The Supreme Court (SC) has sealed the victory of Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar R. Erice in the 2025 elections with the dismissal of the disqualification order issued against him by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). In a decision written by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and made public on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the SC reversed the Comelec’s ruling that disqualified Erice as a candidate for alleged violation of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC). Erice appealed the ruling in a petition before the SC which issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) that stopped the enforcement of the Comelec’s disqualification order. Last May 13, the Comelec declared Erice winner in the congressional election with 105,363 votes. He dislodged then incumbent congresswoman Mitch Cahayon-Uy who garnered 75,719 votes. A summary of the decision issued by the SC’s Office of the Spokesperson stated that the Comelec’s disqualification order was based on Section 261(z)(11) of the OEC which prohibits spreading false or alarming information regarding ballot printing, election postponement, or the general conduct of elections when the statements are intended to disrupt the election process. Erice issued statements to the media in April 2024 and claimed that the automated counting machines from Miru Systems (Miru) had never been used in any election worldwide. He also questioned the P18 billion contract between the Comelec and Miru and alleged that the bidding rigged, among other allegations. In his defense, Eric said there was no violation because the prohibition against spreading false or alarming information applies only to statements made during an actual election, and within the vicinity of voting centers. At the same time, he said his statements were protected under his right to free speech. In Resolution No. 11046, Erice was disqualified by the Comelec’s second division and its ruling was affirmed by the Comelec as a full commission. In granting Erice’s petition, the SC said that under Section 1(c)(3)(viii) of Comelec Resolution No. 11046, candidates can only be disqualified if a competent court has already found them guilty of violating the OEC or the Local Government Code in a separate proceeding. It is the final decision finding the candidate guilty which can serve as the basis for disqualification, the SC said. It also said that under the OEC, Comelec has the authority to investigate election offenses, while the Regional Trial Courts have the power to decide if an offense was committed. In the case of Erice, the SC said the Comelec did not observe the proper legal steps when it directly declared that Erice was guilty and then proceeded to disqualify him. It pointed out that the prohibition against spreading false or alarming information is not among the grounds for disqualification under Section 68 of the OEC. There is a violation when a person spreads false or alarming reports about ballot printing, election postponement, polling place transfers, or the general conduct of elections, to disrupt the election process or confuse voters, it said.

• Manila Bulletin News
• 3 gün, 20 saat, 58 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Marikina City on Wednesday refuted claims of the Department of Health (DOH) that the city’s super health center should have been completed already, emphasizing that the agency failed to provide additional funding to finish its construction. This statement came after the DOH inspected Concepcion Dos Super Health Center in the city. Upon inspection, Herbosa revealed that the facility is one of the 297 super health centers across the country which he said are “non-functional or non-operational.” READ: DOH finds 297 ‘super health centers’ as ‘non-operational’ Herbosa also said that the phase one of […]... Keep on reading: Marikina LGU: DOH fund not enough to finish super health center

