, had separately said that the PTV will hasten the transport of sick Kapalawan residents to hospitals in nearby towns in Cotabato province. — John Felix M. Unson

Farmers seeking P128 per kilo tobacco floor price

BAGUIO CITY — Tobacco farmers from Northern Luzon massed up outside the Great Eastern Hotel in Quezon City during the opening of the National Tobacco Administration’s (NTA) 2025 Tripartite Consultative Conference on Tuesday, demanding a higher price for their harvest.

The demonstration, organized by Ilocos region-based left-wing tobacco farmers group STOP Exploitation and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP), called for a flat floor price of P128 per kilo of Virginia tobacco, without applying the current classification system.

They said the existing rate of P97 per kilo is too low, which does not cover the high costs of farming. Farmers from Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, and La Union accused cigarette companies of using unfair grading systems to lower the prices of their tobacco.

“They can pay P100 to P150 per kilo, but they trick us using classifications,” a farmer said.

The protesters want to remove the grading system, which they say allows companies to buy their tobacco at unfairly low prices.

The farmers also criticized contract-growing agreements that benefit corporations more than farmers.

These contracts often come with unfair conditions, hidden fees, and taxes.

The group also raised concerns about how tobacco taxes are being spent, saying the funds should go to help farmers but are often misused by politicians.

Inside the event, NTA Administrator Belinda S. Sanchez explained that the conference seeks to ensure transparency and fair pricing. She said the discussions would help determine the right increase in floor prices to support both farmers and the industry.

Farmer leader Bernard R. Vicente, head of the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers, who joined the conference, pushed for higher prices across all tobacco types, including special rates for improved types of Virginia and Burley tobacco, which cost more to produce.

Mr. Vicente said farmers are struggling with rising costs of fertilizer and labor.

Right now, the price of Virginia tobacco ranges from P61 to P97 per kilo, depending on quality.

Some traders, however, paid up to P130 per kilo last season.

NTA officials said they are there to help with negotiations and ensure all sides are heard.

Still, farmers promised to continue fighting for P128 per kilo, fair contracts, and better use of tobacco tax funds.

The conference runs until Wednesday. — Artemio A. Dumlao

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