Good day. Here are the stories of The Manila Times for Friday, October 17, 2025. Today’s episode is brought to you by Wilcon Depot, The Philippines’ leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer—your Trusted Building Partner. READ: ICI chairman Reyes: "Justice Is not enough, we need restitution" in flood control scandal THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) said Thursday it is determined to recover assets from those involved in anomalous flood control projects, even as it has gathered enough evidence to file cases against contractor couple Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II. In a meeting with various government agencies at the ICI headquarters on Thursday, ICI Chairman Andres Reyes Jr. said funds “that should have been utilized to better the lives of Filipinos were instead used by corrupt individuals to buy exotic cars, enjoy luxury vacations and gamble in casinos.” READ: Gov't investigates CLTG Builders, Bong Go's father's firm, over flood control links THE government is investigating CLTG Builders, a company owned by the father of Sen. Bong Go, for its links to the contractors at the center of a flood control bribery scandal, Cezarah Rowena “Sara” and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said Thursday. Based on that, Dizon said, he and Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla have agreed to conduct the investigation. Go denied knowing the Discaya couple and said he would fully cooperate in all proceedings to “get to the truth.” READ: Zaldy Co budget insertion returned: PNP gives back P500M LOCAL Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Thursday said the Philippine National Police (PNP) returned P500 million of its P1.3-billion intelligence fund for 2025 to the Office of the President after finding that the amount, allegedly inserted by former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, was unnecessary. Remulla told lawmakers that the P500-million insertion was not part of the National Expenditure Program (NEP) and had no identified purpose in the PNP’s operational plans. READ: P3.39B released for police bonuses THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on Thursday approved the release of P3.39 billion as payment for the performance-based bonus (PBB) of 225,545 qualified officials and personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The release of the PBB for police personnel is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen the morale and welfare of government workers, especially law enforcement front-liners. It also underscores the administration’s broader thrust to build a professional, motivated and well-supported bureaucracy that delivers with integrity and excellence. READ: Philippines takes center stage at Frankfurt Book Fair THE Philippines is taking center stage at the 2025 Frankfurt Book Fair, which started on Wednesday, as the country is this year’s guest of honor. Sen. Loren Legarda, who is the driving force of the country’s guest of honor responsibilities, honored the legacy of the country’s national hero, Jose Rizal. She talked about Rizal’s adventures in Germany, where he encountered German literature and drama. BUSINESS: Recto: VAT cut could force govt to borrow THE government could be forced to borrow more if the value-added tax (VAT) is lowered to 10 percent from 12 percent, Finance Secretary Ralph Recto said in a statement on Tuesday. The projected P1.39-trillion VAT collections this year, he added, “can only fund nine months’ worth of payroll, premium and pension of active and retired government workers.” Development Budget Coordination Committee data show that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) has collected P288.4 billion in VAT as of the first half of 2025, 5.1 percent higher than the year-earlier P274.2 billion. SPORTS: Cone says trade part of business in PBA PLAYER movement is a big part of business in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). This was the answer of Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone when asked to comment on the Gin Kings’ decision to trade veterans Maverick Ahanmisi and Aljon Mariano in exchange for Terrafirma’s PBA Season 51 first round draft pick. The trade was approved by the PBA just a few hours before the Ginebra-TNT game on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. READ: Opinion and editorial Rigoberto Tiglao and Francisco Tatad are today’s front page columnists, where both of them weigh in on the current investigations by the ICI over the flood control controversy. Today’s editorial says diplomatic protests are not an exercise against futility. Read the full version in the paper’s opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times. For more news and information, read The Manila Times on print, subscribe to its digital edition or log on to www.manilatimes.net. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and LinkedIn; and be part of our communities on Viber, Telegram, and Mastodon.