MAYNILA. Inimbitahan ng Kamara ang mga opisyal ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) at 15 kontraktor na tinukoy ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na umano’y kumopo ng 20 porsyento ng 10,000 flood control projects simula 2022, para sa pagdinig sa Martes, Setyembre 2.
Ayon kay Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, pinadalhan na rin ng subpoena ang SYMS Construction Trading, ang kumpanyang sinasabing sangkot sa mga “ghost” flood projects sa Baliwag, Bulacan.
“Sa Tuesday ang pagsalang ng Kamara sa imbestigasyon sa flood control projects. Bukod sa DPWH, inimbitahan din ang mga kontratista na involved, ‘yong 15 contractors na binanggit ng Pangulo at ang SYMS Construction Trading, ‘yong tinuturong sangkot dito sa ghost projects sa Baliwag, Bulacan,” pahayag ni Ridon.
Dagdag pa ng mambabatas, dapat ding humarap sa imbestigasyon ang Government Procurement Policy Board (GPPB) at ang Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board upang ipaliwanag ang umano’y accreditation-for-sale at ang proseso ng procurement. Inaasahan ring dadalo ang Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) at Commission on Audit (COA).
Kasama rin sa sisilipin ang alokasyon ng pondo sa mga proyektong natapos na ngunit nakapaloob pa rin sa P6.793 trilyong panukalang 2026 national budget, kabilang ang flood control program sa Marikina City.
Noong Biyernes, ibinunyag ni Deputy Speaker Rep. Ronaldo Puno na may mga proyektong matagal nang natapos ngunit patuloy pa ring pinopondohan sa ilalim ng panukalang pondo para sa DPWH, bagay na tinawag niyang nakakagulat.
MAYNILA. Kinumpirma ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) nitong Sabado ang pagkamatay ng isang 53-anyos na Pilipinong turista sa Hong Kong.
Ayon sa ulat ng South China Morning Post, nawalan ng malay ang turista habang sakay ng isang ride sa Hong Kong Disneyland at kalaunan ay binawian ng buhay. Napag alaman na mayroon na siyang dating karamdaman.
Sinabi ng DFA na nakipag-ugnayan na ang Philippine Consulate General sa Lantau Police at sa pamilya ng biktima upang magpaabot ng pakikiramay at tumulong sa pag-asikaso ng pag-uwi ng mga labi.
Dagdag pa ng DFA, patuloy ang koordinasyon sa mga lokal na awtoridad habang nirerespeto ang pribadong pagdadalamhati ng pamilya.
MANILA. China has lodged a strong protest over the visit of Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung to the Philippines, warning Manila “not to play with fire.”
Two senior Philippine officials confirmed Saturday that Lin led a high-level delegation of Taiwanese investors and business executives in the semiconductor and other key industries during a trip earlier this week to Manila and the Clark Freeport Zone. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that Lin visited “in his private capacity” and did not hold official engagements with Philippine political or security leaders.
The Philippines adheres to the “One China” policy and does not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state. In a statement Friday, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated that the country has “consistently upheld” this policy, which it described as “clear and unwavering.” It added that while economic and people-to-people engagements with Taiwan continue, they remain “within the bounds of our One China Policy.” The DFA further noted that “no official from Taiwan was recognized as a member of the business delegation that recently visited the Philippines.”
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory, condemned the visit, accusing the Philippines of providing a platform for “Taiwan independence” separatists to engage in anti-China activities. The Chinese foreign ministry said the visit “severely violated” Manila’s commitments on Taiwan and warned of consequences if the Philippines continues on what it described as the wrong path.
“There is a price to pay for trampling on China’s red line, and all consequences arising therefrom will be borne by the Philippines,” the Chinese foreign ministry declared in a statement.
Relations between China and the Philippines have already been strained due to confrontations in the South China Sea, where both nations’ coast guards and maritime forces have clashed over disputed territories and fishing grounds. Lin’s visit has further heightened tensions in the region.
MAYNILA. Kinumpirma ng Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) nitong Sabado ang pagkamatay ng isang 53-anyos na Pilipinong turista sa Hong Kong.
Ayon sa ulat ng South China Morning Post, nawalan ng malay ang lalaki habang sakay ng isang ride sa Hong Kong Disneyland at kalauna’y binawian ng buhay. Nabatid na mayroon na siyang dating karamdaman.
Ayon sa DFA, nakikipag-ugnayan na ang Consulate General sa Lantau Police at sa pamilya ng biktima upang ipaabot ang pakikiramay at tumulong sa pag-asikaso ng pag-uwi ng mga labi.
Patuloy rin ang koordinasyon ng DFA sa mga lokal na awtoridad habang nirerespeto ang pribadong pagdadalamhati ng pamilya.
CAIRO. The prime minister of Yemen’s Houthi-run government, Ahmad Ghaleb al-Rahwi, was killed along with several other ministers in an Israeli airstrike on the capital Sanaa, Houthi officials confirmed Saturday. It is the first strike to claim the life of senior members of the Iran-aligned group.