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 20 saat, 58 dakika

By JESSICA DAMIANO Associated Press My beets were slow to grow this year, so I bought a bunch at the farmers\' market. I was taken aback when the seller chopped off the vegetable\'s foliage and attempted to discard it after handing me a sad sack of leafless roots. "Wait! I\'ll take those, please," I blurted, catching him just before they hit the trash bin, and explaining that they\'re edible. He knew, of course, but said that most customers don\'t want them. There are a lot of tasty and nutritious uses for secondary plant parts that would otherwise be discarded or, at best, added to compost. Waste not, want not! A zipper bag of \'scraps\' When I roast beets – homegrown or otherwise – I sauté their greens with olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic for a tasty and nutritious second side dish from the same plant. Likewise, I have a gallon-size, zipper-top "scraps" bag in the freezer to which I add (washed) carrot nubs and peels, onion skins, celery leaves and parsley stems. When the bag is full, I empty its contents into a stockpot with chicken and water, simmer it for a couple of hours, and then strain it for a flavorful and nutrient-rich soup base or broth. Young zucchini leaves are also edible. It\'s OK to take a few from each plant (cut stems at their base), but take care not to remove too many, as they\'re needed to produce energy for the growing crop. Scrape each leaf\'s surface with a sharp knife to remove any bristles, then rinse, slice and sauté with the peeled, chopped stems. Mature leaves are too thick and prickly for this treatment, but can be used to flavor soups and stews, then removed before serving. You can also stuff the zucchini leaves with rice and Mediterranean seasonings in place of grape leaves. Go ahead and add chopped meat, too, if you like. **carousel[50786,50785]** Figs, flowers and watermelon Fig leaves make a delicious tea-like beverage. Harvest them at the end of the season, just before they turn yellow. Rinse, pat dry, then place them in a food dehydrator, air fryer or oven set to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours, until crispy. Crumble them up, then store them in a glass jar. Steep a heaping tablespoon in boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain. You\'ll swear you\'re drinking a sweetened coconut-vanilla infusion. And if you\'re growing untreated, chemical-free nasturtiums, pansies, violets, roses or borage, elevate your beverages with floral ice cubes! Add a single flower to each compartment of an ice cube tray and fill with water before freezing. You can also garnish salads with these edible flowers (nasturtiums have a peppery bite; borage is reminiscent of cucumber) or use them to decorate desserts. And don\'t toss those watermelon rinds. They can be pickled. Slice them up, then boil for 5 minutes, drain and set aside. When they\'ve cooled, add them to a jar with a boiled (but cooled) solution of water, cider or white vinegar, kosher salt, sugar and allspice (or pickling spices for a savory snack). They\'ll be ready to enjoy in a couple of hours and will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.

• Manila Bulletin News
• 3 gün, 21 saat

Aftershocks continue to shake parts of Mindanao following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that rocked Davao Oriental on Oct. 10, but the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said these tremors are a normal part of the Earth’s adjustment after a major quake. Phivolcs Director Teresito Bacolcol explained in a public briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 15, that aftershocks occur because not all accumulated stress is released immediately after a fault breaks. Areas around the fault remain partly stressed and continue to move slightly, producing smaller tremors that gradually lessen over time. He likened the phenomenon to a stretched spring that continues to vibrate briefly even after it snaps. “Kahit putol na ang spring, nanginginig pa rin ito ng ilang sandali hanggang sa tuluyang huminto (Even after the spring is broken, it still vibrates for a few moments until it becomes completely still),” Bacolcol said. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, Phivolcs had recorded 1,398 aftershocks, 19 of which were felt by residents. Bacolcol pointed out that aftershocks are always weaker than the main quake, but may last for several days to weeks. This follows the Omori Law, which describes how tremors gradually decay in number and intensity over time. For example, a sequence may start with thousands of aftershocks on the first day, drop to hundreds by the 10th day, and decline to a few dozen by the 100th day, with only instruments detecting most of the smaller tremors. Even as aftershocks gradually weaken, Bacolcol reminded the public that earthquakes cannot be prevented. He urged residents to take precautionary measures, including not re-entering damaged structures until cleared by engineers. He added that coastal communities should remain alert for natural signs of a potential tsunami, such as unusually strong shaking, sudden receding of the sea, or a roaring sound from the ocean, and evacuate immediately to higher ground if any of these occur.

