SC: ‘Bloated’ unprogrammed funds in nat’l budget ‘unconstitutional’

Inquirer.net - Oct 20, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has declared “unconstitutional” certain provisions of the 2024 and 2025 national budgets, as well as key unprogrammed appropriations in the 2026 budget, after finding that Congress increased funding beyond the amount recommended by the president. In a 121-page decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC said

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Zaldy Co prefers more durable ‘maleta’ for kickbacks – Henry Alcantara

Oct 20, 2026

Zaldy Co prefers more durable ‘maleta’ for kickbacks – Henry Alcantara

MANILA, Philippines — Former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co switched from duraboxes to “maleta” (suitcases) to transport kickbacks worth up to P40 million per delivery due to durability issues, state witness and former Public Works engineer Henry Alcantara said on Tuesday. Alcantara made the statement during his testimony before the Sandiganbayan Third Division at former

Economic shifts could swing 2027 budget by billions — DBM

Oct 20, 2026

Economic shifts could swing 2027 budget by billions — DBM

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s 2027 fiscal position could swing by tens of billions of pesos depending on economic indicators, with faster expansion offering the biggest boost and higher global interest rates posing the largest downside risk. This is according to the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) latest technical notes on the P7.2-trillion 2027 proposed

Police seize P6.5-M ‘smuggled’ cigarettes in Misamis Occidental

Oct 20, 2026

Police seize P6.5-M ‘smuggled’ cigarettes in Misamis Occidental

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A pre-dawn checkpoint operation in Misamis Occidental thwarted an attempt to transport nearly P6.5 million worth of suspected smuggled cigarettes bound for Central Luzon, leading to the arrest of two couriers early Tuesday. Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) reported the seizure of 8,116 reams of “Modern” brand cigarettes at a border

20-year-old student dead after stabbing in Batangas; suspect at large

Oct 20, 2026

20-year-old student dead after stabbing in Batangas; suspect at large

MANILA, Philippines — A 20-year-old college student from Lipa, Batangas was killed by stabbing last week. The unidentified male suspect is at large, according to the spot report obtained by the Inquirer from the Lipa Component City Police Station. The police said they received a report that the victim was found lying along the road

Missing fisherman, 7-year-old son found stranded off Biliran town

Oct 20, 2026

Missing fisherman, 7-year-old son found stranded off Biliran town

TACLOBAN CITY — A fisherman and his seven-year-old son who went missing after leaving for a fishing trip were found stranded in the maritime area near Maripipi, Biliran province, on Monday, according to the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of Kawayan. In a report, the Kawayan MDRRMO said its personnel, in coordination

‘Amihan’ season expected to begin between Oct. 22 – 30, says Pagasa

Oct 20, 2026

‘Amihan’ season expected to begin between Oct. 22 – 30, says Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — The northeast monsoon, or “amihan” season, which will bring cooler and drier air, is expected to begin between October 22 and October 30, according to the state weather bureau on Tuesday.  In a press briefing, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section Chief Ana Liza Solis said the

Pangasinan may have sufficient irrigation until 2027 palay season

Oct 20, 2026

Pangasinan may have sufficient irrigation until 2027 palay season

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Pangasinan’s agricultural sector is expected to have sufficient irrigation until the second palay cropping season in 2027, with San Roque Dam’s water level in San Manuel at 283.21 meters above sea level as of Oct. 19. The available water supply will help farmers cope with the “Super El Niño” phenomenon, which is

IT student develops app to bring Koronadal’s heritage to life

Oct 20, 2026

IT student develops app to bring Koronadal’s heritage to life

Charles Luke Templonuevo, a Bachelor of Science in IT student at Notre Dame of Marbel University, developed KoroAR as his undergraduate thesis project, using augmented reality (AR) to make historical landmarks, notable personalities, and cultural artifacts easier to explore through smartphones. “As an IT student, I wanted to create something meaningful that would help people,

Lacson hits Cayetanos over LLDA budget hearing questions

Oct 20, 2026

Lacson hits Cayetanos over LLDA budget hearing questions

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Tuesday criticized Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and his sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, for their line of questioning during a hearing on the Laguna Lake Development Authority’s proposed 2027 budget. In a statement, Lacson said the Cayetano siblings ganged up on acting LLDA General Manager Leopoldo

Marcos: Turn World War II heroes’ sacrifices into action

Oct 20, 2026

Marcos: Turn World War II heroes’ sacrifices into action

PALO, Leyte — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on Filipinos to protect the country’s sovereignty and turn wartime heroes’ sacrifices into concrete improvements in people’s lives, as the country marked the 82nd anniversary of the Leyte Gulf Landings on Tuesday. “Freedom must be felt in our everyday lives through food security, stable employment, safe communities,

Complainants back ‘strategic move’ to drop 3 charges vs Sara Duterte

Oct 20, 2026

Complainants back ‘strategic move’ to drop 3 charges vs Sara Duterte

MANILA, Philippines — The complainants in the first and third articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday said the prosecution’s move to abandon most of the charges was a “strategic move” to speed up the trial and secure a faster outcome. In a joint statement, the complainants argued that narrowing the impeachment

Alcantara says he gets 2% cut from Co’s alleged kickbacks as ‘lambing’

Oct 20, 2026

Alcantara says he gets 2% cut from Co’s alleged kickbacks as ‘lambing’

MANILA, Philippines — State witness and former Public Works and Highways-Bulacan District Engineer Henry Alcantara on Tuesday told the Sandiganbayan that he got a 2 percent cut as “lambing” (gentle request) from alleged kickbacks for former Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co. Alcantara mentioned this in testimony before the anti-graft court’s Third Division during former House

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