Mahdi al-Mashat, head of the Houthi Supreme Political Council, said the Thursday attack also wounded several others but did not specify whether Defence Minister Mohamed al-Atifi was among the casualties. Israeli authorities stated the operation had targeted the Houthis’ chief of staff, defence minister and other senior figures, with the outcome still being verified.
Rahwi, appointed a year ago, was largely regarded as a figurehead while his deputy, Mohammed Miftah, has been assigned to carry out prime ministerial duties. Rahwi had been an ally of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh before aligning with the Houthis after their takeover of Sanaa in 2014, which triggered a decade-long civil war.
Sources told Reuters that the ministers of energy, foreign affairs and information were also killed. According to Israeli security sources, the officials had gathered at several locations to watch a televised speech recorded by Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi.
Following the strike, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the operation as “a crushing blow” against the Houthis and warned, “this is only the beginning.”
The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen, have escalated attacks in the Red Sea since Israel’s war against Hamas began in October 2023. They have frequently launched missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, while Israel has retaliated with strikes on Houthi-held areas including the port city of Hodeidah.
The Houthi-run Saba news agency published a statement attributed to Atifi shortly after Rahwi’s death was announced, declaring the group was prepared to confront Israel. The timing of the statement remains unclear.
In a televised address, Mashat vowed retaliation, saying, “Our stance remains as it is and will remain until the aggression ends and the siege is lifted, no matter how great the challenges. We shall take revenge.”
MAYNILA. Sinabi ni Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla na lumapit sa kanya ang isang abogado ng isa sa top 15 contractors na sangkot umano sa mga kontrobersyal na flood control projects upang ihayag ng kanyang kliyente ang nalalaman nito kaugnay ng tinatawag na ghost projects.
“I have been approached by a lawyer representing a potential whistleblower, and they have told me, he’s given me an idea of what happened in one of the projects in Central Luzon, in projects worth P5 billion. Ghost projects,” pahayag ni Remulla sa isang press briefing.
Dagdag pa niya, ang tinutukoy na kumpanya ay kabilang sa mga contractor na nabanggit ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na iniimbestigahan kaugnay ng anomalya.
Ayon sa kalihim, ibinahagi ng potensyal na whistleblower ang modus operandi, kabilang ang umano’y paghahati-hati ng pera, iregular na kontrata, at proseso ng encashment. “Nagbigay lang sa akin ng idea na ‘yung contractor ang kinuha 40%, ang DPWH ganto, na ma-encash ‘yung pera… kahit na DPWH lang ang payable sa contractor. Basta’t marami nang modus na sinabi sa akin nu’ng Sabado,” ani Remulla.
Inaasahan na makikipagpulong muli ang abogado ngayong Sabado upang magprisinta ng ebidensya.
Tiniyak ni Remulla na bukas ang Department of Justice (DOJ) para sa sinumang nagnanais magsiwalat ng impormasyon, at maaari silang mailagay sa ilalim ng Witness Protection Program (WPP) para sa kanilang kaligtasan.
NEW YORK. Tesla’s sales in Europe have plummeted for the seventh consecutive month, with buyers continuing to shun the brand amid growing anger at CEO Elon Musk, according to new industry data released Thursday.
Sales of Tesla vehicles in the 27 European Union countries fell 40 percent in July compared with the same month last year, even as overall electric vehicle sales surged by 39 percent, figures from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association showed. The company sold 6,600 cars last month, down from 11,465 in July 2023.
By contrast, Chinese automaker BYD expanded its presence, reaching a 1.1 percent market share of all EU car sales in July, while Tesla’s share slipped to 0.7 percent.
Tesla’s stock price fell 1.5 percent in afternoon trading following the report.
Musk has faced mounting criticism in Europe after publicly supporting far-right candidates, calling a former British prime minister an “evil tyrant” and urging Germans to back the anti-immigrant Alternative für Germany party. The remarks sparked protests in several cities, including an effigy of Musk being hanged in Milan and posters in London comparing him to a Nazi.
The company’s struggles also reflect regulatory and operational challenges. Tesla is still awaiting EU approval for its Full Self-Driving software, which Musk had predicted would be authorized by March. Production was further disrupted earlier this year when the company temporarily shut down factories to retool for a new version of its Model Y sport utility vehicle.
For the first seven months of 2024, Tesla sales in the EU have fallen 44 percent, with the company’s overall market share at 1.2 percent of all vehicle sales compared with 0.9 percent for BYD.
Tesla is banking on the launch of cheaper models in the final quarter of the year to regain momentum.
MAYNILA. Nagdaos ng protesta ang mga miyembro ng Akbayan Party-list sa harap ng opisina ng St. Gerrard Construction sa Pasig City nitong Biyernes upang ipanawagan ang pananagutan ng pamilya Discaya na umano’y sangkot sa maanomalyang flood control projects.
Si Sarah Discaya, na tumakbo laban kay Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto noong nakaraang halalan, ay kinikilalang may-ari ng St. Gerrard at iba pang construction firms.