• Manila Bulletin News
• 3 gün, 21 saat

President Marcos said he is willing to make his Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) available to anyone who requests it, as part of the government’s effort to restore transparency and accountability. Marcos said this after the Office of the Ombudsman removed the restrictions on access to the said documents. Speaking to reporters, the President said his administration will follow the previous procedure that allowed easier public access to officials’ SALNs — a system that, he noted, had been suspended under the previous administration. “We will follow the old rules,” Marcos said following the oath-taking of newly elected officers of the Malacañang Media Group on Wednesday, Oct. 15. “These old rules were suspended in the last administration, where the SALN was — it was much easier to get a copy of the SALN and to examine it.” Marcos said he was surprised to learn when he assumed office that obtaining copies of public officials’ SALNs had become almost impossible. “I was quite surprised to find out when I first came into office that that was no longer the case - that it was almost impossible, in fact, to get a copy of people\'s SALN,” he said. “We’re just going back to the old procedure, and we will follow that, whatever happens,” he added. Marcos said he would make his own SALN available to anyone who formally requests it, including the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) and the Office of the Ombudsman. “My SALN will be available to whoever would like to [see it],” he assured the public. “Kung hingiin sa akin ng ICI, siyempre ibibigay ko. Kung hingiin sa akin ng Ombudsman, ibibigay ko (If the ICI asks for it, of course I’ll give it. If the Ombudsman asks for it, I’ll give it),” he added. The President also said he would enjoin his Cabinet members to do the same under the restored rules. “Yes, of course,” he replied when asked if his Cabinet would follow suit. Earlier, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro said President Marcos supports any measure “that would help fight corruption” and that the Executive Department will comply with the law and whatever is deemed necessary for transparency. “Kung ano ang nararapat at kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas at kung ano ang makakabuti para malabanan ang korapsyon, tatalima naman po ang lahat na nasa Executive Department (Whatever is proper, lawful, and beneficial in fighting corruption, everyone in the Executive Department will comply with),” she said.

• Manila Bulletin News
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 1 dakika

Ipinasilip ni Yasser Marta ang simpleng buhay na ipinagmamalaki niya.

• GMA Network
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 2 dakika

A video of Mariah Carey greeting Filipino fans waiting for her at Mall of Asia Arena goes viral

• GMA Network
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 2 dakika

DALLAS — The Dallas Mavericks have again extended the contract of coach Jason Kidd, who led them to the NBA Finals as a coach two seasons ago and a championship as their point guard in 2011. The Mavericks announced Tuesday night that they agreed to a multiyear extension, but didn’t reveal the length or any other details of the deal for Kidd, who is going into his fifth season as their coach. His first multiyear extension came in the middle of the 2024 playoffs when they made the NBA Finals before losing to Boston. READ: NBA: Frank Vogel joining Jason […]... Keep on reading: NBA: Mavericks give coach Jason Kidd another multiyear extension

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 9 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Benjamin Acorda as the new director of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC), Malacañang announced Wednesday. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Acorda would replace PAOCC Undersecretary Gilbert Cruz. Acorda was Marcos’ second PNP chief. He served for only a year after reaching the mandatory retirement age.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 11 dakika

Marcos also says no ‘small committee’ will exist in the creation of the 2026 budget

• Rappler
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 13 dakika

Aired (October 15, 2025): Isinumbong ni Jessica (Caprice Cayetano) kay Felma (Vina Morales) ang ginawang pananakit at pagpapalayas sa kanya ni Coleen (Elijah Alejo). #GMANetwork #CruzVsCruz Catch the latest episodes of 'Cruz vs. Cruz' weekdays at 3:20 PM on GMA Afternoon Prime, starring Vina Morales, Neil Ryan Sese, Gladys Reyes, Pancho Magno, Lexi Gonzales, Kristoffer Martin, Elijah Alejo, Caprice Cayetano, Cassy Lavarias, Gilleth Sandico,

• GMA Network
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 13 dakika

TACLOBAN CITY — A joint law enforcement operation led by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) regional office resulted in the arrest of 12 Chinese nationals in Barangay 95-A, Caibaan, this city, on Wednesday for violations of the Philippine Immigration Act and other related laws. READ: BI nabs 2 Chinese nat’ls for illegal work business in Boracay The operation, conducted around 9:00 a.m., was jointly carried out by personnel from the Bureau of Immigration (BI), NICA, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP). According to NICA, the arrested individuals were identified as officials and employees […]... Keep on reading: 12 Chinese nat'ls nabbed in Tacloban City for illegally working in PH

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 15 dakika

MANILA, Philippines — Contractors Cezarah Rowena “Sarah” Discaya and Pacifico “Curlee” Discaya II will no longer cooperate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) on its investigation into the alleged anomalous flood control projects, Executive Director Brian Hosaka said Wednesday. "They [the Discayas] are now saying they will no longer appear before the commission and cooperate," Hosaka said in an interview. "They explained that they were thinking that when they cooperate before the ICI, they will be getting a favorable recommendation from the commission as state witness," he added.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 17 dakika

(UPDATE) THE contractor couple at the center of a widening bribery scandal, Pacifico and Cezarah Rowena Discaya, will no longer coope rate with the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) in its investigation of anomalous flood control projects, the panel’s executive director Brian Hosaka said Wednesday. In an interview after Wednesday’s hearing, Hosaka said the couple, better known by their nicknames Curlee and Sarah, who gained notoriety for flaunting their wealth in several interviews, invoked their right against self-incrimination. “They (the Discayas) are now saying they will no longer appear before the commission and cooperate,” Hosaka said. He said the contractor couple withdrew their cooperation after they saw a media interview of ICI Commissioner Rogelio Singson, who said no one has yet qualified to be considered a state witness. “They explained that they were thinking that when they cooperate before the ICI, they will be getting a favorable recommendation from the commission as state witness,” he said. The ICI official, however, said Singson’s remarks were his opinion, and not that of the commission. Hosaka said that the Discayas’ move would not affect the investigation, since the testimony and affidavits they presented before the body were already sufficient for the case buildup against those involved in the anomalous flood mitigation projects. The ICI official also said additional information from other resource persons could help the case. “There are many sources of information. In fact, many have already testified, and we will connect them to each other to find what really happened, and file cases against those involved,” Hosaka said. “But definitely, we will get to the bottom of this. We will continue our investigation to find out those who are truly liable.” Sarah and Curlee are among the contractors embroiled in anomalous flood control projects. The Discayas arrived at the ICI early Wednesday for the continuation of the closed-door hearings. Curlee, who is under Senate custody, was the first to arrive at the ICI office in Taguig, shortly before his wife, Sarah. It was their third appearance before the commission. During the previous congressional inquiries, the Discayas admitted to owning nine construction firms and even conceded that some of these companies had competed against each other for the same government projects, practically admitting to violating the government procurement law. Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic Clavano IV described the decision as “misguided.” “They are misguided. Cooperation with the government is their only option right now. It will serve the public’s interest as well,” Clavano said. Airtight cases The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has compiled enough evidence to build an airtight case against government employees and private contractors linked to 421 ghost flood control projects. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said on Wednesday that the evidence in their possession was more than enough to pin down the brains of the nonexistent projects. “We will be providing the ICI with both testimonial and documentary evidence. We are now compiling them for submission to the Independent Committee on Infrastructure,” he said. “We will not just file cases, but we will also ensure that the culprits will be put behind bars,” Dizon added. Dizon said ICI adviser, retired PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr., told him that 15 to 20 cases will be filed before the Office of the Ombudsman within the next few weeks. But Dizon did not identify the people who will be charged or say if the list includes lawmakers, saying that he did not want to preempt the ICI. The 421 validated ghost projects were part of the initial 8,000 that were inspected by the DPWH together with personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Department of National Defense, and the Department of Economy, Planning and Development. Of the 421, Dizon said, 261 are located in Luzon, 109 are in the Visayas, and 51 are in Mindanao. He said the number is expected to increase as there are still thousands more that need to be validated. The DPWH reported a total of 238,200 infrastructure projects from 2016 to 2025, with about 12.5 percent or 29,800 of these being flood control projects. “We already issued show-cause orders to the DPWH officials and contractors linked to the said ghost projects,” he said, adding that administrative and criminal charges would be filed as well. Dizon said that all public works officials and contractors will be charged with malversation through falsification of public documents and violations of Republic Act (RA) 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and RA 12009, or the New Government Procurement Act. Furthermore, Dizon said that public works officials involved, if proven guilty, will also be dismissed from the service and risk losing their professional licenses from the Professional Regulation Commission. He added that contractors found guilty of undertaking ghost and substandard projects would be permanently barred from participating in public works projects. “Once the project of a certain contractor is proven to be ghost or substandard, the contractor will be automatically blacklisted and banned for life aside from criminal charges,” Dizon said. More lookout bulletins Meanwhile, the ICI has requested the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a lookout bulletin against 19 people in connection with its ongoing probe into anomalous flood control and other substandard infrastructure projects. In a statement, the ICI said it sent a request to the DOJ for issuance of an immigration lookout bulletin order (ILBO) on Oct. 13 to prevent the possible flight of personalities linked to the questionable projects currently under investigation. Those named in the request were former Caloocan 2nd District representative Mary Cajayon-Uy, Arturo Atayde, Alvin Tan, Bong Marasigan, Elmer de Leon, Ed Fuentebella, Johnny Santos, John Mary Vianney Parago, Alvin Mariano, Ryan Uy, Darryl Recio, Nestor Venturina, Benjie Tocol and Romeo Magalong Jr. An ILBO was also sought against DPWH district engineers Ramon Devanadera, Johnny Protesta Jr., Aristotle Ramos and Michael Rosaria, and project engineer Angelina Garucha. The ICI earlier sought the issuance of an ILBO against several high-ranking officials and lawmakers, including former speaker Martin Romualdez and former Senate president Francis Escudero, Senators Joel Villanueva and Jinggoy Estrada, and former senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Nancy Binay. An ILBO is an order to immigration authorities to monitor individuals who may be leaving the country. It differs from a hold departure order, which is a court-issued directive preventing an individual from leaving the country. The ICI said the individuals, who included more than a dozen lawmakers and former DPWH officials, were “subjects in a relevant position that operates to make them an inevitable personality during the fact-finding process.” On Tuesday, Romualdez, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s cousin, appeared before the ICI to testify concerning questioned insertions in the national budget and his involvement in DPWH flood control projects when he was still the speaker. Former Ako Bicol Party-list representative Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, who was placed on the lookout bulletin on Sept. 25, was also summoned for his role as House appropriations panel chief in previous years, but he is still abroad somewhere and has not appeared before the commission.