Ayon kay Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña, na nanguna sa pagtitipon, layunin ng piket na ipakita ang galit ng taumbayan laban sa korapsyon. “Kahit offline maramdaman nitong mga kontratista, ng mga tiwaling opisyal ang galit ng taumbayan kasi tingin ko ito yung mahalagang simula para buksan itong mga usapin pagdating sa katiwalian kung saan mayroon talagang totoong mapapanagot,” aniya.
Dagdag pa ni Cendaña, maituturing na tagumpay ang kanilang kampanya kung mapapanagot ang mga sangkot na kontratista at opisyal ng pamahalaan.
Kasabay nito, nanawagan siya sa pamilya Discaya na dumalo sa pagdinig ng Kamara sa Setyembre 2 kaugnay ng kontrobersyal na flood control projects. “Itong refusal nila to participate dito sa processes for accountability baka guilty kaya ganyan nagtatago at ayaw humarap,” wika niya.
Nagbabala si Cendaña na magsusumite siya ng subpoena kung hindi pa rin dadalo ang mga Discaya sa nakatakdang pagdinig.
JERUSALEM. Israel has recovered the body of hostage Ilan Weiss from the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed on Friday.
The remains of a second hostage, whose identity has not yet been released for publication, were also retrieved, the statement said.
Weiss, 55, a resident of Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel, was abducted from his home and killed during the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led cross-border attack, according to the Israeli military. His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also kidnapped but were later freed in a hostage-prisoner exchange in November 2023.
With Weiss’s remains recovered, Israeli authorities said 49 hostages remain in Gaza, and only 20 are believed to be alive.
The Prime Minister’s Office reiterated that the campaign to bring home the hostages continues. “We will neither rest nor be silent until we bring all of our hostages back home, the living and the deceased,” the statement read.
The October 7 attack left about 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage, Israeli officials reported. In response, Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed more than 62,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in the Hamas-run enclave. The war has displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population, devastated infrastructure, and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
SAN PABLO CITY, Laguna. San Pablo City has officially set a Guinness World Record for the most people planting coconuts simultaneously (multiple venues), with thousands of volunteers planting 11,000 coconut seedlings in 15 minutes across 12 barangays, city officials said. A Guinness adjudicator was on site to validate the synchronized activity before the certificate was awarded.
Mayor Najie Gapangada Jr. led the effort, describing it as the kickoff to a three-year replanting program to revive the city’s historic coconut industry and offset trees that will be cleared for an upcoming agri-industrial park. The seedlings were supplied by the City Agriculturist Office and the Philippine Coconut Authority, with participants drawn from schools, civic groups, and the public sector.
The main planting site was an 8-hectare property owned by Philip Young, special assistant to Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., while parallel sites operated simultaneously in other villages to meet Guinness’ verification standards.
City and provincial pages, schools, and local groups posted celebratory messages confirming the Guinness recognition and sharing images of the certificate.
Why this record matters
San Pablo once branded itself the country’s coconut capital, and officials say mass replanting will help replace aging trees, underpin future processing capacity, and support jobs linked to planned industrial expansion. Friday’s record attempt was timed and structured to meet Guinness rules for a simultaneous, multi-venue planting, with on-site counting and time controls.
The previous benchmark
Local reports note the title had been associated with Nagapattinam District, India, in earlier Guinness listings connected to mass planting drives. Nagapattinam is renowned for its large-scale, record-setting tree-planting efforts, including a notable 2002 drive at Naluvedapathy and subsequent mass plantings following the 2004 tsunami. (Those specific records covered trees/saplings over extended timeframes rather than coconut seedlings in a 15-minute simultaneous window.)
Related “planting” records in Asia and the world
To place San Pablo’s feat in context, here are comparable Guinness categories involving simultaneous or multi-venue plantings:
Most people planting bamboo simultaneously (multiple venues): 2,305 (Philippines, 2024). Organized by the Department of Science and Technology and partners across 19 sites.
Most people watering plants simultaneously (multiple venues): 1,755 (India). Achieved in Melmaruvathur, Tamil Nadu.
Most people planting seeds simultaneously: 10,624 (Türkiye). A stadium-based mass seeding event in Mersin.
Most plant species planted simultaneously in multiple locations: 240 species (India). A biodiversity-focused record by India’s environment ministry.
These categories differ in terms of species, time windows, or whether they measure people, species, or units planted, but they demonstrate how San Pablo’s synchronized, multi-site approach aligns with Guinness’ broader family of environmental records.
What’s next
Rolando Inciong, San Pablo City’s information officer, said the world-record event marks the first phase of a multi-year coconut replanting program aimed at restoring production, supporting future processing operations, and strengthening the city’s identity as a coconut hub. He added that additional planting waves and monitoring of seedling survival rates are planned as the program expands.
Mayor Najie Gapangada Jr. led the effort, describing it as the kickoff to a three-year replanting program to revive the city’s historic coconut industry and offset trees that will be cleared for an upcoming agri-industrial park.San Pablo City has officially set a Guinness World Record for the most people planting coconuts simultaneously (multiple venues), with thousands of volunteers planting 11,000 coconut seedlings in 15 minutes across 12 barangays, city officials said.
Reporting based on official dispatches and local confirmations on August 29, 2025. Photo: City Information Office, San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines
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