• The Manila Times
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 17 dakika

Aired (October 15, 2025): Hindi na napigilan ni Coleen (Elijah Alejo) ang inis kay Jessica (Caprice Cayetano) kaya pinaalis na niya ito at pinabalik sa kanyang ina na si Hazel (Gladys Reyes). #GMANetwork #CruzVsCruz Catch the latest episodes of 'Cruz vs. Cruz' weekdays at 3:20 PM on GMA Afternoon Prime, starring Vina Morales, Neil Ryan Sese, Gladys Reyes, Pancho Magno, Lexi Gonzales, Kristoffer Martin, Elijah Alejo, Caprice Cayetano, Cassy Lavarias, Gilleth Sandico,

• GMA Network
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 20 dakika

CEBU CITY, Philippines – The Cebu Provincial Government will be conducting a probe into alleged illegal quarry operations. Gov. Pamela Baricuatro on Wednesday, October 15, ordered the Capitol’s legal officers to look into reports of environmental violations allegedly being conducted in the province, particularly quarrying.  Baricuatro made the decision right after she talked with a group of protesters who staged a rally right in front of the Capitol Building in Escario Street, asking the provincial government to address environmental issues here. READ: Who’s Afraid of Transparency? Quarry Operations in Surigao del Norte Raise More Questions Than Answers READ: Quarry operator […]... Keep on reading: Capitol to look into ‘illegal quarry operations’

• Inquirer
• 3 gün, 21 saat, 20 dakika